Imatges de pàgina
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berland and Mercia, which Edwy refigns to him, and he was crowned King.

He reigned about four years, died with grief, and was buried in the new monaftery at Winchester.

EDGA R,

Urnamed the Peaceable, brother and heir of Edwy, fucceeded to the crown, being about 16 years of age, and was crowned at Kington, and again at Bath in 973.

He increafed the royal navy to 360 fhips, maintained the dominion of the narrow feas, and reigned in greater fplendor than any of his predeceffors: he built Ramsey abbey, and 47 other monasteries in different parts of the kingdom.

Abingdon abbey built.

960. He made fevere laws to punish corrupt magiftrates, but his great attachment to the monks contributed to his great fame.

He was fo liberal to the monks, that Croyland abbey in Lincolnshire had treasure to the amount of 10,000l. befide holy veffels and fhrines.

Soon after he came to the crown he recalled Dunflan, whom he made archbishop of Canterbury and bishop of Worcester, he alfo managed the vacant bishoprick of London, and the Pope made him his legate, when he again endeavoured. [964] to establish the monks, who beftowed on him every encomium.

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969. Edgar ordered the ifle of Thanet to be laid wafte for infulting his laws. In the early part of his reign he took a nun by force out of a convent, and after debauching her, refufed to restore her.

970. He married Elfrida, whofe husband he murdered.

975. He died in the thirty-fecond year of his age, and the feventeenth of his reign, and was buried in the abbey of Glastonbury. Among other laws, he enacted one to fupprefs exceffive drinking, ordaining a fize by pins in the cup, with penalties to any who fhould prefume to drink deeper than the mark; and impofed on the princes of Wales a tribute of wolves heads, that for three years amounted to 300 each year, which extirpated them, and the tribute ceafed. He obliged eight tributary princes to row him in a barge on the river Dee, in 960, when he made a visit from Chefier to the monastery of St. John Baptift.

He left two fons and a daughter; Edvard, his eldeft fon, was born of a concubine, and his youngest, Ethelard, was the fon of Elfrida; Editha, his daughter, was a nun and afterwards fainted. He exhaufted the treafury in building monafteries.

EDWARD,

975. LDEST fon to king Edgar, fucceeded his father, being but 12 years of age; he was crowned by Dunftan at Kingfien upon Thames.

In this reign the controverfics between the regular and the fecular clergy run high: the laity take part with the feculars, [976] difpoffefs the monks, and bring in the fecular priefts and their wives, by force of arms.

978. A national fynod affembles at Colne in Wiltfire, and declares in favour of the regular clergy, who are restored to their poffeffions by the help of fome pious frauds, in those days called miracles. VOL. I.

No. I.

979. King Edward is murdered [May 18] near Corfe caftle, by his ftep-mother, queen Elfrida, to make room for her fon. This Prince had little more than the name of King for about three years and a half. For his innocence and fuppofed miracles, after his death, he obtained the furname of Martyr. He was buried first at Warham, and afterwards removed to Shaftftury.

To attone for his murder, Elfrida founded two nunneries, one at Ambrefoury, the other at Wborwell near Andover, in which laft the fhut herself up, to do penance the remainder of her days.

ITHEL

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851. The Danes landed this year on the coaft of Weflex, where they committed great cruelties, but were routed at Wenbury near Plymouth, and all their plunder taken from them.

Athelftan purfued them with his fleet, and took nine of their fhips near Sandwich in Kent.

852. Notwithstanding their ill fuccefs laft year, they landed again, in the Thames, where they arrived with 300 fhips, and nothing being able to oppofe them, they landed near London, where they began their ufual ravages. London and Canterbury felt unmercifully the effects of their rapine. They then attacked the King's army, at Oakley in Surry, but met with fo great a defeat that but few efcaped. Athelstan is no more fpoken of, but fuppofed to have loft his life in this battle.

853. The Welsh took up arms, but were foon reduced to obedience.

Erbelawolf, with the confent of the tributary kings and his great council, granted the tythes of all England to the church; and carrying his fon Alfred along with him to Rome [854] he rebuilt the English college there, extending the gift of Peterpence over all his dominions, for the better fupport of the students there. He obliged himself alfo to fend to Rome annually 300 marks, 2co whereof were to purchase wax tapers, for the churches of St. Peter

and St. Paul, and the remaining hundred to be at the Pope's difpofal. In his return from Rome, he vifited the court of France, and married Judith, the daughter of Charles king of France, a princefs of but twelve years of age, which unfuitable match induced his fon Ethelbald to confpire against his father.

The King returned to England, and was, compelled by his fon [855] to furrender the Kentish dominions to him, with the fame power as held by Athelftan, who was dead.

About this time, Edmund, a youth of roy al extraction, was crowned king of Eaft Anglia.

856. Ethelwolf finding death approaching, made his will, wherein he difpofed of his dominions to Ethelbert, and after his deceafe to Ethelred, and after him to Alfred his youngest fon. This is the first instance of our kings difpofing of their dominions, by will.

857. Ethelwolf died Jan. 13, and was buried at Steining in Suffix, having reigned 20 years, leaving behind him four fons and one daughter, who was married to Butbred king of Mercia, and died in 888. Ethelbald, his eldeft fon, was already in poffeffion of Weflex; Ethelbert, the fecond fon, had for his fhare Kent, Effex, Surrey and Suffex, comprized under the name of the kingdom of Kent; but Ethelred and Alfred were but ill provided for, till they afcended the throne.

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863. They landed again, in the isle of banet, where they wintered, and in the fpring made their incurfions.

Etbelbert gave them money to quit the land, which they no fooner had received, but they made inroads into Kent, and defroved all before them with fire and fword.

865. ErLeibert began levying an army to intercept them, but his preparations occa

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fioned them haftily to embark with their plunder, before they could be inter cepted.

866. Ethelbert died, having reigned fix, years, during which time hiftory affords but few events befides the invafions of the Danes. He was buried near his brother, at Sherborne, leaving behind him two fons, Adbelm, and Ethelward.

ETHEL RED I.

866. HE third fon of Ethelwolf, facceeded to the crown, in whofe reign the Danes commit great ravages thro' the whole kingdom.

867. The Danes in particular ravaged the monafteries for their most valuable cffects, and multitudes of nuns were expofed to their luft. To prevent the like at Coldingbam in the county of March in Scotland, the abbefs and nuns cut off their nefes and upper lips, to fcreen themselves from the outrages they were threatened, with, for which the Danes fet fire to the monaftery, and the nuns were all burnt in it. They fet fire to the city of York [869]; and mur

872.

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der Edmund, titular king of the Eafl-An gles [870] the place of whofe burial is, fince called St. Edmund's Bury. They destroyed: the monafteries of Bradney, Crozland, Pe terborough, Ely and Huntingdon.

871. Ethelred overthrew the Danes at Allendon, which was the greatest loss the Danes had ever met with in England. He had nine fet battles with the Danes in one year, and was wounded between Abingdon and Wallingford in Berkshire, which occafioned his death, April 27, 872. He was! buried at Winborne in Dorfet/hire, and left: two fons and one daughter.

In this reign happened a great plague.

ALFRED the GREAT,

Ourth fon of Ethelwelf, fucceeded his brother in the 22d year of his age, was crowned at Winchester, and is diftinguished by the title of Alfred the Great, at whofe coronation was first used the ceremony of crowning and anointing. He was born at Wantage in Berks, 849, and was obliged to take the field against the Danes within one month after his coronation, at Wilton in Wilts, with various fuccefs, but at length defeated them.

876. The Danes divided their army; one part feized on Exeter where they wintered, and the other went to Northumberland. Alfred defeated them at Exeter, but they again made head against him at Chippenham, where he was worsted, and foon after at Bristol, where he recovered ftrength, and attacked them in camp, at Abingdon in Berkshire. He fought seven battles with them the fame year.

877. Another fuccour of Danes arrived, and Alfred was obliged to difguise himself in the fervice of a fhepherd, in the isle of Alderfey, in the county of Somerset.

878. In the disguise of a musician, he difcovered the Danes' careless way of live ing, and collecting his scattered friends, attacked and defeated them.

He compelled their king Guthrum, with thirty of the chiefs of the army, and divers of the common foldiers, to be baptized, and forced them to retire out of the kingdom.

879. Alfred built Shaftsbury.

881. The Welsh princes did homage to Alfred.

886. Alfred puts the English upon building fhips for their fecurity.

He rebuilt the city of London, which had been burnt and deftroyed by the Danes, about the year 839.

There was at this time hardly a layman that could read English, or a prieft that understood Latin in Britain.

He restored learning in the university of Oxford.

Alfred was invefted by Ethelred with the dignity and title of an Earl, the first of that title being titular.

889. The

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889. The Danes returned, but were again repulfed.

890. Alfred divided the kingdom into Counties, hundreds, and tithings.

He introduced the way of building with brick and tone; and was the first that had a method of dividing time by candies made of wax, marked with lines which ferved for fo many hours; and to prevent the wind from making them burn unfteadily, he invented the expedient of inclofing them in lanthorns.

892. The Danes arrived again with 250 hips, and harraffed the land.

893. The Danes with 300 fail of thips invaded England again, under one Haftings, and were encountered at fea by the hips lately built by king Alfred; whereupon a peace enfued.

897. A plague happened this year, which ravaged throughout the land for three years, and deftroyed many great men and minifters of ftate as well as others.

The Danes came up the Thames, and by fome fmall boats went up the river Lea, and built a fortrefs at Ware, when king Alfred turned the courfe of the river, and

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left the fhips dry, which obliged the Danes

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900. King Alfred died at Farringdon in Berkfire, October 28, in the 24th year of his reign, and was buried at Winchefter. He had by his firft queen, two fons and a daughter; by his fecond queen, two fons and five daughters; and by his third and last queen, he had two fons and two daughters.

He is faid to have fought 56 set battles with the Danes by fea and land. The fame year he died he formed a body of laws, afterwards made ufe of by Edward the Confeffor, and was the ground-work of the prefent. He obliged his nobles to bring up their children to learning, and to induce them thereto, he permitted none into office unless they were learned.

He conferred the order of knighthood upon his grandion Atheistan, who appears to be the first knight ever made by any of our English monarchs.

This prince took a furvey of all England, the rolls whereof were lodged at Winchefter; from which model Doomsday-book was afterwards made by William the Conqueror, but with more exactness.

EDWARD the ELDER,

Ldeft fon to king Alfred, fuccecded his father, and was crowned at Kingston upon Thames. In the beginning of his reign, Ethelwold, the fon of Ethelred, his father's eldest brother, laid claim to the crown; but being overpow ered, he fled to the Danes, who acknowJedged him for king of Engiand, and fought feveral battles with Edward on his behalf.

904. Elfleda, the King's fifter, fignalized her courage in making head against the Danes, and he was no lefs remarkable for her wifdom than her courage.

905. A battle was fought near Bury, where the royal party fucceeded, and Ethelold was flain.

Wells made a bishop's fee.
907. A treaty with the Danes.

910. The Danes landed again, and were repulfed with confiderable lofs.

911. Leclin prince of Wales did homage to Edward for his principality.

916. This King improved the university of Cambridge, confirmed their former privileges, and granted them others: he enlarged his dominions, reducing the Danes, the Sears, and the Well, to his obedience.

917. The Danes landed again, and having ravaged the country, returned home with the plunder.

918. This year there happened a violent form at Cambridge.

The princets Elfleda died at Tamworth in Stafford hire, and was buried in the porch of the monaftery at Gloucefer, which the and her husband the king of Mercia had founded. It is faid, that in respect of the cities the built, the cafles the fortified, and the armies fhe conducted, but few men could equal her in wifdom, courage and conduct.

919. Another invafion of the Danes, when they were routed, and fued for peace.

920. An army from Ireland landed in Wales, and advanced to Chefter, but were repulfed with great lofs,

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925. Edward died in the 24th year of his reign, at Farringdon in Berkshire, and was buried near his father. He built and repaired feveral caftles and towns, viz. in 918 he built two caftles at Buckingham, one on each fide the Oufe; in 919 he built one at Ledford on the fouth of the river; in 920 he repaired and fortified Malden in Effex; in 921 he did the fame at Towcester in Nor

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hamptonshire, Wigmore in Herefordshire, Colchefter in Effex, and Huntingdon; in 922 he built a cattle at Stamford in Lincolnshire; in 923 he repaired Thelwall in Cheshire, and Manchefter; in 924 he built the town of Nottingham, on the north fide of the Trent, and alfo one near Bakewell in Derbyshire.

Edward had three wives: the first named Egwina, a fhepherd's daughter, by whom he had three children; Athelstan who fucceeded him, Alfred who died foon after his brother's coronation, and a daughter called Editha. By his fecond wife Edward had two fons and fix daughters; Elfward the eldest died a few days after his father, at Oxford; Edwin, who after

wards came to a tragical end. Of the fix daughters, the eldeft, Elfleda, was abbess of Rumfey in Hampire; Ogina, the fecond, was married to Charles the Simple, king of France; Edilda, the third, died a nun; Ediliba, the fourth, married the earl of Paris; Edgit ba, the fifth, was wife of Othe emperor of Germany; and Edgiva, the youngest, was married to Lewis the Blind, king of Provence. By his third wife, Edgiva, Edward had two fons and two daughters: Edmund and Edred, the two fons, were afterwards kings of England; Edburga, the eldest daughter, was a nun, and her fifter Thyra was the wife of German III. king of Denmark

ATHELSTAN

Ucceeded, being Edward's eldest

925. Succes

fon, and was crowned at King fron upon Thames by Arbeim archbishop of Canterbury, with far greater magnificence than ufual.

A plot was formed to feize Athelftan, which was difcovered and prevented.

926. The Danes fettled in England revolted, but by Arbeiflan's immediately attacking them, before they had collected their strength, they were fubdued, and Athelftan, to prevent farther bloodshed, pardoned the revolters, and gave his fifler in marriage to Sitbric king of Northumberland, who dying foon after, Abeiftan feized all that kingdom.

927. Athelftan had an interview with Conftantine the king of Scotland, to perfuade him to deliver up Godfrid, a Danish prince, and for that end purpofed meeting him at Dacre caftle in Cumberland, during which time Gedfrid escaped, and Arbeiftan, after admitting Conftantine's excufes for the efcape of the Danish prince, obliged him and the king of Cumberland who was prefent with him, to do homage for their kingdoms. 928. Atbelgan deftroyed the caftic of York for having theltered Godfrid.

929. Atbeltan returned to England, and Anlaff, a Danish prince, brother of Godfrid who had fled to Ireland, returned to Scotland, and induced Conftantine, who was difgufted with Atbelfian for his haughty behaviour to him at Dacre, to embark in concert with him to recover Northumberland.

932. Athelstan commenced a war with Hecl, king of Wales.

933 Conftantine fent forces to affist the Wellh.

934. Athelstan marched into Wales, and giving Howel battle, obtained a complete victory, but reftored him his dominions, faving, it was more glorious to make a king than to be one.

935. Athelstan marched against Scotland, but concluded a peace with Conftantine and reftored him all the places he had taken.

936. A fresh war in the north, and Athelstan expelled the Scots out of Cumberland.

937. A fevere froft in England, which lafted 120 days; it began Dec. 22.

938. Corftantire of Scotland renewed the war, and received affiftance from Aluff of Ireland.

At the inftigation of a courtier, Athelstan condemned his brother Edwin to be exposed in a boat without oars, out of which the Prince leapt into the fea and was drowned. The King had remorfe for his conduct, and to avert the vengeance of God, built Middleton abbey in Dorfethire, and foon after ordered his advifer of the murder to be beheaded.

He defeated the united forces of the Danes and Scots, and made the princes of Wales tributary to him. Soon after, on their making fubmiffion, he reftored them to theireftates. He escaped being aflaffinated in histent [38] which he revenged by attacking his enemy, when five petty fovereigns, twelve dukes, and an ermy who came to the afliance of Anlaff of Ireland, were flain; which battle was fought near Danlar in Scotland.

He

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