were buried. From hence King Edmond marched to. Glocefter with a Which words ended, they both cafting down their Swords, embrace as Friends, with the great Joy and Shouting of both Armiies. And according to Canute's Propofal, the Kingdom was divided betwixt them, Edmond having that part that lay coafting upon France, Camite the reft. But the Traytor, Duke Edrick, with defign to work him-felf farther into Canute's Favour, procured Edmond to be thrust inta the Body as he was eafing Nature. Then, cutting off his Head, he prefented Gamure therewith, faying, All hail, thou now fole Monarch of: England, for behold here the Head of thy Copartner, which for thy fake I have adventured to cut off. To whom Canute, like a worthy King, replied, That in regard of that Service, the Bringer's own Head fhould be advanced above all the Peers of his Kingdom; a while after performing this his Promile, by caufing Edrick's Head to be cut off, and placed on the highest Gate of London. But fome fay that King Edmond died a patural Death at London, when he had Reigned feven Months, whole Body was buried at Glastenbury. His Iffue were, Edward Sir-named the Out-law (because he lived out of England during the Reign of the Danes) and Edmond. DANE S. Anute, the Dane, after the Death of Edmond, feized upon the Canute, A. other half part of the Kingdom, the English Nobles owning D. 1017. him for their rightful King, and Swearing Allegiance to him. He' was Crowned at London by Livingus Elftane, Archbishop of Canterbury, A. D. 1017. And to establish the Crown more fure to himself, he banished Edwin (the Son of King Ethelred) who for his Melancholy and Regardless Behaviour, was called The King of Chris. He alfo fent away Edward and Edmond, the Sons of Edmond Ironfide. Next he efpoufed Emma,“ the Widow of King Ethelred, and Siiter to the Duke of Normandy, E Egelnoth, on this Condition, That the Iffue of her Body by him fhould Inherit the Englife Crown. Then calling a Parliament of his Peers to Oxford, he there eftablifhed thefe Laws following, viz. That all decent Ceremonies, tending to the encrease of Reverence and Devotion in the Service of God, fhould be ufed as need required. That the Lord's Day fhould be kept Holy. That a Clergyman killing a Layman, or for any other notorious Crime, fhould be deprived both of his Order and Dignity. That a Married Woman, convict of Adultery, fhould have her Nose and Ears cut off: And a Widow Marrying within the fpace of Twelve Months after her Husband's deceafe, fhould lofe her Joynture. And amongit many other good Laws he made in the time of his Princely Government, (faith my Author) hath alfo this, We admonish diligently all Chriftian Men, that they do always love God with an inward Heart, and be diligently obedient to Divine Teachers, and do fubtilly fearch God's Learning and Laws, often and daily to the ' profit of themfelves. And we warn that all Chriftian Men do learn to know, at the leastwife, the right Belief, and a right to underfland, and learn the Pater-Nofier and the Creed. For that with the one, every Christian Man fhall pray unto God, and with the other fhew forth right Belief. He went on Pilgrimage to Rome, where he complained against the exceffive Actions, and valt Sums of Money extorted by the Pope from the English Archbishops, at fuch times as they received their Palls from thence. Which the Pope en→ gaged to redress for the future. The greatnefs and glory of this King was fuch, that fome Court Parafites fought to perfwade him, that he poffeffed a more than humane Power; but he, to demonftrate the conrary (being then at Southampton) caufed a Chair to be fet on the Shore, when the Sea began to flow, then fate himself in it. and in the. Prefence of his many Attendants, thus fpake to the fwelling Waves Thou Sca art part of my Dominion, dont therefore, on pain of Punishment, pres fume fo much as to wet the Robes of thy Lord. But the unruly Seawelling on farther and farther, firit wet his Skirts, then Thighs; fo that the King fuddenly started up, and retiring, faid, Let the Inhabi tants of the World know, that the Power of Kings, is but weak and vain; and that none is worthy the name of King, fave he that keepath Heaven, Earth, and Sea in Obedience to his own Will. After which time he would never wear his Crown, but there with crowned the Picture of Christ on the Crofs at Winchefter, which became a prize to the Church-Men. He died in A. D. 1035, and was buried at Winchefer. His Iflue were, Swein, Harold, Hardicanute, and two Daughters. In Effex he built the Church of Ahdon, where he had the Victory of King Edmond. In Norfolk he Founded the Abby of St. Benet's, and in Suffolk the Monaftery of St. Edmond, which Saint he much dreaded. To the Church of Winchefter, befides other rich Jewels, he nothus gave a Cross worth as much as the Revenue of England amounted to A.B. Cant in one Year. And unto Coventry, they fay, he gave the Arm of St. ~ Augustine, which at Papia colt him an Hundre Talents of Silver, and one of Gold. d. Haro H Areld, for his exceeding Swiftnefs, Sir-named Harefoot, the base Harold, Son of King Canute, in the absence of Hardicanute, his Fa-1035 ther's Son by Queen Emma, was admitted King by the Nobility, and Crowned at Oxford by Elnothus Archbishop of Canterbury. Which done, for the better fecuring of his Crown to himfelf, he fought means to gain Edward and Alfred (the two furviving Sons of King Ethelred) into his Hands. In order whereunto, he fent to them into Normandy a Letter feigned in their Mother Emma's Name, inviting them over into England tor the Recovery of their Right. But when Prince Alfred was accordingly arrived, Earl Goodwin, who pretended great Kindness unto him, betrayed him and his fall Party brought over with him, into Harold's Hands, who at Guilford committed them to the flaughter, only referving every Tenth Man, either for Service or Sale. Alfred he fent Prifoner into the Ifle of Ely, where his Eyes being put out, he, in fhort time after, died through Grief and Pain. Queen Emma's Goods Harold confifcated, banished her out of the Realm, and oppreffed the English People with great Payments. He died at Oxford, A. D. 1040, and was buried at Westminster. Ardicante, upon the Death of Harold, was, by the States of Hardica the Land, as well English as Danes, invited over from Denmark, nute, A. to take upon him the Government of the Kingdom, which he accor- D. 1949. dingly did, and was Crowned at London by Elnothus, Archbishop of Canter burg. The dead Body of his half Brother King Harold, he caufed to be taken up, and to be thrown into the River Thames, which being found by a Fisherman, he buried it in the Church-Yard of St. Clements Danes; fo called, because the great Burial place of the Danes. Hardicanute, for the maintaining of his Fleet, impofed heavy Tributes on the Englife, infomuch, that two of the Collectors thereof, named Thurftane and Feader, were flain by the Citizens of Worcester; for which Fact their City was burnt, and their Bifhop Alfred expulfed the See, till that with Money he had purchafed his Peace. Eart Goodwin prefented to this King a Ship, whofe Stern was of Gold, with Eighty Soldiers in her, all uniformly and richly fuited On their Heads they all wore gilt Burgenets; and on their Bodies a Triple gilt Habergeon; Swords with gilt Hilts girded to their Waftes, a Battel-Ax (after the manner of the Danes) on their left Shoulders, a Target with gilt Boffes born in their left Hand, a Dart in the right Hand, and their Arms bound about with two Bracelets of Gold, of fix Ounces weight. But as Hardicanute was revelling and carousing at Lambeth, ina folenm Affembly and Banquet, he fuddenly fell down Dead. The Day of whole Death, inftead of Laments, was annually Celebrated, amongit the common People, with open Paftimes in the Streets. Which time (being the eighth of June) is called Hotide, or Huxtide, fignifying a time of Scorn and Contempt, which fell upon the Danes by his Dean. He was buried at Winchester, A. D. 1042. About four Years fore the Danes first coming into England (which was near the Year of our Lord 789) Showers of Blood fell from Heaven, Heaven, and bloody Croffes were therewith. marked upon Mens Garments. 'Tis faid alfo, that after the Danes had feated themselves in England, whilst the English were Drinking, they would Stab them, or cut their Throats; to prevent which, when the English Mau Drank, he requested the next fitter by to be his Surety or Pledge: Hence. our Custom of Pledging one another, 'tis faid. Edward Conf. A. D. 1042. E SAXON S. Dward the Confeffor, the Son of King Etbelted and Queen Emma, was born at ip; and after his Father's Death, was, for his Edfine, Safety, fent unto the Duke of Normandy, his Mother's Brother; but B. of Cam/upon the Death of Hardicanute, the English Nobility (difdaining all Danish Subjection) invited Edward to return into England, and to execute the Kingly Office, He was Crowned at Winchester by Edfine Archbishop of Canterbury, A. D. 1042., He remitted that heavy Tribute of Forty Thoмfand Pound Yearly, gathered by the Name of Danegilt, which had been paid for forty Years continuance, out of the Lands of all, the Clergy excepted Becaule (fay our ancient Laws) the King repofed more confidence in the Prayers of the Holy Church, than in the Power of Armies. Then om the divers Laws of the Afercians, Weft-Saxons, Danes, and Noralumbrians, he elected the best, and made them one Body certain, and written in Latin. His Reign was mott fpent in Peace, and works of Piety, than in Wars and Blood: Only fome flight Troubles hapned from the Danes, Irish and Welsh, and alfo from Earl Goodwin and his Sons, who being very powerful and proud, caused fome moleftations in the State, But the Sins of the People, which were then great, procured, ouler Judgments infead of War: For in the Month of January, there fell a great Snow, which covered the Ground to the midil of Mue, whereby Cattel and Fowls in abundance Perithed And on the best Year following, a flange and terrible, Earthquake hapned, and withal fach Lightnings as burnt up the Corn growing in The Fields, whereby an exceflive Dearth enfued. This King, by the Initigation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert, Aand Goodwin, Earl of Kent, dealt too rigorously with his own Mother, Cant. depriving her of all her Jewels, and other Subilance, and committing her to fate Cuftody in the Abby of Worwell. And moreover, put her to undergo that overhard Law, Ordalium, which was to pals over Nine Flowhare-Irons, red glowing hot, barefoot and blindfold. By which Trygl he is laid to have acquitted her felf infomuch, that having pailed them over, before the knew it, cryed, and faid, O good Lord, when fall I come to the Place of my Fugation? The King, her Son, hereupon received her into his Favour again. And the, in Memory of her Deliverance from this fiery Tryal, gave nine Mannors according to the number of the Plowthares) to the Miniter of Wincolor (whitteip the had that Tryal) and adorned the fame with many SAXON S rich Ornaments. And the King, repenting the wrong he had done her, beflowed on the fame Pface the life of Portland, The Caufes objected against Queen Empia, and for which the fuffered the Lofs of her Goods, were her Marriage with Canute, the Capital Enemy of England, and her neglecting to Succour Edward and his Brother in their Exile. The matter objected against her, for which the underwent the Ordalium, was Incontinency of Body with win, Bishop of Winchester. Of this King it is ftoried, that as he lay in his Bed, in an Afternoon, with the Curtains drawn, about him, a certain pilfering Courtier came into his Chamber, where finding the King's Casket open (which Hugoline, his Chamberlain, had forgot to fhut) he took our as much Coin as he could conveniently carry, and went away, Did the like a fecond time. Came again the third time; when the King fpake to him, and bad him fpeedily be packing whilft he was well, adding, that if Hugoline should come and take him there, he thould not only lofe all he had gotten, but also ftretch an Halter, And when Hugoline came, and inifting the Money, was greatly troubled the King, wifh'd him not to be grieved; For (faith he) the Man that bad it hath more need of it than we have. When this Devout King, lying on his Death Bed, perceived those about him to weep and lament, he faid unto them, If ye loved me, ye would not werp, but repice, because I go to my Father, with whom I fall receive the Joys pro mifed to the faithful, not through my Merits, but by the free Mercy of my 3 Saviour |