Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

cre of the Danes settled in England. Amongst others was killed a sister of the king of Norway, with her husband and children. When the news of his sister's murder reached Sweyn, he vowed to make a bloody retaliation; and, accordingly, in the year 1003, he brought a large army to England, where he established himself successfully.

In the course of ten years, Sweyn got entire possession of the kingdom; and Ethelred and his queen Emma, with their two young sons, fled into Normandy. But Sweyn, before he could be crowned, died at Gainsborough. As soon as Ethelred heard of his death, he came back into England, and conducted himself with such unexpected activity and courage, that he compelled the Danes, with their young king Canute, to return home.

If Ethelred had been wise and prudent, he might now have reinstated himself in his kingdom: but he suffered himself to be governed and misguided by one of his traitorous nobles, and caused some of his more faithful adherents to be put to death unjustly. Canute now returned; and Edmund, the eldest son of Ethelred, a brave and active young prince, struggled hard to preserve his father's kingdom, amidst the many and great difficulties occasioned by the cruelties of the Danes, the weakness of his father, and the wickedness of the nobles.

This prince, on the death of his father, A. D. 1016. became king; and from his hardihood and

He

invincible valour, was called Edmund Ironsides fought no less than five pitched battles with the Danes. Canute and he then came to an agreement to divide the kingdom between them, and to live in peace if they could. It was settled that Canute should have Mercia and Northumberland, and that Edmund should keep all the rest of the kingdom. But, a few days after this agreement had been made between them, Edmund was murdered at Oxford by one of his own nobles, and thus Canute became sole king of England in the year 1017.

Why was not Sweyn crowned king of England?

What was the conduct of Ethelred, and his son Edmund ?
How did Canute become king of England?

CHAP. V.

FROM CANUTE TO THE NORMAN CONQUEST.

[Years after Christ, 1017–1066.]

The English showed, at first, some repugnance to accept for their king a foreigner and an enemy, in exclusion of the sons of Edmund Ironsides. But Canute, who was a wise and powerful prince, reconciled all their differences, and peaceably ascended the throne. His first care was to endeavour to bring about a reconciliation between his English and Danish subjects; in which difficult undertaking, it is said, he succeeded: and although he had profited by the wicked arts of those Saxons who had betrayed their country to him, he nevertheless inflicted on them the just punishment of their treachery, putting some of them to death, and banishing others.

What was the general character of Canute's government?

Canute's conduct towards the family of his predecessor, is the great stain on his character. He not only caused the brother of Edmund to be murdered, but also sent away Edmund's two little sons to the king of Sweden, meaning, it is supposed, that he should put them to death. But the king of Sweden took compassion on them, and sent them to Solomon, king of Hungary, desiring him to take good care of them. Edwin, the elder, died young; but the younger, who was called Edward, lived to grow up, and married Agatha, sister of the queen of Hungary.

Canute, when he was thoroughly settled in England, being desirous to show his new subjects what confidence he had in them, sent almost all his Danish fleet and army back again to Denmark, keeping only forty ships. He next offered himself in marriage to Emma, the widowed queen of Ethelred, and she married him, although he had been her children's greatest enemy. It was, however, a very fortunate marriage for Canute, as it prevented the duke of Normandy from attempting to place on the throne of England his nephews, Alfred and Edward, the two sons of Emma and Ethelred.

The conduct of Canute was so wise and prudent, that he has been called by historians Canute the Great. In a voy age to Denmark, to repel the Swedes, who were making an attack upon that country, he took with him some English under the command of earl Godwin; and they attacked the Swedish army with so much bravery, that Canute was greatly pleased with their conduct; and Godwin became one of his greatest favourites.

Canute staid in Denmark about a year; and when he returned to England he found the country in great tranquil. lity, in which it continued for some years. During this time, Canute employed himself in making new laws and regulations, and in building churches and monasteries.

A. D. 1035.

Excepting a dispute with the king of
Scotland about the tribute called Dane.

gelt, which he demanded for a part of Cumberland that had at some former time been given up to the Scots, Canute

How did Canute treat the sons of Edmund Ironsides?

Did Canute reign securely in England, and whom did he marry?
Did Canute govern wisely?

Was England tranquil during Canute's life?

preserved England in peace during the whole of his reign, a term of eighteen years. He died at Shaftsbury, and left three sons, Sweyn, Harold, and Hardicanute.

The succesion had been settled on Hardicanute, who was queen Emma's son; but, he being in Denmark when his father died, Harold seized on the crown, and took possession of the late king's treasures. Earl Godwin, and the greater part of the English, declared for Hardicanute; and the country seemed on the verge of a civil war, when it was prevented by an arrangement entered into for dividing the kingdom between the two brothers.

Harold was to keep London, and the counties north of the Thames. All to the south of that river was to be Hardicanute's; and his mother, queen Emma, was to live at Winchester, and govern the country for him, till his return from Denmark. Emma then sent for her two sons, whom she had had by Ethelred, to come to England from Normandy, where they were living under their uncle's care. Alfred, on his arrival, fell into the hands

A. D. 1039. of earl Godwin, who had been secretly gained to Harold's interest, and was carried to Ely, where he was either actually murdered, or died in consequence of the cruel treatment he suffered. As soon as Emma heard of his fate, she fled into Flanders, and Harold took possession of the whole kingdom. He did not, however, long enjoy the fruits of his cruelty and ambition, for he died in 1039. He was remarkable for his swiftness in walking and running, which obtained for him the name of Harold Harefoot.

As soon as Hardicanute, who had joined A. D. 1041. his mother in Flanders, heard of the death of Harold, he came to England, and was received by the people with the greatest joy. But their joy was of short duration, for the young king soon showed himself to be of a very ferocious and vindictive temper. Harold levied heavy taxes on his English subjects, to pay his Danish fleet and army. His reign, however, did not last long; for he died in 1041, having shortened his life by his excessive intemperance in eating and drinking.

When did Canute die?

What prevented a civil war in England at that time?
When did Harold Harefoot die?

When did Hardicanute die?

The violences of Harold and Hardicanute had so much disgusted the English with their Danish sovereigns, that they now resolved to restore the line of their own Saxon princes, and they looked about amongst the descendants of Ethelred for a successor to the vacant throne. They invited Edward, afterwards called the Confessor, the son of Ethelred and Emma, to ascend the throne. Edward, being of a timorous and unambitious temper, did not desire to be king, and would have declined the offer, had not earl Godwin, who was now become the most powerful person in the kingdom, prevailed on him to suffer himself to be crowned. This restoration of the Saxon line caused great joy throughout the kingdom, and was long celebrated by an annual festival called Hokeday,

Edward married Edgitha, daughter of earl Godwin, and began his reign by seizing on the treasures of queen Emma, who, he pretended, had treated him very unkindly during his adversity. He also revoked many grants the late king had made to the Danes; and took off the tax called Danegelt, a tax which was particularly odious to the English, and which had been first levied by Ethelred, to obtain money to bribe the Danes to leave the country. This arbitrary seizure of property shows how little kings then understood the rights of subjects, and how imperfectly subjects understood their own rights when they submitted to it.

Edward having been brought up amongst the Normans, had many friends and favourites of that nation, who came flocking over to him, and were loaded by him with favours and benefits. This gave great offence to the English nobles, particularly to earl Godwin, who considered himself as having a right to govern and direct the king, and who was indignant at the influence the Normans had over him. These jealousies became at length so violent, that the king banished earl Godwin, and gave his possessions to Norman favourites. Even the queen, because she was the earl's daughter, was very harshly treated, and was obliged to go into a nunnery.

After a time, Godwin and his sons returned with a great

What induced the British nation to restore the Saxon line of kings?
What were the principal measures of Edward's reign?
What first brought the Normans to England?

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »