[Sidenote: HAROLD.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
After that Cnute was departed this life, there arose much variance
amongst the peeres and great lords of the realme about the succession.
The Danes and Londoners (which through continuall familiaritie with
the Danes, were become like vnto them) elected Harold the base sonne
[Sidenote: Controuersie for the crowne.]
of king Cnute, to succéed in his fathers roome, hauing earle Leofrike,
and diuerse other of the noble men of the north parts on their side.
But other of the Englishmen, and namelie earle Goodwine earle of Kent,
with the chiefest lords of the west parts, coueted rather to haue one
of king Egelreds sonnes, which were in Normandie, or else Hardicnute
the sonne of king Cnute by his wife quéene Emma, which remained in
Denmarke, aduanced to the place. This controuersie held in such wise,
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
[Sidenote: The realme diuided betwixt Harold and Hardicnute.]
that the realme was diuided (as some write) by lot betwixt the two
brethren Harold and Hardicnute. The north part, as Mercia and
Northumberland fell to Harold, and the south part vnto Hardicnute: but
at length the whole remained vnto Harold, bicause his brother
Hardicnute refused to come out of Denmarke to take the gouernment vpon
him.
[Sidenote: The authoritie of earle Goodwine.]
[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._]
But yet the authoritie of earle Goodwine, who had the queene and the
treasure of the realme in his kéeping, staied the matter a certeine
time, (professing himselfe as it were gardian to the yoong men, the
sonnes of the quéene, till at length he was constreined to giue ouer
his hold, and conforme himselfe to the stronger part and greater
number.) And so at Oxford, where the assemblie was holden about the
election, Harold was proclaimed king, and consecrated according to the
[Sidenote: The refusall of the archbishop Elnothus to consecrate
king Harold.]
maner (as some write.) But it should appeere by other, that Elnothus
the archbishop of Canturburie, a man indued with all vertue and
wisedome, refused to crowne him: for when king Harold being elected of
the nobles and péeres, required the said archbishop that he might be
of him consecrated, and receiue at his hands the regall scepter with
the crowne, which the archbishop had in his custodie, and to whome it
onelie did apperteine to inuest him therewith, the archbishop flatlie
refused, and with an oth protested, that he would not consecrate anie
other for king, so long as the quéenes children liued: "for (saith he)
Cnute committed them to my trust and assurance, and to them will I
kéepe my faith and loiall obedience. The scepter and crowne I héere
lay downe vpon the altar, and neither doo I denie nor deliuer them
vnto you: but I forbid by the apostolike authoritie all the bishops,
that none of them presume to take the same awaie, and deliuer them to
you, or consecrate you for king. As for your selfe, if you dare, you
maie vsurpe that which I haue committed vnto God and his table."
But whether afterwards the king by one meane or other, caused the
archbishop to crowne him king, or that he was consecrated of some
other, he was admitted king of all the English people, beginning his
[Sidenote: 1036.]
reigne in the yéere of our Lord a thousand thirtie and six, in the
fouretenth yéere of the emperor Conrad the second, in the sixt yéere
of Henrie the first, king of France, and about the seuen and twentith
yéere of Malcolme the second, king of Scots. This Harold for his great
[Sidenote: Harold why he is surnamed Harefoot.]
swiftnesse, was surnamed Harefoot, of whome little is written touching
his dooings, sauing that he is noted to haue béene an oppressor of his
[Sidenote: Harold euill spoken of.]
[Sidenote: _Ran. Higa._]
[Sidenote: _ex Mariano._]
people, and spotted with manie notable vices. It was spoken of diuerse
in those daies, that this Harold was not the sonne of Cnute, but of a
shoomaker, and that his supposed mother Elgina, king Cnutes concubine,
to bring the king further in loue with hir, feined that she was with
child: and about the time that she should be brought to bed (as she
made hir account) caused the said shoemakers son to be secretlie
brought into hir chamber, and then vntrulie caused it to be reported
that she was deliuered, and the child so reputed to be the kings
sonne.
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
Immediatlie vpon aduertisement had of Cnutes death, Alfred the sonne
of king Egelred, with fiftie saile landed at Sandwich, meaning to
challenge the crowne, and to obteine it by lawfull claime with
quietnesse, if he might; if not, then to vse force by aid of his
friends, and to assaie that waie foorth to win it, if he might not
otherwise obteine it. From Sandwich he came to Canturburie: and
shortlie after, earle Goodwine feining to receiue him as a friend,
came to meet him, and at Gilford in the night season appointed a
number of armed men to fall vpon the Normans as they were asléepe, and
so tooke them togither with Alfred, & slue the Normans by the poll, in
such wise that nine were shine, & the tenth reserued. But yet when
those that were reserued, seemed to him a greater number than he
wished to escape, he fell to and againe tithed them as before. Alfred
had his eies put out, and was conueied to the Ile of Elie, where
shortlie after he died.
[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._]
¶ How Alfred should claime the crowne to himselfe I sée not: for
verelie I can not be persuaded that he was the elder brother, though
diuers authors haue so written, sith Gemeticensis, & the author of the
booke called "Encomium Emmae," plainlie affirme, that Edward was the
elder: but it might be, that Alfred being a man of a stouter stomach
[Sidenote: Sée maister _Fox_ acts and monuments, pag. 112.]
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
than his brother Edward, made this attempt, either for himselfe, or in
the behalfe of his brother Edward, being as then absent, and gone into
Hungarie, as some write: but other say, that as well Edward as Alfred
came ouer at this time with a number of Norman knights, and men of
warre imbarked in a few ships, onelie to speake with their mother, who
as then lay at Winchester, whether to take aduise with hir how to
recouer their right heere in this land, or to aduance their brother
Hardicnute, or for some other purpose, our authors doo not declare.
But the lords of the realme that bare their good wils vnto Harold, and
(though contrarie to right) ment to mainteine him in the estate,
seemed to be much offended with the comming of these two brethren in
such order: for earle Goodwine persuaded them, that it was great
danger to suffer so manie strangers to enter the realme, as they had
brought with them. Wherevpon earle Goodwine with the assent of the
other lords, or rather by commandement of Harold, went foorth, and at
Gilford met with Alfred that was comming towards king Harold to speake
with him, accordinglie as he was of Harold required to doo. But now
being taken, and his companie miserablie murthered (as before ye haue
heard) to the number of six hundred Normans, Alfred himselfe was sent
into the Ile of Elie, there to remaine in the abbeie in custodie of
the moonks, hauing his eies put out as soone as he entered first into
the same Ile. William Malmesburie saith, that Alfred came ouer, and
was thus handeled betwixt the time of Harolds death, & the comming in
of Hardicnute. Others write, that this chanced in his brother
Hardicnuts daies, which séemeth not to be true: for Hardicnute was
knowne to loue his brethren by his mothers side too dearelie to haue
suffered anie such iniurie to be wrought against either of them in his
time.
¶ Thus ye sée how writers dissent in this matter, but for the better
clearing of the truth touching the time, I haue thought good to shew
also what the author of the said booke intituled "Encomium Emmæ"
writeth hereof, which is as followeth. When Harold was once
established king, he sought meanes how to rid quéene Emma out of the
way, and that secretlie, for that openlie as yet he durst not attempt
anie thing against hir. She in silence kept hir selfe quiet, looking
for the end of these things. But Harold remembring himselfe, of a
malicious purpose, by wicked aduise tooke counsell how he might get
into his hands and make away the sons of quéene Emma, & so to be out
of danger of all annoiance that by them might be procured against him.
[Sidenote: A counterfet letter.]
Wherefore he caused a letter to be written in the name of their mother
Emma, which he sent by certeine messengers suborned for the same
purpose into Normandie, where Edward and Alfred as then remained. The
tenour of which letter here insueth.
_The tenour of a letter forged and sent in queene Emmas name to hir
two sonnes._
"EMMA tantùm nomine regina filijs Edwardo & Alfredo materna impertit
salutamina. D[=u] domini nostri regis obitum separatim plangimus
(filij charissimi) dúmq; dietim magis magisque regno hæreditatis
vestræ priuamini, miror quid captetis consilij, dum sciatis
intermissionis vestræ dilatione inuasoris vestri imperij fieri
quotidiè soliditat[=e]. Is enim incessanter vicos & vrbes circuit, &
sibi amicos principes muneribus, minis, & precibus facit: sed vnum è
vobis super se mallent regnare quàm istius (qui nunc ijs imperat)
teneri ditione. Vnde rogo vnus vestrum ad me velociter & priuatè
veniat, vt salubre à me consilium accipiat, & sciat quo pacto hoc
negotium quod volo fieri debeat, per præsentem quóque internuncium
quid super his facturi estis remandate. Valete cordis mei viscera."
_The same in English._
"EMMA in name onelie queene to hir sons Edward and Alfred sendeth
motherlie greeting. Whilest we separatelie bewaile the death of our
souereigne lord the king (most deare sonnes) and whilest you are
euerie day more and more depriued from the kingdome of your
inheritance, I maruell what you doo determine, sith you know by the
delay of your ceassing to make some enterprise, the grounded force of
the vsurper of your kingdom is dailie made the stronger. For
incessantlie he goeth from towne to towne, from citie to citie, and
maketh the lords his friends by rewards, threats, and praiers, but
they had rather haue one of you to reigne ouer them, than to be kept
vnder the rule of this man that now gouerneth them. Wherefore my
request is, that one of you doo come with speed, and that priuilie
ouer to me, that he may vnderstand my wholesome aduise, and know in
what sort this matter ought to be handled, which I would haue to go
forward, and see that ye send mee word by this present messenger what
you meane to doo herein. Fare ye well euen the bowels of my heart."
These letters were deliuered vnto such as were made priuie to the
purposed treason, who being fullie instructed how to deale, went ouer
into Normandie, and presenting the letters vnto the yoong gentlemen,
vsed the matter so, that they thought verelie that this message had
béene sent from their mother, and wrote againe by them that brought
the letters, that one of them would not faile but come ouer vnto hir
according to that she had requested, and withall appointed the day and
time. The messengers returning to king Harold, informed him how they
had sped. The yoonger brother Alfred, with his brothers consent, tooke
with him a certeine number of gentlemen and men of warre, and first
came into Flanders, where after he had remained a while with earle
Baldwine, he increased his retinue with a few Bullogners, and passed
ouer into England, but approching to the shore, he was streightwaies
descried by his enimies, who hasted foorth to set vpon him; but
perceiuing their drift, he bad the ships cast about, and make againe
to the sea; then landing at an other place, he ment to go the next way
to his mother.
[Sidenote: Godwin was suspected to do this vnder a colour to betray
as by writers it séemeth.]
him But earle Goodwine hearing of his arriuall, met him, receiued him
into his assurance, and binding his credit with a corporall oth,
became his man, and therwith leading him out of the high way that
leadeth to London, he brought him to Gilford, where he lodged all the
strangers, by a score, a doozen, and halfe a score togither in innes,
so as but a few remained about the yoong gentleman Alfred to attend
vpon him. There was plentie of meat and drinke prepared in euerie
lodging, for the refreshing of all the companie. And Goodwine taking
his leaue for that night, departed to his lodging, promising the next
morning to come againe to giue his dutifull attendance on Alfred.
But behold, after they had filled themselues with meats and drinks,
[Sidenote: Not onelie Goodwine but other such as king Harold
appointed, took Alfred with his Normans.]
and were gone to bed, in the dead of the night came such as king
Harold had appointed, and entring into euerie inne, first seized vpon
the armor and weapons that belonged to the strangers: which done, they
tooke them, and chained them fast with fetters and manacles, so
kéeping them sure till the next morning. Which being come, they were
brought foorth with their hands bound behind their backs, and
deliuered to most cruell tormentors, who were commanded to spare none
but euerie tenth man, as he came to hand by lot, and so they slue nine
and left the tenth aliue. Of those that were left aliue, some they
kept to serue as bondmen, other for couetousnesse of gaine they sold,
and some they put in prison, of whome yet diuerse afterwards escaped.
This with more hath the foresaid author written of this matter,
declaring further, that Alfred being conueied into the Ile of Elie,
had not onelie his eies put out in most cruell wise, but was also
presentlie there murthered. But he speaketh not further of the maner
how he was made away, sauing that he saith he forbeareth to make long
recitall of this matter, bicause he will not renew the mothers gréefe
in hearing it, sith there can be no greater sorrow to the mother than
to heare of hir sonnes death.
¶ I remember in Caxton we read, that his cruell tormentors should
cause his bellie to be opened, & taking out one end of his bowels or
guts, tied the same to a stake which they had set fast in the ground;
then with néedels of iron pricking his bodie, they caused him to run
about the stake, till he had woond out all his intrailes, & so ended
he his innocent life, to the great shame & obloquie of his cruel
aduersaries. But whether he was thus tormented or not, or rather died
(as I thinke) of the anguish by putting out his eies, no doubt but his
death was reuenged by Gods hand in those that procured it. But whether
erle Goodwine was chéefe causer thereof, in betraieng him vnder a
cloked colour of pretended fréendship, I cannot say: but that he tooke
him and slue his companie, as some haue written, I cannot thinke it to
be true, both as well for that which ye haue heard recited out of the
author that wrote "Encomium Emmæ," as also for that it should séeme he
might neuer be so directlie charged with it, but that he had matter to
alledge in his owne excuse. But now to other affaires of Harold.
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
[Sidenote: Quéene Emma banished.]
After he had made away his halfe brother Alfred, he spoiled his mother
in law quéene Emma of the most part of hir riches, and therewith
banished hir quite out of the realme: so that she sailed ouer to
Flanders, where she was honourablie receiued of earle Baldwine, and
hauing of him honourable prouision assigned hir, she continued there
for the space of thrée yeeres, till that after the death of Harold,
she was sent for by hir sonne Hardiknought, that succéeded Harold in
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: Harold degenerateth from his father.]
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._]
the kingdome. Moreouer, Harold made small account of his subiects,
degenerating from the noble vertues of his father, following him in
few things (except in exacting of tributes and paiments.) He caused
indeed eight markes of siluer to be leuied of euerie port or hauen in
England, to the reteining of 16 ships furnished with men of warre,
which continued euer in readinesse to defend the coasts from pirats.
[Sidenote: A nauie in a readinesse.]
[Sidenote: Euill men, the longer they liue, the more they grow into
miserie.]
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._]
To conclude with this Harold, his spéedie death prouided well for his
fame, bicause (as it was thought) if his life had béene of long
continuance, his infamie had béene the greater. But after he had
reigned foure yéeres, or (as other gathered) three yéeres and thrée
moneths, he departed out of this world at Oxford, & was buried at
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
Winchester (as some say.) Other say he died at Meneford in the moneth
of Aprill, and was buried at Westminster, which should appeare to be
true by that which after is reported of his brother Hardiknoughts
cruell dealing, and great spite shewed toward his dead bodie, as after
shall be specified.
* * * * *
_Hardicnute is sent for into England to be made king; alteration in
the state of Norwaie and Denmarke by the death of king Cnute,
Hardicnute is crowned, he sendeth for his mother queene Emma,
Normandie ruled by the French king, Hardicnute reuengeth his mothers
exile upon the dead bodie of his stepbrother Harold, queene Emma and
erle Goodwine haue the gouernment of things in their hands, Hardicnute
leuieth a sore tribute upon his subiects; contempt of officers &
deniall of a prince his tribute sharpelie punished; prince Edward
commeth into England; the bishop of Worcester accused and put from his
see for being accessarie to the murthering of Alfred, his restitution
procured by contribution; Earle Goodwine being accused for the same
trespasse excuseth himselfe, and iustifieth his cause by swearing, but
speciallie by presenting the king with an inestimable gift; the cause
why Goodwine purposed Alfreds death; the English peoples care about
the succession to the crowne, moonke Brightwalds dreame and vision
touching that matter; Hardicnute poisoned at a bridall, his
conditions, speciallie his hospitalitie, of him the Englishmen learned
to eate and drinke immoderatlie, the necessitie of sobrietie, the end
of the Danish regiment in this land, and when they began first to
inuade the English coasts._