and dyuers other sekenesses toke theyr deth ¶ And also in the same yere in the Marche was seen stella cometa bitwene the north costes and the west whose bemes stretched toward FrauÌ„ce ¶ And in the nexte yere folowynge of kynge Edwardes regne .xliii. in Apryl syr Leonel kyng Edwardes sone that was duke of Clarence went toward Myleyn with a chosen meyny of yâ— gentyls of Englonde for to wedde Galois doughter and haue her to his wyfe by whom he shold haue halfe yâ— lordshyp of Myleyn But after yâ— they were solemply wedded aboute yâ— natiuite of our lady yâ— same duke of Myleyn dyed And in yâ— same yere yâ— frensshe men brake yâ— peas trewse rydyng on yâ— kynges grouÌ„de lordshyp of Englonde in the shyre couÌ„tre of PouÌ„tyfe toke helde castels townes bare yâ— englyssh men on honde falsly subtylly that they were cause of brekyng of yâ— trewse And in this yere dyed yâ— duchesse of LaÌ„castre and is buryed in saynt Paules chirche ¶ The .xliiii. yere of yâ— regne of kyng Edward was the gretest pestylence of men of grete beestes by yâ— grete fallyng of waters yâ— fell at yâ— tyme there fell grete hyndrynge destroyenge of corne in so moche yâ— the nexte yere after a busshell of whete was solde for .xl. pens And in the same yere about yâ— last ende of Maye the king held his parliameÌ„t at Westminstre in whiche parliameÌ„t was spoken of the othe trewse yâ— was broken bytwene hyÌ„ the kynge of FrauÌ„ce how he myght best be auenged vpon his wronge In yâ— same yere on yâ— Assumpcyon of our lady dyed quene Philip of engloÌ„de a ful noble lady a good woman at westmynster worshipfully is buryed And about myd somer the duke of Lancastre the erle of Herford with a grete company of knightes weÌ„t in to FrauÌ„ce where they gate them but lytel worship for there was a grete hoost of the Frensshmen vpon Calkhull brydge an other hoost of englysshmen fast by yâ— same brydge yâ— longe tyme had lyued there many worthy grete men of the englysshmen ordeyned gaue couÌ„seyle for to fight and gyue batayle to the frensshmen but yâ— foresayd lordes wold not consent therto for no maner thynge ¶ Anone after it happed that the erle of warwik came thyderward for to warre And whan yâ— frensshmen herde of his coming or that he came fully to londe they left theyr tentes 〈◊〉 pauylyons with at theyr vitayles fled pryuely away And whaÌ„ the erle was comen to londe with his men he went in all haste toward Normandy destroyed yâ— I le of Caux with strengthe of swerde through fyre But alas iÌ„ his returnynge to Englond agayn at Calays he was taken with sekenes of pest 〈◊〉 dyed not leuyng behynde him after his dayes so noble a knyght of armes In whiche tyme regned warred the noble knyght syr Iohn Hawkewod yâ— was an englysshman borne hauynge with hym at his gouernaunce yâ— whyte coÌ„pany afore sayd the whiche one tyme agaynst holy chirche an other tyme agaynst lordes warred ordeyned grete batayles 〈◊〉 re in the same couÌ„tre he dyd many meruaylous thyÌ„ges ¶ And aboute y◠〈◊〉 syon of saynt Paule yâ— kyng whaÌ„â—e had ended done yâ— enterynge 〈…〉 grete costes rialtees about yâ— sepul 〈…〉 and buryenge of quene Philip his wyfe he helde a parliameÌ„t at westmynster in whiche parliameÌ„t was asked of y◠〈◊〉 a thre yeres dyme yâ— is to say a g 〈…〉 me to be payed .iii. yere duryng And the clergy put it of wolde not grauÌ„t it vnto Ester next comyng than they grauÌ„ted wel yâ— in .iii. yere by certayn termes that dyme sholde be payed also of yâ— lay 〈◊〉 was a .iii. yeres .xv. grauÌ„ted to yâ— kyng ¶ How syr Robert Knolles with other certayne lordes of the realme went ouer seâ— in to FrauÌ„ce of theyr gouernauÌ„ce ANd in the .xlv. yere of kyng Edward in yâ— begynnynge he wâ—â—h vnwyse couÌ„seyle vndiscrete borowed a grete some of golde of yâ— prelates lordes marchauÌ„tes other ryche men of his realme sayenge yâ— it shold be spent in defendyng of holy chirche of his realme Neuertheles it pfyted no thynge wherfore about mydsomer after he made a grete hoost of the worthiest men of his realme amonge whome were some lordes the is to saye the lorde Fitz water the lorde Graunson other worthy knyghtes of whiche knightes the kyng ordeyned syr Robert Knolles a proued knyght well assaied in dedes of armes for to be gouernour and that through his couÌ„seyle all thynge shold be gouerned dressed And whaÌ„ they came in to FrauÌ„ce as loÌ„ge as they dwelled helde them hole togyder the frensshmen durst not fall vpon them And at the last about the begyÌ„uynge of wynter for enuy couetyse that was amoÌ„ge them also discord they sondred them parted in to dyuers coÌ„panyes vnwysely folisshly But syr Robert Knolles his men went kepte them safe wtin a castel in Brytayn And whan the frensshmen sawe that our men were deuyded in to dyuers coÌ„panyes places not holdyng ne streÌ„gthyng them togider as they ought to do they fell fyersly on our men for the moost party toke them or slewe them those that they myght take led with them prysoners ¶ And in the same yere pope Vrban came fro Rome to Auinyon bycause that he shold accorde and make peas bytwene the kynge of FrauÌ„ce the kynge of Englonde for euermore But alas or he began his treatyse he dyed with sekenes the xxj day of December was buryed as for the tyme in the cathedral chirche of Auin yon fast by the hye awter And the nexte yere after whaÌ„ he had lyen so his bones were taken out of the erth buryed newe in the abbey of saynt Victory fast by Mar cile of the whiche abbey he was somtyme abbot hymself And in bothe places that he was buryed in there be many grete myracles done wrought through the grace of god to many a maÌ„nes helpe to the worshyp of almyghty god ¶ After whome folowed next was made pope Gregory cardynall deken that before was called Piers Roger. ¶ In this same yere the cite of Lymoge rebelled faught agaynst the pryuce as other cytees dyd in Guyen for grete taxes costages rauÌ„soms that they were put set to by pryÌ„ce Edward whiche charges were importable chargeable wherfore they turned fro hym fel to the kynge of FrauÌ„ce And whan prynce Edward sawe this he was sore chafed greued in turnyng homeward agayn in to Englonde with sore scarmysshes fyghtyng grete assautes fought with them toke the foresayd cite destroyed it almoost to the grouÌ„de slewe al that were fouÌ„de in the cite And thaÌ„ for to say the sothe for dyuers sekenes maladyes that he had also for defaute of money
and in his dayes was translated the body of saynt Benedicti with the body of saynt Scolastice his syster fro yâ— hyll of callyâ— to the monastery of 〈◊〉 nygh 〈…〉 relyan ¶ Constaneyneth fourth was emperour after his fader Constantyne the cursed man This CoÌ„stantyne was a good man he hated heretikes aboue all thynge the chirche he repayred and grace he reconsyled agayne to the chirche of Rome he with the pope gadred togyder the syxth generall sinody in yâ— whiche was grauÌ„ted to preestes of Grece to vse theyr lefull wyues to the preestes of the eest for cause of grete heet but not to those of the west party by no meanes for they amytted chastite in the tyme of saynt Gregory And euery man may aduertyse pondre how moche the goodnes of a prynce is worth to the quyete state of the chirche to the promocyon of the fayth And also the coÌ„trary how moche the malyce of a prynce hurteth the thyÌ„ge these two Constantynes the fader the sone shewed openly For in the faders days the chirche neuer had rest in the sones tyme it was quyete Yet neuerthelesse our lorde suffred the sarasyns the vulgars to entre in this emperours londe that he myght not withstande them but that he made his peas with them and payed yerely to them a truage so myghtely preuayled that cursed secte of Machomyte after he dyed blyssedly ¶ Nota. that there were syxe generall synodyes moost pryncypall of the whiche the auctorite is equall to the gospell for the treuth of the gospell is declared by them agaynst the syxe pryncypall heresyes the whiche strongly troubled the chirche for the subtylte of those heretykes to deceyue symple men ¶ Aboute this tyme dyed saynt Cedde of Lychfel 〈…〉 the thyrde yere of his bysshopryche ¶ Demus a Romayn was pope after Adeodatus thre yere of this man lytell is wryten ¶ Bonifacius was pope after hym lytell of hym is wryten but â—hat he lyued lyke a preest ¶ Agatho â—as pope after hym he was a very holy man For on a day whan he kyssed a lepre the lepre a none was made hole Iste et de consensu principis iussit celebrari sextaÌ„ synoduÌ„ apud CoÌ„stantinopoliÌ„ CC .lxxx. â—pÌ„oruÌ„ in qua assereâ— duas naturas et duas voluÌ„tates esse in Christo ¶ Leo the seconde was pope after Agatho .iij. yere This Leo was an holy maÌ„ suffycyently taught in latyn greke This man ordeyned that the pax shold be gyuen after Agnus dei and dyed a blyssed man ¶ Benedictus the seconde was pope after Leo almoost thre yere This man about all thynges was vertuous his name accorded with his dedes And in his tyme was a grete pestyleÌ„ce ¶ Iustinianus the seconde was emperour this tyme he was a very good man a prudent a large he encreased the empyre of Rome myghtely but he charged yâ— offyce of the chirche ouermoche Many lawes he made afterwarde he wexed not good for he entended to haue letted the decrees of the vj. sinody wherfore the .x. yere of his empyre he was takeÌ„ of Leo the prynce of Patricio Tyberio they cut of his nose his tongue exiled hyÌ„ to CrisonaÌ„ Than was a grete turbacyon in the chirche for stryfe heretykes And knowe all meÌ„ whaÌ„ variauÌ„ce falleth bytwene grete lordes than errours ben multiplied for there is no maÌ„ correcketh them therfore that is oft tyme preued in the chirche Than after fell a varyauÌ„ce bytwene Leo Tiberio Tiberio preuayled he exiled Leo cut of his nose the thyrde yere of his regne regned for hyÌ„ Iustinyan fled to the sarasyns the bulgars yâ— whiche restored hym agayne to his empyre slewe Leo Tyberio the whiche fauoured heretikes Than this same Iustinyan reformed hymselfe to the chirche of god had grete repentauÌ„ce but he venged hym to cruelly on his aduersaryes so that he wolde haue slayne theyr Innocent chyldren Therfore he was slayne with his sone of Phylyp whome he exiled ¶ Anno dnÌ„i vj C .lxxxiiij. IOhaÌ„nes the fyfth was pope after Benedictus one yere He was a good man but he decessed anone ¶ zeno was pope after hym he was a very holy man for he wold not meddle with seculer maters in beaute he was as an auÌ„gell quyete in vertues meke in soule very demure in language of his religyous lyfe This man was chosen at the last with one accorde of the chirche and lay men but there was a grete distinccyon for the clergy entended to haue chosen Pyers the archebisshop and the hoost of lay men wolde haue had TheodoruÌ„ a preest But at the last the holy ghoost turned the wyll of all this people vnto this holy man ¶ Sergiê° was pope .ix. yere This maÌ„ was vertuous coÌ„mendable in his lyfe in his eleccyon was a grete discord for one party of the clergy chose Theodorum an other party Pascalem But as our lorde wolde at the last they turned all to this man This man translated the body of saint Leo. He also fouÌ„de a grete parte of the holy crosse by myracle And he baptysed Cadwalidus the last kynge of Brytayn He coÌ„maunded Agnus dei to be sayd or songe thryse at masse decessed blyssedly ¶ Nota. ¶ Saynt Bede the worshypfull preest was this tyme a man of grete fame in Englonde yâ— whiche was taken the .vij. yere of his age to Benedict the abbot of Gyrwyensis monastery to be taught than after to Colfrido the abbot after the deth of Benedict And at .xix. yere of his age he was made deken of the bysshop of Yorke And at .xxx. yere he was made preest in the whiche yere he began to wryte So he contynued all the tyme of his lyfe in that monastery in gyuynge his labours to wrytyng for scripture to be expowned he made .lxxviij. bokes the whiche he nombreth in yâ— ende of his englysshe boke This man was euer in labour eyther in prayer or in syngynge dayly in the chirche or to lerne or to â—â—che or to wryte For the whiche thynge men may iudge by reason that he was neuer at Rome all though some saye he went to Rome that he myght se that his bokes accorded with the doctryne of the chirche But it was certayne that he was blynde went to preche had a seruauÌ„t that was not good made hyÌ„ to preche to a grete multytude of stones and sayd that they were men whan all his sermon was done the stones answered sayd amen But that he went to Rome thryse fouÌ„de wryten thre arres thre effes expowned them it was neuer fouÌ„de in no boke of auctorite There was after the talking of the people suche a wrytyng on the gates of Rome RRR FFF And suche an exposicyon Regna Rome Ru 〈…〉 Ferro FlaÌ„ma et Fame But it is certayne that Bede was desyred to
of gouernauÌ„ce toke husbaÌ„des as well strauÌ„gers as other lewde symple people yâ— whiche forgetynge theyr honour worshyp birth coupled maried them with them yâ— were of lowe degre lytell reputacyon ¶ In this same yere died Henry duke of Lancastre also in this yere Edwarde prynce of Wales wedded the couÌ„tesse of KeÌ„t yâ— was syr Thomas wyfe of Holand the whiche was departed somtyme de uorced fro yâ— erle of Salysbury for cause of yâ— fals knyght And about this tyme began rose a grete coÌ„pany of diuers na cyoÌ„s gadred togider whose leders were Englysshmen wtout ony heed yâ— whiche dyd moche harme in yâ— party of FrauÌ„ce And not longe after there arose an other coÌ„pany of dyuers nacions yâ— was called the whyte coÌ„pany yâ— which in yâ— partyes of Lombardy dyd moche sorowe ¶ The same yere syr Iohn of Gaunt the sone of king Edward yâ— thyrde was made duke of Lancastre by reason and cause of his wyfe that was the doughter heyre of Henry somtyme duke of Lancastre ¶ Of the grete wynde and how prynce Edwarde toke the lordshyp of Guyen of his fader and went thyder AAd in the .xxxvij. yere of kynge Edward the .xv. day of Ianyuer that is to saye on saynt Mauryce daye about euensongtyme there arose came suche a wynde out of yâ— south with suche a fyersnes strength that it brast blewe downe to yâ— grouÌ„de high houses stroÌ„ge buyldynges toures chirches steples other stronge places all other stroÌ„ge werkes yâ— stode styll were shaken therw t that they ben yet shall euermore be the febler weyker whyle they stande And this wynde lasted wtout ony â—â—ssyng vu dayes coÌ„tinually And anone after there folowed suche water in hey tyme in yâ— haruest tyme that al felde werkes were gretly letted left vndone ¶ And in the same yere prynce Edwarde toke yâ— lordshyp of Guyen dyd to kyng Edwarde his fader homage fraute therof weÌ„t ouer see in to Gascoyn with his wyfe chyldren ¶ And anone after kynge Edward made syr Leonell his sone duke of Clarence syr Edmonde his other sone erle of Cambrydge ¶ And in yâ— xxxviiâ— yere of his regne it was ordeyned in the parlyament that men of lawe bothe of yâ— chirche teÌ„porall lawe sholde fro yâ— tyme forth plete in theyr moder tongue And in yâ— same yere came in to Englonde thre kynges yâ— is to saye yâ— kyng of FrauÌ„ce yâ— kyng of Cypres yâ— kyng of Sectionde bycause to visyte to speke with the kynge of Englonde And after they had beÌ„ here loÌ„ge tyme two of them went home in to theyr owne couÌ„trees kyngdomes but the kyng of FrauÌ„ce through grete sekenes malady that he had abode styll in Englonde ¶ And in yâ— .xxxix. yere of his regne was a stronge grete frost that lasted loÌ„ge that is to saye fro sayâ—â— Andrewes tyde to the .xiiij. kal. of Apryll yâ— the tylthe sowynge of the erth other suche felde werke hande werkes were moche let lefte vndone for colde hardnes of yâ— erth And at Drray in Brytayn was ordeyned a grete deedly batayle bytwene syr Iohn of MouÌ„ford duke of Britayn syr Charles of Bloys but yâ— victory fell to the foresayd syr Iohn through helpe socour of yâ— englysshmen there were taken many knightes squyers other men yâ— were vnnombred in yâ— whiche batayle was slayne Charles hyÌ„selfe with all yâ— stode about hym of yâ— Englysshmen were slayne but .vii. ¶ And in this yere dyed at the Sauoy Iohn yâ— king of FrauÌ„ce whose seruyce and exequyes kynge Edwarde let ordeyn dyd in dyuers places worshypfully to be done at Douer ordeyned hym worthely to be ledde with his owne costes expences fro thens he was fet in to FrauÌ„ce buryed at saynt Denys ¶ In yâ— .xl. yere of king Edwarde the .vij. kal. of Feueryer was borne Edward prynce Edwardes sone the whiche whaÌ„ he was .vii. yere of age dyed And in the same yere it was ordeyned yâ— saint Peters pens fro yâ— tyme forth sholde not be payed yâ— whiche kyng yuo somtyme kyng of EngloÌ„de of yâ— couÌ„tre of westsaxons yâ— began to regne the yere of our lord god .vi. C .lxxix. fyrst grauÌ„ted to Rome for yâ— scole of Englonde there to be coÌ„tynued ¶ And in this same yere fel so moche rayne in hey tyme the it wasted destroyed bothe corne hey And there was suche debate and fyghtyng of sparowes by diuers places in these days yâ— men fouÌ„de innumerable deed in yâ— feldes as they went And there fell also suche a pestylence yâ— neuer was seen suche in no mannes dayes yâ— than lyued for men the went to bedde hole and souÌ„de sodeynly they dyed ¶ Also the tyme a sekenes that men call yâ— pockes slewe bothe men women through theyr enfectyng ¶ And in the .xli. yere of king Edward was borne at Burdeux Rychard the seconde sone of prynce Edward of Englonde yâ— whiche Rychard kynge Rycharde of Amorican heued at the fontstone after whome he was called Rychard And this same Rychard whan his fader was deed kyng Edward also he was crowned kyng of Englond the .xl. yere of his age through right lyne herytage also by yâ— comyn assent desyre of the comynalte of the realme ¶ Aboute this tyme at kyng Edwardes coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of EngloÌ„de whan all the castels townes were yelded to hym yâ— were holden in FrauÌ„ce by a grete coÌ„pany assembled togyder syr Bartram Claykyn a noble knyght a good warryour went purposed hyÌ„ to put Piers kynge of Spayne out of his kyngdome with helpe of yâ— moost party of yâ— foresaid grete coÌ„pany trustynge also vpon helpe and fauour of yâ— pope for as moche as it came to his ere yâ— the same Pyers sholde lede vse a synfull lyfe yâ— whiche Piers smytteÌ„ with drede of these tydynges fledde in to Gascoyn to prynce Edwarde for to haue socour of hym And whan he was fledde out of Spayne Henry his broder that was a bastard by assent of yâ— moost partye of Spayne through helpe of yâ— ferefull company yâ— I spake of fyrst was crowned king of Spayne the noÌ„bre of that same coÌ„pany was rekened and set at the nombre of .lx. M. fyghtynge men ¶ This same yere in yâ— moneth of Iune there came a grete company a nauy of Danes and gadred them togyder in the north see purposyng to come in to Englonde to reue robbe also to slee with whome they encouÌ„tred mette in yâ— see Maryners other good fyghtyng men of the couÌ„tre dysperpled them And they ashamed went home agayne in to theyr owne couÌ„tre but amonge all other there was a buistous vessel a stroÌ„ge of theyr nauy that was ouersayled by the Englysshmen was perysshed drowned in the whiche the stewarde other grete men of DeÌ„marke were takeÌ„
prisoners the king of EngloÌ„de his couÌ„seyle prisoned them the whiche lordes the Danes afterwarde came sought all about for to haue had them agayn with theyr goodes that they had lost they not well apâ—yed ne pleased of the answere that they had there returned home wardes agayn leuynge behynde them in theyr Innes pryuely wryten in scrowes and on walles Yet shal Danes waste yâ— wanes Than happed there an Englysshe wryter wrote agaynst the Dane in this maner Here shall Danes fette theyr banes ¶ This tyme Pyers kyng of Spayne with other kinges that is to saye the kyng of Nauerne the kyng of Malogâ—â— beynge meanes weÌ„t bytwene prayed couseyle helpe of syr Edward the prince through whose couÌ„seyle whaÌ„ he had vnderstande theyr artycles desyre that he was required of the kynges loth he was ashamed to saye nay coÌ„trary them but neuertheles he was agast lest it shold be ony preiudyce agaynst the pope longe tyme taryed them or that he wolde grauÌ„t or coÌ„sent therto tyll he had better couÌ„seyle auysemeÌ„t with good deliberacyoÌ„ of kynge Edward his fader But whan he was with euery dayes coÌ„tynuall besechyng of many noble men requyred and spokeÌ„ to with many prayers sent made bytwene them Than prynce Edwarde sent to his fader bothe by complaynyng lettres also by coÌ„fortable coÌ„teynyng all theyr suggestions causes with all the other kynges epystles lettres for to haue coÌ„fort helpe of the wronges not onely done to the kyng of Spayne but also for suche thynges as myght fall to other kynges Also yf it were not the sooner holpen ameÌ„ded through the dome helpe of knight hode to them that it asâ—ed desyred The whiche lettre whaÌ„ the kyng his couÌ„seyle had seen suche a kynges spoylyng robbyng with moche meruayle sent agayne coÌ„fortable lettres to prynce Edward his sone to the other foresayd kynges warned them to arme ordeyne theÌ„ agaynst that mysdoer to â—â—stande them by the helpe of god that were suche enemyes to kynges Whan this noble prynce had receyued these lettres hyÌ„selfe with the other kynges before sayd all theyr couÌ„seyle called togider or that he wold vndertake the quarel he bâ—side knytte fore the kyng that was deposed with a grete o the that is to saye that he shold euer after maynteyn the ryght byleue fayth of holy chirche with all theyr mynystres ryghtes lybertees to defende froÌ„ all theyr enemyes all euyls al that were there agaynst bytterly to punysshe destrouble all the ryghtes libertees preuyleges of holy chirche encreace maynteyn amende all thynges that be wrongfully taken 〈…〉 borne away by hym or by other bycause of hym hastely to restore agayn to dryue put out sâ—â—â—syns all other 〈◊〉 people out of his kyngdom with al his streÌ„gth power suffre 〈◊〉 admytte none suche for no maner thyÌ„ge ne cause to dwel therin â–ª â—nd that whan he had takeÌ„ a chrisâ—â— womaÌ„ he shold neuer come in to none other womans beddâ— ne none other mannes wyfe to defoule All these foresayd thynges truly to kepe coÌ„tynue fulfyll as all his lyftyme he was bouÌ„de by othe afore 〈◊〉 in presâ—nce wytnes of those kynges with other dryâ—eâ—s And than that gracyous prince Edwarde vndertoke the cause the quarel of the kyng that was deposed behyght hym with the grace of almighty god to restore hym agayn to his kyngdome let ordeyn gadre togyder forthw t in all haste his nauy with men of armes for to warre fyght in his foresaid cause ¶ And in this tyme vpon sand of the scottes see that many a man it sawe thre dayes togyder there were seen two Egles of the whiche yâ— one came out of yâ— south yâ— other out of yâ— north cruelly strongly they fought wrastled togyder the south Egle fyrst ouercame the north Egle al to rent hym with his byll his clawes that he shold not rest ne take no breth And after the south Egle slewe home to his own costes And anone after there folowed was seen on the morowe afore yâ— sonne rysyng after in yâ— last day of October saue one daye many sterres gadred togyder on a 〈…〉 epe fell down to yâ— erth leuynge behynde them fyry bemes in maner of lightnynge whose flambes brent coÌ„sumed mennes clothes mennes heere walkyng on yâ— erth as it was seen knowen of many a maÌ„ And yet yâ— northeren wynde yâ— is euer redy destynate to all yll fro saynt Katherynes euen tyll .iij. dayes after lost grete good wtout noÌ„bre vnrecouerable And i yâ— same days there fell came also suche lyghtnynge thonder snowe hayle that it wasted destroyed men beestes houses trees ¶ Of the batayle of Spayne besyde the water of Nazers the was bytwene prince Edward syr Henry bastard of spayne IN the yere of our lord a. M. CCC lxvij of kynge Edward .xlij. the thyrde day of Apryll there was a stroÌ„ge batayle a grete in a large felde called Priazers fast by the water of Nazers in Spayne bytwene syr Edward yâ— prynce syr Henry of Spayne but the vyctory fell to prynce Edward by yâ— grate of god And this same prynce Edwarde had with hym syr Iohn duke of LaÌ„castre his broder and other worthy men of armes about the nombre of .xxx. M. And yâ— kyng of Spayne had on his syde men of dyuers nacyons to yâ— nombre of an hondred thousande moo wherfore the sharpenes and fyersnes of his aduersary with his full buystous grete strength made and droue the ryghtfull party abacke a grete waye but through yâ— grace of god almyghty passyng ony manes strength that grete hoost was disparpled myght fully by yâ— noble duke of Lancastre his boost or that prince Edward came nygh hym And whan Henry bastarde sawe that he turned with his men in so grete haste strength to flee that a grete company of them in the foresayd flode and of the brydge therof fell downe and perysshed And also there were taken the erle of Dene and syr Bartram Cleykyn that was chefe maker causer of the warre and also cheftayne of the vauntward of the batayle with many other grete lordes and knyghtes to the nombre of two thousande of whome two hondred were of FrauÌ„ce many also of ScotloÌ„de And there were felled in the felde on our enemyes syde of lordes and knyghtes with other people to the nombre of vi M. and moo and of Englysshe men but a fewe And after this yâ— noble prynce Edwarde restored yâ— same Pyers to his kyngdom agayne the whiche Pyers afterwarde through trechery falsnes of yâ— foresayd bastard of spayne as he sate at his meet he was strangled dyed But after this vyctory many noble and hardy men of Englonde in Spayne through the fluxe
that he myght not withstande ne tary on his enemyes he hyed hym agayn in to EngloÌ„de with his wyfe meyny leuyng behynde hym in Gascoyn the duke of Lancastre syr EdmoÌ„d erle of Cambridge with other worthy and noble men of armes ¶ In the .xlvj. yere of kyng Edward at the ordinauÌ„ce sendyng of kynge Edward the kyng of Nauerne came to hym to Claringdon to treate with hym of certayne thynges touthynge his warre in Normandy where kyng Edward had lefte certayn lyeges in his stedetyl he came agayn But king Edward might not spede of that that he asked hym And so the kynge of Nauerne with grete worshyp grete gyftes toke his leue went home agayn ¶ And about the begynnynge of Marche whan the parliameÌ„t at Westmynster was begon theÌ„ kynge asked of the clergy a subsydy of .l. M. pouÌ„de the whiche by a good auysement by a generall conuocacyon of the clergy it was grauÌ„ted ordeyned that it shold be payed reysed of the lay fee. And in this parlyament at the request askynge of the lordes in hatred of men of holy chirche the chaunceler the tresourer that were bysshops the clerke of the preuy seale were remeued and put out of theyr offyce in theyr stede were seculer men put in And whyle this parlyament lasted there came solempne embassatours fro the pope to treate with the kynge of peas sayd that the pope desyred to fulfyll his predecessours wyll but for all theyr comynge they spedde not ¶ Of the besyegynge of Rochell how the erle of Penbroke his coÌ„pany was there taken in the hauen with Spanyardes and all his shyppes brent â—He .ix. daye of Iune kynge Edward in the .xlvij. yere of his regne helde his parlyameÌ„t at Wynchestre it lasted but .viij. dayes to whiche parlyament were sompned by wryte of men of holy chirche .iiij. bysshops .iiij. abbots wtout ony moo This parlyament was holden for marchauÌ„tes of LondoÌ„ of Nor wyche and of other dyuers places in dyuers thyÌ„ges poyntes of treason that they were defamed of that is to saye that they were rebell wold aryse agaynst the kyng ¶ This same yere the duke of LaÌ„castre the erle of Cambrydge his broder came out of Gascoyne in to Englonde toke wedded to theyr wyues Peters doughters somtyme kyng of Spayne of whiche two doughters the duke had that elder the erle the yonger And that same time there were sent two cardynals fro the pope that is to saye an Englysshe cardinall a cardynall of Parys to treate of peas bytwene these two realmes whiche whan they had ben bothe loÌ„ge eche in his ê“uynce couÌ„trees fast by tretynge of the foresayd peas at yâ— last they toke with them the lettres of procuracy went agayne to Rome wtout ony effect of theyr purpose In this yere there was a stroÌ„ge batayle on the see bytwene Englysshmen Flemynges the Englisshmen had the victory toke xxv shyppes with salte sâ—eynge drownyng all the men that were therin vnwyting them that they were of the countree moche harme sholde haue fallen therof had not peas accorde soone be made bytwene them ¶ This yere the frensshmen besyeged the towne of Rochell wherfore the erle of Penbroke was sent in to Gascoyn with a grete coÌ„pany of men of armes for to destroye yÌ„ syege which passed the see came safe to the hauen of Rochell whan they were there at the hauens mouth or that they myght entre sodeynly came vpon them a stronge nauy of Spanyerdes whiche ouercame the Englysshmen in moche blemysshynge hurtyng sleynge of many people for as moche as the Englysshmen were not than redy for to fyght ne warned of theÌ„ And as the Spanyerdes came vpon them all the Englysshmen eyther they were takeÌ„ or slayne and. r. of them were sore wouÌ„ded to the dothâ— al theâ—r shyppes brent there they toke the erle with a grete tresour of the realme of Eng 〈…〉 many other noble men also on my 〈…〉 mer euen the whiche is saâ—t Etheldredes day ledde them with them in to Spaynâ— And of this myschefe was no grete w 〈…〉 der for this erle was a full 〈◊〉 lâ—uer as an open lechour And also in a certaâ—â—e parlyament he stode was agaynst the ryghtes frauÌ„chyses of holy chirche also he couÌ„seyled the kynge his co 〈…〉 that they shold aske more of men of holy chirche than other ê‘sones of the lay fee. And for the kynge and other men of his counseyle accepted and toke rather euyll opynyons causes agaynst men of holy chirche than he dyd for to defende and maynteyne the ryght of holy chirche â—t was after seen many tymes for lacke of fortune and grace they had not so grete victory ne power against theyr enemyes as they dyd before ¶ This same yere the kyng with a grete hoost entred the see to remeue the syege of Rochell but the wynde was euer contrary to hym suffred hyÌ„ not longe tyme to go ferre fro the londe wherfore he abode a certayn tyme vpon the see costes abyding after a good wynde yet came it not So at the last he came thens with his men to lonoward agayn anone as he was on loÌ„de the wyÌ„de turned was in an other coste thaÌ„ it was afore ¶ How the duke of Lancastre with a grete hoost wente in to Flaundres passed by Parys through Burgoyn and through all FrauÌ„ce tyll he came to Burdeux SOone after in the .xlviij. yere of the regne of kyng Edward the duke of Lancastre with a grete power went in to FlauÌ„dres and passed by Parys through Burgoyn through all Fraunce tyll he came to Burdeux wtout ony maner with standyng of the frensshmen he did them but lytel harme saue he toke rauÌ„soned many places townes many men after let them go frely ¶ The same yere the kyng sent certayne embassatours to the pope prayenge hym that he shold leue of not medle in his courte of the kepynges reseruacyons of benefyces in EngloÌ„de that those that were chosen to bysshops sees dignitees frely with full myght ioye haue be confermed to the same of theyr metropolytans archebisshops as they were wont to be of olde tyme. Of these poyntes of other touchyng the kyÌ„g his realme whaÌ„ they had theyr answere of the pope the pope enioyned them that they shold certyfy hym agayn by theyr lettre of the kynges wyll of his realme or they determyned ought of the foresayd articles ¶ In this same yere dyed Iohn the archebysshop of Yorke Iohn bysshop of Ely William bysshop of worcestre in whose stedes folowed were made bysshops by auctorite of the pope mayster Alexander Neuyll to the archebysshopryche of Yorke Thomas of Arundell to the bysshopryche of Ely syr Henry wakefelde to the bysshopryche of worcestre In the whiche tyme
also it is spoken of many tymes iÌ„ scripture ¶ Noblenes or gentylmen began about this sayd tyme And this noblenes or gentylmen was ordeyned for many causes ¶ The fyrst cause was necessite for whaÌ„ mankynde grewe sore men were prompte redy to do hurt domage to other it was very necessary to wtstande the grete malyce of the cursed and wycked people agaynst good ryghtwyse men Therof a man is called gentylman or a noble man as before other in vertues notable wherof saynt Ierom sayth I se nothynge els in noblenes or in gentylmen but that they are bouÌ„den in a certayne necessite that they shall not recede fro the vertue the gen tylnes of theyr noble auÌ„cetours ¶ The seconde was the dyuers worshyppyng of the people for no man worshypped thaÌ„ but as his naturall reason gaue they knewe not veryly what they shold worship for they were so dull of wytte that they coude pondre no grete thynge but that was publysshed by the comyn people Wherfore it was expedieÌ„t for theyr peace to be kepte that they sholde haue prynces of noble byrthe ¶ The thyrde cause ê“cedeth of some singuler strength Many tymes the comynaltees were greued through ennemyes comynge vpon them than they sayd that who someuer woÌ„lde defende them fro those perylles he sholde haue the right of noblenes for hyÌ„m for his heyres for euermore And in this maner of wyse many are redde to be noble men ¶ The fourth cause of noblenes was haboundauÌ„ce of goodes Somtyme the people were holden with grete penury of meet drynke than they toke them theyrs to some ryche man that through that couenauÌ„t they sholde tempre the grete straytnes of theyr honger after that they sholde knowe hym as theyr lorde a noble man Also there be fouÌ„de certayn noble men by the ê“uysyon of god though they were but fewe of that whiche som abode iÌ„ vertue as Dauyd some fayled anone as Saul and Ieroboam And it is redde that many were noble men by tyraÌ„ny of that whiche some were destroyed anone some abode in stablenes as paynyms myght ¶ Anno mundi .ij. M .ix. C .v. Et ante Christi natiuitateÌ„ .ij. M. ij C lxxxxiiij Sâ—ruch lynially descended froÌ„ our fore fader Adam to AbrahaÌ„ And Nachor was his sone he lyued an C. and .xlviij. yere And aboute this tyme ydolatry began myghtely And yf ye re uolue loke the hystoryes ye shall fynde that thre thynges princypally brought men to ydolatry that is to wytâ— the affeccyon that they had to deed men Drede and flaterynge anenst theyr prynces And the dylygence of crafty men about sculptures or grauynges Wycked spirytes than entred in to ydolles and gaue answeres vnto the people and these wycked spirytes confermed the errour of the people myghtely In soo moche that who someuer wolde not conferme hym to theyr reason he sholde greuously suffre the payne of dethe Also there was added and put to these thynges the deceyuynge laude and praysynge of poetes the whiche wretches and dampned men in to heuen with theyr gaye wrytynges exalted And that same tyme whan deuylles began to speke soo fayrly and so mekely to man the good lorde of his grete mercy sente his aungelles that they sholde speke vnto his electe men in vysyble maner leâ—st that all mankynde shold perysshe with that myscheuous erroure ¶ Belus sone to Nemroth this tyme was kynge of Babylon he was the fyrst kynge of this worlde And this man was he whome the erroure of the people fyrste byleued sholde be a god Wherfore dyuerse people named hym dyuersly and some called hym Bell some Baall some Baalun some Beelphagor and some Beelsabub And this vnhappy errour stode in mankynde more than two thousande yere ¶ Ninus sone to Belus the seconde kynge of Babylon or of Assuriorum regned .liiij. yere And this Ninus desyred to haue lordshyp worshyp and to that entent that he myght be lorde of all the couÌ„tree aboute hym he gaue batayle to all that dwelled nye aboute hyÌ„ And bycause that tyme the people were rude and had not the coÌ„nynge of fyghtyng nor armure anone he subdued vnto hym all Asâ—am And there was made the fyrst Monarchye in the eest part ye And whaÌ„ his herte was sory for the deth of his fader Belus he made to be made to hym for his coÌ„forte an ymage of his fader vnto whome he gaue so myghty reuerence that what someuer gylty man had fledde to that ymage there sholde no man do hym no hurte he pardoned him of al his trespace And through his ensample many a man began to worshyp the deed ymage of theyr dere frendes Than these malycyous spirytes seynge the curiosite of the people hydde them within them and gaue answeres vnto the people sayd they were goddes And coÌ„maunded them to do reuerence to them as vnto goddes Thus that vn happy synne of ydolatry was brought in the whiche repugned myghtely to goddes mageste And in so moche this madnes grewe that he shold suffre the payne of deth that sayd they were men but goddes ¶ Anno mundi .iij. M C .xiiij. Et ante Christi natiuitatem .ij. M .lxxxv. â—Hare sone to Nachor liued ij C. and .v. yere This Thare after the deth of Aram went froÌ„ Vr of Calde and passed in to Charram with his chyldren his neuewes And it is sayd bycause he wolde not worshyp the fyre as Nemroth had taught he was banysshed the couÌ„tree And the comyn opynyon of the Hebrewes is Nemroth regned there the whiche was called an other name Amraphel the kyng of Sennaar whome loÌ„ge tyme after this Abraham ouercame Vt diciâ— Genesis .xiiij. ¶ Anno muÌ„di .iij. M C .lxxxiiij. Et aute Christi natiuitatem .ij. M .xv. ¶ Here begynnth the thyrde age of the Worlde durynge to Dauyd Abraham THe deuoute holy story begynneth here of holy partyarkes that whiche worshipped the very god and in theyr worshyppyng they taught it Vide pl’a plura gen .xij. 〈◊〉 ad fineÌ„ This Abraham a faythfull louer of god was borne the .xliij. yere of Ninus kynge of Babilon And knowe ye that the .lxxxv. yere of Abraham by goddes goodnes the worde of mercy desceÌ„ded on mankynde for than began to appere the oraculus of the promesse of god Vide aug .xxj. de 〈…〉 IteÌ„ ge .xv. For this tyme appered to vs holy aungels in fourme of mankynde Aram Nachor were Abrahams bretherne Aram gate Loth a rightwyse man an holy And he deserued to be vâ—sited with aungels as his vncle Abraham was And for this Loth IbrahaÌ„ smoâ—e iiij kyÌ„ges for they toke Loth. Genesis xiiij Of whom one was sayd to be Nâ—roth but here he is called Amraphel ¶ This AbrahaÌ„ had many wyues as Sara and Agar And his chyldren and his bretherne had many chyldren But for vs the wryte cronyâ—ies 〈◊〉 is not necessary to speke of all men but of the noble faders Sed
begynnynge vnto the ende Cordeil the quene anone toke gold syluer plente toke it to the squyer in couÌ„seyle that he sholde go in to a certayne cite and hym araye wasshe than come agayn to her and brynge with him an honest company of knyghtes .xl. at the leest with theyr meyny and than he sholde sende to her lorde the kynge feyne that he were comen for to se speke with his doughter hyÌ„ And so he dyd And whan the kynge and the quene herde that they came with moche honour they hym receyued And the kynge of frauÌ„ce than let sende through all his realme coÌ„mauÌ„ded that all men sholde be as entendauÌ„t to kynge Leyr yâ— quenes fader in all maner of thinges as it were vnto hymselfe WhaÌ„ kyng Leyr had dwelled there a moneth more he tolde to yâ— kynge to yâ— quene his doughter how his two eldest doughters had serued hym Agampe anone let ordeyne a grete host of frenshmen sent in to Britayne with Leyr yâ— quenes fader for to conquere his kyngdome agayne And Cordeil also came with her fader in to Britayn for to haue the realme after her faders deth And anone they went to shyppe passed the see came in to Brytayne fought with the felons discoÌ„fited them slewe than had he his londe agayn after lyued thre yere helde his realme in peas afterward dyed And Cordeil his doughter him let bury with moche honour at Leycestre ¶ Anno muÌ„di .iiij. M. iij C .xlix. Et ante Christi natiuitatem viij C .liij. AMasias sone to Ioam regned on the Iewes .xxix. yere after yâ— whiche yâ— kyngdom of iewes was wtout kyng .xiij. yere This man worshypped the goddes of Seyr Vt pêª patet .ij. para .xxv. ¶ Ieroboam sone to Ioam regned on Israel .xlj. yere yâ— whiche was manly vyctoryous for he ouercame the kynge of Sirie restored Israel Damaske after the worde of Iono yâ— prophete but he was not good Therfore sayth saynt Austyn Yf good men regne they ê“fyte many men And yf yll men regne they hurte many men ¶ Anno muÌ„di .iiij. M. iij C .lxxxviij. Et ante Christi natiuitatem .viii. C. xj Ozias or Azarias sone to Amasias regned on the Iewry .lij. yere the whiche lyued well afore our lorde of hyÌ„ is none euyll thyÌ„ge wryten but that he vsurped the dignite of preesthode vnder Azari the whiche he forbade hym For the whiche cause our lorde stroke hym with a lepre Vt patet .ij. para ¶ Ozee bysshop prophete was this tyme the fyrst of the .xij. that was sent agaynst yâ— xij trybes Iohel the seconde of the .xij. prophecyed of Iuda Ananias yâ— thyrde prophecyed agaynst many people Abdias the fourth of the .xij. prophecyed agaynst Edom. ¶ zacharias sone to Ieroboam regned in Israel .vj. monethes the whiche began to regne the .xxxviij. yere of Ozias was nought in his lyuynge as his predecessours were And zellum slewe hym regned a moneth And Manahen slewe hym and toke his kyngdome Vt pêª patet .iiij. reguÌ„ This Manahen regned .x. yere the whiche began to regne yâ— .xxxix. yere of Osias he ruled hym mischeuously our lord betoke hym in yâ— power of yâ— kyng of AssurioruÌ„ and he payed to hym a. M. talentes of syluer Vt pêª patet .iiij. reguÌ„ ¶ Phaseia sone to Manahen regned in Israel two yere and he began to regne the .l. yere of Ozias and he was nought in his lyuyng ¶ Phasee slewe Phaseia regned .xx. yere he began to regne the .lij. yere of Ozias dyd as other cursed men dyd Vide pl’a plura iiij reguÌ„ And after this Israel was wtouten ony kyng .viij. yere ¶ How Morgan Conedag neuewes to Cordeil warred on her put her to deth WHan that kyng Leyr was deed Cordeill his yongest doughter regned yâ— .x. yere of Ozias kyng of the Iewry And after her regned Conedag the .xv. yere of Ozias And Cordeill that was Leyrs yongest doughter after the deth of her fader had al yâ— londe fyue yere in the meane tyme dyed her lorde Agampe yâ— was kyng of fraunce And after his deth there came Morgan Conedag that were Cordeyls systers sones to her had enemite for as moche as theyr aunt had yâ— londe so yâ— bytwene them they ordeyned a grete power and strongly warred on her neuer rested tyll they had taken her put her to deth And than Morgan Conedag seased al the londe departed it bytwene them they held it .xij. yere whan yâ— .xij. yere were gone there began bytwene them a grete debate so yâ— they warred strongly togyder dyd to eche other moche dysease for Morgan wold haue all yâ— londe fro beyonde Humber yâ— Conedag helde But he came agaynst hym with a stronge power so yâ— Morgan durst not abyde but fledde away in to Wales and Conedag pursued hym toke hym slewe hym And than Conedag came seased al the londe in to his handes helde it regned after .xxxiij. yere than he dyed lyeth at newe Troy ¶ And bycause yâ— mater coÌ„teyneth most coÌ„modiously togyder of yâ— kynges of Britayn now called Englonde for yâ— tyme of them is not certaynly knowen what tyme of yâ— worlde these kynges folowynge regned therfore they shall be togyder tyll it be comen vnto Euentolyn kyng of Brytayne now called Englonde ¶ How Reynolde that was Conedags sone regned after his fader and in his tyme it rayned blode thre dayes in tokenynge of grete deth AFter this Conedag regned Reynold his sone yâ— was a wyse an hardy knyght curteys yâ— well nobly ruled yâ— londe was well beloued of all folke And in his tyme it rayned blode yâ— lasted thre dayes as god wolde soone after there came a grete deth of people for hoostes wtout noÌ„bre of people fought tyll yâ— god therof toke pite than it cesed And this Reynolde regned .xxij. yere than dyed lyeth at Yorke ¶ How Gorbodian regned in peas that was Reynoldes sone AFter this Reynolde regned Gorbodian his sone .xv. yere than dyed and lyeth at Yorke ¶ How Gorbodian had .ij. sones how the one slewe yâ— other for to haue yâ— londe how ydoyne theyr moder slew yâ— other wherfore the londe was destroyed WHan this Gorbodian was deed his two sones yâ— he had became stoute proude euer warred togyder for the londe yâ— one was called Ferres yâ— other Porres And this Ferres wolde haue all yâ— londe but that other wold not suffre hym This Ferres had a felonous hert thought through treason to slee his broder but pryuely he wente in to frauÌ„ce there abode with the kynge Syward tyll vpon a tyme whan he came agayn to fyght with his broder Ferres but full euyl it happed him for he was slayne fyrst Whan ydoyne theyr moder
no longer was bouÌ„den traÌ„slated in to Babylon many with hym were translated Vt pêª patet .iiij. reguÌ„ .xxiiij. ¶ Danyell Ananias Azarias Misaell Ezechiell and Mardochius all these with Ioachim the kyng were ledde in to Babylon yonge chyldren for bycause they were of the noble blode ¶ Anno mundi .iiij. M. vj C. Et ante Christi natiuitatem vj C. ¶ Here begynneth the fyth age of the Worlde durynge to the natiuite of Chryst Transmigratio SEdechias the thyrde sone of Iosie regned on the Iewes .xj. yere this Sedechias was a myscheuous man in his lyuynge he wolde not here Ieremy the prophete therfore he perysshed wretchedly all the Iury with hym his eyen were put out his chyldren were slayne Vt pêª patet .iiij. reg ¶ Iosedech the sone of Azarie was bysshop was traÌ„stated fro Ierusalem by Nabugodonosor in to Babylon ¶ Abacuk ê“phecyed agaynst Nabuch at BabyloÌ„ there be opinyoÌ„s what tyme this Abacuk was This Abacuk brought meet to Daniel whaÌ„ he was put to the lyons after Ierome And here endeth the fourth age the hystory of Regum THis tyme the teÌ„ple of Salomon was brent of the Caldees Ierusalem was destroyed This teÌ„ple stode cccc .xlij. yere that is to wyte fro the fyrst makynge the whiche was made the fourth yere of Salomon And fro the destruccyon the whiche was made by Tytê° that is to wyte .xlij. yere after the passyoÌ„ of Chryst ¶ Priscus Torquinus the .v. kynge of Rome regned and he made CapitolliuÌ„ quasi caput soluÌ„ For in the grouÌ„de werke was fouÌ„de a heed without ony body as for prophecye of thynges to come For there afterwarde the senatours sate as one heed of all the world ¶ This tyme thre chyldren were cast in to a furneys brennynge with a myracle they were delyuered as it is shewed in Daniel ◠¶ Nabugodonosor the sone of Nabugodonosor the myghty regned in Babylon This man made an hangynge gardyn with myghty costes for his wyfe many meruaylous thynges he dyd so that he wolde be named to excede Hercules in his gretnes strengthe ¶ Enilmelrodach broder vnto the latter Nabugodonosor regned in Babylon This man toke Ioachym out of pryson worshipped hym his faders deed body after the counseyle of this man he deuyded to an hondred grypes lest that he sholde ryse froÌ„ deth to lyfe ¶ Nota. The playe of the chesse was foude of â—erse a philosopher for the correccyon of Enilmerodach this tyme the kyng of Babylon a grete tyrauÌ„t the whiche was wont to kyll his owne maysters wyse men And for he durst not rebuke hyÌ„ openly with suche a wytty game he procured hym to be meke ¶ Anno mundi .iiij. M. vj C .xxxiiij. Et ante Christi natiuitatem .v. C .lxv. SAthiel of the lyne of Chryst was sone to Iecony the kyng of Iewes the whiche he gate after the transmygracyon of Babylon as Marke the euaÌ„gelyst sayth ¶ Seruius Tuliê° the .vj. kynge of Rome was of a bonde condycyon on the moders syde for she was a captyue mayden but she was of the noble blode This man had grete louynge nobly he bare hym in euery place Thre hylles to the cite he put dyched the walles rouÌ„de about ¶ Regusar Sabusardach Balthasar were bretherne the whiche regned one after an other were kynges in Babylon And Balthasar was the last kyng of Babylon the whiche was slayne of Darius Cyrus Vide pl’a plura Dani .v. ¶ Incipit Monarchia Persarum DArius vnkle to Cyro felowe in the kyngdom with Cyro occupyed the kyngdom of Babilon Darius traÌ„slated the kyngdom of Babylons Caldees in to the kyngdom of PersaruÌ„ MedoruÌ„ ¶ Cyrê° was emperour .xxx. yere This Cyrus held the monarchy hole at Perses Of this man ê“phecyed ysaias he destroyed BabyloÌ„ flewe Balthasar king of Babylon he worshipped gretly Daniel The Iewes he sente home agayne that they shold buylde the temple of god Vt pêª patet Esore .j. ¶ Babylon the stronge castell was destroyed his power was taken fro him as it was ê“phâ—â—ped This was the fyrst cite and the gretest of all the worlde of that whiche incredyble thinges are wryteÌ„ this that was so stroÌ„ge in one nyght was destroyed that it myght be shewed to the power of god to that whiche power all other ben but a sperke dust For it is sayd for soth that it was incredible to be made with maÌ„nes hande or to be destroyed with maÌ„nes strength wherof all the worlde myght take an ensample and it wolde or myght be enformed ¶ Tarquinus suê‘bus was the .vij. kyng of Rome he regned xxxv yere This man fouÌ„de fyrst all these turmentes whiche are ordeined for malefactours as erâ—e pâ—son welles galowes fetters manyâ—â—es chaynes collers suche other And for his grete pryde cruelnesse god suffred hyÌ„ to myscheue in what maner wyse it shal be shewed He had a sone of the same name that whiche sone defouled a worthy maÌ„nes wyfe they called hyÌ„ Coâ—â—aryn his wyf was called Lucres This Tarquinus that was this seueÌ„th kynges sone aforesayd came to this ladyes hous absent her husboÌ„de to souê‘ to lodgynge And whan all were a slepe he rose with a swerde in his haÌ„de with strength â—â—re he rauisshed the womaÌ„ And whaÌ„ he was gone she sente vnto her fader her husboÌ„de for she was of grete kynne thus she sayd to them The kinges sone came hyther as a frende of whome I had no mistrust thus he hath defyled my â—hastite lost my name for euermore WhaÌ„ her frendes sawe her wepe pyteously complayne they coÌ„forted her as well as they coude sayd it was no vylany vnto her for it was agaynst her wyl She answered sayd Yet shall there neuer womaÌ„ excuse herby Lucres for though she coÌ„sented not to this dede yet shal she not dye wtout payn for that dede And with that worde she had a knyfe redy vnder her mantell with whiche she smote her selfe to the hert And for this cruelnes this pyteous dethe the people of Rome arose exiled this kyng all his ê“geny for euermore And thus ceased these kynges of Rome neuer was none after ¶ Of the gouernauÌ„ce of Rome tyll the Emperours began AFter whaÌ„ this tyrauÌ„t was deed the Romayns ordeyned that there shold neuer be kyng more in Rome But they wolde be gouerned fro thens forth by consules So whaÌ„ those kynges had regned CC. yere and .xl. they made this statute that two consules sholde be chosen they sholde gouerne the Cite the people for this cause these two were chosen that yf one of them wolde make ony excesse that other sholde gouerne hym For there was no thynge obeyed but yf they coÌ„sented bothe Also they shold not stande in theyr dignite passyng one yere for this cause That for dominacyon of longe tyme they sholde not vsurpe
in scripture ¶ Elyasib or Elysaphat succeded Ioachym in the bysshopryche Vt dicit Eusebiê° et magrÌ„ histo ¶ Camillus was Dictator at Rome in whose dayes mischeuous playes were ordeyned that the pestylence shold cese at Rome Of these playes saynt Austyn treateth diligently in repreuyng the falshede of the goddes the whiche desyred to be pleased with suche wretched playes So shamefully these playes were vsed with naked men women that honest men and women wolde not be at those playes ne yet behold them Vide pâ—a in Aug. de ci dei ¶ Darius notus regned on the Perses .xix. yere ¶ Plato the diuyne philosopher Aristotel his discyple were this tyme noble famous clerkes ¶ Tytus quintius was Dictator at Rome and he was a couetous man whome Austyn de ciui dei bryngeth in agaynst couetous proude chrysteÌ„ men ¶ â—â—yus was a senatour under whom was agrete batayle agaynst the kyng of â—usâ—orum and viij M. meÌ„ of them were taken ¶ Marcê° Valeriê° was an other senatour the whiche with .lx. M. Romayns fought with the frenshmen had the victory slewe many of them ¶ Artharerses kynge of Perses called agayn to his empyre Egypte he put Nâ—â—tâ—â—abo the kyng in to Ethiopia many Iewes in to transmygracyon Also he sent Vagosum a prynce ouer Flum Iordan to aske agayne the tribute that was forgyuen to Esdre that was the .vij. yere rent propter sabbaÌ„ terre ¶ Arsamus succeded hym and regned a yere ¶ Darius the sone of Arsamus regned with yâ— Perses .xxiiij. yere This Darius was a myghty maÌ„ a bolde the whiche asked of the Grekes a trybute that was the cause of the destruccyon of the monarchy of PersaruÌ„ For it was translated to the Grekes after the prophecy of Danyel For it is sayd that Dariê° brought .xv. hondred thousande fyghtyng men whome all Alexander slewe ¶ Iodas the sone of Elysaphat was hye bysshop in Ierusalem in tyme of Matdachij IohaÌ„nes his sone succeded hyÌ„ ¶ Aristoteles the moost subtyll famous philosopher lyued this tyme. ¶ Senocrate the moost chaste philosopher was this tyme with dyuers other moo ¶ Bycause the kynges of Britayne nexte after lyued in peas moost parte lytell of them is wryten therfore they shal be set togyder tyll it be comen to Cassybalon kyng of Brytayne the whiche was broder to Lud. ANd whaÌ„ Cormbatrê° was deed Guent holen regned which was his sone a man of good condicyons and well beloued and he gouerned the londe well wysely and he regned .xxvj. yere and after dyed lyeth at newe Troy ¶ How kyng Seysell regned and well gouerned the londe after Guentholen AFter this GueÌ„tholen regned his sone Seysell well worthely 〈◊〉 gouerned the londe as his â—ader had done before hym he regned .xv. yere dyed and lyeth at newe Troy ¶ How â—ymor regned after Seysell his fader and he begate How an that regned in peas after his fader Bymor regned after his fader Seisell well nobly .xix. yere in peas And than after hym regned How an his sone .x. yere dyed lieth at Ikaldown ¶ How kynge Morwith dyed through myschau 〈…〉 of a beest MOrwith regned after Howan he became so wycked that vengeauÌ„ce fell on hym For ou a tyme as he went by the see syde he mette with a grete beest that was black horrible he wend it had ben a whale of yâ— see bent an arblast wolde haue slayne yâ— beest with his quarell but he myght not smyte hym whaÌ„ he had shot all his quarels yâ— beest anone came to him deuoured hyÌ„ alyue so he dyed for his wyckednes by gods vengeauÌ„ce after he had regned .ix. yere ¶ Of Grandobodyan that was sone to Morwith that made Cambrydge WHan this Morwith was deed yâ— brytons crowued Grâ—dobodian his sone this Grandobodian longe tymed regued in goodnes made temples townes he made yâ— town of Cambrydge the town of GrauÌ„tham was well beloned of ryche poore he had .iiij. sones Arthogaile Hesidur Higamê° Petitur whan he had regnâ—d xj yere he dyed lyeth at newe Troy ¶ Of Arthogasle that was Grandobodians sone how he was made kynge after put downe for his wyckednes AFter Grandobodian regned his sone Arthogaile .v. yere he became so wycked yâ— the brytons wold not suffre hym to be kyng but put hyÌ„ down made Hesidur his broder kyng he be came so mercyable yâ— men called hyÌ„ kyng of pite whaÌ„ he had regned .v. yere he had so grete pite of his broder Artogaile that was kynge before yâ— he forsoke his dignite and toke his broder yâ— crowne as gayn made hym kynge agaynst all yâ— brytons wyll after Artogaile became so good of coÌ„dicions yâ— all the londe loued hym for his debonayrte doynge right reason to euery man And he regned .vj. yere than dyed lyeth at GrauÌ„tham ¶ How Hesidur was made kynge after the deth of his broder AFter the deth of Artogaile yâ— brytons crowned an other tyme Hesidur but his two bretheru Higamus Petitur had of hym grete spyte scorne ordeyned them helpe for to warre vpoÌ„ the kyng theyr broder and so they toke hym put hym in to pryson the seconde yere of his regne they departed al the londe betwyxt them bothe but Higamê° lyued but .vij. yere thaÌ„ had Petit al yâ— londe he made yâ— towne of Pickering ¶ How the Brytons came and toke Hesidur out of pryson made hym kynge the thyrde tyme. WHan this Petitur was deed the Brytons toke Hesidur anone and made hym kynge the thyrde tyme and than regned he 〈◊〉 peas .xiiii. yere after he dyed and â—â—th at Kararleyll ¶ How xxx 〈…〉 kynges regned in peas â—â—he after other after yâ— deth of Hesidur AFter the deth of Hesidur regned xxxiij kynges â—â—he after other in peas without ony longe taryenge I shall shewe theyr names how longe eche of them regned as yâ— story telleth The fyrst kynge was called Gerbodia and he regned .xij. yere and after hym regned Morgan .ij. yere and after hym regned Cighnus .vj. yere after hym Idwalan .viij. yere after hym regned Rohugo .xj. yere after hyÌ„ Voghen .xiij. yere after hym Caril .xj. yere after hyÌ„ Porex .ij. yere after hym Cherin .xvij. yere after him Coyl .xij. yere after him Sulgenis .xiiij. yere after hym Esdad xx yere after hym Andragie .xvij. yere after hym Vrian .v. yere after hym Eliud .ij. yere after hym Eldagan .xv. yere after hym Claten .xij. yere after hym Ouirgunde vilj yere after hym Mortan .vj. yere after hyÌ„ Bledagh .iij. yere after hym Caph .j. yere after hym Gen ij yere after hym Seysell kyng Bled xxij yere kyng Tabreth .xj. yere and after hym Archinall .xiiij. yere and after hym Croll .xxx. yere and after hym regned Rodyngu .xxxij. yere and after hym regned Hertir .v. yere
that whiche batayles men meruay led gretly on the sted fastnes of the romayns that no tribulacioÌ„ no drede nor hardnes might fere them but euer contynued in batayle And certaynly these Romayns after the worldes honeste they were the moost wysest men that were therfore the Machabees desyred theyr company ¶ Circa annuÌ„ mundi .v. M .lix. Et ante Christi natiuitatem C .xl. MAthan sone to Sadoth of the lyne of Chryst gate Iacob Vt patet Mathei ◠¶ Symon sone to Mathathias was bysshop .viii. yere This Symon was a very wyse man from his youth vntyll his age was euer of good conuersacyon euermore vertuous And at the last he was slayne of his broder Elay Vt pêª patet .i. macha ¶ IohaÌ„nes Hyrcanus sone to Symon was after his fa der .xxix. yere a noble man as all the kynrede was before hym This man after his decesse lefte his wyfe a very wyse woman his fyue sones to gouerne the Iewry of whome the eldest was called Aristobolus an vnpacyent man and an vnhappy His owne moder with thre of his yoÌ„ger brethern he prysoned slewe them through honger so alone he lyued kynge bysshop one yere Vide pâ—a libro machabeorum ¶ Publius Lucinius Lucius Emilius Lucius Lucinius Lucius Censorinus were consulles at Rome in whose tyme the Cartagyens the Romayns warred strongly togyder but the Romayns subdued them intendyng to haue destroyed the Cartagyens vtterly But amoÌ„ge the Romayns there was a notable wyse man called Scipio Nauta amonge many notable couÌ„seyles two he gaue specyally to be had in myÌ„de The fyrst that Cartago sholde not be destroyed that through the occasyon of forehande batayles an inwarde concorde and peas sholde abyde amonge the Romayns a perpetuall strengthe for contynuall exercyse of batayle The seconde that in no wyse the teathur sholde be buyided in Rome for he sayd that was the moost enemy that myght be vnto the people whiche vsed warre for that place nourysshed slouth and prouoked lechery And how wysely this notable man gaue cosiseyle the tymes folowynge declare Vide pâ—a in Au gu deciui dei et Oro. lib .iiij. Yet for all this couÌ„seyle the noble cite of Cartagye was destroyed of Scipio the senatours And it brent .xvii. dayes coÌ„tynually many men there were solde many men ran in to the fyre wylfully ¶ Corinthus this same yere was destroyed of the Ro mayns whiche was the rychest couÌ„tre of the worlde ¶ Ptholomeê° this tyme regned in Egipt was famylyer with the Romayns And so longe he his pre decessours regned as they kepte fidelite to the Romains And knowe euery man that there was none other cause that the power of the Romayns encreased so stroÌ„g ly aboue other people but vertue that whiche habouÌ„dauÌ„tly regned in them namely ryghtwysnes that whiche aboue all thynge they vsed And as longe as they kepte mesurenes loued ryghtwysnes so longe they were neuer ouercomen as soone as they were corrupted it is redde they were ouercomeÌ„ ¶ It is had in a certayne reuelacyon of god shewed to saint Brigit that our lord god bereth wytnes to these olde RomayÌ„s the none in this world of pure natural reason lyued more ryghtwysly And what lyghtes of fayth they shewed in the tyme of chrysten religyon shall be shewed afterwarde ¶ Regnum IudeoruÌ„ restituitur ARistobolus was the first kyng preest in the Iewry This man regned one yere alone toke to hym the dyademe of the kyngdom And he held hyÌ„ not content with that the his fader gaue hym in his testament But he put his moder in pryson his bretherne therfore he perysshed wretchedly with his broder Antigonus the whiche was of his couÌ„seyle helped hym Vide magrÌ„m in historiis ¶ Antigonê° broder to the kynge was slayne through the enuy of the quene ¶ Alexander was bysshop after Airstovolus he stode .xxvii. yere he was a tyrauÌ„t all though he appered sobre in the begyÌ„nynge But he made it knowen what he was in his stomacke For he slewe his owne bretherne in .xii. yere he slewe .l. M. of the olde sage faders of grete vertue bycause they colde hyÌ„ his mysguydynge Than whaÌ„ he shold dre he lefte two sones behynde hym â—iâ—â—anuÌ„ AristoboluÌ„ But certaynly he sayd his wyfe sholde regne for she stode in the grace of the people ¶ Seruius Flaccus Lucius Celius Fabius Publius this tyme were senatours at Rome This tyme batayles amonge themself began Of the whiche the fyrst cause the begyn nynge was Gracius a myghty man well knowen with noble Romayns began to seke a cause agaynst them And bycause that he myght do no thynge alone to them he meued the comyn people to them sayenge that all the londes possessyons shold be deuyded equally also the money â— And for that cause there was an insurreccyon in that whiche Gracius was slayne many nuscheues fell after Vide OrostuÌ„ ¶ In the tyme of these men there was a chylde borne at Rome hauynge .iiij. feet .iiij. armes iâ— faces and iiij eyen ¶ The hyll of Ethna spytted out flamynge fyre horrybly destroyed the places nye about it ¶ And these meÌ„ verynge rule Cartago was coÌ„mauÌ„ded to be restored it was fulfylled of the Ro mayne people And there was myghty batayle in the cite of Rome ¶ Fabâ—ê° with a lytell hoost ouercame the kynge of â—rmenye and there were drowned an hon dred and .lxxx. Nê° men in the water of Reme ¶ Pâ—holomeus Alexander was kyng in Egipt In his tyme was borne Luretius a poete that whiche afterwarde was madde for loue of women slewe hymselfe ¶ Ptholomeus some to Cleopatre regned after hym vnder whome Salustius the noble wryter of hystoryes was borne ¶ Ptholomeus Dionysius was after this man And in his tyme Virgyli Dracius were borne ¶ Anno muÌ„di .v. M.C.xxxiiij Et ante Christi natiuitatem .ix. C .v. IAcob naturall fader to Ioseph of the lyne of Chryst is rehersed in Luke Mathewe lytel of him is had in scripture ¶ Alexandra wyfe to AlexaÌ„ der was bysshop in the Iury .ix. yere she dyd moche tyranny all yf she was made bysihop by her feyned holy relygyon And NircanuÌ„ her sone promoted to the bysshopryche she ordeyned that he sholde regne after her This woman in the lyne of the by sshops is put for the conÌ„ tynge of the yeres Not that she vsed the offyce of a vysshop for it was not lefull to her ¶ Hircanê° sone to Alexander regned xxxiij yere This Hircanus after the de cesse of his moder succeded in the kyngdom in that whiche he had lytel prosperite for parcialite of the people For anone he was ouercomen afterwarde he was restored through the helpe of the Arabees And than he was made tributary to the Romayns so he was in peas a lytell tyme but not in the name of kyng At the last he
after his owne name And whaÌ„ Westmer had so done he dwelled all his lyfe tyme in that countre of Westmerlonde for he loued that countre aboue all other countrees And whan he had regned .xxv. yere he dyed and lyeth at Karleyll ¶ Of kynge Coyll that was kynge Westmers sone that helde his londe in peas all his lyfe tyme. COyll Westmers sone was crowned kyng after his fader and he was a good man a worthy of good coÌ„dityons well gouerned his londe of all men he had loue and peas And in his tyme was neuer contacke debate nor warre in Brytayne And he regned in peas all his lyfe And whan he had regned .xi. yere he dyed lyeth at Yorke CLaudiê° was emperour at Rome nexte after Gayus he regned xiiij yere .viij. dayes This man came in to grete Britayn now called Englond for to chalenge the trybute whiche they dyd deny to yâ— Romayns And after grete batayles there was bytwene the emperour Claudius Armager kyng of Britayn And after accordement made that this Armager sholde wedde Claudius doughter and after they two shold euer lyue in peas in token wherof this Claudius named the cite where they were maryed after hym called it Claudicestre we call it now Glocestre This Claudiê° had .iij. wyues on Petiua the first wyfe he gate a doughter that hyght Antonia The fyrst wyfe decessed and he wedded MessalinaÌ„ gate a sone yâ— hyght Britanicê° Octauia a doughter The thyrde he wedded Agrippina hauynge a sone that hyght Nero. Claudiê° wedded his doughter Octauia to Nero his wyues sone This Claudiê° for loue that he had to Agrippina his last wyfe he slewe Messalina his secoÌ„d wyfe lest she shold haue helpe Britanicus her sone his to the empyre yet Agrippina the last wyfe of Claudius drad lest her husbonde wolde haue ê“ferred Britanicê° haue deposed Nero her sone therfore she poysoned her husbonde Claudius Nero was ê“moted to the empyre And this same Nero gaue his moder suche a reward agayn for he poysoned Britanicus slewe his owne 〈…〉 oder his wyfe Octauia ¶ Iames the more yâ— apostle this tyme was slayne of Herode Agrippa Peter was pryso 〈…〉 d. vt pêª patet act .xij. The body of saynt Iames was brought by myr 〈…〉 in to Ga 〈…〉 of Spayne ¶ Nero after Claudiê° ã€ˆâ€¦ã€‰ s emperour he regneâ— .xiij. yere vij monethes This Nero was a cursed maÌ„ made grete waste in yâ— empyre He wolde not fysshe but with nettes of golde ropes of sylke A grete parte of the lordes of Rome he slewe He was enemy to good men He slewe his broder his wyfe his moder and his mayster He slewe also Peter Paule He wolde neuer were one cloth two tymes His horses his mules were shod with syluer And at the last he dyd set a grete part of Rome on fyre some saye to se how Troy brent some saye the Romayns coÌ„playned the stretes were to narowe And whaÌ„ he had brent a grete parte of Rome Nero sayd there was space to buylde yâ— stretes wyder Than the senatours with the comyn people came vpon hym to 〈…〉 e hym And he fled by nyght in to the subbarbes of yâ— cite hyd hym amonge the vynes he herde karles beggers come by hym that sayd they wyst where the emperour were he sholde neuer scape them Nero thought it sholde be grete derogacion to his name he were slayne of karles on a grete stake he â—an hyÌ„selfe to the herte dyed there was buryed deuyls kepte his body many a day after dyd grete hurt to the people tyll by a myracle of our lorde the body was fouÌ„de taken away than the deuylles voyded ¶ Seneca was this tyme maister to Nero ¶ Iuuenalis poeta ¶ Lucanê° poeta ¶ Iames the lesse yâ— apostle bysshop of Ierusalem was slayne of the Iewes the vj. yere of Nero. ¶ Marcus the euaÌ„gelyst was martyred the fyrst yere of hym ¶ Cirâ—a annuÌ„ Christi .lxxiiij. â—Anus ytalicus was pope of Rome .x. yere .iij. monethes xi 〈…〉 dayes This Linê° his successour Clâ—tus through theyr holy coÌ„uersacioÌ„ were made to mynyster the treasour of the th 〈…〉 the to the people Peter beynge alyue 〈…〉 Peter attended to prayer prechynge It is redde of this Cletus that he wrote fyrst in his lettres SaluteÌ„ et apostolicaÌ„ vnÌ„dictioneÌ„ Afore this tyme was many a dyscyple of Peter slayne vnder Nero. ¶ Galba this tyme was emperour he regned seuen monethes This man was made emperour by the power of spayne in the same londe Nero lyuyng And after the dethe of Nero brought to Rome there was slayne of a man that came with whete to Rome He smote of his heed bare it to hym that was emperour nexte seynge all his meu none of them helpyng hym ¶ In this mannes dayes came the grete Rethorycyen to Rome fro Spayne was the fyrst the euer taught the seyence openly his name was Quintilian ¶ Ottho regned after hym and he regned but thre monethes for one Vitellus that was presydent of FrauÌ„ce chalenged the empyre in Ytalye bytwene these two were thre grete batayles in the fourth batayle Ottha sawe he sholde be ouercomen in grete despayre he slewe hymselfe ¶ Vitellus regned after this Ottho .viij. monethes for he was a folower of Nero moost specyally in glotony in syngynge of foule songes at feestes etyng out of mesure that he myght not kepe it ¶ Vaspasianus regned nexte after hym .ix. yere .x. monethes .xij. dayes The well gouerned men of Rome seynge the cursed successyon of Nero sente after this Vaspasyan vnto Palestyn for there he was his sone Titus whiche had besyeged Ierusalem And whan he herde that Nero was deed by whom he was sent to Ierusalem and herde of these cursed men regnynge at the instauÌ„ce of these wyse men of Rome not wylfully toke vpon hym the empyre And anone as he was comen to Rome he ouercame the tyrauÌ„t Vitellus let hym be drawen through Rome after in Tyber tyl he was died and than let hym sayle wtout sepulture for this the people desyred This man was cured of waspes in his nose anone as he byleued in our lorde Iesu that was the cause why he went to Ierusalem to venge Chrystes deth He fought xxxij tymes with his enemyes And he dyed the yere of grace .lxxix. ¶ Anno domini .lxxxiiij. â—Letê° a martyr was pope .xi. yere This Cletus was a Romayne gretly he loued pilgrimages to sayntes sayenge it was more ê“fyte to the helth of mannes soule to visyte the place the saynt Peter was in than to fast two yere He cursed all those men lettynge suche pylgrimages or couÌ„seylers coÌ„trary therto At the last was martyred by Damacian the emperour ¶ Titus soue to Vaspasyan was emperour this tyme regned .iij. yere he
fought with Emilianê° were slayne And Emilianê° the thyrde moneth was slayn ¶ Valerian was emperour with his sone Galyene .xv. yere This man was vertuous manly in the begynnyng but after he was gyueÌ„ to vyce moche wretchednes and so was his sone Galyene This Valerian went to the lond of Perse there for the blode shedynge of martyrs he was taken of the kynge of Perse And whan he had taken hyÌ„ he put out bothe his eyen kepte hym in grete bondage to this entent he kept hym that whan so euer he shold ryde this Valerian sholde lye down he shold set his feet vpoÌ„ his backe whaÌ„ he wold take his hors This herde Galiene his sone that was left at Rome that caused hym that he was not so cruell agaynst chrysten men And here was the .viij. persecucyon of the chirche made by this emperour made the Romayns to lese theyr kyngdomes the whiche were neuer recouered agayne to the emperour a generall pestylence was through all the worlde for theyr trespace ¶ Stephanus a martyr after Lucius was pope .iij. yere This man ordeyned that no maÌ„ shold vse no halowed clothes but to the worshyp of god ¶ Sixtê° a martyr and a Romayn was pope after Stephanus .ij. yere This man ordeyned that the masse shold be sayd vpoÌ„ an awter the whiche afore was not than he dyed ¶ Dionisius a Romain was pope after Stephanê° .ij. yere This man deuyded parysshes chircheyerdes assygned to chirches certayne preestes ¶ Felix a martyr was pope after Dionisius two yere He ordeined that for the memory of martyrs masses shold be sayd Also he ordeyned the Dedicacion of the chirche euery yere shold be said ¶ Claudius was emperour after Valerian This man subdued Gothas nobly than decessed ¶ Anno Christi CC .lxxiiij. EVticianê° a martyr was pope after Felix .viij. yere This man ordeyned yâ— corne benes sholde be blyssed on the awter And he buryed iij C. xliiij martyrs with his owne haÌ„des ¶ Aureliê° was emperour after Claudius .v. yere This Aurelius fyrst to christeÌ„ men was gentyll wherfore he had the vyctory in euery place gloryously whan he was deceyued by cursed men pursued chrysten men myghtely namely in frauÌ„ce for there he abode after that he had neuer good fortune but was slayne And this was the .ix. ê‘secucyon of the christen fayth ¶ Tacitus was emperour after this man he regned but .iii. monethes was slayne in Ponto ¶ Probus was Emperour after hym .v. yere .iiij. monethes This man recouered FrauÌ„ce agayne the whiche was occupyed with barbary men And he gaue them Pannonias lycence to haue vynyerdes And whan he had made almoost all thyÌ„ges well in peas he sayd Knyghtes within a lytell tyme shall not be necessary And anone after he was slayne at SyrmiuÌ„ ¶ Carus his two sones Carmê° Numerianê° were emperours after Probus but soone they dyed theyr fader was drowned the two sones were slayne All these regned but .ij. yere ¶ Dioclesian Maximyan came after these thre emperours the one regned in the eest the other regned in the west The fyrst thynge that Dioclesian dyd he brent all the chrysten mennes bokes that myght be fouÌ„de These two tyrauÌ„tes dyd more harme to christeÌ„ men than euer dyd ony other For .x. yere lasted theyr ê‘secucyon And as we rede wtin .xxx. dayes .xx. M. men were slayne for chrystes cause And in Englonde all the fayth was almoost destroyed in the tyme of Maximyan ¶ Gaius was pope after Euticianus This man ordeyned that no man sholde accuse a bisshop or an other clerke to ony seculer iudge And that a pagan or an heretyke shold not accuse a christeÌ„ man Also he ordeyned that he that was worthy shold ascende gree by gree to his ordres fyrst benet than â—ollet subdeken deken than preest And at the last he was martyred vnder Dioclesian ¶ Marcell 〈…〉 ê° a martyr was pope after Gaius .xi. yere .iiij. monethes This maÌ„ was sore ê‘secuted for drede of deth he offred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nes of encense to the sacrifyce of the ydolles And afterward he openly repented and suffred deth for the fayth of Chryst His body laye vnburyed thre days for drede of the curse of god And after through a visyon of saynt Peter Marcell he was buryed at saynt Peters foâ—e ¶ Marcellus was pope after Marcell 〈…〉 ê° .v. yere This man ordeyned that a generall couÌ„seyle myght not be ordeyned without the auctorite of the pope vt pêª patet .xvij. d◠〈◊〉 sinoduÌ„ Also he chose .xv. cardynalles in the cyte to bury men chrysten At the last whan he had kepte beestes longe tyme in a hous closed in with them by the commaundement of Maximian he dyed for faute ¶ Eusebius a martyr was after this man two monethes and certayne days This man of a lay man was made pope he ordeyned that no laye man shold accuse his bisshop but yf he went from his fayth Vâ— pêª patet .ij .ix. vij .x. lai 〈…〉 s. ¶ Nota. This tyme saynt Albon was martyred in brytayn This Albon whaÌ„ he was a pagan he lodged a certayn maÌ„ the which coÌ„uerted hym to the fayth after was iudged vnto deth and moche people he turned vnto our lorde that were nygh the water the which he made drye through his prayer And he suffred deth nygh the cite of Veâ—elom Vide plura in vita sctiÌ„ Albani ¶ Melchiades a martyr succeded Eusebius foure yere This maÌ„ forbode the men shold fast on sondays on thursdays in so moche as pagans fast on those dayes At the last he was martyred as al his predecessours were ¶ And knowe ye that there were xxxiij popes of Rome martyred eche one after other Peter was the fyrst this Melchiades was the last And than it was laudable after Gregory a maÌ„ to desyre a bysshopryche ¶ Galerius was emperour after Dioclesian two yere and an other with hym called Constancius so was the empyre in those dayes deuyded This Constancius after he had conquered all Spayne he came in to grete Britayn there he wedded a kyÌ„ges doughter on whom he gate grete CoÌ„stantyne And this same CoÌ„stancius dyed in Brytayn lyeth at Yorke as Martin sayth in his cronycles lefte on lyue CoÌ„stantyne that was goten on Eleyne was kynge of Brytayne of Fraunce ¶ Anno Christi CCC .viij. SIluester was pope after Melchiades This was a gloryous confessour many wayes he worshypped the chirche of god what in wrytynge and what in myracles He receyued the patrimony of saynt Peter that is for to saye the kyngdome of Ytalye with the cite of Rome of Constantyne the emperour to the worshyp of the chirche of god he turned it He baptysed Eleyne the Iewes and than he decessed a confessour ¶ Constantyne the myghty was emperour this tyme. This CoÌ„stantyne was a gloryous man and a victoryous in
soune at the bought of the beme appe red a dragons heed out of his mouth came two huge lyghtes that were as bryght as ony fyre brennynge the one beme toward frauÌ„ce streyght ouer the see thyderwarde out of the beme came vij bemes full clere longe as it were the lyght fyre This sterre was seen of many a man but none of them wyst what it betokened Vter that was kyng Auri lambros broder that was in Wales with his hoost of Brytons sawe that sterre the grete light that it gaue he wondred therof gretly what it myght betoken let call Merlyn prayed hym for to tell what it myght betoken ¶ Of the betokenynge of the sterre MErlyn sawe that sterre behelde it longe tyme sythen he quoke and wept tenderly and sayd Alas alas that so noble a kynge and so worthy is deed And I do you to vnderstande that AurilaÌ„bros your broder is empoysoned and that I se well in this sterre your selfe is betokened by the heed of the dragon that is seen at the bought of the beme that is your selfe that shall be kyng and regne And by the beme that staÌ„deth toward the eest is vnderstande that ye shall gete a sone that shall conquere all Fraunce all the londes that belongeth to the crowne of frauÌ„ce that shall be a worthyer kyng and of more honour than euer was ony of his aunceters And by the beme that stretcheth toward Irlonde is betokened that ye shall haue a doughter that shall be quene of Irlonde And the .vij. bemes betoken that ye shall haue .vij. sones euery one of them shall be kynge shall regne with moch honour And abyde ye no longer here but go gyue batayle to your enemyes fyght with them boldly for ye shal ouercome them haue the victo ry Vter thaÌ„ked Merlyn hertely toke his men went towarde his enemyes they fought togyder mortally so he discomfyted his enemyes and destroyed them hymselfe slewe Passent that was Vortigers sone And his Britons slewe Guillomer that was kynge of Irlonde and all his men And Vter anone after the batayle toke his waye towarde Wynthestre for to do bury kynge AurilaÌ„bros that was his broder But thaÌ„ was the body borne to Stonehenge with moche honour that he had do make in remem brauÌ„ce of the Brytons that there were slayne through treason of Engyst that same daye that they sholde haue ben accorded and in the same place they buryed Aurylambros the seconde yere of his regne with all the worship that myght belonge vnto suche a kynge On Whose soule god haue mercy Amen ¶ Of Vter pendragon wherfore he was called so ye shall here And how he was ouertaken with the loue of Igreyne that was the erles wyfe of Cornewayle AFter the dethe of Aurilambros Vter his broder was crowned regned worthely And i remembrauÌ„ce of the dragon that he was likened to he let make two dragons through couÌ„seyle of his Britons made that one for to be borne before hym whaÌ„ he went in to ba tayle that other for to abyde at Wynchestre in the bysshops chirche And for that cause he was called euer after Vter pendragon And Otta that was Engistes sone coÌ„mended Vter but lytell that was made newe king agaynst hym began to moue warre ordeyned a grete company of his frendes of his kynne of Ossa his broder had taken all the londe from Humber vnto Yorke But those of Yorke helde strongly agaynst them and wold not suffre them to come in to the cite neyther to yelde the cite to them he besyeged the towne anone ryght gaue therto a stroÌ„ge assaute but they of that cite kepte them well strongly And whan Vter herde therof he came thyder with a grete power for to helpe and rescow the cite put awaye the syege and gaue a stronge batayle Otta his company defended them as well as they myght But at the last they were discoÌ„fyted the moost parte of them slayne and Otta Ossa were taken put in prison at Lon don And Vter hyÌ„selfe dwelled a whyle at Yorke after he went to Londe And at Eester after he wolde bere crowne holde a solemâ—ne feest and let somon all his erles barons that they shold come to that feest all those that had wyues shold brynge them also to yeâ—eest And all came at the kynges coÌ„maundement as they were commauÌ„ded The feest was rychely arayed holden all worthely set to meet after that they were of estate So that the erle Gorloys of Corne wayle Igreyne his wyfe sate nexte to the kynge And whan the kynge sawe the fayrnes of that lady that she had anone he was rauysshed for her beaute ofre he made to her nyce countenauÌ„ce in lokynge and laughynge So at the last the erle perceyued the preuy lokynge laughynge and the loue bytwene them and rose up from the table in wrath toke his wyfe and called to hym his knightes went thens all in wrath wtout takyng leue of the kynge The kynge anone sent after hym that he sholde come agayn go not thens in despyte of hyÌ„ And the erle wolde not come agayne in no maner of wyse Wherfore the kynge was full wroth in wrath hym defyed as his deedly cuâ—my And the erle went thens in to Cornewayle with his wyfe in to the castell of Tyntagell And the kynge let ordeyne a grete hoost came in to Cornewayle for to destroye the erle yf he myght But he had put hym in yâ— stronge castell of Tyn tagell that was well arayed wolde not yelde hym to the kyng And the kyng anone besyeged the castell there dwelled .xv. days might not spede euer thought vpon Igreyne vpon her layde so moche loue that he wyst not what to do So at yâ— last he called to hym a knyght that was called Vlfin that was preuy with hym tolde hyÌ„ all his couÌ„seyle asked of hym what was best to do Syr sayd he sende after Merlyn anone for he can tell you the best couÌ„seyle of ony man lyuynge Merlyn anone was sent after came to the kyng And the kyng told hym all his couÌ„seyle and his wyll Syr sayd Merlyn I shall do so moche through the crafte that I can that I shal make you come to nyght in the castell of Tyntagell shall haue all your wyll of that lady ¶ How kyng Vter begate on Igreyne that was the erles wyfe of Cornewayle Arthur kynge MErlyn through crafte that he coude chaunged yâ— kynges fygure in to the lykenes of the erle Vlfin Garloys his chamberleyn in to the fygure of Iordan that was yâ— erles chamberleyn so yâ— eche of them was traÌ„sfigured to others lykenes And whan Merlin had so done he sayd to the kynge Syr sayd he now may ye go sodeynly to the
come to Rome by the wrytynge of Sergius the pope vnto Colfrido his abbot And this Bede traÌ„slated the gospell of saynt Iohn in to Englysshe tongue decessed blyssedly The fame sayth yâ— now he lyeth at Deuelyn with saynt Cuthberto there is buryed with hym the knowlege of the dedes of Englonde almoost to the coÌ„quest ¶ Leo the seconde was emperour and lytell of hym is wryten ¶ Liberiê° was emperour after hym viâ— yere the whiche arose agaynst Leo entred his kingdom kepte hym in prison as longe as he regned In his tyme Iustinyan the seconde yâ— whiche in olde tyme was exiled to CrisonaÌ„ openly sayd he wolde recouer his empyre agayn Wherfore the people of that couÌ„tree for the loue of Liberius were about to slee that Iustinyan wherfore he fledde to the prynce of Turcorum wedded his syster through the helpe of his broder the Bulgars he recouered his empyre slewe Liberius Leo the vsurper of his realme And as many tymes almoost as he wyped ony drop from his nose the whiche they kyt of so many tymes he made one of his enemyes to be slayne ¶ Leo the thyrde was pope after Sergiê° two yere This man was made pope by the power of the Romayns was not put in the nombre of popes for he yll entred but he dyd none yll ¶ IohaÌ„nes the syxth a Greke was pope after hym And he was a martyr but of whome wherfore yâ— cause is not fouÌ„de in hystoryes It is sayd yâ— it was of the dukes of Lombardy for they were enemyes to the chirche myghtely ¶ IohaÌ„nes the .vij. a Romayn was pope after hym thre yere but no thinge of hym is wryten ¶ Iustinianus the seconde was emperour agayne with his sone Tiberius .vj. yere And this was he whiche was reued of the empyre afore by Leo And whaÌ„ this man was restored agayn he toke hym to the ryght fayth worshypped the pope CoÌ„stantyn certaynly he destroyed Creson the place where he was exiled to all that dwelled in it excepte children he slewe them And he came agayn an other tyme to haue slayne the Innocentes the men of couÌ„tree made them a capytayn a certayne man that was called Philip an outlawe the whiche anone wente to hym in batayle and slewe hym for his cruelnes agaynst those children ¶ Sysinnius was pope xx dayes than was grete stryfe and he decessed but lytell of hym is wryten ¶ Constantyn was pope after hym vij yere This man was a very meke man so blyssed that of all men he was beloued He went ouer the see to Iustinyan the emperour was receyued with grete honour dyed a blyssed man ¶ Philip the seconde was emperour one yere the whiche fled in to Scisilia for the hoost of the Romayns And he was an heretyke coÌ„mauÌ„ded all pictures of sayntes to be destroyed Wherfore the Romayns kest away his coyne nor wolde not receyue no money yâ— had his ymage or his name wryten vpon it ¶ Anastasius the second after he had slayne Philyp was emperour thre yere This man was a christeÌ„ man lyued well But bycause he put out Philips eyen slewe hyÌ„ afterward therfore Theodosius fought against hyÌ„ and ouercame hym and than he was made a preest so lyued quyetly ¶ Anno domini vij C .xiiij. O Regorius the seconde was pope after Constantyn .xvij. yere This Gregory was a chaste man and a noble man in scripture And about this tyme the popes begaÌ„ to dele more temporally with the emperours thaÌ„ they were wont for theyr falsnes theyr heresy and also for to remeue the empyre fro one place to an other as the tyme requyred This man cursed Leo the emperour bycause he brent the ymages of sayntes This same Leo coÌ„mauÌ„ded Gregory the pope that he shold brenne chirches destroye them And the pope set no thynge of his sayenge but manly coÌ„maunded the contrary And so it is openly shewed that the destruccion of the empyre of Rome was the cause of heresy For certaynly faythfull people with theyr prelates with one wyll drewe vnto the pope and constrayned the emperours for to leue theyr tyranny and theyr heresyes ¶ And this tyme in the eest partyes of the worlde strongly fayled the very true fayth for that cursed lawe of false Machomyte ¶ Theodostê° was emperour regned but one yere he was a very chrysten man euen as he dyd so was he done vnto For Leo deposed hym made him a preest ¶ Leo the thyrde with CoÌ„stantyn his sone was emperour .xxv. yere This Leo whan he was myghty he deposed Theodosius regned for hym was deceyued by a certayn apostata yâ— whiche bad hym that he shold take brenne all the ymages of sayntes wherfore he was punysshed bothe in batayle and in pestyleÌ„ce with other infortunes And bycause he was accursed of Gregory abode therin thre days therfore the pope with the comyn people toke from hym all the west parte of his empyre coÌ„maundynge that no man sholde obey hym ne socour hym bycause he lyued lyke an heretyke Holy men sayd agaynst hym and many by hym were martyred exiled And at the last in his mysbyleue he dyed wretchedly And in this mannes dayes but that Karolê° Marcellus holpe the chrysten fayth and fought manly agaynst the sarasyns droue them backward in to Spayne yâ— whiche they had subdued els they had entred in to frauÌ„ce And Karolus slewe thre hondred thousande sarasyns more of his people were slayne but .xv. thousand ¶ Nota This man for the contynual batayle toke to lay men the treasour of the chirche wherfore saynt Euchery the bysshop of Aurilian as he was in his prayers saw that same Karolus in soule body payned in hell And the auÌ„gell that shewed the bysshop this man sayd that yâ— was the iudgement of all those that toke awaye the goodes of the chirche or of poore men And to fortyfye that the the bysshop sayd to proue it the abbot of saynt Denys went to the sepulture where that Karolus was buryed opened the chest that he lay in and there they sawe a dragon go out but he had no body ¶ Gregory the thyrde a Romayne was pope after Gregory the seconde the whiche confermed the worshyppynge of the ymages of sayntes with the couÌ„seyle almoost of a thousande bysshops And he horrybly cursed al the despysers of these ymages as the emperour and other that were of that condicion ¶ Constantinus yâ— fyfth was emperour after his fader Leo. xxxv yere He was a cursed man and a pure heretyke so that he dyd sacrifyce to deuyls he pursued the chirche noth 〈…〉 ge that is good of hym is wryten And so by the suffrauÌ„ce of god the chirche was troubled loÌ„ge tyme. ¶ About this tyme were many meruayles and there were meruaylous erth quakes And certayn cytees that were set vpon mouÌ„taynes they were remeued borne
castell of Wyndsore other castelles And the foresayd Iohn sawe that he had no might ne power agaynst the barons of Englond for to fyght but anone wente hym ouer the see vnto the kynge of FrauÌ„ce And whan kynge Rycharde came out of pryson and was delyuered came in to Englond anone after Candelmasse in grete haste he went vnto Notyngham the castell of Notingham to hym was yelded And than discomfyted he his broder Iohn and all those that held with hym And after he went vnto the cyte of Wynchestre and there he let hym to be crowned kynge of Englonde And after he went vnto Nor mandy for to warre vpon the kynge of FrauÌ„ce And whan the kyng of FrauÌ„ce herde that he came with fyur hondred knyghtes towarde Gysors And kynge Rycharde mette hym and wolde haue gyuen hym batayle But the kynge of FrauÌ„ce anone fledde and an hondred of his knyghtes were taken two hondre horses that were trapped with yâ—en ¶ And anone after went kyng Rychard for to besyege the castell Gayllard And vpon a daye as he rode by the castell for to take auysement of the castell one of the arbalastres smore hym with a quarell that was enuenymed And kyng Richard drewe out the shafte of the quarell but the quarelles heed abode styll in his heed and it began for to rankle that he myght not helpe hymselfe ne meue his armes And whan he wyst that he had dethes wounde vpon hym and that he myght not be hole for no maner thynge he coÌ„mauÌ„ded anone all his men sharply to assayle the castell so the the castell was takeÌ„ or the he dyed so maÌ„ly his men dyd that all were taken the were wtin And the kyng dyd with them his wyl coÌ„mauÌ„ded his men to bryÌ„ge before hyÌ„ the man the so had wouÌ„ded hym And whan he came before hym the kynge asked hym what was his name And he said my name is BertraÌ„ gurdon Wherfore sayd the king hast the slayne me syth I dyd the neuer no harme Syr sayd he though ye dyd me neuer none harme ye your selfe with your handes slewe my fader my broder I therfore haue quytte you now your trauayle Than sayd kynge Rychard he the dyed vpon the crosse to bryÌ„ge maÌ„nes soule fro the paynes of hell forgyue the my deth I also forgyue it the. Than he coÌ„mauÌ„ ded the no man shold mysdo hym But for all the kynges defending some of his men folowed hym priuely slewe hym And the .vj. daye after the kyng dyd shryue hyÌ„ sore repented hym of his mysdedes was houseled anoynted had regned but .ix. yere .xxxix. wekes dyed and lyeth besyde his fader at FouÌ„teuerard HEnricus the fyfth was emperour viij yere This Henry was sone to Frederik he wedded Constans the kinges doughter of Cecile And through the occasion of her he subdued all the kingdom of Apulie droue out all the inhabytauÌ„tes therof ¶ Celestinus the thyrde was pope after ClemeÌ„s almost .iij. yere This man was crowned on eester daye the day folowyng he crowned Henry the emperour he made a palays at saynt Peters decessed ¶ Innocencius the thyrde was pope after hym .viij. yere v. monethes This maÌ„ was well lettred he made a boke of the wretchednes of maÌ„nes condicyon And he made speculuÌ„ misse and he made many coÌ„stitucyons This man dampned the boke of Iohn Ioachim the whiche he made agaynst mayster Pyers Lombard the maker of the sentence ¶ This tyme decessed the emperour Henry and the princes of Almayn dyscorded for some chose Otto some chose Philip broder to HeÌ„ry ThaÌ„ Philyp was falsly slayne Otto was crowned of Innocent in FrauÌ„ce the whiche anone gaue batayle to the Romains bycause they gaue hym no due honour And for the cause agaynst the popes wyll he toke the kyngdom of Apulie from Frederyk wherfore the pope cursed hym Than after the fourth yere of his regne the prynces of Almayn made Frederyk emperour and victoryously he subdued Otto ¶ Wyllyam of Parys this tyme began the ordre of the freres Austyns the whiche ben called freres mendicantes ¶ FraÌ„ciscus an ytalyan a man of grete perfeccyon and an ensample to many a man dyd many a myracle this tyme he ordeyned the freres minours ¶ And the .vj. yere of pope Innocent the thyrd the ordre of the freres prechours began vnder Dominik but it myght not be coÌ„fermed tyll the fyrst yere of Honorius ¶ Of kynge Iohn that in the fyrst yere of his regne lost all Normandy Bycause kyng Rychard had none heyre sone ne doughter after his deth they made Iohn his broder king crowned hyÌ„ at Westmynster by Hubert the archebysshop of Caunterbury And whan he began to regne he became so meruaylous a man the he went ouer in to Normandy warred vpon the kynge of FrauÌ„ce And so longe they warred togy der tyll at the last kyng Iohn lost all Normandy Angeo wherfore he was sore anoyed it was no meruayle Than let he assemble before hyÌ„ at London archebysshops bisshops abbottes pryours erles barons helde there a grete par lyament asked there of the clergy the tenth of euery chirche of Englonde for to conquere Normandy and Angeo agayn that he had lost They wolde not grauÌ„te that thyÌ„ge wherfore he was wonders wroth ¶ In the same tyme dyed Hubert Than the pryour the couent of Caunterbury chose agaynst the kynges wyll to be archebysshop mayster Stephen of Langton a good clerke that dwelled at the courte of Rome and sent to the pope theyr eletcyon And the pope confermed it sacred hym at Viterbi Whan the kynge wyst of these tydynges he was wonders wrothe droue the pryour the coueÌ„t fro CauÌ„terbury exiled them out of the londe coÌ„mauÌ„ded the no lettre nor coÌ„mauÌ„dement that came fro Rome sholde be receyued ne pleted in EngloÌ„de Whan the pope herd this he sent to kyng Iohn his lettres prayed hyÌ„ louyngly to receyue Stephen the archebisshop of CauÌ„terbury to his chirche suffre the pryour his monkes to come agayne to theyr owne dwellynge But the kynge wolde not grauÌ„te it for no thynge ¶ How kyng Iohn wolde no thynge do for the popes coÌ„mauÌ„dement wherfore all Englonde was enterdyted suspended ANd at the last the pope sent by his auctorite enioyned to the bysshops of Englonde the yf the kyng wolde not receyue the pryour of CauÌ„terbury his monkes that they shold do generall enterdytyng through out all Englonde grauÌ„ted full power to foure bysshops to pronouÌ„ce the enterdytynge yf it were nede The fyrst was bysshop Wyllyam of London that other bisshop Eustace of Ely the thyrde was bysshop Walter of Wynchestre the fourth was bysshop Gyles of Herford these .iiij. bysshops prayed the kyng knelynge on theyr knees sore wepyng that he wold do the popes coÌ„mauÌ„dement shewed hym the popes bulles
a doughty in his tyme yf that thynge myght be brought about than stode they trowynge with the helpe of god with his helpe to recouer theyr herytage in EngloÌ„de wherof they were put out through the fals coniectynge of the Spensers ¶ How kynge Edward through counseyle of the Spensers sente to the douze pers of Fraunce that they sholde helpe that the quene Isabell her sone syr Edward were exiled out of Fraunce WHan kynge Edward the Spensers herde how that quene Isabell syr Edward her sone had alyed them to the erle of Henaud to them that were exiled out of Englonde for cause of Thomas of LaÌ„castre they were so sory that they wyst not what to do Wherfore syr Hugh Spenser the sone sayd to syr Hugh his fader in this maner wyse Fader cursed be the tyme the couÌ„seyle that euer ye consented that quene Isabell shold go in to FrauÌ„ce for to treate of accord bytwene the kynge of Englonde her broder the kyng of FrauÌ„ce for that was your couÌ„seyle for at that tyme forsothe your wytte fayled for I drede me sore leest through her her sone we shall be destroyed but yf we take the better couÌ„seyle ¶ Now fayre syrs vnderstaÌ„de how meruaylous felony falshede the Spensers ymagyned cast For pryuely they let fyll .v. barels ferrours with siluer the somme amouÌ„ted to .v. M. pouÌ„de they sent those barels ouer see pryuely by an alyen that was called Arnolde of Spayne that was a broker of London that he sholde go to the douzepers of Fraunce that they sholde procure speke to the kynge of Fraunce that quene Isabell her sone Edwarde were dryuen exiled out of FrauÌ„ce and amoÌ„ge all other thyÌ„ges that they were brought to the deth as pryuely as they myght But almyghty god wold not so For whaÌ„ this Arnold was in the hygh see he was taken with Selanders that mette hym in the hygh see toke hym ladde hym to the erle of Henaud theyr lorde moche ioye was made for that takyng And at the last this Arnold pryuely stale away fro thens came to London And of this takyng and of other thynges the erle of Henaud sayd to the quene Isabell Dame make you mery be of good chere for ye be richer than ye wend to haue 〈…〉 n take these .v. barels full of siluer that were sente to the douzepers of Fraunce for to slee you and your sone Edward thynke hastely for to go in to Englonde take ye with you syr Iohn of Henaud my broder and .v. C. men of armes for many of them of Fraunce in whome ye haue had grete trust do but scorne you And almyghty god graunte you grace your enemyes to ouercome Than sent the quene Isabell through Henaud and FlauÌ„dres for her soudyours and ordeyned her euery daye for to goo in to Englonde agayne And so she had in her company syr Edmonde of Woodstocke that was erle of Kent and was also syr Edwardes broder of Englonde ¶ How kyng Edward let kepe the costes by the see let trye all the pryce men of armes fote men through Englonde â—Nd whan kyng Edward herde tell that quene Isabel Edward her sone wolde come in to Englond with a grete power of alyens and with them that were outlawed out of Englonde for theyr rebellyousnes he was sore adrad to be put downe and for to lese his kyngdome wherfore he ordeyned to kepe his castels in Wales as well as in Englond with vytayles theyr apparayle let kepe his riuers also the see costes wher of the .v. portes toke to kepe them also the see And at the feest of Decollacion of saynt Iohn baptist the citezyns of London sent to the king to Porchestre an C. men of armes And also he coÌ„mauÌ„ded by his lettres ordeyned that euery hondred wepentake of Englonde to trye as well men of armes as meÌ„ on fote that they sholde be put in .xx. somme in an hondred somme coÌ„mauÌ„ded that al those men were redy whan ony oyes or crye were made for to pursue take the alyens that came in to Englonde for to take the londe from hym put hyÌ„ out of his kyngdom And more ouer he let crye through his patent in euery feyre in euery market of Englond that the quene Isabel syr Edward his eldest sone the erle of Kent that they were taken safely kepte wout ony maner of harme vnto them doynge al other maner people that came with them anone smyte of theyr hedes without ony maner of rauÌ„som takynge of them And what man might bryÌ„ge syr Roger Mortimers heed of wygmore shold haue an C. pouÌ„de of money for his trauayle And ferthermore he ordeyned by his patent coÌ„manuded to make a fyre vpon euery hyll besyde the ryuers in lowe couÌ„trees for to make hye bekens of tymbre that yf it so were that the alyens came to the loude by nyght that men sholde kyndle the bekens that the countree myght be warned come mete theyr enemyes And in that tyme dyed syr Roger Mortimer his vncle in the â—ouâ—e of London ¶ How the quene Isabell syr Edward duke of Guyenne her soâ—e came to londe at Herewich and how they dyd â—Nd whan quene Isabel and syr Edward her sone duke of Guyenne syr Edmonde of Wodstocke erle of Kent and syr Iohn the â—riâ—s 〈◊〉 of Henaud and theyr company dâ—adde 〈◊〉 the threteuynges of kynge Edward 〈◊〉 of his traytours for they trusted a 〈…〉 goddes grace and came vnto 〈◊〉 in Suffolke the. xxiiâ—j daye of September in the yere of our lord Iesu Christ M CCC xxvâ— And the quene 〈◊〉 Edward her sone sent lettres to the Mayâ—â— and comynalte of London r 〈…〉 ge them that they wolde be helpyng in the quarell and cause that they had beg 〈…〉 that is to saye to destroye the â—rayâ—ouâ—s of the realme But none answere was sent agayne wherfore the quene syr Edward her sone sent another pa 〈…〉 〈◊〉 vnder theyr seales the 〈◊〉 of whâ—che lettre here foloweth in this maner ¶ Isabell by the grace of god quene of Englonde lady of Irlonde couÌ„cesse of Pountyf we Edward the eldest sone of the kynge of Englonde duke of Guyenne erle of Chestre of Pountyâ— and of Moustroyll to the Mayre and â—o all the comynalce of the cite of London sendeth gretynge For as moche as we haue before this tyme sent to you by our lettres how we be come in to â—his londe in good araye in good maner for the honour ê“fyte of holy chirche of our ryght dere lorde the kynge all the realme with all our myght to kepe maynteyn as we 〈◊〉 all the good folke of the foresayd realme are holden to do And vpon that we praye you that ye wyll be helpyng to vs in as moche as ye may in this
quarell that is for the comyn profyce of the foresayd realme And we haue had to this â—yme none answere to the foresayd lettres ne knowe not your mynde in that party Wherfore we sende to you agayn praye charge you that ye bere you so agaynst vs that we haue no cause to greue you but that ye be vnto vs helpyng by all the wayes that ye may or may know For wyte ye well in certayn that we all that be comen with vs in to this realme thynke not to do ony thynge but that thynge that shall be to the comyn ê“fyte of all the realme onely to destroye Hugh Spenser our enemy enemy to al the realme as ye it well know Wherfore we praye you charge you in the fayth that ye owe to our lyege lorde the kyng to vs vpon all that ye shall mowe forfayte agaynst vs that yf the sayd Hugh speÌ„ser our enemy come wtin your power that ye do hyÌ„ hastely to be taken safely kepe vntyll we haue ordeyned of hyÌ„ our wyll that ye leue it not in no maner wyse as ye desyre honour profyte of vs all of all the realme Vnderstande ye well that yf ye do this our prayer coÌ„maundement we wyll the more be holden vn to you And also ye shall gete you worshyp and pryfyte yf ye sende vs hastely answere of all your wyll agayn at Baldok the syxth daye of October Whiche lettre erly in the dawnynge of the day of saynt Denys was tacked vpon the newe crosse in chepe many copyes of the same lettre were tacked vpon windowes and dores and vpon other places in the cite of London that all men passyng by the waye myght them se rede And in the same tyme kyng Edward was at London in the toure at his meet and a messenger came in to the hall sayd that the quene Isabell was comeÌ„ to londe at Herewich hath brought in her coÌ„pany syr Iohn of Henaude with hym men of armes without nombre And with that worde syr Hugh Spenser the fader spake thus sayd vnto the kynge My moost worshypfull lorde kyng of Englond now make we good chere for certaynly they ben all ours The kynge herde this worde coÌ„fortable yet was he full sorowfull pen syfe in his herte And the kynge had not fully eten but there came in to the hall an other messenger sayd that the quene Isabell was arryued at Herewich besyde Ipswyche in Suffolk Syr Hugh spenser the fader spake to the messenger said Tell soth in good fayth my fayre frende is she comeÌ„ with a grete strength Now certes syr the soth for to saye she ne hath in her company but .vij. hondred men of armes And with that worde syr Hugh spenser the fader cryed with an hygh voyce and sayd Alas alas we ben al betrayed for certes with so lytel power she had neuer comen to londe but yf the folke of this londe were vnto her consentyng And therfore after meet they toke theyr counseyle and went towarde Wales for to arere the Walshmen agaynst the quene Isabell Edward her sone all for to fyght and so they were in purpose euerychone ¶ How mayster Walter Stapylton bisshop of Excestre the was the kynges tresourer was heded at London â—Nd in the same tyme kyng Edward was sore adrad lest that men of London wolde yelde them to the quene Isabel to her sone Edward Wherfore he set mayster Walter Stapylton his tresourer for to be wardeyn keper of the cite of London with the Mayre so came to the â—ylde hall of London asked the keyes of the gates of the Cyte through vertue and strength of his coÌ„myssyon wolde haue had the kepyng of the cite And the comuners answered and sayd that they wolde kepe the cite to the honour of kynge Edwarde of Isabell the quene and of the duke the kynges sone wtout ony moo Than was the bysshop sore anoyed and swore othes that they all sholde abye it anone as kynge Edwarde were comen out of Wales And all the comuners of the Cite anone toke the bysshop ladde hym amyddes of the Chepe and there they smote of his heed set his heed in his ryght hande And after they heded two of his squyers that helde with the bysshop one of them was called Wyllyam of Wayle that was the bysshops neuewe that other was called Iohn of Padington And also they toke a burgeys of London that was called Iohn Marshall that was syr Hugh spensers spye the fader smote of his heed also In the same tyme that bisshop had at London a fayre toure in makyng in his close vpon the ryuer of Tamys that was wtout temple barre stone fayled to make an ende therof wherfore he coÌ„manded his men to go to the freres Carmes there they toke stone to make therw t the toure moche sande morter olde robous that was lefte And for the despyte that the bysshop had done vnto holy chirche he his two squyers were buryed in the sande as though they had ben houÌ„des and there they laye .xj. wekes tyll that the quene Isabell sent her lettres to the comuners prayed them that they wolde suffre grauÌ„t that the bysshop myght be taken out of the place be buryed at Excestre in his own chirche so he was his two squyers were buryed at saint ClemeÌ„tes chirche wtout temple barre And it was no wonder though that bysshop dyed an euyl deth for he was a couetous man had with hym no mercy euyll couÌ„seylled the kynge And soone after was Arnold of Spayne taken that assented to haue ladde .v. M. pouÌ„de of syluer in .v. barels ferryers vnto the douzeâ—ers of FrauÌ„ce for to helpe haste the quene Isabell to her deth Edward her sone also And this Arnold was put to deth wtout the cite ¶ How kyng Edward syr Hugh spenser the erle of Arundell were taken WHan kynge Edwarde had sente mayster Walter Stapâ—lton his tresourer to London for to kepe the cite vnto hym agaynst the quene Isabell his wyfe agaynst Edwarde his sone anone hymselfe toke with hym sir Hugh Spenser the sene and syr Iohn oâ— Arundell mayster Robert Baâ—dok his chaunceler a fals pylled prcest and toke theyr waye toward Brystowe there the kynge abode a lytell tyme and made syr Hugh Spenser the fader as CoÌ„stable keper of the castell And the kyÌ„g that other spenser went to shyppe sayled toward Wales toke no leue of the steward nâ— of none of the kynges houshold w 〈…〉 euer in to Wales for to arere the W 〈…〉 agaynst dame Isabel the quene and the duke her sone the erle of Kent and syr Iohn of Henaud And they went pursued after theÌ„ theyr power encreased dayly So at the last the kyng was taken vpon an hyll in