The hingdome of Kent annexed to the kingdome of the Westsaxons, the end of the hingdome of Kent and Essex; Kenelme king of Mercia murthered by the meanes of his oune sister Quendred, the order of hir wiched practise; his death prophesied or foreshewed by a signe, the hings of Mercia put by their roialtie one after another, the hingdome of Britaine beginneth to be a monarchis; Ethelwulfe king of the Westsaxons, he marrieth his butlers daughter, his disposition; the fourth destruction of this land by forren enimies. the Danes sought the ruine of this Ile, how long they afficted and troubled the same; two notable bishops and verie seruiceable to hing Ethelwulfe in warre, the Danes discomfited, the Englishmen chased, Ethelwulfs great victorie ouer the Danes, a great slaughter of them at Tenet, hing Ethelwulfs deuotion and liberalitie to churches, Peter pence paid to Rome, he marieth the ladie Iudith, his two sonnes conspire (upon occasion of breahing a law) to depose him, king Ethelwulfe dieth, his foure sonnes by his first wife Osburga, how he bequeathed his hingdoms.
The Tenth Chapter.
WHEN Cuthred K. of Kent had reigned 8 yeeres, as before is mentioned, he was constreined
Wil. Malm.
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
The end of the kingdome of Kent.
yéere 827. Suithred OF Suthred king of Essex was vanquished and expelled out of his king. dome 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 kingdome
827.
continued 281 yeeres, from the yéers, 614, vnto the yeere 795, as by the table of the
The end of the kingdome of Essex.
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 the
M Westm.
yeere of our Lord 821. He had two sisters, Quendred and Burgenild, of the which the one
821.
(that is to say) Quendred, of a malicious mind, mooued through ambition, enuied hir brothers
The wickednes of Quendred.
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 cut 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
King Keuelm murthered.
age, vnto the world void of gilt, and yet thus traitorouslie murthered without cause or crime; he was afterwards reputed for a martyr.
There hath gone a tale that bis death should be signified at Rome, and the place where
Sée legends aurea fol. 165. in the life of S. Kenelme.
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.
Ceolwulfe K. of Mereia
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.
823.
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
Mail. Westm.
finall subuersion of their particular estates and regiments. After Ludicenus, succeeded Wightlafe,
728.
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 subiection to the
828.
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.
ETHEL WULFUS.
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 the 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,
Hentie Hunt. Matt. West.
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
Wil. Mules.
of 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, which other. He aided Burtbred the king of Mercia against the Welshmen, and greatlie aduanced his estimation, by giuing vnto him his daughter in mariage.
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
Simon Dun. Hen Hunt.
séemed more gréeuous, than anie of the other persecutions, either before or sitbens 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
The Danes tought she destrumion of this laud.
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.
This mischlefe began chieflie in the daies of this king Ethelwulfe, but it continued about the
How long the persecution of the Danes lasted. Will. Malmes.
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, there were two notable prelats, Suithune bishop of Winchester, and Adelstan
Two notable hithops in Ethelwulfs daies.
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 Shiroborne 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, the
Simon Dun. Ilen. Hunt.
Danes arriued at Hampton, with 33 ships, against whome be sent earle Wulhard with part of his armie, the which giuing battell to the enimies, made great slaughter of them, and obteined
Danes discomfited. Nauh. West.
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
Englishmen put to flight. They are eftsoones vanquished.
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 murtbered an huge number of people. The next yéere after this, they entered further into the land, and about canturburie, Rochesten, and London, did much mischiefe.
King Ethelwulfe in the fift yéere of his reigne, with a part of his armie incountred with the Danes at Carrum, the which were arriued in those parties with so ships, hauing their
Carrum.
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 put the king to
The Danes wan the victoria in battell. Danes are vanquished. Simon Dun.
the woorse. About the tenth yéere of king Ethelwulfs reigne, one of his capteins called Ernwulfe, and bishop Adelstan, with the Summersetshioe men, and an other capteine called Osred, which 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
851.
and his sonne Edelbald hauing assembled all their powers togither, gaue battell at Ocley, to an huge host of Danes, the which with foure hundred and fiftle ships had arriued
Ocley Two hundred and fiftie ships saith Hen. Hunt.
at Thames mouth, and destroied the famous cities of London and Canturburie, and also had chased Brightwulfe king of Mercia in battelh 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 gluen to those that beléeued on him, and the losse rested with great confusion to the miscreants.
Thus king Ethelwulfe obteined a glorious victorie in so mightie a battell, as a greater had
The Danes eftsoones vanquished. Danes ouercome by sea.
not beene hghtlie heard of to chance within the English dominions. The same yeere also Athelstan king of Kent and duke Ealbere fought by sea with the Danes, and tooke 9 of their ships, and chased the residue. Moreouer, one earle Ceorle hauing with him the power of Deuonshire, fought with the Danes at Winleshore, and got the victorie. This yeére was
The Deuonshire men van quish the Danes.
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.
Simon Dun.
In the 18 yeere of king Ethelwulfes reigne, he aided Burthred king of Mercia against
859.
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
Great slaughter of Danes at Tenet.
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 Alured, who had
The Saxons schoole.
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 thence-foorth
King Ethelwulfs liberalitie to churches. Will. Malmes. Simon Dun. Mancusæ.
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.
The lndie Iudith.
In his returne thorogh France, he married the ladie Iudith, daughter to Charles the bald, then K. of France., and bringing hir with him into his countries, 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
Wil Molm.
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.
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 ludith 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 death he made his testament and
Onelie Westsex saith Matt. Westm and Sim. Dunel. saith that Ethelbright had Sussex also, and so dooth H. Hunt. Malth Paris.
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 Wingie, | the son of Teathwie, |
| the son of Eaffa, | the son of Freawin, | the son of Beame, |
| the son of Eoppa, | the son of Fridagare, | the son of Sceldie, |
| the son of Ingils, | the son of Brendie, | the son of Seafe, |
| the son of Kenred, | the son of Beldegie, | the son of Heremod, |
| the son of Coelwald, | the son of Woden, | the son of Itermod, |
| the son of Cudwine, | the son of Frethelwold, | the son of Hordie, |
| the son of Ceawlin, | the son of Freolaffe, | the son of Wale, |
| the son of Kenric, | the son of Frethewolfe, | the son of Bedwie, |
| the son of Cerdic, | the son of Finnie, | the son of Sem, |
| the son of Eslie, | the son of Godulfe, | the son of Noah, |
| the son of Gewise, | the son of Geta, | and so foorth to Adam, as you |
De que Sodulius in cur pasth
shall find it by retrogradation from the 32 verse vnto the first of the fift chapter of Genesis Which genealogicall recapitulation 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; and other people from their farre fetcht ancestrie. To conclude,
Iohn Castor. Simon Dun. Matt. Parker. A kings son and heire a bishop.
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.
