Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (7 of 8): The Seventh Boke of the Historie of EnglandHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (7 of 8): The Seventh Boke of the Historie of England
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- Anglo-Saxon period, 449-1066
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
The same author bringeth the generall slaughter of Danes vpon S.
Brices day, to haue chanced in the yÈere after the conclusion of
this agreement, that is to say, in the yeere 1012, at what time
[Sidenote: Gunthildis the sister of K. Swaine murthered.]
Gunthildis the sister of king Swaine was slaine, with hir husband
& hir sonne, by the commandement of the false traitor Edrike. But
bicause all other authors agree that the murther of Danes was executed
about ten yeeres before this supposed time: we haue made rehearsall
thereof in that place. Howbeit, for the death of Gunthildis, it maie
be, that she became hostage either in the yÈere 1007, at what time
king Egelred paied thirtie thousand pounds vnto king Swaine to haue
peace (as before you haue heard) or else might she be deliuered in
hostage, in the yÈere 1011, when the last agrÈement was made with the
Danes (as aboue is mentioned.) But when or at what time soeuer she
became hostage, this we find of hir, that she came hither into England
with hir husband Palingus, a mightie earle, and receiued baptisme
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
hÈere. Wherevpon she earnestlie trauelled in treatie of a peace
betwixt hir brother and king Egelred: which being brought to passe
chieflie by hir sute, she was contented to become an hostage for
performance thereof (as before is recited.) And after by the
commandement of earle Edrike she was put to death, pronouncing that
the shedding of hir bloud would cause all England one day sore to rue.
She was a verie beautifull ladie, and tooke hir death without all
feare, not once changing countenance, though she saw hir husband
and hir onelie sonne (a yoong gentleman of much towardnesse) first
murthered before hir face.
* * * * *
_Turkillus the Danish capteine telleth king Swaine the faults of the
king, nobles, & commons of this realme, he inuadeth England, the
Northumbers and others submit themselues to him, Danes receiued into
seruice vnder Egelred, London assalted by Swaine, the citizens behaue
themselues stoutlie, and giue the Danish host a shamefull repulse,
Ethelmere earle of Deuonshire and his people submit themselues to
Swaine, he returneth into Denmarke, commeth back againe into England
with a fresh power, is incountred withhall of the Englishmen, whose
king Egelred is discomfited, his oration to his souldiers touching the
present reliefe of their distressed land, their resolution and full
purpose in this their perplexitie, king Egelred is minded to giue
place to Swaine, he sendeth his wife and children ouer into Normandie,
the Londoners yeeld vp their state to Swaine, Egelred saileth oner
into Normandie, leauing his land to the enimie._
THE SIXT CHAPTER.
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