Page images
PDF
EPUB

terminated. sixteen years.

Edgar died in 958, after a reign of

He left a son, Edward, whom he had by his first wife the daughter of earl Ordmer; and another named Ethelred, by Elfrida. She proved, as might have been expected, ambitious, haughty, treacherous, and cruel. The principal nobility, therefore, were greatly averse from the succession of her son Ethelred, which would unavoidably throw considerable power into the hands of his mother, as he was only seven years of age. Ed'ward was therefore selected for the prince, at fifteen years of age. But Elfrida opposed his advancement with all her influence; until Dunstan overcame every obstacle, by anointing and crowning him at Kingston; upon which the whole kingdom submitted to his authority. The only remarkable occurrence in this reign was the final victory obtained by the monks over the secular clergy, who were now expelled from the convents. Though this had been nearly accomplished by Edgar, the secular clergy had still those partisans in England who made considerable opposition; but these were now silenced by the pretended miracles, and authority of Dunstan. Edward lived four years after he was raised to the throne, in perfect submission to his council at the head of which were the ecclesiastics. Incapable of any treacherous intention himself, he suspected none in others. Though his stepmother, in particular, had opposed his succession, he had always behaved towards her with the greatest respect; and expressed on all occasions great affection for his brother Ethelred. Being one day hunting in the neighbourhood of the castle where Elfrida resided, he paid her a visit unattended by his retinue: and, after mounting his horse to return, requested some liquor to be brought him. While he was holding the cup to his head, we are told, a servant of Elfrida stabbed him behind. The king, finding himself wounded, clapped spurs to his horse; but soon becoming faint, from the loss of blood, he fell from the saddle, and his foot being entangled in the stirrup he was dragged along till he expired. His body was found by his attendants, and privately interred at Wareham. His subjects bestowed upon this amiable prince the appellation of martyr, and fancied that miracles were wrought at his tomb. Elfrida built monasteries, and submitted to many penances to atone for her guiit; but even in that barbarous age she could never regain the good opinion of the public.

After the murder of Edward, his brother Ethelred II. succeeded to the throne without opposition. As he was a minor, the Danes began to renew their incursions. They first, in 981, landed at Southampton from seven vessels; and, having ravaged the country, retired with impunity carrying a great booty with them. In 987 they made a similar attempt on the west coast, which was attended with success. Thus encouraged they landed in Essex, and, having defeated and killed Crithnot a prince of that county, laid waste all the neighbouring provinces. In this extremity Ethelred, surnamed, on account of his preposterous conduct, the Unready, bribed the enemy with £10,000 to depart the kingdom; according to advice said to have been given to him by Si

ricius archbishop of Canterbury, and some of the degenerate nobility. It was attended with the success that might have been expected. The Danes appeared next year off the eastern coast. But, in the mean time, the English had determined to assemble, at London, a fleet capable of repulsing the enemy, and only failed of success through the treachery of Alfric duke of Mercia. Having been formerly banished the kingdom, and finding great difficulty in getting himself restored to his former dignity, he now trusted not to his services or the affections of his countrymen, but to the influence he had over his vassals, in the midst of the public calamities. These he seemed determined to promote as far as he could. The English had formed a plan for surrounding and destroying the Danish fleet; when Alfric not only gave the enemy notice of the design, but deserted with his squadron the night before the engagement. Ethelred, in revenge, took Alfgar, Alfric's son, and ordered his eyes to be put out. It was found, however, impossible to deprive Alfric of the government of Mercia. In 993 the Danes under the command of king Sueno, or Sweyn, and the Norwegians conducted by Olaus, sailed up the Humber, and destroyed all around them. A powerful army was assembled to oppose these invaders; but through the treachery of the three leaders, all men of Danish extraction, the English were totally defeated.

Encouraged by constant success, the Danes at length entered the Thaines in ninety-four vessels, and laid siege to London. The inhabitants, however, made a brave defence, and the besiegars were obliged to retire. In revenge they laid waste Essex, Sussex, and Hampshire; and, seizing the horses of these districts, were enabled to penetrate into the more inland counties, and threatened the entire kingdom with subjection. Ethelred and his nobles had now recourse to their former expedient. They sent ambassadors to the two northern kings, to whom they promised subsistence and tribute, provided they would, for the present, put an end to their ravages and depart the kingdom. These terms were agreed to, and the Danes peaceably took up their quarters at Southampton. Olaus even paid a visit to Ethelred, and received the rite of confirmation from the English bishops. The king also made him many presents; and Olaus promised never more to molest the English territory; which mise he religiously observed. After the departure of Olaus with his Norwegians, Sueno, though less scrupulous, was obliged also to leave the kingdom. But this compromise procured only a short relief. The Danes soon re-appeared in the Severn, and having ravaged Wales, as well as Cornwall and Devonshire, sailed round, and, entering the mouth of the Tamar, completed the ruin of the two counties. Then, returning to the Bristol Channel, and penetrating into the interiot by the Avon, they carried fire and sword into Dorsetshire. In 998 they changed the seat of the war, and, after ravaging the Isle of Wight, entered the Thames and Medway, where they laid siege to Rochester, and defeated the Kentish men. After this victory the whole province was made a scene of slaughter and devastation. These miseries forced the English to consult for com

pro

mon defence; but the weakness of the king, the divisions among the nobility, the treachery of some, the cowardice of others, and the want of concert in all, frustrated every endeavour; and their fleets and armies either came too late to attack the enemy, or were repulsed with disgrace. Devoid both of prudence and unanimity, they once more had recourse to their old expedient, and offered the Danes a large sum if they would conclude a peace and depart. These ravagers now required the payment of £24,000, which the English submitted to give, and thus procured a temporary relief. The Danes were also engaged by another motive to depart from England at this time. They were recalled by their countrymen in Normandy, who were hard pressed by Robert king of France, and found it difficult to defend their settlements against him. It is probable also that Ethelred, observing the close connexion of the Danes with one another, was desirous of procuring an alliance with that formidable people. For this purpose, being a widower, he paid his addresses to Emma, sister to Richard II., duke of Normandy. They were accepted; the princess came over to England, and was married to the king, A. D. 1001.

sex,

Though the Danes had been long established in England, and the similarity of their language with that of the Saxons had invited them to an early union with the natives; they had as yet found so little of civilised manners among the English, that they retained all their ancient ferocity, and valued themselves only on their character for bravery: and the English princes had been so well acquainted with their superiority in this respect, that Athelstan and Edgar had been accustomed to keep in pay large bodies of Danish troops. These mercenaries attained to such a height of luxury, according to the old English writers, that they combed their hair once a-day, bathed themselves once a-week, changed their clothes frequently, and by these effeminate arts, as well as by their military character, rendered themselves so agreeable to the fair that they debauched the wives and daughters of many English families. They were of course also ready always to betray them to the foreign Danes, and to associate themselves with every straggling party which came from the continent. The animosities between the native English and the settled Danes, had, from these causes, risen to a great height; when Ethelred, from that barbarous policy commonly adopted by weak princes, resolved upon a general massacre of the latter. On November 13th, 1002, secret orders were despatched to commence this bioody business every where on the same day, and the festival of St. Brice, which fell on a Sunday, the day on which the Danes usually bathed themselves, was chosen for this purpose. His barbarous orders were executed with the utmost exactness. Neither sex nor age was spared. Even Gunilda, sister to the king of Denmark, who had married earl Paling, and had embraced Christianity, was, by the advice of Edric earl of Wilts, seized and condemned to death by Ethelred, after seeing her children and husband butchered before her face. This unhappy princess, in the agonies of her despair, foretold that her murder would

soon be avenged by the total ruin of the English. On the subject of this massacre, Mr. Hume says, 'Almost all the ancient historians speak of this massacre of the Danes as if it had been universal, or as if every individual of that nation throughout England had been put to death. But the Danes were almost the sole inhabitants in the kingdoms of Northumberland and East Anglia, and were very numerous in Mercia. This representation of the matter seems highly improbable. Great resistance must have been made, and violent wars ensued, which was not the case. The account given by Wallingford, though he stands single, must be admitted as the only true one. We are told that the name of lurdane, lord Dane, for an idle lazy fellow, who lives at other people's expense, came from the conduct of the Danes who were put to death. But the English princes had been entirely masters for several generations; and only supported a military corps of that nation. It seems probable, therefore, that these Danes only were put to death.'

The

The prophecy of Gunilda was exactly fulfilled. In 1003 Sueno and his Danes, who wanted only a pretence to renew their invasions, appeared off the western coast, and threatened vengeance for the slaughter of their countrymen. The English took measures for repulsing the enemy; but were defeated through the treachery first of Alfric, and then of Edric, a still greater traitor, who had married the king's daughter, and succeeded Alfric in the command of the British armies. Danes, therefore, ravaged the whole country. Agriculture was neglected, a famine ensued, and the kingdom was reduced to the utmost degree of misery. At last the infamous expedient of buying a peace was again resorted to; and the departure of the Danes was purchased in 1007 at the expense of £30,000. The English endeavoured to employ this interval in making preparations against their return, which they had reason soon to expect. A law was made, ordering the proprietors of eight hides of land to provide themselves of a horseman and complete suit of armour; and those of 310 hides to equip a ship for the defence of the kingdom. By this means a formidable armament was raised. There were 243,600 hides in England, and the ships equipped were therefore very numerous. The cavalry was 30,450 men. All hopes of success from this equipment, however, were disappointed by the factions, animosities, and dissensions of the nobles. Edric had caused his brother Brightric to advance an accusation of treason against Wolfnoth governor of Sussex, the father of the famous earl Godwin; who, knowing the power and malice of his enemy, deserted with twenty ships to the Danes. Brightric pursued him with a fleet of eighty sail; but his ships being shattered in a tempest, and stranded on the coast, he was suddenly attacked by Wolfnoth, and all his vessels were destroyed. The treachery of Edric frustrated every plan of future defence, and the whole navy was at last scattered. By these fatal miscarriages, the enemy had leisure to overrun the whole kingdom. They had now, indeed, obtained such a footing, that they could hardly have been expelled, even though the nation had been unanimous. But so far did dissension prevail, that the

governors of one province refused to march to the assistance of another; and were at last terrified from assembling their forces for the defence of their own. At last another peace was bought with £48,000; but this did not procure the usual temporary relief. The Danes, knowing that they were masters, took the money, and continued their devastations. They levied a further contribution of £8000 on the county of Kent alone; murdered the archbishop of Canterbury, who had refused to countenance this exaction, and made all the English nobility give hostages for their good behaviour. At last, Ethelred himself, dreading equally the violence of the enemy and the treachery of his own subjects, fled, in 1013, into Normandy, whither he had already sent his queen Emma, and her sons Alfred and Edward. The duke received his unfortunate guests with a generosity which does honor to his memory. The king had not been above six weeks abroad, however, when he heard of the death of Sueno, and received an invitation from the prelates and nobility to resume the kingdom. But his imprudence was incurable. His son-in law Edric, notwithstanding his repeated treasons, still retained such influence at court, that he instilled into the king jealousies of Sigefert and Morcar, two of the chief nobles of Mercia. Edric enticed them into his house, where he murdered them; while Ethelred partook of the infamy of this action, by confiscating their estates, and confining the widow of Sigefert in a convent. She was a woman of singular beauty and merit; and in a visit which was paid her, during her confinement, by prince Edmund the king's eldest son, she inspired him with so violent an affection, that he released her from the convent, and soon after married her without his father's consent.

In the mean time, Canute, the son and successor of Sueno, proved an enemy no less terrible to the English than his father had been. He ravaged the eastern coast with merciless fury; and put ashore all the English hostages at Sandwich, after having cut off their hands and noses. He was at last obliged to return to Denmark, but, in a short time, he returned, and continued his depredations along the south coast. He then broke into the counties of Dorset, Wilts, and Somerset ; where an army was assembled against him under the cominand of prince Edmund and duke Edric. The latter still continued his perfidious machinations; and, after endeavouring in vain to get the prince into his power, dissipated the army, and then deserted to Canute with forty vessels. Edmund was not disheartened by this treachery. He again assembled his forces, and was in a condition to give the enemy battle. Ethelred, however, had now such frequent experience of the treachery of his subjects, that he had lost all confidence in them. He remained in London, affecting sickness, but, in reality, from an apprehension that they intended to buy their peace by delivering him up to his enemies. The army called aloud for their sovereign to march at their head against the Danes, and, on his refusal, they were so discouraged, that all the preparations which had been made became ineffectual for the defence of the kingdom. Edmund, deprived of all regular resources for the mainte

nance of the soldiers, was obliged to commit similar ravages to those practised by the Danes; and after making so many fruitless expeditions into the north, which had submitted entirely to Canute's power, he returned to London, where he found every thing in confusion by the king's death.

Ethelred II. died in 1016, after an unhappy reign of thirty-five years; and was succeeded by his eldest son Edmund II., surnamed Ironside. He possessed abilities sufficient to have saved his country from ruin, had he come sooner to the throne: but it was now too late. He bravely opposed the Danes, however, notwithstanding every disadvantage; till, at last, the nobility of both nations obliged their kings to come to a compromise, and divide the kingdom between them by treaty. Canute reserved to himself Mercia, East Anglia, and Northumberland. The southern parts were left to Edmund. This prince survived the treaty only about a month, being murdered at Oxford by two of his chamberlains, accomplices of Edric. After the death of Edmund, nothing was left for the English but submission to Canute. The least scrupulous of mankind, however, dare not, at all times, openly commit injustice. Canute, therefore, before he seized the dominions of Edwin and Edward, the two sons of Edmund, suborned some of the nobility to depose, that, in the last treaty with Edmund, it had been agreed that, in case of Edmund's death, Canute should either be successor to his dominions, or tutor to his children. This evidence, supported by the great power of Canute, was sufficient to obtain his election as king of England. It is observable, says Dr. Lingard, that the ancient writers almost always speak of our kings as elected. Edwy's grandmother, in her charter (Lyc. App. IV.), says he, was chosen gecoren.' A remnant of this custom still obtains in our coronation ceremony, in which the people have the monarch proposed to their choice. Mr. Turner says, that the Norman conquest terminated the power of the Witenagemot, and changed the crown for an hereditary succession.' But this is to be doubted.

6

2. Of England under the Danish princes.— Immediately after Canute's accession to the throne, he sent the two sons of Edmund to the court of Sweden, on pretence of their being educated there; but charged that prince, it is said, to put them to death as soon as they arrived. The Swedish monarch did not comply with this request; but transferred them to the care of Stephen, king of Hungary. The elder Edwin was afterwards married to Stephen's sister; but, he dying without issue, that prince gave his sisterin-law, Agatha, daughter of the emperor Henry II., in marriage to Edward, the younger brother; and she bore him Edgar Atheling; Margeret, afterwards queen of Scotland; and Christina, who retired into a convent. Canute was obliged at first to make great concessions to the nobility, but he afterwards put to death many of those in whom he could not put confidence; and, among the rest, the traitor Edric, whom he cut down before his nobles with a battle axe, and his body was thrown into the Thames. Further to conciliate the people, he married Emma the widow of

Ethelred II., promising that he would leave the children he should have by that marriage heirs to the crown after his decease. The English were at first displeased with Emma for marrying the mortal enemy of her husband; but at the same time were glad to find at court a sovereign to whom they were accustomed, and who had already formed connexions with them: and thus Canute, besides securing by his marriage an alliance with Normandy, gradually acquired, by the sanie means, the confidence of his new subjects. The most remarkable transaction of his reign, besides those mentioned under the article CANUTE, is his expedition to Scotland against Malcolm II., whom he forced to do homage for the county of Cumberland, which the Scotch at that time possessed. After this Canute passed four years in peace, and died at Shaftsbury; leaving three sons, Sweno, Harold, and Canute.

The letter written by this prince to his subjects from Rome, as preserved by Spelman, is an interesting memorial of the age and of his own character:

'Canute, king of all Denmark, England, and Norway, and of part of Sweden, to Egelnoth the metropolitan, to archbishop Alfric, to all the bishops and chiefs, and to all the nation of the English, both nobles and commoners, greeting. I write to inform you that I have lately been at Rome, to pray for the remission of my sins, and for the safety of my kingdoms, and of the nations that are subject to my sceptre. It is long since I bound myself by vow to make this pilgrimage; but I had been hitherto prevented by affairs of state, and other impediments. Now, however, I return humble thanks to the almighty God, that he has allowed me to visit the tombs of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, and every holy place within and without the city of Rome, and to honor and venerate them in person. And this I have done, because I had learned from my teachers, that the apostle St. Peter received from the Lord the great power of binding and loosing, with the keys of the kingdom of heaven. On this account I thought it highly useful to solicit his patronage with God.

'Be it moreover known to you, that there was, at the festival of Easter, a great assemblage of noble personages with the lord the pope John, and the emperor Conrad, namely, all the chiefs of the nations from mount Gargano to the nearest sea, who all received me honorably, and made me valuable presents; but particularly the emperor, who gave me many gold and silver vases, with rich mantles and garments. I therefore took the opportunity to treat with the pope, the emperor, and the princes, on the grievances of my people, both English and Danes; that they might enjoy more equal law, and more secure safeguard in their way to Rome, nor be detained at so many barriers, nor harassed by unjust exactions. My demands were granted both by the emperor, and by the king Rodulf, to whom the greater part of the barriers belong and it was enacted by all the princes, that my men, whether pilgrims or merchants, should, for the future, go to Rome and return in full security, without detention at the barriers, or the payment of unlawful tolls.

'I next complained to the pope, and expressed my displeasure that such immense sums were extorted from my archbishops, when, according to custom, they visited the apostolic see to obtain the pallium. A decree was made that this grievance should cease. Whatever I demanded, for the benefit of my people, either of the pope, or the emperor, or the princes, through whose dominions lies the road to Rome, was granted willingly, and confirmed by their oaths, in the presence of four archbishops, twenty bishops, and a multitude of dukes and nobles. Wherefore I return sincere thanks to God, that I have successfully performed whatever I had intended, and have fully satisfied all my wishes.

Now, therefore, be it known unto you all, that I have dedicated my life to the service of God, to govern my kingdoms with equity, and to observe justice in all things. If, by the violence or negligence of youth, I have violated justice heretofore, it is my intention, by the help of God, to make full compensation. Therefore I beg and command those to whom I have confided the government, as they wish to preserve my friendship, or save their own souls, to do no injustice either to rich or poor. Let all persons, whether noble or ignoble,obtain their rights according to law, from which no deviation shall be allowed, either from fear of me, or through favor to the powerful, or for the purpose of supplying my treasury. I have no need of money raised by injustice.

I am now on my road to Denmark, for the purpose of concluding peace with those nations who, had it been in their power, would have deprived us of both out crown and our life. But God has destroyed their means: and will, I trust, of his goodness preserve us, and humble all our enemies. When I shall have concluded peace with the neighbouring nations, and settled the concerns of my eastern dominions, it is my intention to return to England, as soon as the fine weather will permit me to sail. But I have sent you this letter beforehand, that all the people of my kingdom may rejoice at my prosperity. For you all know that I never spared nor will spare myself, or my labor, when my object is the advantage of my subjects.

'Lastly, I entreat all my bishops, and all the sheriffs, by the fidelity which they owe to me and to God, that the church-dues, according to the ancient laws, may be paid before my return; namely, the plough-alms, the tithes of cattle of the present year, the Peter-pence, the tithes of fruit in the middle of August, and the kirk-shot at the feast of St. Martin, to the parish church. Should this be omitted, at my return I will punish the offender by exacting the whole fine appointed by law. Fare ye well.'

Sueno, the son of Canute by his first marriage with Alfwena, daughter of the earl of Hampshire, was, on the death of that prince, crowned in Norway; Canute, whom Emma had borne, was in possession of Denmark; and Harold, who was full brother to Sueno, was at that time in England. This prince succeeded to the crown of England; though it had been stipulated that Emma's son Canute should be considered the heir. But the former, being on the spot, obtained

possession of his father's treasures, and all the resources of the government. As Canute, however, was supported by earl Godwin, a civil war. was likely to ensue, when a compromise was made; by which it was agreed, that Harold should reign in London, and over all the provinces north of the Thames, while the possession of the south should remain to Canute. Till that prince should appear, and take possession of his dominions, Emma fixed her residence in Winchester, and ruled in the name of her son. Harold reigned four years, during which time, the only memorable action he performed was a most infamous piece of treachery.-Alfred and Edward, the two sons of Emma by Ethelred, paid a visit to their mother in England. But in the mean time, earl Godwin being gained over by Harold, a plan was laid for the destruction of these princes. Alfred was accordingly invited to London by Harold, with many professions of friendship; but when he had reached Guildford, about 600 of his train were murdered in the most cruel manner, he himself was taken prisoner, his eyes were put out, and he was conducted to the monastery of Ely, where he soon after died. Edward and Emma, apprised of the fate which awaited them, fled beyond sea, the former into Normandy, the latter into Flanders; while Harold took possession of all his brother's dominions without opposition. He died in April 1039.

Canute II., surnamed the Hardy, and hence commonly called Hardicanute, succeeded his brother Harold without opposition. His government was extremely violent and tyrannical. It was, however, but of short duration. He died In 1041 of a debauch at the marriage of a Danish ord.

3. Of England under the restored Saxon line. After the death of Hardicanute, a favorable opportunity was offered to the English, for shaking off the Danish yoke. Sueno, king of Norway, the eldest son of Canute, was absent; and, as the two last kings had died without issue, there appeared none of that race whom the Danes could support as successor to the throne. For this reason, the eyes of the nation were naturally drawn towards prince Edward, who happened to be at court when the king died. But it was feared that his succession would be opposed by earl Godwin, who was by far the most powerful nobleman in the kingdom. A declared animosity subsisted between the prince and Godwin, on account of the connexion of the latter with the murderers of his brother Alfred; and this, it was thought, he never would forgive. But common friends interposed, and, representing the necessity of a good understanding, obliged them to lay aside these animosities, and to concur in restoring liberty to their native country. Godwin only stipulated that Edward, as a pledge of his sincere reconciliation, should promise to marry his daughter Editha. This proposal was agreed to: Edward was crowned king of England, and married Editha, but the marriage proved a source of discord. Editha, though an amiable woman, could never obtain the confidence and affection of her husband. It is even said, that during the whole course of her life, he imposed upon himself a vow of continence: a species of behaviour

highly celebrated by the monkish writers of the age, and which contributed, in no small degree, to his acquiring the titles of Saint and Confessor. Though the neglect of his daughter could not fail to awaken Godwin's former enmity, it was necessary to choose a more popular ground on which to vent his complaints. He therefore began to censure the influence which the Normans had in the public affairs, and a declared opposition took place between him and these favorites. In a short time this animosity broke out into great violence. Eustace, count of Bologne, having paid a visit to the king, passed by Dover on his return, where, one of his train being refused access to a lodging, he wounded the master of the house in the affray, and his townsmen revenged the insult by the death of the stranger. The count and his train now took arms, and slew the opponent of their countryman. A tumult ensued: near twenty persons were killed on each side; until Eustace, being overpowered with numbers, was obliged at last to fy. He complained to the king, who gave orders to earl Godwin, in whose government Dover lay, to punish the inhabitants. But this nobleman refused to obey the command, and endeavoured to throw the whole blame on Eustace and his followers. Edward was displeased, and threatened to make him feel his resentment, in case he finally refused to comply. Upon this, Godwin assembled a powerful army, in pretence of repressing some disorders on the frontiers of Wales, and marched directly towards the king's residence at Gloucester. Edward, perceiving his danger, for he was unattended by any considerable force, applied to Siward, duke of Northumberland, and Leofric, duke of Mercia, to hasten to him with their followers. Godwin, in the mean time, suffered himself to be deceived by negociations, till the king's army became so powerful, that he was not able to cope with it. He was therefore obliged to fly with his family to Flanders, where he was protected by earl Baldwin, together with his three sons, Gurth, Sueno, and Tosti; the last of whom had married Baldwin's daughter. Harold and Leofwin, two other sons of Godwin, took shelter in Ireland. After the flight of this turbulent noble, he was proceeded against as a traitor by king Edward. His estates, and those of his sons were confiscated; queen Editha was confined in a monastery; and the great power of this family, which had become formidable to the crown itself, seemed to be totally overthrown. Godwin, however, soon found means to retrieve his affairs. Having hired several ships, and manned them with his followers, he attempted to make a descent at Sandwich. The king, informed of his preparations, also equipped a fleet which Godwin could not resist; he therefore retreated into the Flemish harbours. On his departure, the English dismissed their armament. This Godwin had expected, and therefore kept himself in readiness for a favorable opportunity. He immediately put to sea, and, sailing to the Isle of Wight, was joined by Harold with a squadron which he had collected in Ireland. Being thus master of the sea, Godwin entered the harbours on the southern coast, seized all the English ships, and, being joined by great numbers of his former

« PreviousContinue »