Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (8 of 8): The Eight Booke of the Historie of EnglandHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (8 of 8): The Eight Booke of the Historie of England
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- Edward, the Confessor, 1042-1066; Harold, King of England, 1022?-1066; Hastings, Battle of, England, 1066
In the former part of this historie it is manifest to the heedful
[Sidenote: Britaine inhabited by Brute.]
reader, that (after the opinion of most writers) Brute did first
inhabit this land; and called it then after his owne name, Britaine,
in the yéere after the creation of the world 2855, and in the yéere
[Sidenote: 1 Britaine conquered by the Romans.]
before the incarnation of Christ 1108. ¶ Furthermore the said land
of Britaine was conquered by C. Iulius Cesar, and made tributarie to
the Romans in the 50 yéere before the natiuitie of Christ, and so
continued 483 yéeres. So that the Britains reigned without tribute and
vnder tribute, from Brute, vntill the fourth yeere of the reigne of
king Cadwalladar, which was in the yéere of our Lord 686. And so the
Britains had continuance of the gouernement of this land the space of
1794 yéeres. Then was the realme of Britaine an heptarchie, that is,
diuided into seuen kingdoms. And Britaine receiued the faith of Christ
[Sidenote: 2 Britaine conquered and ouercome by the Saxons.]
in the 7 yéere of the reigne of king Lucius, which was in the 187
yéere after the birth of Christ. ¶ Next after the Britains entered the
Saxons, in the third yéere of king Vortiger; and in the yéere of our
Lord 450, and they gouerned vntill the last yéere of king Athelstane,
which was in the yéere of Christ 938. So that the time of the Saxons
first entrance into this realme, and the time of their regiment
[Sidenote: 3 Britaine conquered and ouercome by the Danes.]
was the space of 487 yéeres. ¶ Howbeit, in the time of their
gouernement, that is to say, in the 9 yéere of king Britricus, which
was in the yéere of our Lord 387, the Danes entred into this land,
spoiling and persecuting the people therin most gréeuouslie. At the
last, Sweno or Swaine the Dane obteined possession roiall, in the
yéere of Grace 1012, whose time of regiment lasted about three yéeres.
After whom his sonne Canutus succeeded, and reigned 19 yéeres. After
him Harold his sonne, who ruled thrée yeeres: and after him Hardicnute
the sonne of Canutus, whose gouernement continued but thrée yeeres.
This Hardicnute was the last king of the Danes, at which time the
Danes were expelled and hunted out of the realme, which was in the
yéere of our Lord 1042. So that it may appeare by this collection,
that the Danes ruled as kings in this land by the space of 28 yéeres.
Hereby also it is euident, that from the time of the first entrance
of the Danes into this realme, vntill their last expulsion &
[Sidenote: 4 Britaine conquered and possessed by the Normans.]
riddance, was 255 yéeres. ¶ Finallie the Normans entred this land
likewise, and conquered the same as before is expressed, in the yéere
of our Lord 1067, which is since, vntill this present yéere of our
Lord 1585, drawing néere to the number of 600 and od yéeres.
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