5.87. Brightrichus.
Brightrichus.
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1
[figure appears here on page 199] AFter Kene|wulfe,
Brigh|tricus.
Hen. Hunt. Mat. VVeſt. hath .787. Simon Dun. hath
.786.
one Bricrichus, or Brightri [...] was ordeyned King of Weſt Sax|ons, and began his raign in the yeare
of oure lord .787. which was aboute the viij. yeare of the gouernment of the
Empreſſe Eirene with hir ſonne Conſtantinus, and about the ſecond yeare of
the raigne of Achaius king of Scottes.
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1 This Brightrike was
procreate of the [...]ue of Cerdicius the firſt king of Weſt Saxons, and xvj. in number from
him. He was a man of na|ture quiet and temperate, more deſirous of peace
than of warre, and therefore he ſtoode in doubt of ye noble valiancie of
one Egbert, which after ſuc|ceeded him in the kingdome. The linage of
Cer|dicius was in that ſeaſon ſo cõfoũded and ming|led, that euerie one as
he grew to greateſt power, ſtroue to be king and ſupreme gouernor. But
ſpe|cially Egbertus was knowne to be one that co|ueted the place, as hee
that was of the blou [...] royall, and a man of greate power and luſti [...] courage.
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1 King Brightrike therefore
to liue in more ſuretie, baniſhed him the l [...]nde,Egbert bani|ſhed. and appoynted EEBO page image 200 him to goe into Fraunce.
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1 Egbert vnderſtanding for
certaine that this his departure into a forraine Countrey ſhoulde turne to
his aduauncement in time to come, o|beyed the kings pleaſure.
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1 About the thirde yeare of
Brightrykes raigne, there fell vpon mens garmentes as they walked
abrode,A ſtraunge wonder. Croſſes of bloudie
colour, and bloud fell from heauen as drops of raigne.
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1
Mat. VVeſt. VVil. Malm. Hen. Hunt. Danes.
Some tooke this wonder for a ſignification of the perſecution that followed by the Danes: for ſhortly
after in the yeare enſuing, there arryued three Daniſh ſhippes vpon the
Engliſh coaſtes, againſt whome the Lieutenant of the parties ad|ioyning made
forth to apprehend thoſe that were come a lande, howbeeit aduenturing
himſelfe o|uer raſhly amongeſt them, he was ſlaine: but afterwardes when the
Danes perceyued that the people of the Countreyes aboute beganne to
aſ|ſemble, and were comming agaynſt them, they fled to theyr ſhippes, and left their pray and ſpoile
behinde them for that time.
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1 Theſe were the fyrſt
Danes that arryued here in this lande, beeing onely ſente (as was perceyued
after) to viewe the Countrey, and coaſtes of the ſame, to vnderſtande howe
with a greater power they myght bee able to inuade it, as ſhortly after they
did, and warred ſo wyth the Engliſhe men, that they got a greate part [...] of the lande, and helde it in theyr owne poſſeſſion.
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1 In the tenth yeare of
King Brightrykes raigne, there were ſeene in the ayre fyrie Dra|gons flying,
whiche betokened (as was thought) two grieuous plagues that followed. Fyrſt
a greate dearth and famine: and ſecondly the cruell warre of Danes,Famine and warre ſignified which ſhortly followed, as
yee ſhall heare.
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1 Finally, after that
Brightrike had raigned the ſpace of .xvj. yeares, he departed this life, and
was buried at Warham.
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1 Some wryte that hee was
poyſoned by hys wife Ethelburga,
Ran. Ceſtren. li. 5. cap. 25. Brightrike de|parted thiſ
life whom he maryed in the fourth yeare of his raigne. Shee was
daughter vnto Offa King of Mercia (as before yee haue heard.) Shee is noted
by wryters to haue beene a verye euill woman, proude, and high mynded as
Lu|cifer,Ethelburga hir conditions and wicked
nature. and therewyth diſdaynfull. Shee bare hir the more ſtately
by reaſon of hir fathers greate fame and magnificence: whome ſhee hated ſhee
woulde accuſe to hir huſbande, and ſo
put them in daunger of theyr lyues. And if ſhe might not ſo wreake hir
rancour, ſhee woulde not ſticke to poyſon them.
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1 And ſo it happened one
daye, as ſhee ment to haue poyſoned a yong Gentleman, agaynſte whome ſhee
hadde a quarell, the King chaun|ced to taſte of that Cuppe, and dyed therof
(as be|fore ye haue heard.)
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1 Hir purpoſe indeede was
not to haue poyſoned the King, but onely the yong Gentleman, the which
drinking after the King died alſo, the poy|ſon was ſo ſtrong and
vehement.A [...] of the kings of the Weſt Saxons agaynſt their wiues.
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1 For hir heynous cryme it
is ſayde that the Kings of Weſt Saxons woulde not ſuffer their wyues to be
called Queenes, nor permitte them to ſit with them in open places (where
their Ma|ieſtie ſhoulde bee ſhewed) of manye yeares after.
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1 Ethelburga fearing
puniſhment, fledde into Fraunce with greate ryches and treaſure, and was wel
cheriſhed in the Court of King Charles at the firſt, but after ſhe was
thruſt into an Ab|bey, and demeaned hirſelf ſo lewdly there,The ende of Ethelburga. Simon Dan.
in kee|ping companie with one of hir owne Countrey men, that ſhee
was baniſhed the houſe, and after died in great miſerie.
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1
Egbert king of Mercia departing this lyfe,
after he had raigned foure Monethes,VVil. Mal.
Kenulf.
ordeyned his couſin Kenulfe to ſucceede in his place, which Kenulfe
was come of the lyne of Penda king of Mercia, as rightly decended from hys
brother Kenwalke.
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1 This Kenulfe for his
noble courage, wiſe|dome, and vpryght dealing, was worthie to be cõpared
with the beſt Princes that haue raigned. His vertues paſſed hys fame:
nothing hee dyd that enuye coulde with iuſte cauſe reproue. At home hee
ſhewed hymſelfe godlye and [...]ligi|ous, in warre hee became victorious,The
Archbi|ſhops ſea re|ſtored to Can|terburie. hee reſto|red the
Archbiſhoppes Sea agayne to Canter|burie, wherein hys humbleneſſe was to be
pray|ſed, that made no accounte of any worldly ho|nour in hys Prouince, ſo
that the order of the auncient Canons might be obſerued. Hee had warres left
him as it were by ſucceſſion from his Predeceſſour Offa agaynſte them of
Kent, and therevppon entering that Countrey wyth a mightie armie, waſted and
ſpoyled the ſame, and encountering in battayle wyth King Ed|bert, or
Ethelbert, otherwiſe called alſo Pre [...],The king of Kent take [...] priſoner. ouerthrewe his armie, and tooke him pryſoner in
the fielde, but afterwardes he releaſed, him to his great prayſe and
commendation. For where as hee buylded a Churche at Winchcombe vp|on the day
of the dedication thereof, hee ledde the Kentiſhe King as then hys pryſoner
vp to the highe Aulter, and there ſette him at libertye, declaring thereby a
greate proufe of hys good nature.
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1 There was preſent at that
ſight, Cuthred whõ he had made king of Kent in place of Ethelbert, or
Edbert, with .xiij. Biſhoppes and ten Dukes. The noyſe that was made of the
people in reioy|ſing at the kings bounteous liberalitie was mer|ueylous. For
not only he thus reſtored ye Kentiſh EEBO page image 201 King to
libertie,Kenulfes libe|rality-towards Churchmen, which
was not forgotten by them in their hiſtories. but alſo he beſtowed
greate re|wards vpon all the Prelates and noble men that were come to the
feaſt, euery Prieſt had a peece of golde, and euery monke a ſhilling. Alſo
hee gaue away great giftes amongſt the people, and foun|ded in that place an
Abbey, endowing the ſame with great poſſeſſions. Finally, after he had
raig|ned .24. yeares, he departed this life, and appoyn|ted his buriall to
be in ye ſame Abbey of Winch|come, leauing behind him a ſon named Kenelme,
who ſucceeded his father in the
Kingdome, but was ſoone murthered by hys vnnaturall ſiſter Quenbred the
ſeuenteenth of Iuly, as hereafter ſhall be ſhewed.
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1
2
3
4
5
6 AFter that Aſwald King of
Northumberland was made away,Oſred. 788 VV. Mal.
Mat. VVeſt. H. Hunton. Sim. Dunel. his brother Oſred the ſonne of
Alred tooke vppon him the rule of that Kyng|dome anno .788. and within one
yere was expul|ſed, and lefte the Kingdome to Ethelbert or E|delred as then
reuoked out of exile, in whiche hee had
remayned for the ſpace of .12. yeres, and nowe beeing reſtored, he continued
in gouernemente of the Northumbers four yeares, or as ſome ſay .7.
yeres.Duke Eardulf taken and wounded. In the
ſecond yere whereof Duke Eardulfe was taken and led to Ripon, &
there without the gate of the monaſterie wounded, as was thought to death by
the ſaid K. but the Monks taking his body, and laying it in a tent without
the Church, after midnight he was found aliue in ye Churche. Moreouer,
about the ſame time, ye ſonnes of king
Alfwald wer by force drawen out of the Citie of Yorke, but firſte by a wile
they were trayned out of the head Church where they had taken Sanc|tuary,
& ſo at length miſerably ſlain by K. Ethel|bert in Wonwaldremere,
the one of them highte Alfus, and the other Alfwine. In the yeare of oure
Lord .792.792 Oſred vpon truſt of the othes and
pro|miſes of dyuers noble men, ſecretly returned into Northumberland, but
his own ſouldiers forſooke him, and ſo was he taken and by king Ethelberts
commaundement put to death at Cunburg on ye fourtenth day of September. The
ſame yere K. Ethelbert married ye Lady Alfled the daughter of Offa King of
Mercia, forſaking his former wife which he had, hauing no iuſt cauſe of
diuorſe gi|uen on hir part, whereby his people tooke ſuch diſ|pleaſure
againſte him, that finally after he hadde raigned now this ſecond time four
yeres, or (as o|ther haue) ſeuen yeres, he could not auoyde the de|ſteny of
his predeceſſors, but was miſerably kil|led by his owne ſubiects at Cobre,
the eightenth day of April. After whome, one Oſwald a noble man, was
ordeyned K. and within a .27. or .28. dayes after, was expulſed, &
cõſtreined to flee firſt into the Iſle of Lindeſferne,Holy ilande. Ardulf. & frõ thence vnto the K. of Pictes.
Then Ardulfe yt was a Duke, & ſon to one Arnulfe, was reuoked out
of exile, & made K. & cõſecrated at Yorke by ye Archb.
Cumbalde, & three other Biſhops, the .25. of Iune, in the yere 796.
About a two yeres after, to witte,796 in the yere
798. one Duke Wade, and other conſpirators whiche had bin alſo partakers in
ye murthering of K. Ethelbert, reyſed war againſte. K. Ardulf, and fought a
battell with him at Walley,Walalege. but K.
Ar|dulf got ye vpper hand, & chaſed Wade & other his
enimies out of the field. In the yeare .799.799
Duke Aldred that had murthered Ethelbert or Athelred K. of Northumberlande,
was ſlaine by another Duke called Chorthmond, in reu [...]ge of the death of his maſter ye ſaide Ethelbert. Shortly after,
a|bout ye ſame time yt Brightrike K. of Weſt Sa|xons departed this life,
there was a ſore battell foughten in Northumberlãd at Wellehare, in ye
which Alrick ye ſon of Herbert, and many other wt
[figure appears here on page 201] him were ſlain: but to reherſe all the battels with their
ſucceſſes and iſſues,The Engliſh|men afflicted each other
with ciuill warre. it ſhoulde be too tedious & irkſome to
ye readers, for the Engliſh people be|ing naturally hard and high minded,
continually ſcourged each other with inteſtine warres. About ſixe or ſeuẽ
yeres after this battel, K. Ardulf was expulſed out of ye eſtate. And thus
may ye conſider in what plight things ſtoode in Northumberlãd, by the often
ſeditious tumultes and chaungings of gouernors, ſo that there be which haue
writtẽ, EEBO page image 202 how after the death of King Ethelbert otherwiſe
called Edelred, diuers Biſhops and other of the chiefeſt nobles of the
countrey diſdeyning ſuche trayterous prince quellings, ciuill ſedition, and
in|iurious dealings, as it were put in dayly practiſe amongſt the
Northumbers, departed out of their natiue bordures into voluntary exile, and
that frõ thencefoorth there was not any of the nobilitie, that durſt take
vpon him the kingly gouernement amongſt them, fearing the prerogatiue
deſtiny thereof, as if it had bin
Se [...]anes horſe, whoſe rider came euer to ſome euil end. But yet by
that whi|che is heeretofore ſhewed out of Simon Dunel|menſis, it is euident,
that there raigned Kings o|uer the Northumbers, but in what authority and
power to command, it may be doubted: Howbeit this is certaine, that the
ſundry murderings and baniſhmentes of their kings and Dukes giue vs greatly
to geſſe, that there was but ſory obediẽce vſed in the countrey, wherby for
no ſmall ſpace of time that kingdome
remayned without an head gouernor, beeing ſet open to the pray and iniurie
of them that were bordurers vnto it, and likewiſe vnto ſtraungers: for the
Danes whiche in thoſe dayes were great rouers, had landed before in the
North partes,This chanced in the vere of our Lorde 793.
as Simon Dunel. hath. & ſpoyled the Abbey of Lindeſ [...]e [...]ne otherwiſe called holy iland, & perceiuing ye
fruite|fulneſſe of the countrey, & eaſineſſe for their people to
inuade it (bycauſe that through their priuate quarelling, there was little
publike reſiſtance to be loked for) at
their comming home, entiſed their countreymen to make viages into England,
and ſo landing in Northumberlande,The Danes inuade
Nor|thumberland. did much hurt, and obteined a great part of ye
countrey in maner without reſiſtance, bycauſe there was no Ruler there able
to reyſe any power of men by publike authoritie to encounter with the common
eni|mies, by reaſon whereof, ye countrey was brought into great miſerie,
what through war of Danes, & the ciuil diſſention amongſt the nobles
and peo|ple themſelues, no man being of
authority (I ſay) able to reforme ſuch miſorders. Yet we finde, that the
nobles and Captaines of the countrey, aſſem|bling togither at one time
againſte the Danes yt were landed about Tinemouth,The
Danes vanquiſhed. conſtreined them by ſharp fight to flee back to
their Shippes, & toke certain of thẽ in the field, whoſe heads they
ſtroke off there vpon the ſhore.This was anno [...]94. as Simon Dunel. hath. The other that gote to their
Shippes, ſuffered greate loſſe of men, & like|wiſe of their veſſels
by tempeſt.
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1 After that Alrike (the
laſt of K. Witchtredes ſonnes which raigned in Kent ſucceſſiuely after their
father) was dead, the noble ofſpring of the kings there ſore decayed, and
begã to fade away, ſo yt euery one which eyther by flattering had gote
riches togither, or by ſeditious pertaking was had in eſtimation, ſought to
haue the gouernmẽt and to vſurp ye title of King, abuſing by vnwor|thy
meanes the honor and dignitie of ſo high an office. Amongſt other,Edbrig [...]. one Edbert or Edelberte ſurnamed alſo Prenne, gouerned the
Kentiſhmen for the ſpace of two yeres, & was in the ende van|quiſhed
by them of Mercia, and taken priſoner as before is ſaid, ſo that for a time
he liued in capti|uitie, & although afterwardes he was ſet at
liber|tie, yet was he not receyued againe to the Kyng|dome, ſo that it is
vncertaine what end he made. Cuthred that was appointed by Kinevulfe ye K.
of Mercia, to raigne in place of the ſaide Edberte or Edelbert, continued in
the gouernement eyght yeres as king, rather by name than by acte,
inhe|riting his predeceſſors euill happe and calamitie, through factions and
ciuill diſcord.
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1 After that Iambrith or
Lambert the Archbi|ſhop of Canterburie was departed this life,Lambert. one Edelred was ordeined in his place, vnto
whome the primacie was reſtored, which in his predeceſ|ſors time was taken
away by Offa K. of Mer|cia, as before is recited. Alſo after ye deathe of
Eu|balde Archbiſhop of Yorke, another of the ſame name called Eubald the
ſecond, was admitted to ſucceede in that ſee.
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1 After that Brightrike ye
K. of Weſt Saxons was departed this life, meſſengers were ſent with all
ſpeede into Fraunce, to giue knowledge there|of vnto Egberte, which as
before is ſhewed, was conſtreined by the ſaide Brightrike to departe the
countrey. At the firſt, he withdrew vnto Offa K. of Mercia, with whom hee
remained for a tyme, til at length, through ſuite made by Brightrike, he
perceiued hee mighte not longer continue there withoute danger to be
deliuered into his enimies hands, and ſo Offa winking at the matter) he
de|parted out of his countrey, and gote him ouer in|to Fraunce, but being
now aduertiſed of Bright|rikes death, and required by earneſt letters ſente
from his friends to come and receiue the gouern|ment of the Kingdome, he
returned with al con|uenient ſpeede into his countrey, and was recey|ued
immediately for King,Egbert recey|ued King of Weſt
Saxons. His lignage. by the generall con|ſent of the Weſt Saxons,
as well in reſpect of ye good hope which they had conceiued of his wor|thy
qualities and aptneſſe to haue gouernement, as of his royall lignage, beeing
lineally diſcended from Inegild the brother of K. Inas, as ſonne to
Alkemounde, that was the ſonne of one Eaffa, which Eaffa was ſonne to Ope
the ſonne of the foreſayd Inegild.
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1 THis Egbert began his
raigne in the yeare of our Lord .8 [...].
Egbert. 802. as Simon Dunel. and M. W. hath [...] but 801. as William Har|riſon [...] it our of Mal. whiche was the fourth yeare al|moſt ended,
after that the Emperour Eirine be|gan the ſeconde time to rule the Empire,
and in the . [...]4. yere of the raigne of Charles the great K. of France, whiche alſo
was in the ſame yere after he was made Emperour of the Weſt, and about the
ſecond yere of Conwall King of Scottes.
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1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
EEBO page image 203Whileſt this Egbert remayned in exile, he tur|ned his
aduerſaries into occaſion of valiancie, as it had bin a grindelſtone to
grind away & remoue the ruſt of ſluggiſh ſlouthfulnes, in ſo much,
that haunting ye wars in France, in ſeruice of Charles the Great, he
atteined to great knowledge & expe|rience, both in matters
apperteyning to the wars, & likewiſe to ye well ordering of a
common welth in time of peace. The firſt warres that he tooke in hand, after
he had atteyned to ye kingdom, was a|gainſt the Corniſhmẽ, a remeinãt of the old Bri|taines, whome he ſhortly
ouercame and ſubdued. Thẽ he thought good to tame ye vnquiet Welch|men,
yt which ſtil were ready to moue Rebellion againſt the Engliſhmen, as they
that being van|quiſhed,Sim. Dunel. H. Hunton.
woulde not yet ſeeme to bee ſubdued, wherefore about the .14. yere of his
raigne, he in|uaded the countrey of Wales, and went through the ſame frõ
Eaſt to Weſt, not finding any per|ſon ye durſt reſiſt him. Thus K. Egbert
hauing ouercome his enimies of Wales and
Cornewall began to growe in authoritie aboue all the other rulers within
this lande, in ſo much, that euery of thẽ began to feare their owne
eſtate,Bernulf K. of Mercia but namely
Bernevulf K. of Mercia ſore ſtomaked the mat|ter, as he that was wiſe,
& of a iolly loftie courage, and yet doubted to haue to do with
Egbert, who was knowen alſo to be a man both ſkilfull & va|liant. At
length yet cõſidering with himſelfe, that if his chance ſhould be to ſpeede
well, ſo much the more ſhuld his praiſe he increaſed. He determined to
attempt the fortune of war, & thervpõ intima|ted the ſame vnto
Egbert, ye whiche ſuppoſing it ſhoulde be a diſhonor to him to giue place,
boldly prepared to meete Bernulfe in the field. Heere vp|pon they encountred
togither at Ellendone,A batel fo [...] at Ellendone. and fought a ſore battell, in ye which an
huge [...] of men were ſlaine, what on the one part,Egbert
wa [...] the victory [...]. & on ye other, but in the ende the victory
remained with Egbert, although he had not yt like hoſt for m [...]m|ber
[figure appears here on page 203] vnto Bernullfe, but he was a
politike prince, & of great experience, hauing choſen his Souldiers
of nimble, leane, and deliuer mẽ, wher Bernulfes Souldiers through long
eaſe, were cowardly per|ſons,VV. Mal. 826
& ouercharged with fleſh. This
battell was fought in the yere of our Lord .826. King Egbert hauing got this
victory, was aduanced into ſuch hope that he perſwaded himſelf to be able
without greate adoe to ouercome the reſidue of his neigh|bours, whoſe
eſtates he ſaw playnely ſore weake|ned & fallen in great decay. Her
vpon before all o|ther, he determined to aſſaile Edelvulf K. of Kẽt, whome
he knew to be a [...] in no eſtimation a|mongſt his ſubiects. A competent army therefore
being leuied,Alſtan
Biſhop of Shireborne a warrioure. he apointed his ſon Ethelvulf
& Al|ſtane Biſhop of Shireborne, with erle Walhard to haue the
conduit thereof, & ſente them with the ſame into Kent, where they
wrought ſuche mai|ſteries, that they chaſed both the K. & al other
that would not ſubmit thẽſelues out of the countrey, cõſtreining them to
paſſe ouer the Thames.The conqueſts of the Weſt
Saxons. And herewith the Weſt Saxõs follwowing the vic|tory
brought vnder ſubiection or king Egbert the countreys of Kẽt, Eſſex,
Southrey, and Suſſex. The Eaſt Angles alſo about the ſame time recei|ued K.
Egbert for their ſoueraigne Lord,Hen. Hu [...] & com|forted by his ſetting on againſte Bernulfe
king of Mercia, inuaded ye confines of his Kingdome, in reuenge of
diſpleaſures whiche he had done to thẽ lately before, by inuading their
countrey: & as it came to paſſe, encountring with the ſaid Bernulf
which came againſt them to defend his countrey,Bernulfe K
Mercia ſlay they ſlew him in the field. And thus their myndes on
both parts being kindled into further wrath, ye Eaſt Angles eftſones in ye
yere following, fought with thẽ of Mercia, & ouercame them againe,
and ſlew their K. Ludicenus that ſucceeded Bernulfe in that kingdome, with
.5. of his Erles. Thus the ſtate of the kingdome of Mercia being weakened,
Egbert conceiued an aſſured hope of good ſucceſſe in the .17. yere of his
raigne, made an open inuatiõ into yt countrey, & chaſing Whitlafe
K. of Mer|cia (yt ſucceeded Ludicenus) out of his eſtate, con|quered ye
whole kingdom of the Mercies. But yet EEBO page image 204 in the yere
next following, or in the third yere af|ter (as ſaith Harriſon,) he reſtored
it againe vnto Wightlafe, with condition, that he ſhould enioy the ſame as
tributary to him, and acknowledge him for his ſupreme gouernour.
[...] Dunel. The ſame yeare that Bernvulf K. of Mercia was ſlain
by ye Eaſt Angles,
[...] were [...]orniſh| [...]s is to [...]ppoſed. there was a ſore battell foughten at Ga|uelforde,
betwixte them of Deuonſhire, and the Britaynes, in the whiche many thouſands
dyed on both parts. King Egbert hauing conquered al the Engliſh people, inhabiting on the South ſide of
Humber, led foorth his army againſte them of Northumberland: but the
Northumbers beeyng not only vexed with ciuil ſedition, but alſo with ye
often inuaſion of Danes, perceiued not how they ſhould be able to reſiſt the
power of K, Egbert:King Egbert inuadeth Northũberlãd
The Northũbers ſubmit them to Kyng Egbert. & therfore
vpon good aduiſement taken in the mat|ter, they reſolued to ſubmit
themſelues, & therevpõ ſent Ambaſſadors to him to offer their
ſubmiſſiõ, cõmitting themſelues wholly vnto his protectiõ.
[figure appears here on page 204] King Egbert gladly receiued them, &
promiſed to defend them from all forraine
enimies. And thus the kingdome of Northumberland was brought vnder
ſubiectiõ to the kings of the Weſt Saxõs, after the ſtate had bin ſore
weakened with contẽ|tion and ciuill diſcord that had continued amõgſt the
nobles of the countrey, for the ſpace of many yeres, beſide the inuaſion
made by outwarde eni|mies, to ye greenous domage of the people. After ye
K. Egbert had finiſhed his buſineſſe in Northũ|berlãd, he turned his power
towards the countrey of Northwales,
[...]. Higd. Northw [...]les [...] the Citie [...] Cheſter [...]quered by [...]bert. & ſubdued ye ſame with the Citie of Cheſter,
which till thoſe dayes, the Britaynes or Welchmen had kept in their
poſſeſſion. Whẽ K. Egbert had obteined theſe victories, and made ſuch
conqueſts as before is mentioned, of the peo|ple here in this lande [...]he cauſed a counſell to be aſ|ſembled at Wincheſter, and there by
aduice of the high eſtates, hee was Crowned K. as ſoueraigne gouernour, and
ſupreme Lord of the whole land. It is alſo recorded, that hee cauſed
commiſſion to be directed forth into all
partes of ye Realme, to giue commandement, that frõ thence forwarde al the
people inhabiting within this land, ſhould bee called Engliſhmẽ,
[...]he name of [...] Ile when [...] was chãged. & not Saxõs, & likewiſe ye
lãd ſhould be called England by one generall name, though it ſhould appeare
(as before is mentioned) that it was ſo called ſhortly after the firſte time
yt the Angles & Saxons gote poſſeſſiõ therof. Now was K. Egberte
ſetled in good quiet, and his do|minions reduced out of ye troubles of
warre, when ſuddaynely newes came,The Danes. that
the Danes with a nauie of .xxxv. ſhips, were arriued on ye Engliſhe
coaſtes, & began to make ſore war in the land. K. Egbert being
thereof aduertiſed, with all conue|nient ſpeede gote togither an army,
& went foorth to giue battell to the enimies. Herevpon encoun|tring
with them, there was a ſore foughten fielde betwixt them, and continued with
great ſlaugh|ter on both ſides, till the night came on, and then by chance
of warre the Engliſhmen which before were at pointe to haue gone away with
victory;The Engliſh|men diſco [...]i|ted by Danes. Sim. Dunel.
were vanquiſhed and put to flight, yet K. Egbert by court of the
night eſcaped his enimies hands, but two of his chiefe Captaines Dudda and
Oſ|mond, with two Biſhops, to witte,H. Hunton.
Hereferde of Wincheſter, and Vigferd of Shireborne,Math.
VVeſt. were ſlayne in that battel, which was foughtẽ at Car|rum,
about the .834. of Chriſt,834 Danes and Welchmen
vanquiſhed. Here begin|neth [...] to [...] the [...] of the Danes. Hengeſt [...]. 836 Math. [...]. Egbert [...]. and .34. yeare of K. Egberts raigne. In ye yere
following, the Danes with their name came into Weſt Wales, and there the
Welchmen ioyning with them, roſe a|gainſt K. Egbert, but he with proſperous
fortune vanquiſhed and ſlew, both ye Danes & Welchmẽ, &
that in great nũber, at a place called Hengiſten|tõ. The next yere after
alſo, which was .836. he o|uerthrew another army of Danes which came
a|gainſt him, as on author writeth. Finally, whẽ K. EEBO page image 205 Egbert had raigned the tearme of .36. yeres, [...] .7. monethes with greate glory for the enlarging of his kingdome with
ſo wide boundes, which when he receiued,
837 Mat. VVest. was of ſo ſmall a compaſſe, he depar|ted
this life, leauing to his iſſue matter of worthy praiſe to mainteyne that
with good order whiche he with painefull diligence had ioyned togither. His
body was buried at Wincheſter, and he lefte behind him two ſonnes
Ethelvoulfe, otherwiſe named Athaulfe and Adelſtan. The firſte he ap|poynted
to ſucceede him in the kingdom of Weſt
Saxons, and Athelſtan hee ordeined to haue the gouernement of Kent, Suſſex,
and Eſſex.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
VVil. Mal.After that Cuthred K. of Kent had
raigned .8. yeres, as before is mentioned, he was conſtreyned to giue place
vnto one Baldred, that tooke vppon him the gouernment, and raigned the ſpace
of .18. yeres, without any greate authoritie, for his ſub|iects regarded him
but ſorily, ſo that in the ende, when his countrey was inuaded by the Weſt
Saxons, he was eaſily conſtreyned to
departe in|to exile. And thus was the kingdome of Kent an|nexed to the
kingdome of the Weſt Saxons, af|ter the ſame kingdome had continued in
gouern|mente of kings created of the ſame nation for the ſpace of .382.
yeres,The ende of the kingdome of Kent. 827
yeres, that is to ſay, from the yeare of our Lord .464. vnto the yere
.827.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Suithred or Suthred K. of
Eſſex was van|quiſhed and expulſed out of his kingdom by Eg|bert K.The end of the Kingdome of Eaſtſex. of Weſt Saxons
(as before ye may reade) in the ſame yere
that the kentiſhmen were ſubdu|ed by the ſaid Egbert, or elſe very ſhortly
after.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 This Kingdome continued
.281. yeres, from the yere .614. vnto the yere .795. as by the table of the
Heptarchie ſet foorth by Alexander Neuill it appeareth.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 After the deceſſe of
Kenvulfe K. of Mercia, his ſonne Kenelme a child of the age of .7. yeares
was admitted K.
Mat. VVeſt. 821 The wicked|neſſe of Quẽ|dred. about the
yere of our Lord .821. Hee had two ſiſters, Quendred, and Burgenild, of the
which the one (that is to ſay)
Quendrede, of a ma|litious minde, moued through ambition, enuyed hir
brothers aduauncemente, and ſought to make him away, ſo that in the ende,
ſhe corrupted ye go|uernor of his perſon one Aſhberte, with greate
re|wardes and high promiſes, perſwading him to diſpatch hir innocent brother
out of life, that ſhee might raigne in his place. Aſhbert one day vnder a
colour to haue the yong king foorthe on hun|ting,King
Ke|nelme mur|thered. led him into a thicke wood, and there cut off
the head frõ his body, an Impe by
reaſon of his tẽder yeres & innocent age, vnto the world voyde of
gilt, & yet thus trayterouſly murthered with|out cauſe or crime: he
was afterward reputed for a Martir. There hath gone a tale that his death
ſhould be ſignified at Rome, and the place where the murther was committed,
by a ſtraunge man|ner: for (as they ſay) a white Doue came and a|light vpon
the Aulter of Saint Peter, bearyng a ſcroll in hir [...], which ſhe let fall on the ſame Aul|ter, in which ſcroll among other
things this was contreyned, in Cle [...]c Ko [...] Bath, Keneline Ken|barne lieth vnder thorne, heaued betraned that is,
at Clenc in a Cow paſture, Keneline the Kyngs Child lieth beheaded vnder a
thorne. This tale I reherſe [...] for any credite I thinke it [...] of, but only for yt it ſeemeth the place where the yong Prince
innocently loſt his life.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 After that Keneline was
thus made away,Ceolwolf K. of Mercia. 823 his
Vncle Ceolwolfe the Brother of King Kenulfe was [...]rea [...]ed King of Mercia, and in the ſeconde yeare of his raigne, was
expulſed by Bernwolfe.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Bernwolfe in the thirde
yeare (or ſeconde as Harriſon hath) of his raigne, was vanquiſhed and put to
flight in battell by Egbert King of Weſt Saxons, and ſhortly after [...] of the Eaſt an|gles as before ye haue heard.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Then one Ludi [...]nus or Ludicanus was cre|ated King of Mercia, and within two yeres
after came to the like ende that hap [...]es to his predeceſ|ſor before him, as he [...] about to reuenge hys death, ſo that the Kingdome of Britayne began
now to rec [...]e from their owne eſtate, and leane to an alteration, which grew in
the end to the erectiõ of a per [...]t Monarchie, and finall ſubuerſion of their perticular eſtates and
regiments.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 After Ludicenus,
ſucceeded Wightlafe,Mat. VVeſt 728
who firſt being vanquiſhed by Egbert, King of Weſt Saxons, was
afterwardes reſtored to the King|dome by the ſame Egbert, and raigned
thirtene yeres, whereof twelue at the leaſt were vnder tri|bute which he
payed to the ſaid Egbert and to his ſonne, as to his Soueraignes and ſupreme
go|uernoures.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 The Kingdome of
Northumberlande was brought in ſubiection to the Kings of Weſt Sa|xons, as
before is mentioned, in the yeare of oure Lord .828.828 and in ye yeare of the raigne of K. Eg|bert .28. but yet
here it tooke not ende as after ſhall appeare.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
3 EThelwoulfus otherwiſe
called by ſome wri|ters Athaulfus,Ethel|wolfus.
began his raigne ouer ye Weſt Saxons in the yeare .837. which was in the
.24. yere of the Emperour Ludouicus Pius that was alſo K. of France, in the
.10. yeare of Theophilus ye Emperour of the Eaſt, & about the third
yere of Kenneth the ſeconde of that name K. of Scottes. This Ethelvoulf
minding in his youth to haue bin a Prieſt, entred into the orders of
Subdeacõ,Hen. Hunt. Math. VVeſt. and as ſome
write, he was Biſhop of Winche|ſter: but howſoeuer the matter ſtoode, or
whether he was or not, ſure it is, that ſhortly after he was aſſoyled of his
vowes by authoritie of Pope Leo, and then maried a proper Gentlewoman named
Oſburga, which was his butlers daughter. Hee was of nature curteous, and
rather deſirous to EEBO page image 206 liue in quiet reſt, than to be
troubled with the go|uernement of many countreys,
[...]V. Mal. ſo that cõtenting himſelfe with the kingdome of
Weſt Saxons, he permitted his brother Athelſtan to enioy the reſi|due of the
countreys, which his father had ſubdu|ed, as Kent, and Eſſex, with other. He
ayded the K. of Mercia Burthred againſt the Welchmen, and greatly aduanced
his eſtimation, by gyuyng vnto him his daughter in marriage. But now the
fourth deſtruction which chanced to this lande by forraine enimies,
[...]our eſpeciall [...]ſtructions [...] this land. was at hande, for the people of Denmarke,
Norway, and other of thoſe North|eaſt regions, which in that ſeaſon were
greate ro|uers by Sea, had taſted the wealth of this land by ſuch ſpoiles
and prayes as they hadde taken in the ſame, ſo that perceiuing they coulde
not purchaſe more profit any where elſe, they ſet their myndes to inuade the
ſame on each ſide, as they had part|ly begun in the days of the late kings
Brightrike and Egbert.Hen. Hunt. Simon Dun. The
perſecutiõ vſed by theſe Danes ſeemed
more greeuous, than any of the other per|ſecutions, either before or
ſithence that time: for ye Romanes hauing quickly ſubdued the land,
go|uerned it nobly withoute ſeeking the ſubuerſion thereof. The Scottes and
Pictes only inuaded ye North partes. And the Saxons ſeeking the con|queſt
of the land, when they had once gote it, they kept it, and did what they
could, to better and ad|uance it to a floriſhing eſtate. And likewiſe the
Normans hauing made a conqueſt, graunted
both life, libertie, and auntient lawes to the for|mer inhabitants: But the
Danes long time and often aſſayling the land on euery ſide, now inua|ding it
in this place, and now in that, did not at ye firſt ſo much couete to
conquere it, as to ſpoyle it, nor to beare rule in it, as to waſt &
deſtroy it: who if they were at anye time ouercome, the victorers were
nothing the more in quiet: for a new nauie, and a greter army was ready to
make ſome new inuaſiõ neither did they enter all at one place,The Danes ſought the [...]eſtruction of this lande. nor at once, but one company on the Eaſt ſide, & an
other in the Weſt, or in the Northe and Southe coaſtes, in ſuche ſorte, that
the Engliſhmenne knew not whether they ſhoulde firſte goe to make reſiſtance
againſt them.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
3
4 This miſchiefe beganne
chiefly in the days of this K. Ethelwoulf, but it continued aboute the ſpace
of two hundred yeares,How long the per [...]ecution of the Danes laſted. as by the ſequele of this Booke
it ſhall appeare. King. Ethelwoulf was not ſo muche giuen to eaſe, but that
vpõ oc|caſion for defence of his countrey
and ſubiectes, he was ready to take order for the beating backe of the
enimies, as occaſion ſerued, and ſpecially, hee choſe ſuch to be of his
coũſel,VVil. Malm. as were mẽ of great
experience & wiſdome. Amongſt other, there were two notable
Prelates,Two notable Biſhops in E|thel wolfes
dayes. Suithune Biſhoppe of Wincheſter, & Adelſtan Biſhop
of Shireborne, whiche were readie euer to giue him good aduice. Suithune was
not ſo muche experte in worldly matters as Adelſtan was, & therefore
chiefly coũ|ſelled the K. in things apperteining to his ſoules health: But
Adelſtan tooke in hand to order mat|ters apperteining to the ſtate of the
cõmon welth, as prouiding of money, and furniſhing foorthe of men to
withſtand the Danes, ſo that by him ma|ny things were both boldly begun,
& happily at|chieued, as by writers hath bin recorded. He go|uerned
the ſee of Shireborne, ye ſpace of .50. yeres, by the good counſell and
faithfull aduice of thoſe two Prelates. K. Ethelwoulf gouerned his ſub|iects
right politikely, & by himſelfe and his Cap|taines oftẽtimes put
the Danes to flight, though as chance of warre falleth out, he alſo receyued
at their hands great loſſes, & ſundry ſore detriments. In ye firſt
yere of his raigne,Simon Dun. Hen. Hunt. the Danes
arriued at Hampton, with .33. ſhips, againſte whom he ſente Erle Wulhard
with part of his army, the whiche giuing battell to the enimies, made great
ſlaugh|ter of them, and obteyned a noble victory.Danes
diſcom|fited. Math. VVeſt.
He ſent alſo Erle Adelhelme with the Dorſetſhire men, againſt an
other number of Danes, whiche were landed at Porteſmouth, but after long
fighte,Engliſhmen put to fight. the ſayde
Adelhelme was ſlaine, and the Danes ob|teyned the victory. In the yeare
following, Earle Herbert fought againſte ye Danes at Merſeware, and was
there ſlaine, and his men chaſed.They are eftſones
van|quiſhed. The ſame yere, a great army of Danes paſſing by the
Eaſt parts of the land, as through Lindſey, Eaſt Angle, and Kent, they flew
& murthered an huge number of people. The next yere after this, they
entred further into the lande, and about Canter|bury, Rocheſter, and Londõ,
did much miſchiefe. In the fifth yere of his raigne, K. Ethelwoulfe wt a
parte of his army encountred with the Danes at Carrum,Carrum. the whiche were arriued in thoſe par|ties with .30.
Ships, hauing their full fraughte of men, ſo that for ſo ſmall a number of
veſſels, there was a great power of men of warre, in ſo muche, that they
obteined the victory at that time,The Danes wan [...]e the victory in battell. Danes are vanquiſhed. Simon Dun.
851 and put the K. to the woorſe. About the tenth yeare of K.
Ethelwoulfes raigne, one of his Captaynes called Ernwoulfe, & Biſhop
Athelſtan, with the Sommerſetſhire men, and an other Captayne called Oſred,
with the Dorſetſhire men, foughte againſte the Danes, at a place called
Pedredeſ|muth, and vanquiſhed them with great triumph. In the ſixtenth yere
of his raigne, K. Ethelwoulf and his ſonne Edelbald hauing aſſembled al
their powers togither, gaue battell at Ocley,Ocley. to an huge oſte of Danes, the which with four hundred and
fiftie Ships had arriued at Thaimes mouth,Two hundred and
fiftie Ships hath Hen. Hunt. and deſtroyed the famous Cities of
London, and Canterbury, & alſo had chaſed in battell Bright|woulf K.
of Mercia, and being nowe entred into Southrey, were encountred by K.
Ethelwoulfe at Ocley aforeſaid, and after fore fight and incre|dible EEBO page image 207 ſlaughter made on both ſides, in the end the
victory by the power of God was giuen to thoſe that beleeued on him, and ye
loſſe reſted with great confuſion to the miſtreantes.The
Danes eftſoones vanquiſhed. Thus K. Ethel|wolfe obteined a
glorious victory in ſo mightie a battell, as the greater had not bin lightly
hard of to chance within the Engliſh dominions. The ſame yeere alſo
Athelſtan K. of Kent and Duke Ealher [...] fought by Sea with the Danes,Danes ouer|come by
Sea. & tooke time of their Ships, and chaſed the reſidue.
More|ouer, one Earle Ceorle hauing with
hym the po|wer of Deuonſhire, foughte with the Danes, at Winleſhore,The D [...]uon|ſhire men vã|quiſhe the Danes. and gote the victory.
This yere was very luckie to the Engliſh nation, but yet the [...]|mie of the Danes lodged al the Winter ſeaſon in the Iſle of Tanet.
And this was the firſt tyme yt they remayned heere all the Winter, vſing
afore time but to come and make an inuaſion in one place or other, and
immediately to returne home with the pray.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
3
4
5
Sim. Dun. 852
In the .18. yere of King Ethelwoulfes raigne, he aided Burthred King
of Mercia, agaynſte the Welchmen as before is mentioned,) and gaue to him
his daughter in marriage, the ſolemnization whereof was kept at Chip [...]ham. The ſame yere King Ethelwoulfe ſent his ſonne Alvred as then but
fiue yeres of age vnto Rome, where hee was ſacred K. by Pope Leo the fourth,
& was receiued of him as if he had bin his owne ſonne. Duke E|alhere
or Eachere with the Kentiſhmen, and one
Huda or rather Wada, with the men of Sou|threy, fought againſt the army of
Danes at Te|net,Great ſlaugh|ter of Danes a [...] Tenet. where greate ſlaughter was made on bothe ſides, the
Engliſhmen preuailing in the begyn|ning, but in the ende both their foreſaid
Dukes or leaders dyed in that battel, beſide many other that were ſlaine and
drowned. In the nineteenth yere of his raigne, K. Ethelwoulfe ordeined, that
the tenthes or tithes of all landes due to bee payed to the Church, ſhould be free from all tribute duties, or
ſeruices regall. And afterwards, with great de|uotion he went to Rome, where
he was receyued with great honor, and taried there one whole yere: hee tooke
with him his ſon Alvred, who had bene there before as yee haue heard. He
repared the Saxons ſchoole,The Saxons ſcoole.
whiche Offa K. of Mercia had ſometime founded in that Citie, and lately
hadde bin ſore decayed by fire. He confirmed the graunt of Peter Pence, to
the intent that no Engliſhmẽ from thencefoorth ſhould doe penance in
boundes as he ſawe ſome there to do before
his face.King Ethel|wolfes libera|litie to Chur|ches.
VVil. Mal. Sim. Dunel.
It is alſo written, that he ſhoulde acquit all the Chur|ches of his
Realme of paying tribute to his cof|fers (as before ye haue heard) and
moreouer coue|naunted to ſend vnto Rome euery yere three hũ|dred Markes,
that is to wit, one hundred Markes to S. Peters Churche,Mancuſa. an other hundred Markes to S. Paules light, and the
third hundred markes to the Pope: In his returne through Fraunce, he married
the Lady Iudith,The Lady Iudith. daughter to
Charles yt Bald, then K. of France; and [...] hir with him into his coũtrey, placed hir by him in a chai [...]e of eſtate, with which doing he [...] ſo yt minds of his ſubiects, bicauſe it was againſt the order t [...]|kẽ before time, for the offence of [...] the [...], that his ſonne Ethelbalde and [...]o [...]lſ [...]an Biſhoppe of Shireborne,VVil. Mal [...]
with Enwoulf Earle of Sommer|ſet, conſpired to depoſe [...] his [...]
[...]|thoritie, but by mediation of friendes, the [...] was taken vp, and ſo ordrod, that the kingdome was deuided betwixte
the father and the ſon with ſuch parcialitie, that the ſonne had the better
parte lying Weſtward, and the father was [...] to conte [...]ite himſelfe with the Eaſt parte and the worſt. Of this trouble of
Ethelwoulf, Harriſon writeth ſomewhat otherwiſe, and after this man|ner word
for word .857. Ethelwoulf K. of ye weſt Saxons beeing returned from Rome
and ye par|ties beyond the Seas, is prohibited the entraunce into his
Realme, by Alſtone [...] Shereborne, & Ethelbald his eldeſt ſonne, pretending
outward|ly his coronation of Alfride ye marriage of Iudith the French kings
daughter and open eating with hir at the Table, to be the only cauſe of this
theyr manifeſt Rebelliõ. Hitherto Harriſon: wherby he ſeemeth to inferre,
that this reuolting of Alſtane and his ſon, ſhould proceede of the ambitious
de|ſire of Ethelbald to raigne, and likely ynough, or elſe this vnequall
partition ſhould neuer haue bin made. But howſoeuer ye matter ſtoode, K.
Ethel|woulf liued not long after his returne frõ Rome, but departed this
life after he hadde gouerned the kingdome of the Weſt Saxons the ſpace of
. [...]0. yeres and odde monethes. His body was buryed at Wincheſter. He left
behind him . [...]. ſonnes, E|thelbald, Ethelbert, or Ethelbright, Ethelred and Alfred
or Alvred, which were begotten of his firſt wife Oſburga.Only Weſtſe [...] hath Mat. W. and Simon Dunel. ſayth that Ethel|bright land Suſſex
alſo, and ſo doth Hen. Hunt. A little before his death hee made
his Teſtament & laſt will appointing his ſon E|thelbald to ſucceede
him in the whele regiment of his kingdomes of Weſtſex and Suſſex, which he
held by inheritance: but the kingdomes of Kente & Eſſex he aſſigned
to his ſon Ethelbright. About the ſame time alſo the Danes ſoiourned all the
Winter ſeaſon in the Iſle of Skeepey.Bertwolf King of
Mercia.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 After Wightlafe K. of
Mercia, one Bertwolf raigned as tributary to ye Weſt Saxons yt ſpace of
.12. yeres about ye ende of which tearme he was chaſed out of yt countrey
by the Danes, & thẽ one Burthred was made K. of that kingdome,Math Weſt. ſaith t [...]e daughter. Ran. Ceſtren. Iohn Cap.
which married Ethelſwida ye ſiſter of Ethelwoulf K. of Weſt Saxons.
In this ſeaſon, one Modwine a virgin in Ireland was greatly renowmed in the
world, vnto whom the forenamed K. Ethelwolf ſent his ſon Alvred to be cured
of a ſore diſeaſe, yt was thoughte incurable: but by hir meanes her EEBO page image 208 recouered healthe, and therefore when hir Mona|ſterie was
deſtroyed in Ireland, Modwen came ouer into England, vnto whome K.
Ethelwolfe gaue land to build two Abbeyes, and alſo deliue|red vnto hir his
ſiſter Edith to bee profeſſed a Nunne. Modwen herevpon built two
Monaſte|ries, one at Poule ſworth, ioyning to the boundes of Arderne, wherin
ſhe placed the foreſaid Edith, with Oſyth and Athea: the other, whether it
was a Monaſterie or cell, ſhe founded in Stren [...]ſhall or Trentſall, where ſhe hir
ſelfe remained ſolitary a certain time in praier, and other vertuous
exer|ciſes. And as it is reported, ſhee went thrice to Rome, &
finally dyed, being .130. yeres of age. Hir body was firſte buried in an
iland compaſſed a|bout with the Riuer of Trent called Andreſey, taking that
name of a Church or Chappell of S. Androw, which ſhe had builte in the ſame
Iland, and dwelled therein for the ſpace of ſeuen yeares. Many Monaſteries
ſhe built, both in Englande, (as partly
aboue is mentioned) and alſo in Scot|land, as at Striuelius, Edenbrough, and
in Ire|land, at Celleſtl [...]ne, and elſe where.