You can read this book here in pdf - Electric Scotland
You can read this book here in pdf - Electric Scotland
You can read this book here in pdf - Electric Scotland
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
76 SCOTTISH ANNALS<br />
one less than thirty w<strong>in</strong>ters old. And soon after <strong>this</strong> the<br />
k<strong>in</strong>g led all his ship-army to Chester ; and t<strong>here</strong> came six<br />
k<strong>in</strong>gs to meet him, and they all plighted their faith to him,<br />
that they would be his helpers on sea and land. 1<br />
FLORENCE or WORCESTER, CHRONICON, VOL. I, PP. 142-143,<br />
S.A. 973. 2<br />
Edgar, the peaceful k<strong>in</strong>g of the English,<br />
ano<strong>in</strong>ted k<strong>in</strong>g. Then after a time he sailed with a huge fleet<br />
round northern Brita<strong>in</strong>, 3 and landed at Chester.<br />
. . . was<br />
And his eight under-k<strong>in</strong>gs met him as he commanded ;<br />
to wit, Kenneth, k<strong>in</strong>g of the Scots ; Malcolm, k<strong>in</strong>g of the<br />
4 Cumbrians ; Maccus, k<strong>in</strong>g of very many islands ; and five<br />
others, Dufnal, Siferth, Huwal, Jacob, Juchil and swore<br />
;<br />
that they would be his faithful helpers both on land and on<br />
sea.<br />
And on a certa<strong>in</strong> day he entered a boat with them, and,<br />
plac<strong>in</strong>g them at the oars, himself took the rudder's helm,<br />
and steered skilfully through the stream of the river Dee,<br />
while all the crowd of earls and nobles accompanied him <strong>in</strong><br />
similar craft and he ;<br />
proceeded from the palace to the monastery<br />
of St. John the Baptist. And after pray<strong>in</strong>g t<strong>here</strong> he<br />
1 "<br />
H. of H., 166 : And after Pentecost he led his army to Chester ;<br />
arid to meet him t<strong>here</strong> came six k<strong>in</strong>gs, who were all subject to his dom<strong>in</strong>ion.<br />
And they all gave him the allegiance (fidem) due to their lord, that they would<br />
serve him at his command by land and sea."<br />
2 For <strong>this</strong> fable cf. W. of M., G.R., i, 165. S. of D., H.R., ii, 130-131.<br />
Hoved., i, 63-64. Letter of Nicholas, monk of Worcester, to Edmer ; <strong>in</strong><br />
(Stubbs, Dunstan, 423.<br />
De Pr. Sax. Adv., <strong>in</strong> S. of D., ii, 372 :<br />
"<br />
After [Edwy, reigned] his brother<br />
Edgar, son of Edmund. And to him eight k<strong>in</strong>gs were subject, namely Kenneth,<br />
k<strong>in</strong>g of the Scots, and Malcolm, k<strong>in</strong>g of the Cumbrians, and Maccus,<br />
k<strong>in</strong>g of very many islands, and other five." Another MS. <strong>read</strong>s " seven<br />
k<strong>in</strong>gs."<br />
Cf. seven signatories to a charter (not genu<strong>in</strong>e) of Edgar, 3rd June, 966,<br />
<strong>in</strong> Kemble, Cod. Dipl., ii, 413. Edgar had begun <strong>in</strong> his charters to call<br />
himself " k<strong>in</strong>g of all Brita<strong>in</strong> " ; e.g., <strong>in</strong> 961, ibid., 375 ; <strong>in</strong> 963, ibid., 391.<br />
Previously he had called himself " governor and ruler of all Brita<strong>in</strong>," as <strong>in</strong><br />
961 ; ibid., 372.<br />
3 Cf. Fl. of W., i, 143-144 :<br />
"<br />
T<strong>here</strong>fore while he lived [Edgar] gat<strong>here</strong>d<br />
to himself 3,600 strong ships ; and of these every year, when the solemnity of<br />
Easter was concluded, he was accustomed to collect 1200 on the eastern, 1200<br />
and to row to the<br />
on the western, 1200 on the northern shore of the island ;<br />
western fleet with the eastern, and, send<strong>in</strong>g it back, to the northern fleet with<br />
the western ; and, send<strong>in</strong>g that back, with the northern fleet to the eastern,<br />
and <strong>in</strong> <strong>this</strong> way to circumnavigate the whole island every summer, do<strong>in</strong>g <strong>this</strong><br />
manfully to defend his k<strong>in</strong>gdom aga<strong>in</strong>st outsiders, and to tra<strong>in</strong> himself and<br />
his men to warlike uses." So S. of D., H.R., ii, 131. Cf. W. of M., G.R., i,<br />
177-178.<br />
4 The k<strong>in</strong>g of Strathclyde at <strong>this</strong> time was Donald, son of Eogan.