6.10. The kingdome of Kent annexed to the kingdome of the Westsaxons, the end of the kingdome of Kent and Essex; Kenelme king of Mercia murthered by the meanes of his owne sis|ter Quendred, the order of hir wicked practise; his death prophesied or foreshewed by a signe, the kings of Mercia put by their roialtie one after another, the kingdome of Bri|taine beginneth to be a monarchie; 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 afflicted and troubled the same; two notable bishops and verie seruiceable to king Ethelwulfe in warre, the Danes discomfited, the Eng|lishmen chased, Ethelwufs great victorie ouer the Danes, a great slaughter of them at Tenet, king Ethelwulfs deuotion and liberalitie to churches, Peter pence paid to Rome, he ma|rieth the ladie Iudith, his two sonnes conspire (vpon oc|casion of breaking a law) to depose him, king Ethel|wulfe dieth, his foure sonnes by his first wife Osburga, how he bequeathed his kingdoms. The tenth Chapter.
The kingdome of Kent annexed to the kingdome of the Westsaxons, the end of the kingdome of Kent and Essex; Kenelme king of Mercia murthered by the meanes of his owne sis|ter Quendred, the order of hir wicked practise; his death prophesied or foreshewed by a signe, the kings of Mercia put by their roialtie one after another, the kingdome of Bri|taine beginneth to be a monarchie; 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 afflicted and troubled the same; two notable bishops and verie seruiceable to king Ethelwulfe in warre, the Danes discomfited, the Eng|lishmen chased, Ethelwufs great victorie ouer the Danes, a great slaughter of them at Tenet, king Ethelwulfs deuotion and liberalitie to churches, Peter pence paid to Rome, he ma|rieth the ladie Iudith, his two sonnes conspire (vpon oc|casion of breaking a law) to depose him, king Ethel|wulfe dieth, his foure sonnes by his first wife Osburga, how he bequeathed his kingdoms. The tenth Chapter.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 _WHen Cuthred K. of Kent had reigned 8 yeeres,Wil. Malm. as be|fore is mentioned, he was constreined to giue place vnto one Baldred, that tooke vpon him the gouernment, & reig|ned 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 West|saxons, he was easilie constreined to depart into ex|ile. 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,The end of the kingdome of Kent. that is to say, from the yéere of our Lord 464, vnto the yéere 827.827 Suithred or Suthred king of Essex was vanquished and expelled out of his kingdome by Egbert king of Westsaxons (as before ye maie read) in the same yéere that the Kentishmen were subdued by the said Egbert,The end of the kingdome of Essex. or else verie shortlie af|ter. This kingdome continued 281 yeeres, from the yéere 614, vnto the yeere 795, as by the table of the Heptarchie set foorth by Alexander Neuill appee|reth. After the deceasse of Kenwulfe king of Mercia,Matt. Westm. his sonne Kenelme a child of the age of seuen yéeres was admitted king, about the yeere of our Lord 821.821 He had two sisters,The wicked|nes of Quen|dred. Quendred and Burgenild, of the which the one (that is to say) Quendred, of a ma|licious mind, mooued through ambition, enuied hir brothers aduancement, and sought to make him a|waie, 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 inno|cent brother out of life, that she might reigne in his place. Ashbert one day vnder a colour to haue the yoong king foorth on hunting, led him into a thicke wood, and there cut off the head from his bodie,King Kenelm murthered. an impe by reason of his tender yéeres and innocent age, vnto the world void of gilt, and yet thus traite|rouslie murthered without cause or crime: he was afterward reputed for a maryr.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 There hath gone a tale that his death should be signified at Rome, Sée legendae aured. fol. [...] in the life of S. Kenelme. and the place where the murther was committed, by a strange manner: for (as they say) a white [...]oue came and sighted 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 liou bath, Ke|nelme kinbarsie [...]eth vnder thorne, heaued be [...]ea|ued: that is, at Clene in a [...], Keneline the kings child lieth beheaded vnder a thorne. This tale EEBO page image 140 I [...]ehearse, 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.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 5 After that Kenelme was thus made awaie,Ceolwulfe K. of Mercia. his vncle Ceolwulfe the brother of king Kenulfe was created king of Mercia,823 and in the second yéere of his reigne was expelled by Bernwulfe. Bernwulfe in the third yéere of his reigne, was vanquished and put to flight in battell by Egbert king of Westsax|ons, and shortlie after slaine of the Eastangles, as before ye haue heard. Then one Ludicenus or Ludi|canus 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 exection of a perfect monarchie, and finall subuersion of their par|ticular estates and regiments.Matt. Westm. After Ludicenus, suc|ceeded Wightlafe,728 who first being vanquisht by Eg|bert king of Westsaxosn, 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 gouer|nours. The kingdome of Northumberland was brought in subiection to the kings of Westsaxons, as before is mentioned, in the yéere of our Lord 828,828 and in the yéere of the reigne of king Egbert 28, but yet béere it tooke not end, as after shall appéere.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 Ethelwulfus,Ethel|wulfus. otherwise called by some writers A|thaulfus, began his reigne ouer the Westsaxons in the yéere 837, which was in the 24 yéere of the em|peror Ludouicus Pius that was also K. of France, in the tenth yéere of. Theophilus the emperor of the East, & about the third yéere of Kenneth, the second of that name king of Scots. This Ethelwulfe min|ding in his youth to haue béene a priest, entered into the orders of subdeacon, and as some write, he was bishop of Winchester:Henrie Hunt. Marth. West. 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 go|uernment of manie countries,Wil. Malm. so that contenting himselfe with the kingdome of Westsaxons, he per|mitted his brother Adelstan to inioy the residue of the countries which his father had subdued, as Kent and Essex, with other. He aided Burthred the king of Mercia against the Welshmen, and greatlie ad|uanced his estimation, by giuing vnto him his daughter in mariage.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 But now the fourth destruction which canced to this land by forren enimies,Foure especi|all destructi|ons of this land. 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 pro|fit anie where else, they set their minde to inuade the same on ech side, as they had partlie begun in the daies of the late kings Brightri [...]e and Egbert. The perfecution vsed by those Danes séemed more grée| [...]ous,Simon Dun. Hen. Hunt. than anie of the other persecutions, either be|fore or sithens that time: for the Romans hauing quicklie subdued the land, gouerned it noblie without seeking the subuersion thereof. The Scots and Picts onelie inuaded the north parts. And the Saxons see|king the conquest of the land, when they had once go it, they kept it, and did what they could, to better and aduance it to a flourishing estate.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 The Normans likewise hauing made a conquest. granted both life, 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 no|thing the more in quiet: for a new nauie, and a grea|ter armie was readie to make some new inuasion,The Danes sought the di+struction of this land. 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.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 This mischiefe began chieflie in the daies of this king Ethelwulfe, but it continued about the space of two hundred yeeres,How long the persecution of the Danes la|sted. as by the sequele of this booke it shall appéere. King Ethelwulfe was not so much gi|uen 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,Will. Malm [...]. as were men of great experience and wisedome. A|mongst other,Two notable bishops in E|thelwults daies. there were two notable prelats, Sui|thune bishop of Winchester, and Adelstan bishop of Shireborne, who were readie euer to giue him good aduise. Suithune was not so much expert in worldlie matters as Adelstan was, & therefore chieflie coun|selled the king in things apperteining to his soules health: but Adelstan tooke in hand to order matters apperteining to the state of the commonwealth, as prouiding of monie, and furnishing foorth of men to withstand the Danes, so that by him manie things were both boldlie begun, and happilie atchiued, as by writers hath béene recorded. He gouerned the sée of Shireborne the space of 50 yéeres, by the good coun|sell and faithfull aduise of those two prelats.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 King Ethelwulfe gouerned his subiects verie po|litikelie, 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 los|ses, and sundrie sore detriments.Simon Dut. Hen. Hunt. In the first yéere of his reigne, the Danes arriued at Hampton, with 33 ships, against whome he sent earle Wulhard with part of his armie, the which giuing battell to the eni|mies, made great slaughter of them,Danes dis|comfited. and obteined a noble victorie.Matth. West. He sent also earle Adelhelme with the Dorsetshire men against an other number of the Danes, which were landed at Portesmouth, but af|ter long fight,Englishmen put to flight. the said Adelhelme was slaine, and the Danes obteined the victorie. In the yéere following, earle Herbert fought against the Danes at Merse|ware, and was there slaine,They are eft|soones van|quished. and his men chased. The same yeere, a great armie of Danes passing by the east parts of the land, as through Lindsey, Eastan|gle, and Kent, slue and murthered an huge number of people. The next yéere after this, they entered fur|ther into the land, and about Canturburie, Roches|ter, and London, did much mischiefe.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 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 30 ships,Carrum. hauing their 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,The Danes wan the victor|rie in battell. Danes are quished. Simon. Dun. 851 and put the king to the woorse. About the tenth yéere of king Ethelwulfs reigne one of his capteins called Ernwulfe, and bi|shop Adelstan, with the Summersetshire men, and an other capteine called Osred, with the Dorsetshire men, fought against the Danes, at a place called Pedredesmuth, and vanquished them with great tri|umph. In the sixtéenth yeere of his reigne, king E|thelwulfe and his sonne Edelbald hauing assembled EEBO page image 141 all their powers togither, gaue battell at Ocley, to [...] huge host of Danes, [...] the which with foure hun|dred and fiftie ships had arriued at Thames mouth, and destroied the famous cities of London and Can|turburie, and also had chased Brightwulfe king of Mercia in battell, and being now entered into Son|therie, were incountered by king Ethelwulfe at Oc|ley aforesaid, & after sore fight and incredible slaugh|ter made on both sides, in the end, the victorie by the power of God was giuen to those that beléeued on him, and the losse rested with great confusion to the miscreants.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 Thus king Ethelwulfe obteined a glorious victo|rie in so mightie a battell,The Danes [...] van|quished. as a greater had not beene lightlie heard of to chance within the English dominions. The same yeere also Athelstan king of Kent and duke Ealhere fought by sea with the Danes,Danes ouer|come by sea. and tooke 9 of their ships, and chased the resi|due. Moreouer, one earle Ceorle hauing with him the power of Deuonshire,The Deuon|shiremen van|quish the Danes. fought with the Danes at Winleshore, and got the victorie. This yéere was ve|rie 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 re|mained 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.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 In the 18 yeere of king Ethelwufes reigne,Simon Dun. 852 he aided Burthred king of Mercia against the Welsh|men (as before is mentioned) and gaue to him his daughter in marriage, the solemnization whereof was kept at Chipnham. The same yéere king Ethel|wulfe 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 Wa|da, with the men of Southerie, fought against the ar|mie of Danes at Tenet,Great slaugh| [...] Danes [...]. 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 o|ther that were slaine and drowned.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 In the 19 yéere of his reigne, king Ethelwulfe or|deined that the tenths or tithes of all lands due to be paid to the church, should be frée from all tribute, du|ties, or seruices regall. And afterwards, with great deuotion he went to Rome, where he was receiued with great honour, and taried there one whole yeere: he tooke with him his sonne Alured, who had béene there before as ye haue heard. He repaired the Sax|ons schoole,The Saxons schoole. which Offa king of Mercia had sometime founded in that citie, and latelie had béene sore decai|ed by fire. He confirmed the grant of Peter pence, to the intent that no Englishmen from thence-foorth should doo penance in bounds as he saw some there to doo before his face.King Ethel|wulfs libera|litie to chur|ches. Will. Malmes. Simon Dun. Man [...]usae. It is also written, that he should acquit all the churches of his realme of paieng tri|bute to his coffers (as before ye haue heard) & moreo|uer 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.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 In his returne thorough France, he married the ladie Iudith,The ladie Iudith. daughter to Charles the bald, then K. of France, and bringing hir with him into his coun|trie, placed hir by him in a chaire of estate, with which déed he offended so the minds of his subiects, bi|cause 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,Wil. Malm. conspired to depose him 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.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 Of this trouble of Ethelwulfe some write other|wise, after this manner word for word.857 ¶Ethel|wulfe 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; preten|ding outwardlie the coronation of Alfride, the mari|age of Iudith the French kings daughter, and open eating with hir at the table, to be the onelie cause of this their manifest rebellion. Whereby he séemeth to inferre, that this reuolting of Adelstane and his son, should procéed of the ambitous desire of Ethelbald to reigne, and likelie inough, or else this vnequall partition should neuer haue béene made.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 But howsoeuer the matter stood, king Ethel|wulfe liued not long after his returne from Rome, but departed this life, after he had ruled the king|dome of the Westsaxons the space of 20 yéeres and od moneths. His bodie was buried at Winchester. He left behind him foure sonnes, Ethelbald, Ethel|bert or Ethelbright, Ethelred, and Alfred or Alured, which was begotten of his first wife Osburga. A lit|tle before his death he made his testament and last will,Onelie West|sex saith Mart. Westm. and Sim. Dunel. saith that E|thelbright had Sussex also, and so dooth H. Hunt. 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 tune 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,Matth. Paris. after this maner following.
Ethelwulfe the sonne of Egbert,
- the son of Alcmund,
- the son of Eaffa,
- the son of Eoppa,
- the son of Ingils,
- the son of Kenred,
- the son of Coelwald,
- the son of Cudwine,
- the son of Ceawlin,
- the son of Kenric,
- the son of Cerdic,
- the son of Eslie,
- the son of Gewise,
- the son of Wingie,
- the son of Freawin,
- the son of Fridagare,
- the son of Brendie,
- the son of Beldegie,
- the son of Woden,
- the son of Frethelwold,
- the son of Freolaffe,
- the son of Frethewolfe,
- the son of Finnie,
- the son of Godulfe,
- the son ofDe quo Sedu|lius in car. pasch. Geta,
- the son of Teathwie,
- the son of Bcame,
- the son of Sceldie,
- the son of Seafe,
- the son of Heremod,
- the son of Itermod,
- the son of Hordie,
- the son of Wale,
- the son of Brdwie,
- the son of Sem,
- the son of Noah,
- and so foorth to Adam, as