6.23. Edwin succeedeth Edred in the king|dome of England, his beastlie and incestu|ous carnalitie with a kinswoman of his on the verie day of his coronation, he is reproued of Dun|stane and giueth ouer the gentlewomans companie, Dunstane is banished for rebuking king Edwin for his vnlaw|full lust and lewd life, the diuell reioised at his exile, what re|uenging mischiefs the king did for displeasure sake against the said Dunstane in exile, the middle part of England rebellethye haue heard. against king Edwin, and erecteth his brother Edgar in roiall roome ouer them, he taketh thought and dieth; Edgar succee|deth him, he is a fauourer of moonks, his prouision for defense of his realme, his policie and discretion in gouernment, what kings he bound by oth to be true vnto him, eight princes row his barge in signe of submission, the vicious inconueniences that grew among the Englishmen vpon his fauouring of the Danes, a restraint of excessiue quaffing; Dunstane is made bishop of Worcester and Ethelwold bishop of Win|chester; iustice in Edgars time seuerelie executed, theft punished with death, a tribute of woolfs skins paid him out of Wales, and the benefit of that tri|bute. The xxiij. Chapter.

Edwin succeedeth Edred in the king|dome of England, his beastlie and incestu|ous carnalitie with a kinswoman of his on the verie day of his coronation, he is reproued of Dun|stane and giueth ouer the gentlewomans companie, Dunstane is banished for rebuking king Edwin for his vnlaw|full lust and lewd life, the diuell reioised at his exile, what re|uenging mischiefs the king did for displeasure sake against the said Dunstane in exile, the middle part of England rebellethye haue heard. against king Edwin, and erecteth his brother Edgar in roiall roome ouer them, he taketh thought and dieth; Edgar succee|deth him, he is a fauourer of moonks, his prouision for defense of his realme, his policie and discretion in gouernment, what kings he bound by oth to be true vnto him, eight princes row his barge in signe of submission, the vicious inconueniences that grew among the Englishmen vpon his fauouring of the Danes, a restraint of excessiue quaffing; Dunstane is made bishop of Worcester and Ethelwold bishop of Win|chester; iustice in Edgars time seuerelie executed, theft punished with death, a tribute of woolfs skins paid him out of Wales, and the benefit of that tri|bute. The xxiij. Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _AFter the deceasse of Edred, his nephue EdwinEdwin. the eldest sonne of king Edmund was made king of England, and began his EEBO page image 159 reigne ouer the same in the yeere of our Lord 955,955 & in the 20 yeere of the emperor Otho the first, in theiustice in Edgars time seuerelie executed, 28 and last yéere of the reigne of Lewes king of France, and about the twelfe yeere of Malcolme the first of that name, king of Scotland. He was conse|crated at Kingston vpon Thames by Odo the arch|bishop of Canturburie. On the verie day of his co|ronation, as the lords were set in councell about weightie matters touching the gouernment of the realme, he rose from the place, gat him into a cham|ber with one of his néere kinswomen, and there had to doo with hir,Will. Malmes. Polydor. without anie respect or regard had to his roiall estate and princelie dignitie. Dunstane latelie before named abbat of Glastenburie, did not onlie without feare of displeasure reprooue the K. for such shamefull abusing of his bodie, but also caused the archbishop of Canturburie to constreine him to forsake that woman whom vnlawfullie he kept.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 There be that write,Iohn Cap. graue. that there were two women, both mother and daughter, whome king Edward kept as concubines: for the mother being of noble parentage, sought to satisfie the kings lust, in hopeto doo with hir,Will. Malmes. Polydor. without anie respect or regard had to that either he would take hir or hir daughter vnto wife. And therefore perceiuing that Dunstane was sore against such wanton pastime as the king vsed in their companie,Dunstane banished the realme. she so wrought, that Dunstane was through hir earnest trauell banished the land. This is also reported, that when he should depart the realme, the diuell was heard in the west end of the church, ta|king vp a great laughter after his roring maner, as though he should shew himselfe gled and ioifull at Dunstanes going into exile. But Dunstane percei|uingto doo with hir,Will. Malmes. Polydor. without anie respect or regard had to his behauiour,Dunstane séeth not the diuell. spake to him, and said: Well thou aduersarie, doo not so greatly reioise at the mat|ter for thou dooest not now so much reioise at my de|parture, but by Gods grace thou shalt be as sorrow|full for my returne.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Thus was Dunstane banished by king Edwine, so that he was compelled to passe ouer into Flan|ders,Dunstane de|parted into exile. where he remained for a time within a mona|sterie at Gant, finding much friendship at the hands of the gouernor of that countrie. Also the more to wreake his wrath, Wil. Malm. Edwine dis|placeth monks and putteth secu|lar priests in their roomes. the king spoiled manie religious houses of their goods,Rebellion raised against king Edwine Simon Dun. and droue out the moonks, pla|cing secular priests in their roomes, as namelie at Malmesburie, where yet the house was not empai|red, but rather inriched in lands and ornaments by the kings liberalitie, and the industrious meanes of the same priests, which tooke vp the bones of saint Al|delme, and put the same into a shrine. At length the inhabitants of the middle part of England, euen from Humber to Thames rebelled against him, andof the gouernor of that countrie. Also the more to elected his brother Edgar to haue the gouernement ouer them, wherwith king Edwine tooke such griefe, for that he saw no meane at hand how to remedie the matter,Edwin depar|teth this life. that shortlie after, when he had reigned somewhat more than foure yéeres, he died, and his bodie was buried at Winchester in the new abbeie. EDgarEdgar. the second sonne of Edmund late king of England, after the decease of his elder brother the foresaid Edwine, began his reigne ouer this realme of England in the yeere of our Lord God 959,959 in the 22 yéere of the emperour Otho the first, in the fourth yéere of the reigne of Lotharius king of France, 510 almost ended after the comming of the Saxons, 124 after the arriuall of the Danes, and in the last yéere of Malcolme king of Scotland. He was crowned &Polydor. consecrated at Bath, or (as some say) at Kingstone vpon Thames by Odo the archbi|shop of Tanturburie, being as then not past 16 yéeres of age, when he was thus admitted king. He was no lesse indued with commendable gifts ofrealme of England in the yeere of our Lord God mind,Edgar a fauo|rer of moonks. than with strength and force of bodie. He was a great fauorer of moonks, and speciallie had Dunstane in high estimation. Aboue all things in this world he regarded peace, and studied dailie how to preserue the same, to the commoditie & aduance|ment of his subiects.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 When he had established things in good quiet, and set an order in matters as séemed to him best for the peaceable gouernement of his people, he prepared a great nauie of ships,The diligent prouision of K. Edgar for defense of the realme. and diuiding them in thrée parts, he appointed euerie part to a quarter of the realme, to wast about the coast, that no forren eni|mie should approch the land, but that they might be incountered and put backe, before they could take land. And euerie yeere after Easter, he vsed to giue order, that his ships should assemble togither in their due places: and then would he with the east nauie saile to the west parts of his realme, and sending those ships backe, he would with the west nauie saile into the north parts; and with the north nauie come backe againe into the east. This custome he vsed, that he might fcowre the seas of all pirats & theeues. In the winter season and spring time, he would ride through the prouinces of his realme, searching out how the iudges and great lords demeaned them|selues in the administration of iustice, sharpelie pu|nishing those that were found guiltie of extortion, or had done otherwise in anie point than dutie requi|red. In all things he vsed such politike discretion,Wil. Malm. that neither was he put in danger by treason of his sub|iects,into the north parts; and with the north nauie come nor molested by forren enimies.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 He caused diuerse kings to bind themselues by oth to be true and faithfull vnto him, as Kinadius or rather Induf king of Scotland,Mascutius. Malcolme king of Cumberland, Mascutius an archpirat, or (as we may call him) a maister rouer,Kings of Welshmen. and also all the kings of the Welshmen, as Duffnall, Girffith, Huvall, Iacob, and Iudithill, all which came to his court, and by their solemne othes receiued, sware to be at his comman|dement. And for the more manifest testimonie ther|of, he hauing them with him at Chester, caused them to enter into a barge vpon the water of Dée,King Edgar roweth on the water of Dée. and pla|cing himselfe in the forepart of the barge, at the helme, he caused those eight high princes to row the barge vp and downe the water, shewing thereby his princelie prerogatiue and roiall magnificence, in that he might vse the seruice of so manie kings that were his subiects. And there vpon he said (as hath him reported) that then might his successours account themselues kings of England, when they inioiedAnd for the more manifest testimonie ther|of, such prerogatiue of high and supreme honor.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The fame of this noble prince was spred ouer all, as well on this side the sea as beyond, insomuch that great resort of strangers chanced in his daies, which came euer into this land to serue him, and to sée the state of his court, as Saxons and other, yea and also Danes, Ran. Higd. King Edgar fauoureth Danes. which became verie familiar with him. He fauored in déed the Danes (as hath béene said) more than stood with the commoditie of his subiects, for scarse was anie stréet in England, but Danes had their dwelling in the same among the Englishmen, whereby came great harme:English lear|ned to quaffe of the Danes. for whereas the Danes by nature were great drinkers, the Englishmen by continuall conuersation with them learned the same vice.Wil. Malm. King Edgar to reforme in part such excessiue quaffing as then began to grow in vse, caused by the procurement of Dunstane, nailes to be set incups of a certeine measure, marked for the purpose, that none should drinke more than was assigned by such measured cups.Englishmen learne other vices of strangers. Englishmen also learned of the Sax|ons,scarse was anie stréet in England, but Danes had Flemings, and other strangers, their peculiar kind of vices, as of the Saxons a discordered fierce|nesse of mind, of the Flemings a féeble tendernesse of bodie: where before they reioised in their owne simplicitie, and estéemed not the lewd and vnprofi|table manners of strangers.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 EEBO page image 160 Dunstance was made bishop of Worcester, and had also the administration of the see of London committed vnto him. He was in such fauor with thescarse was anie stréet in England, but Danes had king,Ethelwold made bishop of Winchester. that he ruled most things at his pleasure. E|thelwold, which being first a moonke of Glastenburie, and after abbat of Abington, was likewise made bi|shop of Winchester, and might doo verie much with the king.Oswald. Floriacum. Also Oswald, which had béene a moonke in the abbeie of Florie in France, and after was made bishop of Worcester, and from thence remooued to the sée of Yorke,Moonks must néeds write much in praise of Edgar who had men of their cote in such estimatiõ was highlie in fauor with this king, so that by these thrée prelates he was most counsel|led. Iustice in his daies was strictlie obserued, for although he were courteous and gentle towards his friends, yet was he sharpe and hard to offendors, so that no person of what estate or degree soeuer he was escaped worthie punishment, if he did transgresse the lawes and ordinances of the realme. There was no priuie theefe nor common robber that durst lay hands vpon other mens goods, but he might looke to make amends with losse of his life, if he were knowne to be giltie. For how might men that did offend, thinke to escape his hands, which deuised waies how to ridIustice in his daies was strictlie obserued, for the countrie of all wild rauening beasts, that liued vpon sucking the bloud of others?A tribute instituted of woolskins. For as it is said, he appointed Iudweall or Ludweall king of Wales to present him with thrée hundred woolues yéerelie in name of a tribute, but after thrée yéeres space, there was not a woolfe to be found, and so that tribute cea|sed in the fourth yéere after it began to be paid.

6.24. The death of Alfred king Edgars wife (or concubine) causeth him to fall into a fowle offense, an example teaching men to take heed how they put others in trust to woo for them; earle Ethelwold cooseneth the king of his wife, the danger of beholding a womans beautie with lustfull eies; king Edgar killeth earle Ethelwold to marrie faire Al|fred his wife; the bloudie and vnnaturall speach of Ethel|wolds base sonne; examples of king Edgars great incontinen|cie and lewd life; Dunstane putteth the king of penance for his vnchastitie, the Welshmen rebell against him and are cor|rected, king Edgars vision before his death, of what religious (or concubine) causeth him to fall into a buildings he was founder, his example a spur to others to doo the like, moonks esteemed and secular priests little regarded, king Edgars deformed reformation, his vices, stature, and bo|dilie qualities, he offereth to fight hand to hand with Ki|nadius king of Scots vpon occasion of words euill taken, Kinadius submitteth himselfe and is par|doned; his wiues and children, the good state of the realme in king Edgars time, the amplenesse of his dominions. The xxiiij. Chapter.

The death of Alfred king Edgars wife (or concubine) causeth him to fall into a fowle offense, an example teaching men to take heed how they put others in trust to woo for them; earle Ethelwold cooseneth the king of his wife, the danger of beholding a womans beautie with lustfull eies; king Edgar killeth earle Ethelwold to marrie faire Al|fred his wife; the bloudie and vnnaturall speach of Ethel|wolds base sonne; examples of king Edgars great incontinen|cie and lewd life; Dunstane putteth the king of penance for his vnchastitie, the Welshmen rebell against him and are cor|rected, king Edgars vision before his death, of what religious (or concubine) causeth him to fall into a buildings he was founder, his example a spur to others to doo the like, moonks esteemed and secular priests little regarded, king Edgars deformed reformation, his vices, stature, and bo|dilie qualities, he offereth to fight hand to hand with Ki|nadius king of Scots vpon occasion of words euill taken, Kinadius submitteth himselfe and is par|doned; his wiues and children, the good state of the realme in king Edgars time, the amplenesse of his dominions. The xxiiij. Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _IN this meane time, Osborne and Capgraue hold that she was not his wife but a nun. Wil. Malm. Al|fred the wife of king Edgar (as some say) or rather (as o|thers write) his concubine died, of whome he had begot a sonne named Edward. The death of this woman caused the king to commit an hei|nous offense. [...]orger. For albeit at the same time the same went, that Horgerius duke of Cornewall, or rather Deuonshire, had a daughter named Alfred, a damo|sell of excellent beautie, whome Edgar minding to haue in mariage, appointed one of his noble men called earle Ethelwold, to go with all speed into Cornewall or Deuonshire, to sée if the yoong ladies beautie answered the report that went of hir, and so to breake the matter to hir father in his behalfe: yet Ethelwold being a yong ioslie gentleman, tooke his iournie into Cornewall, and comming to the duke,offense. [...]orger. For albeit at the same time the same was well receiued, and had a sight of his daughter, with whose beautie he was streight rauished so far in loue,Earle Ethel|wold dece|ueth the king of his wi [...]e. that not regarding the kings pleasure, who had sent him thither, he began to purchase the good will of both father and daughter for himselfe, and did so much that he obteined the same in déed. Herevpon returning to the king, he informed him that the da|mosell was not of such beautie and comelie perso|nage, as might he thought woorthie to match in ma|rige with his maiestie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Shortlie after perceiuing the kings mind by his wrongfull misreport to be turned, and nothing bent that way, he began to sue to him that he might with his fauour marie the same damosell: which the king granted, as one that cared not for hir, bicause of the credit which he gaue to Ethelwolds words. And so by this meanes Ethelwold obteined Alfred in ma|riage, which was to his owne destruction, as the case fell out. For when the same of hir passing beautie did spread ouer all the realme, now that she was mariedwith his maiestie. and came more abroad in sight of the people, the king chanced to heare thereof, and desirous to sée hir, deui|sed vnder colour of hunting to come vnto the house of Ethelwold, and so did: where he had no sooner set his eie vpon hir, but he was so farre wrapped in the chaine of burning concupiscence, that to obteine his purpose,King Edgar séeketh the destruction of earle Ethel|wold. he shortlie after contriued Ethelwolds death, and maried his wife.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Some say, that the woman kindled the brand of purpose: for when it was knowne, that the king would sée hir, Ethelwold willed hir in no wise to trim vp hir selfe, but rather to disfigure hir in fowle garments, and some euill fauored attire, that hir na|tiue beautie should not appeare: but she perceiuing how the matter went, of spite set out hir selfe to the vttermost, so that the king vpon the first sight of hix, beacame so farre inamored of hir beautie, that taking hir husband foorth with him on hunting into a forrest or wood then called Warlewood,King Edgar a murtherer. & after Horewood, not shewing that he meant him anie hurt, till at length he had got him within the thicke of the wood, where he suddenlie stroke him through with his dart. Now as his bastard son came to the place, the king asked him how he liked the maner of hunting, wher|to he answered;

Uerie well if it like your grace, for that that liketh you, ought not to displease me.

With which answer the king was so pacified, that he inde|uored by pretending his fauor towards the sonne, to extenuat the tyrannicall murther of the father. Then did the king marie the countesse Alfred, and of hir begat two sonnes, Edmund which died yoong, and E|theldred or Egelred.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Besides this cruell act wrought by king Edgar, for the satisfieng of his fleshlie lust, he also plaied another part greatlie to the staine of his honor, moo|ued also by wanton loue, with yoong damosell na|med Wilfrid, for after that she had (to auoid the dan|ger of him) either professed hir selfe a nun, or else for colour (as the most part of writers agrée) got hirselfe into a nunrie, and clad hir in a nuns wéed, he tooke hir foorth of hir cloister, and lay by hir sundrie times, and begat on hir a daughter named Edith, who com|ming to conuenient age,His licenti|ous life & in|continencie. was made a nun. A third example of his incontinencie is written by authors, and that is this. It chanced on a time that he lodged one night at Andeuer, and hauing a mind to a lords daughter there, he commanded that she should bee brought to his bed. But the mother of the gentlewo|man would not that hir daughter should be deflou|red: and therefore in the darke of the night broughtinto a nunrie, and clad hir in a nuns weed, he tooke one of hir maidseruants, and laid hir in the kings bed, she being both faire, proper, and pleasant.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 In the morning when the day began to appeare, she made hast to arise: and being asked of the king why she so hasted; That I may go to my daies worke if it please your grace (quoth she.) Herewith she be|ing EEBO page image 161 staied by the king, as it were against hir will, she fell downe on hir knées, & required of him that she might be made frée, in guerdon of hir nights worke. For (saith she) it is not for your honor, that the woman which hath tasted the pleasure of the kings bodie should anie more suffer seruitude vnder the rule and appointment of a sharpe & rough mistresse.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The king then being mooued in his spirits, laughed at the matter, though not from the heart, as he that tooke great indignation at the dooings of the dut|chesse, and pitied the case of the poore wench. But yet in fine (turning earnest to a iest) he pardoned all the parties, and aduanced the wench to high honor, farreshe might be made frée, in guerdon of hir nights aboue those that had rule of hir afore, so that she ru|led them (willed they nilled they:) for he vsed hir as his paramour, till he maried the foresaid Alfred.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 For these youthfull parts, & namelie for the raui|shing of Wilfride (which though she were no nun, yet the offense seemed verie heinous, for that he should not once touch anie woman shadowed vnder that habit) he greatlie displeased Dunstane,Note the déep hypocrisie of Dunstane. so that by him he was put to his seuen yéeres penance, and kept from the crowne till the 12 yeere of his reigne or more.Ran. Higd. Fabian out of Guido de Co|lum [...]. For some write that he was not crowned nor annointed king,Wil. Malm. till the 30 yeere of his age, which should be about the 13 or 14 yeere of his reigne by that account, sith he entred into the rule of the king|dome about the 16 yéere of his age. In déed one au|thor witnesseth, that he was consecrated at Bath on a Whitsunday, the 13 yéere of his reigne, and that by Dunstane archbishop of Canturburie, and Oswold archbishop of Yorke.Hen. Hunt. Ranul. Hig. But some which suppose that he was consecrated king immediatlie vpon the death of Edridus, affirme that he was crowned and an|nointed king by the archbishop Odo,Polydor. Dunstane as then remaining in exile, from whence he was imme|diatlie reuoked by Edgar, and first made bishop of Worcester (as hath beene said) and after the decease of Odo was aduanced to be archbishop of Cantur|burie.Matt. West. But by some writers it appeareth,Simon Dun. that Dun|stane was reuoked out of exile immediatlie vpon partition of the realme betwixt Edwin and Edgar, which chanced in the yéere 957, by the rebellion of thewas consecrated king immediatlie vpon the death people of Mercia, & others (as before ye haue heard:) and that in the yéere following the archbishop Odo died, after whome succéeded Alfin bishop of Winche|ster, who also died the same yeere that king Edward deceased, as he went to fetch his pall from Rome, and then Brighthelme bishop of Dorchester was e|lected archbishop. But bicause he was not able to dis|charge so great an office, by K. Edgars comman|dement he was forced to giue place to Dunstane.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Toward the latter end of king Edgars daies, Fabian. Ran. Higd. The Welsh|men rebel and are chastised. the Welshmen mooued some rebellion against him. Wherevpon he assembled an armie, and entering the countrie of Glamorgan, did much hurt in the same, chastising the inhabitants verie sharpelie for their rebellious attempts. Amongst other spoiles ta|ken in those parties at that time by the men of war, the bell of saint Ellutus was taken away, and han|ged about a horsses necke, and (as hath béene repor|ted) in the after noone, it chanced that king Edgar laid him downe to rest, wherevpon in sleepe there ap|peared Toward the latter end of king Edgars daies, Fabian. Ran. Higd. The welsh|men rebel and are chastised. the one vnto him, and smote him on the breast with a speare. By reason of which vision he caused all things that had béene taken away to be restored againe. But within nine daies after the king died. Whether anie such thing chanced, or that he had anie such vision it forceth not. Will. Malmet. Hen. Hunt. King Edgar departeth this life. But truth it is, that in the 37 yéere of his age, after he had reigned 16 yéeres and two moneths he departed this life, the 8 day of Iulie, and was buried at Glastenburie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 This Edgar is highlie renowmed of writers for such princelie qualities as appeared in him, but chief|lie for that he was so beneficiall to the church, name|lie to moonks, the aduancement of whome he great|lie sought,Wherfore Ed|gar is praised of some writers. both in building abbeies new from the ground, in reparing those that were decaied: also by inriching them with great reuenues, and in conuer|ting collegiat churches into monasteries, remoo|uing secular priests, and bringing in moonks in their places. There passed no one yéere of his reigne, wher|in he founded not one abbeie or other. The abbeie of This Edgar is highlie renowmed of writers for Glastenburie which his father had begun he finished. The abbeie of Abington also he accomplished and set in good order. The abbeies of Peterborough & Thor|nie he established. The nunrie of Wilton he founded and richlie endowed, where his daughter Edith [...] was professed, and at length became abbesse there. To be briefe,Fabian Ran. he builded (as the chronicles record) to the number of 40 abbeies and monasteries,Higd. Hen. in some of which he placed moonks,Hunt. and in some nuns. By his example in those daies, other nobles, as also pre|lates, This Edgar is highlie renowmed of writers for & some of the laitie, did begin the foundation of sundrie abbeies and monasteries: as Adelwold bi|shop of Winchester builded the abbeie of Elie, and (as some say) Peterborough &Wil. Malm. Thornie, though they were established by the king (as before is mentio|ned.) Also earle Ailewin, at the exhortation of the same bishop Adelwold,Hen. Huna. builded the abbeie of Ram|sey, though some attribute the dooing thereof vnto Oswold the archbishop of Yorke, and some to king Edward the elder.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 To conclude, Matt. West. Moonks estée|med & secular priests little regarded. the religious orders of moonks and nuns in these daies florished, and the state of secu|lar priests was smallie regarded, insomuch that they were constreined to auoid out of diuerse colleges, and to leaue the same vnto moonks, as at Worcester and Winchester, where in the new monasterie, bi|cause the kings liued not in such sort as was then thought requisite,Ran. Higd. lib. 6. cap. 9. the prebends were taken from them and giuen to vicars. But when the vicars were thought to vse themselues no better, but ratherEdward the elder. worse than the other before them, they were likewise put out, and moonks placed in their roomes by autho|ritie of pope Iohn the 13. This reformation, or ra|ther deformation was vsed by king Edgar in many other places of the realme.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 He was (as appeareth by diuers writers) name|lie in his beginning, cruell against his owne people, and wanton in lusting after yoong women (as you haue heard before.)Wil. Malm. Ran. Higd. Tho. Eliot. Of stature & proportion of bodie he was but small and low, but yet nature had inclo|sed within so little a personage such strength, that he durst incounter and combat with him that was thought most strong,Edgar small of stature but strong and hardie. onelie doubting this, least he which should haue to doo with him should stand in feare of him. And as it chanced at a great feast (where oftentimes men vse their toongs more liber|rallie than néedeth) Kenneth the king of ScotsKenneth king of Scots. cast out certeine words in this maner:

It may (saith hée) séeme a maruell that so manie countries and prouinces should be subiect to such a little silliehe was but small and low, but yet nature had inclo|sed bodie as Edgar is.

These words being borne awaie by a [...]ester or minstrell, and afterwards vttered to Edgar with great reproch, he wiselie dissembled the matter for a time, although he kept the remem|brance thereof inclosed within his breast: and vpon occasion, at length feigned to go on hunting, taking the king of Scots forth with him: and hauing cau|sed one of his seruants to conuey two swords into a place within the forrest by him appointed in secret wise, of purpose he withdrew from the residue of his companie, and there accompanied onelie with the Scotish king, came to the place where the swords were laid; and there taking the one of them, deli|uered the other to the Scotish king,The noble courage of king Edgar. willing him now to assaie his strength, that they might shew by EEBO page image 162 proofe whether of them ought to be subiect to the o|ther;

Start not, but trie it with me (saith he:) for it is a shame for a king to be full of brags at bankets, and not to be readie to fight when triall should be made abroad.

The Scotish king herewith being a|stonied and maruellouslie abashed, fell downe at his féet, and with much humilitie confessed his fault, & desired pardon for the same, which vpon such his humble submission king Edward easilie granted.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 This noble prince had two wiues, Egelfrida or Elfrida, surnamed the white, the daughter of a migh|tie duke named Ordiner, by whome he had issue a sonne named Edward that succéeded him. His se|cond wife was called Alfreda the daughter of Or|gar duke of Deuon or Cornewall (as some saie) by whome he had issue Edmund that died before his father, and Egelred which afterwards was king. Also he had issue a base daughter named Editha, begotten of his concubine Wilfrid (as before ye haue heard.)Wil. Malm. The state of the realme in king Ed|gars daies was in good point, for both the earth gaue hir increase verie plentiouslie, the elements shew|ed themselues verie sauorable, according to the course of times: peace was mainteined, and no in|uasion by forraine enimies attempted. For Edgar had not onelie all the whole Ile of Britaine in sub|iection, but also was ruler & souereigne lord ouer all the kings of the out Iles that lie within the seas about all the coasts of the same Britaine euen vnto the realme of Norwaie. He brought also a great part of Ireland vnder his subiection,Ireland sub|iect to king Edgar. with the citie of Dublin, as by authentike records it dooth and may appeare.

6.25. Contention amongest the peeres and states about succession to the crowne, the monkes remoued and the canons and secular priests restored by Alfer duke of Mercia and his adherents, a blasing starre with the euents insuing the same, the rood of Winchester speaketh, a prettie shift of moonks to defeat the priests of their possessions, the contro|uersie betweene the moonks and the priests ended by a mira|cle of archbishop Dunstane, great hope that Edward would tread his fathers steps, the reuerent loue he bare his stepmo|ther queene Alfred and hir sonne Egelred, hir diuelish pur|pose to murther Edward hir stepsonne accomplished, his ob|scure funerall in respect of pompe, but famous by meanes of miracles wrought by and about his sepulture, queene Alfred repenting hir of the said prepensed murther, dooth penance, and imploieth hir substance in good woorkes as satisfactorie for hir sinnes, king Edwards bodie remoued, and solemn|lie buried by Alfer duke of Mercia, who was eaten vp with lice for being against the said Edwards aduancement to the crowne, queene Al|freds offense by no meanes excusable. The xxv. Chapter.

Contention amongest the peeres and states about succession to the crowne, the monkes remoued and the canons and secular priests restored by Alfer duke of Mercia and his adherents, a blasing starre with the euents insuing the same, the rood of Winchester speaketh, a prettie shift of moonks to defeat the priests of their possessions, the contro|uersie betweene the moonks and the priests ended by a mira|cle of archbishop Dunstane, great hope that Edward would tread his fathers steps, the reuerent loue he bare his stepmo|ther queene Alfred and hir sonne Egelred, hir diuelish pur|pose to murther Edward hir stepsonne accomplished, his ob|scure funerall in respect of pompe, but famous by meanes of miracles wrought by and about his sepulture, queene Alfred repenting hir of the said prepensed murther, dooth penance, and imploieth hir substance in good woorkes as satisfactorie for hir sinnes, king Edwards bodie remoued, and solemn|lie buried by Alfer duke of Mercia, who was eaten vp with lice for being against the said Edwards aduancement to the crowne, queene Al|freds offense by no meanes excusable. The xxv. Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 _AFter the deceasse of king Edgar,Edward. there was some strife and contention amongst the lords & péeres of the realme about the succession of the crowne:Some write that the father king Edgar appointed Edward to succéed him. for Alfred the mo|ther of Egelredus or Ethel|redus,Simon Dun. and diuers other of hir opinion,Iohn Capg. would gladlie haue aduanced the same Egelredus to the rule: but the archbishop Dunstan taking in his hands the baner of the crucifix, pre|sented his elder brother Edward vnto the lords as they were assembled togither, and there pronounced him king, notwithstanding that both queene Alfred and hir friends, namelie Alfer the duke of Mercia were sore against him, especiallie for that he was begot in vnlawfull bed of Elfleda the nun, for which offense he did seuen yeares p [...]nance, and not for li|eng with Wilfrid (as maister Fox thinketh.) But Dunstane iudging (as is to be thought) that Ed|ward was more fit for their behoofe to continue the world in the former course as Edgar had left it,After duke of Mercia and other imme [...]|atlie vpon Edgars death before the crowne was establi|shed, remooued the moonks and restored the canons. Simon Dun. than his brother Egelred (whose mother and such as tooke part with hir vnder hir sonnes authoritie were like|lie inough to turne all vpside downe) vsed the mat|ter so, that with helpe of Oswald the archbishop of Yorke, and other bishops, abbats, and certeine of the nobilitie, as the earle of Essex and such like, he preuailed in his purpose, so that (as before is said) the said Edward, being the second of that name which gouerned this land before the conquest, was admitted king, and began his reigne ouer England in the yeare of our Lord 975,975 in the third yeare of the emperour Otho the second, in the 20 yeare of the reigne of Lothar king of France, and about the fourth yeare of Cumelerne king of Scotland. He was consecrated by archb. Dunstane at King|ston vpon Thames, to the great griefe of his mother in law Alfred and hir friends.Wil. Malm. ¶About the beginning of his reigne a blasing starre was seene, signifieng (as was thought) the miserable haps that followed. And first there insued barrennesse of ground, and thereby famine amongest the people, and morraine of cattell.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Also duke Alfer or Elfer of Mercia,Alfer or El|fer duke of Mercia. and other noble men destroied the abbies which king Ed|gar and bishop Adelwold had builded within the li|mits of Mercia. The priests or canons, which had beene expelled in Edgars time out of the prebends and benefices, began to complaine of the wrongs that were doone to them, in that they had beene put out of possession from their liuings, alleging it to be a great offense and miserable case, that a stranger should come and remoue an old inhabitant, for such maner of dooing could not please God, not yet be allowed of anie good man, which ought of reason to doubt least the same should hap to him which he might sée to haue béene an other mans vndooing. A|bout this matter was hard hold, for manie of the temporall lords,Iohn Cap [...] and namelie the same Alfer, iudged that the priests had wrong.Wil. Malm. In so much that they remoued the moonks out of their places,Ran. Higd. and brought into the monasteries secular priests with their wiues.Matt. West. But Edelwin duke of the Eastangles, & Alfred his brother,Simon Dun. with Brightnoth or Brighnode earle of Essex, withstood this dooing, & gathering an armie, with great valiancie mainteined the moonks in their houses, within the countrie of Eastangles. Herevpon were councels holden,Simon Dun. as at Winche|ster, at Kirthling in Eastangle, and at Calne.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 At Winchester,Polydor. when the matter was brought to that passe that the priests were like to haue had their purpose, an image of the rood that stood there in the refectorie where they sat in councell, vttered certeine woords in this wise; God forbid it should be so, God forbid it should be so: ye iudged well once, but ye may not change well againe.A pretie shift of the moonks to disappoint the priests. As though (saith PolydorPolydor. Virgil) the moonks had more right, which had berest other men of their possessions, than the priests which required restitution of their owne. But (saith he) bi|cause the image of Christ hanging on the crosse was thought to speake these words, such credit was giuen thereto, as it had béene an oracle, that the priests had their sute dashed, and all the trouble was ceassed. So the moonks held those possessions, howsoeuer they came to them, by the helpe of God, or rather (as saith the same Polydor) by the helpe of man. For there were euen then diuers that thought this to be rather an oracle of Phebus than of God, that is to say, not published by Gods power, but by the fraud and craf|tie deceit of men.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 EEBO page image 163 The matter therefore was not so quieted, but that vpon new trouble an other councell was had at a manour house belonging to the king,Wil. Malm. called Calne, where they that were appointed to haue the hearing of the matter, sat in an vpper lost. The king by rea|son of his yoong yéeres do was spared, so that he came not there. Héere as they were busied in arguing the matter, either part laieng for himselfe what could be said, Dunstane was sore reuiled, and had sundrie re|proches laid against him: but suddenlie euen in the verie heat of their communication, the ioists of the loft failed, and downe came all the companie, so that manie were slaine and hurt, but Dunstane alone standing vpon one of the ioists that fell not, escaped safe and sound.Dunstane by woorking mi|racles had his will, when ar|guments fai|led. And so this miracle with the other made an end of the controuersie betwéene the priests and moonks, all the English people following the mind of the archbishop Dunstane, who by meanes thereof had his will.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 In this meane while, king Edward ruling him|selfe by good counsell of such as were thought discréet and sage persons, gaue great hope to the world that he would walke in his fathers vertuous steps, as al|readie be well began, and bearing alwaie a reue|rence to his mother in law, and a brotherlie loue to hir sonne Egelred, vsed himselfe as became him to|wards them both.Polydor. Afterward by chance as he was hunting in a forrest néere the castell of Corfe,Wil. Malms. where his mother in law and his brother the said Egelred then soiourned, when all his companie were spred a|broad in following the game, so that he was left a|lone, he tooke the waie streight vnto his mother in lawes house, to visit hir and his brother. The quéene hearing that he was come,The wicked purpose of quéene Alfred. was verie glad thereof, for that she had occasion offered to woorke that which she had of long time before imagined, that was, to slea the king hir sonne in law, that hir owne sonne might inioy the garland. Wherefore she required him to alight, which he in no wise would yéeld vnto, but said that he had stolne from his companie, and was onelie come to see hir and his brother, and to drinke with them, and therefore would returne to the forrest againe to sée some more sport.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The queene perceiuing that he would not alight, caused drinke to be fetched, and as he had the cup at his mouth,The shameful murther of K. Edward. by hir appointment, one of hir seruants stroke him into the bodie with a knife, wherevpon féeling himselfe wounded, he set sprres to the horsse thinking to gallop awaie, and so to get to his compa|nie. But being hurt to the death, he fell from his horsse, so as one of his féet was fastened in the stir|rup, by reason whereof his horsse drew him foorth through woods and launds, & the bloud which gushed out of the wound shewed token of his death to such as followed him, and the waie to the place where the horsse had left him.Matth. West. That place was called Corphes gate or Corfes gate.Fabian. His bodie being found was bu|ried without anie solemne funeralls at Warham.Sim. Dun. For they which enuied that he should inioy the crowne,Wil. Malm. enuied also the buriall of his bodie within the church: but the memorie of his fame could not so secretlie be buried with the bodie, as they imagi|ned. For sundrie miracles shewed at the place where his bodie was interred, made the same famous (as diuerse haue reported) for there was sight restored to the blind,Miracles. health to the sicke, and hearing to the deafe, which are easilier to be told than beléeued.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Quéene Alfred also would haue ridden to the place where he laie, mooued with repentance (as hath béene said) but the horsse wherevpon she rode would not come neere the graue, for anie thing that could be doone to him. Neither by changing the said horsse could the matter be holpen: for euen the same thing happened to the other horsses. Heerevpon the woman perceiued hir great offense towards God for mur|thering the innocent, and did so repent hir afterward for the same, that besides the chastising of hir bodie in fasting, and other kind of penance, she imploied all hir substance and patrimonie on the poor [...],Building of abbeies in those daies was thought to be a full sa|tisfaction for all maner of sinues. and in building and reparing of churches and monasteries. She founded two houses of nuns (as is said) the one at Warwell, the other at Ambresburie, and finallie professed hirselfe a nun in one of them, that is to say, at Warwell, which house she builded (as some af|firme) in remembrance of hir first husband that was slaine there by king Edgar for hir sake (as before is mentioned.)

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 The bodie of this Edward the second, and surna|med the martyr, after that it had remained thrée yeeres at Warham where it was first buried,Elferus. was remooued vnto Shaftesburie, and with great reue|rence buried there by the forenamed Al [...]er or Elfer, duke of Mercia, who also did sore repent himselfe, in that he had beene against the aduancement of the said king Edward (as ye haue heard.) But yet did not he escape woorthie punishment: for within one yéere after,Polydor. he was eaten to death with lice (if the hi|storie be true.)Will. Malmes. King Edward came to his death after he had reigned thrée yéeres, or (as other write) thrée yéeres and eight moneths. ¶Whatsoeuer hath béene reported by writers of the murther committed on the person of this king Edward, sure it is that if he were base begotten (as by writers of no meane cre|dit it should appéere he was in déed) great occasion vndoubtedlie was giuen vnto quéene Alfred to seeke reuenge for the wrongfull keeping backe of hir son Egelred from his rightfull succession to the crowne: but whether that Edward was legitimate or not, she might yet haue deuised some other lawfull meane to haue come by hir purpose, and not so to haue procu|red the murther of the yoong prince in such vnlawfull maner. For hir dooing therein can neither be woorthi|lie allowed, nor throughlie excused, although those that occasioned the mischiefe by aduancing hir step|sonne sonne to an other mans right, deserued most blame in this matter.