[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, vnto the yéere 827. Suithred or Suthred
[Sidenote: The end of the kingdome of Kent. 827.]
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
[Sidenote: The end of the kingdome of Essex.]
shortlie after. This 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
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ 821]
of Mercia, his sonne Kenelme a child of the age of seuen yéeres was
admitted king, about the yeere of our Lord 821. He had two sisters,
Quendred and Burgenild, of the which the one (that is to say)
[Sidenote: The wickedness of Quendred.]
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 yéeres and innocent age, vnto the world
[Sidenote: King Kenelm murthered.]
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._ 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
[Sidenote: 828.]
was brought in subjection to the kings of Westsaxons, as before
is 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
[Sidenote: _Henrie Hunt._ _Matth. West._]
as subdeacon, and as some write, he was bishop of Winchester: but
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
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
manie 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
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._]
Danes séemed more 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
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
[Sidenote: The Danes sought the destruction of this land.]
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
[Sidenote: How long the persecution of the Danes lasted. _Will. Malmes._]
resistance against them.
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 [Sidenote: Two notable
bishops in Ethelwulfs daies.] wisedome. Amongst other, 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
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._]
great losses, and sundrie sore detriments. In the first yéere of his
reigne, 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 enimies, made great slaughter of them, and obteined a noble
[Sidenote: Danes discomfited. _Matth. West._]
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,
[Sidenote: Englishmen put to flight. They are eftsoones vanquished.]
and the Danes obteined the victorie. In the yéere following, earle
Herbert fought against the 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
[Sidenote: The Danes wan the victorie in battell. Danes are vanquished.
_Simon Dun._ 851.]
men of warre, in so much that they obteined the victorie at that
time, and 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 assembled all their powers togither, gaue battell at Ocley,
[Sidenote: Ocley. Two hundred and fiftie ships saith _Hen. Hunt._]
to an huge 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._ 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
[Sidenote: Great slaughter of Danes at Tenet.]
rather Wada, with the men of Southerie, fought against the armie
of 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
[Sidenote: The Saxons schoole.]
Alured, who had béene there before as ye haue heard. He repaired
the 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. _Will. Malmes._
_Simon Dun._ 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 Summerset, conspired to depose him from his
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
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._
_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,
[Sidenote: _*De quo Sedulius in car. pasch_]
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
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
[Sidenote: _Iohn Castor._ _Simon Dun._ _Matt. Parker_.
A kings son and heire a bishop.]
the children of Gwiston; 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._