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
[Sidenote: Pridecire. saith _Si. Dun._ _Will. Malm._ _Matth. West._
946.]
Other say, that kéeping a great feast at the aforesaid place on
the day of saint Augustine the English apostle (which is the 26 of
Maie, and as that yeare came about, it fell on the tuesday) as he was
set at the table, he espied where a common robber was placed neere
vnto him, whome sometime he had banished the land, and now being
returned without licence, he presumed to come into the kings presence,
wherewith the king was so moued with high disdaine, that he suddenlie
arose from the table, and flew vpon the théefe, and catching him by
the heare of the head, threw him vnder his féet, wherewith the théefe,
hauing fast hold on the king, brought him downe vpon him also, and
with his knife stroke him into the bellie, in such wise, that the
kings bowels fell out of his chest, and there presentlie died. The
theefe was hewen in péeces by the kings seruants, but yet he slue
and hurt diuers before they could dispatch him. This chance was
lamentable, namelie to the English people, which by the ouertimelie
death of their king, in whome appeared manie euident tokens of great
excellencie, lost the hope which they had conceiued of great wealth to
increase by his prudent and most princelie gouernement. His bodie was
buried at Glastenburie where Dunstane was then abbat.
There be that write, that the death of king Edmund was signified
[Sidenote: _Capgraue_. A vaine tale.]
aforehand to Dunstane, who about the same time attending vpon
the same king, as he remooued from one place to an other, chanced to
accompanie himselfe with a noble man, one duke Elstane, and as they
rode togither, behold suddenlie Dunstane saw in the waie before him,
where the kings musicians rode, the diuell running and leaping amongst
the same musicians after a reioising maner, whome after he had beheld
a good while, he said to the duke; Is it possible that you may see
that which I sée? The duke answered that he saw nothing otherwise than
[Sidenote: Crossing bringeth sight of the diuels, and crossing driueth
them away.]
he ought to sée. Then said Dunstane, Blesse your eies with the
signe of the crosse, and trie whether you can see that I sée. And
when he had doone as Dunstane appointed him, he saw also the féend
in likenesse of a little short euill fauoured Aethiopian dansing and
leaping, whereby they gathered that some euill hap was towards some of
the companie: but when they had crossed and blessed them, the foule
spirit vanished out of their sight.
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