courageous, beating the Danes from the walls, and then sallying out upon them, slew them on heaps, so that King Swain himself was in great danger had he not desperately ran through the midst of his enemies' swords, and by flight escaped, marching day and night in great fear till he had got to the city of Bath; where Ethelmere Earl of Devonshire, and his people submitted themselves to him; but this last overthrow, and want of victuals, caused him after he had received a sum of money to hasten into Denmark, intending to return with greater strength, which accordingly he did, and meeting with the English utterly defeated them by reason of the treachery of some English who revolted to the Danes; so that the whole kingdom submitted to them, and London was likewise forced to comply with the calamity of the times, wherewith unfortunate Etheldred being utterly dejected, sent his Wife Emma, and his two sons, to his brother Richard Duke of Normandy; and went himself into one of his ships at Greenwich and from thence to the Isle of Wight, where after he had staid some time, he likewise sailed into Normandy to his brother, leaving the Danes sole masters of the realm.

Awhile after King Swain coming to St. Edmondsbury in Suffolk, thereatened to burn down the Church there, unless they would give him a great sum of money (having done the like in several places) which the inhabitants refusing to pay, he went to disturb the bones of St. Edmund (so called) which while he was doing, he suddenly cryed out (saith the Historian) that, he was struck by St. Edmund with a sword, being then in the midst of his nobles, and no man seeing from whose hand it came; and so with great horror he three days after ended his life; but with his death died not the title of the Danes, who immediately advanced Canutus the son, for their King.

Soon after King Etheldred died also, and his third son called Edmund Ironside (of his ability in enduring labour) succeeded; a great part of the English both feared and favoured Canutus, and indeed out of fear favoured him, especially the Clergy, who at Southampton ordained him their King, and swore fealty to him.

But the Londoners stood firm to Prince Edmund, and were the principal authors of his election to be King; in revenge whereof Canutus who had besieged the city before the death of King Etheldred, caused his ships now to be rowed and drawn up the Thames to the east side of the bridge, and from the River with a deep and long trench incompassed the city, shutting up all the passages in or out

of it.

But the citizens made valiant resistance, to which the coming of their new King Edmund to their assistance, did much encourage them and disheartened the Danes, so that they now thought it best to break up the siege and be gone. And the sooner, because King Edmund had sent a peremptory challenge to Canutus, to meet and fight him in single combat; which he neither accepted, nor staid to try the fortune of the seige of London, but presently sailed down the Thames to the Isle of Sheppey, where he wintered with his navy and men. And in the spring he assailed the West of England, where the Danes were routed.

After this at a place called Sherostan in Worcestershire, another battle was fought, where the Danes were like again to have been discomforted; which Edrick (an Englishman, but a traitor) perceiving, he cut off the head of a soldier, whose name was Osmearus, who was like King Edmund both in hair and countenance, and shaking his bloody sword with the gasping head, cryed out to the English Army, fly, fly, ye wretches fly, and get away, for your King is slain, behold here is his head, therefore seek now to save your own lives.

But Edmund having notice of this treacherous stratagem, hasted to shew himself where he might be seen; whose sight so encouraged his men, that they had gotten that day a total victory, if night had not prevented them. The soldiers bent their bows against Duke Edrick, and had shot him to death, had he not avoided them. But Edrick excused the fact, as being mistaken in the countenance of the man, and desirous to save the blood of the English; upon which false pretence he was taken into favour again.

Three days afterward both armies prepared again for battle, yet stood still without any skirmishing, only refreshing their wearied and tired bodies, and burying those that were slain in the two days before. The night following Canutus in great silence brake up his camp, and marched with all speed to the city of London, he having conceived very great displeasure against the citizens thereof, and desiring carnestly to conquer that place, which was in a manner already beseiged by the Danish ships. Next morning the centinels gave notice to King Edmund, who was preparing himself to battle, that his enemies were suddenly marched away: whereupon Edmund followed them with all speed, to prevent their designs, and soon arived at London, where with little difficulty he raised the seige, and entered the city in a triumphant manner.

The Danes being thus discomfited, there was great hope of further success, and Edmund taking advantage of their fear, fell upon them

two days after at Brainford, and routed them with a great slaughter, (though in passing the Thames there, he lost many of his men, who was drowned before they could get ashore.) Upon this loss, the traitor Edrick fearing the ruin of the Danes, persuaded his brother-inlaw King Edmund to come to a truce with Canutus, who kept it only so long till he had increased his forces, and then another battle was fought, wherein it is reported that Canutus lost four thousand five hundred men, and King Edmund only six hundred. But Canutus a while after recruiting his army, Edmund marched toward him, whọ lay at Ashdone three miles from Saffron Walden in Essex, where a bloody fight ensued, and at first the victory seemed doubtful on either side, till at last the Danes began to retreat; which the ever traiterous Edrick perceiving, he with all his forces revolted to the Danes, whereby they clearly got the day, and the poor betrayed English were utterly overthrown.

There were slain of Edmund's Nobility, Duke Alfred, Duke Godwin, Duke Athelward, Duke Athelwin, and Earl Urchil, with Cadnoth Bishop of Lincoln, and Wolsey Abbot of Ramsey, with several other of the Clergy, who came thither to pray for the preservation and good success of King Edmund and his army. There are some signs of this battle in that field to this very day, divers small hills still remaining there, from whence have been digged the bones of of men, armour, and the chains of horses' bridles.

King Edmund being thus treacherously forced to quit the field, marched on foot into Gloucester with a very small army, leaving Canutus flushed with victory, who marched to London, and forced the city to submit to him, as well as many other great towns. After which he followed Edmund in the west, who seeking nothing but revenge, and had again raised a very considerable army, resolving at once to try the utmost of his fortune. The armies met with a full resolution to establish one, by the ruin of the other. But a Captain in King Edmund's army proposed, that for preventing bloodshed, the two kings only should fight in single combat, it chiefly concerning them, or else divide the kingdom between them.

Whereupon it was agreed, that they should try their fortune: and the two kings in sight of both their armies, went into a small Island called Alney near Glocester, encompassed with the River Severn, and being compleatly armed, they first assaulted each other very stoutly on horse-back, and afterward on foot. But Edmund was strong, and fought for a kingdom; Canutus for honor: and the combat seemed indifferent equal, till Canutus having received a dangerous

wound, and finding himself overmatched in strength, desired to treat, and spake thus to Edmund.

What necessity is there (most valiant Prince) that me, for obtaining a title, should thus endanger our lives. It were better to lay malice and our armour aside, and condescend to a loving agreement, let us now therefore become sworn brothers, and divide the Kingdom between us, and keep such amity, that we may both use the others share as if it were his own, so shall this land be peaceably governed, and we jointly assist each others necessity.

Upon this speech they both cast down their swords, and embraced as friends, to the great joy and rejoicing of both armies, who stood doubtfully wavering before, betwixt hope and fear, as expecting their own fortunes according to the success of their champions. Thus was the kingdom divided between these two princes, Edmund enjoying the west part toward the Coast of France, and Canutus the rest. And thus was the Saxon Monarchy come to its last period, and the tottering Crown was soon after torn from Edmund's head: for Duke Edrick, a traitor in grain, being much in favor with both kings, yet to oblige Canutus, contrived the death of renowned Edmund, who going into a place of easement, was suddenly thrust from under the vault into the body with a sharp spear; which being done, the villain Edrick cut off his sovereign's head, and presented it to Canutus with this flattering salutation, All hail thou now sole Monarch of England, for here behold the head of thy copartner, which for thy sake I have adventured to cut off.

Canutus, though ambitious enough of sovereignty, yet being of a Princely temper, he was much astonished at this base and treacherous act, and vowed, that in reward of that service the bringer's head should be advanced above all the peers of his kingdom. Which high honor, while this prodigious wretch greedily expected (and indeed for some time, saith our author, he had some shew of favour from the King) he suddenly by the King's command had his head struck off, and placed upon the highest gate of London, to overlook that great city.

Canutus being possessed of half the kingdom by composition with Edmund, now after his death seized the whole, and that all things, as was pretended, might proceed with justice and concord, he called a council of the English Nobility at London, wherein it was demanded, whether in the agreement between Edmund and him, any claim or title to the crown had been reserved for King Edmund's brethren, or his sons. The English, who had paid dear for resisting the Danes

hitherto, and being afraid to provoke him, absolutely answered, no. And knowing that princes are generally appeased with flattery, they offered themselves the oath of allegiance to Canutus, who being a very wise and politick prince, had not a better opinion of them for their fawning; rightfully judging, that those who were false to their natural prince, would never be true to him, nor his posterity, who were foreigners.

Canutus being thus freed from all opposites, was crowned King of England at London, in 1017, by Elstane Archbishop of Canterbury, being the second King of Denmark of that name, and the first of England, and the thirty-fourth Monarch of this land.

King Canutus dying, left the kingdom of Norway to his eldest son Swain, and England to his youngest, called Hardycanute, who being at that time in Denmark, Herold his eldest brother by a former wife, taking advantage of his absence, laid claim to the Crown, and enjoyed it four years, having neither wife nor child.

After his death the English as well as Danes who had been for Harold, thought it best to send for Hardy canute and offer him the crown; who soon after came to London in great state, and was there proclaimed King of England, and crowned. He spent his reign in nothing but doing ill. For no sooner had he power to command, but he ordered the body of his brother the deceased King Harold to be taken out of his grave, and disgracefully thrown into the river Thames, where it remained till a fisherman found it, and buried it in the church yard of St. Clement, commonly called St. Clement Danes, because, says some, it was the burying place for that nation.

This Hardycanute altogether neglected his government, delighting in nothing but eating and drinking to excess, having his tables spread with fresh victuals four times every day, which caused all manner of debauchery to reign among his subjects by his evil example, since it is natural for people to imitate the vices of their Sovereign. He died suddenly at the celebration of a marriage at Lambeth near London: for while he was revelling and carousing in the midst of his cups, he suddenly fell down, without speech or breath; whose loss was little lamented by reason of his riot and excess, and the severe taxes he laid upon the people for maintaining his extravagances; yea, so far were any from bewailing him, that in remembrance of their freedom from the Danish yoke, he being the last King of the Danes, the common people for a long time after, celebrated the day of his death, which was the eighth of June, with open pastimes in the streets (as the Romans formerly kept their Fugalia,

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