[Sidenote: ADELSTAN.]
[Sidenote: _Matt. West._]
[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._]
[Sidenote: 924.]
ADELSTANE the eldest sonne of king Edward began his reigne ouer the
more part of all England, the yeere of our Lord 924, which was in the
6 yere of the emperour Henrie the first, in the 31 yéere of the reigne
of Charles surnamed Simplex king of France, three moneths after the
burning of Pauie, & about the 22 or 23 yéere of Constantine the third,
king of Scotland. This Adelstane was crowned and consecrated king at
Kingstone vpon Thames, of Aldelme the archbishop of Canturburie, who
succéeded Pleimond. He was the 24 king in number from Cerdicus or
Cerdike the first king of the Westsaxons. There were in the beginning
[Sidenote: Alfred striueth in vaine to kéepe Adelstane from the
gouernment.]
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
[Sidenote: See more hereof in the acts and monuments set foorth by _M.
Fox_, vol. 1. leafe 195.]
some that set themselues against him, as one Alfred a noble man, which
practised by treason to haue kept him from the gouernement: but he was
apprehended yer he could bring his purpose to passe, and sent to Rome
there to trie himselfe giltie or not giltie. And as he tooke his oth
for his purgation before the altar of saint Peter, he suddenlie fell
downe to the earth, so that his seruants tooke him vp, and bare him
into the English schoole or hospitall, where the third night after he
died.
Pope Iohn the tenth sent vnto king Adelstane, to know if he would that
his bodie should be laid in Christian buriall or not. The king at the
contemplation of Alfreds friends and kinsfolks, signified to the pope
that he was contented that his bodie should be interred amongst other
christians. His lands being forfeited were giuen by the king vnto God
and saint Peter. The cause that mooued Alfred and other his complices
against the king, was (as some haue alledged) his bastardie. But
whether that allegation were true or but a slander, this is certeine,
that except that steine of his honor, there was nothing in this
Adelstane worthie of blame: so that he darkened all the glorious fame
of his predecessors, both in vertuous conditions and victorious
triumphs. Such difference is there to haue that in thy selfe wherein
to excell, rather than to stand vpon the woorthinesse of thine
ancestors, sith that can not rightlie be called a mans owne.
After that king Adelstane was established in the estate, he indeuored
himselfe to answer the expectation of his people; which hoped for
[Sidenote: _Anno_ 925.]
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
great wealth to insue by his noble and prudent gouernance. First
therfore meaning to prouide for the suertie of his countrie, he
concluded a peace with Sithrike king of the Northumbers, vnto whome
(as ye haue heard) he gaue one of his sisters named Editha in mariage.
Sithrike liued not past one yéere after he had so maried hir. And then
Adelstane brought the prouince of the Northumbers vnto his subiection,
expelling one Aldulph out of the same that rebelled against him. There
be that write, that Godfrie and Aulafe the sonnes of Sithrike
succéeding their father in the gouernement of Northumberland, by
practising to mooue warre against king Adelstane, occasioned him to
inuade their countrie, and to chase them out of the same, so that
Aulafe fled into Ireland, & Godfrie into Scotland: but other write,
[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._]
that Godfrie was the father of Reignold which wan Yorke, after that
Sithrike had slaine his brother Nigellus, as before is mentioned.
[Sidenote: _Hect. Boetius._]
[Sidenote: The Scotish writers varie from our English authors.]
[Sidenote: Beatrice daughter to K. Edward as the Scotish writers say.]
[Sidenote: Edwin was not brother to K. Edward but son to him.]
¶ The Scotish chronicles varie in report of these matters from the
English writers: whose chronicles affirme, that in the life time of
king Edward, his daughter Beatrice was giuen in mariage to Sithrike,
the gouernor of the Danes in Northumberland, with condition that if
anie male were procreated in that mariage, the same should inherit the
dominions of king Edward after his decease. King Edward had a brother
(as they say) named Edwin, a iolie gentleman, and of great estimation
amongst the Englishmen. He by Sithrikes procurement was sent into
Flanders in a ship that leaked, and so was drowned, to the great
reioising of all the Danes, least if he had suruiued his brother, he
would haue made some businesse for the crowne.
[Sidenote: Adelstane flieth the realme.]
About the same time Adelstane a base sonne of K. Edward fled the
realme, for doubt to be made away by some like traitorous practise of
the Danes. Shortlie after, king Edward vnderstanding that Sithrike
went about some mischiefe toward him, persuaded his daughter to poison
hir husband the said Sithrike. Then Aulafe or Aualassus, and Godfrie
the sonnes of Sithrike, finding out by diligent examination, that
Beatrice was of counsell in poisoning hir husband, they caused hir to
[Sidenote: Beatrice put to death by hir stepsons.]
be apprehended and put to death on this wise. She was set naked vpon a
smithes cold anuill or stithie, and therewith hard rosted egs being
taken out of the hot imbers were put vnder hir armepits, and hir armes
fast bound to hir bodie with a cord, and so in that state she remained
till hir life passed from hir. King Edward in reuenge of his daughters
death mooued warre against the two brethren, Aulafe and Godfrie, and
in battell finallie vanquished them, but was slaine in the same
battell himselfe.
Thus haue the Scotish chronicles recorded of these matters, as an
induction to the warres which followed betwixt the Scots and Danes as
confederates against king Adelstane: but the truth thereof we leaue to
the readers owne iudgement. For in our English writers we find no such
matter, but that a daughter of king Edward named Edgitha or Editha,
after hir fathers deceasse was by hir brother king Adelstane, about
the first yéere of his reigne, giuen in mariage (as before ye haue
heard) vnto the foresaid Sithrike king of Northumberland, that was
descended of the Danish bloud, who for the loue of the yoong ladie,
renounced his heathenish religion and became a christian; but shortlie
after, forsaking both his wife and the christian faith, he set vp
againe the worshipping of idols, and within a while after, as an
[Sidenote: Editha a virgine.]
apostata miserablie ended his life. Whervpon the yoong ladie, hir
virginitie being preserued, and hir bodie vndefiled (as they write)
passed the residue of hir daies at Polleswoorth in Warwikeshire,
spending hir time (as the same writers affirme) in fasting, watching,
praieng, and dooing of almesdéedes, and so at length departed out of
this world. Thus our writers differ from the Scotish historie, both in
name and maner of end as concerning the daughter of king Edward that
was coupled in mariage with Sithrike.
* * * * *
_Adelstane subdueth Constantine king of Scots, Howell king of Wales,
and Wulferth king of Northwales, the Scots possesse a great part of
the north countries, Adelstane conquereth the Scots for aiding Godfrie
his enimie; a miracle declaring that the Scots ought to obey the king
of England; king Adelstane banisheth his brother Edwin, he is for a
conspiracie drowned in the sea, Adelstane repenteth him of his rigour
(in respect of that misfortune) against his brother; Aulafe sometimes
king of Northumberland inuadeth England, he disguiseth himselfe like a
minstrell and surueieth the English campe unsuspected, he is
discouered after his departure, be assaileth the English campe,
Adelstane being comforted with a miracle discomfiteth his enimies, he
maketh them of Northwales his tributaries, be subdueth the Cornishmen,
his death; the description of his person, his vertues, of what abbeis
& monasteries he was founder, his estimation in forren realmes, what
pretious presents were sent him from other princes, and how he
bestowed them; a remembrance of Guy the erle of Warwike._