The History of England Volume I

III. Ethelred - Settlement of the Normans - Edmund Ironside - Canute the Great - harold Harefoot - Hardicanute - Edward the Confessor - Harold

HuVol1_101-200.indd 107 2/1/10 7:56 AM III Ethelred- Settlement ofthe NormansEdmund Ironside- Canute- Harold BarefootHardicanute - Edward the Confessor- Harold ~~~ ETHEL RED T HE FREEDOM, which England had so long enjoyed from the depredations of the Danes, seems to have proceeded, partly from the establishments, which that pyratical nation had obtained in the north of France, and which employed all their superfluous hands to people and maintain them; partly from the vigour and warlike spirit of a long race of English princes, who preserved the kingdom in a posture of defence by sea and land, and either prevented or repelled every attempt of the invaders. But a new generation of men being now sprung up in the northern regions, who could no longer disburthen themselves on Normandy; the English had reason to dread, that the Danes would again visit an island, to which they were invited, both by the memory of their past successes , and by the expectation of assistance from their countrymen , who, though long established in the kingdom, were not yet thoroughly incorporated with the natives, nor had entirely HuVol1_101-200.indd 108 2/1/10 7:56 AM 108 HISTORY OF ENGLAND forgotten their inveterate habits of war and depredation. And as the reigning prince was a minor, and even when he attained to man's estate, never discovered either courage or capacity sufficient to govern his own subjects, much less to repel a formidable enemy, the people might justly apprehend the worst calamities from so dangerous a crisis. The Danes, before they durst attempt any important enterprize against England, made an inconsiderable descent by way of trial; 98r. and having landed from seven vessels near Southampton, they ravaged the country, enriched themselves by spoil, and departed with impunity. Six years after, they made a like attempt in the west, and met with like success. The invaders, having now found affairs in a very different situation from that in which they formerly appeared, encouraged their countrymen to assemble a greater 99r. force, and to hope for more considerable advantages. They landed in Essex under the command of two leaders; and having defeated and slain at Maldon, Brithnot, duke of that county, who ventured, with a small body, to attack them, they spread their devastations over all the neighbouring provinces. In this extremity, Ethelred, to whom historians give the epithet of the Unready, instead of rousing his people to defend with courage their honour and their property , hearkened to the advice of Siricius, archbishop of Canterbury , which was seconded by many of the degenerate nobility; and paying the enemy the sum of ten thousand pounds, he bribed them to depart the kingdom. This shameful expedient was attended with the success which might be expected. The Danes next year appeared off the eastern coast, in hopes ofsubduing a people, who defended themselves by their money, which invited assailants, instead of their arms, which repelled them. But the English, sensible of their folly, had, in the interval, assembled in a great council , and had determined to collect at London a fleet able to give battle to the enemy;Y though that judicious measure failed of success , from the treachery of Alfric, duke of Mercia, whose name is infamous in the annals of that age, by the calamities which his repeated perfidy brought upon his country. This nobleman had, in g83, succeeded to his father, Alfere, in that extensive command; but being deprived of it two years after, and banished the kingY Chron. Sax. p. 126. HuVol1_101-200.indd 109 2/1/10 7:56 AM 109 CHAPTER III dom, he was obliged to employ all his intrigue, and all his power, which was too great for a subject, to be restored to his country, and reinstated in his authority. Having had experience of the credit and malevolence of his enemies, he thenceforth trusted for security , not to his services or to the affections of his fellow citizens, but to the influence which he had obtained over his vassals, and to the public calamities, which, he thought, must, in every revolution, render his assistance necessary. Having fixed this resolution, he determined to prevent all such successes as might establish the royal authority, or render his own situation dependant or precarious . As the English had formed the plan of surrounding and destroying the Danish fleet in harbour, he privately informed the enemy of their danger; and when...