is named Corynbratus or Corynbatus The whych for so myche as the trybute before grauÌ„ted by Guilthdak kyng of DeÌ„mark vnto the kynges of Brytayne for a perpetuyty was denayed he arrayed his army and nauye and sayled into Denmarke and there wasted and harmed the countre wyth iron and fyre in such wyse that at length the kynge of Denmarke wyth the assent of his Baronage graunted to paye and contynue the foresayde tribute yerely of a thousande pouÌ„de After whyche vyctorye thus hadde of the Danys he wyth great tryumphe retourned towarde Britayn And in kepynge of hys course he encountred wyth a nauye of .xxx. sayle besyde the yle of Orchades full of men and women of whyche flote the chyefe captayne was called after moste wryters Bartholomew The whyche when he was brought vnto the kynges presence shewyd that he wyth his people were putte or exyled out of the countre of Spayne and were named Balenses and had sayled longe tyme vppon the see to the ende to fynde some prynce that wold gyue to them a dwellynge place and they to become his subiectys holde theyr lande of hym besechynge the kynge to haue compassyon of them and to graunt to them some place to enhabyte them in that they shulde no lenger dwell in theyr shyppes coÌ„syderyng theyr vytayle was spent by reason of theyr long lyeng vpon y e see After whych request thus made by theyr captayne the kyng with the aduyse of his barons graunted vnto them a voyde and waste countre whyche was and is the farthest ile of all the iles towarde the weste the whych yle as sayth the Englyshe cronycle was then named Irelande after the name of theyr captayn called in the Englyshe cronycle Irlamal But who so wyll knowe the fyrste cause of the namynge of this yle Irlande lette hym rede the .xxxii. and xxxiii chapytres of the fyrste boke of Policronica and there he shall fynd y e more certaynly of y e fyrst namynge therof with many other thynges touchynge y e sayd yle the whych I ouerpasse for length of y e mater For there he shall be suffyciently enfourmed of that and also of other thynges Then yt foloweth in the story after this Gurguintus was retourned into his lande of Britayne he ordeyned to be stablyshed kepte y e lawes made by his forefaders exersysyd iustyce to his subiectes and guyded his lande well and nobly by the terme after moste wryters of .xix. yeres and then dyed and was buryed at newe Troye or London or at Caerleon leuynge after hym a sonne named after myne authoure Guynthelinus but after some he is named Guyntellius THE XXXIII CHAPITER GUinthelinê° or Guintellius y e sonne of Gurguintus was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of the world .iiii. thousande .viii. hundred and .liii. This is named in the englyshe cronycle Gwentolyne the whyche guyded his lande and Brytons with great mekenesse and sobernesse He hadde also a noble wyfe called Marcia instructe and lerned in many scyeÌ„ces the whych amonge other noble dedys by her done studyed and broughte forth a certayne good and conuenyent lawe amonge the Brytons the whyche was named longe after the Marcyan lawe This lawe for that yt was thought both good and necessary Aluredus whyche longe after was kynge of Englande translated oute of Bretyshe into Saxon speche and then was yt called after that translacyon in the Saxon tonge Marthehelage whych is to meane the lawe of Marcia To this womaÌ„ for her wysdome was committed all the gouernaunce of the lande in so myche as wytnessyth myne authoure Gaufryde and other she reygned as quene of Brytayne a certayne tyme after her husbande was dede But the yeres of her reygne be accompted with the yeres of her husbande or wyth the yeres of her sonne Sisillius so that no tyme asserteyned is to her deputed or sette Then yt foloweth wheÌ„ this Guinhelinus hadde reygned well and mekely by the terme of .xxvi. yeres he dyed and was buryed at newe Troy or London leuyng after hym a son named Sisillius or Cecilius THE XXXIIII CHAPITER SIsillius or Ceciliê° the sonne of Guynthelinus was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of the world .iiii. thousande .viii. hundred lxxix This in the Englysh cronycle is named Seyzyl Of whych no mencion nor worthy memory is made Al be yt that Gaufryde meaneth y t this Sisillius was but .vii. yeres of age when his father dyed wherfore the charge of the realme was committed vnto Marcia his moder the which guyded yt well and suffycyently tyll her sayde sonne came to his lawfull age and then resygnyd to hym all y e rule whyche so contynued but how longe he reygned Gaufryde expressyth not wherfore I now folowe the sayenge of the forenamed authoure called the Floure of historyes which affermeth hym to reygne onely .vii. yeres all be yt the Englyshe boke sayeth he reygned .xv. yeres whyche agreeth not so well wyth the concordaunce of other historyes tymes This Sisillius as Gaufryde wytnessyth left after him a sonne named Kymarus whome the englysh boke nameth Kymor THE XXXV CHAPITER RImarus the sonne of Sisillius was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .viii. hundred .lxxx. vi This in the englyshe boke is called Kymor of y t whych is made no mencyon nother of hys tyme of reygne nor of his dedes For the more partye of wryters reherse in moste breuest shorteste maner y t after Kimarê° reygned Elaniê° After Elaniê° Morindus But y e old cronycle whych I haue before tyme spoken of sayth that this Kymarus which he nameth Kymarchê° Elaniê° â–ª was a wylde yonge man and lyued after hys pleasure wherfore as he was in his dysporte of huntynge he was by his euyll willers slayne wheÌ„ he hadde ruled skarsly .iii. yeres THE XXXVI CHAPITER ELanius the sonne of Kymarê° as wytnessyth the foresayde Floure of cronycles but the broder of Kimarus as sayth Gaufride was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde foure thousand .viii. hundred .lxxx. and .ix. the whyche in the englyshe boke is named Howan Of this also is no meÌ„cyon made nor memory nother of acte nor of reygn but as the forenamed olde cronycle sayth that Kymarus and Elanius was one persone and reygned as before is sayde but the abouesayd writer called Floure of hystoryes sayth he reygned fully two yeres THE XXXVII CHAPITER MOrindus the bastarde sonne of Elanius as sayth Gaufryde and other was made kynge of Brytayne in y e yere of y e world foure thousande .viii. hundred .lxxx. and .xi. the whych in the englyshe cronicle is called Morwith This as witnesseth Gaufryde was goten vppon the concubyne of Elanius named Tanguestela and was a man of worthy fame in dedys of chyualry but he was so ouercome with wrath cruelnesse y t lyghtly he slew all men that hym tened or angred He was also beauteouse of persone and lyberall of gyftes and wyth that he was of a
after some .l. But for profe of the fyrste sayenge I haue shewed my conceyte in the tabyll before named the whych I remytte to the correccyon of such as haue ê“fyte vndertandynge in calculynge of hystoryes and tymes And here I make an ende of the seconde parte of this worke in yeldynge graces to oure moste consolatryce that moste blessed virgyne our lady saynt Mary the whyche here I agayne salute wyth the seconde of the forsayde .vii. ioyes whyche begynneth Gaude sponsa chara dei c. Be ioyous thou spouse of god moste 〈◊〉 Whyche lyke to the sonne moste clerest of syght When in the daye he shyneth moste clere The worlde illumynest by meanes full ryght And thorowe the vertue of thy full myght Causest the worlde to be resplendissaunt By meane of thy peas which is full habundaunt This seconde parte to be accompted from the last yere of the dyscorde of the Brytons to the ende of the .ix. yere of Cassybellan includeth of yeres .iii. hundred .lxxx. and .iii. THE THYRDE PARTE THE L. CHAPITER THus maye we vnderstande that by the apoyntmeÌ„t before made Cassibellan contynued styll as kynge and gouernour of this land of Brytayn whyche by moste coÌ„cordaunce of writers hadde reygned before or he were made trybutarye vppon .ix. yeres whyche sayde .ix. yeres made the yere of the worlde folowynge thaccompte before expressyd fyue thousand a huÌ„dred .l. And after he reygned by thagremeÌ„t of all writers as kyng of this lande fully .vii. yeres So that in all before the grauÌ„te of y e tribute and after he reygned vppon .xvi. yeres THE LI. CHAPITER NOwe then haue I shewyd to you how that Iulius Cesar by ayde and helpe of Androgeus erle of Kent made this land of Brytayn trybutarye to the Romaynes when Cassibelan had ben kyng of the sayd lande vppon .ix. yeres whych .ix. yeres I haue sette for the ende of the seconde parte of this worke So that the .x. yere of Cassibellan is the fyrst yere of the thyrde parte of the sayde worke Then as all writers testyfye Cassibellan contynued after the departynge of Iulius as kyng by the terme or space of .vii. yeres as before is declared In the tyme of y e whych vii yeres is none noble acte nor dede of hym put in memory or wrytynge But for some wold thynke that after Caius Iulius Cesar hadde thorough helpe of Androgeus erle of Kent and eldest sonne of Lud thus as before is sayde subdued Cassibellan that the sayd Iulius wold haue restoryd the sayde Androgeus to the crowne of Brytayne as his ryghtfull inherytauÌ„ce and clerely to haue expelled and put oute the sayd Cassibellan from all kyngly dygnyty To this answereth the olde cronycle and sayth that Cassibellan was not the sonne of Hely but that he was the eldeste sonne of Lud by reason wherof he was fyrste made kyng and so as ryghtfull heyre contynued durynge hys lyfe kynge of Brytayne The whych when he hadde reygned .ix. yeres or he were trybutary and .vii. yeres after as affermeth the sayde olde cronicle in all .xvi. yeres he theÌ„ dyed wythoute issue and was buryed at Caerbranke or yorke THE LII CHAPITER TEmanciê° or TeÌ„nancius the yongest sonne of Lud as affermeth Gaufryde was made kyng of y e BrytoÌ„s in the yere of the world fyue thousande a hundred and .lvii. This is named in the englyshe cronycle Tormace and not kynge as the sayde boke affermeth But his elder brother whych in the sayde boke is named Androgen was after the affyrmaunce of the sayd englyshe cronycle made kynge But the foresayd Gaufryde and other testyfyen that for so myche as Androgeus feryd to be euer hated of y e Brytons for his treason wroughte agaynst the kyng and the lande he therfore chase to go with Caius Iulius to Rome rather theÌ„ to be kyng of such as he thought wolde neuer haue hym in theyr loue and fauoure Then yt foloweth in y e storye this TeÌ„naÌ„cius ruled the land with great dylygence and iustyce and defended the lande well and knyghtly agayne all alyauÌ„tis and strauÌ„gers payde his trybute to the Romaynes y â— Cassibellan had graunted and lastly dyed when he had reygned after most wryters .xxiii. yeres and was buryed at Caerlud or London leuynge after hym a sonne the whyche was called Kymbeline THE LIII CHAPITER Kymbelinus or Kymbelyne the sonne of TeÌ„nancius was of y e BrytoÌ„s made kynge in the yere of the worlde .v. thousande a hundred and .lxxx. This man as wytnesseth Guydo was brought vp at Rome amonge the Romaynes there made a knyght and had of them suche fauoure that he was at lyberty to pay the trybute or not Of hym is lytell memorye made excepte all wryters agreen that in y e season that he was kynge our sauyoure Cryste Iesus was incarnate of that moste blessyd virgine our lady saynt Mary which shulde be to accorde historyes in the xix yere of his reygne Of the reygne of this Kymbelyn authours wryte dyuersly so y t some shewe no yeres and some but fewe whych can not accord wyth the tyme of other cronycles But the authour of the hystorye called Floure of historyes wytnessyth y t he reygned .xxxv. yeres The whyche sayeng who lyst to se y e table before rehersed he shall there haue knowlege that this sayd auctoure accordeth beste wyth other storyes and cronycles And when that this Kymbelyne had reygned gloryously ouer y e Brytons by all the season before expressyd he dyed was buryed at Caerlud or London leuynge after hym two sonnes named Guyderius and Aruiragus NOw before haue I shewed vnto you in y e later chapyter y t Criste was incarnate in the .xix. yere of Kymbelyne whyche maketh the yere of the worlde that is to saye froÌ„ the fyrste creacyon of Adam to the incarnacyon .v. thousande a hundred lxxx and .xix. the whyche accompt is approuyd by holy Isodore Beda and other Then Cryste was incarnate the yere of y e world as before is expressed From Noes flood or after .ii. thousande ix hundred and .lvii. After Abraham .ii thousande .xvii. After Dauid kyng of Israell a thousande and .lxxv. From or after the traÌ„smygracyon of the Iewes to Babylon v. huÌ„dred lxxx and .x. After Brute entred Britayne .xi. hundred and .xxxvi. After Alexander the great nere vppon .iii. hundred and .xxv. After the buyldynge of Rome .vii. huÌ„dred and .xxix. And in the begynnyng of y e .xlii. yere of Octauius Augustus then emperour of Rome THE LIIII CHAPITER GUyderius the fyrste sonne of Kymbalyne beganne his reygne ouer the Britons the yere of the worlde .v. thousande CC. .xvi. And the yere after Cristes incarnacyon y e xvii yere This man was welthy trusted mych in his streÌ„gth And for he thought the Romayns hadde the forenamed trybute with wronge he therfore of a knyghtly courage denyed to the Romaynes the sayde trybute wherfore Claudiê° whych was vncle vnto Caius Caligula the .iiii. emperour of Rome came into Brytayne with a great armye
duke of Israell began to be theyr capytayne that is to say in the yere of the worlde .v. thousande .xlvi. or there about ca. xlvi fo xvi To make the storyes to agre and to kepe the order of the yeres begon fyrst it is to be noted that as sheweth Ranulph wyth diuers other Iulius Cesar made Brytayn trybutary to Rome in the .xlviii. yere before the incarnacyon of Chryste or in the yere of the worlde fyue thousande C.li. which was in the .ix. yere of Cassybelan From whēs takyng from y e tyme of Cassybelā before the trybute payd ix yeres for the tyme of the reygne of Lud .xi. yeres it foloweth congruently that kynge Lud beganne to reygne in the yere of the worlde fyue thousande C.xxxi And so frome the last yere of Elidure vntyll the begynnyng of the reygne of Lud or in the tyme of y e .xxxiii. kynges there passed C.lxxxvi yeres Lud the sonne of Hely last kynge of the forsayd .xxxiii was stablysshed kynge of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde fyue thousande C.xxxi and reygned yeres .ix. Thys kynge made Ludgate the westgate of London and walled a parte of the same and named the cytye Caerlud ca. xlvii fo xvi Cassibelan the brother of Lud was ordeyned kynge of Brytayn in the yere of the worlde fyue thousand C.xlii and reygned or he were made trybutary to the Romaynes yeres full and more .viii. ca. xlviii folio xvi The begynnyng of thys trybute as hath Peter Pyctauyensis Polycronycon and other authours was in the yere of the worlde .v. thousand C.li the .xlviii. yere before Cristes comynge And Eutropius sayeth in hys cronicle that Caius Iulius did conquere Brytayn by .ii. yeres before he was create emperour and he reygned as emperour .ii. yeres And furthermore the sayde Eutropius affermeth that Octauian Augustus successour of the sayde Iulius began to reygne in the yere of the worlde .v. thousande C.lviii and that he reygned full .xli. yeres before Cryste was borne whyche sayeng Iacobus Philippus and other auctours afferme wherby it foloweth that Iulius Cesar subdued Brytayne .xlviii. yeres before the comyng of Cryste and the yere of the worlde as before is sayde v. thousande C.li. And so it appereth that Cryst was incarnate in the yere of the worlde after the account of the lxx interpreters .v. M.C.xcix ¶ Thus endeth the seconde parte that conteyneth .iii. C.lxxxiii yeres CAssibelan as before is sayde was made tributarie to the Romayns in the yere of the worlde v. M.C.li and reygned after yeres vii ca. l. fo xviii Temancius or Tēnancius brother to Cassibelan was of the Brytaynes ordeyned kyng in the yere of the worlde .v. thousande C. and .lvii. and reygned yeres .xxiii. ca. lii folio xviii Kymbelinus the sonne of Thēnācius was made kyng of the Brytōs in the yere of the world .v. M.C.lxxx reygned yeres .xxxv. All wryters agre that reygnyng thys kyng oure sauyour Iesus Christ was incarnat And than began the .vi. age ca. liii folio xviii Of the tyme of thys kynge Kymbelyus reygn dyuers auctours trete very darkly for fewe of them do nat accoūt any yeres for the tyme of hys reygne excepte Peter pictauiensis the auctours of the Englysshe boke whych afferme hym to reygne .xi. yeres But Galfrido of Monmouth sayth that whanne he had reygned yeres he begate .ii. sonnes But the floure of hystoryes wytnesseth hym to reygne .xxxv. yeres and y t Iesus Chryst was borne in .xix. yere of hys reygne whych wyth other cronycles or tymes dothe somwhat better agre Guiderius the sonne of Kymbalyne was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of our lordes incarnacyō xvi in the yere of the worlde .v. M.ii. C.xvii and reygned yeres .xxviii. ca. liiii fo xix Aruiragus the brother of Guiderius began to reygne ouer the Brytons in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon .xliiii. and reygned yeres .xxx. In thys tyme Glouceter was buylded of Claudius And in the .xxvi. yere of thys kynges reygne whych was the .lxx. yere of the incarnacyō of our lorde began the fyrst persecuciō of the chrysten men vnder Nero. ca. lv fo xix Marius whyche the Englysshe cronycle nameth westmere sonne of Aruiragus was made kyng of Brytayne in the yere of our lorde .lxxiiii. and in the yere of the worlde and reygned yeres .ii. Chester towne of thys kyng was founded westmerlande also of thys kynge toke hys name And about the .xxi. yere of this kynges reygne was the second persecucyon vnder Domicianus And also the thyrd persecucyon about the xxxv yere of thys kynge vnder Tratanus ca. lvii fo xx Coilus the sonn̄ of Marius was made kyng of Brytayne in the yere of our lorde C. and .xxvi. and the yere from the fyrste Adam and reygned yeres .liii. And about y e .xlv. yere of thys Coilus was the fourthe persecucyon vnder Marcus Antonius Amelius ca. lviii fo xxii Lucius the sonne of Coilus begā hys reygne ouer the Brytons in the yere of oure lorde an C.lxxx of the worlde and reygned yeres .xii. Thys was the fyrste chrysten kyng in Brytayne The image of Cryst at the north dore in the church of Poulys was founde in the ryuer of Thames by thys Lucius But an other authoure sayeth that it was founden in y e .xiiii. yere of Coilus or in the yere of the worlde C.xl. ca. lix folio xxii Of thys Lucius auctours do dout fully treate For Galfride sayth that Lucius dyed in the yere of our lorde C.lvi. And Guido de Calūpna sayth that Lucius was cristened in the fore sayd yere And Peter pictauiensis sayth that Lucius began to reygne in the yere of our lorde C.lxxx that he receyued the fayth in the .viii. yere of his reygn And the Floure of historyes sayth that he reygned .xii. yeres after the fayth by hym receyued Furthermore it is shewed in a certeyne table hangyng on the north parte of the quyre of Poules in Londont hat the sayd Lucius was crowned kyng of Brytayne in the yere of grace C.xxiii and that he reygned .lxxvii. yeres And the Englyshe cronycle agreeth therwith of hys coronacion but it sayth that he reygned but only xii yeres And so there appereth a great dyscord betwene these wryters But all agreen that the sayd Lucius was conuerted to y e fayth in the tyme of pope Eleutherius which after the concordance of many storyes was made pope about the yere of our lord C.lxxviii wherfore Galfrides sayng is to be denayd that sayth he died in the yere of grace C.lvi. and also the sayeng of Guydo for receyuyng of y e fayth And rather we oughte to gyue credence to the foresayde table or to Peter pictauiensis that affermeth y e sayd Lucius to reygne .xii. yere But some wryters that wrote the actes the reygnes of kynges haue ouerskypt as it semeth the tyme whyche Lucius reygned before he receyued the fayth And if he reygned before he receyued the fayth .xx. yeres and y t he receyued the faythe
in hys .xx. yere reygned after .xv. yeres they haue accoūted the .xv. yere whyche he reygned as crysten kynge and haue lette passe the other .xx. yere And so is it to be thought that the forsayd auctour Peter pictauiens dyd whych reason beynge alowed the sayde table maye agre wyth the sayd Peter wythoute any greate dyfference whyche testyfyeth y e sayd Lucius to reygne .lxxvii yere as kynge After whose deth in so moche that he dyed wythout any lawfull heyre a great contēcion sprange amonge the Brytons that endured by .xv. yeres as shall apere by the sequel Trouth it is after all histories that Seuerus a Romayne succeded Lucius in Brytayne But because y e tyme is nat certaynly sette whan the sayd Seuerus subdued the Brytōs therfore it is to noted that whanne it was shewed to the Romaynes of the sedicion and discorde of the Brytōs of the sleyng of the Romayns than beyng in Brytayn the senate sentte thyder the forsayd Seuerus wyth .ii legions of men whych bare thē selfe so manfully that in shorte whyle he compelled the Brytons to obey to the senate whyche Policronicon affermeth to be about the yere of our lord C.xcv. In whyche yere as hath Iacobus Philippus the sayde Seuerus began to raygne ouer the Romayns But that dysagreeth from other Cronycles For Eutropius Matheolus the forsayde Iacobus Philippus sayth that whan the sayde Seuerus had subdued the Arabyes Parthys and Gallys after many battayls he came into Brytayn where he beynge troubled wyth dyuers chaunces at laste died in y e towne of yorke where by it is to be supposed that in y e ende of hys reygn he came hether about the .xii. yere of hys reygne ouer the Romayns which was the yere of our lorde .ii. C.vii. and that after he reygned ouer the Brytons .v. yere wherefore it euydētly apereth that the forsayd dyscord dured .xv. yeres whych tyme Brytayne was wythoute a kynge Thus endeth the thyrde parte which conteyneth CC.lvi yeres SEuerus emperour of Rome as before is shewed in the .xii. yere of hys empyre and yere of oure lord .ii. C. .vii beganne hys reygne ouer the Brytōs and yere of y e world and reygned as kynge yeres .v. The fyrst persecucyon of the chrysten men was vnder this Seuerus about the yere of our lord .ii. C.x ca. lxi fo xxii Bassianus the sonn̄ of Seuerus began hys reygne ouer the Brytons in the yere of our lorde .ii. C.xii the yere of the worlde and reygned yeres .vi. ca. lxii folio xxii Carassius a yonge and lusty Brytayne of vnknowē blode by meanes as in hys story sheweth began hys domynyon ouer the Brytons in the yere of our lorde .ii. C. and .xviii. and yere of the worlde ruled yeres .viii. ca. lxiii fo xxiii Here agayn authours forget y e yeres of the kynges folowyng Of whyche I nat greatly maruyll For in thys tyme muche discencyon was among the Romayne prynces also amonge the Brytons cyuyll warre ceased nat For they were so styrred wyth dyscencyon and warre y t none coulde occupy the kyngedome any determynate tyme. For whyche cause and suche lyke authours coude nat assyne any certeyne tyme to the prynces as me semeth But that we maye come to some knowlege Policronicon sheweth that constantius y t was father to Constantine the great was sente by the senate into Brytayne about the yere of our lord .ii. C.lxxix and in the seconde yere of Probrus emperour that he shuld subdue to y e Romayns Coelus than there kyng From the whych tyme of the coming of the sayde Constantius vntyll the last yere of Bassianus accountynge bakwarde there passed .lxi. yeres In the tyme of whych yeres there reygned in thys Ilelande these .iiii. kynges that is to say Carassius Alectus Asclepiodotus and Coelus Allectus a duke or senatour of Rome began hys domynyon ouer the Brytons in the yere of oure lorde .ii. C.xxvi of the worlde reygned yeres .vi. ca. lxiiii fo xxiii Asclepeodotus or after the Englysshe boke Asclepades began hys reygne ouer the Brytons in the yere of our lorde god CC.xxxii And the yere of the worlde and reygned yeres .xxx. The syxt persecucyon of crysten men was about the yere of our lorde CC.xxxviii vnder Maximian The .vii. persecucyon was in y e yere of oure lorde CC.lv. vnder Decius In y e whych pope Fabyan was martyred The .viii. persecucion was in the yere of our lord CC.lx. vnder Ualeryan whych was the .xviii. yere of thys Asclepiodotus ca. lxv folio xxiiiii Coelus or Coyll erle of Colchester by exytyng of the Brytōs was made kyng of Brytayne in the yere of oure lord CC.lxii reygned yeres .xxvii. Thys kyng after most wryters made the towne of Colchester in Essex ca. lxvi fo xxiiii Constancius a senatoure of Rome by reason of maryage knyt wyth Eleyn doughter of Coelus beganne to reygne as kyng of Brytayne in y e yere of our lord CC.lxxxix and of y e worlde and reygned yeres xxx The .ix. persecucyon of the crystēmen was vnder Aurelianus Saint Albon prothomartyr in the tyme of thys Constancius as some haue in y e x. persecucyō whych was vnder Dioclesian and Maximian was martyred ca. lxvii fo xxiiii Constancius surnamed the great sonn̄ of Constancius and of the holy Heleyne began his reygne ouer Brytayne in the yere of oure lorde .iii. C.xix and of the worlde and reygned as kyng yeres .x. ca. lxviii folio xxv Octauius duke of Iesses or Iewesses and after named westsaxōs by extorte power began hys reygne ouer the Brytons in the yere of oure lorde .iii. C. .xxix. and of the worlde and reygned yeres .liiii ca. lxxi fo xxvii Of thys kynge folowynge called Maximius or after some Maximianus wryters dyuersly speke so that some say he raygned few yeres But in the concordaunce of cronycles it playnly apereth that the sayd Maximis began to reygn ouer the Brytōs in the yere of our lord .iii. C.lxxxii that he was slayn of Theodosius the elder in the thyrd yere of his reygne whych began to reygne in the yere of our lord .iii. C.lxxxviii And so it appereth playnly that he reygned ix yeres Maximius or Maximianus the son̄ of Leonyne brother to Trahern̄ vncle to Helcyne began hys reygne ouer Brytayn in the yere of our lord iii. C.lxxxii and reygned yeres .ix ca. lxxii fo xxvii Saynt Ursula wyth her felowes in thys kynges tyme were martyred of Enanus and Melga Gracianus an offycer or feede knyght of Maximius began to oppresse the Brytons in the yere of our lorde .iii. C.xc and tyrannysed yeres iiii ca. lxxiiii fo xxviii The storyes agre that after that Gracian was slayne Brytayne was vexed a longe whyle wyth oftē dyscēsions cyuyll warre But how longe thys dyscord dyd last authours trete diuersly for some say it lasted .l. yere some .xl. some .xxx. Therfore to know y e certeynty it is requisite that we dylygently serche howe many yeres passed frō the
THAT IN the accomptynge of the yeres of the worlde from the creacyon of Adam vnto the incarnacyon of Criste ben many sondery opynyons as the Hebrewes whych accompt for the sayde terme .iii. thousande .ix. hundred .lxiii. yeres the seuenty interpretours reken .v. M.C.lxxx and .xix. yeres Some there be that reken v. M.lxxx and .xix. yeres and some v. thousande CC. .xxviii. yeres In the thyrde boke fyrste chapyter of Polycronycon ben also shewed dyuers opinyons wherof the gretest nomber and most certayne is v. thousande and CC. yeres And in other places also some rekeÌ„ mo and some haue lesse by reason wherof the tymes ben diuersly sette and accompted as the fyrst fouÌ„dacyon of Rome the subuersyon of the famouse cytye of Troye the fyrst buyldynge of the cytye of London dyuerse other old thinges But for I se y t the accoÌ„pt of y e seuenty interpÌ„tours is of holy Beda and many other holy wryters allowed and folowyd therfore I enteÌ„dynge to shew in this rude worke folowyng what yere of y e world Brute entred fyrste thys ile then called Albyon and now England purpose to kepe the sayde accompte wherof the partyculers ensewe that is to wyt fyrste from Adam to Noeflowyd .xxii hundred and xlii yeres From Noe to Abraham flowed .ix hundred and .xlii. yeres From AbrahaÌ„ to Dauid flowyd ix hundred and xl yeres From Dauid to the captyuyte of the Iewys passed .iiii. hundred .lxxx. and v. yeres And from the captyuyte to the comynge of Christe .v. hundred .lxxx. tenne yeres The whyche in all make .v. thousande a hundred lxxx and xix yeres AFter which accoÌ„pt moste accordynge to the purpose of thys worke all be yt that dyuerse opynyons thereof ben left in writyng and of dyuerse autours the famous cytye of Troye was subuerted of y e Grekes as wytnessyth holy Eusebius and other in the yere of y e world .iiii. M. and .xxiii. Also folowyng the sayd accompt as wytnessyth the forsayde Euseby dyuerse other the cyte of Rome was begon to be buylded in the xi yere of Ezechias then kynge of Iuda the whyche yere maketh after the sayde auctours the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande foure hundred lxx And y e sayd auctours afferme that the sayd cytye of Rome was edifyed after the subuersion of Troye iiii huÌ„dred and xlvii yeres By whych reason it must folowe that is was buylded in the yere of the world as ys aboue sayde Peter pictauiensis and other testifye that Brute entred fyrste the ile of Albyon now called Englande in the .xviii. yere of the preste iudge of Israel named Hely And as after myth dyuers auctours the sayde Hely beganne to rule the Israelites the yere of the thyrde age that is from Abraham to Dauid .viii. huÌ„dred lxi whych maketh the yeres of y e worlde foure thousande and .xlv. wherunto yf there be ioyned the aboue sayd â—xviii yeres then muste yt folow that Brute shuld entre this lande in the yere of the worlde foure thousand .lxiii. To this agreeth y e auctour of Polycronicon whych sayth that Brute entred Albion .xl. yeres after the subuersyon of Troye whych xl yeres ioyned to the former sayeng of Eusebius maketh y e sayd nomber of .iiii. thousande and .lxiii. yeres Also a wryter of hystoryes called Iacobus Philippus affermeth that Troye was taken by the Grekes in the thyrde yere y t Abdon or Labdon iudged the Israelytes whych began his rule ouer the sayde Israelytes after the accorde of moste wryters in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande and .xx. wherunto yf there be ioyned thre yeres for y e third yere of his rule in whyche yere Troye as before ys sayde was taken and .xl. yeres that passed or Brute percyd Albyon yt muste folowe y e Brute entred fyrst thys I le of Albyon as before is sayd in the yere of the world .iiii. thousand and .lxiii. Then by these foresayd reasons Brute toke possession of this I le of Albyon in the yere of the worlde as before is sayde before the buyldyng of the cytye of Rome as by the foresayd reasons may be also prouyd .iiii. hundred and .vii. yeres and before the incarnacyon of our blessyd sauyour folowynge the same accompte a thousande an hundred .xxx. and vi yeres ¶ Thus endeth thaccomptynge of the yeres of the worlde from the creacyon of Adam vnto the incarnacyon of Chryste THE PROLOGE WHan I aduertyse in my remembraunce The manyfolde storyes in order duely sette Of kyngâ— princes y e whilom had gouernauÌ„ce Of Rome and Italye and other further fette As of Iewes Grekes the whyche haue no let But that men may se in order seryously How longe they reygned how successyuely Of Fraunce and other I myght lykewyse reporte To theyr great honour as of them doth appere But to Englande yf I shall resorte Ryght mysty storyes doutfull and vnclere Of names of tymes and of the duraunt yere That kynges or prynces ruled that famouse yle Almoste vncertayne how I shuld guyde my style And for of cunnynge I am full destytute To brynge to frame so great a mystery I nyll presume wythout other refute To ioyne suche a worke or yt to rectyfye To me yt semyth so farre sette awrye In tyme of yeres to other dyscordaunt That to my dull wytte yt is not atteynaunt To brynge in order a thynge of suche weyght And cause yt to agre wyth other olde storyes But yt to remytte to them that ben sleyght And sharpe in lecture and haue kepte theyr studyes And sought the bokes of many olde hystoryes And haue in cronycles full experyence To frame suche a worke by theyr great prudence And I lyke y e preÌ„tyse that hewyth the rough stone And bryngeth yt to square wyth hard strokes many That the mayster after may it ouergone And prynte therin his fygures and his storye Any so to worke yt after his proporcynary That yt may appere to all that shall yt se A thynge ryght perfyte and well in eche degre So haue I now sette out this rude warke As rough as the stone not coÌ„men to the square That the lerned and the studyed clerke May yt ouer polyshe and clene do yt pare Flowryshe yt wyth eloquence wherof yt is bare And frame yt in order that yet is out of ioynt That it with olde authours may gree in euery poynt Besechynge hym that wyll so take the payne Or any other that lyste on this to loke where any errour in this by hym is sayne It to correcte and mende this rude boke For by hym that neuer yet any order toke Or gre of scole or sought for great cunnynge This worke is gaderyd wyth small vnderstandynge Not for any pompe nor yet for great mede This worke haue I taken on hande to compyle But onely bycause that I wolde sprede The famouse honour of this fertyle yle That hath contynued by many a longe whyle In excellent honour wyth many a royall guyde Of whom
some wryters Siluius the brother of Gurgustius as affermeth the foresayde olde cronycle was made chyef ruler of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .v. hundred and .xxi. This in y e englyshe boke is named Seyzill Of the whych is no mencyon made nother of his reygne nor dedes excepte that Geffrey of Monmouth wryter of y e hystoryes of Brytons sayth that he reygned two yeres whyche sayenge is not accordaunte wyth other wryters But more to the coÌ„uenyency of tyme and agrement of other cronyclers accordyng to the sayeng of the forenamed old authour he reygned by y e terme of .xlix. yeres and after dyed was buryed at Caerbadon or Bathe and lefte after hym none heyre of his bodye begotten THE XXII CHAPITER IAgo or Lago y e cosyne of Gurgustius as wytnesseth Gaufryde as nexte inherytoure was made gouernour of Britayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .v. hundred .lxx. This also ys vnmynded of wryters other for restfulnesse of tyme or ellys for rudenesse of his dedes that clerkes lyste not to speÌ„de any tyme in wrytynge of such dedes Of hym is nothynge specyfyed sauynge the forenamed olde authoure ioyneth to his tyme of reygne .xxv. yeres and also he sayth he dyed wythoute issue and was buryed by hys cosyn at Caerbrank or yorke THE XXIII CHAPITER BInimacus the sonne of Sisilliê° as some wryters haue but more verytably as sayth the olde cronycle y e brother of Lago was made ruler of Brytayne in the yere of the world .iiii. thousand .iiii. huÌ„dred .lxxx and xv the whyche as his brother before hym passed his tyme without any notable actes or dedes so that of hym is no more memorye made theÌ„ of his brother For the more party they that wrote the faytes dedes of Brytons make but a shorte rehersayll of these .v. kynges y t is to saye from Ryuallo to Gorbodug sayeng that after Ryuallo succedyd Gurgustius after hym succedyd Lago to Lago succedyd Kinimacus after Kinimacus succeded Gorbodug Of these .v. kynges or rulers is made lytell other mencyon Thenne yt foloweth in the sayd olde cronicle that when this Kinimacus had reygned liiii yeres he dyed and was buryed by his brother at CaerbraÌ„k or york leuynge after hym a sonne as testyfyeth Flos historiaruÌ„ whych sonne was named Gorbodug THE XXIIII CHAPITER GOrbodug the sonne of Kinimacê° was made ruler of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde folowynge the foresayde accompt .iiii. thousande .v. hundred and .xlix. whych all so passed his tyme lyke vnto the forenamed dukes or kynges wythout any specyall memory of honour noted by writers This by most lykelyhode to brynge historyes to accorde shulde reygne ouer the Brytons the terme of .lxiii. yeres whych terme endyd he dyed and lyeth buryed at new Troy or LoÌ„don leuyng after hym two sonnes named Ferrex and Porrex or after some wryters Ferreus and Porreus THE XXV CHAPITER FErrex wyth Porrex hys brother sonnes of Gorbodug were ioyntly made gouernours and dukes of Britayne in the yere of the worlde foure thousande .vii. hundred and .xi and contynued in amytye a certayne tyme. After whyche tyme expyred as witnessyth Policronica and also Gaufride Porrex beynge couetouse of lordeshyp gaderyd his peple vnwetynge Ferrex his brother entendynge to destroy hym wherof he beynge warned for lacke of space to assemble his people for sauegard of his persone fled sodeynly into Gallia or FrauÌ„ce and axyd ayd of a duke of Gallia named by Gaufryde Gunhardus or Suardus the the whych duke hym ayded and sent hym agayne into Brytayne with his hoste of Gallis After whose laÌ„dynge his brother Porrex with his BrytoÌ„s hym mete and gaue to hym batayll in the whyche batayll Ferrex was slayne with y e more part of his peple But here dyscordeth myn authour wyth some other wryters and wyth the cronycle of Englande for they testyfye that Porrex was slayne and Ferrex suruyuyd But whether of them was lyuyng the moder of these two brethern named widen settynge a parte all moderly pytye with help of her women entred the chambre of hym so lyuynge by nyght and hym there slepynge slew cruelly and cut into small peces And thus dyed the two foresayde bretherne after they had thus ruled Brytayne in warre and peace to the agrement of moste wryters .v. yeres THE XXVI CHAPITER HEre now endeth the lyne or of sprynge of Brute after the affermaunce of moste wryters For Gaufride saith after the deth of these forenamed bretherne great discorde arose amonge the Brytons y â— which longe tyme among them continued by meane wherof the people and couÌ„tre was sore vexed and noyed vnder v. kynges And further saith Guydo de Columna that the Brytons abhorred the lynage of Gorbodug for so myche as fyrste that one brother slew that other and more for the innaturall dysposycyon of the morder that so cruelly slew her owne chylde The cronycle of Englande sayth that after the deth of the two forenamed bretherne no ryghtfull enherytour was lefte on lyue wherfore the the people were brought in great discorde in so myche that the land was deuydyd in foure partyes So that in Albania was one ruler in Loegria or Logiers one other ruler in Cambria the thyrde duke or ruler in Cornewayle the .iiii. duke or ruler But of these .iiii. dukes the english cronicle alloweth ClotonÌ„ duke of Cornewayll for moste ryghtefull heyre Policronyca sayth that after y e deth of the foresayde two bretherne great dyscorde was in the lande whyche greuyd the people sore vnder .v. kynges But he nother reheseth the names nor the tymes of theyr regnes excepte he addeth to that the sayde dyscorde contynued tyll the tyme of Moliuncius Dumuallo So y t here appereth no tyme certayn how loÌ„ge this varyaunce and dyscorde amoÌ„g the Brytons contynued But who so lyst to loke vpon a draught made by me in english in y e beginnyng of this boke he shall se there yf he please to caste ouer the tymes and yeres there expressed that this forsayde discorde contynued nere to the terme of .li. yeres In whyche draught or conceyte yf any man here fynde erroure of his goodnes lette hym amende correcte yt and all other places where he shall by good profe fynde place of correccyon THE XXVII CHAPITER THus here endyth y e fyrst parte of this worke conteynynge or dyuyded in .vii. partes as before is shewed And in a waye of a thank to be gyuen to our moste blessyd aduocate helper of all wretches that to her lyste to call I meane y e moste blessyd vyrgyne our lady saynt Mary moder of Cryste for y t her grace hath fortheryd this worke hytherto and for to impetrate of her the grace and ayde of her moste mercyfull contynuauÌ„ce to accomplysh this worke begonne as before is shewed vnder supporte of her most bouÌ„teous grace here wyll I wyth humble mynde salute her wyth the fyrste ioye of y e .vii. ioyes whych begynneth Gaude flore virginali c.
Moste virgynall floure of all moste excellent Persynge of angelles the hyest Hierarchy Ioye and be glad for god omnipotent Hath the lyft vp and sette moste worthily Aboue the nomber and gloryous company Of his blessyd sayntes wyth moste hye dignite Nexte after hym moste honoured to be This fyrst parte to be accompted from the fyrste yere of Brute vnto the laste yere of the foresayde dyscorde or vnto the fyrste yere of Mulmutius includyth of yeres .vii. hundred and foure ¶ Thus endeth the fyrste parte THE SECONDE PARTE THE XXVIII CHAPITER MUlmutius Dunuallo or as some haue Dunuallo Mulmutius the sonne of ClotenÌ„ as testyfyeth the englyshe boke also Gaufride was venquesshour of y e other dukes or rulers and began his reygn ouer the hole monarchy of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousand vii hundred .xlviii. This is named in the englyshe cronycle Donebant the whyche was a noble man causyd to be made wythin the cytye of Troynouant a temple and named it the temple of peace The whyche after some opynyons is that place or feld where y e market of wollen cloth is holden called or named Blakwelhall He also made many good laws the which were long after vsed called Mulmutiê° lawes These lawes holy Gyldas wrote wyth great dylygence out of the brettishe speche into latyne And longe tyme here after y e Aluredus kynge of England turned those lawes oute of latyne into englyshe He also gaue pryuylege to temples to plowghes cytyes and to the wayes ledynge to y e same And as some authours wytnesse he beganne the foure hye wayes of Brytayne the whych were fynyshed and perfyted of Belinus his sonne as after at length shall be declared The olde cronycle testyfyeth y t this Mulmutius whyche he in his boke nameth Molle made the two townes of Malmesbury and Uyes And all other writers afferme that this Mulmutius after he hadde stablyshyd his lande and sette his Brytons in good and conuenyent order by the aduyce of his lordes he ordeyned hym a crowne or dyademe of gold caused hym selfe to be crowned wyth great solempnyte after the vsaunce of pagane lawe then vsed And for this cause after the opynyon of some wryters he is named the fyrste kyng of Britayn And all y e other before rehersyd are named rulers dukes or gouernours Then yt foloweth in the storye when Mulmutiê° had guyded y e land well and honorably by the terme of xl yeres he dyed and was buryed in the foresayde temple of peace within Troynouant or LoÌ„don leuynge after hym two sonnes named Belinus and Brennus THE XXIX CHAPITER BElinus and Brennê° the two sonnes of Mulmutius beganne to raygne ioyntly as kynges of Brytayne in the yere of the world iiii thousande .viii. C. viii so that Belinus held to hym Loegria or Logiers walys and Cornewayll and Brennus held to his parte all y e land ouer beyonde Humber with which partycyon eyther of them was coÌ„tentyd pleasyd as testyfyeth Polycronica by the terme of .v. yeres After the whyche terme endyd and expired Brennus entendynge to haue more lande or all arose agaynste his brother Belyne and made vppon hym mortall warre In the whych warre Brennus was ouersette and was coÌ„pelled to flye the land and sayle vnto Armorica now named lytell Britayn or as sayth Gaufryde into a countre called Allebrog as after shal be more playnely declared and there allyed hym after the foresayde terme as before is sayd of .v. yeres was expyryd as affermeth Policronica For Gaufryde sayeth in his boke made of the hystory of Brytons y t after y e terme of .v. yeres afore sayde were expyred and runne Brennus by sterynge of yonge and euyll counsayll enteÌ„dyng as before is sayde sayled vnwetyng his brother into Norway and there maryed the doughter of Elfunge or Elfynge then ruler or duke of Norwaye when this was shewed vnto Belyn consyderynge the sodayne departyng in all haste he seasyd Albania and all the other lande apperteynyng to Brenne into his owne hand and strengthed the cytyes and other stronge places wyth his owne sowdyours wherof when Brenne was warned he in all possyble haste assembled a great people of the Norwayes and toke hys shyppynge to sayle into Brytayne And as he was kepynge his course vpon the see he was encountred wyth Guilthdacus kynge of Denmarke the whych had lyen in awayte for hym for loue of y e wenche y t Brennus had maryed for before tyme he had requyred her of Elfungeher fader wheÌ„ those .ii. flotê were mette strong shotte and fyght was vppon both partyes But fynally the Danes ouercame the Norwayes or Norganys and toke the shyppe by strength whych the weÌ„che was in y t whych anone was brought vnto the shyppe of Guilthdake and Brenne wyth a fewe of his shyppes lefte was fayne to sauegarde hym selfe by flyght when Guilthdake hadde thus obteyned y e vyctorye entendynge to haue sayled towarde Denmarke in shorte whyle after y e tempestes came so hydous vppon the see that hys nauye was deuyded and scatered that one frome the other in suche wyse that he was in fere to haue ben drowned And at the ende of fyue dayes not wetynge where he was wyth fewe shyppes landed in the couÌ„tre of Northumberlande where at that tyme was Belyn prouydyng defence agayne his brothers coÌ„myng wherof when word was brought vnto Belyn of the landynge of the fore sayde Danoys prynce wyth a small company he reioysed yt and coÌ„mauÌ„ded hym wyth his shyppes company to be put in sure holde kepynge It was not long after but BreÌ„ne hadde reculyd and gaderyd to gyder the more parte of hys nauye before as ye haue harde chased And when he hadde theym newely ryggyd and vytayled he herynge of the aryuayll of Guilthdacus in NorththuÌ„berlaÌ„d with his wife sent wordê of manace vnto his brother Belyn wyllyng hym to sende vnto hym his wyfe wroÌ„gfully rauyshed by Guilthdacus also to restore vnto him his land patrymony or ellys he wold shorthely inuade his lande yt for to waste his enymy to destroye The whych desyre or request of Belynus was playnely and shortely denyed whych knowlege had Brennê° shortly after landed in a parte of Albania and made towarde his brother and his brother towarde hym so y t theyr hostes met nere vnto a wood named at that day Calater or Calaterium where betwene them was a mortall batayll in so myche that mych people fyll vpon both partyes But lastly the Brytons wanne the felde and chasyd the Norganys or Norways vnto theyr shyppes chasynge sleyenge them without pyty And as affermeth myne authour y e fyght was so cruell and sharpe that there was slayne to the nomber of .xl. M. men After this dyscumfyture Brenne was constrayned to flee and wyth fewe in nomber recoueryd the lande of Gallia Belinus hauyng thus victorye of his enemyes after thankes and oblacyons made vnto his goddes after the pagane law he then assembled his lordes
meruelouse strength in so mych that he had not his pere wythin his realm of any man of noble byrthe In his tyme came into Brytayne a prynce oute of a countre called Mauritania the whyche countre at those dayes is assygned by Strabo y e wryter â–ª to be betwene the kyngdomes of Hungary and of Beame the whych prynce wyth his cruell fyers people wasted the laÌ„d of Britayne with iron and fyre wythout pytye wherof Morindus beynge warned in all haste gaderyd his people and hym mette and faught in such wyse that he chasyd the sayde prynce agayne to the see and toke many of his sowdyours as prysoners the whyche in satysfyeng of his cruelnesse and tyranny he caused to be put to deth in his syght by dyuerse maners of tormentes as by heedynge fleynge brennynge and other cruell execucyons Lastely as testyfyeth Guydo de Columpna and other this Morindus walkynge or rydynge vppon the see stronde espyed a woÌ„derfull monstre the whych of his corage and knyght hod he thought to sle And by a maÌ„ly corage and force assayled this monstre or beste fyghtyng wyth yt a certayne of tyme. But in conclusyon he was deuoured and swalowyd of the sayd monstre after he had reygned after moste wryters by the terme of viii yeres leuynge after hym as wytnessyth Gaufryde fyue sonnes wherof the fyrste was named GorbomaÌ„nus the secunde Archygallo the thyrde Elidurus the fourth Uigenius or Nigenius and the fyfte or yongest Peredurus THE XXXVIII CHAPITER GOrbamaÌ„nus the fyrste sonne of Morindê° was made king of Brytayne in the yere of the world foure thousande .viii. hundred .lxxx. and .xviii. This in the englyshe cronycle ys named Granbodyan the whyche as testifyeth Gaufryde was a iuste and ryghtwyse man to y e goddes and to his people and yelded to eyther partye that was his that ys to say to his goddes he yelded due reuerence sacrifyce and to the people iustyce equyte And he renewed and repayred all olde temples thorough his realme and buylded some newe And in his tyme was more welth and plente in his realme mych more theÌ„ was in any of his predecessours dayes But fynally to y e great sorow of all his Brytons he was taken wyth sykenesse and dyed wythout issue of his body when he hadde reygned after moste wryters by the terme of .xi. yeres THE XXXIX CHAPITER ARchigallo the seconde sonne of Morindus and broder vnto GorbomaÌ„nus was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of y e worlde foure thousande .ix. hundred and .x. This in the englyshe boke is named Artogayll the whyche folowed nothynge the workes of his brother but gaue hym selfe all to discencyon and stryfe and imagyned causes agayne his nobles to put them from theyr goodes and dygnytyes and in theyr places to sette and ordeyne vnnoble and of rude byrthe and maner and from the ryche by synystre and wrongfull meanes he plucked theyr ryches and goodes By whyche inordynate meanes he enryched hym self and impoueryshed his subiectes For whyche condycyons his lordes subiectes murmuryd agaynst hym and lastly of one assent toke him or more verely depryuyd hym of all honour and kyngly dygnyte when he hadde reygned after moste concordaunce of wryters fyue yeres THE XL. CHAPITER ELidâ—rus the thyrde sonne of Morindus and the brother of Archigallo was by one assent of the Brytons made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. M.ix hundred and .xv. This in y e englyshe cronycle is named Hisider or Esodyr The which became so myld and benygne to the Brytons that they gaue to hym a surname and called hym Elidure y e meke For he amoÌ„ge other dedys of mekenes as he was vpon a daye in his dysporte of huntynge in a wode nere vnto CaerbraÌ„k or yorke called Calater or after some wryters Caltras he fande his elder brother Archigallo late kynge maskelyng or wandrynge in the thykest of the woode whome louyngly and charytably he in secrete maner conueyed vnto his owne mancyoÌ„ into y e cytye then named Aldud or Acliut And as affermeth myn authour Gaufryde to th entent to brynge his brother to his former dygnytye as after foloweth the sayd Elidurus fayned hym selfe syke and in all haste sente his messagers aboute his realme to gather and assemble the Barons of his laÌ„de And when the daye of assemble was coÌ„myn and his lordes accordynge to his commaundement were present he called them one by one as they were of honour into his secrete cubycle or chamber there by his wyse dyscrete wordes as well in benygne and louynge maner as other wordes and countenaunce apperteynyng to his royall power and dygnyty he gat graunte of his sayd lordes that they shuld ayde streÌ„gth hym to theyr powers to brynge hys brother Archigallo to his former honour and regally After which grauÌ„t by the lordes made he assembled a counsayll of his Brytons at Caerbrank or yorke there caused suche meanes to be made to the coÌ„mons that in conclusion when the sayd Elidurus hadde ruled the lande .v. yeres as kynge he there resygned his crowne and all kyngly power vnto his sayde brother Archigallo THE XLI CHAPITER WHen Archigallo was thus restored to his kyngly dygnyte he remembred well the euyl lyfe that before tyme he had ladde and the punishement which he had suffred for y e same wherfore in eschewynge of lyke daunger He chaunged all hys olde condicyons and became a good and ryghtwyse man mynystryng to the people equyte and iustyce bare hym so nobly agayne his lordes and rulers vnder hym of his landes that he was belouyd dradde of all hys subiectes and so contynued duryng the terme of his naturall lyfe But fynally he payde the dette of nature when he hadde reygned nowe lastly after moste wryters .x. yeres was buryed as sayth the sayde olde cronycle at Caerbranke or yorke THE XLII CHAPITER ELidurus before named was agayne by one assent of y e Brytons made kynge in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .ix. hundred xxx But his two yonger bretherne Uigenius and Peredurus hauynge of hym indignacyon that he was for his vertue and good gouernauÌ„ce so well fauoured with the Brytons of malyce conspyryd agayne hym gatheryd an army of soudiours made a felde wyth hym And in the felde toke hym and commauÌ„ded hym vnto the towre of TroynouaÌ„t as sayth Gaufryde there as a prysoner to be sauely kepte After when he hadde reygned nowe laste by the space as wytnesseth the old cronycle .ii. yeres THE XLIII CHAPITER UIgenius and Peredurus y e yongest sonnes of Morindê° and bretherne of Elidurus before sayde were ioyntly made kynges of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde foure thousande .ix. hundred .xxxii. These two bretherne are named in y e engleshe cronycle Higanius and Petytur the whych as testyfyeth Gaufryde departed y e land betwene theÌ„ so y t all y e land from the water of HuÌ„ber westwarde fyll to Uigenius or Nigeniê° the other part of
testyfyeth myne authour mayster Robert Gagwyne But the Frenche boke sayth that thys dede was done by Frederyke bysshoppe or Utryke where fore he was after pyteously slayne by such as fauoured y e quene and not all wythout her concent as wytnessyth the sayd cronycle And whan Lewys had in thys other thynges agreed vnto hys sonnes and thought hym self to be in surete of theyr amyte and fauours sodeynly he was coÌ„ueyed vnto the monastery of saynt Medrid or as sayth the Frenche boke he was conueyed to a towne called in Frenche Melanguy wyth hys yonge sonne Charlys And that done the sayd thre sonnes deuyded theyr fathers possessyons amonge theym thre That is to saye Lothayre the eldeste had to his porcyon the londes of the empyre Pepyn the countrey of Guyan and to Lewys the yongest fell the countrey of Bayon whyche mysery of the emperour whan the pope had beholden seen he wyth greate mornynge retorned into Iuly so vnto Rome In which tyme of prysonemeÌ„t of the emperour the sayd Lewys made dyteys pystelles of greate sorowe and lamentacyon to the ensample of all erthlye prynces and to the entent that hys sonnes shulde of hym haue the more compassyon and pytye The whyche I ouer passe for length of tyme and the rather for in tyme of prysonemeÌ„t of Edwarde the seconde callyd Carnaruan was by hym made a lyke coÌ„playnt where of when tyme place comyth I entende to expresse some parte therof whan Lewys had thus a season remayned in pryson for so myche as the comons shulde not thynke that thys shuld be done by the authoryte of y e thre sonnes onely therfore they causyd a couÌ„sayle to be callyd at the cytye of Compeyne there by theyr meanes and labours causyd theyr father by authoryte of spyrytuall temporall lordys to be discharged of all rule and domynyon as well of the empyre as of the realme of FrauÌ„ce by authoryte of the sayd couÌ„sayle or parliament and after caused hym to renouÌ„ce all hys temporall habyte and to become a munke in the monastery of saynt Matke where he was lefte of his sonne Lothayre not with out sure watche and kepynge But full often it is seen that whaÌ„ the erthlye power of man faylyth or wekyth god of hys greate mercy the repentaunt synner to grace callyth hym by hys dyuyne power aydeth and strengtheth and so he dyd thys Lewys For after thys mysery and trybulacyon thus to hym fallen the peple in dyuerse placys of this londe murmured and grudgyd very sore agayne the innaturall dealynge of the sonnes agayne theyr father In these dayes was a greate ruler in Fraunce named Guyllyam stuarde or constable of that lande y e which wyth one Egebard or Edgare a man of greate byrth and alyaunce couÌ„sayled togyder for the enlargyng of y e emperour And lastly wyth ayde of theyr frendes assembled a greate peple And than drewe vnto them .ii. noble men of Burgoyne called Barnarde and Gueryn the whyche sometyme had ben well cherysshed wyth the emperoure Lewys All thys season Lothayre had restyd hym for y e more partye at Aquysgrany But whan he harde of the assemblynge of these foresayd lordes he sped hym towarde Parys And whan he was thyther comen the foresayd lordes sent vnto hym two noble men Rowlande and Gantelyne the whych made request vnto Lothayre in the name of the other lordes that it wolde lyke hym to restore hys father vnto hys former dygnyte wyth other thynges concernynge theyr legacyon To the whyche two lordes Lothayre gaue answere that of hys fathers restorynge to hys fyrste or former dygnyte no man lyuynge wolde be therof more fayne than he wolde But y e deposyng of hym was done by the hole authoryte of y e land wherfore yf he shulde be agayne restoryd it must be by the same authoryte and not by hym onely All be yt that they myghte knowe of hys benyuoleÌ„ce and fauour that he bare towarde hys father he wylled them to stonde a parte whyle he had some coÌ„munycacyon of his lordes for y e same mater By reason wherof were it for fere or for fauour the emperour was shortly after put at hys lybertye and restoryd to all hys fyrst honoure and dygnyte than with great honoure conueyed to a cytye or towne called Ciriciake where met wyth hym hys other two soÌ„nes Pepyn and Lewys and there restyd hym certayne dayes in makyng all feest and ioye and after rode vnto Aquysgrany and there restyd an other season In whych tyme of hys there beyng was brought vnto hym from y e place where she had ben prisoner his wyfe Indyth But whan Lothariê° knewe that hys father had hyr agayne receyued contrary to hys mynde and pleasure he in wrath dyspleasure entryd the countrey of Burgoyne made in it sharpe and cruell warre executed therin many spoylynges and other inordynate dedys The whyche cruelty to wythstande let hys father wyth hys sonne Pepyn wyth a greate hoste sped hym thyder warde But anone as he had knowlege therof mystrustyng his streÌ„gth he yelded hym vnto his faders grace and mercy whom the meke fader receyued and forgaue to hym hys trespasse And after that of hym and dyuerse of hys lordes he had taken assuryd othes and other suretyes he thaÌ„ sent the sayd Lothayre into Italy with a certayne nomber of knyghtes to defende the countrey from daunger of enemyes and strengthynge of the straytes and mountaynes And that wyth other thynges orderyd and done for the weale of hys realme Lewys than toke vpon hym to ryde about hys lande to th entent that he myghte be somwhat enformed of the rule of hys offycers and how the countreys were ruled by the rulers of them And where he found any mysgouernaunce he punysshed the executers therof as well y e bysshoppes as other as farre as his authoryte in that behalfe stretchyd Than Indith consyderynge the emperoure fell into greate age and hyr sonne and his Charlis by name had as yet no suffycyent landes nor possessyons to maynteyne any estate wyth she compassed many wayes in hyr mynde how she myghte acheue hyr entent and to brynge it to good purpose where fynally by counceyll of hyr frendes to y e ende to purchase the loue and fauour of Lothayre she axed of hyr lorde and husbonde that the sayd Lothayre myghte be tutour and gyder of hys yonge sonne Charles Of this request y e emperour was very glad and graunted hyr hyr peticion And so it fell soone after certayne messengers came to the emperoure from Lothayre hys sonne To the whych whan Lewys had gyuen answere to such maters as they were sent fore and gyueÌ„ vnto them other instruccyons he sent them forthe agayne and with them certeyne other to wylle his sayd sonne to come vnto hym in as goodly wyse as he myght But at that season he excusyd hym by sykenesse and whan he was recouered he fayned an other excuse In thys meane tyme worde was brougth
accepted the foresayde wyllyam to theyr lorde and souerayne Of thys wyllyams procreacyon yt is wytnessed of Uyncent hystory all and other that his father passynge by the cytye or towne of Faloys in Normandy he sawe a company of maydens daunsynge by the strete Amonges the whych was one of passynge beautye called Arlet and doughter to a skynner To y e which duke Robert caste vnlefull loue in suche wyse y t he caused her to be broughte to his bed the nyght folowyng and helde her to his concubyne a certayn of tyme after begat on her this wyllyam whē his moder was wyth him cōceyued she dremed that her bowel lys were sprad ouer all Normandye and Englande And when he was borne of his moders wombe he fyll to the groūde and closed his handes wyth powder of the flore or pauement Therfore the mydwyfe made and exclamacyon and sayd this chyld shall be a kynge Then yt foloweth when thys wyllyam was thus admitted duke some of his lordes by the meane of y e kyng of Fraūce began to wythdraw them from hym In so myche y e erle Gylbert to whome duke Robert had betaken hys ponge sonne to gyde was slayne and other that were especyall frendes to the chylde There was fyghtyng and manslaughter and the countrey fowle faren with by reason of the opynyons that were amonges them selfe wherof Guy a Burgoyn was one of the chefe causers For he with his adherentes sayde alwayes that they wolde haue no bastarde to be ruler of them This Guy as saith the frēche boke was nere kynnesman vnto y e yonge duke descendyd of the doughter of the seconde Rycharde and entended to haue ben duke hym selfe For the which he ensensed y e kyng of Fraūce agayn hym in all that he myght but at length duke wyllyam toke hym and put hym to deth Thus the Frenche kynge forgettynge y e kyndnesse shewyd to hym by duke Robert hys father toke partye agayne hym to the vttermoste and ordeyned hym .ii. hostes wherof one he delyueryd to his brother Almaryk and warned hym to eutre y e countrey of Caus and he hym selfe ladde that other and entred with it the coūtrey of Eurour But wyllyam not ferynge the kynges great power beynge growen wele towarde mannes stature lyke a luste yonge knyght made towarde the kynges brother gaue to hym batayll hym ouercame and chased the Frenchemen to theyr great bylany wherof heryng the Frenche kyng wyth his people spedde hym toward wyllyam to reuenge the shame done to his men But in cōclusyon he wan there no honoure Then peace was made betwene the kyng and y e duke and the Frenche prysoners were delyueryd But this peace enduryed not long for the Frēch kyng callynge to remēbraūce the losse of hys men at Mort mere or dede see wyth other dysauauntages by hym sustayned of the sayde duke wyllyam called to hys ayde Geoffrey erle of Aungiers And whan hys hoste was assembled they entred y e prouynce of Normādy cōtynued theyr iourney tyll they came to an arme of the see where the hoste shulde passe ouer Of thys new warre duke wyllyā beynge warned in all haste assembled hys Normans and sped hym y e next waye to mete the Frenchemen In thys meane whyle the Frenche kynge had passed the water wyth certayne of hys hoste trustyng that the remenauaūt shulde haue folowed But soone after the water flowed so faste that hys people myghte not passe And in thys whyle came the duke and set vpon the kynges hoste and bet theym downe cruelly so that at length the kynge was compelled to flee and loste a great nomber of his knyghtes to consyder them y e were slayne wyth the other that were taken prysoners whan kynge Henry had well dysgested in hys mynde the wrongfull trouble that he by enuyous persons hadde put the duke vnto and remēbred the yll expedycyon that he had in that warre he recōsyled hym selfe and made meanes that the duke and he myghte be agreed and accorded The whyche by dyscrete solycytours was shortely after brought to good effecte so that they contynued as frēdes durynge theyr lyues after Than Henry abstayned hym from all warre vsed the reste of hys lyfe in peas and quyetnesse Thys Henry had two wyues and of the laste whyche was doughter to the kynge of Russy he had .iii. sonnes that is to say Phylyp y ◠whych he made kyng of Fraunce by hys lyfe Robert that was after duke of Burgoyne and Hughe that was after named Hugh le graunde and was fader to Raufe erle of Uermendoyse And in thys kynges dayes Burgoyne that had ben vnder y e Frenche kynges obeysaunce ouer a hundred and .xxx. yeres refused the Frenche kynge aparte of them torned vnto Conradus the seconde of that name than emperour So that that parte whyche stretched to Champayne belonged to Fraunce and that other parte whyche stretched toward Basaynz belonged to the Almayns And that yere that the kynge had admytted hys sonne Phylyp to the gydynge of the realme he dyed and was buryed at saynt Denys leuyng after hym the issue forenamed whan he hadde reygned after moste wryters .xxxi. yeres Anglia THE CCVIII CHAPITER HArold the sonne of Canutus of Elgma y e erlys doughter of Hampton begā his reygne ouer Englande in y e yere of our lordes incarnacyon M. xxxix and the x. yere of Henry thā kyng of Fraūce Thys for his delyuernesse swyftenesse was surnamed Harefote In whose begynnynge stryfe was amonge the lordes for so myche as of hys byrthe shulde be doughte whyther he were the kynges son or not and specyally erle Goodwyne that dyd the vttermoste of hys power to sette hym by and put Hardykynitus his brother to that honour But Leo frycus that Canutus so mych loued and trusted wyth the ayde of the Danes wythstode so myghtely Goodwyne and hys sonnes that they fayled of theyr purpose Anone as thys Harold was crowned kynge he banysshed hys stepmoder Emma and toke from her suche goodes and iewelles as she had The whych Emma sayled than into Flaūders and there of Bawdewyne the erle was reuerently receyued there abode durynge the lyfe of thys Harolde The whyche contynued hys lyfe to lytell fruyte or profyte of the land nor yet of the subiectes so that of hym other for y e vyce that clerkes lyste nat to put in memory other for the rudenesse whyche is worthy no memory nothynge of hym is put in remembraunce but that he dyed at London or after some at Oxenford was buryed at westmynster when he had reygned as moste wryters agreen .iii. yeres and odde monethes leuynge after hym none heyre wherfore hys brother kyng of Denmarke was next kynge after hym THE CCIX. CHAPITER HArdikynytus the sonne of Canutus of Emma was made kyng of England in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon M.xli and the xii yere of Henry than kyng of Fraūce Thys of some wryters is named Hardykynytus and Hardyknough
feuours amonges the people and also great huÌ„ger and barreynes of y e erth Also in this yere great hurt was done in many places of y e lande by fyre and specyally in the cytye of London where vpon the .vii. day of the moneth of Iulii sodayne fyre began the whyche brent a great parte of the chyrche of saynte Paule wyth also a great parte of the cytye Then kynge wyllyam beynge in Normandye was syke and kept his â—hamber at RoanÌ„ a longe time wherfore Phylyppe the Frenche kynge in hys game sayde that wyllyam lay in chyldbeddeâ— and noryshed hys fatte wombe The whyche wordes when they were blowen to kynge wyllyaÌ„s crys he was greuously dyscontent and sayde when I am chyrched I shall offer to hym a thousande candellys lyghte wyth the whyche he shall holde hym smally contented The whyche promyse he after performed For in the moneth of Iuly wheÌ„ Corne fruyt and grapes were moste florishynge he entred Fraunce with a great army and sette on fyre many cytyes and townes in the west syde of Fraunce and lastely came to the cytye of Meaus and fyred yt brent a parte therof wyth the chyrch of our lady wherin he brent a womaÌ„ beyng closed in the walle of the sayd chyrch as a recluse But of this thynge speketh not the cronycle of Fraunce Nor yet for the more parte of any thynge that soundeth to theyr dyshonour done vnto theym by Englyshemen In this hete or as some wryters haue by y e lepyng of an horse kyng wyllyam toke such a dysease or sykenes that yt was the cause of hys deth And when he felt hym thus greued he called his sonnes before hym and exhorted theym in his beste maner that they shulde charytably loue and fauoure euery of them the other and holde to gyder as louyng bretherne after made his testameÌ„t and therin ordeyned wyllyam Ruffus or wyllyam the rede to be kynge of England And Normandye he beset vnto Rober Curthose And to Henry his yongest sonne he bequethed his treasour and mouable goodes And that done he enfourmed hys two eldest sonnes of the dysposycyon of both peoples and warned wyllyam to be louynge and lyberall to his subiectes and Robert to be sterne and sturdy vnto his Then he was moued with myldenes and delyueryd from prison hys own brother the byshop of Bayon Marcharus erle of NorthuÌ„berlande wylnotus the sonne of Harolde or after some the sonne of Goodwyne that was sent to wyllyaÌ„ by Edwarde the confessour to remayne for a pledge for his sayde fader Goodwyn And shortely after these thynges wyth other done he dyed in Normandye and was buryed in y e cytye of CaanÌ„ when he had reygned as kyng of Englande .xxi. yeres and vppon .x. monethes in the moneth of Iuly and the yere of hys duchery the .lii. when wyllyam was dede men spake of hym as they do of other prynces and sayd that he was wyse and gylefull ryche and couetous loued well to be magnifyed and praysed a fayre speker a greatr dyssymuler a man of skylfull stature but somdeale fatte in the bely sterne of face and stronge in armys and therwyth bolde and had therwyth great pleasure in huntyng and in makyng of great festes But he passed al other in leuyenge of taskes whyche condycyon hys subiectes construed .iii. maner of wayes and saydeyt was to the entente that he wolde excell all other in rychesse or ellys for to withstaÌ„de and defende his enymyes or ellys to staunche the appetyte of his couetyse mynde He buylded .ii. abbayes in Englande one at batayl in Sussex where he wanne the felde agayne Harolde and is at thys daye called the abbay of Batail y e other he sette besyde London vppon the south syde of Thamys and named yt Barmoundesay And in Normandye he buylded two also Thys man made the newe forest in the countrey of Southampton the whyche to brynge aboute he caste downe dyuers chyrches by the space of .xxx. myles and replenyshed yt wyth wylde bestes and made harde and sharpe lawes for the encreasyng of them as losyng of eyen and other And he helde Englyshemen so lowe that in hys dayes was almoste no Englyshe man that bare any offyce of honoure or rule But yet somedeale he fauoured the cytye of London and graunted to the cytezens the fyrste charter that euer they had the whych is wryten in Saxon tunge and sealed wyth grene waxe and expressed in .viii. or .ix. lynes THE CCXXIII. CHAPITER Wyllyam Rufus or wyllyam the erede the second sonne of wyllyam Conquerour beganne hys reygne ouer Englande in the moneth of Iulye and the yere of our lorde a thousande .lxxxix and the xxxi yere of the fyrste Phylyppe then kynge of Fraunce Ranulfe monke of Chester sheweth in hys boke of Polycronycon y t Robert Curthose eldest sonne of wyllyam Conquerour was at the tyme of hys fathers deth absent The whyche heryng that his father hadde preferred hys yonger brother to y e kyngdome of Englande was therwyth greatly amoued in so myche that he layde his dukedome to pledge to his brother Henry and wyth that good gatheryd to him a stronge army and so landed at HamptonÌ„ wherof wyllyam hys brother beynge warned in all haste sent vnto hym messangers to whome he gaue coÌ„myssyon to say in maner as foloweth Thy brother wyllyam prayeth y t to take no grefe with y t he hath done for he clepeth hym selfe not kynge but as vnder kynge to reygne vnder the and by helpe of the that arte gretter then he better rather borne And yf thou consyder yt well he hath nothynge mysused hym agayn the. For he hath taken vppon hym for a tyme bycause of thyne absence But for he is nowe in authoryte by thy sufferaunce he prayeth y t he may vnder the so contyue payeng to the yerely .iii. thousande marke wyth coÌ„dycyon that who so ouer lyueth may enioye the kyngdome when Robert had harde that message to the ende he wagged hys hedde as he that conceyued some doublenesse in thys reporte But for he was lyberall and allowed more the honour then he dyd hys profyte as in other thynges folowyng of his dedes yt shall appere therfore he lyghtely assented to all that was desyred and returned shortly after into Normandye wyth pleasaunt wordes wythout profyte Thys wyllyam was crowned the xxvii daye of September vppon the daye of saynte Cosma and Damyan and was well ayded of LamfraÌ„k whyle he lyued He was dyuers unstable of maners so y t betwene hym his lordes was ofteÌ„ dyssencyoÌ„ In y e spryngyng of somer folowyng hys coronacyon Odo byshoppe of BayoÌ„ whych as before ye haue hard was delyuered out of pryson by wylliam CoÌ„querour came into EnglaÌ„d whom the kynge ioyously receyued and gaue vnto hym shortly after the erledome of Kent But he toke vppon hym in processe of tyme to rule in suche wyse as the kynge grudged wyth hys doynge And for thys the kynge and his sayde vncle fyll at vnkyndnesse
harte After thys he loste more dayly so that hys enymyes preuayled strongely agayne hym It is rede of hym that he shulde be at so great an after deale in thys warre that hastely he shuld put hym in the kynge of Fraunces mercy his honoure and hys crowne reserued But this is doutefull of credeÌ„ce For sure I am yf the Frenche kyng had suche auauntage of hym yt shulde not haue fallen throughe the boke but haue ben regystred in the moste auauntynge maner where as in the frenche cronycle is touched no word of lyke mater But trowth yt ys that fortune was to him contrary in such wyse that wyth or for anger and impacyence he fell into a feuer wherof he lastely dyed in the castell of Conomeus or of Chynon in Normandye in the moneth of Iuly when he had reygned .xxxiiii. yeres and .viii. monethes wyth oddes dayes and was buryed at Fount Ebrade wyth thys epytaphy vppon his tombe Sufficit hic tumulus cui non sufficerat orbis Res breuis est ampla cui fuit ampla breuis Rex Henricus eram mihi plurima regna subegi Multiplicique modo duxque comesque sui Cui satis ad votum non essent omnia terrae Climita terrae modo sufficit octo pedunâ— Qui legis haec pensa discrimina mortis in me Humanae speculum conditionis habe Quod petis instante operare bonum quia mundus Transit incaâ—tos mors inopina rapit The whyche versys are thus myche to meane in sentence ¶ Suffysyth nowe this graue to whom all erthly thynge Syffysyd not my mynde so hyghe was sette Tyme that was shorte my name wyde dyd sprynge whyche fame by deth is into shortenesse fette Kynge Henry was I called no man I thought my bette whose mynde sometyme all erth not suffysed viii fote of ground now hath my bodye comprysed Thou that thys redest the parell of deth and in me Thou mayste beholde the course of euery wyght That erthely is wherfore prouyde and se That thou well maye do shortely do yt and tyght Defer not the tyme for I ascertayne the ryght The world is transytory and vnwarely men taketh Cruell deth from whome non estate escapeth Gerardus CambrensÌ„ whyche in hys boke of dystynccyons sette oute the lyfe of thys Henry sayth dredefull yt is to allege agayne hym that maye putte a man oute of lande and to descrybe hym wyth many wordes that may exyle a man wyth one worde wherfore yt were a notable dede to tell the sothe of a prynces dedys and offende the prynce in no meane But yet when the prynce ys passed and gone then men wyll talke without fere that before tyme they spared for fere Then to folow the sooth this kyng Henry noryshed stryfe amonge hys chyldern wyth all dylygeÌ„ce hopyng therby to lyue hym selfe in the more reste when men wolde aske of hym when he wolde leue his great dedes he vsed to answere that the worlde shulde fayle or a courageouse harte shulde sease of great dedes He was pereles in chyualry in warre and in lecherye He wedded Elyanoure wyfe of Lewys kynge of Fraunce contrary to the commaundement of hys father For he hadde shewed to hym that he hadde lyen by her when he was the sayde kynges stewarde He reygned .xxvi. yeres somdeale to hys wordely blysse and foure yeres somwhat to hys payne but the laste fyue yeres to hys great troweble and sorow Farthermore the sayd Gerarde descryueth the progenye of thys Henry whyche I ouer passe because yt is so common Rycharde hys sonne wolde often tell that wonder and vsed to saye no meruayle though they greued the peple that were comon of such kynd For of y e deuyll they came and to the dyuyll they shall It ys also redde of thys Henry that in a chaumber at wyndesore he caused to be paynted an egle wyth foure byrdes wherof thre of theym all rased the bodye of the olde egle and the fourth was cratchynge at the olde eglys eyen when the questyon was asked of hym what thyng that pycture shuld sygnyfye yt was answered by hym thys olde egle sayde he is my selfe and these .iiii. eglys betoken my foure sonnes the whyche sease not to pursue my deth And specyally my yongeste sonne IohnÌ„ whyche nowe I loue moste shall most specyally awayte and imagen my deth Francia THE CCXLI. CHAPITER PHylyp the seconde of that name surnamed Dyeu done or gyueÌ„ of god and sonne vnto y e viii Lewys beganne to reygne ouer the realme of Fraunce in the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred and .lxxix and the .xxiii. yere of Henry the seconde than kynge of Englonde whyche sayde Phylyppe reygned somwhat of tyme by the lyfe of hys father which tyme is accompted vnto the reygne of hys father Thys in the fyrst yere of hys reygne for the great enormytyes that the Iewes vsed wythin the realme of Fraunce as crucyfyenge of chyldren and exercysynge of theyr detestable vsery he after due profe made put the malefactours to dethe and the other in auoydynge more daunger he exyled and put clere out of hys realme This Phylyp also as before in the story of Henry the seconde is towched excyted the sonnes of the sayde Henry to make warre vppon theyr father by whyche meane thys Phylyppe gate many holdes and townes from the sayde Henry wythin hys duchy of Guyon But after the deth of Henry thys Phylyppe gaue ouer all the sayde holdes and townes vnto Rycharde the eldeste sonne of the sayde Henry and receyued of hym homage for the same And as wytnessyth the French cronycle the sayd Rychard in token of obedyence was present at the coronacion of the sayd Phylyppe But ye shall vnderstande that than he was not kynge of Englande .x. yeres after But yf yt so were that he were present at the sayd coronacyon yet was he duke of Guyon onely Aboute the thyrde yere of hys reygne Eraclius patryarke of Hierusalem came into Fraunce and requyred ayde of thys kynge Phylyppe to wythstande the furye and persecucyon whyche Saladyne prynce of Turkes hadde excuted and dayly contynued in the countrey of Palestina agayne the Cristen to the great destruccyon of theym and vndoyng of the countrey and great ieoperdye of the losynge of the holy cytye of Hierusalem For thys the kynge assembled a great counsayll at hys cytye of Parys where the sayde Eraclius made requeste to the kynge as before he hadde done to Henry the seconde For he was in Fraunce in the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred .lxxx. and two and in Englande he was in the yere of grace .xi. hundred .lxxx. and .vii. After whyche counsayll there so holden yt was agreed that the kynge wyth ayde of the byshoppes and other of the spyrytualtye shulde ayde the sayde patryarke the whyche where sette forthe in all possyble haste But after the reporte of Peter Dysroye whyche made a recule or lytle boke of the wynnynge and losyng of Hierusalem they with mo crysten prynces were dryuen by tempeste of the
homage vnto the sayde Alphōs for such landes as the sayd erle held of the sayde erledome of Poytyers But for y e sayd erle of Marche knew well that the ryght of Guyan belongyd to the kinge of England he therfore and for other allyaunces made bewene kynge Henry and hym refusyd the doynge of that homage and after came to kynge Henry and excytyd hym to make warre vppon the Frenche kynge By reason wherof the kynge made prouysyon and so landed with a stronge power at Burdeaux After the affyrmaunce of the frenche boke this erle of the Marchis had maryed the mother of kyng Henry Then it folowyth in this whyle the Frenche kynge warryd vppon y e landes of the erle of Marche and hadde wōne .ii. castellys of his named Foūteneys and Uyllers wyth dyuerse other whych I passe ouer And when he had beten downe some of them some storyd with new soudyours he then went vnto a castel named Maucoune and brake a brydge after him for so myche as he was warned that the kynge of Englande was nere vnto hym At the sayd brydge was a lyttell skyrmyshe but lytle harme was there done Then the Frenche kynge toke the way ouer the ryuer of Tharent towarde Taylbourgh wastyng and destroyenge the countrey as he went and so forth towarde the town callyd Saynces And kynge Henry wyth hys hoste made towarde hym in al that he myght In kepyng this course the vawarde of the kynge encountryd wyth the erle of Boleyne whyche was vppon the Frenche kyngys partye That season the erle of Saynces bare the banner of y e erle Marches beyng in y e vaward of the kynge Betwene these two erles was sore fyght so that many a man vppon both partyes was slayn among the whych the sayde erle of Saynces was slayne Then came on bothe strengthes vppon eyther syde so that both kynges fought in that batayll and great slaughter of men was vppon both sydes But in the ende the Frenche men were vyctours toke prysoners .xxii. men of name as knyghtes and of hygher degre and .iii. clerkes of great fame and ryches besyde other to the nomber of .v. hūdred of meane people as wytnessyth the frenche boke But of these men of name nor yet of the ryche clerkes none is named nor yet shewyd what good they payed for theyr raōsome wherfore me lyste to wryte no farther of this great victory all be it y t the sayd boke sayth farther that kyng Henry for fere tourned backe vnto Burdeaux and there made meanes to the kynge of Fraunce for a peace But of all thys fynde I no worde in the englyshe cronycles Then the erle of Marches by meane of his sonne was reconcyled vnto the Frenche kynge amd restoryd to hys landes excepte thre castellys whyche were named Mespyne Cretaye and Estardye the whyche the Frenche kynge retayned in his owne possessyon And soone after came vnto the Frenche kynge the lordes of the castellys of Myrabell of Mortaynge submyttynge theym also vnto the kynges grace besechyng hym of pardon that they hadde so to his hygh dyspleasure fauored hys enymy the kynge of Englande And after came in dyuerse other lordes capytaynes so that he was in possessyon of all the countrey of Guyan Poyteau vnto y e ryuer of Gyroūde I haue rehersyd the more of thys cronycle of Fraunce to the entente that the reders may well apperceyue the pryde and boste of the Frēchmen For in all theyr wrytynge when they come to any mater that soūdyth any thynge to theyr honour yt is wryten in the lengest and most shewyng maner to theyr honour and worshyppe But as I haue sayde before in the v. capyter of the storye of the .ii. Phylyppe kynge of Fraunce yf yt sound any thynge to theyr dyshonour then shall yt be abreuyatyd or hyd that the trouth shall not be knowen And that appereth well here by theyr own wrytynge For in y e .vii. yere of kyng Iohn̄ yt is shewyd howe Phylyppe the seconde then kynge of Fraunce had wonne all Normandy and Guyan And yet at thys daye thys kynge Lewys warryd agayne in the same countrey so that they euer tell of the wynnyng but they touche nothynge of the agayne losynge Then yt folowyth in the storye when kynge Henry hadde as before is sayde concludyd the foresayde peace of the which by myne authour is no terme sette the kynge retourned into Englande Anno domini M.CC.xliii  Anno domini M.CC.xliiii  Hugh Blount  Rafe Ashewy  Anno .xxvii.  Adam Basynge  IN this .xxvii. yere the kynge returned from Burdeaux into Englande And thys yere the plees of the crowne were kept in the towre of London And thys yere Gryffyth whych was sonne of Lewelyn lately prynce of walys entendyng to haue broken pryson fell ouer the wall of the inner warde of the towre of London and brake hys necke Anno domini M.CC.xliiii  Anno domini M.CC.xlv  Rafe Spycer  Mychael Tony.  Anno .xxviii.  Nycholas Batte  IN thys .xxviii. yere of kynge Henry as testyfyeth Polycronycon a Iew dygged the grounde in a place in Spayn called Tholeet to the entent to make him a more larger vyne yerde where in tyme of his dyggynge he fande a stone closyd on all partyes But for he perceyued yt to be holowe he brake the stone and founde therein a boke as bygge as a sawter wyth leuys all of tree This boke was wryte in nthre dyuers languagys in greke in ebrewe and in latyne and the mater therof was of thre worldes that shuld come Of the whyche he poyntyd the commynge of Cryste to the begynnynge of the thyrde worlde whyche was expressyd in thys maner of wyse In the begynnynge of the thyrde worlde goddes son shall be borne of a mayde when the Iewe had well beholden the contentys of the boke and sawe that yt conteyned so longe tyme as from Adam to Anticriste and shewyd many prophecyes that were fulfyllyd and paste he anon renouncyd hys iudaisme or Moysen lawe and was crystyned and lyued after as a crysten man Anno domini M.CC.xlv  Anno domini M.CC.xlvi  Robert Cornehyll  Iohn̄ Gysors  Anno .xxix.  Adam Bewly  IN thys .xxix. yere Nycholas Batte contrary the ordynaūce before in the .xiiii. yere of thys kynge made was agayne chosen shryue of London For the whych he was conuycte of periurye and so dyscharged and punyshed And for y t Mychaell Tony whych for this yere also was chosen mayre was by deposycyon of the Aldermen founde gyltye in the sayde cryme of periurye therfore he was deposyd from his offyce punisshed And for hym was chosen mayre Iohan Gysours and for Nicholas Batte was chosen shryue Robert of Cornhyll In this yere also as testyfyeth Ieffrey of Monmouth Robert Grosehed thē byshoppe of Lyncolne wyth other prelatys of y e land complayned theym vnto the kynge of the waste of the goodes and patry monye of the chyrche whyche dayly was
Gaufryde and beraft hym the gouernaunce of the land vppon certayne coÌ„dycyons to be contynued for terme of lyfe the whyche in processe of tyme more and more were minyshyd as well by Maglaunus as by HeÌ„ninus husbaÌ„des of the forenamed Gonorild Ragan But moste dyspleased Leyr the vnkyndnesse of his two doughters consyderynge theyr wordes to hym before spoken and sworne and now founde prouyd them all contrarye For the whyche he beyng of necessyte constrayned fledde his lande sayled into Gallia for to be comforted of his doughter Cordeilla wherof she hauyng knowlege of naturall kyndnesse coÌ„forted hiÌ„ after shewynge all the maner to her husbande by his agrement receyuyd hym his to her lordes courte where he was cherished after her beste maner Longe yt were to shew vnto you y e circumstaunce of y e vtterans of the vnkyndnesse of his two doughters and of the wordes of comfort gyuen to hym by Aganippus and Cordeilla or of the couÌ„saile and purueyauÌ„ce made by the sayde Aganippus his lordes for restorynge of Leyr agayn to his dominyoÌ„ But fynally he was by the helpe of the sayde Aganippus restored agayne to his lordshyp and so possessed lyued as ruler gouernour therof by the space of .iii. yeres after In whych season dyed Aganippus And when this Leyr had ruled this lande by the terme of .xl. yeres as affermeth dyuerse cronycles he dyed and was buryed at his towne of Caerleir or Leycestre leuynge after hym for to inheryte the lande his doughter Cordeilla THE XVI CHAPITER COrdeilla the yongeste doughter of Leyr was by assente of the Brytons made lady of Brytayn in the yere of y e world .iiii. thousande iii. hundred lxxxxviii the whyche guyded the lande full wysely by the tyme or space of .v. yeres complete The whyche tyme expyred and roÌ„ne her .ii. neuewes called Margan and Cunedagiê° sonnes of her .ii. susters came vpon her land and made therin great waste and destruccyon and at the laste toke her and cast her into a stronge pryson where she beynge dyspayred of y e recouery of her estate as testyfyeth Gaufryde slewe her selfe whenne she hadde reygned as before is declared by the terme of fyue yeres THE XVII CHAPITER CUnedagius and Marganus neuewes as before is sayde of Cordeilla departyd this lande of Brytayne betwene them in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousand .iiii. hundred and .iii. That is to wyt the couÌ„trey ouer and beyond Humber fyll to Margan towarde Catenessey and the other parte of the lande towarde weste as reherseth Gaufride fyll to Cunedagius After two yeres were ronne ended some euyll dysposyd came vnto Margan and sayde that to hym yt was great reproche and dyshonour consyderynge that he was comen of Gonorilla the elder suster of Maglaunus her husbande Cunedag was descended of Ragan the yonger and Hemnius her husbande that he had not y e rule of all y e land to which sedycyous ê‘sons Margan gyuynge credence was supprysed with pryde and couetyse and anon by theyr couÌ„sayle assembled a great hoste made warre vpon his sayde brother brennynge and destroyeng his land with out mercy wherof Cunedag beynge ware in all hast gaderyd his people after certayne message sent to hym of the reconcylyacyon seynge there was no peace to be made but by the iudgement of batayll he mette wyth his brother in playne felde where y e goddes were to hym so fauourable that he slewe myche of the people of his brother and coÌ„pellyd hym to fle After whyche vyctory thus had he pursued Margan from couÌ„tre to couÌ„tre tyll he came wythin the countre or prouynce of Cambria or walys in the whyche couÌ„tre the sayde Margan gaue one other batayll vnto his brother Cunedag but for he was farre the weker he there was ouercomen and slayne in the felde whyche felde or couÌ„tre where the sayd Margan fought was slayne is to thys daye called Glaumargan whych is to meane in our vulgare tung Margan lande And thus was Margan slayne whan he hadde regned wyth his brother two yeres THE XVIII CHAPITER CUnedagius before named the sonne of Hemnius and Ragan yoÌ„ger doughter or myddell doughter of Leyr was made ruler and lorde of all Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .iiii. hundred .v. Of the whyche is nothyng worthy memorye lefte in wrytyng but that he guyded y e lande after the deth of his brother well and honorably by the terme of .xxxiii. yeres After which terme ended he dyed and was buryed at Troynouant or London leuynge for his heyre a sonne as testyfyeth Gaufryde named Riuallo or Rinallo or after some wryters Reyngnolde THE XIX CHAPITER BIuallus the sonne of Cunedagius was made gouernoure of the Brytons in the yere of the world .iiii. thousand .iiii. hundred and .xxxviii the whyche of wryters is called fortunat and restfull This Riuallus ruled y e BrytoÌ„s with great sobernesse kepte the lande in great welthe and prosperyte all be yt that of hym is lefte no specyall memorye of acte done in his tyme except myn authour sayth that in y e tyme of his reygne yt reyned blood by the space of .iii. days contynually wythin the lande of Brytayne After the whych reyne ensued so great excedynge noÌ„ber of multitude of flyes the which were to the people so noyous and coÌ„tagyous that they slewe myche people And after that as sayth an olde authour whose name is vnknoweÌ„ ensued great sykenesse and mortallytie to the great desolacyon of thys sayde lande Then yt foloweth in the story wheÌ„ this Riuallus hadde reygned after moste coÌ„cordaunce of writers by the terme of .xlvi. yeres he dyed was buryed as testyfyeth the sayde olde authour at Caerbrank or yorke leuynge after hym a sonne as wytnessyth Gaufride named Gurgustius In the tyme of the reygne of thys kynge after moste concorde of wryters y e famous cytye of Rome shuld be buylded as is shewed more playnly in the treatyse in the begynnyng of this warke THE XX. CHAPITER GUrgustius the sonne of y e fore named Riuallus was made ruler of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousane .iiii. hundred lxxxiii This in y e cronicle of EnglaÌ„d is named Gorbodiam sonne of Reygnold Of the which is lytell memory made other of his regne or of his dedes by any authours or wryters of y e hystorye of Brytayne excepte the aboue named olde authoure and the authoure called the floure of hystoryes wytnessyth that he reygned xxxviii yeres leuynge after hym none heyre of his bodye begotten and lastely dyed and was buryed by his fader at Caerbrank or yorke Rome as aboue ys towched was fyrst buylded edyfyed in the tyme of Riuallus and after moste writers In the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .iiii. hundred .lxx after the buyldyng of TroynouaÌ„t or London .iiii. huÌ„dred .vii. yeres whych folowyng that accompte shulde be in the .xxxii. yere of the forsayde Riuallus THE XXI CHAPITER SIsillius or after