Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (6 of 8): The Sixt Booke of the Historie of England — John Shaqi
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (6 of 8): The Sixt Booke of the Historie of EnglandHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (6 of 8): The Sixt Booke of the Historie of England
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- Anglo-Saxon period, 449-1066
In the yéere following, the other armie which had brought the ships
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._]
into the riuer Luie, began to build a castell néere to the same
riuer, twentie miles distant from London: but the Londoners came
[Sidenote: The Londoners victors against the Danes.]
thither, and giuing battell to the Danes, slue foure of the chiefe
capteins. But by Simon Dunel. and Matt. Westm. it should seeme, that
the Londoners were at this time put to flight, and that foure of the
kings barons were slaine in fight, Howbeit Henrie Hunt. hath written
as before I haue recited; and further saith, that when the Danes fled
for their refuge to the castell, king Alfred caused the water of Luie
to be diuided into thrée chanels, so that the Danes should not bring
backe their ships out of the place where they laie at anchor. When the
Danes perceiued this, they left their ships behind them, and went
[Sidenote: Quathbridge or Wakebridge.]
into the borders of Wales, where at Cartbridge vpon Seuerne they built
another castell, and lay there all the winter following, hauing left
their wiues and children in the countrie of Eastangles. King Alfred
pursued them, but the Londoners tooke the enimies ships, and brought
some of them to the citie, and the rest they burnt.
Thus for the space of thrée yéeres after the arriuing of the maine
armie of the Danes in the hauen of Luie, they sore indamaged the
English people, although the Danes themselues susteined more losse at
the Englishmens hands than they did to them with all pilfering and
[Sidenote: The Danish armie diuided into parts.]
spoiling. In the fourth yéere after their comming, the armie was
diuided, so that one part of them went into Northumberland, part of
them remained in the countrie of Eastangles, & another part went
into France. Also certeine of their ships came vpon the coast of the
Westsaxons, oftentimes setting their men on land to rob and spoile the
countrie. But king Alfred tooke order in the best wise he might for
defense of his countrie and people, and caused certeine mightie
vessels to be builded, which he appointed foorth to incounter with the
enimies ships.
[Sidenote: The death of king Alfred.]
Thus like a worthie prince and politike gouernor, he preuented
each way to resist the force of his enimies, and to safegard his
subiects. Finallie after he had reigned 29 yéeres and an halfe, he
departed this life the 28 day of October. His bodie was buried at
[Sidenote: His issue.]
Winchester: he left behind him issue by his wife Ethelwitha the
daughter vnto earle Ethelred of Mercia, two sonnes, Edward surnamed
the elder, which succéeded him, and Adelwold: also thrée
[Sidenote: Elfleda.]
daughters, Elfleda or Ethelfleda, Ethelgeda or Edgiua, and Ethelwitha.
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