7.6. Turkillus the Danish capteine telleth king Swaine the faults of the king, nobles, & commons of this realme, he inuadeth Eng|land, the Northumbers and others submit them|selues to him, Danes receiued into seruice vnder E|gelred, London assalted by Swaine, the citizens behaue them|selues stoutlie, and giue the Danish host a shamefull repulse, Ethelmere earle of Deuonshire and his people submit them|selues to Swaine, he returneth into Denmarke, commeth back againe into England with a fresh power, is incountred withall of the Englishmen, whose king Egelred is discomfited, his o|ration to his souldiers touching the present reliefe of their di|stressed land, their resolution and full purpose in this their perplexitie, king Egrlred is minded to giue place to Swaine, lie sendeth his wife and children ouer into Norman|die, the Londoners yeeld vp their state to Swaine, Egelred saileth ouer into Normandie, leauing his land to the enimie. The sixt Chapter.
Turkillus the Danish capteine telleth king Swaine the faults of the king, nobles, & commons of this realme, he inuadeth Eng|land, the Northumbers and others submit them|selues to him, Danes receiued into seruice vnder E|gelred, London assalted by Swaine, the citizens behaue them|selues stoutlie, and giue the Danish host a shamefull repulse, Ethelmere earle of Deuonshire and his people submit them|selues to Swaine, he returneth into Denmarke, commeth back againe into England with a fresh power, is incountred withall of the Englishmen, whose king Egelred is discomfited, his o|ration to his souldiers touching the present reliefe of their di|stressed land, their resolution and full purpose in this their perplexitie, king Egrlred is minded to giue place to Swaine, lie sendeth his wife and children ouer into Norman|die, the Londoners yeeld vp their state to Swaine, Egelred saileth ouer into Normandie, leauing his land to the enimie. The sixt Chapter.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 _NOw had Turkillus in the meane time aduertised king Swaine in what state things stood here within the realme:Turkillus discloseth the secrets of the realme to K. Swaine. how king Egelred was neg|ligent, onlie attending to the lusts & pleasures of the flesh: how the noble men were vn|faithfull, and the commons weake and féeble through want to good and trustie leaders. Howbeit, some write,Simon Dun. that Turkillus as well as other of the Danes which remained héere in England, was in league with king Egelred, in somuch that he was with him in London, to helpe and defend the citie against Swaine when he came to assalt it (as after shall ap|péere.) Which if it be true, a doubt may rise whether Swaine receiued anie aduertisement from Turkil|lus to mooue him to rather to inuade the realme: but such aduertisements might come from him be|fore that he was accorded with Egelred.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Swaine therefore as a valiant prince,Swaine pre|pareth an ar|mie to inuade England. desirous both to reuenge his sisters death, and win honor, pre|pared an huge armie, and a great number of ships, with the which he made towards England, and first comming to Sandwich, taried there a small while,He landeth at Sandwich. 1013 and taking eftsoones the sea, compassed about the coasts of the Eastangles, and arriuing in the mouth of Humber, sailed vp the water, and entering into the riuer of Trent, he landed at Gainesbourgh, pur|posing,Gainsbourgh to inuade the Northumbers. But as men brought into great feare, for that they had béene sub|iect to the Danes in times past, and thinking there|fore not to reuolt to the enimie, but rather to their old acquaintance, if they should submit themselues to the Danes, streightwaies offered to become subiect vnto Swaine,The Nor|thumbers yeeld to Swaine. The people of Lindsey yeeld themselues to him. Simon Dun. togither with their duke named Wighthred. Also the people of Lindsey and all those of the northside of Watlingstreet yéelded themsel|ues vnto him, and deliuered pledges. Then he ap|pointed his sonne Cnutus to haue the kéeping of those pledges, and to remaine vpon the sa [...]egard of his ships, whiles he himselfe passed forward into the countrie. Then marched he forward to subdue them of south Mercia:South Mer|cia. and so came to Oxford & to Win|chester, making the countries subiect to him through out wheresoeuer he came.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 With this prosperous successe Swaine being greatlie incouraged, prepared to go vnto London, where king Egelred as then remained, hauing with him Turkillus the Dane, which was reteined in wages with other of the Danes (as by report of some authors it maie appeare) and were now readieSim. Dunel. to defend the citie against their countriemen in sup|port of king Egelred, togither with the citizens. Swaine, bicause he would not step so farre out of the way as to go to the next bridge, lost a great number of his men as he passed through the Thames. At his comming to London,Swaine as|saulteth London. he bagan to assault the citie verie fiercelie, in hope either to put his enimie in such feare that he should despaire of all reliefe and comfort, or at the least trie what he was able to doo. The Londoners on the other part, although they were brought in some feare by this sudden attempt of the enimies, yet considering with themselues, that the hazard of all the whole state of the realme was annexed to theirs, sith their citie was the chiefe and metropolitane of all the kingdome,Polydor. they valiantlie stood in defense of themselues, and of their king that was present there with them, beating backe the eni|mies, chasing them from the walles, and otherwise dooing their best to kéepe them off. At length, al|though the Danes did most valiantlie assault the ci|tie, yet the Englishmen to defend their prince from all iniurie of enimies, did not shrinke, but boldlie sallied foorth at the gates in heapes togither, and in|countered with their aduersaries, and began to fight with them verie fiercelie.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 Swaine whilest he went about to kéepe his men in order, as one most desirous to reteine the victorie now almost gotten, was compassed so about with the Londoners on each side, that after he had lost a great number of his men, he was constreined for his safegard to breake out through the midst of his enimies weapons, and was glad that he might so escape: and so with the residue of his armie ceassed not to iournie day and night till he came to Bath, Wil. Malm. Erle of De|uonshire as saith Matt. West. Polydor. where Ethelmere an earle of great power in those west parts of the realme submitted himselfe with all his people vnto him, who shortlie after neuerthelesse (as some write) was compelled through want of vittels to release the tribute latelie couenanted to be paied vnto him for a certeine summe of monie, which when hée had receiued,Swaine re|turneth into Denmarke. he returned into Denmarke, meaning shortlie to returne againe with a greater power.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 King Egelred supposed that by the paiment of that monie he should haue béene rid out of all trou|bles, of warre with the Danes. But the nobles of the realme thought otherwise, and therefore willed him to prepare an armie with all spéed that might be made.Swaine re|turneth into England to make warre. Swaine taried not long (to proue to doubt of the noble men to be grounded of foreknowledge) but that with swift spéed he returned againe into England, and immediatlie vpon his arriuall was an armie of Englishmen assembled and led against him into the field. Herevpon they ioined in battell, which was sore foughten for a time,King Egel|red discomfi|ted in battell. till at length by reason of diuerse Englishmen that turned to the EEBO page image 172 enimies side, the discomfiture fell with such slaughter vpon the English host, that king Egelred well per|ceiued the state of his regall gouernement to bée brought into vtter danger. Wherevpon after the losse of this field, he assembled the rest of his people that were escaped, and spake vnto them after this manner.
7.6.1. The oration of king Egelred to the remanent of his souldiers.
The oration of king Egelred to the remanent of his souldiers.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 _I Shuld for euer be put to silence, it there wanted in vs the vertue of a fatherlie mind, in giuing good aduise & counsel for the well ordering and due administration of things in the common wealth, or if their lacked courage or might in our souldiers and men of warre to defend our countrie. Trulie to die in defense of the countrie where we are borne, I confesse it a woorthie thing, and I for my part am readie to take vpon me to enter into the midst of the enimies in de|fense of my kingdome. But here I see our countrie and the whole English nation to be at a point to fall into vtter ruine. We are ouercome of the Danes, not with wea|pon or force of armes; but with treason wrought by our owne people: we did at the first prepare a nauie against the enimies, the which that false traitour Elfrike be|traid into their hands. Againe, oftentimes haue we giuen battell with euill successe, and onelie through the fault of our owne people that haue beene false and disloiall: whereby we haue bin constreined to agree with the enimies vpon dishonorable condi|tions, euen as necessitie required, which to ouercome, resteth onelie in God. Such kind of agreement hath beene made in deed in our destruction, sith the enimies haue not sticked to breake it (they being such a wicked king of people as neither regard God nor man) contrarie to right and rea|son, and beside all our hope & expectation. So that the matter is come now to this passe, that we haue not cause onlie to feare the losse of our gouernement, but least the name of the whole English nation be de|stroied for euer. Therefore sithens the eni|mies are at hand, and as it were ouer our heads, you to whom my commandement hath euer bene had in good regard, prouide, take counsell, and see to succor the state of your countrie now readie to decay and to fall into irrecouerable ruine.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Herevpon they fell in consultation, euerie one al|ledging and bringing foorth his opinion as seemed to him best: but it appeared they had the woolfe by the eare, for they wist not which way to turne them. If they should giue battell, it was to be doubted least through treason among themselues, the armie should be batraied into the enimies hands, the which would not faile to execute all kind of crueltie in the slaugh|ter of the whole nation. And if they stood not valiant|lie to shew themselues readie to defend their coun|trie, there was no shift but yeeld themselues. Which though it were a thing reprochfull and dishonorable, yet should it be lesse euill, as they tooke the matter; for thereby might manie be preserued from death, and in time to come, be able to recouer the libertie of their countrie, when occasion should be offered. This point was allowed of them all, and so in the end they rested vpon that resolution.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 King Egelred therefore determined to commit himselfe into the hands of his brother in law Ri|chardKing Egel|red determi|neth to giue place vnto Swaine. duke of Normandie, whose sister (as ye haue heard) he had maried. But bicause he would not doo this vnaduisedlie, first he sent ouer his wife quéene Emma,He sendeth his wife and sonnes ouer into Nor|mandie. Richard duke of Nor|mandie. with his sonnes which he had begotten of hir, Alfred and Edward, that by their interteinment he might vnderstand how he should be welcome. Duke Richard receiued his sister and his nephues verie ioifullie, and promised to aid his brother king Egelred in defense of his kingdome. But in this meane while had Swaine conquered the more part of all England, and brought (by little and little) that which remained vnder his subiection. The people through feare submitting themselues on each hand, king Egelred in this meane time (for the Londo|ners had submitted themselues to Swaine) was first withdrawne vnto Gréenwich,Simon Dun. Hen. Hunt. Turkill. and there remai|ned for a time with the nauie of the Danes, which was vnder the gouernement of earle Turkill, and from thence sailed into the Ile of Wight, and there remained a great part of the winter,1014 and finallie af|ter Christmas himselfe sailed into Normandie,King Egel|red passeth into Nor|mandie. and was of his brother in law ioifullie receiued & great|lie comforted in that his time of necessitie.