Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 After this, the Danes went vnto Dublin, which towne they easilie tooke, and found such store of ri|ches Dublin w [...]. and treasure therein, that euerie man had so much as he could wish or desire; so as they needed not to fall out among themselues for the partition, sith there was so much for each mans share as he could conuenientlie carrie awaie. Thus hath Saxo Gram|maticus written in effect of Starcaters comming into Ireland: of whome the Danish writers make such mention, both for his huge stature and great manhood. Some haue thought, that Starcater was the verie same man which the Scots name Finmac|cole, of whome in the Scotish historie we haue made mention: but whereas the Scotish writers affirme that he was a Scotish man borne, the Danish wri|ters report that he was borne in Eastland, among the people called Estones. Reignirus the sonne of Reignirus. Siwardus the second king of Denmarke, hauing atchiued sundrie victories in England and Scotland, and subdued the Iles of Orkneie, he passed likewise into Ireland, siue Melbricke king of that land, and tooke the citie of Dublin by siege, where he remained Melbricke king of Ire|land slaine. the whole tearme of twelue moneths before he de|parted from thense.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 After this, Gurmo the third of that name king of Denmarke, although an infidell himselfe, and a Gurmo the third of that name king of Denmarke. He marrieth Thira daugh|ter to Ethel|dred king of England. Canute and Harold. cruell persecutor of the christian religion, yet tooke to wife a christian ladie named Thira, daughter to E|theldred king of England, who had issue by him two sonnes Knaught, or Canute, and Harold, proouing men of high valiancie and notable prowesse, inso|much that after the atchiuing of diuerse worthie vic|tories against the enimies néere home, they made a voiage into England, not sparing to inuade the do|minions of their grandfather king Etheldred: who rather reioising, than séeming to be offended with those manlike enterprises of his cousins, proclamed them his heires to sucéed after him in all his lands and dominions, although of right the same were to descend first vnto their moother Thira. The yoong men being incouraged with their grandfather his They inuade Ireland. Canute is slaine. bountifull magnificence, attempted the inuasion of Ireland, where at the siege of Dublin, Canute or EEBO page image 58 Knaught the elder brother was shot into the bodie with an arrow, and died of the wound: howbeit his death was kept close by his owne commandement giuen before he died, till his people had got the citie into their possession. But the gaine was small in re|spect of the losse, which was thought to redound vnto the whole Danish nation by the death of that noble yoong gentleman Canute, who for his high prowesse and valiancie was most tenderlie beloued of all men; but namelie of his father king Gormo, inso|much that he sware to kill him with his owne hands, whosoeuer should first tell him newes of his death.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 This Gormo was now a man far striken in age, and blind, hauing small ioie of anie worldlie plea|sures, otherwise than to heare of the welfare and pro|sperous proceedings of his sonnes. When therefore his wife quéene Thira had perfect aduertisement of hir sonnes death, and that neither she nor anie other durst breake the matter vnto hir husband, she deui|sed a shift how to signifie that vnto him by outward signes, which by word of mouth she was afraid to ex|presse, as thus. She caused moorning apparell to be made for hir husband, & putting off his roiall robes, The policie of Thira to sig|nifie to hir husband the death of their sonne Ca|nute. clad him therewith, and other things apperteining to moorners she also put about him, and prepared all such furniture and necessaries as were vsed for fune|rall exequies, witnessing the lamentable griefe con|ceiued for the losse of some friend, with that kind of moorning wéed and funerall ceremonies. Which when Gormo perceiued: Wo is me (saith he) you then signifie the death of my sonne Canute. Where|to she made answer, that he and not she did discouer the truth of that which was meant by those moorning garments; and with that spéech ministred cause of hir husbands death, whereby she became presentlie a widow, not openlie moorning for hir sonne, before she moorned likewise for hir husband: for he tooke such griefe for Canutes death, that immediatlie he died thorough sorow and dolor: so as Thira was thus driuen to lament, as well the death of hir sonne, as Gormo dieth of sorrow. of hir husband both at once. But now to the purpose of the Irish historie.