kynges subieccyon Henry archbyshoppe of Huntyngdon that wrote myche of the cronycles of Englande in prayse of thys noble woman Elfleda made dyuers dytyes of the whyche some ben expressyd as foloweth Cesers tryuÌ„phes were not so myche to prayse As was of Elfleda that sheldes so ofte dyd rayse Agayne her enymyes this noble ven queresse Uirago and made whose vertue can I not expresse WHen Edwarde hadde reconciled these foresayde townes he then buylded a new towne for agayn the olde towne of Nothyngham on the south syde of the ryuer of Trent and made a brydge ouer the sayd ryuer betwene the sayd .ii. twones And as wytnessyth Policronica the yere folowynge in the sayde towne or cytye of Notyngham two kinges that is to saye of Scotlande and walys yeldyd them vnto kynge Edwarde The cause why nor of warre betwene theym to be contynued is not of hym expressyd How be yt dyuers bokes of writers of cronycles of Englande as of Marianê° the Scot wyllam of Malmesbury Henry of Huntyngdon other yt is shewyd that this Edwarde subdued the kynges of Scotlande and of CuÌ„brys aboute the .ix. yere of hys reygne And of the sayde authours yt is also testifyed that about the .xx. yere of the reygne of the sayde Edwarde these sayde kynges of Scottes and Cumbrys shulde chose this kynge Edwarde for theyr chefe lord and patrone whyche shuld be about this season before expressyd Then this noble prynce Edwarde after these thynges set by hym in an order he in the northe ende of Mercia by the ryuer of Merce buylded a cytye or towne and named yt Thylwall and strengthyd yt wyth knyghtes And after repayred the cytye of Maynchester that sore was defaced with warre of y e Danys After which notable dedis by y e puyssaunt prynce fynyshed wyth the maryage of hys chylder and many other whyche I omytte and passe ouer for length of tyme fynally this noble man dyed when he hadde reygned wyth great trauayle by the terme of .xxiiii. yeres at Faryngdon and from thens conueyed to wynchester and there enteryd in the monastery of saynt Swythyne leuyng after hym dyuers sonnes as before is shewed of the which Ethelstane was eldest Francia THE CLXXXI CHAPITER CHarlys surnamed the symple sonne of Lewys the .iiii. or Ryen Fayzand began hys reygne ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon as wytnessyth Iacobê° Philippus and other .ix. hundred .iiii and the thyrde yere of Edwarde the elder than kynge of Englande In tyme of whose reygne the Danys whyche contynuelly ouer the terme of .l. wynters that is to saye from y e x. yere of Charlys the Ballyd somtyme kynge of Fraunce vnto y e sayd dayes had wasted and spoyled the lande not wythstandyng y e agrementes made bytwene Charlys the emperour and them as before in y e story of the .iiii. Lewys is shewed yet they wyth greate hostes aryued in the couÌ„tre of Neustria or Normandy robbed and spoyled the countre before them and slewe the people thereof wythout pytye and from cytye to cytye kepte on theyr iourney tyll they came vnto the cytye of Roan wherof the bysshop beynge in greate drede of subuersyon of the cytye and destruccyon of the crysten people wyth in the same delyuered the cytye by appoyntment that he wyth y e people myghte departe thens wythout bodely harme whyche vnto the sayde Danys was a greate strength and hurte to the lande of Fraunce Of thys hoste of Danys was ruler and leder a myscreaunt named Rollo the whyche was a man of lowe byrthe but he was of greate strength The whyche whan he had a season rested hym and hys hoste refresshed them wythin the cytye of Roan he than set forth hys waye coÌ„mauÌ„dyng hys vawnewarde to kepe theyr iourney towarde Parys And for y e more spede to be made he shypped hys Danis ryght there and one parte he sent by the ryuer of Sean the seconde by the ryuer of Lyger or Leyr and the thyrde by the water Geronde Than the Danys that passyd by the ryuer of Leyr came at length to the cyte of Nauntes and wan that cytye by strength and slewe therin moche people And the byshop of the same named Guymerte beynge at masse they slewe at the aulter And whan they had spoyled that cytye the countre there about than yode they to the cytye of Angiers brent and robbyd it most cruelly And that done they yode vnto Towres and layde syege to that cytye The which by the presens of the holy body of saynt Martyne whych at that tyme was wythin y e cytye it was a whyle preserued But soone after the munkes feryng the sworde of the Danys fled the cytye secretly and toke the body wyth them And soone after the Danes had the towne at theyr wyll and brent the abbay before the town or staÌ„dynge without the towne and spoyled and robbed the cytye townes thorough the countre of Guyan whan the Danys had thus subdued the more parte of Neustria or Normandy They wyth theyr duke Rollo by y e ryuer of SeynÌ„ drewe towarde Parys And fyrst entred the landes of Burgoyne and Auerne in effecte to Senons wherof heryng the monkes of the monastery of Flory where the body of saynte Benet than rested they toke that holy treasoure and bare it vnto Orlyaunce layde it in the chyrche of saynt Anyan tyll the persecucyon were ouer passed Of thys monastery was at that dayes lyuynge a defensour by promyse before made whose name in latyne is called Sigillosus in FreÌ„ch Sigillophes an erle whych was taken for patrone of the same abbaye To whom in the nyght folowynge that the monkes were fled as before is sayd saynt Benet appered blamed hym y t he none other wyse had defended y e place of hys Sepulture wyth whych visyon the sayd erle beynge feryd gaderyd vnto hym vpon the daye folowyng such small power as he than myghte make set vpon the Danys and draue them backe slewe of them a great nomber And y e prayes that he there wan he offered to god and saynte Benet by whose prayers he knewe well that he opteyned that vyctory In tyme y t the Danys thus persecuted the countre of Fraunce and the kynge was not of power them to resyst for so mych as Charles knew well that the bysshop of Roan named Franke was in good fauour of Rollo he therfore sent hym in ambassade to the sayd Rollo to requyre a trewe or trewse for thre monethes the whych was grauÌ„ted The which trewse ended the sayd Rollo beseged the cytye of Chartrys Duryng whiche syege the duke of Burgoyne named Richarde wyth hys retynue assayled the Danys In tyme of which fyght Ebalde erle of Poytowe was present and draue backe y e Danys wherwyth the bysshop of the cytye beynge encoraged toke wyth hym y e smocke of our lady whyche at those dayes was kepte there wyth greate reuerence and wyth the cytesyns other issued out of
versys folowynge Christe tui calicis praedo fit praeda caducis re breui reiecis qui tollit aera crucis Viscera Carleolum corpus fons seruat Ebardi Et cor Rothamagū magne Richarde tuum In terra diuiditur vnus quia plus fuit vno Non superest vno gratia tanta viro The which versys may be englysshyd as foloweth Cryste of the these whyche on the ryght hande was And axyd mercy to vs thou made a praye That we lyke wyse shulde for our trespasse Axe of the mercy and shewe no delay Nor for erthly thynges caste our self away For who of thy crosse accompteth lyttell store The meryte of thy passyon he losyth euermore Thys manfull knyghte thys prynce vyctoryouse whyche toke thy crosse on hym wyth great payne He folowed the thefe and axyd mercy thus For hys offence he warred thy foes agayne And shadde theyr blood on hyll and eke on playne And all for loue good lorde he hadde to the. wherfore swyte Iesu on hym thou haue pytye Of whom the bowellys at Carleyll and the trunke At fount Ebrarde full rychely ys dyght The harte at Roan into the erthe ys sunke Of the worthy Rycharde And so in thre is twyght That more than one whylom was in myght In erthe is separate that lyuynge more then one was and of grace founde lyke to hym none IOhn̄ brother of y e aboue named Rycharde yongeste son of Henry the seconde was ordeyned or proclamed kyng of England the tenth day of Apryll in the begynnynge of the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred .lxxx. .xix and the .xx. yere of the seconde Phylyppe then kynge of Fraunce Thys Iohn̄ at the daye of his brothers deth was in Normandy where at Chynon as soon as his brother Rycharde was dyseasyd he possessyd hym of hys brothers treasour and sent Hubert archbyshoppe of Caunterbury into Englande to make prouisyon for his coronacyon And vppon Ester daye folowyng he was gyrde with the sworde of the duchy of Brytayne sayled soon after into Englād where he was crowned kynge at westmynster vppon holy thursday next folowynge of the forenamed Hubert After whyche solemnitye done he ordeyned the same Hubert chaunceller of Englande In thys whyle the Frenche kynge helde a counsayll at Cenomannia in Turon where to the derogacyon of kynge Iohn̄ Arture the son of Geffrey Plantagenet and neuewe to the sayde Iohn̄ was made duke of Brytayne whyche incontynently after wyth a great army entryd the countrey of Angeou and toke possessyon therof And kynge Phylyppe wyth hys people entryd the duchy of Normandy and layde syege to the cytye of Euroux and wanne yt wyth all the stronge holdes there about and stuffyd theym wyth vytayll strengthed them with his owne knyghtes and that done wasted spoyled the the countrey tyll he came to the cytye of Meaus where met wyth hym the forenamed Arture dyd to hym homage for the countrey of Angiers In the moneth of May Elyanour somtyme wyfe of Henry the seconde and mother to kyng Rycharde came into Fraunce and so to the kynge to Meaus foresayde and made to hym homage for the coūtrey of Poytiers as her enherytaunce And soone after the kinge retourned into Fraūce and the duke of Britayne wyth hym whyche as yet was within age Kynge Iohn̄ heryng of this warre in Normandy and losse of the countreys aboue named assembled a coūsayll and axid ayde of his lordes and cōmons to wynne agayne y e foresayd landes had it graunted after some wryters .iii. s. of euery plough land thorough Englande besyde y e subsydy of y e spyrytuall landes And when he hadde made redy for that belonged to hys voyage he about heruest sayled into Normandy where he taryed tyll Octobre folowynge spendynge the tyme to hys losse and dyshonoure Anno domini M.CC.  Anno domini M.CCi.  Arnolde fyz Arnolde  Balliui  Anno primo  Rycharde fyz Darty  AFter Mychelmas in the moneth of October and fyrste yere of the reygne of kynge Iohn̄ a trewce or peace was concluded betwene the two kynges of Englande and of Fraunce from that daye tyll mydsomer nexte folowynge and in lyke wyse betwene the French kyng and Baldwyne erle of Flaundres And thys yere was made a deuorce betwene kynge Iohn̄ and hys wyfe the erle of Glocetyrs doughter because of nerenesse of bloode And after was he maryed vnto Isabell the doughter of the erle of Engolesym in Fraunce and had by her two sonnys Henry and Rychard and .iii. doughters Isabell Elyanoure and Iane. Thys yere dyed at London blessyd Hugh byshop of Lyncoln̄ and was conueyed to his owne chyrch there enterryd For whom god hath shewyd many myracles so that at thys daye he ys authorysed by the chyrche for a saynte At mydlent after kyng Iohn̄ sayled agayne into Normandy And after Ester he mette with kynge Phylyppe betwene Uernon and the yle Audeley where the peace betwene both realmes was stablyshed and cōfermed for terme of theyr two lyues and the landes deuyded betwene the two kynges as eyther of them shuld holde theym contentyd for theyr lyues after And in shorte tyme after Lewys the eldest son of kynge Phylyppe maryed dame Blanch doughter to Alphons kynge of Castylle and neuewe to kynge Iohn̄ To the whyche Lewys kyng Iohn̄ for loue of that woman shewyd to hym great bountye and gaue vnto her many ryche gyftes In the moneth of Iuly folowyng kyng Iohn̄ rode into Fraūce where he was receyued of the Frēche kynge wyth myche honour and so cōueyed into saynte Denys where he was receyued wyth processyon And vppon the morow the Frenche kyng accompanyed hym vnto Parys where he was receyued of the cytezens wyth great reuerēce and presentyd by the prouoste of the towne in name of the hole cytye wyth ryche presentis And there kynge Phylyppe festyd hym in hys owne paleys gaue vnto hym and hys lordes and seruauntes many ryche gyftes and after conueyd hym forth of that citye and toke leue of hym in moste louynge wyse And when kynge Iohn̄ hadde spedde his maters in Normandy he then returned into Englande Anno domini M.CCi.  Anno domini M.CCii  Roger Desert  Balliui  Anno secun  Iamys fyz Barth  IN y e moneth of december and seconde yere of kynge Iohn̄ Ranulphe erle of Chestre by the example afore shewed by kynge Iohn̄ lefte hys owne wyfe named Constaūce and countesse of Brytayne whych before he had maried by counsayll of kynge Henry the seconde wedded one Clemens One cronycle sayth he dyd so because he wolde haue yssue But the sayd authour sayth that after hys opynyon he dyspleased god so greatly that god wolde suffer hym to haue none yssue but the rather for that dede dyed wythout About thys tyme after opynyon of moste wryters the people or nacyon callyd Tartares beganne theyr domynyon These men dwellyd vnder the hyllys of Inde y t belonged to prester Iohn̄
forenamed duke Appellaūte after thys noble duke of Lācastre to the great honour of all Englande And soone after dyuers obseruaūces accordyng to the law of armys done solempne othes taken eyther set in the rest to haue rōne the fyrst course But kynge Iohan of hys especyall grace ceased y e mater toke the quarell into hys handes so that eyther of theym departed the felde wythout any stroke strykynge and pacyfyed the appeale to the honoure of the duke of Lancastre as wytnesseth the Frenche boke nat wyth standynge he was the French kynges enemye And soone after the sayde duke of Lancastre wyth other nobles assygned to hym by the kyng of England wentte to Auynyon wyth the archebysshoppe of Roan than chaunceller of Fraunce and the duke of Burbō and other appoynted for the kynge of Fraunce to conclude efte a peace betwene theyr two prynces The whyche at the cytye beforesayd were harde at lengthe before the newe pope than named Innocente the .vi. whych also lyke to hys predecessour was a Frencheman and cardynall of Lymosyne in Normādy called by hys proper name Stephan Aubert In conclusyon after great argumēte made on eyther partye before the pope and hys counsayl fynally it was agreed that y e peace betwene the .ii. kynges shuld be kept holden inuiolate tyll mydsomer next folowynge Anno domini M.CCC.liii  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.liiii  wyllyam Tontynghm̄  Thomas Legge  Anno .xxix.  Rycharde Smert  IN thys .xxix. yere kynge Edward by the aduyce of hys coūsayll for so moche as the townes of Flaunders brake theyr promyse before tyme made and helde nat the bādes of amyte by theym promysed by the lyfe of Iaques de Artyuele but fauoured the Frēche kynges partye therefore he with drewe from theym the markettes and staples of wolles that in sondry townes of Flaunders had than lately by the prouycyon of the foresayd Iaques to theyr greate aduauntage vsed to be kept and ordeyned than the sayde staples to be holden in sondry good townes of Englande as westmynster Chychester Lyncolne Brystowe and Caunterbury And shortely after Easter the Frenche kynge sent hys eldest sonne Charles dolphyne of Uyenne into Normandy for to take the rule of y e countre and specially for to sease certayne landes castelles whyche at y e daye belonged vnto the kyng of Nauerne whyche than was oute of the Frenche kynges fauour for the deth of syr Charles of Spayne constable lately of Fraūce y t he had by his meanes murdered in a towne called the Aygle in Normandy vpō .ii. yeres before passed And whyle y e sayd dolphyne was thus besyed in Normādy he made suche meanes to y e rulers therof that they graūted vnto hym ayde of .iii. M. mē for .iii. moneths at theyr proper costes and charges Of thys soone after sprange suche tydinges y t the kyng of Englād was enfourmed that the Frēch kyng had gyuen to hys sonne Charles y e duchy of Normandy with all Gascoygne Guyan and howe y e Normānes had graūted vnto y e sayd Charles .iii. M. mē for .iii. moneths to warre at theyr costes vpō y e Englyshmē whych as y e Frēch boke testifieth was graūted to hym onely to defēde y e kyng of Nauerne y t came to Cōstātyne shortly after for to repossesse all such lādes as the sayd dolphyn of hys had there seased for that wyth a bygge armye made warre vpon the sayd dolphyn But were it thus or otherwyse trouth it is as diuers wryters agreē in the moneth of October and ende of thys yere prynce Edwarde wyth a great hoste entred Gascoyne and passed by Tholouse and passed the ryuer of Gerounde or Geron̄ and so passed by Carcassyon and brent the bulwerkes of that cytye and from thens he rode to Nerbon̄ in pyllyng spoylynge the countre as he went And in the same yere kynge Edwarde wyth his power landed at his towne of Caleys where he rested hī by all y e tyme of this mayres yere And in this yere was the house of the freres Augustynes of Londō fynysshed whyche was reedyfyed by syr Humfrey Bohum erle of Hertforde and Essex whose body lyeth buryed in the quere of the sayde house or chyrche before the hygh aulter Anno domini M.CCC.liiii  Anno domini M.CCC.lv  Thomas Forster  Symon Franceys  Anno .xxx.  Thomas Brandon  IN this .xxx. yere the kynge as ye before haue herde beyng at Caleys shortly after the feast of Alhalloyne toke his iournay towarde the Frenche kynge and contynued his iournay tyll he came to a towne named Hesden and brake there the Frenche kynges parke toke suche pleasures as hym there lyked In whiche season of his there beynge tydynges were brought vnto hym y t y e Scottes had gotē y e towne of Berwyke and how they made dayly assautes to wynne the castell wherfore the kyng made the more hasty spede and returned to Caleys and so into Englande For whiche cause sayth y e Frenche cronycle y t kynge Edwarde fled from the Frenche kynge y t than with a strōge power came from Amy as vnto saynt Omers Than kynge Edwarde sped hym into Scotlande so y t in the moneth of Ianuary and begynnynge of the xxx yere of his reygne and .xxvii. day of the sayd moneth he layd his syege to y e towne of Berwyke had it yolden vnto hym in shorte processe of tyme after And that doone he entred ferther into the lande and subdued y e cheyf townes holdes as he went pursued the Scottysshe kynge so narowly that in the ende he was fayne to submytte hym to y e kynges grace as prysoner and resygned his power into the kynges hande And whan kynge Edwarde had set that coūtre in a rule he returned with the Scottysshe kyng agayne into Englande and called his courte of parlyament at westmynster In y e whiche amōge other thynges to the kynges auauntage was graunted to the mayntenaunce of his warres .l. s. of a sacke of woll for y e terme of .vi. yeres But it contynued lenger though the marchaūtes staplers therat grutched Than let vs now retourne vnto that noble prynce Edward the fyrst begotten sonne of the kynge whych by all thys tyme warred vppon the Frenchmen as in y e precedynge yere is touchyd So that lastly he retourned to Burdeaux wyth many ryche prysoners and pyllages to the great honoure of hym selfe and the greate auauncement of hys soudyours And all be it that in that countrees whyche he then passed were the erles of Armenake and of Foyze of Poytyers and of Cleremount wyth syr Iames de Burbon̄ and many other knyghtes the whyche hadde dowble the people as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle that the prynce had yet passed he from Tholous to Nerbon̄ fro Nerbon̄ to Burdeaux wythout batayle And after the prynce hadde there a whyle rested hym and hys people and sent dyuers of hys prysoners in to Englande he wyth hys hoste entred the
appeled the prynce of walys in the Frenche kynges courte that he hadde broken the peace and wronged theym contrary the peace stablysshed betwene Englande FrauÌ„ce requyred the FreÌ„ch kyng y t the sayd appeale myght haue due processe agayne the sayd prynce The whyche as sayth the French cronicle kynge Charles deferred for certayne causes there towched whyche were to longe to reherce Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lxvii  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lxviii  Adam wymbynghmÌ„  Symon MordonÌ„  Anno .xlii.  Robert Gyrdeler  IN thys .xliii. yere or more certaynly in the ende of the precedynge yere one walter Bernes mercer was vpon the day of y e traÌ„slation of saynt Edwarde kyng and confessoure or the .xiii. daye of Octobre chosen by the mayre aldermen mayre of the cytye of London But howe it was for lacke of substaunce or by other impedymente which is nat noted the sayd walter vpon the daye of Symonde Iude folowynge whaÌ„ he shulde haue taken hys othe at Guylde halle apered nat wherfore in hys rome by eleccyon of the foresayde mayre and aldermen was admytted for that yere folowynge Symonde MordonÌ„ fysshmonger mayre of that cytye And in thys yere and moneth of Marche Peter kynge of Castyle whyche by the ayde of the Sarazyns dwellyng in the borders of Spayn hadde wonne and recouered somme parte of the lande of Castyle encountrede wyth hys bastarde brother Henry beforesayde and gaue vnto hym batayll nere to a towne called Sybylle where after longe fyght the sayde Peter was scomfyted and moche of hys people slayne and hym dryuen vnto a castell oute of the whyche he was shortly after by treason gotteÌ„ presented vnto hys brother forenamed by whose senteÌ„ce he was iÌ„medyatly byheded After whose deth the sayd Henry enioyed the hole lande of Castyle whych infortunytie myschauÌ„ce fylle to thys Peter after dyuers wryters for so moche as he cruelly slew hys owne wyfe y e doughter of the duke of BurbonÌ„ And in thys yere and moneth of Maye the kynge of Fraunce in hys hyghe court of parlyamente holdeÌ„ at Parys proceded in iugemente vpon the appellacyons before made by the erle of Armenak the lorde of Bret and erle of Perogort agayne prynce Edward as before is towched in the precedynge yere wherupon dyscorde and varyaunce began to take place betwene the .ii. kynges in so moche y t by meane of the sayd .iii. lordes natwythstandyng that they were before sworne to be to the kyng of EnglaÌ„de trewe lyege men dyuers townes of the countre of Poyteaw yelded them to the Frenche kynge as Albeuyle Rue the more partye of the sayde townes of the sayd countre wherupoÌ„ ambassades were sente vppon bothe partyes dyuers meanes of treaty were comoned whyche conteyneth a longe werke wyth resonynge made vpon the same But in conclusyoÌ„ all came to none effecte So that breche of the peace whych before betwene y e ii kynges was so substaÌ„cially concluded was brokeÌ„ eyther kyng for his partye made prouysioÌ„ for the warre In so moch y e kynge Charles spedde hym to Roan in Normandy there in y e moneth of Iuly rigged his nauy to set theym forewarde for to warre vpon Englande In whyche tyme season y e kyng Charles was thus occupyed in NormaÌ„dy the duke of LaÌ„castre laÌ„ded at Caleys with a stroÌ„ge company of archers other warryours froÌ„ thens passed to ThoroueÌ„ne so to Ayre in wastyng the countre with irne fyre as he went wherfore y e French kyng in defence of those partyes sente the duke of Burgoyne with a puyssaunt armye to withstaÌ„de the sayde duke of LaÌ„castre The whych duke of Burgoyne sped hym iÌ„ such wyse y t about y e .xxiiii. day of August he lodged hys hoste vpon the mouÌ„tayne of Turnehan nere vnto Arde. And the English hoste was lodged betwene Gygowne Arde so that y e frountes of both hostes were within a myle Betwene whome were dayly skyrmysshes and small bykerynges without any notarye batayll And whaÌ„ the sayd duke of BurgoynÌ„ had thus kept the sayde mount froÌ„ the .xxiiii. day of Auguste vnto the .xii. day of SepteÌ„bre he remoued hys hoste yode vnto HesdeÌ„ For the whych dede he was after blamed of kyng Charles hys brother After whych departure of the FreÌ„chemen the duke of Lancastre with hys hoste tooke y e waye towarde Caus or Caux passed the ryuer of SuÌ„me so rode toward Harflew entendynge as sayth the FreÌ„che boke to haue fyred the Frenche kynges nauy But at theyr coÌ„myng thyder y e towne was so stroÌ„gly maÌ„ned y t they dyd there lytell scathe wherfore the sayd duke departed shortly thens and spedde hym into the countrye of Poyteau and so came vnto the towne of Albeuyle where wythout the Frenchemen encountred hym and gaue vnto hym batayll In the whych was taken syr Hugh ChastelonÌ„ knyght with other knyghtes esquyres burgeyses of the towne and vpoÌ„ .xvi. score FreÌ„chmen slayne whyche sayde prysoners to the nombre of fyue fourty were sent vnto Caleys y e duke with hys company yode vnto Burdeaux in spoylyng of the FreÌ„chmeÌ„ as he went Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xlviii  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lix  IohnÌ„ Pyell  IohnÌ„ Chychester  Anno .xliiii.  Hugh Holdyche  IN thys .xliiii. yere and moneth of Ianuary dyed the erle of warwyke at Caleys after he was retourned from the duke of Lancastre whyche was a man of great fame And in y e moneth of August dyed that noble woman quene Phylype wyfe vnto Edwarde the thyrde The whyche was a greate benefactoure vnto the chanoÌ„s of saynt Stephans chapell at westmynster And soon after dyed dame BlauÌ„ch somtyme the wyfe of Henry duke of Lancastre was buryed at Poules vpon the noâ—thsyde of the hyghe aulter by her husbande where she ordeyned for hym and her .iiii. chauÌ„tres for euer an annyuersarye yerely to be kept At the whych ouer great thynges be set vnto the deane chanons of the churche she ordeyned that the mayre beynge presente at the masse shuld offre .i. d. and take vp .xx. s the shyryffes eyther of them a peny and to receyue eyther of them a marke y e chaÌ„berlayn of the cytie .x. s the sword berer .vi. s. .viii. d and euery officer of the mayres there present .xxii. d and to euery offycer to the nombre of .viii eyther of theym .viii. d. admytted for the shyreffes The whyche obyte at thys daye is holden But by reason that the lande is decayed these forenamed summes ben greately mynysshed so that the mayre at thys daye hath but .vi. s. viii.d bothe the shyreffes syxe s. eyghte d and other after that rate In thys yere also the kynge helde hys parlyament at westmynster In the whych was graunted vnto hym iii. fyftenes to be payde in .iii. yeres folowynge And by a conuocacyon of the clergye was also grauted vnto hym .iii. dysmes to be payde in lyke maner And in thys yere
certayn laÌ„des within that duchy The whych variaunce to apese the kyng toke therein somme payne But no direccion he myght set therein so y t the sayd duke and syr IohnÌ„ departed with wordes of dyffiauÌ„ce And shortly after y e sayd syr IohnÌ„ accompanyed with dyuers noble meÌ„ of Almayne entred y e duchy of Burgoyne and therin dyd moche harme to the couÌ„tre and people and gat certayne castelles and theÌ„ fortyfyed with Almaynes ThaÌ„ y e duke hauyng in his ayde y e kyng of Nauerne the duke of NormaÌ„dy â–ª with y e erle of EscaÌ„ps and of FlauÌ„dres â–ª assâ—eged y e castel of Chausy at y e ende of .vi. wekes wan y e same and after yode vnto the cytye of Besenson layd siege to it also But whaÌ„ he had leyne there a loÌ„ge season he was fayne to coÌ„clude a trewes his host was in such 〈◊〉 of vytayll By reason of whych peas or trewes y e hostes were deseuered the ende of y e warre vnparfyted But in the ende folowynge by meane of y e FreÌ„ch kyng a dyreccioÌ„ was takeÌ„ betwene the sayd ê‘tyes And thys yere kyng Philip sent certayne messeÌ„gers vnto kyng Edward vpoÌ„ certayn demauÌ„des for y e castel of yauÌ„tes other for y e which coÌ„trauersie fyrst begaÌ„ to kyndle betwene the sayde .ii. prynces as in y e .x. yere of Edward is touched with the other yeres folowyng In the .ix. yere of this Philip apered a blasyng sterre After the whych ensued greate mortalytye within the realme of FrauÌ„ce aswel of men as of beestes And in this yere a nother maÌ„ of y e prouynce of LaÌ„gedok named Arnolde of NormaÌ„dy was heded hanged vpoÌ„ y e coÌ„mon gybet of Parys for asmoch as by hys meanes it was proued that the EnglyshmeÌ„ had wonne the castell of Paracoll And in the .x. yere of kynge Philip kyng Edward of EnglaÌ„d sent syr Barnard de Bret into FlauÌ„dres for causes touched shewed in the .xii. yere of the sayd Edward And in y e .xi yere of this Philip kyng Edward sayled into BrabaÌ„t alyed hym wyth Lowys y e Empour And whyle the Frenche kyng taryed with hys hoste at saint Quyntyne in Uermandoys kyng Edward entred into Fraunce and spoyled and brent a parte of Treresse nat without some note or 〈◊〉 of Cowardyse arrected to the FreÌ„ch kyng and hys hoste of hys owne subgectes And in the same yere began the towne of GauÌ„te to rebell wyth other townes of FlauÌ„dres by the mocion of Iaques de Artyuyle as in the .xiiii. yere is shewed of kyng Edward the thyrde In the twelf yere of thys Philip whych y e FreÌ„ch boke calleth the yere of confusyon kynge Edwarde beynge retourned into Englande the Frenche kynge assembled a myghty hoste to go agayne the Henauders Flemynges Brytons came with the sayde hoste vnto Arras and sent from thens a part of hys people with hys sonne IohnÌ„ than duke of Normandy into Henaude for to warre vppon the countrey there whyche went streyght vnto Cambraye after layd siege to that castel called Esthandune And wythin .xv. dayes folowynge the Frenche kynge hys father came vnto the sayd syege wyth innumerable people The whiche castell at th ende of a moneth after the kynges coÌ„mynge was gyueÌ„ vp by apoyntement And that done y e kynge remoued hys siege to a castell of the bysshoppe of Cambray named Thune standynge vpon the ryuer of Lescaut â–ª where the kynge laye longe tyme withoute harme doynge vnto y e sayde castell At lengthe the duke of Brabant with the erle of Gerle with a stronge hoste of dyuers nacyons came for to remoue that siege so that the Frenche hoste lay vpon that one syde of the ryuer the Brabanders vpoÌ„ that other But by meane of .iiii. brydges whych were made ouer that ryuer bothe hostes at sondry tymes mette faughte dyuers sharpe skyrmysshes to the losse of people vppon bothe partyes But in the ende the castell was so betyn wyth gonnes y t the capytayne therof put all hys mouables in a shyp and after wyth such sowdyours as were lefte entred the sayde shyp sette the castell vppon a lyght fyre wherof whan the Frenche kynge was ware in all haste he caused the walles to be scaled and so entred stanched the fyre And the same nyght the hoste of Brabanders departed also whan the kynge haâ— thus wonâ—â— thys castell he than sente the dukes of Normandy of Burgoyn vnto a towne named Quesnoy And whan y e sayd dukes had brent a parte of that towne other vyllages there about they retourned agayne vnto y e FreÌ„ch hoste And shortly after the kynge retourned into Fraunce there made prouycyon to sende forthe hys nauy to mete wyth kyng Edwarde whych were to the nombre of .iiii. huÌ„dreth or aboue the whyche as in the .xv. yere of Edwarde the thyrde is before shewed mette the Englysshe nauy and there at a place called y e SwynÌ„ were ouercommen AFter thys great victory thus opteyned by the kynge of Englande the Frenche kynge wyth a great hoste herynge comfortable tydynges of the discomfiture of syr Roberte de Artoys before the towne of saynte Omers as before in the .xv. yere of kyng Edward is also shewed sped hym tyt he came to the pryory of saynte Andrew where he taryenge wyth hys people certayne lettres were sent to hym by kynge Edwarde â–ª wherof the tenour with the answere of the same are set out in the forsayd xv yere with other maters apparteynynge to the actes of bothe prynces whan the peace was concluded betwene the sayde kynges as in y e sayd xv yere is declared y e kyng of FrauÌ„ce retourned to hys owne And in y e .xiii yere of hys reygne dyed IohnÌ„ duke of Brytayne After whose deth Charles de Bloys IohnÌ„ de Mountfort claymed seuerally to be enherytours of that duchy whyche Charles was sonnÌ„ vnto the erle of Bloys neuew vnto the Frenche kynge by reason y â— Margareâ—â— hys syster was mother vnto the sayde Charles The whych Charles had maried the doughter of Guy de Brytayne vycount of Lymoges secoÌ„de brother of the forenamed IohnÌ„ duke of Brytayne And y â— sayd IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tforte was the thyrde brother vnto the forsayd IohnÌ„ duke of Brytayn now dede So that thys questyon of thys clayme rested vpon thys poynt whether the doughter of the secoÌ„d brother shuld enheryte y e duchy or y e yonger brother consideryng y t IohnÌ„ the eldest brother dyed without heyre of hys body and Guy the seconde brother without heyre male wherfore the thyrde brother IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tfort claymed to be duke of Brytayne whiche case and question was brought before y e FreÌ„ch kynge hys lordes there debated argued by a longe season But in y e ende sentence passed agayn syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tfort Charles de Bloys was put in possession of y e duchy by kyng Philip to whome the sayd Charles dyd hys homage for the same
Brytons or walshemen the towne of Chester that they hadde kepte possessyon of tyll that daye For the whych vyctoryes thus by hym obteyned he shortely after called a counsayll of his lordes at wynchester and there by theyr aduysys crowned him kyng and chese lorde of this lande that to fore thys daye is called Brytayne and sente then oute into all costes of thys lande his commaundementes and commyssyons chargyng straytly that from that day forthward the Saxons shulde be called Anglys the lande Anglia About the .xxiiii. yere of the reygne of Egbert whyche shulde be the yere of our lord as meaneth Policronica viii hundred and .xix. Kenelmus before mynded the son of Kenwolfus was admytted for kynge of Mercia beynge then a chyld of the age of .vii yeres The whyche by treason of his syster Ouendreda was slayne in a thycke wood by a tyraunt callid Hesbertus and hys bodye after founde by a pyller of the sonne beame or of lyght dyuyne that shone from his bodye towarde heuen It ys also redde of hym that a coluer bare a scrowle wryten in englyshe then vsed and lette yt fall from hyr vppon the aulter of saynte Peter in Rome wherof the wordes were these At clense in Cowbacch Kenelme Kenebern lyeth vnder Thorne hewyd beweuyd whyche is to meane in englyshe now vsyd at Clent in Cow vale vnder a thorne lyeth Kenelmus hedlesse slayne by fraude when this holy body was founde and was borne towarde the place of his sepulture his forenamed syster entendynge some derysyon or other vylanye to be done to the corps lenyd oute of a wyndowe where by the corps shulde passe And to bryng her malycyouse purpose aboute I note by what sorcery she ment there she redde the psalme of the Sauter begynnynge Deus laudem bacward But what so her entente was she there incontynently fell blynde and her eyen dystylled dropes of blood that fell vppon the Sauter boke The which in token of goddes wretche in that boke remayne at thys daye to be sene Of the holynes of thys martyr of his vertue y e legēde of sayntes reportyth the surplusage In the .xxix. yere of the reygne of Egbert or after the englyshe cronycle Edbryght the Danys wyth a great hoste enteryd the seconde tyme thys londe and spoyled the yle of Shepey in Kent or nere to kent wherof herynge the kynge Egbert assembled hys people and met wyth theym at a place callyd Carrum But he wanne of that fyghte lytell worshyppe for the Danys compellyd him and his knyghtes to forsake the felde And by presumpcyon of y e vyctorye they drewe westwarde and made a confederey wyth weste Brytons that liued in seruage By whose power they assayllyd Egbertus landes and dyd myche harme in many placys of hys domynyon and ellys where so that after thys daye they were contynuallye abydynge in one place of the realme of Englande or other tyll y e tyme of harde Kynytus laste kynge of the Danys blood so that many of theym were maryed to Englishe women and many that nowe ben or in tyme passed were called englyshe men are dyscendyd of theym And all be yt that they were many and sondry tymes dryuen out of that lande and chasyd frō one countrey to a nother as after ye shall here yet that not wythstādyng they euer gaderyd newe strengthes and power so that they abode styll wythin the lande Of the kynge of these Danys and of what people they be dyscended dyuerse opynyons of wryters there be whych now I passe ouer for so mych as I entende to shewe somewhat of theym in this worke folowynge Then it folowyth in the storye the tyme contynuyng of the persecucion of these foresayd Paganys and Danes Egbert or Edbryght dyed whē he hadde well and nobly ruled the westsaxons and other the more parte of Englande by the terme after most wryters of .xxxvii. yeres and was buryed at wynchester as sayth Guydo and lefte after hym a sonne named Athenulphus Francia THE CLIX. CHAPITER LOdouicus y e fyrst of that name and sonne of Charlis the great began hys reygne ouer y e realme of Fraūce also his empyre ouer the Romaynes in the yere of grace .viii. hūdred and .xv and the .xx. yere of Egbertus then kynge of westsaxons Thys for his mekenesse was callyd Lewys the mylde or meke In tyme of hys fathers decease he was occupyed in Guyan the whych he before tyme hadde the rule and domynyon of by commaundement of his father But when he was aduertised of his faders deth he anon sped hym toward Aquisgrani so y t y e .xxx. day after hys departyng out of Guyan he came vnto the foresayde cytye where he was mette wyth all the nobles and barons of Fraūce And fyrst or he medled or toke vpon hym any cure or charge of hys owne besynes he with most deuocyon causyd great obseruaunces and myche dyuyne seruyce to be done aboute the sepulture of his father whyche obseruaunce prayers fynyshed and endyd y e sayde Lewes commaundyd to come before hym dyuerse ambassadours that frō dyuerse prynces were sent vnto hys father Charlis and to theym gaue answers concernyng theyr legacyōs and messagis and then proceded vnto the nedes of his realm for y e weale therof and of his people wherein he beynge besyed worde was brought to hym of an ambassad royall y t was comen from Michael the emperour of Constantyne the noble Agayne the whyche he sent certayne of hys lordes to receyue them and so wyth all honour to bryng thē vnto hys presence Of whose commynge the entente was to presente hym wyth certayne ryche gyftes and to desyre hym of his amyte and frendshyppe Also soone after came vnto hym messengers from the Beneuētanys offerynge vnto his magnyfycence obligacyons and bondes to be his true lyeges and to paye to hym yerely in way of trybute .vi. thousande ducates of gold A ducate is of sondry valuys but the leste in value is .iii. s. iii d. ob and the beste .iiii. s. vii d. Then the Soysons or Saxons that were so dyuerse of condycyon beganne to murmoure and rebell agayne this Lowys wherfore or he wolde assemble any people agayne theym he sent thyder certayne persones to know y e cause of theyr rebellyon And when he was enfourmed that yt was for the takynge awaye from them of certayne lādes and possessyons by hys father he then restored agayne the sayde landes and so recouncylyd the countrey to his subieccyon For this dede some of his lordes grudged and sayde such myldenes was not to be vsyd to people of suche obstynacy and sternesse but to haue forcyd them by dynte of sworde to haue lyued in due obedyence In thys passetyme dyed pope Stephan the fourth of that name after whose deth was elected to that dygnyte the fyrste Pascall wythout cōsente or knowlege of this Lowys somdeale to the dyscontentynge of his mynde pleasure But in shorte tyme after he receyued such wordes and presentes
entred the boundes of Italy wherof herynge y e pope and the emperour than as before is sayd beynge at Papye busyed in a great counceyle dissoluyd the same And the pope incontyneÌ„tly toke leue of the emperour departyd agayne to Rome And Charlys wyth a great power that he had gaderyd as well of Italyans as of hys owne people made towarde hys neuewe wherof herynge the sayde Charlone turned agayne by the waye that he had comen tyll he came to hys owne countrey as sayth myne authour also y e French boke But more verely Charlone kepyng togyther hys hoste and hauynge fauour of dyuers lordes of Italye the emperoure Charlys remouyd to y e cytye of Mantue where he was grudged wyth a feuer For remedy wherof he toke a pocyon of a physycyon Iewe named Sedechias whyche was intoxicat by meane of whych venemous pocyon he dyed shortly after whan he hadde reygned as kynge emperoure after moste accorde of writers by y e space of .xxxvii. yeres wherof he reygned as emperoure .iii. yeres leuynge after hym a sonne named Lewys whyche as before is shewed was ruler of the couÌ„trey of Austracy or Lorayne whan thys Charlys was dede hys frendes entendynge to haue caryed the corps into Fraunce causyd it to be seryd and enoynted wyth ryche and precyous bawmes and other oyntmentes and aromatykes But all myghte not stoppe the intolerable ayre of hys body so that they were fayne to bury hym at Uercyle wythin the monastery of saynt Euseby where he laye ouer .vii. yeres after and then taken vp and conueyed to saynt Denys in FrauÌ„ce and there honorably buryed THE CLXVI CHAPITER IN the tyme of thys Charlys the Ballyd as wytnessen many wryters began the erledome of Flaunders the whyche euer before these dayes the ruler therof was called the forester of the kynge of FrauÌ„ce whyche erledome had hys begynnynge by thys meane ye haue harde before in the story of Adeulphus kynge of westsaxons how in hys retornynge from Rome he maryed the doughter of Charlys y e Ballyd named Indith The which Indyth after the deth of her sayde husbonde retornyd by Flaunders towarde Fraunce thynkynge to passe wythout daunger bycause the sayde countrey was vnder the obedyence or her father But at those dayes was ruler or forester in that partyes a noble yonge amerous man callyd Bawdewyne the whyche herynge of the great beautye of thys Indith gaue attendaunce vppon her And receyued her in hys best maner makyng to her all the chere that to hym was possyble and fynally cast to hyr suche loue that whan she supposed to departe and to haue gone into Fraunce he delayed the mater in suche curteys and wyse maner that he wan such fauour of her that she made no greate haste to departe frome hym all be it that moste authours agre that he kepte hyr perforce whan Charlys hadde wyttynge that Bawdewyne thus helde hys doughter Indith he sent to hym straytly chargynge hym to sende home hys doughter but that holpe not the mater ThaÌ„ he purchasyd agayn hym the censures of holy chyrch and accursed the sayd Bawdewyne But whan the kynge conceyued that the yonge man hadde suche loue to Indyth that he sette not by that punysshement and also was certeynly enformed that hyr harte was gyuen vnto hym he in processe by y e meane of some bysshoppes and frendes of the sayd Bawdewine agreed that he shulde take hyr to wyfe and in the name of hyr dowar he shulde holde and enioye the sayd countre of FlauÌ„ders And for he wolde haue hys doughter to be the more honoured he creatyd the sayde Bawdewyne an erle and commaunded hym to be called after that daye erle of FlauÌ„ders It is also shewyd in the Frenche cronycle and of other wryters that thre dayes before hys deth hys spiryte shulde be rauysshed from hys body and vnto places of payne and turment where thys Charlys by the ledynge of an aungell shulde se hylles and mountaynes brenne pyttes full of sulphyr pytche and hote boylynge lede In whyche paynes the sayde Charlys shulde se many of hys progenytours and bysshoppes that counceyled prynces to debate or stryfe or gaue counceyle to them to rayse of theyr subiectys vnlefull taskys or imposycyons wyth many other thynges whyche I passe ouer for length of the mater Anglia THE CLXVII CHAPITER EThelwaldus or Ethelwoldus y e eldeste sonne of Adeulphus began hys reygne ouer the westesaxons or ouer y e more partye of Englande in the yere of our lorde viii hundred and .lv and the .x. yere of Charlys the Ballyd than kynge of Fraunce The whyche became so vnhappy that he maryed y e woman whyche hys father hadde somtyme kepte or holden for hys concubyne as wytnessyth y e authour of y e Floure of hystoryes But Polycronycon sayth that he wedded his stepmoder whyche dysaccordyth wyth the sayenge of other wryters which testifye his stepmoder to be maryed to Bawdewyn erle of FlauÌ„ders as in y e story of Charlys last before is shewyd Thys Ethelwolde though it be not expressyd by what hap he dyed whan he hadde reygned one yere as sayth Polycronyca But another cronycle beryth wytnesse that he was slayne as a martyr of Hungar and Hubba prynces of Danys About thys tyme the holy kynge saynt Edmund coÌ„tynued his reygne ouer the Eest Anglis or Norfolke THE CLXVIII CHAPITER EThelbertus the seconde sonne of Adeulphê° began his reygn ouer the more partye of Englande in the yere of our lorde .viii. hundred lvi the .xi. yere of Charlis y e Ballid then kynge of Fraunce In whose tyme the Danys wyth more strengthes entred y e west part of this land and robbed and spoyled the couÌ„trey before theym tyll they came to wynchester toke the cytye by strength and dyd therin what they wold But the kynge made suche prouysyon that by hym his dukes they were forcyd to forsake the cytye And as they yode toward theyr shippes they were fought wyth and a great parte of theym slayne and taken Of this kynge is nothynge ellys lefte in memory more then before is shewyd but that he dyed when had reygned after moste wryters .vi. yeres and was buryed at Shyrborne leuynge after hym none yssu of hys body wherfore the rule of the lande fell to his brother Etheldrede THE CLXIX CHAPITER ETheldredus the thyrde sonne of Adeulphus beganne hys reygne ouer the west Anglis and the more parte Englande in the yere of our lorde .viii. hundred .lxiii the xviii yere of Charlis y e Ballyd then kynge of Fraunce In the begynnyng of this kynges reygne the Danes landed in eest England or Norff. and Suff. But they were compellyd to forsake that countrey and so toke agayne shyppynge and saylyd northwarde and landed in Northumberlande where they were mette wyth of the kynges then there reynynge callyd Osbryghte and Ella whyche gaue to theym a stronge fyghte But that not wythstandynge the Danys wyth helpe of suche as enhabyted y e countrey wan the
so sharpely that he was constrayned to leue the countrey and sayled into Fraunce and lefte the nuÌ„ne behynde hym the whych the kynge caused to be restoryd agayn to the house y t she was taken fro The nexte yere folowyng the sayd Clito wyth his coÌ„pany landed in eest Englande gaderyd to hym y e Danys of that countrey and with theyr ayde destroyed and pylled the countrey about Crekynforde Criklade And then passed y e ryuer of Thamis spoyled the land to Bradenestoke and so froÌ„ thens retourned into eest Anglia y t is Norffolke Suffolke The kynge folowed his enymyes and spoyled of theyr landes whyche they helde by composycyon from the ryuer of Owse to the bordure of saynte Edmundus lande commaundynge hys knyghtes of hys hoste that none shulde dragge or tarye after hys hoste for fere that they were not beclyppyd of theyr enmyes But the Kentyshe men whych trusted to myche in theyr owne strength dysobeyed that commaundement wherfore the Danys awaytynge theyr praye fyll vppon them by bushementes and slewe the more partye of theym wherwyth the kyng was sore dyscontentyd Soone after bothe hostes mette where after longe fyght Clyto wyth many of the Danys was slayne and the remenaunt constrayned to seche peace the whyche was graunted vppon certayne condycyons that they shulde holde theym wythin the boundes to theym lymytted and ouer that paye yerely a certayne money in waye of trybute After whyche peace wyth them stablyshed he repayred cytyes townes and castellys that by the sayde Danys were shatered and broken And about the .viii. yere of his reygne kynge Edwarde repayred the wallys and also the cytye of Kaerlyon that now is called Chester To the whych were great helpers Etheldredê° duke of Mercia Elfleda his wyfe doughter of Alurede as before is shewyd suster of this kynge Edwarde And that done the kynge buylded a stronge castell at Herforde in y e egge of walys And he enlarged so greatly y e walles of Chester y t the castell whych before tyme was wyth out the wall is now wythin And the .ix. yere of his reygn Etheldredê° duke of Mercia by couÌ„sayll of his wyfe traÌ„slated y e bones of y e holy kyng Oswald froÌ„ Bradony to Gloucestre there buylded a fayre monastery in the worshyp of saynt Peter In the .xii. yere of kyng Edwardes reygne the Danes repentynge them of theyr couenauntes before made myndyng enteÌ„dyng y e breche of the same asseÌ„bled an hoste met with y e kynge in Staffordeshyre at a place called Toten halle and soone after at wodenesseylde At whyche .ii. places the kynge slew two kynges two erlys and many thousandes of the Danys that then occupyed the countrey of Northumberlande And soon after dyed the noble man Etheldredus duke or erle of Mercia or myddell Englande After whose deth the kynge for so myche as he hadde often prouyd her wysedome he toke the rule of that countrey to hys wyfe Elfleda London alonely exceptyd the whyche he toke vnder his onwe rule THE CLXXX CHAPITER OF this noble woman Elfleda yf I shulde shewe all the vertues yt shuld aske a long tyme and leasure But amonges other of her noble dedes she buylded and newly repayred many townes cytyes and castellys as Tomworth besyde Lychefeld Stafforde warwyke Shrowesbury watrysbury Eldysbury in the forest besyde Chester that nowe is ouer tourned and destroyed Also she buylded a cytye wyth a castell in the Northe ende of Mercia vpon y t ryuer Merce that in those dayes was named RuncofanÌ„ but now yt is called RuncornÌ„ And she also buylded a brydge ouer the ryuer of SeuernÌ„ whyche is or was named Brymmysburye brydge This stronge virago fauour of cytezeyns and fere of enymyes halpe myche the kyng her brother in gyuynge of counsayll buyldynge of cytyes Of her is told that when she hadde ones assayed the wo and sorowe that women fele and suffer in berynge of a chylde she hated the enbrasynge of her husband euer and toke wytnesse of god and sayde that yt was not coÌ„uenyent or semely to a kinges doughter to vse such flesshely lykynge wherof suche sorowe shuld ensue or folowe In the .xiii. yere of the reygne of this Edwarde a great nauy of Danys whych in tyme of Alurede were driuen into Fraunce now retourned agayn and sayled about the west couÌ„trey and landed in dyuers places toke prayes and went to theyr shyppes agayn And at one time amoÌ„ges other they robbed and spoyled at a place called Irchynfeylde and toke a Brytyshe byshop and caryed hym to theyr shyppes and fynally raunsomed hym at .xl. pounde But as soone as kynge Edwarde had knowlege of theyr beyng he assembled his knyghtes and sped hym westwarde by lande and sent a nother hoste by shyppe to encounter the Danys vppon the see wherof heryng the sayd Danys fledde into Irlande and by that course voyded the land and handes of the kynge Then the kynge for strengthynge of the countrey made a castell at the mouth of the water of Auene and a nother castell at Bokyngham and the thyrd faste therby y t is to meane vpon eyther syde of y e ryuer of Owseone And after retourned into Northamtonshyre and Bedfordshyre faughte there wyth the Danys of these couÌ„tres and at length subdued theâ— wyth theyr leder or duke called Turketyllus About the .xvii. yere of this kynges reygned Elfleda lady of Mercia before mynded gaderyd her knightes And where the Brytons or walshe men brake into the lande about Brekenoke she wyth her people wythstode theym and amonge other prysoners prayes toke there the quene of walshemen And the yere folowynge kynge Edwarde buylded or newly reedyfyed the townes of Towsetour and wygmore and destroyed the castell that the Danys hadde made at Temesforde And that yere the noble Elfleda wanne the towne of Derby from the power of the Danys where they put her in such adueÌ„ture that foure knyghtes whyche were called Gardeyns of her corps were slayne faste by her And y e .xviii. yere of his reygne dyed that noble pryncesse Elfleda in the moneth of Iune and was buryed in the monastery of saynt Peter which her lorde and she before tyme hadde buylded wythin the towne of Gloucetour as aboue is touched ouer the bones of that holy kynge saynte Oswalde whyche monastery was after throwen to grounde by the Danys But Aldredus byshop both of yorke of worcetour made there an other whyche is now chefe house or abbay of that towne or cytye when Elfleda was deed her doughter named Elswyna helde the lordeshyppe of Mercia a season But for the kynge coÌ„sydered yt to be to great a thynge for her to rule he therfore dyscharged her therof and ioyned it to his kyngedome but not all wythout stryfe For dyuers townes kepte of the kyng for a tyme as Snotyngham or Nothyngam Tomworth Derbye and other supposynge the doughter wold haue defended them as the mother by her lyfe had done But finally they came to the
reygne the Sarasyns entred the lande of Burgoyne wyth a grete armye and dyd mych harme in that duchy wherfore the kynge gaderynge his hoste met wyth them at a place called in latyne Carrolas and in French Callo the lasse where the Frenchmen were vyctours but nat wythout greate losse of theyr people Than it foloweth whanne thys Rauff had ruled the lande of FrauÌ„ce by y e space of .xii. yeres he dyed with out issue male And was buryed in the chyrche of saynte Calumb in the prouynce of Senys Anglia THE CLXXXIIII CHAPITER EThelstanÌ„ y e son of Edwarde the elder began hys reygne ouer the more part of Englande in y e yere of our lorde .ix. hundred .xxv and the thyrde yere of Rauff than kynge of Fraunce In the fyrst yere of the reygne of EthelstanÌ„ the holy chyld Dunstane was borne in the couÌ„tre of Glastenbury whose lyfe shone after wyth many myracles This was somtyme abbot of GlasteÌ„bury lastly archbyshop of Caunterbury whose holynes ê“phecyes are shewed at length in the .vi. chapyter of the .xvi. tytle of the worke called SinÌ„ Antonini and in the legende of the chyrche also In the seconde yere of the reygne of Ethelstane for an vnytye and a peace to be hadde betwene the kyng and the Danis of Northumberland he maryed to Sithyricê° theyr kyng his suster But after .v. yeres this Sithyricus dyed After whose deth he seasyd the countrey into hys owne hande and put oute the sonne of the foresayd Sythyricus And when he hadde thus accorded wyth the Danys of Northumberlande he shortly after made subiect to him CoÌ„stantyn kynge of Scottes But the sayd CoÌ„stantyne meked hym so lowely to the kynge that he restoryd hym to hys former dygnytye wherfore the sayd Constantyne sayde in prayse of the kynge that yt was more honour to make a kynge then to be a kynge whyche acte was done by the affyrmaunce of Polycronycon in the yere of grace .ix. hundred .xxvi which then after that saynge shuld be the seconde yere of the reygn of this Ethelstane It is testyfyed of Policronica that thys Ethelstane shuld marye one of his susters named Editha or Edyth vnto Otto the fyrst of that name emperour of Almayne and receyued from hym many precyous iewellys and relyques But of this speketh nothyng the cronicle of Romaynes Howe be yt yt is shewyd there that the foresayd Ottho or Otto had a wyfe named Alunda whych as before is sayde in the storye of Edward the elder myght be the doughter of the sayd Edward and of Edgina his seconde wyfe But Uincentius historialis sayth that Henry duke of Saxony whyche was father vnto the fyrste Otto sent vnto Ethelstane requyrynge of hym hys suster to mary vnto his sonne Otto By whych reason I maye folowe that this Ottho maryed the suster of Ethelstane but not Edythe Of these foresayde iewelles sent by Otto one was a precyouse vessell of stone called Onechynus whych was of suche clerenesse also so subtily craftely wrought that yt apperyd to mannes syght as grene corne hadde growen wythin yt and moued and waued as corne doth standyng in the felde More ouer in yt apperyd vynes burgenyng and berynge fruyte and men also to syght mouynge and styrynge He also receyued the great Constantynes sworde wherin was grauen wyth great letters of golde the name of the owner And the hyltes therof were coueryd wyth great plates of golde And one of the nayles was fastenyd to the crosse of the sayd sworde that Criste suffred with his passyon But in thys reporte or saynge Polycronycon varyeth from his former sayng were he reporteth two of the sayd nayles to be spent vppon the brydell of the sayde Constantyne and the thyrde nayle to be caste into a dauÌ„gerous swalowe of the see as before is rehersed in the .lxix. chapiter of thys worke He also receyued the spere of Charlys the gret whych after the opynyon of some wryters was the spere that Longeus opened wyth Crystes syde And the baner of saynte Morys a relyque of greate pryce wyth a part of the holy crosse and a parte of the crown of thorne of our sauyoure Of the whych iewellys kyng Ethelstane gaue a parte vnto saynte Swithunys of wynchester and some he gaue vnto y e abbay of Malmesbury I haue sene a cronycle of EnglaÌ„d which testyfyeth that this EthilstanÌ„ was y e fyrst kynge that euer was enoynted in this land All be yt I fynd therof lytell authorytye excepte that Guydo and other testyfyen that he was crowned at the kynges towne nowe called Kyngestone x. myles from London of Athelyne their archbyshoppe of Caunterbury But that proueth not or argueth hym to be the fyrste for that reason For ryghte so was his fader Edwarde crowned of Plemounde archbyshoppe of the sayde see But Guydo aforesayd affyrmeth that Alurede graund fader to thys Ethylstane was enoyntyd kyng by authoryte of Leo y e .v. then pope wherfore it agreeth better that he shulde be the fyrste Then yt foloweth in the story that aboute the .viii. yere of the reygne of thys Ethilstane dyed Frystane byshoppe of wynchester and Brystane was byshoppe after hym Of whom yt is radde that he sange euery daye masse for all Crysten soules And as the byshoppe Brystane went vppon a nyght about a chirch yerde and sayde hys deuocyons for all crysten soules and lastly sayde requiescant in pace he harde a voyce as yt hadde ben a great hoste of people saynge Amen Soone after Constantyne kynge of Scottes brake couenaunt wyth kynge Ethylstane wherfore he assembled his knyghtes and made towarde Scotlande And in hys way he tourned to saynte IohnÌ„ of Beuerley and offeryd there hys knyfe vppon the aulter sayenge that yf he retourned wyth vyctorye he shulde redeme hys knyfe wyth a noble pryce and that done proceded vppon hys iourney and in coÌ„clusyon scomfyted the Scottes and broughte theym agayne vnto dewe subieccyon And after accordynge to the promyse before made he retourned to yorke and so to the chyrche where the corps of saynt IohnÌ„ of Beuerley laye redemynge his knyfe worthely as he before hadde promysed In the .vi. chapyter of the .vi. boke of Polycronycon yt is remembred that kynge Ethilstane after this subduynge of the Scottes beyng wyth hys lordes and famylyers nere vnto the castell of Dunbar prayed to god and saynte IohnÌ„ yf Beuerley that in that countrey he myght leue some remembraunce or token that those that then were lyuynge and also suche as shulde come after myghte knowe that the Scottes by ryghte shulde be subiectes to Englyshmen And soone after wyth hys sworde he smote vppon a great stone standyng nere vnto the sayd castell with whyche stroke the stone was ryuen to an elle in length that in the tyme of Edwarde the thyrde was there remaynyng to be sene And whyther at this daye yt is so that I am in doute ye haue harde before that kynge Ethilstane after the deth of Sythericus kynge of Northumberlande seasyd
theyr enemyes Of thys message the kynge was ryght fayne and forthwith sped him tyll he came to Roan wher he was accordynge to hys honour receyued For the whyche cause he sent in all hast vnto Arnulfe erle of FlauÌ„ders monassynge hym that he sease of his warres in Bayon tyll he receyued farther knowlege The kyng thus restyng in Roan deuysed hys maters at hys pleasure so that the Normayns obeyed them to all hys requestes And for y e good aberynge that Barnarde the Dane was of agayne the kynge he graunted to hym the gydynge of the yonge duke And whan he shulde departe he ordeyned as hys deputye one named Raoull or Rauf The whyche after the kynges departure behaued hym so cruelly to the Normans that they were very irke of hym And ouer thys the foresayd Barnard ferynge the kynges retorne and other more greuous punysshement than they before hadde susteyned sent his messengers vnto Grolle kynge of Denmarke than beynge at Chyerbourk wyllyng hym to assemble his people and to make of them two hostes wherof to sende y e one by lande and that other by water so to entre the couÌ„tre of Normandy in wastyng and spoylynge it by reason wherof he myghte brynge the kynge to some coÌ„munycacyon whych all was done as the sayd Barnarde had deuysed whan the kynge had wyttyng of the Danys that wyth so grete a multytude were entred the prouynce of Normandy he assembled hys hoste and sped hym thytherwarde and in processe of tyme came vnto the cytye of Roane where by hys counsayle it was condyscended that a metynge and frendly communycacyon shulde be had bytwene the kynge the sayd Grolle at a place called in Frenche Herlycum where at the day appoynted bothe prynces mette wyth bothe hostes standynge or hauynge a lytell dystauÌ„ce of And whyle the two prynces were there in communycacyon of the deth and murder of duke willmÌ„ a Dane markynge Herloyne For whose causes as before is shewed duke willmÌ„ was slayne with a spere wounded hym so greuously that he dyed forthwyth whych dede hys brother called Lambert wyth other of y e Frenchmen entendynge to reuenge wyth theyr wepons fylle vppon the Danys whyche them receyued with greate vyolence So that of that a fraye ensued a skyrmysshe and after the skyrmysshe a sore batayle For bothe hostes ioyned on bothe sydes and faught cruelly eyther with other a longe whyle But in the ende the Frenchmen had the worse and were compelled to flee And the kynge to saue hys lyfe fledde also whyche by reason of hys vntrusty horse was taken and kepte secrete a certayne of tyme by his taker But lastly he was discouered and brougth to the cytye of Roane as a prysoner The kynge thus beynge in holde vnder the kepynge of the Danys Engeberge hys wyfe makynge for hym grete dole and sorowe toke her iourney to the kynge of Germany whose doughter she was besechyng hym to prouyde for the delyuerye of her lorde and husbande But of hym had she no socour but rather dyscoÌ„fort shewyng to her that the trowble that her husbande susteyned he had well deserued for his vnstedfastnesse that he agayne wyllyam the duke Rycharde hys sonne had vsed wherfore the quene beynge thus answered of her father rode vnto Hugh le graunde besechyng hym of helpe in this greate nede The which at the request of the quene sent vnto Barnard erle of Senlys requiryng to moue some wayes to the Danys for the enlargynge of the kynge By whose labour and meanys lastely a counsayle was kepte at saynt Clere vpon the ryuer of Ept. where after many argumentes reasons made fynally it was agreed that the kyng shulde be enlarged tyll an other day of coÌ„munycacyon layenge for pledges hys sonne and heyre named Lothayr the bysshop of Senlys and y e bysshop of Beauuayze whyche done the kynge was set at large and forth wyth rode vnto the cytye of Laon. where he abode the other daye of coÌ„munycacyon whyche after was holden at y e foresayd ryuer of Ept. And concluded a peas whyche lasted but a shorte whyle after Thys peas thus confermed Grollo the kynge of Danys wyth greate gyftes was retorned from whens he was desyred And Richarde the yonge duke toke vpon hym the rule of hys owne Signory and grewe and encreased forthwardly wherof Hugh the graunde takyng hede and beholdynge hys wyse demeanure and conuersacyon made suche labour and meanes vnto Barnarde erle of Senlis y t he maried to him his doughter named Emmacet wherof beynge enfourmed the French kynge caste in hys mynde thys greate alyaunce bytwene the yonge duke and two grete perys of hys lande and thoughte y t these .iii. knâ—t in amyte and alyaunce shulde dysturbe hym whan them lyked wherof he called to hym Arnold erle of Flaunders by whose counsayle he sent the sayde Arnolde vnto Ottho kynge of Germany requyrynge hym of ayde to warre vpon y e Normayns and to breke thys affynyte of thys yonge duke of Hugh le graunde and of Barnarde erle of Senlys and for his labour he shuld haue to hym and to hys heyres the prouynce or lordshyp of Lorayne Ottho wyth thys couetous promesse deceyued asseÌ„bled his knyghtes and at the day and place appoynted met wyth the kynge and wyth theyr people sped them to Roan and layde siege vnto y e cytye And whyle the kynges were occupyed in wastynge and brennynge the vylages nere vnto the cytye to put the Normans in the more fere Ottho sent hys neuewe wyth a certayne of hys people in secrete wyse to the gates of the cytye But whan he was comen to the gate that opened towarde the ryuer of SaynÌ„ and thoughte there to wynne hys enterpryse y e cytesyns issued out vppon hym sodeynly and gaue to hym batayle and slewe hym and many of hys company and the remenaunt they chased froÌ„ the walles of the cytye whan Ottho had wyttyng of the ouerthrowe of hys men and deth of his neuew whom he entyrely loued he made inward heuynesse and caste in his minde how he myght reuenge the deth of hys neuewe But whan he approched the cytye and behelde the strength therof wyth also the fyersnesse of the NormaÌ„des he repented hym of enterprysyng of that iourney and torned all hys hatered vnto Arnolde erle of Flaunders by whose sterynge and counsayle that vyage was fyrste begon in so mych that he sought the meanes to brynge y e sayd Arnolde into the handes of the Normans wherof Arnolde beynge warned trussed his stuffe and harneys secretly and in the nyght stale away and so retorned into Flaunders with his retynew The whych thyng knowen to the two kynges in as secrete wise as they myghte departed also from y e siege But yet therof theyr enmyes beynge ware pursued them slewe many of theyr company And or the yere that thys was done in had roÌ„ne hys full compas Lewys the kynge dyed and was buryed in the temple of the holy bysshoppe saynte Remygius wythin the cytye of
Raynys whan he had reygned in great trouble .xxi. yeres leuynge for hys heyre a sonne named Lothayr Anglia THE CLXXXVIII CHAPITER EDmunde y e brother of EthelstanÌ„ and sonne of Edwarde the elder of Ethelwyda the thyrde wyfe of the sayd Edwarde begaÌ„ hys reygne ouer Englande in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred and .xl and the .vii. yere of the .v. Lewys thaÌ„ kynge of Fraunce In the fyrste yere of hys reygne the Danys of Northumberland rebelled agayne hym And for to make theyr party the stroÌ„ger they sent for a prynce of Danys named Aulaffe than beynge in Irlande The which brought wyth hym an other prynce or ruler of Danys named Reygnald wyth a great hoste of Danys other strauÌ„ge nacyons and entred the foresayd countre and warred vppon the next borders in wastynge and spoylynge the inhabytauÌ„tes of the same wherof whan kyng Edmund was warned anone he assembled his people and sped hym toward y e countre and lastly faught wyth the two sayd prynces of the Danys or at the leest chaced them from towne to towne tyll he forsyd them wyth all theyr coÌ„pany of straunge nacyons to forsake vtterly that prouynce and bet down that countre of Cumberlande y t had mych fauoured and ayded the sayde enmyes agayne hym and toke therin greate prayes and deuyded them amoÌ„ges hys knyghtes And y e done other for the good seruyce that MalcolynÌ„ kynge of Scotlande hadde in thys vyage done vnto the kynge or for the trowth and allegyaunce that he in tyme folowyng shulde bere vnto hym or for bothe the kynge gaue there to the sayd MalcolynÌ„ the countre of Cumberlande and seased all y e resydue of the kyngdom or lordshyp of Northumberlande and ioyned it vnto hys owne kyngdome But yet y e Danys retorned agayn in the tyme of Edredus the nexte kynge as after shal be shewed so that as yet the fyne or ende of thys kyngdome is not accompted In thys Edmundus dayes the authour of Polycronyca sayth that whan Edmunde hadde ended hys iourney and set that countree in an order he toke wyth hym the bones of the holy abbot Colfrydus and of that holy abbesse Hylda brought theym vnto Glastenbury and there shryned theym This Colfryde was abbot of Bedas abbey or of the abbey of Gyrwye Hilda was abbesse of Stenshalt or whytby And as affermeth y e sayd authour both places ben in y e North partyes of England Thys kynge Edwarde had a noble woman to wyfe named Elgina of whom he receyued two sonnes named Edwyne and Edgar And as testyfyeth Henry archedekeÌ„ of Huntyngdon thys Edward had ofte warre wyth the Danes the whyche as he affermeth helde than many good townes in myddle England as LyncolnÌ„ NothinghmÌ„ Derby Stafforde Laycetour y e which by his knyghtly manhode he wanne from them And by the helpe of holy Dunstan he ameÌ„ded many thynges within his realm y t had beÌ„ loÌ„ge tyme misordered by meane of y e Danys Of the ende or fyne of thys Edmunde dyuers opynyons there be For Marianus the Scot sayth that whyle thys kynge Edmunde endeuered hym selfe to saue his sewer froÌ„ the dauÌ„ger of hys enemye that wold haue slayne hym at Pulkerchyrche the kynge in ryddynge of the fraye was wounded to the deth and dyed shortly after But wyllyam de regibus sayth that the kynge beynge at a feest at y e foresayd towne or place vppon the daye of saynte Augustyne espyed a felon syttyng in y e halle named Leof whych he before tyme for hys felony hadde exyled and lept ouer the table and plucked that thefe by the here of the hedde to the grounde In whych doynge the sayd felon wyth a knyfe wounded the kynge to the deth and also wyth the same knyfe wounded many other of the kynges seruauntes and at length was all to hewen dyed forthwyth If this be trewe it shulde seme that kynges at those dayes vsed not the honour that they nowe haue and exercyse But whych of these two meanes was vsed in the kynges deth by agreemeÌ„t of all wryters thys kynge dyed whan he had reygned .vi. yeres and more was buryed at Glastenbury the whyche before he hadde sumptuously repayred and lafte after hym two yonge sonnes as before is remembred Edwyne and Edgar But for they were to yonge to rule the lande therfore y e rule therof was coÌ„mytted to Edredê° theyr vncle brother to theyr fader THE CLXXXIX CHAPITER EDredus y e brother of EdmuÌ„de and sonne of Edwarde the elder and of Ethylswyda hys thyrde wyfe began his reygne ouer the realme of Englande in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred and .lxvii and the xiii yere of the fyfte Lewys thaÌ„ kyng of Fraunce The whych as before is towched was admytted kyng by authoryte of hys barony For so myche as the two forenamed chylderne of Edmunde Edwyn and Edgar were thought to yonge and insuffycyent to take vpon them so great a charge The whyche Edrede was enoynted kynge of Oddo archbyshop of CauÌ„terbury in y e towne of Kyngestowne And soone after he warred vpon the Danys that then were reentred into Northumberland or after some wryters there dwellynge vnder trybute of the kynge subdued before of Edmunde hys brother and bette theym downe and caused theym to holde and obeye vnto theyr former couenauntes And the Scottes than began to varye which he also brought vnto due obedyence After a certayne terme y e Danys of Northumberlande whyche euer contynued full of gyle and dowblenesse not beyng content to holde the couenauÌ„tes before made promisses vnto Edredus the kynge called vnto theym theyr olde accessaryes and helpers and bereuyd from the kynges subiectes the cytye of yorke and other stronge townes and castelles to the great hurte of the couÌ„trey and vtter dyspleasure of the kynge wherfore he beynge therof aduertysed in goodly and conuenyent haste assembled hys people and spedde hym thyther and destroyed myche of the lande And in that fury brent the abbey of Rypon whyche the Danys kept for a fortresse and strength and wan from them myche of the strengthes that they to fore had woÌ„ne and broughte theym agayne vnder hys subieccyon when this kynge Edrede had thus spedde hys iourney and was retournynge into Englande nothynge suspectynge the sayde Danys a company of them by the excytyng of Hyrcus a kyng or prynce of the Danys theÌ„ folowyd the kinges hoste and on thys halfe yorke fyll vppon the kynges rerewarde and destroyed slew many a man For the whyche doyng the kynge was sore amoued tourned hys people agayne entendynge to haue destroyed y e countrey vtterly wherof the Danys beynge ware so lowely meked theym vnto hym gaue to hym suche gyftes that the kyng refrayned hym of the great yre that he had purposed to theym But amonges other articles y t he bounde them vnto one was that they shuld banyshe and vtterly refuse theyr fore sayde duke or kynge called Hyrcus whyche thynge with dyuers and many other graunted
But how it beganne myne authour myndeth not But ye shall vnderstand that at this daye the cytye of London had moste housynge and buyldynge from Ludgate towarde westmester and lytell or none where y e chefe or herte of the cytye is nowe excepte in dyuers places was housing but they stode with oute order So that many townes and cytyes as Caunterbury yorke and other dyuers in Englande passed London in buyldynge at those days as I haue sene or knoweÌ„ by an olde boke somtyme in the Guyldehal of London named Domys day But after the coÌ„quest yt encreaced shortly after passed excelled all y e other About the .viii. yere of this kynges reygne the kynge maryed erle Egbertus doughter named Ethelgina or Elgina Of the whyche in processe of time he receyued a son named Edmunde whyche after was surnamed Ironsyde and .ii. other sonnes named Edwyn and Ethylstane and a doughter named Edgina In this pastyme dyed saynt Ethilwalde byshop of wynchester He was borne in wynchester and noryshed vnder holy Dunstane at Glastenbury and there shorne monke and after was chosen abbot of Abyndon in the tyme of the reygne of kynge Edredus And in the tyme of Edgar he was sacryd byshoppe of wynchester where he made an abbay of nunnes and translated saynt Swythynes body out of the erth After whyche sayde Ethelwalde holy Alphegus abbot then of Bathe was sacred byshoppe of wynchester the whyche after was archebishoppe of Caunterbury and martyred hastely of the cruell Danys as after shall be shewed About the .ix. yere of Egelredus for stryfe y t was betwene the byshop of Rochester and hym he wyth his knyghtes beseged the sayde cytye wherof holy DuÌ„stane sent to y e kyng amonyssynge hym that he shulde refrayne hym of that cruelty suffre y e byshop and his citye in peace oneles that he offended saynte Andrewe patrone of that citye But this message mylded nothyng y e kynges courage Then thys blessed man sent to hym a hundred pounde in gold wyllyng hym to refrayne of that outrage the whyche he receyued and brake the syege Then blessyd Dunstane sente this message to the kyng For thou haste preferred golde before god and syluer before the apostle and couetyse before me right so euyll happes shall come vnto the but not whyle I am in lyfe But the kynge toke lytell regarde to those wordes but contynued in his insolent cursed dedes About the .xi. yere of his reygne dyed that blessed archbyshoppe saynte Dunstane Of whom Ranulff in the xiii chapyter of his .vi. boke of Policronycon maketh rehersall of dyuers of his vertues and myracles the whyche I passe ouer and the rather bycause his legeÌ„de or lyfe is manyfest Siricus was archbyshop after hym after hym wulricus And after wulricus blessed Elphegê° was archbyshop of that see It was not longe after the deth of holy Dunstane but that the Danys perced England in many and sondry places of the lande in suche wyse that the kynge was to seke to which coste he shuld go fyrst to wythstande his enymyes And in conclusyon in auoydynge of more harme he was compellyd to appeace theym wyth great summes of money But when y e money was spent they fyll to new robbynge of the people Then the kynge graunted more money But for all that the Danys robbed and spoyled y e couÌ„trey of NorthuÌ„berlaÌ„d and besyeged London at the laste And for augmentacyon of the kynges sorowe Elfricus that then was mayster or admyrall of the kynges nauy fled as a false traytour And after that recoÌ„cyled fled the second tyme to the Danys wherfore y e kyng in wreche of the father commauÌ„ded the eyen of his sonne Algarus to be plucked or done out of his hedde But whyle this persecucion thus contynued by meanes of the holy byshoppe of wynchester Elphegus a peace was concluded for a tyme betwene the kyng and the Danys And the prynce or chefe captayne of them named Aulaff was so exorted by the said holy byshop y t he became a cristeÌ„ man to whome the kynge was godfather so that after the sayde Aulaff retorned to his owne without doyng of more harme so that for a whyle the warre of Danys seased But whyle that rested the blody flyx wyth a brennynge feuer vexed the people thorough the lande that myche folke therof dyed Contynuynge whyche mysery the Danys agayne assayled the lande dyd in dyuers places great harme so that for lacke of a good hed or gouernour many thynges in the land peryshed For the lordes were at such dyssencyon that one with that other that when they were assembled to speke or treate of peace betwene that one lorde and that other and yf any good thynge were dyuysed for the hurte of theyr enymyes anone the Danys were warned therof by some of the same counsayll wherof were suspected Elfricus and Edricus And to this sorowe was ioyned hunger and penury amonges the commons that eueryche of theym was constrayned to plucke and stele from other so that what by the pyllage of the Danys and inwarde theuys and brybours this lande was broughte in great mysery and myschefe THE CXCVIII. CHAPITER EGelredus then wrapped in misery lefte not to gader of hys subiectes what he myght as well by vnlaufull meanes as otherwyse For as sayth Ranulfe myne authour he wold for fayned or small causes dysheryte meÌ„ of theyr possessyoÌ„s after cause men to redeme theyr owne for great summes of money And ouer that he walowed in lechery gyuyng hym to all vycyous and incontynent lyfe of his body By whych vngracyous meanes he brought this land in such ruyne that what he myght not helpe by streÌ„gth he warred wyth money So y t from the fyrst entre of the Danys as testyfyeth Policronica in the .xviii. chapyter of his .vi. boke also Guydo wyth other authours that from the fyrst trybute of .x. thou sande pounde he broughte yt at the laste in processe of .v. or .vi. yeres to xl thousande pounde The whyche yerely durynge his lyfe and after to the commynge of saynte Edwarde was leuyed of his subiectes and named for the contynuance therof Dane gelt whyche is or was to meane money payde to the Danys or shortly Dane money In this tyme as yt were about the xv yere of his reygne dyed saynt Oswalde the archbyshoppe of Caunterbury And soone after dyed Ethelgina the quene And the body of saynte Cuthbert was translated from holy ylande to Durham in the whyche yle he helde anankers lyfe as yt is before shewyd in the storye of Cadwalader Thus contynuynge this lande vnder the greuous tribute of the Danys and also by susteynynge of many villanyes and iniuryes by the Englyshe men of the sayde Danys as after somdele shall appere this Egelredus by counsayll of his famylyers about the .xxi. yere of hys reygn maryed Emma y e doughter of Rychard duke of Normandy before mynded in the storye of Lewys the .v. and Lothayre hys sonne kynges of FrauÌ„ce The
whyche serche they demeaned theym so vndyscretely that they slewe a cytezyne of Douer By meane wherof the people arose and in the questyonynge of thys mannes deth ran at length vppon the erles company and slewe .xx. of hys men and wounded many mo Hastely the erle apperyd and toke his mennys parte But in conclusyon he was fayne to wythdrawe hym selfe with a few persons and rode vnto the kynge then beyng at Glouceter and made vnto hym a greuous complaynte of the men of Douer Then erle Goodwyne for so moch as to hym was commytted the rule of Kente was charged to ryde thyther and to take wreche of the inhabytauÌ„tes of that towne But he with sayde that commaundement and counsayled the kyng to sende for the wardeyns of the castell of Douer and rulers of the towne for to answere to suche maters as were layde agayne them and yf they were gylty to punyshe them and ellys not This answere of GoodwynÌ„ pleased nothynge the kynge nor suche as were aboute hym wherfore many mo lordes were sent for Amonge the which Leofricus erle of Chester and Sewarde erle of Northumberland of myne authour ben named After whych assemble of y e lordê erle Goodwyne had suche monycyon of some of y e counsayll y t he wythdrewe hym from the courte and gadered to hym strength of knyghtes out of dyuers shyres as west Saxon Kent and houed at BeuerstonÌ„ tyl his sonnes came vnto him with more peple Soone after came vnto hym his eldest son named Swanus brought wyth hym a fayre companye that he hadde arreyred in Oxenfordeshyre Gloucetershyre and Harolde hys other sonne wyth a feleshyppe that he had assembled in eest Englande and HuntyngdonÌ„shyre so that of these people was made a great hoste Then GoodwynÌ„ to the kyng was accused for gaderynge of so great an hoste But he excused hym and sayde yt was done to wythstand the walyshmen The whyche contrary proued he was coÌ„maunded to sende awaye the people and to come wyth a certayne nomber vnto the courte But that he refused Then the kyng wyth hys counsayll beynge at London Goodwyn and Harold was eft sent for and charged to come to the courte wyth .xii. persones wythoute mo and to render into the kynges handes all knightes fees that he and Harolde his sonne hadde wythin Englande To thys by theym was answered that they myghte not come to the counsayll of treachours and gylefull men and that also wyth so fewe men in nomber they mygthe not wythoute parell or shame passe by the countrey In thys whyle a parte of Goodwyns knyghtes wythdrewe theym and hys power beganne to mynyshe and the kynge in thys whyle hadde gaderyd a stronge hoste Then proclamacyons were made that Goodwyne shuld come to the courte as before is sayd or auoyde the land with in fyue dayes wherfore Goodwyne consyderyng the ieopardy y t he was in toke wyth hym .iii. of his sonnes that is to meane Swanus Tosty Gurthe and sayled into Flaundres â–ª where he was receyued of the erle Baldwyn after some wryters whose doughter Swanus his sonne hadde before spoused was named Iudeth And Harolde and Leofricus two of his other sonnes with a few shyppes sayled out froÌ„ Brystow into Irland when the kynge was ascertayned that erle Goodwyne wyth hys fyue sonnes was in thys maner departed oute of his lande he shortly after called a parlyament and by authoryte of the same outlowed Goodwyne hys .iii. sonnes that were gone wyth hym And that done he put his owne wyfe and doughter of GoodwynÌ„ into the abbaye of warwell wyth one mayden as sayth Marianus And so GoodwynÌ„ and hys sayde sonnes contynued two yeres outlawed In the whyche season he or hys retynue toke dyuers tymes prayes in y e marches of Englande and in the ende drewe to hym suche strength that he was purposed to haue entred the lande wyth force and to haue warred vppon the kynge But by medyatours that fauoured erle Goodwyn a peace was made betwene y e kynge and hym so that in processe he was receyued to grace wyth hys sonnes hys doughter restored to her fyrste and former honoure And for thys peace to be contynued for Goodwyns parte was delyueryd for pledkes a sonne of hys called wylnotus and a sonne of Swanus named Hacum or Hacun The whyche .ii. pledges kynge Edwarde sent vnto wyllyam duke of Normandy to be kept And Algarus the sonne of Leofricê° erle of Chester to whbme the kynge had gyuen the erledome of Harold ruled yt dyscretely in tyme of his absence at hys returne delyuered yt to him again gladly without grudge THE CCXII. CHAPITER DUrynge the tyme of this out lauwry of Goodwyne wyllyam bastarde duke of Normandye came with a goodly coÌ„pany into this land and was honorably receyued to whom the kyng made great chere And after he hadde taryed here a certayne of tyme to his agrement and pleasure he retourned to hys owne wyth great gyftes pleasures And Emma the kinges moder dyed shortly after and was buryed a wynchester And Swanus the eldest sonne of Goodwyne went to Hierusalem and from thens towarde Lycia and dyed by the waye of colde that he had taken of goynge barefote Then the Normans that had gyuen to the kynge euyll counsaylles agayne Englyshemen were by Goodwyne and his frendes exyled Among the whyche Robert archebyshop af Caunterbury that hadde spoken sore agayne theym was one whych after went to Rome to complayn to the pope then LeonÌ„ the .ix. or Uyctour the seconde And wheÌ„ he had receyued letters of y e pope directed to y e kyng he returned to his abbay of Gemeticum in Normandye where he somtyme had ben munke and abbot and there dyed After hym Stigandus was made his successoure the whyche as sayth Policronicon had before tyme lefte the byshopryche of Shyrborne and toke the see of wynchester by streÌ„gth He also vsed fayres of holy chyrche thynges and was a lewde or vnlettred man as the more part of the bysshoppes of Englande at those dayes were And ouer that he passed other in ryches and dyssymulacyon But yet he neuer had y e palle from Rome though there be great sale that maketh many maystryes Then was openly spoken that he was not worthy a byshopryche that coude vse y e bragge or pompe of the worlde the vse of voluptuosyte of glotony and Lechery the shynynge araye of clothynge the countenaunce of knyghtes and the gaderynge of horsemen and thynketh full lytell on the profyte of soules And yf men sayde to theym that a byshoppe shulde be chosen for holynesse of lyuyng and for hys good clergye and not for couetyse of money they wold answere as foloweth Nunc aliud tempus alii pro teÌ„pore mores The whyche verse maye be englyshed in thys maner As tyme requyreth so men done theym vse In wynter warme clothes in somer lyght and lesse In tyme of sadnesse men done gamys refuse And in myrthe tyme men myrthes theym
dresse So in tyme passed was vsed great sadnesse In the chyrche But nowe men lyghte be wherfore the maners muste wyth men agree SO that by such light answere they planed or excused y e sharpenesse of theyr mysse lyuynge About this tyme whyche shuld by Ranulff be about the .xii. yeare of y e reygne of Edward Marianê° the Scot that before I haue often named that wrote myche of y e dedes of y e kynges of England at the age of .xxv. yeres forsoke the world went on pylgrymage was after shorne munke at Coleyne in Almayne in the abbay of Scottes whyche Marianus after some wryters was in great fauoure with Malcolyne kyng of Scottes In the .xiii. yere of kynge Edward the Scottes rebelled agayn y e kyng wherfore Sewarde erle of Northumberlande by the kynges commaundement gadered a great hoste and entred that lande and behaued hym so manfully that in processe he subdued the Scottes chased y e kynge out of his couÌ„trey so that after kyng Edwarde gaue that kyngedome vnto MalcolynÌ„ sonne of the kynge of Cumbrys to beholden of hym hys heyres kynges as chefe lordes of Scotlande Uppon Ester mondaye aboute the sayde yere GoodwynÌ„ syttynge at the kynges bourde wyth other lordes in y e castell of wyndsore yt happed one of the kynges cuppe berers to stumble and to recouer agayne so that he shedde none of the drynke wherat GoodwynÌ„ lough and sayde nowe that one brother hath susteyned that other wherby he ment that the one fote or legge hathe sustayned y e other from fallynge wyth whyche wordes the kyng marked him sayd Ryght so my brother Alfrede shuld haue holden me ne had Goodwyn ben The erle then conceyued that the kynge suspected hym of hys brothers deth and sayde vnto the kynge in defendynge hys vntrouth syr as I perceyue well it is told to the y t I shuld be y e cause of thy brothers deth So mought I sauely swalowe this mor fel of brede y t I here hold in my haÌ„de as I am giltlesse of the dede But as soone as he had receyued the brede forthwyth he was choked Then the kynge commauÌ„ded hym to be draweÌ„ from the table and so was conueyed to wynchester and there buryed Marianus sayth that as erle GoodwynÌ„ sat at the kynges table at wynchester he was sodaynly taken with a palsye or some other sykenes vpon the Ester mondaye and dyed y e thyrd day after And his lordshyppes were gyuen vnto Harold his eldest sonne then lyuynge Haroldes erledome was gyuen to Algarus the sonne of Leofricus whych was the erledome of Oxenford after some wryters It was not longe after y e kynge Edwarde sent vnto the .iiii. Henry than emperour of Almayne Aldredus bysshop of worceter wyth other noble men prayenge hym that he wolde sende vnto England hys cosyn Edwarde sonne of EdmuÌ„de Ironsyde for so myche as he entended to make hym hys heyre The whyche request was fulfylled so that he came into Englande soone after the whych as ye haue harde before was named Edwarde the outlawe But as witnessyth Guydo and other the yere after that he came into Englande he dyed at London and was buryed at westmynster Thys yere folowynge kynge Edwarde thorough yll counsayll exiled wythout gylte Algarus the sonne of Leofricus The whych assocyat hym wyth Gryffyne kynge or duke of walys and destroyed y e countre of Harforde dyd mych harme to y e towne and set the mynster on fyre and slew vii chanons therof Then the kyng sent Harolde agayn hym the whiche chased the walshmen into theyr own boundes and recoueryd the sayde towne by appoyntement holden by the sayde Algarus and amended all hurtes before done by the walshmeÌ„ and lastely recouncyled the sayde Algarus and his companye vnto the kynges grace THE CCXIII. CHAPITER ABoute the .xv. yere of kynge Edwarde dyed y e noble duke Sewarde ruler of Northumberland of the flux of whome Guydo reherseth dyuers notable actes whyche I passe ouer Of whom yt is radde that when he sawe well he shulde dye he caused hys armour to be put vppon hym and so armed and syttynge in a cheyre hauynge all the ryghtes of the chyrch sayde that so yt became a knyght and man of honour to dye not lyenge as an other mene man and so dyed was buryed at yorke And hys erledome was after gyuen to Tosty or Costy son of GoodwynÌ„ In the yere folowynge or .xvi. yere of kynge Edwarde dyed also y e good erle Leofricus erle of Mercia and of Chester and was buryed in the abbay of Couentre the whyche before he hadde buylded This man purchased many great pryuyleges for y e towne of Couentre and made it free of all maner of toll excepte onely of horse For the whyche to haue also free the comen fame telleth that after longe requeste made vnto hym by his wyfe named Godina he grauÌ„ted her to haue yt therof freed wyth that that she wolde ryde naked thorough the towne by meane wherof yt was freed Then Algarus hys son was erle after hym Harolde then the eldeste sonne of GoodwynÌ„ was in great authoryte ruled myche of the kynges armye The yere folowyng Algarus was accused by malyce exylded the land wherfore he fled agayne to Gryffyne duke of walis as he before had done of whom he was ioyously receyuyd and maynteyned The kynge therof beyng infourmed sent Harolde into walys to make warre vppon Gryffyne The whyche quytte hym in so knyghtely wyse that he chased the walshmen brent the sayde Gryffyns paleys at a place callyd RutlanÌ„ and his nauy and then returned into Englande about mydlent But aboute rogacyon dayes nexte folowyng the sayde Harolde with his brother Tosty was sente thyther agayne wyth a stronge army At whyche season they destroyed a great parte of walys in conclusion brought the walshmen vnto dew subieccyon and forced theÌ„ to gyue pledges for the contynuance of the same And that done pursued so sore vppon the sayde Gryffyne that in the ende his owne people for purchase of theyr owne lyues slewe the sayde Gryffyne and sent his hed vnto Harolde in the moneth of Auguste so that after the deth of thys Griffyne by the commaundement of the kynge the couÌ„trey of walys was commytted to the gydynge of the .ii. bretherne of Gryffyne the whyche had fauoured more the kynges party in tyme of the foresayd warre then theyr brother And this warre in walys thus brought to ende Harold by his polycy recouncyled agayne Algarus erle of Mercia to y e kyngê grace so that he contynued in hys fauoure durynge hys lyfe after About thys tyme a woman of Bakley in Barkshyre vsed yll craftes of sorcery The whyche as she was syttynge vpon a daye at a feste or great dyner a crowe that she had lykyngly fedde and brought vp kreked louder then he was accustomed to do â–ª when the woman harde that noyse her knyfe fyll out of her hande she waxed sodaynly pale And
with y t she beganne to syghe and sorow sayd alas this daye is my soule comen to the laste sorow And so after that she had spoken those wordes a messanger came to her and sayde that her son and all her mayny was dede sodaynly Then she was conueyed to her owne and was full syke wherfore in haste she sent for an other son of hers that was a monke a doughter y t was a nunne at whose coÌ„myng she sayd to them in thys wyse I am the woman that haue vsed yll crafte and enyll lyuynge and in vayne I hoped to haue ben saued by your bedes and prayers But now I praye you that ye woll releue my tourmentes and paynes for of my soule the iudgement is gyuen wherfore in case that ye maye kepe my body from tourment sewe it in an hartes skyn and laye it in a troughe of stone and hyll it wyth lede close and iuste and after do bynde it wyth barres of iron in moste strongest and sure wise and cause ye .xl. ê‘sons to synge psalmes by nyght and vppon the morne as many masses And yf I lye so stylle iii. nyghtes than burye my body on the .iiii. daye But all thys was for noughte For the fyrste nyght whyle the psalmes were in sayeng y e stroÌ„ge bandes were sodaynly to brokeÌ„ and one wyth a gresely loke was sene vppon an horse backe all blacke cast thys woman behynde hym so rode forth wyth so greate crye and noyse that it was harde as sayth Polycronycon .iiii. myles thens Thys wolde I not haue shewed but that I fynde it wryten and recorded of diuers authours Than to retourne to our fourmer story as wytnessyth myne authoure Ranulfe about y e .xx. yere of y e reygne of kynge Edwarde Harolde sayled towarde Normandye to vysyte hys brother wylnotus and Hacun hys neuewe the which as ye before haue harde were layde there for pledges for the peas to beholden vppon erle Goodwyns syde agayne the kynge But he in his course of saylyng was weder dryuen by tempeste into the countre or prouynce of Pontyfe or more verely into the puynce of PouÌ„tyth where he was taken as a prysoner and sent vnto duke wyllyam of Normandy The whyche forced hym to swere that he in tyme folowynge shulde marye hys doughter that after the deth of kynge Edward he shulde kepe the lande of England to hys behofe accordyng to the wyll and mynde of Edwarde after some wryters And after the opynyon of a nother cronycle wryten in latyn the sayd Harolde for to be in the more fauour of duke wyllyaÌ„ shewed to hym that kynge Edwarde in presence of hys barony had admytted the sayde wyllyam for his heyre and couenauÌ„ted wyth hym that yf he ouerlyued the kyng he wold in saue wyse kepe the lande to hys vse For the whyche tydynges promyse wyllyam grauÌ„ted to hym hys doughter to wyfe y t than was wythin lawfull yeres of maryage wyth greate dower And for to cause Harolde to be the more stabler in hys promyse kepynge he delyuered to hym Hacun hys neuew and sonne of hys brother Swanus whyche he myche desyred and kepte styll wylnotus the brother of y e sayd Harolde After whiche couenauntes suffycyentely stablysshed and enacted Harold departed from duke wyllyam wyth greate and ryche gyftes and in processe of tyme landed in Englande And at hys comynge to the kynges presence he shewed to hym all that he had done in the foresayde maters where wyth the kynge was well coÌ„tented as affermeth the sayd latyne cronycle THE CCXIIII CHAPITER IN the .xxii. yere of kynge Edwarde as testyfyeth Ranulfe Tostius the brother of Harolde was for cause not shewed disconted in the kynges courte and went vnto Harforde in the marche of walys where at that tyme the seruauntes of Harold by coÌ„mauÌ„dement of theyr mayster were besyed to make prouysyon for to receyue the kynge But whan thys Tostius was thyder comen he cruelly slewe the sayde seruauÌ„tes of hys brother hacked them in small pecys and caste them after in meresowce or salte And that done sent worde vnto the kynge y t yf he wolde come vnto hys feest he shulde lacke no powdered mete what so euer he hadde besyde Thys cruell dede sprange wyde so that for it he was hated of all meÌ„ in so mych that hys owne tenauntes the men of NorthuÌ„berland of which prouynce he than was lorde of arose agayne hym and toke froÌ„ hym that he hadde and lastely chaced hym into Flaunders wyth a fewe persons than a waytynge vppon hym But y e vertuouse kyng Edward not beyng contented wyth the comons doynge consyderynge it to be done wythout hys aduyce and coÌ„mauÌ„dement sent thyder Harolde to do correccyon vppon the heddes or capytayns of the Northumbers wherof they beynge acerteyned coÌ„tynued theyr strength and mette wyth Harolde hys people and sent hym to vnderstaÌ„de that they were frely borne and frely nourysshed that they myght nat suffer no cruelnesse of dukes Also they had lerned of theyr elders soueraynes to meyntayn fredom or to suffer deth and to lyue in quyetnesse vnder an easy duke whan Harolde had receyued thys message and aduertysed y e strength of the NorthuÌ„bers he perceyued well that wythout greate effusyon of blode he myghte not correcte the mysse doers wherfore it semed to hym better to fauour the couÌ„tree than to take hede of the synguler profyte of hys brother so that he retorned to the kynge wyth thys answere and purchased theyr pardon of hym and also procured so y e kyng y e he assygned to them an other duke or erle that was named Malcarus And Tostius hys brother wyth hys wyfe chyldern remayned in Flaunders durynge the kynges lyfe Kynge Edwarde in the .xxii. yere of hys reygne syttyng at mete vpon Eester day in his paleys of westmynster sodaynly lowghe whan other dyd talke and eate whan thys blessyd man had dyned and was entred into his chamber his famylyers asked of hym y e cause of hys lawghyng To whom he answered for y e same selfe tyme sayd he .vii. slepers that in the mount Seleon besydes Ephesym in Asya the lasse had slepte two hundred yeres or there about vpon the ryght syde the selfe same tyme they tourned them and shall slepe agayne vpon that other syde .lxxiiii. yeres Though thys be tolde of Ranulphe other syth in thys sayenge appereth some dyscordaunce wyth other wryters also wyth the former sayenge of the sayde Ranulphe in the .xxii. chapyter of hys .iiii. boke of PolycronycoÌ„ where he sayth that the sayd .vii. slepers were closed in y e caue the fyrst yere of Decius and so sleped contynuyngly to the laste tyme or yeres of Theodocius the youger than emperour by whyche reason they shulde slepe about y e season or space of .ii. hundred yere as aboue is sayd and than arose and shewed them to that sayd Theodocius emperour and many other dyed soone after as wytnessyth
neuew vnto Edward the confessour as before is shewed beganne hys domynyon ouer thys realme of Englande the .xv. daye of October in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon a thousand .lxvii and y e ix yere of the fyrste Phylyppe then kyng of Fraunce and was crowned kynge of the same vppon Crystmas daye nexte folowynge of Aldredus archbyshoppe of yorke for so myche as at that tyme Stigandus archbysshoppe of Caunterbury was then absent or durste not come in the pÌ„sence of the kynge to whome he ought no great fauour as in the sequele shall appere when wyllyam had sette in quyet a great parte of thys lande he betoke the gydyng therof to his brother the byshop of Bayon and in lent folowynge sayled into Normandye and led wyth hym the chefe rulers of England for doute of sturryng in tyme of his absence Amonge the whyche the two erles Marcarê° and Edwyne rulers of Northumberlande Mercia were two wyth also Stigandus and Edgare Ethelynge To the why the Stigandus wyllyam shewed great reuerence and couÌ„tenaunce of fauoure But all proued to great dissymulacyon after as was shewed by the depryuynge of the sayd Stigandus and prysonment of hym in wynchester towne by a longe terme and season In the next wynter whan wyllyam had sped hys besynesse in Normandy he retourned into England wyth greate pompe and sette a greuous trybute vpon the Englyshmen By reason wherof some partyes of the lande rebelled agayne hym and specyally the cytye of Excetour the whyche defended hym for a certayne of tyme. But lastly by force he wanne the sayde cytye and punysshed the cytesyns greuously For thys and other sterne dedes of wyllyam Marcharus erle of Northumberlande wyth Edgare Athelynge and dyuers other as hys moder and two systers Margarete and Crystyan sayled into Scotlande But another cronycle telleth y t Edgare entendynge wyth Agatha hys moder and hys two systers to haue sayled into Almayne where he was borne was by tempest of the see dryuen into Scotlande where of Malcolyne than kynge of Scottes they were ioyously receyued And in processe of tyme the sayde Malcolyne caste suche loue vnto the sayd Margaret that he toke her to wyfe as before is touched in the fyrste chapyter of the story of Canutê° Of the which Margaret the sayde Malcolyne receyued .ii. doughters and .vi. sonnes wherof thre named Edgare AlexauÌ„der Dauyd were kynges of Scotlande nexte folowynge theyr fader And Molde one of y e foresayd doughters was after maryed vnto the fyrst Henry kynge of Englande And the other doughter Mary was maryed to Eustace erle of Bolongii Of Molde the fyrste doughter Henry receyued .ii. sonnes named wyllyam and Rychard the whych bothe dyed before theyr fader as after in y e story of the sayd Henry shall appere And he receyued also two doughters named Molde and Mary whych Molde or Mawde was maryed to y e fyfte Henry emperour of Almayne After whose deth she was agayne maryed to Godfrey of Geoffrey PlaÌ„tagenet erle of Aungeowe Of whom descended Henry surnamed shorte mantell and kynge of Englande called Henry the seconde And the other doughter Mary was maryed vnto the erle of Blaynes of whoÌ„ descended Molde or Mawde that was wyfe vnto kynge Stephen Than it foloweth that thys wyllyam after thys foresayd trybute so leuyed of the Englysshemen and knowynge of the depertynge of the lordes foresayde kepte the other the streyter But it was not longe after that Marcharus was reconsyled to the kynges grace and fayled agayn as folowynge shall be shewed For thys and other causes whyche were tedyous to shewe wyllyam exalted the Normans and gaue vnto them the chyefe possessyons of the lande so that they dayly encreased in great honour and welth and the Englysh men as faste decayed Kynge wyllyaÌ„ also made .iiii. stronge castels where of two be sette at yorke the thyrde at Lyndetyngham or Notynghm and manned them wyth Normans and the .iiii. at Lyncolne About the thyrde yere of his reygne Harolde Canutus sonnes of Swanus kynge of Denmarke came on lande in the North of Humber wyth a stronge nauy and in all haste drew them towarde yorke Than the Normans whyche hadde the rule of the towne and castelles feryng that the Englysshemen wolde ayde the Danys and wyth the houses of the suburbes of the towne haue fylled the towne dyches sette the suburbes on fyre wherof y e flame was so bygge and wyth the wynde so stronge that it toke into the cytye brent a parte therof wyth the mynster of saynt Peter In tyme wherof the Danys by fauour of some of the citesyns entred the cytye and slewe more than thre thousande of the Normans But it was not longe or kynge wyllyam chased the Danys to theyr shyppes and toke so greate dyspleasure wyth the inhabytauntes of that prouynce that he destroyed the land lyenge bytwene yorke and Durham in suche wyse that .ix. yeres after or there about the lande laye vnlabored vntylled onely out taken saynt IohnÌ„s lande of Beuerley the which was for borne by reason of a wreche done by dyuyne power vpon one of kynge wyllyams knyghtes The whych as he was besyed in wastyng and spoylynge of the sayde countre fyll sodeynly wyth hys horse so that hys horse brake hys necke and the knyghtes face was turned to his backe And of the famyne that the people of that countre susteyned wonders are reported that they shuld eate all maner of vermyn as cattes rattes dogges other so harde they were kepte by the warre of the kyng And in that yere also Molde or Mawde the wyfe of kynge wyllyaÌ„ was crowned quene of England of Aldredus archebysshop of yorke In the .iiii. yere of the reygne of thys kynge the Scottes with Malcolyne theyr kynge entred Northumberlande and wasted and destroyed sore that countre and slewe there in myche people and many they toke prysoners helde theÌ„ as bonde men But in the .vi. yere of hys kyngdome wyllyam made such warre vppon the Scottes that he lastely forced the sayde Malcolyne to swere to hym bothe homage and feauty as it is wytnessed of wyllyam of Malmesbery and other wryters THE CCXX CHAPITER Kynge willyam by counsayle of the erle of Hortford and other caused the abbeyes of Englande to be serched And what money in them at that season was founde he caused it to be brought to hys treasour For the whyche dede after the exposycyoÌ„ of some authours the sayd erle was punysshed as after shall be shewed Soone vpon thys in the tyme by twene Easter and wytsontyde was holden a solempne counsayle at wynchester of the clergy of Englande At the whyche counsayle were presente two cardynalles sent from y e second Alexaunder than pope In thys couÌ„sayle Stygandus archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury was depryued from his dygnytye and that for thre skylles The fyrste was for that he had holden wrongfully that bysshopryche whyle Robert the archebysshop was lyuynge The seconde cause was for that he hadde receyued the Paule
so y t he withdrew hym froÌ„ the kynge and alyed hym wyth the byshop of Durham the erles of NorthuÌ„berland and Shrewesbury with other The whyche confederyd to gyder toke partye agayne the kynge and dyd thynges to his dyspleasure and hurte And amonges other damages by theym done Roger de Mount Gomoryk erle of Shrewesbury destroyed the countrey and endes of England vnto worceter town wyth ayde of the walshemen But in the ende thorough the prayer of the holy byshoppe wolstane the walshemen were so weked and febled that a few knyghtes scomfyted of them a great hoste when kyng wyllyam conceyued y e well nere all the Normans toke partye agayne hym he then forced of necessyte drewe to hym the Englyshemen And fauoured them by giftes easy lawes so that by theyr strength he lastely recouered the erle of Shrewesburye and chased some other of hys enymyes and shortely after occupyed the castell and strong holdes in Kent belongynge to byshop Odo hys forsayde vncle and in the ende coÌ„pelled hym to forswere England And y t done he besyeged y e citie of Rochester wherin the byshoppe of Durham the erle of Northumberland and other noble men were gadered and wan yt at length by appoyntement so that hys enymyes were vnto hym reconcyled In the thyrde yere of hys reygne dyed Lamfrank when he hadde ben archbyshop of Caunterburye .xviii. yeres By whose meanes the moÌ„kes of Englande were brought to the vse of theyr holy relygyon the whych before hys commynge lyued more lyke to seculer prestes theÌ„ religious men and exercysed them in huntynge and hawkynge for to auoyde idelnesse dysynge and cardynge in the wynter nyghtes that they myght be redy to kepe theyr howres and nyghtly seruyce And in theyr apparel they were lyke vnto consules and not vnto muÌ„kes wyth many other deformytyes The whych in y e begynnyng of Lamfrank he of policye suffered for a season lest he had brought all in his top atones and therby myght haue caused some scysme or varyauÌ„ce to haue rysen in the chyrche In auoydynge wherof wyth other inconuenyences he lytell and lytell refrayned them of theyr outrage and in ê“cesse of tyme caused and constrayned them to lyue after the constitucyons and rules of theyr relygyon Aboute thys tyme Robert Curthose duke of Normandy enteÌ„dynge to take hys vyage into the holy lande layde his dukedome to wedde to hys brother wyllyam for .x. thousande pounde For leuyenge wherof kynge wyllyam set a taske vpon his commons and subiectes and reysed a farre excidynge some vnder colour of the same so that byshoppes melted theyr vessell and lordes spoyled theyr tenauntes The kynge of Scottes also brake the peace before made with wyllyam Conquerour and wasted and toke prayes ut the countrey of Northumberlande Then the kynge prouyded a nauy and sayled thyther in the wynter tyme. But by y e tempest of the see halfe his nauy or a great parte of yt was drowned and many of his knyghtes were loste for colde and hunger But yet in the ende after dyuers conflyctes and bykerynges by mediacyon of frendes a peace and vnyte was concluded so that Malcolyn then kynge of Scottes shuld be obedyent to kynge wyllyam vnder the same othe that he was before tyme sworne vnto hys father and kynge willyam shuld yerely gyue vnto him in y e way of a fee .xii. markes of gold In the fourth yere of his reygne and the fyft daye of October passyng great tempest of wederyng fell in soudry places of Englande and specyally in y e towne of wynchecome For there by tempeste of thuÌ„der and lyghtenyng a parte of y e steple of the chyrch was throwen downe and the crycyfyx wyth the ymage of our lady also standynge vpon the roode lofte was in lykewyse ouerthrowen and broke and shatered And after folowed a contagye and a fowle stenche y e whych endured tyll the munkes had gone in processyon about the chyrch and all the houses adioynyng to that abbay and other places Also thys yere at LoÌ„don was great harme done by force of the wynde which blewe with such violence y t yt ouerturned or ryued as wytnessyth Polycronycon ouer the noÌ„ber of .vi. hundred houses And y e rofe of saynt Mary Bow in chepe was also ryued wherwith two men were slayne And also at Salesburye was hurte done wyth y e same wynde or y e lyke therof In the .v. yere of wyllyaÌ„s reygne he went into Northumberlande and repayred suche holdes and castelles as the Scottes by theyr warrys had blemyshed and apayred and caused a new castell to be made at Caercol y e cytye or towne whych the Danys of two hundred yeres passed hadde destroyed Then y e kyng returned vnto Gloucester where he was greuously veryd wyth sykenesse so that he wende he shulde haue dyed In tyme wherof he toke great repentaunce ê“mysed yf he myght escape he wold neuer sell mo benefices ouer that he wold ameÌ„de hys lyuyng become a new maÌ„ But after he was restored to helth that promyse was shortely forgoten And in that yere he gaue vnto Anselme the archbyshopryche of yorke But he myghte take of yt but as the kynges pleasure was tyll suche tyme as the kyng hadde taken his trybute therof And more ouer he auouched that the see of LyncolnÌ„ be longed to the see of yorke tyll the bisshoppe of Lyncolne had pleased him wyth a great summe of money as .v. thousande marke after the wrytyng of Ranulfe In the .vi. yere of hys reygne were excedynge floodes wherof the lyke in many yeres passed hadde not ben sene And after that ensued wonderfull frostâ— whych frose the great stremes in suche wyse y e horse and carte passed ouer y e gret ryuers And in the ende when the yse melted and brake the payse therof brake many a stronge brydge bothe of tymber and of stone THE CCXXIIII CHAPITER ABout thys tyme the welshemen with theyr kyng or duke named Rees brake out vppon the Englyshmen in the Bordour where standeth the castell of Brekenocke and there made masteryes for a while But in the ende his people were chaced and slayne and he wounded to deth so that he dyed the .iii. daye folowynge Thys Rees is accompted of wryters to be the laste kynge of walys For after thys daye they were so dauÌ„ted that kynges of Englande had them in suche rule that they were vnder more stedfaste obedyence than they were before tyme. How be it they rebellyd full often as after shall appere And the yere folowyng kyng wyllyam to haue y e countrey in the more quyet hewe downe mych of y e wood and buylded in sundry places strong castels and pyles by meane wherof more and more they were plucked to obedyeÌ„ce But not shortely after but specyally in the dayes of Edwarde y e fyrste and Edwarde the thyrde Malcolyn kyng of Scotland came vnto Glowcester to comon wyth the kynge of dyuers maters and to take a fynall agremeÌ„t But for kyng wyllyam wolde haue demyd
abbot and to haue the rule of so holy a charge and so he gaue vnto hym that benefyce wythout takynge any peny Thys kynge wyllyam vsed alway lemmans wherfore he dyed without yssue legyttymat when he had reyned as before is sayde fully .xii. yeres and odde dayes THE CCXXVI CHAPITER HEnry the .iii. son of wyllyam Cōquerour fyrste of y t name whyche for his connynge was surnamed beuclerk began hys reygne and domynyon as kynge of Englande the .v. daye of August in the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred one and the .xliii. yere of the fyrste Phylyppe then kynge of Fraunce was crowned at westmynster ryght shortly after of Thomas archebyshoppe of yorke and Morys byshoppe of London This Henry in his youth plyed him to such studye that he was instructe in the .vii. artes lyberall Anon he made holy chyrche free vsed saynt Edwardes lawes wyth the amendemēt of them He put out of his courte nyce and wāton men and closed Ranulphe byshoppe of Durham in the towre of Lōdon y e which as ye before haue harde was so great wyth wyllyam his brother and sent for Anselme archebyshoppe of Caunterburye whyche before was fledde fro the tyranny of wyllyam Rufus This Henry chastysed the olde vntrewe mesure and made a yerde of y e length of hys owne arme wyth dyuers other thynges reformyng that longe before his days had ben mysse vsed and abhorred excesse of metys and drynkes vsed to fyght more wyth coūsayll then wyth sworde In the seconde yere of his reygne Robert hys brother that by all thys season hadde ben occupyed in warres vppon Cristes enymyes hauyng worde of the deth of hys brother wyllyam and howe his brother Henry hadde taken vpon hym as kynge returned into Normandy and there made preparacyon for to come into Englande In this season also was brokē out of pryson Ranulfe byshoppe of Durham and comen to the sayde Robert into Normandy The whych excyted duke Robert in all that he myght to warre vppon hys brother Henry so that he assembled a stronge armye of knyghtes and toke shyppynge and landed in processe of tyme at Portysmouth But by medyacyon a peace was made and that in suche condycion that he shuld haue .iii. thousand markes yerely as before was promysed vnto hym by willyam Rufus his brother wyth other condycyons of successyon and other thynges the whyche I ouerpasse for length of tyme. Thus Robert beynge contented contrary to the myndes of his lordes after he a season hadde dysported hym in Englande retourned into Normandy where of his lordes he was for thys other dedes before done as after is shewed lytle or lesse and lesse setby For all be yt that by hys fathers lyfe he hadde vyctorye and vtterly dyspleased hym as some deale before ys touched yet by hys manhode and manfull dedes he fell into the fauoure of the people and dyd many and great notable actes and specyally at the wynnyng of the cytye of Acon vppon the myscreauntes and turkes For the whyche dedes yt apperyth by the sequele of the storye that he was also in the fauour of god For when the eleccyon shuld be made for the kynge of Hierusalem and certayne prynces and prynces peeres by ordynaunce made stode wyth theyr tapers abydynge the dyuyne purueyaunce that whose taper were fyrst wyth heuenly fyre lyghtened shulde be admytted for kynge the taper of thys duke Robert was fyrste onely wherfore by dyuyne purueyaunce he was then chosen kynge of Hierusalem The whyche he refused for the payne and trauayle that he shuld haue wyth all also for the couetyse of the crowne of Englande For as soone as he hadde knowlege of the deth of his brother willyam anon he parted the coūtrey and sped hym homewarde in all that he myght For the whych dede as affermeth myne authour he spedde the worse in all his dedes after Thys Robert was wyse in counsayll stronge in batayll and also ryght lyberall and in hys retourne from Hierusalem maryed the doughter of wyllyam de Auersana lorde of Apulia wyth whome he receyued grete sōmes of money for her dower the whych by meane of his liberalyte he spent shortly after Then fortune beganne to frowne vppon duke Robert and sette his owne lordes so agayn hym that they sent vnto kyng Henry hys brother wyllynge hym to come into Normandye and they wolde delyuer the coūtrey vnto him and holde hym for theyr chefe lorde and ruler wherunto as sayth the englyshe cronycle kynge Henry soone cōsented But or euer thys warre betwene the sayde duke Robert kyng Henry beganne thys Henry maryed Mawde or Molde the doughter of Malcolyne kyng of Scotlande and of Margarete hys wyfe doughter of Edwarde the outlawe as in the begynnyng of wyllyam Conqueroure is thouched Of the whyche Molde thys Henry receyuyd after some wryters two sonnes and .ii. doughters y t is to saye wyllyam and Rycharde Mawde Mary And also the sayd authour wyth other saye that Robert duke of Normandye came into Englande in the fourth yere of the reygne of kynge Henry and hadde good chere of his brother and syster For the which he at the request of his sayde syster released to his brother y e forenamed trybute of .iii. thousand markes But by yll tale tellers couetous of signory this broderly loue was after dissolued in such wise that the kynge with a strong army sayled into Normandy and held his broder Robert with so sharpe warre that he chased hym from one countrey to another and wanne from hym Roan Caan Faloys and all the good townes of Normandye and lastely constrayned hym to aske helpe of Phylyppe kyng of Fraunce after of the erle of Flaūdres but he fayled helpe of them both Then wyth such power as he could make he gaue batayll vnto his brother kynge Henry In the whyche he was taken and sent ouer into England and put into the castell of Cardyffe in walys where he remayned as prisoner whyle he lyued And when he was dede he was buryed at Glowcester In this tyme and season as it were in y e .iii. yere of kyng Henry y e chyrch of saynt Barthelmew in Smythfeld of London was begonne to be founded of a mynstrell of this kyng Henry named Rayer and after perfourmed and ended by good and well disposed cytezens of the citye of Lōdon This place of Smythfelde was at y e day a lay stowe of al ordure or fylth and the place where felons and other transgressours of the kynges lawes were put to execucyon THE CCXXVII CHAPITER SO as kynge Henry hadde fynyshed his warre in Normandye was returned into Englande Robert de Bolesyn which was the eldest sonne of Roger de mount Gomeryk erle of Shrewesburye arose agayne the kynge and manned his castellys of Shrewesbury of Brugg◠of Arundell and of Tekynhyll and incoraged the walshmen agayne the kyng But the kyng pursued so cruelly the sayd Robert y t wythin .xl. days he wan all thoses castellis
an holde ferynge the rescue of Englishmen and Normans leste that castell by that meane myghte fall in theyr handes sent his commyssyon vnto the rulers of that countrey chargynge theym wyth all dylygence to assaute that place And yf they myght wynne yt to put the executours of that murder vnto moste shamefull deth whyche commaundement receyued from the kynge stronge assaute cruell was made manfully yt was defended But the losse ran to theym of the castell so that in processe of tyme when this willyam conceyued well that he myght not contynue the defence therof he began to treate agreed that yf he myghte haue free yssue for hym and hys assuraunce that he wyth his knyghtes myght go quyetly vnto a place that he wold chose he wold then delyuer the castell wyth all that was therin The whyche requeste of dyuerse of the hedde captaynes was graunted and sworne But so soone as the castell was delyuered and the Frenchemen entred the multytude not wythstandynge the former promyse and othe fell vppon the sayde wyllyam and his soudyours them put vnto deth by many cruell tormētes fynally caste all theyr careyns into the ryuer of Sayne vppon the brynke wherof the sayde roche and castell was standynge And shortely after this ensued the warre betwene this Lewys kynge Henry of Englande as yt is before shewyd in y e .x. yere of y e sayde Henry And after the warre ended betwene these two prynces Hugh Puyssake a man of great myght at those dayes in Fraunce rebelled agayne y e kyng and warred greuously vppon or agayn the countesse of Chartres and robbed and pylled the chyrches of y e countrey as well as other places so that the sayd coūtesse with her yonge sonne Thybaude were fayne to seke socoure of the kynge wherfore the kynge called a counsayll at hys citye of Meleyne where agayne the sayd Hugh many greuous complayntes were put But for so myche as y e sayd Hugh at that tyme was not present to make answere vnto such thynges as then was layde to his charge the kynge commaunded that the castell of Terry or of Thoree in all haste shulde be manned vytayled to the ende that by the comforte strength of that castell the kynge yf nede requyred myght lay syege to the castell of Puyssake for so mych as that one was nere adioynynge vnto y e other In whych passe tyme the sayd Hugh was somoned to appere before the kynge and his counsayll but he refused to appere when the kynge was enfourmed of the garnyshyng of y e castell of Thorre and of the disobedyence of Hugh he assembled a stronge hoste and cōpassed the castell of Puyssake with a syege and set Thybaude son of the countesse vppon that syde that stode towarde the prouynce of Chartres so that stronge assautes and cruell warre was made on euery parte what shulde I make longe processe to tell of the ferefull shot of the gonnys vppon bothe partyes or of the sharpe shot of Arowes the castynge of stonys or scalynge of the wallys or fyllynge of the dyches the fyryng of the gates or yet the mortall and cruell fyght on bothe partes nor of y e manyfold dede bodyes maymed by reason of y e sayd assautes or yet y e manasses or mockes or great bosus or crakes vsed of the souldyours durynge this syege But fynally after the kynge hadde lyen before the sayd castell a certayne of tyme he wanne yt by pure force and toke the sayde Hughe wyth hys accessaryes The whyche he commaunded to be kepte as prysoners in the castell of Thorre for a season Then the kynge caste downe the sayde castell of Puyssake to the grounde excepte a lytle towre made of tymber the whyche he reseruyd for a lodgynge And that done some of the forsayd prysoners he put to deth and some he dysherityd after the grefe of theyr offence And so this foresayd countesse of Charters with her sonne Thybaude was in quyete of theyr countrey and castell of Puyssake belongynge to the sayde erledome But howe yt was in processe of tyme folowynge thys Thybaude entended to haue reedyfyed there a newe castell wherby as the kinge was enformed he wold haue encroched thynges appertaynynge to the crowne of Fraunce wherfore the kynge wythstode yt For this a grudge fell betwene the kynge and erle Thybaude so that in processe dedely warre was made betwen thē The whyche contynued in such wise to theyr both damages that fynally the warre was agayne reuyued betwene kynge Lewys and kynge Henry as in the .xvii. yere of the reygne of the sayde Henry is declared by meane of thys warre betwene the kynge and this erle Thybaude wherof the cyrcumstaunce wold axe a longe leysure to reherse as yt is shewyd in the frenche storye But fynally this erle Thybaude loste none honour all be yt that the frenche cronycle wonderfully fauoreth y e party of the Frenche kynge that the reader maye well apperceyue Quis pin xit leonem THE CCXXXI CHAPITER THis Lewys also hadde great warre wyth Henry the fourth of that name emperour the whyche maryed Molde the doughter of Henry the fyrste kynge of England as before is shewed whefore the occasyon was as sayth the Frenche cronycle for so myche as the sayd Henry the emperour hadde before tyme ben accursed of Gelasius the seconde of that name then pope at Raynes a citye in Fraunce For the whych cause as there is surmytted the sayde emperoure assembled an huge hoste of Almaynes and Italyens and entred the lande of Fraunce and dyd therin myche harme But in the ende when he knew of the great prouisyon y e Lewis made to mete him of his great power he then as affermeth y e frēch cronycle wythdrewe hym and so auoyded the lande of Fraūce wythout stroke strykyng But of this speketh nothyng the authour that wrote the story of this Henry the emperour After this the erle of Flaundres named Charlys the systers sonne of kynge Lewys nexte duke after Baldewyn whych dyed as before is sayd in the thyrde chapyter of the story of kyng Henry of a woūde in his face this foresayd Charlys was sore hated of the prouoste of Brudgys The whyche to bryng his malyce to some effecte counsayled wyth hys adherentes how he myght slee the sayde Charlys By whose coūsayle a meane was founde to brynge the erle to Brudgys a towne of Flaundres for the we le of the sayde towne After whose commynge vppon a daye he beynge in a chyrche and herynge his dyuyne seruyce was slayne of y e sayd prouoste and his complycys wherof herynge kynge Lewys anon wyth a great army entred Flaundres and besyeged the town of Brudges and lastely toke the sayde prouoste The whyche fyrst was bounden to a post then his eyen wyth a reede stryken out of hys hed And then shot wyth arowes lastely set vppon a whele where he remayned tyl he dyed And a felowe of hys named Bartopus y e
The fyrste yere of hys reygne he subdued Irlande And soone after Thomas Beketh whyche after was byshoppe of Caunterbury was made chaunceller of Englonde This kynge caste downe dyuers castellys that before in tyme of kynge Stephan were buylded other for dyspleasure of the owners or ellys for the fere they shulde be strengthed agayne hym And also he banyshed many of the lordes and gentylmen that kynge Stephan hadde in hys fauoure Aboute the thyrde yere of hys reygne in the moneth of October were sene in the fyrmament two sunnys and in the mone was sene a redde crosse But of thys wonder sheweth the authoure of Cronica cronicaruÌ„ and sayth that aboute thys tyme in Italy in the moneth of Nouember appered thre sunnys by the space of thre owres in the weste and the yere folowynge appered thre monys whereof the myddle mone hadde a redde crosse ouerthwarte the face whyche there ys noted for a prodygy or a token of the scysme that after fell amonges the cardinallys for eleccyon of the pope AlexaÌ„der the thyrd whyche scysme by meane of the fyrste Frederyke then emperoure endured almoste .xx. yeres Also aboute this tyme Adryan the fourthe of that name was pope an Englysheman borne in the towne of saynte Albon of whome is more declared in the begynnynge of the .xxii. chapyter of the .vii. boke of Polycronycon Also in thys yere the kynge wente wyth a stronge armye into walys and after he hadde sette that countrey in an order and quyet he buyldyd a stronge castell at Rutlande and founded the abbaye of Basyngewerke In the .vi yere of hys reygne thys Henry maryed hys seconde son Henry vnto the kynges doughter of FrauÌ„ce that is to meane Lewys the viii whyche the sayde Lewys receyued of hys seconde wyfe named Constaunce the doughter of the kyng of Spayne as before ye haue harde in the seconde chapyter of y e story of the sayd Lewys This mayden was named Margaret By reason of whych maryage was appeased the warre that was begonne betwene Fraunce and Englande for the landes of Poyâ—owe and other the whyche kynge Henry helde by reason of hys wyfe In y e whych warre mych harme was done and more wolde haue ensued yf yt hadde not by thys meane haue ben agreed In the .vii. yere of his reygn Theobalde archbyshoppe of Caunterbury dyed and Thomas Beket chaunceller of Englande was archebysshoppe â–ª after hym of whome more shall folowe In the same yere kyng Henry with a stronge hoste yode to Scotlande and made so cruell warre vppon willyam kynge of that lande that lastely he was taken and dyd to the sayd Henry recompensacyon in yeldynge vnto hym the cytye of Carlell the castell of Bamburghe the newe castell vpon Tyne wyth dyuers other holdes and a great parte of Northumberlande the whyche he hadde wonne from the borderers And after fewtye and homage done by the sayde wyllyam vnto the kynge and a certayne summe of money by hym promysed wythin .ix. monethes folowynge the kynge suffred hym to go at large But an other authour sayth that the kynge of Scottys was not taken but strongely besyeged in a towne or castell so that fynally he was forced to agree to the foresayde couenauntes In the .viii. yere the cytye of CauÌ„terburye was fyred by neglygence a great part therof brente And in that season the archbyshoppe Thomas beganne to replye agayne y e kynges mynde for thynges that the kynge dyd exercyse agayn the liberties of the chyrche THE CCXXXVII CHAPITER IN the .ix. yere of hys reygne the kynge for dyuerse causes coÌ„cernyng y e nedes of his realme called a parliament at hys towne of Northampton Durynge whyche parlyament dyssencyon fell betwen the kynge and Thomas archbyshop of Caunterburye for dyuerse actes and ordinaunces that the kyng there procured to passe agayne the lybertyes of holy chyrch the whych Thomas gaynstode and denyed wherfore the kynge toke a great dyspleasure with Thomas in so myche that shortely after he was fayne to flee the lande and in processe of tyme spedde hym to Rome where he complayned hym to Alexaunder the .iii. of that name then pope and there contynued and in Fraunce and in other places in poore estate by terme of .vi. yeres and more when kynge Henry hadde certayne vnderstandynge that Thomas was thus departed out of hys lande he seased his maners and temporall landes into hys hande so that hys mouable goodes were spoyled and rauenyd amonge the kynges offycers In the .xiiii. yere of his reygne the kynge crowned Henry hys eldest sonne then lyuynge kynge of Englande at westmynster whyche was done to the derogacyon or harme of the archbyshoppe Thomas as yt is wytnessyd in hys legende and for that doynge Roger archbyshoppe of yorke whyche crowned hym was accursed But an other authour sayth that the kynge crowned Henry hys sonne to the ende he myght haue ful power and authoryte to rule thys lande and the people of the same whyle hys father was occupyed in Normandye and other countreys where hys landes laye In myche of thys season that thys blessyd man Thomas was thus banyshed the lande the kynge sente ouer byshoppes and proctours to complayne vppon hym to the pope for well nere all the bishoppes of Englande were agayne hym And yf any toke hys parte they durste not speke for the displeasure of theyr temporall lorde so that this blessed man defended the quarell of the chyrche alone In the .xvi. yere of y e reygne of kyng Henry Lewys the kynge of FrauÌ„ce agreed kynge Henry and the archbysshoppe the kynge then beynge in Normandye Uppon whyche agrement thys blessyd man came to hys owne chyrche of Caunterbury and there so restynge hym sente for such persones as had spoyled and taken perforce the goodes of the chyrche aduertysynge theym by fayre meanes to restore the sayde goodes and to be reconcyled to the chyrche as trewe crysten men shulde But when he sawe that he myght not reconcyle theym by fayre meanes he then vsed compulsaryes and denounced them accursed but if they restored the goodes of the chyrche by a certayne day wherewyth the partyes beynge agreued sayled ouer to the kynge into Normandye and shewyd vnto hym greuous complayntes and more greuouse then the cause or mater requyred For the whych the kynge which hadde not yet quenched the bronde of malyce in hys harte the whyche he bare agayne thys holy man gaue lyght credence vnto those complayntes and was sore ferueÌ„tly amoued agayne the holy man Thomas in so myche that vppon a daye herynge the complayntes of this blessyd mannes aduersaryes he sayd in oppeÌ„ audyence of hys knyghtes that yf he had any good knyghtes about hym he had ben adueÌ„ged of that traytour longe or that tyme. At the tyme of whyche wordes vtterynge was present syr wyllyam Bryton syr Hugh Moruyle syr wyllyam Tracy and syr Regnolde fytz Urle whych foure knyghtes thynkyng that they shuld to theyr mayster do a synguler pleasure yf they slewe thys blessyd man hastely takynge aduyse
harte After thys he loste more dayly so that hys enymyes preuayled strongely agayne hym It is rede of hym that he shulde be at so great an after deale in thys warre that hastely he shuld put hym in the kynge of Fraunces mercy his honoure and hys crowne reserued But this is doutefull of credeÌ„ce For sure I am yf the Frenche kyng had suche auauntage of hym yt shulde not haue fallen throughe the boke but haue ben regystred in the moste auauntynge maner where as in the frenche cronycle is touched no word of lyke mater But trowth yt ys that fortune was to him contrary in such wyse that wyth or for anger and impacyence he fell into a feuer wherof he lastely dyed in the castell of Conomeus or of Chynon in Normandye in the moneth of Iuly when he had reygned .xxxiiii. yeres and .viii. monethes wyth oddes dayes and was buryed at Fount Ebrade wyth thys epytaphy vppon his tombe Sufficit hic tumulus cui non sufficerat orbis Res breuis est ampla cui fuit ampla breuis Rex Henricus eram mihi plurima regna subegi Multiplicique modo duxque comesque sui Cui satis ad votum non essent omnia terrae Climita terrae modo sufficit octo pedunâ— Qui legis haec pensa discrimina mortis in me Humanae speculum conditionis habe Quod petis instante operare bonum quia mundus Transit incaâ—tos mors inopina rapit The whyche versys are thus myche to meane in sentence ¶ Suffysyth nowe this graue to whom all erthly thynge Syffysyd not my mynde so hyghe was sette Tyme that was shorte my name wyde dyd sprynge whyche fame by deth is into shortenesse fette Kynge Henry was I called no man I thought my bette whose mynde sometyme all erth not suffysed viii fote of ground now hath my bodye comprysed Thou that thys redest the parell of deth and in me Thou mayste beholde the course of euery wyght That erthely is wherfore prouyde and se That thou well maye do shortely do yt and tyght Defer not the tyme for I ascertayne the ryght The world is transytory and vnwarely men taketh Cruell deth from whome non estate escapeth Gerardus CambrensÌ„ whyche in hys boke of dystynccyons sette oute the lyfe of thys Henry sayth dredefull yt is to allege agayne hym that maye putte a man oute of lande and to descrybe hym wyth many wordes that may exyle a man wyth one worde wherfore yt were a notable dede to tell the sothe of a prynces dedys and offende the prynce in no meane But yet when the prynce ys passed and gone then men wyll talke without fere that before tyme they spared for fere Then to folow the sooth this kyng Henry noryshed stryfe amonge hys chyldern wyth all dylygeÌ„ce hopyng therby to lyue hym selfe in the more reste when men wolde aske of hym when he wolde leue his great dedes he vsed to answere that the worlde shulde fayle or a courageouse harte shulde sease of great dedes He was pereles in chyualry in warre and in lecherye He wedded Elyanoure wyfe of Lewys kynge of Fraunce contrary to the commaundement of hys father For he hadde shewed to hym that he hadde lyen by her when he was the sayde kynges stewarde He reygned .xxvi. yeres somdeale to hys wordely blysse and foure yeres somwhat to hys payne but the laste fyue yeres to hys great troweble and sorow Farthermore the sayd Gerarde descryueth the progenye of thys Henry whyche I ouer passe because yt is so common Rycharde hys sonne wolde often tell that wonder and vsed to saye no meruayle though they greued the peple that were comon of such kynd For of y e deuyll they came and to the dyuyll they shall It ys also redde of thys Henry that in a chaumber at wyndesore he caused to be paynted an egle wyth foure byrdes wherof thre of theym all rased the bodye of the olde egle and the fourth was cratchynge at the olde eglys eyen when the questyon was asked of hym what thyng that pycture shuld sygnyfye yt was answered by hym thys olde egle sayde he is my selfe and these .iiii. eglys betoken my foure sonnes the whyche sease not to pursue my deth And specyally my yongeste sonne IohnÌ„ whyche nowe I loue moste shall most specyally awayte and imagen my deth Francia THE CCXLI. CHAPITER PHylyp the seconde of that name surnamed Dyeu done or gyueÌ„ of god and sonne vnto y e viii Lewys beganne to reygne ouer the realme of Fraunce in the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred and .lxxix and the .xxiii. yere of Henry the seconde than kynge of Englonde whyche sayde Phylyppe reygned somwhat of tyme by the lyfe of hys father which tyme is accompted vnto the reygne of hys father Thys in the fyrst yere of hys reygne for the great enormytyes that the Iewes vsed wythin the realme of Fraunce as crucyfyenge of chyldren and exercysynge of theyr detestable vsery he after due profe made put the malefactours to dethe and the other in auoydynge more daunger he exyled and put clere out of hys realme This Phylyp also as before in the story of Henry the seconde is towched excyted the sonnes of the sayde Henry to make warre vppon theyr father by whyche meane thys Phylyppe gate many holdes and townes from the sayde Henry wythin hys duchy of Guyon But after the deth of Henry thys Phylyppe gaue ouer all the sayde holdes and townes vnto Rycharde the eldeste sonne of the sayde Henry and receyued of hym homage for the same And as wytnessyth the French cronycle the sayd Rychard in token of obedyence was present at the coronacion of the sayd Phylyppe But ye shall vnderstande that than he was not kynge of Englande .x. yeres after But yf yt so were that he were present at the sayd coronacyon yet was he duke of Guyon onely Aboute the thyrde yere of hys reygne Eraclius patryarke of Hierusalem came into Fraunce and requyred ayde of thys kynge Phylyppe to wythstande the furye and persecucyon whyche Saladyne prynce of Turkes hadde excuted and dayly contynued in the countrey of Palestina agayne the Cristen to the great destruccyon of theym and vndoyng of the countrey and great ieoperdye of the losynge of the holy cytye of Hierusalem For thys the kynge assembled a great counsayll at hys cytye of Parys where the sayde Eraclius made requeste to the kynge as before he hadde done to Henry the seconde For he was in Fraunce in the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred .lxxx. and two and in Englande he was in the yere of grace .xi. hundred .lxxx. and .vii. After whyche counsayll there so holden yt was agreed that the kynge wyth ayde of the byshoppes and other of the spyrytualtye shulde ayde the sayde patryarke the whyche where sette forthe in all possyble haste But after the reporte of Peter Dysroye whyche made a recule or lytle boke of the wynnynge and losyng of Hierusalem they with mo crysten prynces were dryuen by tempeste of the
e sayd ryght and tytle But yt was not longe or she were frō hym deuorced for cause of alyaūce of gossypred or otherwise Howe be yt in processe of tyme after the said Iugebert was to him agayn ioyned by the authoryte of Pope Innocent the thyrd of that name in the yere of grace .xii. hūdred and .ix. and yere of reygne of this Philyppe .xxx so that the sayde Iugebert was deuorced frome her lorde by the terme of .xvii. yeres or theruppon In whych tyme and season the sayd Phylyppe had maryed the doughter of Phylyppe duke of Sweuy that then was returned vnto her father THE CCXLIII CHAPITER Kynge Phylyp for dyspleasure whych he bare towarde kyng Rycharde made sharpe and cruell warre vpon the Normans and wan therein dyuerse holdes and townes and fynally layde syege vnto the cytye of Roan wherof herynge Iohn̄ erle of Huntyngeton or after some erle of Oxenforde brother to kynge Rycharde whome the Frenche boke nameth Iohn̄ withoute lande wyth the erle of Arundell and other noble men spedde hym into Normandye and so ayded the cytezens and the soldyours of Roan that as testyfyeth the frēche cronycle the French kyng was so moued wyth the warre and defence of the same towne that in a passynge fury consyderyng the wynter season drewe vppon and that he myght not carye awaye his gunnes and other great ordynaunces he set all vppon a fyre and so wyth great agony departed And within thre monethes after he layde syege vnto the castell of Uernyel where whē he had lyen .iii. wekes or more a messynger came vnto hym and sayde that the cytye Euroux was taken of the Normans and the people therof taken prysoners wherfore in all haste he departed and rescued the sayd cytye and prysoners and that done retourned to the foresayde syege and assyeged yt so strōgely that lastely he had yt delyueryd by appoyntement By thys season was kynge Rycharde delyueryd out of the handes of the duke of Ostryge And then beganne the warre to be more cruell whych here I passe ouer for so mych as I entende to shew the effecte therof in the storye of kynge Rycharde folowynge Aboute the .xviii. yere of the reygn of thys Phylyppe fell such plenty of water that the groūde was therwith so bucked and drowned that corne other frutes by reason therof greatly decayed and scanted in such wyse that whete was shortly after at .xx. s a quarter after sterlynge money In the .xx. yere of the reygn of this Phylyppe dyed Rycharde kynge of England to whom was heyre Iohn̄ before named his brother The whyche cōcluded a trewce wyth this Philyppe for certayne yeres as after in the storye of this Iohn̄ shall more clerely appere And soone there after meanes were made to kyng Phylyp that he shuld receyue agayne vnto his company Iugebert hys wyfe and to renounce Mary doughter of the duke of Sweuy or after some authours the doughter of the duke of Bohemy But the kynge wyth this mocyon was nothynge contentyd nor yet agreable to folow any such mocion or request wherfore the prelasy of the lande assemled theym in counsayll and by a full and hole authoryte seynge they myghte not induce the kynge to no conformyte or agrement to resume hys lawfull wyfe and to refuse that other they denounsed hym and hys realme accursed wherwith the kyng was so amoued and vexed that he depryued certayne bysshoppes from theyr sees and also toke in hys possessyon the spyrytuall goodes and prysoned many prestes and other relygyous men and ouer that closed the sayde Iugebert wythin the castell of Sampys and forthermore greued hys comons wyth greuous exaccyons and taxys Than wythin a shorte terme after Iohn̄ de saynte Poule cardynall and Athā or Othemon bysshoppe of Osty and legate of the pope of Rome wyth the archebysshoppe of Burdeaux and other by the commaundement of the pope than Innocent the thyrde kepte a greate counceyle in the cytye of Sorsore where the kynge was monysshed to apere for so mych as before he hadde graunted to be reconcyled vnto hys fyrste wyfe where thys mater hynge in argument before the spyrytuall iudges by y e space of .xv. dayes wythout sentence gyuynge wherfore the kynge beynge wyth the delayes dyscontented sodenly wyth hys wyfe departed wythout takynge of them any congye or leue sendynge them vnderstandyng that as yet he wolde be aduysed or he were dysseuered from hys wyfe wherof whan the sayd Iohn̄ cardynall and the other bysshoppes hadde wyttynge accomptynge theyr laboure loste they retourned shortely after vnto Rome and shewed vnto the pope all as they hadde done And soone there after kyng Iohn̄ was honorably receyued of thys kynge Phylyppe as in the story of the sayd Iohn̄ shall be more playnly shewed And in the yere folowynge which shulde be in the begynnynge of the xxiii yere of thys Phylyppe dyed Mary hys wyfe whyche he wrongfully had holden cōtrary to the law of the chyrche by the terme of tenne yeres or there vppon Of the whyche Mary he hadde receyued a man chylde and a doughter the whyche after were made legyttymate by Innocent the thyrde though some noble men of Fraunce there agayne grudged THE CCXLIIII CHAPITER IT was not longe after that y e kyng assembled greate people and entendyd to haue entred the landys of the erle Rossell o◠Roger de Rose of the whyche he hadde broughte before hym many greuous complayntes of greate extorcyons and exaccyōs that the sayd erle and Roger hadde executed and done vppon the chyrches nere to the valey of Soysons and wolde not refrayne for all the kynges cōmaundement wherfore he rygged hys armye and drewe towarde them But as soone as they were aduertysed of the kynges comynge anone they submytted them to the kynges grace oblygynge them selfe to make restytucyon accordynge to the kynges pleasure to all suche places and persons as they hadde offended And thys acte thus fynysshed kyng Phylyppe returned vnto a place bytwene Uerdon and the I le Audely in the whyche place the kynge hadde appoynted a great counsayle or parlyament where amonge other maters yt was concluded that Iohn̄ kynge of Englande shulde be somoned to appere as the Frenche kynges lyege man at the same parlyament to be holden at parys wythin xv dayes of Ester to answere suffycyently to the kyng vppon such questyons as there shulde be purposed vnto hym for the duchy of Normandye for the coūtrey of Aungeou and of Poytyers But for y t kynge John̄ came not at that day appoynted nor none for hym accordynge to the monyshement to hym gyuen therfore thys kynge Philypppe not withstandynge the amytye and trewce before confermed assembled hys hoste and entred the duchye of Normandye and made therin sharpe and cruell warre and wanne a castell therein named Bonte or Bowte and brused or crased the castellys of Gentylyne and Gurney and seased all y e landes whyche Hugh de Gurney helde and gyue theym vnto the duke of Brytayne And also he gaue vnto hym the
erledome of Aungeou and two hundred knyghtes prysones of Normans and Englyshe wyth a great summe of money It was not longe after that the duke of Brytayne was departyd from the kynge but that he wyth suche power as he myght make entred the countrey of Aungeou to take therof possessyon where in shorte space he was encountred of kynge John̄ and fought to geder a cruell batell In the whyche in the ende the duke was put to the worse for the more parte of hys people were slayne and hym selfe wyth Hugh le Bruns Godfrey de Lesygnan and many other nobles of Fraunce and also of Brytayne were taken prysoners wyth whyche tydynges the Frenche kyng was greuously dyscontentyd And where as at that tyme he had becleped y e castell of Arches wyth a strong syege he remoued from thens and and yode to the citye of Towres and brent a part therof But as testifyeth the frenche cronycle he taryed not the commynge of kynge Iohn̄ But for that wynter was commynge towarde he ceasyd of hys warrys for that yere and so drewe hym into Fraunce ⸫ In the yere folowynge whyche was the yere of this Phylyp .xxiiii of kynge Iohn̄ the .iiii. yere y e warre newely began whyche I ouer passe for as mych as yt shall be shewyd in the storye of kynge Iohn̄ In the .xxvi. yere thys Phylyppe Almaricus a studyent of Paris held certayne opynyons of heresye Of the whyche when he was abiured he toke suche thought that he dyed shortely after It was not longe after but that other clerkys and studyauntys helde an other erronyous opynyon cōcernynge y e vnyon of the trynyte Of the whyche nomber Peter byshoppe of Parys and one Garyne a man of great connynge were two the whyche were degraded after cōsumyd wyth fyre and the body of the forenamed Almaricus was agayne taken oute of the erthe and after brent Nere about the .xxx. yere of the reygne of thys Phylyppe for consyderacyon as sayth the frenche boke that Iohn̄ kynge of Englande had exylyd dyuerse of hys byshoppes and taken from them theyr possessyons and goodes the whyche to this kynge Phylyp were comen for ayde and socour he therfore mouyd with pytye assembled a great hoste and entendyd to haue sayled into Englande to haue refourmed these maters wyth the whyche hoste he passed tyll he came to Grauenynge by lande where he appoynted hys nauey to mete wyth hym And to the same place also Ferrande then erle of Flaundres had affermely promysyd to come wyth the ayde of hys Flemynges where the kynge for hym taryed a certayne of tyme. But shortely after the kynge was ascertayned that the sayde erle was alyed wyth kynge Iohn̄ hys enymye and purposed to ayde hys partye in all that he myghte wherof the occasyon was as affermeth the sayde Frenche cronycle for so myche as Lewys eldest sonne of kynge Phylyppe helde from the sayde Farrande two castellys or townes named saynte Omer and Are. when kynge Phylyppe apperceyued that he was thus of the erle dyspoynted he by coūsayll of his Baronye putte by hys iourney into Englande and assayled the countrey of Flaundres and so yode vnto Cassyle a lytell from Grauelynge wyth sharpe assaute wanne the sayd towne and so from thens to Brugys and commaunded hys nauy to be brought vnto the hauē of Sluse whyche is wythin shorte waye of Brugys And when he hadde executed hys pleasure at Brugys leuyng a certayn of his peple for to strength hys Nauy he yode vnto Gaunte and there rested hym and hys people In whyche season Regnolde erle of Boleyne Guyllyam longe Espe or Guyllyam wyth the longe sworde wyth a crewe of Englyshe men aryued in Flaundres to whom shortely drewe Ferraunde the erle wyth a great power of Flemynges The whyche shypped theym in small caruyles and barkes and other shyppys of aduaūtage and wyth a fyerse corage sette vppon the Frenche kynges nauey lyenge at Sluse as before is shewed where was foughten a stronge and cruell batayll But in the ende the Flemynges hadde the vyctorye and hadde the rule of all the frenche flote the whyche in nomber as testyfyeth the sayd frenche cronycle were a thousande ten sayle The whyche for nomber and greatnesse myghte not all lye wythin the hauyn but spradde a great parte of the ryuer besyde whyche so lyenge wythout the hauen the Flemynges conueyed thens and after layde ordinaunce to the towne of Sluse and assyeged yt Kynge Phylyppe herynge of the losse of hys nauye and of the assautynge of the towne of Sluse in all haste spedde hym thyther and there in suche wyse resysted hys enymyes that he slew of them vpon two thousande and toke of theym dyuerse prysoners and rescued the towne But for he sawe he myght not recouer hys shyppes beynge wythin the hauyn he causyd theym to be dyscharged of vytell and other necessaryes and after set them on fyre and the towne also and that done toke certayne hostages of Brugis of Gaunte and of Ipre and so retourned into Fraunce THE CCXLV CHAPITER WHen kynge Phylippe was returned into Fraunce yt was not longe after that by the meanes of some well dysposyd persones he was reconcyled and toke to hym his lawfull wyfe Ingeberta or Ingebert doughter of the kynge of Denmarke whyche was great comforte to all hys people And thys yt nowe apperyth that the sayde Ingebert was from her lorde or husbande by the terme of .xvi. yeres and more as before yt is touched in the seconde chapyter of thys storye In the yere of grace .xii. hūdred .xiiii. as sayth the frenche boke whyche maketh the yere of the reygne of this Philyppe .xxxv Otho the .iiii. of that name and duke of Saxony whyche of some of the electours was chosen for emperour in the quarell of kyng Iohn̄ intred y e prouince of Henaude and there beynge accompanyed with Reygnolde erle of Boleyne Farraunde erle of Flaundres and dyuerse other nobles as well of Englande Saxonye and other places made prouysyon to fyght wyth kynge Phylyppe whyche then warred in Flaūdres so that the Frenche kynge was at the castell of Peron and Otho was at the castell of Ualensyens or Ualenseus About Mary Madgdaleyns tyde the Frenche kynge in wastyng y e coūtrey of Flaūdres came vnto the town of Turney and Otho returned from the foresayde castell and came vnto the castell or towne named Mortenge the whyche was but .vi. myle from Turney wherof herynge the kynge entendyd to haue set in shorte tyme vppon hys enymyes But by the aduyse of hys barons he was letted for so myche as the wayes and places were streyghte and narowe towarde hys enymyes For the whyche consyderacyon by counsayll of hys sayde barones he was letted and retourned towarde Henawde for to haue more larger playnes So that after saynte Iamys daye he retourned purposynge that nyghte to haue lyen and also his hoste at the castell called Lylly But he was letted of hys purpose For Otho whych was warned of hys remouynge demed
of .x. thousande pounde for the exployte of his voyage And farther more he sold to the olde byshoppe of Durham hys owne prouynce for a great summe of money and creatyd hym erle of the same wherfore the kynge sayde after in game I am a wonders crafty man for I haue made a new erle of an old byshop By suche meanes the kyng emptyed many byshoppes and ryche prestys bagges and fylled hys cofers And ouer that he graunted oute annuytyes and fees oute of the crowne as though he roughte nothynge of hys retournynge For this dede some of hys famylyers as they durste blamed hym But he sayde to thē y t in tyme of nede it was good polycy for a man to ayde hym wyth his owne And more ouer he ioyned ther to that yf London were hys at that tyme of nede he wolde sell yt yf he myght gete a conuenyent marchaūt that for yt were able to paye An other waye he hadde also to gather money for he hadde lycence of pope Innocent the thyrd of that name to dyspence wyth suche as hym lyked wythin his realme for takyng vppon theym the crosse Anno domini M.C.xci.  Anno domini M.C.xcii  Iohn̄ Herlyon  Balliui  Anno secundo  Roger duke  IN the seconde yere in the moneth of October kynge Rycharde betoke the guydynge of the lande vnto the byshoppe of Ely then chaunceller of Englande and sayled into Normandye where settynge the coūtrey vnder sadde guydyng shortly after mette with the Frenche kyng Phylyp the second the whych ioyntly yode to Turon and there ouer passyd the shortnesse of wynter In whyche passe tyme makynge eyther wyth other assuraunce for contynuaunce of so great a iourney at the sprynge of y e yere these two princes toke theyr voyage towarde the holy lande that is to meane kyng Rycharde by y e see and knnge Phylyppe by the lande and appoynted to mete agayn in the land of Scicilia or Scycyll In this meane tyme in England the Iewes in dyuers places of y e realme as Lyncolne Staunforde and Lynne were robbed and spoyled and at yorke to the nomber of foure hundred mo cutte theyr mayster veynes and bled to deth The two kynges accordynge to theyr appoyntemēt met in Scycyll where grudge beganne to kyndle betwene theym for correccyon of theyr souldyours Then the French kyng departyd agayne from kynge Rycharde the whyche there made certayne ordynaunces for warre as a towre or castell of tymber whyche he named Mategryffons and also prouyded for vytayll for both hostes In thys tyme also the kynge of Cyprys hadde taken two shyppes of kynge Rycharde and denyed the delyuery of theym wherfore the sayde Rycharde entryd the land of Cypris makynge therin sharpe warre chasyd so the kynge from cytye to cytye that lastely he yelded him vnto kyng Rycharde vppon condicyon that he shulde not be throwen in bondes of iron wherof kynge Rycharde in kepynge of hys promyse caste hym in bondes of syluer when kynge Rycharde hadde dwellyd there vppon two monethes and hadde taken his pleasure of that coūtrey and taken amendes at his own wyll for hys shyppes then he departed from the sayde yle of Cypris and sayled towarde Acon or Acris In whyche course so kepynge towarde Acris he encountred a great shyppe of the Soudans of Sury fraughte wyth great ryches and toke yt and so came at length to y e cytye of Acris where at that tyme lay before y e sayd towne the Frenche kynge wyth hys hoste and had lost a lytle before two thousande of hys men whyche were partyd from hys hoste to haue done an enterpryse vppon the Turkes but they were layde for dystressed Then as testyfyeth Peter Dysroy kynge Rycharde was ioyously receyued of the Frenche kynge After whose commynge yt was not longe that the sayd cytye was gyuen vp by appoyntement as foloweth and as affermeth the sayde Peter and also the cronycle of Fraunce Fyrste that the Sarasyns shulde departe out of the cytye leuynge behynde theym horse harneys vytayll and all other thynge belongynge to warre Also they shulde cause to be restoryd all such prysoners of crystē men as they had vnder theyr kepyng wyth other couenauntes whyche I passe ouer And thus was the cytye of Acris yelden into the crysten mennes handes in the moneth of Auguste the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred .lxxx. and xii But when yt came to the partyng of the praye of the cytye there beganne malyce to kyndle hys bronde whych was not lyghtly after quenchyd Of thys varyance betwene these two kynges of England of Fraūce dyuers maners are shewyd For Polycronica sayth that yt beganne by reason that kynge Rycharde denyed vnto kynge Phylyp halfe hys wynnynges in Cypris accordyng to the couenauntis betwene theym assured at Turon But kyng Rychard sayd that the cōuencyon there made stretched no forther then to suche goodes as was wonne wythin the lymytes or boundes of the holy lande Another grudge was by reason that the French kyng ayded not y e erle of Champeyne beynge in dystresse of nede wherfore the sayde erle beynge discontent sayde to the Frēche kyng Syr hytherto I haue done accordynge to my dutye but hereafter I shall do as I am compellyd be nede For your grace hath hytherto cherysshed me but for myn but now I shal go to hym y t is more redy to gyue thē to take and so departed to kyng Rycharde of the whyche he had all hys pleasure The thyrde cause was as sayth Ranulph for as mych as kyng Rycharde at hys begynnyng in Scycyll maryed the syster of the kynge of Nauerne where before he hadde promysed to mary the syster of the sayde kynge Phylyppe But of these artycles speketh nothyng the french cronycle all be it he layeth greate defaute vnto kynge Rycharde sayeng in sedycyous and vyle wordys that kyng Rycharde falsly brake hys appoyntmentes and kepte no promesse that by hym was made Moreouer the sayd cronycle sayth that he solde the ile of Cyprys vnto the Templers for .xxx. thousande marke and after toke it agayne frō them by strength and delyuered it vnto Guy de Lesygnan that was the laste crystened kynge of Hierusalem And ouer this the sayde frenche cronycle sayth that he toke from a knyght of the duke of Ostrych the sayd dukes banner and in despyte of the sayde duke trade it vnderfote and dyd vnto it all the despyte he myghte And ouer all thys where as Conradus Markes of Tyre was traytorously slayn by two of his owne seruauntes that kyng Rycharde shulde laye the charge therof vnto the frenche kynge For these grudges and sykenesse wyth also fere of treason to be wrought bytwene Saladyne the Soudā and kynge Rycharde as affermeth or allegeth the foresayde authoure kynge Phylyppe wyth a small company of shyppes departed from Acō or Acris sayled to Puyll or Poyll and there restynge hym a season cōtynued hys iourney vnto Rome and so lastely into hys owne prouynce of Fraunce
homage vnto the sayde Alphōs for such landes as the sayd erle held of the sayde erledome of Poytyers But for y e sayd erle of Marche knew well that the ryght of Guyan belongyd to the kinge of England he therfore and for other allyaunces made bewene kynge Henry and hym refusyd the doynge of that homage and after came to kynge Henry and excytyd hym to make warre vppon the Frenche kynge By reason wherof the kynge made prouysyon and so landed with a stronge power at Burdeaux After the affyrmaunce of the frenche boke this erle of the Marchis had maryed the mother of kyng Henry Then it folowyth in this whyle the Frenche kynge warryd vppon y e landes of the erle of Marche and hadde wōne .ii. castellys of his named Foūteneys and Uyllers wyth dyuerse other whych I passe ouer And when he had beten downe some of them some storyd with new soudyours he then went vnto a castel named Maucoune and brake a brydge after him for so myche as he was warned that the kynge of Englande was nere vnto hym At the sayd brydge was a lyttell skyrmyshe but lytle harme was there done Then the Frenche kynge toke the way ouer the ryuer of Tharent towarde Taylbourgh wastyng and destroyenge the countrey as he went and so forth towarde the town callyd Saynces And kynge Henry wyth hys hoste made towarde hym in al that he myght In kepyng this course the vawarde of the kynge encountryd wyth the erle of Boleyne whyche was vppon the Frenche kyngys partye That season the erle of Saynces bare the banner of y e erle Marches beyng in y e vaward of the kynge Betwene these two erles was sore fyght so that many a man vppon both partyes was slayn among the whych the sayde erle of Saynces was slayne Then came on bothe strengthes vppon eyther syde so that both kynges fought in that batayll and great slaughter of men was vppon both sydes But in the ende the Frenche men were vyctours toke prysoners .xxii. men of name as knyghtes and of hygher degre and .iii. clerkes of great fame and ryches besyde other to the nomber of .v. hūdred of meane people as wytnessyth the frenche boke But of these men of name nor yet of the ryche clerkes none is named nor yet shewyd what good they payed for theyr raōsome wherfore me lyste to wryte no farther of this great victory all be it y t the sayd boke sayth farther that kyng Henry for fere tourned backe vnto Burdeaux and there made meanes to the kynge of Fraunce for a peace But of all thys fynde I no worde in the englyshe cronycles Then the erle of Marches by meane of his sonne was reconcyled vnto the Frenche kynge amd restoryd to hys landes excepte thre castellys whyche were named Mespyne Cretaye and Estardye the whyche the Frenche kynge retayned in his owne possessyon And soone after came vnto the Frenche kynge the lordes of the castellys of Myrabell of Mortaynge submyttynge theym also vnto the kynges grace besechyng hym of pardon that they hadde so to his hygh dyspleasure fauored hys enymy the kynge of Englande And after came in dyuerse other lordes capytaynes so that he was in possessyon of all the countrey of Guyan Poyteau vnto y e ryuer of Gyroūde I haue rehersyd the more of thys cronycle of Fraunce to the entente that the reders may well apperceyue the pryde and boste of the Frēchmen For in all theyr wrytynge when they come to any mater that soūdyth any thynge to theyr honour yt is wryten in the lengest and most shewyng maner to theyr honour and worshyppe But as I haue sayde before in the v. capyter of the storye of the .ii. Phylyppe kynge of Fraunce yf yt sound any thynge to theyr dyshonour then shall yt be abreuyatyd or hyd that the trouth shall not be knowen And that appereth well here by theyr own wrytynge For in y e .vii. yere of kyng Iohn̄ yt is shewyd howe Phylyppe the seconde then kynge of Fraunce had wonne all Normandy and Guyan And yet at thys daye thys kynge Lewys warryd agayne in the same countrey so that they euer tell of the wynnyng but they touche nothynge of the agayne losynge Then yt folowyth in the storye when kynge Henry hadde as before is sayde concludyd the foresayde peace of the which by myne authour is no terme sette the kynge retourned into Englande Anno domini M.CC.xliii  Anno domini M.CC.xliiii  Hugh Blount  Rafe Ashewy  Anno .xxvii.  Adam Basynge  IN this .xxvii. yere the kynge returned from Burdeaux into Englande And thys yere the plees of the crowne were kept in the towre of London And thys yere Gryffyth whych was sonne of Lewelyn lately prynce of walys entendyng to haue broken pryson fell ouer the wall of the inner warde of the towre of London and brake hys necke Anno domini M.CC.xliiii  Anno domini M.CC.xlv  Rafe Spycer  Mychael Tony.  Anno .xxviii.  Nycholas Batte  IN thys .xxviii. yere of kynge Henry as testyfyeth Polycronycon a Iew dygged the grounde in a place in Spayn called Tholeet to the entent to make him a more larger vyne yerde where in tyme of his dyggynge he fande a stone closyd on all partyes But for he perceyued yt to be holowe he brake the stone and founde therein a boke as bygge as a sawter wyth leuys all of tree This boke was wryte in nthre dyuers languagys in greke in ebrewe and in latyne and the mater therof was of thre worldes that shuld come Of the whyche he poyntyd the commynge of Cryste to the begynnynge of the thyrde worlde whyche was expressyd in thys maner of wyse In the begynnynge of the thyrde worlde goddes son shall be borne of a mayde when the Iewe had well beholden the contentys of the boke and sawe that yt conteyned so longe tyme as from Adam to Anticriste and shewyd many prophecyes that were fulfyllyd and paste he anon renouncyd hys iudaisme or Moysen lawe and was crystyned and lyued after as a crysten man Anno domini M.CC.xlv  Anno domini M.CC.xlvi  Robert Cornehyll  Iohn̄ Gysors  Anno .xxix.  Adam Bewly  IN thys .xxix. yere Nycholas Batte contrary the ordynaūce before in the .xiiii. yere of thys kynge made was agayne chosen shryue of London For the whych he was conuycte of periurye and so dyscharged and punyshed And for y t Mychaell Tony whych for this yere also was chosen mayre was by deposycyon of the Aldermen founde gyltye in the sayde cryme of periurye therfore he was deposyd from his offyce punisshed And for hym was chosen mayre Iohan Gysours and for Nicholas Batte was chosen shryue Robert of Cornhyll In this yere also as testyfyeth Ieffrey of Monmouth Robert Grosehed thē byshoppe of Lyncolne wyth other prelatys of y e land complayned theym vnto the kynge of the waste of the goodes and patry monye of the chyrche whyche dayly was
that done he caused to be caste vnto the erthe .iii. C. of y e fayrest houses of the cytye And after certayne suÌ„mes of money by hym receyued towarde hys charge he departed thens towarde Tholowse there by aduyce of hys barony for so moche as wynter was towarde he retourned into Fraunce so sped hym on hys iourney that vppoÌ„ the euyn of all Saintes he came to a place called MouÌ„te Pauncer in the prouynce of Aluerne where he was takeÌ„ with stronge sykenesse and dyed within .iiii. dayes after whose corps with grete honour was conueyed vnto saynt Denys there buryed by hys father when he had reygned .iii. yeres leuynge after hym a sonne the whych is nowe named saint Lowys and was than of y e age of .xii. yeres or nere thereaboute LOwys the .x. of that name surnamed saint Lowys and son of the .ix. Lowys laste kynge began hys reygne ouer the lande of FrauÌ„ce in the moneth of Nouember and yere of grace .xii. C. .xxvi. and y e .x. yere of Henry the .iii. then kynge of Englande The whyche for hys tendernesse of youthe was thought insufficyent to take so greate a charge and specyally of y e duke of Brytayne thaÌ„ named Peter Mancler the whyche encensed and styred many noble men agayne the sayde Lowys But at length by prouysyon of quene Blanche hys mother and other lordes he subdued hys enemyes at Raynes was crowned in the moneth of DeceÌ„ber folowyng of the bysshop of Soy sons for so moche as at that tyme y e see of Raynes was voyde The .iiii. yere of hys reygne and of hys age .xvii. he buylded the house of relygyon called Royan mount settherin monkes of Cysteauxe ordre whyte monkes and endewed theym with ryche possessyons It was nat longe after that great varyaunce fyll betwene the vnyuersytye or studientes of Parys and the cytezeyns of the same in suche wyse that the studyentes were in purpose to haue lafte y e cytye to haue kepte theyr study ellys where Of y e whych stryfe the frenche boke expresseth nat the cause but saythe that the kynge made good spede to agree theym for so moche as kyng HeÌ„ry of Englande had made laboure to the sayde studyentes to come into hys countre to enhabyte theym there with many great pryueleges But in coÌ„clusion y e frenche kynge so entreated theÌ„ that they agreed to reste there styll And that of a congrueÌ„ce for they myghte dwell in no lande where they shulde more surely be defended For y e kyng of Fraunce bereth the floure de Lyce for one of that causes that is to saye for to defende the clergy And the fayth of Chryste betokeneth the myddle leef And the thyrde betokeneth Chyualry So that by the chyualry the clergy is defended whych mayâ—teyne the faythe of the holy chyrche Aboute thys season kynge Lowys maryed to hys fere Margarete the doughter of the erle of Prouynce Soone after y e matrymony was solepnysed Frederyk the secoÌ„de before in y e story of HeÌ„ry the .iii. mynded Emperour of Almayne set vnto Lowis requyrynge hi y e he wolde mete hym at a place called Ualcolour to y e ende that he myght commoÌ„ with hym whyche request kynge Lowys accepted with a goodly company kepte there hys daye of metynge But whan the Emperour was ware that he was commen thyder wyth suche a company he fayned hym syke and broke hys appoyntement wherfore the frenshmen construyed that yf the kynge had comen thyder with a small or weke company he wolde haue conueyed hym into hyghe Almayn and there to haue kepte hym tyll he had of hym hys pleasure concernynge the warre betwene kynge Henry and hym or in other thynges But when kynge Lowys espyed the delucyon of the Emperour he then retourned into Fraunce It was nat longe after that y e kynge was enfourmed of the obstynacy of the Albygensis the whyche of longe tyme had beÌ„ effected with dyuers poyntes of herysy and many tymes recoÌ„cyled by the kynges of Fraunce and other yet fallen agayne to the sayde errour wherfore the kynge sent vnto syr Iohan Beawmount the whych ioyned vnto theym chargynge hym to enuade that countre and to waste and distroy it tyll he had forced theym to restore to the chyrch suche goodes as they before had taken frome it and ouer that to cause theym to make amendes to the good chrysten people whyche they had harmed by meanes of theyr rapynes and exorcyoÌ„s UpoÌ„ whyche commaundement thus froÌ„ y e kynge receyued the sayde Iohan with a competent nombre of knyghtes entred the sayd couÌ„tre and layde syege to a stroÌ„g castell named MouÌ„t Royall And after many forte assautes wanne the sayd castell manned it with Frenchemen And than yode to an other stronge holde than named Saygos and there lykewyse ordered the same And after wastyng the countre wanÌ„e from theym many townes holdes so that in the ende he forced the chyefrules of that prouynce to obey theym to all hys hestê and delyuered to hym suertyes or hostagys for the perfourmaunce of the same So y t he retourned into FraÌ„ce with greate pompe and honour and receyued of the kyng at hys home coÌ„mynge great thanke with many ryche gyftes Aboute the .xv. yere of kynge Lowys the warre was quyckened betwene thys Lowys HeÌ„ry the .iii. than kynge of Englande for causes before shewed in the .xxvi. yere of the sayde Henry And after that warre as there is shewed ended the kynge whyche was towarde the cytye of Lyon to haue vysyted the pope Innocent the .iiii. whyche thyder was fled for fere of Frederik the fore named Emperour was taken with a sykenesse named dyssenterya of the flux wherwith he was so greuously vexed that he laye longe at a towne called Poyntoyse and was in great ieopardy of lyfe where lastly after many pylgrymages for hym done with prayers and other obseruaunces longe to accompt lastly it came to hys mynde that yf it pleased god to restore hym to hys helth he wolde make a vyage into the holy lande there warre vpon Chrystes enemyes After whyche promyse solemply auowed he mended dayly and was sone after restored vnto hys helthe whan the kynge was recouered and retorned vnto Parys he called a couÌ„sayll of spyrytuall and temporall there shewed vnto theym of the promesse whyche he had made requyryng theÌ„ of theyr assystence and ayde wherin he fonde hys lordes were agreable And in the tyme and season y t prouysyon was made for that iourney the kynge wyth a goodly company rode vnto the abbey of Cluny to vysyte the foresayd pope and he taryed with hym .xv. dayes And after hys matter with hym sped wyth playne remyssyon to hym graunted and all other that kept with hym that vyage he retourned into Fraunce And vpoÌ„ wytsondaye folowynge he kepte a great courte of hys landes at MeleoÌ„ where in presence of them he called before hym Beatryce doughter vnto the erle of Prouince and syster to
le Beawe then kynge of Fraūce The whyche Margarete whyle the kyng was in Scotlāde was brought vnto Douer and so vnto Caunterbury where the kyng spoused her in the moneth of Septembre as wytnesseth the Frenche cronycle and receyued of her in processe of tyme folowyng two sonnes named Thomas and Edmunde and a doughter named Margarete The fyrste of the sonnes was surnamed Thomas of Brothertō and the seconde Edmūde wodestoke Anno domini M.CC.xcix  Anno dn̄i M.CCC  Iohn̄ Armenter  Elys Russell  Anno .xxviii.  Henry Fryngeryth  IN thys .xxviii. yere the kynge herynge of the vntrowth and rebellyon of the scottes made the .iii. vyage into Scotlāde and bare hym so knyghtly that in shorte processe after hys commynge he subdued the more parte of the lande And after he sped hym vnto the castell of Estryuelyn wherin were many of the greate lordes of Scotlande and enuyroned the sayd castel with a strōg siege But he laye there somwhat oftyme without wynnynge of any great aduauntage or hurte doynge vnto the scottes wherfore of polycy he caused to be made .ii. payre of galowes in y e syght of the castell and after cōmaūded proclamacyons to be cryed that yf the scottes by a certayn day wolde yelde that castell to the kynge they shuld haue lyfe lym̄e And yf nat but that he wanne it by strength as many as were within the sayd castel shuld be hāged vpon those gybettes none astate nor persone to be excepted In processe of tyme whan y e scottes had well dygestyd thys proclamacyon and sawe the strength of theyr enemyes cōsydered theyr owne feblenes lak of socoure they assented fynally to yelde theym theyr castell vnto the kyng whyche shortly after was done wherof kyng Edwarde beyng possessed stuffed it with Englissh knyghtes after toke a newe othe of the lordes and capytaynes the whyche he founde closed within that castell of trewe feythfull allegeaūce after sufferyd them to go where theym lyked And whan wyllyam walys whych as before is sayd pretended the rule gouernaunce of Scotlande harde tell that the stronge castell of Estryuelyne was yelden vnto kynge Edwarde that lordes and knyghtes therin founden in whyche he moche affyed were sworne to the kynges allegeaunce he feryd sore leste y e sayd company wolde betray hym bring hym vnto y e kyng wherfore he with hys adherentes withdrewe hym into the mareyses other daūgerous places where he thoughte he was in suertye for pursuynge of the kynges hooste Then the poore commons of the lande presented theym by great companyes and put theym holy in the kynges grace mercy so that the kynge thought then that he was in peasyble possessyon or in a greate suertye of the lande wherfore after he had caused to be sworn vnto hym the rulers of dyuers borughes cytyes townes with other offycers of the lande he retourned vnto Berwyke so into Englande and lastly vnto westmynster In thys tyme season that y e kyng was thus occupyed aboute his warres in Scotlande the quene was cōueyed vnto London Agayne whom the cytezyns vpon the nombre of .vi. C. rode ī one lyuerey of rede whyte with the conysaunce of dyuers mysteryes brodered vpon theyr sleues and receyued her .iiii. myles without the cytie so conueyed her thorugh y ◠cytie whiche then was garnysshed and behanged with tapettes arras and other clothes of sylke and ryches in most goodly wyse vnto westmynster and there lodged whan the kynge this yere retourned out of Scotlande he caused shortly after an inquysycyon to be made thorugh his lande the whiche after was named Troilbaston̄ This was made vpon al offycers as mayres shyreffes baylyffes excheters many other that had mysborne them in theyr sayd offyces and had extorcioned or mystreated y e kynges lyege people otherwyse than was accordynge with the good ordre of theyr sayd offyces By meane of whiche inquisicyon many were accused and redemed theyr offyces by greuous fynes to the kynges great lucre and auauntage Other meanes were foūdē also as forfaites again y e crowne the whiche broughte great summes of money to the kynges cofers towarde the great charge of his warres y t he susteyned in wales Fraūce and Scotlande as before is shewed this yere also the kynge for cōplaynt that was brought vnto hym by mayster walter Langton bysshop of Chester of syr Edwarde his eldest sone for that he with Pyers of Gaueston̄ and other insolent persones had broken the sayde parke of the sayde bysshop ryottously destroyed y e game within it he therfore inprysoned the sayd syr Edwarde his son̄e with his complyces And in processe of tyme after when the kynge was thorughly enformed of y e lassiuyous wantō disposiciōs of the sayd Pyers of Gaueston̄ for that he shulde nat enduce the forenamed syr Edwarde to be of lyke dysposycyon he therfore banysshed the sayd Pyer of Gaueston̄ out of Englande for euer But after the dethe of kynge Edwarde y e banysshmente was soone denulled by Edward his sone wherof ensued moche harme and trouble as after shal be shewed Anno domini M.CCC  Anno dn̄i M.CCCi  Luke Hauerynge  Elys Russell  Anno .xxix.  Rycharde Champeis  IN this .xxix. yere of kynge Edwarde dyed Edmunde erle of Cornewayle the sonne of Rycharde somtyme erle of the sayd coūtre and kynge of Almayne without yssue wherfore that erledome retourned agayne to the crowne of Englande And in this yere the kynge gaue vnto syr Edwarde his sone the pryncypate of wales and ioyned there vnto the sayd erledome of Cornewayle Anno dn̄i M.CCC.i  Anno dn̄i M.iii. C.ii.  Robert Caller  Iohn̄ Blount  Anno .xxx.  Peter Bosham  IN thys .xxx. yere the kyng helde hys greate counsayll of parlyamente at hys cytye of Caunterbury Anno domini M.CCC.ii  Anno domini M.CCC.iii  Hugh Pourt  Iohn̄ Blount  Anno .xxxi.  Symon Parys  Anno domini .xiii. C.iii.  Anno domini .xiii. C.iiii.  wyllam Combmartyn  Iohn̄ Blount  Anno .xxxii.  Iohn̄ de Burfforde  Anno domini M.CCC.iiii  Anno domini M.CCC.v.  Rogyer Parys  Iohn̄ Blount  Anno .xxxiii.  Iohn̄ Lyncoln̄  IN this .xxxiii. yere wyllyā waleys that vnto the kyng hadde done so many dyspleasures and treasons agayne the trouth and allegeaunce of hys othe as some deale before is shewed was takē at the town named saint Domynyk in Scotlād and sent vnto London and there arraygnyd and vpon the euyn of saynt Bartylmewe drawen hanged and quartered and hys hedde set vppon London brydge and hys .iiii. quarters sent into Scotlande there hāged vpon the gates of certayne townes of the lāde And at Myghelmas folowynge the kynge holdynge hys parlyament at westmynster thyder came out of Scotlande the bysshop of saint Andrewes Robert le Bruze syr Symon de Frysell erle of Dunbarre syr Iohn̄ of
aboute Lammesse sayled into Braban and there helde hys couÌ„sayl with hys frendes and by theyr aduyces made clayme to y e hole crowne of Fraunce as hys ryghtefull enherytaunce for more auctorytye of the same entermedeled the armes of England with y e armys of FrauÌ„ce as ye se them at this daye Then kynge Phylyp beyng of these thynges warned gathered an howge hoste came with them to a towne called Uermendoys And kyng Edwarde with hys people entred y e couÌ„trey called Theresse breÌ„t wasted y e couÌ„trey before hym ThaÌ„ kyng Philip drew toward the Englisshe hoste and came vnto a place or towne called in freÌ„ch BuyroÌ„ Fosse where he entended as sayth y â— frenche boke to haue set vpon y e Englysshemen But by counsayl of hys lordes for dyuerse causes he was let to hys dyspleasure For after y e daye he myght fynde no conuenyent tyme for to assayle hys enemyes so that in conclusyon eyther hoste departed froÌ„ other without batayll or fyght and kynge Edwarde toke hys wey towarde Gaunt kyng Phylip retourned into Fraunce Than kynge Edwarde by meanes of hys frende Iaques de Artyuele had all hys pleasure of the towne of Gaunt receyued of them othe and homage And after dyuerse conclusioÌ„s with them and other takeÌ„ he leuyng there the quene after the testymony of some wryters retourned agayne into EnlaÌ„de left with the quene which thaÌ„ was great with chylde y e erles of Salysbury of Oxynforde whyche in y e kynges absence ayded well y e Flemynges agayne the FreÌ„ch kyng dyd dyuerse marcyall actes whyche I here passe ouer But iÌ„ ê“ces y e erle of Salysbury was takeÌ„ prysoner diuers englyssh men slayne at y e assaut of a towne called y e I le in FlauÌ„ders or of flauÌ„ders Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxix  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xl  Adam Lucas  Andrewe Awbry  Anno .xv.  Bartholomewe Marres  IN thys .xv. yere whyle y e kyng was busyed in Englande to make prouysyoÌ„ for mete money to withstande the FreÌ„che kyng aswell for the warre that the sayde Frenche kyng made vpoÌ„ the Flemynges other beyng y e kynges frendes as for hys owne particuler causes y e quene as before is sayd beyng at the towne of Gaunt was deliuered of a sonne which after was named IohnÌ„ about Crystmas in the begynnynge of thys mayres yere ende of this .xiiii. yere This chyld whaÌ„ he came to mannes astate was surnamed IohnÌ„ of GauÌ„t was fyrst erle of RychemouÌ„t after duke of LaÌ„caster also fast as kyng Edwarde ê“uyded for abylemeÌ„tes of warre in EnglaÌ„de so fast hasty prouysyoÌ„ made the FreÌ„ch kyng to withstande kyng Edward both by laÌ„de by water so y t he had a great stroÌ„ge nauy vpoÌ„ see Kyng Edward thaÌ„ in y e moneth of Iunii with .ii. C. sayles tooke shyppynge sayled towarde FlauÌ„ders vpoÌ„ the see met or came vnto hym syr Robert Morley with y e north nauye of EnglaÌ„de so y t he had in al aboue .iii. C. sayles And at myd somer vppon saynte IohnÌ„s euyn he fought with the freÌ„ch kynges nauy whyche lay in a wayte for hym nere to the towne called the Sluse Of thys nauy whyche were in noumber by the reporte of the freÌ„che boke vpoÌ„ iiii C. sayles wherof were chyefe admyralles syr Hugh Queret syr Nycholas Buchet one named Barbe Noyre or in Englysh Blacke berde the whych capytayns or admyralles anone as they espied y e englyssh flote they made towarde theÌ„ to begyn the fyght .iiii. galeys set vpoÌ„ a shyppe of auauÌ„tage which sayled before y e other named y e ryche Oliuer the which .iiii galeys the fore named Barbe Noyre had the cunduyt of assayled thys sayd shyppe on euery parte bet her with gunneshot her men with hayl shot excedyngely so that of the men within her were many slayn and mo wouÌ„ded lykely to haue ben shortly won ne had beÌ„ the rescous of her coÌ„pany thaÌ„ were the sayd foure galeys soone becleped with y e English nauy so cruelly assayled that they were borded or they myghte be rescowed Then approched the hole flote vpon bothe sydes with hydous ferefull dynne noyse of gunnes with terryble flamynge of wylde fyre other with thycke shot of quarelles arowes and crusshynge of shyppes y e hydous woÌ„derfull it was to beholde so that many a soule was there expelled from theyr bodies iÌ„ shorte whyle This mortall and cruell fyght coÌ„tynued as sayth the Frenche story by y e space of .viii. howres or more iÌ„ suche wyse y e harde it was to knowe whether parte had the better so many deed and wounded men were cast into the see that the water whiche was in cyrcuyte aboute them was coloured or dyed as reed But in y e ende by grace great maÌ„hode of y e kynge whiche there was sore wouÌ„ded And by his great conforte y e Frenchemen were chased and many of theyr shyppes bowged taken with many prysoners in them Amonge the whiche the forenamed admyralles or capytaynes syr Nycholas Buchet syr Hugh Queret were .ii the whiche in despyte of the Frenchemen were hanged vpon y e sayles of theyr shyppes which they were takeÌ„ in And amoÌ„ge the shyppes that were at this season taken were recouered the .ii. foresayd shyppes named the Edwarde and y e Crystofer the whiche before were taken by the Frenchemen as it before is shewed in y e .iii. yere of this kynge In this batayle also as is testyfyed of many and dyuerse wryters were slayne vpon the noumber of .xxx. M. Frenchemen al be it y e Frenche boke nameth so many to be slayne vpon bothe partyes excuse this mysfortune by the neglygence of syr Nycholas Buchet whiche kepte the FreÌ„che nauy so longe within the hauen that they were so closed in with the Englysh nauy y t a great nouÌ„bre of them myght neuer stryke stroke nor shote theyr ordenaunce but to the hurte of theyr owne company whaÌ„ kynge Edwarde had optayned this tryumphaunt vyctory of his enmyes he yelded great thaÌ„kes vnto god How be it he was fayne to tary a season with in his shyppe by reason of a wouÌ„de y e which he had receyued in his thyghe In whiche season y e quene his wyfe came to vysyte hym and retourned agayne vnto GauÌ„t And after a fewe dayes passed y e kynge departed from Swynne rode vnto our lady of Ardenbourghe sent his nauy in the nexte hauen to Brugys moche of his people vnto the towne of GauÌ„t And whaÌ„ he had accoÌ„plished his pylgrymage he rode vnto Brugys and from thense vnto GauÌ„t where of the dwellers he was ioyously receyued Than kynge Edwarde there called a great counsayle by the whiche it was determyned that he shulde prepare .ii. hostes wherof y t one shuld be of y e meÌ„ of GauÌ„t of y e townes there aboute of y e
wyth many great enormyties And in that that ye thynke to haue the Flemynges in your ayde we thynke vs to be assured that the good townes and the commons wyll behaue theym in suche wyse agayne vs and agayne our cosyn the erle of Flaunders that they wyll saue theyr honoure and trouthe And in that that they haue mysse done tyll nowe hathe ben by euyll counsayl of suche people which regarde nat the common weale of the people but of theyr owne profyte onely Gyuen in the feelde of the pryory of saynt Andrew besyde Ayre vnder the seale of our secrete sygnet in absence of oure greate seale the thyrty day of the moneth of Iule It was nat longe after that the Frenche kynge hadde thus rescribed vnto kyng Edwarde but that a messynger came vnto hym frome Tourney for hasty rescouse for the towne was dayly and sharplye assauted of the Englysshe hoste wherefore in all haste he sente thyther the duke of Athenesse the vycounte of Thonart the vycount of Dannaye with dyuerse other to y e nouÌ„ber of .xv. men of name with great nouÌ„ber of peple The whych sped theÌ„ streyght vnto y e mount of Cassyle But or they came the sayd mount was gotten by y e Flemynges so that of theyr lodgynge they were dyspoynted By reason wherof they fered to set vpon the Englysshe hoste or yet to trauayll for y e remouyng of the sayd syege of Tourney but toke theyr counceyll swarâ—ed from Cassyle and entred y e lande of the erle of Barry and dyd moche harme therein And when they hadde there executed theyr pleasures they retourned vnto the Frenche kynge In thys meane whyle kyng Philip counsayled with hys lordes whether it were better for hym to drawe towarde Tourney to remoue y e siege or to go into Flaunders and to make warre vpon the townes that helde with kyng Edwarde By whych couÌ„sayll it was thought moste honorable that he shulde endeuer hym selfe to remoue y e sayd syege After whiche conclusioÌ„ so taken he with hys hoste drewe towarde Tourney and in the ende lodged hym and hys people at a place or towne called at that daye Bowyns within .iii. myles of Tourney in whose coÌ„pany was y e kynge of Nauerne the kynge of Bohemy or Beame the dukes of Normandy of Loreyne of Athenesse or AtheÌ„s the erles of Alensone of Flaunders and of Sauoy with other to the nouÌ„bre of .xiiii. erles besyde vycountes baronettes and knyghtes to a great noumbre And with kynge Edwarde were these lordes folowynge the erle of Herford the erles of NorthamptoÌ„ of Derbye of SouthaÌ„pton of Oxynforde of Henawd of Harflete and of rondell Also of straungers the duke of Geldre and of Sclauonye Brabant with many other vycountes banerettes and knyghtes whych I passe ouer And thus laye these two prynces with two great and myghty hostes within fyue myles withoute great batayll or fyghte a certayne of tyme. But euer in meane whyle the towne of Tourney was assayled of y e Englysshe men and Flemynges the whych defended them manfully and well In the whyche passe tyme the countesse of Henaude whyche was mother vnto the quene of EnglaÌ„de and as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle syster vnto the Frenche kynge a woman of passynge discrecyon and eloquency with y e ayde of other prynces as the kyng of Beame and other laboured suche a meane of treaty y t a daye of dyet was betwene the two kynges appoynted all be it that dyuerse of kyng Edwardes counsayll were sore agayne it and specyally Iakes de Artyuele Than for kyng Edwardes party was assygned the bysshoppe of Lyncolne syr Geffrey Scrope syr IohnÌ„ of Henaude brother to the erle syr wyllyaÌ„ Cheyny wyth other And for the FreÌ„che kyng was assygned the kynge of Beame the erles of Armenake of Sauoy syr Lewys de Sauoy and other And to the ende that thys appoyntement myght take the better effecte a daye of trewce was concluded tyll mydsomer folowynge But moste wryters testyfyen that kynge Edwarde lefte the syege before Tourney for defaut of money and neglygeÌ„ce of his slowe procuratours in EnglaÌ„de that sped nat hys nedes there as they shulde For that one cause and for that other the kynge with hys hoste departed thense vnto Gaunt and taryed there a certayne of tyme. In whych season the fore named lordes and knyghtes met at Tournay and there debated the maters of chalenge of kynge Edwarde and certayn artycles concernynge the countrey of Flaunders In whyche counsayll it was grauÌ„ted by the Frenche kynges partye that y e Frenche kynge shulde frely departe towarde the maryage of kynge Edwardes chyldren with the hole seygnoryes of Gascoyn and Guyan and the erledome of Poytyers in so fre maner that no offycer of the French kyng shuld medle or haue to do with in any parte of those lordshyppes And for FlauÌ„ders it was by the sayd lordes graunted that the commons of that couÌ„trey in all customes and lawes shuld be iuged ruled as they of olde tymes had vsed and also that all bondes and oblygacyons that in tymes passed the chyefe townes had made to the Frenche kynge for any cause shulde be cancelled and delyuered And of theyr erle they shulde be acquyted in lyke wyse for all offeÌ„ces done before that day Also all censuryes or curses y t they before were wrapped in shulde be clerelye adnulled reuoked with other coÌ„clusions and offers whych I passe ouer Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xl  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xli  Rycharde Berkynge  Iohan Oxynforde  Anno .xvi.  Iohan Rokyslee  IN thys .xvi. yere kynge Edwarde vpon saynt Andrewes euyn came to the towre of London and sent for suche lordes as before he hadde made hys procuratours to leuye hys money in hys absence and for theyr negligeÌ„ce mysdemeanure cast theÌ„ in prysoÌ„ But in this voyage that the kyng passed from that other syde of the see into England he had excedynge tempest of wether so that he passed with great fere and dauÌ„ger whych tempest after the opynyon of some wryters was rered by the negromauncers of the French kyng to the ende to haue peryshed the kyng or els to gyue hym the lesse courage to take the see agayne In thys yere also were sent from y e .xii. Benet thaÌ„ pope two cardynalles to treate of a peace betwene the kynges of Englande of Fraunce The whych concluded a peace betwene the sayd two kynges aswell for them as for other countreys whych to theÌ„ were allyed for the terme of .iii. yeres and more In whyche tyme it was agreed that bothe the sayd kynges by theyr proctours shulde publysshe declare before the pope theyr claymes and causes to the ende that by hym and his couÌ„sayl a fynall dyreccion coÌ„corde myght be set betwene theym whych agremente of the sayde cardynalles was thus concluded in the towne called Malestrete aboute the feaste of saynte Gregory in lente beynge there presente for the kynge of Englande the erles of
whiche was repayred in so stronge wyse that he hys hoste passed there ouer withoute parell Howe be it that in the tyme of repayrynge of it the French kyng sent thyder .ii. M. men to let the sayde werke But the archers kept theym of wyth theyr shot in so sharpe maner that y e more partye of them was slayne and the werke ê‘fyghted as aboue is sayd Than kyng Edwarde entred the couÌ„trey of Pycardy the French kynge remoued frome saynte Denys vnto saiÌ„t Germains froÌ„ thens to a town called Aubeuyle in Poyteau from thens to Antoygne In thys whyle kyng Edward with baner dysplayed came vnto the cytye of Beauuayze assayled the towne But the towne was wel garnisshed with soudyours which defeÌ„ded theyr enemyes vygourously wherfore kynge Edwarde coÌ„syderynge he myghte nat lyghtely wynne that towne sette the bulwerkes on fyre and so departed thens yode vnto a place called in Frenche Soygnouile or BlaÌ„ke Tache where he passed the water of Sum vpon a frydaye the .xxv. daye of August and lodged hym hys people nere vnto a forest called Cressy or Crecy wherof whan the French kyng was ware anone he sped hym frome the fore named towne of Antoygne vnto Aubeuyle agayne where after he hadde refresshed hym and hys people he rode vnto an abbey faste by the forenamed towne of Cressy In thys passe tyme IohnÌ„ duke of Normandy and sonne of Phylyp de Ualoys whyche as in the precedyng yere is towched layd hys syege vnto the castell of Aguyllon herynge that hys father was thus warreyed wyth the kyng of Englande brake vp his syege and came with hys strengthe vnto hys father THese .ii. greate hostes thus lodged within lytle compasse nere vnto the forenamed towne of Cressy vpon the saterdaye folowyng the feaste of saynt Bartholmewe beynge the .xxvi. day of the monethe of August eyther cruelly assayled other and foughte there a mortall sharpe batayll whereof in the ende kynge Edwarde gloryouslye was victoure and chaced the Frenche kynge and slewe in that fyght after the sayenge of moste wryters the kynge of Bohemy or Beame sonne of Henry y e Emperoure vii or the. eyght the duke of Loreyne the erle of Alenson brother vnto the FreÌ„che kynge Charles erle of Bloys the erles of Flaunders of Sancer of Narcourt and of Fyennes wyth dyuerse other to the noumber of eyght bysshoppes and erles xvii lordes of name and of banerettes knyghtes and esquyers beyoÌ„de the noumber of .xvi. huÌ„dreth so that as concludeth the Frenche hystorye in that batayll was slayne the floure of the Chyualrye of Fraunce and of the coÌ„mons vpoÌ„ .viii. M. men that the realme of FrauÌ„ce that day susteyned such confusioÌ„ that the lyke therof had nat be sene many yeres passed and y t be people and men of no reputacyon as archers by the vyolence of theyr importune shot whych hors nor man myght stande agayne ThaÌ„ the Frenche kyng with a small company fledde sore hurte vnto a towne called Broy lodged there y e nyght folowynge And kyng Edwarde beynge warned that an other hoste of enemyes was commynge towarde hym abode styll in the same feelde set good watches made great fyres thorough the hoste and so coÌ„tynued tyll the monday folowynge Upon whyche day in the mornynge apered to them a new hoste of Frenche men to the whych they gaue batayle and slewe of them more in noumbre thaÌ„ was slayne vpoÌ„ the saterday before But of capytaynes or men of name the auctor reherseth none Than kyng Edwarde gaue great thankes vnto god of his tryumphaÌ„t vyctory and after departed froÌ„ that towne of Cressye and toke hys waye towarde Moustruell and from theÌ„s to Boleyne and lastlye to Caleys wherof than was capytayne vnder y e Frenche kyng a BurgonyoÌ„ knyght named syr IohnÌ„ de UyeÌ„ne to whom kyng Edwarde sent that he shuld delyuer vnto hym the sayde towne of Caleys But for the kynge receyued from hym no comfortable answere he immedyatly layde hys syege vnto the sayd towne whych was vpon the thyrde day of the moneth of SepteÌ„bre there abode a certayn of tyme in makynge of assautes to the same In whyche tyme and season the erle of Derby lyenge at Burdeaux and hauynge the rule of Gascoyne and Guyan wan dyuerse townes holdes from the Frenchemen as the townes called Sayntez in Poyteaw saynt IohnÌ„ de Angely and y e towne of Poytyers In the whyche he had excedyng treasoure and rychesse soo that he hys sowdyours were greatly enryched by the pyllage that they wan in those townes and couÌ„trey to them adioynaunt And whaÌ„ the sayd erle had spoyled the sayd townes brent a greate parte of the foresayde cytye of Poytyers and the kynges palays within the same he than at hys pleasure retourned vnto Burdeaux In thys passe tyme also the FreÌ„ch kyng to the entente to haste kyng Edwarde into Englande sent Dauyd le Bruze some tyme kynge of Scottes into y e lande with a stroÌ„ge army The which gathered vnto hym such lordes and knyghtes of Scotlande as before tymes fauoured hys party and with them entred the boundes of Northumberlande spoyled that countrey without pyte But it shall apere by other auctoures that thys Dauyd le Bruze at thys daye hadde recouered the crowne of Scotlande and that Edwarde de Bayloll was than dede whych before was kynge Than it foloweth whan the archebisshop of yorke with other lordes than lefte in Englande herde tell that the Scottes were thus entred the lande anone the sayd archebysshppe with syr Henry Perse syr Rafe Neuyle syr Gilbert Umfreyle knyghtes and other gentylmen aswell spyrytuall as other apparayled theyin in theyr best maner and sped them towarde y e Scottes so that they mette with theÌ„ and gaue vnto them batayll vpon y e euyn of saynt Luke or the .xvii. daye of Octobre in a place faste by DurhaÌ„ called at that daye Neuyles crosse where god shewed to the Englysshe men suche grace that they scoÌ„fyted y e Scottes and slew of them great foyson and toke prysoners the sayd Dauid le Bruze syr wyllyam Dowglas syr ThoÌ„lyn Fowkys with other of y e nobles of Scotlande the whyche shortely after were surely conueyed vnto the towre of London and there kepte as prysoners whaÌ„ kynge Edward from the .iii. day of Septembre as before is sayd hadde by sondry tymes assayled the towne of Caleys and sawe well he he might nat shortly wynne it he prouyded for hiÌ„ hys people to lye there all y e wynter folowynge so y t for the lodging of hym his hoste he made so many houses lodges that it semed an other Caleys wherfore in ê“ces of tyme duryng y t syege of the vytelers suche as dayly resorted vnto y e kynges hoste it was named newe Caleys where y e kyng in proper persone abode al the wynter folowyng the more parte of the next somer as after shall apere Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xlvi  Anno
was the .iii. mortalitie wherof dyed moche people And suche a morayne fyll also amoÌ„g beastes that the lyke therof was nat seen many yeres before And vppon that ensued such excessiues of rayne that corne was therwith drowned in the erthe and so bukked wyth water that the yere ensuynge whete was at xl.d. a busshell And in y e ende of y e moneth of Iuly syr Robert Knollys accoÌ„panied with dyuers noble men soudyours entred saint Omers And whaÌ„ they had executed theyr pleasures there in y e countre enuyroÌ„ they than rode vnto Arras in wastynge spoylyng y e couÌ„tre as they went And whan they had breÌ„t the bulwerkes of the sayd town of Arras they passed by NoynÌ„ Uermendoys brente the houses of all such as wolde nat to them gyue due raunsome And thus holdynge theyr waye they passed the ryuers of Oyse of Syre so came vnto the citie of Raynes passed there the ryuer and rode towarde Troyes passed y e ryuers of Aube of Sayne so helde theyr waye to saynt Floryntyne and there passed the ryuer of Ion in holdyng theyr cours towarde Ioyngny so to Corbueyll Esson or Essoyn And vppon a mondaye beynge the xxii day of Septembre the sayd Englysshemen lodged theym vppon the mount of saynte Albone and in the countre there about And vpon wednysdaye folowyng they enbataylled them in a felde betwene the townes of Iunye and Parys In all whyche season they passed wythout batayll thorough those foresayd countres in spoylyng them and raunsomyng the inhabytauÌ„tes therof wythout resystens or impedymeÌ„t And all be it y t in the cytye of Parys at that day were .xii. C. men of armes waged by the Frenche kynge besyde the sowdyours and strengthe of the cytezeyns of that cytye yet the sayde hoste of Englysshemen lay as before is sayd enbataylled tyll it was paste noone of the foresayd daye At which tyme for so moche as they were credibly enfourmed that they shulde there haue no batayl they brake theyr feld and sped them to a place or towne called Antoygny there lodged y e night and vpoÌ„ the morowe toke theyr iourney to warde Normandy But after .iiii. dayes labour they tourned theyr waye towarde Estampys or Escamps by Beause in Gastenoys in pyllynge and domagynge the couÌ„trees as they before had done contynuynge theyr iourney tyll they came into the erledome of Angeau where they wanne by strengthe the townê of Uaas Ruylly with other stronge holdes thereabout But than as y e deuyll wold which is rote of all enuy and dyscorde the lorde Fytzwater and the lord GrauÌ„tson fyll at variauÌ„ce wyth syr Robert Knolles and hys companye whyche grewe to so great hatred and dyspleasure that syr Roberte Knolles wyth the floure of the archers and sowdyours departed from the sayd two lordes leuynge theym in the forsayd townes of Uaas Ruylly he thaÌ„ yode into Brytayne whereof whanne certayntye was broughte vnto the Frenche kynge anone he coÌ„maunded syr Berthram de GlayconÌ„ newly made marshall of Fraunce wyth a stronge armye to entre the sayde countye of Angeou and to make sharpe warre vppon the sayde Englyshmen The whych vpoÌ„ the twelf daye of Octobre folowyng layde syege vnto the sayde towne of Uaas whereof issued oute the sayde lordes of Fytzwater and GrauÌ„tson and gaue vnto the Marshall batayl But in the ende the dyscomfyture fyl vnto the Englysshemen so that of theym was slayne .vi. hundreth and the reste put vnto the flyght In the whyche was taken y e sayd lorde Grauntson wyth other And that done the sayd syr BarthraÌ„ yode vnto the towne of Uaas and gat it by assawte where also were sâ—ayne vpon thre hundreth of EnglyshemeÌ„ and the other put to flyght many taken prysoners And after thys the sayd Barthram pursued the English men that were fledde vnto a towne called Uersure where in assawtynge of the sayd towne he slewe and toke prysoners vpon .iiii. C. EnglyshmeÌ„ And thus by stryfe and dyssenc on amonge theym selfe those that before by amyte and good accorde were victours now by hatered and dyscorde were slayne and taken prysoners Anno domini M.CCC.lxix  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxx  wyllyam walworth  IohnÌ„ Bernes  Aonn .xlv.  Robert GaytonÌ„  IN thys .xlv. yere begynnyng of the mometh of Marche the archebyshoppe of wynchester than beynge a cardynall and presente at Auynyon wyth pope Gregorye the xi of that name was put in commyssyon wyth the archebyshoppe of Beauuays to make or treate a peace and vnyty bytwene the two realmes of Englande and of Fraunce whych sayd cardynall of wynchester after hys departynge from the pope came downe toward Meleoune where by the sayd archbysshop and also cardynall of Beauuays he was honourably mette and so conueyed vnto the cytye of Melcon And whan he had restyd him there vpon .iiii. dayes the two cardynalles ensemble sped them vnto Parys where they wyth kyng Charlys had communycacyoÌ„ towchynge the sayd peace And after hys pleasure knowen the sayde archbysshop and cardynall toke hys leue was coÌ„ueyed toward Caleys where he toke shyppynge and so sayled in to Englande and shewed vnto the kynge the popes pleasure wyth the Frenche kynges answere And in thys yere folowynge the somertyde in GuyaÌ„ were made and foughten many and dyuers skyrmysshes in the whyche for the more partye the Englyshemen were put vnto the worse so that many of them were slayne and taken prysoners and dyuers holdes and townes taken from them and specyally in the countre of Lymosyne For by the fyrste daye of the moneth of Iuly the cytye of Lymoges wyth all the couÌ„tre of Lymosyne forsayde was vnder the obeysaunce of the Frenche kyng as wytnessyth the Frenche Cronycle wherof the occasyon was as affermeth the Englyshe boke for so mych as prynce Edward had lately before arreryd of the inhabytauntes of that cytye and countre a greate and greuous taske to theyr great hurte and enpouerysshyng by meanes wherof he loste the loue of the people whan the Frenche kynge hadde thus opteyned the rule of the couÌ„tre of Lymosyne he immedyately after sente syr Barthram de Glaycon into the erledome of Poyteawe or Poytyers and waÌ„ne there many townes and castels lastly layde hys syege vnto Rochell as after in the folowynge yere shal be shewed And to the ende that good and merytoryous dedes shuld be holden in memorye here is to be noted that the mayre for thys yere beyng IohaÌ„ Bernys mercer gaue vnto the comynaltye of the cytye of London a chest wyth thre lockes keyes and therin a thousande marke of redy money wyllyng the keyes therof to be yerely in the kepyng of thre sundry persoÌ„s that is to mene the mayster of y e felysshyp of the mercery to haue one the mayster of the felysshyp of drapars the second and thyrde to be in the kepynge of the chamberlayne of that cytye And so therin the sayde thousande marke to be
kept to the entent that at all tymes when any cytesyne wolde borowe any money that he shulde haue it there for the space of a yere to laye for suche a summe as he wold haue plate or other iewellys to a suffycyente gayge so that he excedyd not the summe of an hundreth marke And for the occupyenge therof yf he were lerned to saye at hys pleasure De profundis for the soule of IohnÌ„ Bernys and all christen soules as often tymes as in hys summe were comprysed .x. markes As he that borowed but .x. marke shulde saye but ouer that prayer And yf he had .xx. marke then to saye it twyes and so after the rate And yf he were not lerned then to saye so often hys Pater noster But how so thys money was lent or gyded at thys daye the cheste remayneth in the chamber of London wythout money or pledges for the same Anno domini M.CCC.lxx  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxi  Robert Hatfelde  IohnÌ„ Bernes  Anno .xlvi.  Robert GaytonÌ„  IN thys .xlvi. yere and moneth of February kynge Edwarde helde hys parlyamente at westmynster In the whych he asked of the spirytualtye .l. M. li as moch of y e laye fee. The whych by the temporal was graunted but the clergye kepte them of wyth plesaunt answeres So that the kyng and hys couÌ„sayll was with them dyscontented in so moche that to theyr dyspleasures dyuers offycers as the chaunceler the pryuye seale the tresourer and other were remoued beyng spyrytuall men and in theyr offyces places temporall men set in And shortly after the foresayde cardynall of Beauuays came into Englande to treate of the peace betwene the .ii. realmes But he spedde nothyng to the effect therof wherfore in the moneth of Iuly y e Frenche kyng sente into the countre of Poyteaw the forenamed syr Barthram de ClayconÌ„ wyth a stronge armye where he wan dyuers holdes fortresses from the Englyshmen In whyche season kynge Edwarde for strengthyng of the couÌ„tre specially to defende y e towne of Rochell which as aboue in the other yere is shewed was at this yere besieged by the sayd syr Barthran sente the erle of Penbroke wyth other noble men to forty fye the sayde towne and to remoue y e syege But or he myght wynne to the sayd towne he was encountred with a flote of Spaynardes the whyche kyng Henry of Castyle had sent into Fraunce to strength the French kynges partye Of the whyche flote after longe and cruell fyght the sayde erle was taken wyth syr Guycharde de Angle and other to the nombre of C and thre score prysoners the more partye of hys men slayne and drowned wyth the losse of many good shyppes And in the begynnyng of the moneth of Septembre folowyng a Gascoygne borne a man of good fame whome the kyng of England had admytted for hys lyeutenaunt gouernoure of the countre of Poyteaw named le Captall de Bueffe faughte wyth an armye of Frenchmen before a towne named Sonbyse where in conclusyon hys men were slayne and chased he wyth .lxx. of hys partie taken prysoners Than the dukes of Berry of Burgoyne vppon the .vi. daye of Septembre came before Rochell and had certayne communicacioÌ„s with y e rulers of the sayd towne for the delyuery therof In this passe tyme season kyng Edward heryng of the takyng of the erle of PeÌ„broke of the losse that he dayly had of hys men in dyuers partyes of Fraunce with also the ieopardye that y e towne of Rochell and other stode in made hasty prouysyon entendyd to haue passed the see But the wynde was coÌ„traryous that he myght haue no passage wherfore he retourned as sayth PolicronicoÌ„ agayne into the land Than vpon the .viii. daye of Septembre beforesayd the captayne of Rochell hauynge no coÌ„forte of short rescous yelded vppon certayne appoyntementes the sayde towne vnto the forenamed dukes vnto the FreÌ„ch kynges vse And shortely after were also yolden to theym the townes of Angolesme of ExaÌ„ctes of saiÌ„t IohnÌ„ de Angely wyth dyuers other Anno domini M.CCC.lxxi  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxii  IohnÌ„ Phylpotte  IohnÌ„ Pyell  Anno .xlv.  Nycholas Brember  IN thys .xlvii. yere at a wrestelynge holden vpon blake Heth besyde London was slayne a mercer of LondoÌ„ named IohnÌ„ Northwode For the whyche greate dyssencyon grewe amonge the felyshyppes of y e cytye to the houge dystourbaunce of it and a good season after or the rancoure thereof myghte be duely appeased In thys yere also the duke of LaÌ„castre syr IohnÌ„ of Gaunt syr EdmuÌ„de his brother erle of Cambriged wedded the two doughters of Peter whyche was late kynge of Castyle put to deth by HeÌ„ry hys bastarde brother as before I haue shewed in the xliii yere of thys kyngê reygne Of y e whyche two doughters syr IohnÌ„ of Gaunt maryed the eldest named CoÌ„stance hys brother the yonger named Isabell so that by these maryages these .ii. bretherne claymed to be enherytours of the kyngdome of Castyle or Spayne And in thys yere after the duke of Brytayne had receyued many exortacyons requestes frome the Frenche kyng to haue hym vpon hys partye he sente for certayne sowdyours of Englishmen strengthed with them some of thys castelles holdes wherof heryng kyng Charles sent thyder wyth a stronge power the forenamed syr Barthran de Claycon warnyng theym to make warre vpon them as an enemye vnto the house of FrauÌ„ce The whyche accordynge to theyr coÌ„mission entred the lande of Brytayn in wastyng it with irne fyre and in shorte processe had yolden vnto hym the more partye of the chyef townes excepte Brest Aulroy and Deruall Than in the ende of Iuny the sayde syr Barthran layd syege vnto Brest the lord of Craon wyth other laye before Daruall In all whyche season the duke of Brytayne was in Englande For so soone as he hadde as before is sayd bestowed the foresayd Englyshe sowdyours he sayled into Englande to speke wyth kynge Edwarde In the moneth of Iuly the duke of LaÌ„castre wyth syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„t forde duke of Brytayne other with a myghty puyssaunce landed at Caleys And after they had rested them there a certayn days they rode vnto Hesden and lodged them within the parke an other season And after passed by DourloÌ„s by Benquesne and so vnto Corbye where they passed y e ryuer of Some and rode vnto Roy in Uermendoys where they rested them by the space of .vii. dayes At whych terme ende they set fyre vpon the towne toke theyr way towarde Laemoys and burned spoyled the countre as they weÌ„t And in processe of tyme passed the ryuers of Osne Marne and of Aube rode thorugh ChaÌ„payne by the erledome of Brame streyghte vnto Guy passed the ryuer of Seyn so towarde y e ryuer of Leyr and vnto Marcynguy y e noÌ„nery And whan they were passed the sayd nonnery they kepte theyr waye
vnto the duke so plesaunt message y t he retourned agayne vnto the cytye whome they receyued with all honor and reuerence And vpon the morow after hys retourne the prouost wyth certayne other of the cytye shewed vnto the duke that they wolde make a greate shyfte for hym towarde the mayntenaunce of hys warres And to brynge that mater to good conclusyon they besought hym y t he wolde assemble at Parys shortly a certayn persones of .xx. or .xxx. good townes there nexte adioynaunt The whych was vnto thē graunted so y t shortely after there assembled at Parys vpō lxx persones the whyche helde theyr counsayll to gyther by sundry days Howe be it in the ende they shewed vnto the duke that nothynge they myght brynge to effecte without assemble of the .iii. astates besoughte hym that they myght be efte reassembled trustyng that by theyr presence the dukes mynde shulde be contente and satysfyed Upon whyche requeste the duke sent hys cōmyssiōs chargyng y e sayd iii. astates to apere before hym at Parys the wednysday nexte folowynge y e day of al sayntes And full fayne he was to do all thyng that the citezyns of Parys hym requyred to do for as testyfyeth the Frenche Cronycle he was so bare of money that he hadde nat suffycyente to defende hys cotydyan charge IN the .viii. yere of kynge Iohn̄ and wednysday after Alhalowen day the .iii. astates reassembled at Parys and helde theyr counsayll within the blacke freers Durynge whych coūsayll the kyng of Nauern̄ that longe had ben holden in pryson wythin the castell of Alleux was deliuered by the meanes of syr Iohanne Pyquygny than gouernoure of the countrey of Arthoys and after conueyed by the sayd Iohn̄ vnto y e town of Amyas whan y e kyng of Nauerne was thus set at large anon his syster and other of hys frendes made meanes vnto the duke of Normandy for an vnyte a peace to be had betwene them and by them a meane was foūden that the kyng with such as were in hys company shulde come vnder saufe conduyt to Parys to common with the duke whā dyuers of the .iii. astates as such as were of Chāpeyn and Burgoyn knewe of the comyng of the kyng of Nauerne vnto Parys they without leue takyng departed And vpon the euyn of saynt Andrew the sayd kynge entred Parys wyth a greate companye of men of armes Amonge the wyche was the bysshop of Parys with many other of y e sayd cytye Upon the morowe folowynge the daye of saynt Andrew the kynge entēdynge to shewe hys mynde vnto the comynalte of the cytye caused an hyghe scaffolde to be made by y e wall of saynt Germayn where he was lodged where moche people beynge assembled he shewed vnto them a lōge processe of hys wrongefull enprysonemente and of the mysgydynge of the lande by meanes of ille offycers wyth many couerte wordes to y e dyshonoure of the Frenche kynge and iustyfycacion of hym selfe and excusynge of hys owne dedes and so retourned into hys lodgyng Uppon the thyrde daye of December the prouoste wyth other of the cytye yode vnto the duke and in the names of the good townes or commynaltyes of the same requyred of hym that he wolde do vnto the kynge of Nauerne reason and iustyce To whome it was answered by y e bysshop of Laon that the duke shuld nat allonly shewe vnto the kyng reason iustyce but he shuld also shewe vnto hym frendely brotherhode with all grace curtesy And all be it that at that season many of y e dukes coūsayll were present to whome the gyuyng of that answere had more cōueniently apperteyned thā to y e sayde bisshop yet they were at that tyme in suche fere that they durste nat moue any thynge that shuld soūde cōtrary the displeasure of the kynge of Nauerne or of the prouoste other Thā it was agreed that vpon y e saterdaye folowynge the kynge and the duke whyche as yet had nat spoken togyther shuld mete at the place of the syster of the sayd kyng where they met with vnfrendely coūtenaūce after they had communed there a lōge season departed with litle loue or charite And vpon the mūday folowyng were shewed vnto the duke hys coūsayle certayne requestes desyred by the kyng of Nauerne the whych the duke was forsed to graunt whereof the substaunce was that the kynge shuld haue agayn and enioye al such lādes castelles and townes with all mouables to them belōgynge as he was in possessyō of y e daye that kyng Iohn̄ was taken within the castel of Roan and ouer that he shuld be pardoned of all offences by hym done agayne the crowne of Fraunce before that daye and all other hys adherentes or suche as had taken hys partie before y t tyme. And soone vpon thys was ordeyned that the erle of Harcourt and other whyche kyng Iohn̄ had caused to be beheded and after to be hāged vppon the commō gybet of Roan shuld be delyuered vnto theyr frendes to be buryed at theyr pleasures After whych conclusions taken and assuraunces made as farre as the dukes auctoryte wolde extende vnto syr Almary knyghte Menlene knyghte wyth thre or foure men of honoure mo were sente into Normandye to repossesse the kyng of Nauerne in all such lādes castelles and townes as he before tyme was in possessiō of wyth all mouables vnto the sayd landes apperteynynge And than the sayde kynge and duke helde famylyer company and dyned and souped togyther often sythes at the manoir or lodgyng of quene Iohan syster vnto the sayd kynge and other places Also the sayde kynge delyuered out of prysone all prysoners as well spyrytuall as tēporall suche as were thought any thyng fauourable vnto hys cause Amonge the whyche some there were that for theyr demerites were adiuged to perpetuall prysone In thys tyme season tydynges sprange within the cytye of Parys that the kynges of Englande and of Fraunce were agreed and that kyng Iohan shulde shortely returne into Fraunce By reason of whyche tydynges the kyng of Nauerne made the more haste to dyspache hym oute of Parys so y t he with hys company departed from Parys the .xx. daye of Decēber rode toward the cytye of Maunte in Normādy Soone after the kyng was thus departed dyuers enemyes to the noumbre of .x. or .xii. C. came within .iiii. or .v. myles of Parys whyche were demyd to be of the company of syr Phylip brother vnto the kyng of Nauerne These robbed and pylled the countrey thereabout in so moch that the people of the coūtrey of Preaux and Trappes and other there aboute were constrayned with theyr mouables to flee vnto Parys wherfore the duke sente out hys letters and cōmyssyons for to assemble hys knyghtes to withstande the sayd enemyes But the sayde cytesyns of Parys caste an other way and thought it to be done to the greuaunce or correccion of them For dowte wherof the prouost with other that had y e gouernaunce of the
comyn vnto Arde. And the frenche men spedde them in suche wyse that they logged theÌ„ the xxiiii day of Auguste vpon the mouÌ„tayne of Tournehawe nere vnto Arde so that both hoostes were lodgyd within an englysshe myle Atwene whom were dayly bekeringes and small skyrmysshes All whyche season the Frenche kyng taryed styll aboute Rowan Than the king of Nauerne whiche by a longe season had dwellyd in Nauerne came by shyppe into Constantyne and sent vnto kynge Charlys y t if he were so pleased he wolde gladly come vnto hym for to shewe to him his mynde wherfore the king sent vnto hym as hostagys the erle of Salebruge the deane of Parys with .ii. other noble men the whyche the kynge of Nauerne wolde nat accepte In the moneth of Septembre and vpon the .xii. day when the duke of Burgoyne had lyen as before is sayd nere vnto the englysshe hooste he that day remoued his people and so went vnto Hesden And the Englisshe hoost remoued to Caux other places as before I haue shewed to you in the .xliii. yere of kynge Edwarde with other thynges apperteyninge vnto the same mater And in the sayd moneth of Septembre kynge Charles manned and vitayled certayne galeys other shyppes and sent them into walys and so to haue entred into EnglaÌ„de But they retourned with lytle worshippe natwithstandynge that he had .ii. noble men of walys named Owan and Iames wynne whiche made to him faste promesse of great thynges by reason that they were enemyes vnto the kyng of Englande For this and for other charges the kynge called a conuocacyon of the temporalte and spiritualte at Parys where to mayntayne hys warres was graunted to hym of all thynge bought soâ—de excepte vitayle the .iiii. peny so that all thynge that was solde by retayle the seller shuld pay the exaccion and that whyche was solde by greate the byer shulde paye the sayd exaccion And the spiritualte graunted a dyme to be payed in .ii. halfe yeres And the lordes and gentylmen were stynted at a certaintye after the value of theyr landes In the moneth of February the kyng sent vnto the kynge of Nauerne than beynge at Chierbourgth certayne messyngers to perfyght an amyte atwene them leste he toke party agayne hym with the Englysshemen But thys treatye contynued a longe season so that iÌ„ the .vi. yere moneth of Iune the kynge of Nauerne hauyng sufficient hostages came to the frenche kynge to Uernon where in conclusion the kynge of Nauerne made his homage vnto the frenche kyng and became there his feodary wherof the Frenchemen made moche ioye After whiche accorde the sayde kynge of Nauerne the thirde day folowing toke his leaue of the kynge and so rode vnto Eureux All which season y e warre was coÌ„tynued by Englisshemen within the realme of Fraunce prouince of Brytayne as before is expressed in the xliiii.xlv.xlvi yeres of kynge Edwarde In the .vii. yere and moneth of Auguste the duke of Braban with many nobles of Fraunce mette in playne batayll with y e duke of Iuillers the duke of Guellre In which batayll after cruell fyght the duke of Braban was chased and vpoÌ„ his syde slayne the erle of saynt Poule with many other noble men whiche the story nameth nat And vpon the other syde was also slayne the duke of Guellre with many other vpon that partye IN the .xi. yere of kyng Charles moneth of Maye he assembled his great couÌ„sell of parlyament at Parys where amonge many actes made for y e weale of his realme he with assente of his lordes and coÌ„mons there assembled enacted for a lawe after that day to be contynued that al heyres to y e crowne of FrauÌ„ce theyr fathers beynge dede may be crowned as kynges of Fraunce so soone as they attayned vnto the age of .xiiii. yeres And in this yere was the treatye of peace laboured by the two cardynalles sent from the pope as before is shewed in the .xlix. yere of kynge Edwarde After whyche treatye nat concluded the kynge of Englande loste dayly of hys landes in Fraunce For in the moneth of August folowyng y e duke of Berry the duke of Angeo and many other lordes to them assygned in dyuers places as in Guyan Angeo and Mayne gate and wanne from the Englysshemen many couÌ„treys townes and castels as Pierregort Rouerge Caoursyn Bigorre Basyndas Berregart Daimet with many other townes and holdes whyche wolde aske a loÌ„ge leysour to reherce to the noumbre of .vi. score and .xiiii. what of townes castelles and other holdes whiche in shorte whyle were wonne frome the Englysshemen in the parties of Fraunce and Brytayne In the .xiii. yere of this Charles the Emperour of Rome Almayne named Charles the .iiii. of that name came into FrauÌ„ce by Cambray to do certayne pylgrymages at saint Denys and elles where and so was conueyed with honorable men as the lorde of Cousy and other vnto saynt Quintyne where he taryed Chrystmas daye And after he was conueyed to a towne called Eâ— of Ewe and from theÌ„ce to Noyen and than to Compeygne where he was mette with the duke of Burbon and other nobles Than he rode to Senlys where he was mette with the dukes of Berry and of Burgoyne bretherne of the Frenche kynge and many other as bisshoppes and other lordes And ye shall vnderstande that all suche as rode in the companyes of these forsayde dukes except bysshops and preestes rode in theyr lyuereys As the companye fyrste of the duke of Burbon brother vnto the quene to the noumbre of CCC men were all cladde in whyte and blewe The company of the .ii. other dukes the noumbre of .v. C. men in blacke and russet that is to meane the erles and other lordes in clothe of golde the knyghtes in veluet the gentylmen in damaske and sattyn and the yemen in clothe Thanne from Senlys he was brought vnto Louuris where mette with hym the duke of Barre with a companye of CC. horse and his company cladde in grene and redde And from thens he was had to saynte Denys vpon the thyrde day of Ianuary whither the king sent to him a chayre rychely garnysshed for so moche as he was vexed with the goute And the quene sente to hym an horse lytter with .ii. whyte palfreys where he was also mette with a great companye of bysshoppes and other spirituall men as abbottes priours and other and taryed there .ii. dayes Upon the .v. day of Ianuary beynge monday he rode towarde Parys But or he were halfe a myle froÌ„ saynte Denys he was mette with the prouoste of the marchauntes with a coÌ„pany of .xv. C. horse y t cytezens being cladde in whyte and violette and so rodde before hym tyll he came to Parys whan the kynge was warned that he was nere the citye he lepte vpon a whyte palfrey and accompanied with many lordes and other to the noumbre of a M. men all his housholde seruauntes beyng cladde iÌ„ one liuerey of browne blewe and darke
y t whiche shortely after was vsed thoroughe all countreys of Englande Anno domini M. CCC.lxxxxviii  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCC.lxxxxix Goldesmythe IohnÌ„ wade  Drewe Barentyne  Anno .xxii.  IohnÌ„ warner  IN this .xxii. yere of kynge Rycharde y e coÌ„mon fame ranne y t the kyng had letton to ferme y e realme of Englande vnto sir wyllyam Sâ—ope erle of wylshyre than treasourer of EnglaÌ„de to sir IohnÌ„ Busshey syr Iohn Bagot and syr Henry Grene knightes y e whyche returned shortly after to their great coÌ„fusyoÌ„s This yere also Thomas y e son and heyre of y e erle of Arundell lately beheded y e whiche Thomas nat all to his pleasure was kepte in y e house of the duke of Exceter passed y e see by y e meanes of one wyllyaÌ„ Scot mercer yode vnto his vncle y t archebisshop of CauÌ„terbury so contynued with him in the cytie of Colayne than beynge In this pastyme great purueyaunce was made for y e kynges iourney into IrelaÌ„de so y t whan all thinges necessarye to the honoure nede of the kynge his people was redy he set forthwarde vpon his iourney in the moneth of Apryll leauyng for his leutenaunt in Englange sir Edmonde of Langley his vncle duke of yorke and after toke shippyng at Brystowe and sayled with a mighty stronge hoste into Irelande where he had so prosperous spede that in processe of tyme with manhode and good polycie he subdued to him that couÌ„trey In the whiche voyage were it for acte that he dyd or of y e kynges bounte Henry sone and heyre of the duke of Herforde than exiled was of y e kyng made knyght This Henry was after his father crowned kynge of Englande named Henry the .v. Kynge Richarde thus beynge occupyed in Irelande and receyuynge of the capytaynes of the wylde Irysshe into his subieccyon and orderyng of that countrey to set in an ordre and rule Henry of Bolyngbroke duke of Herforde before exyled with the archebysshoppe of Caunterbury and Thomas of Arundel and other landed with a small company at Rauyns spore in the Northe countrey in the moneth of August and vnder colour of the clayme of his ryghtfull enherytaunce ceysed the people as he wente to whome in short processe great multytude of the people drewe and gatherd Of this landyng king Rycharde beynge warned for hasty spede of returnyng into Englande left in IrelaÌ„de behynde hym moche ordenauÌ„ce and landed at Mylforde hauen in the begynnyng of Septembre begynnynge also of the .xxiii. yere of his reygne so yode vnto the castell of Flynte in wales and there rested him and his people and entended there to gather vnto hym more strength In the whiche meane tyme the foresayd Henry that than hadde proclaymed him selfe duke of Lancaster in the ryght of IohnÌ„ of GauÌ„te his father was comyn to Brystowe and there without resystence toke sir wyllyam Scrope erle of wylshyre treasourer of Englande syr IohnÌ„ Busshey and syr Henry Grene. Also there was taken sir IohnÌ„ Bagot but after he escaped and fledde into Irelande Than were the other thre there iuged put in execucyon And kinge Rycharde styll beynge at the castell of Flynte herynge of the great strengthe y t was about y e duke fearyd sore of him selfe And in lyke wyse so dyd all suche as were about hym wherfore syr Thomas Percye erle of worcetyr and than stewarde of the kynges housholde contrarye his allegeaunce brake openly the whyte rodde in the hall commaundyd euery man to shifte for him selfe By reason whereof the people voyded and the kynge lefte without coÌ„forte so that he was shortly after taken and presented vnto the duke The whyche put hym vnder safe kepynge shortly after spedde him toward LoÌ„don And whaÌ„ he came nere vnto y e cytie he sente king Rycharde with a secret coÌ„pany vnto y e Towre there to be safely kepte tyll his commyng wherof many euyll disposed persones of the cytie beyng warned assembled them in great noumbre entended to haue mette him without the towne there to haue taken him from such as ladde him so to haue slayne him for the great cruelte that he before tyme had vsed vnto the cytie But as god wolde the mayre rulers of the cytie were enfourmed of theyr malycyous purpose and gathered to theym the worshypfull commoners and sadde men by whose polycyes nat without great diffyculte they were reuoked frome theyr euyll purpose all be it that lastynge that rumoure they yode vnto westmynster and there toke mayster IohnÌ„ Slake deane of the kinges chapell and frome thens broughte him vnto Newgate and there caste on hym yrons Shortly after the duke came vnto London there by the consent of kyng Rycharde a ê‘lyament was begone vpon the .xiii. day of y e moneth of Septembre Endurynge whiche ê‘lyament many accusacyons artycles of mysrulynge of the lande were layed vnto the charge of thys noble prince kyng Rycharde whiche be engroced at length in .xxxviii. artycles For the which voluÌ„tarely as it shuld seme by y e copy of an instrumeÌ„t here after shewed he shulde renounce wylfullye be deposed from all kynglye mageste the monday beynge the xxix day of Septembre and the feest of saynt Myghell the archaungell in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon after the accomâ—te of the churche of Englande M. lxxxxix and the xxiiii yere of the raygne of the sayde Rycharde The copye of whiche instrumente here vnder ensueth THis present instrumente made the mondaye the .xxix. daye of Septembre and feeste of saynt Mychaell tharchaungell in the yere of our lorde god M.CCC.lxxx and xix and in the .xxiii. yere of kynge Rycharde the seconde wytnesseth that where by the auctoryte of the lordes spirytuall and temporall of this present parlyament and coÌ„mons of the same the ryght honorable and dyscrete ê‘sons here vnder named were by the sayde auctoryte assygned to go vnto the towre of London there to here and testifye suche questyons and answeres as than there shude be by the said honorable and discrete persones harde knowe all men to whome these presente letters shall come that we sir Richarde Scroope archebysshoppe of yorke IohnÌ„ bisshoppe of Herforde Henrye erle of Northumberlande Rafe erle of westmerlande Thomas lorde of Barkeley wyllyam abbot of westmynster IohnÌ„ pryour of Caunterbury wyllyam Thyrnynge and Hughe Burnell knyghtes IohnÌ„ Markeham Iustyce Thomas Stowe IohnÌ„ Burbage doctours of the lawe Cyuyle Thomas Feryby and Denys Lopham notaryes publyke the day yere abouesayd atwene the houres of .viii. .ix. of y e clocke before noone were present in the chyefe chaumber of the kynges lodgynge within the sayde place of the towre where was rehersed vnto the kynge by y e mouth of the forsayde erle of Northumberlande that beforetyme at Conwey in Northwalys the kynge beynge there at hys pleasure and lybertye promysed vnto the archebysshop of Caunterbury than Thomas of Arundell and vnto the
Theodalde Guyllyam Rychauyll knyghtes The whyche rescous nat wythstandynge the sayde lorde Talbot well maÌ„fully coÌ„tynued hys syege assawted the towne in ryght cruell maner so that they were fayne to call for more ayde whereof the lord Talbot beyng ware thynkynge that shortly the Frenchmen shuld be constrayned to gyue ouer the towne left the gydyng of the syege vnto syr wyllyam Poyton syr IohnÌ„ RyppelaÌ„d or Tryppelande knyght after departyd After whose departyng with in short whyle y e Dolphyn of UyeÌ„ne Lowys by name and sonne vnto the forenamed Charles Frenche kynge accompanyed wyth the erle of saynte Paule other to the nombre of .xvi. C. knyghtes came vnto the rescous of the sayd towne And after he had a day rested hym and hys sowdiours he sente the forenamed Theodalde wyth a strength of .iiii. C. men for to assayle the forsayde towre of tymbre but lytell hurt dyd they therunto Than the sayd Dolphyn sente an other strength of .vi. C. men to assayle it but the Englyshemen quyt theym so manfully that they slew .viii. score Frenchmen wouÌ„nded ouer .iii. C. wherwyth the Dolphyn beynge greuously amoued assembled the vttermost strength he myght make aswel of the towne and other and set vpon the Englysshe men whiche were â—ore brused with dayly fyght and fewe in nombre and fynally scomfited them and slewe of theym vpon CCC and toke y e rest prysoners Amonge y t whiche the foresayd two Englysshe capitaynes were taken and a kynnesmaÌ„ of the lorde Talbottes or more veryly one of his baste sones And thus was Depe rescowed the Englysshmen dyscomfyted after they had maÌ„fully maynteyned that syege by the space of .ix. wekes and odde dayes Also this yere in y e moneth of August was a great affray iÌ„ Fletestrete atwene the getters of the ynnes of courte and the inhabytauntes of the same strete whiche affray began in y e nyght and so contynued with assawtes and small by kerynges tyll y e next day In whiche season moche people of the cytie thyder was gadered and dyuers men of bothe partyes were slayne and many hurte But lastly by the presence dyscrecyon of y e mayer and shyreffes this affraye was appesed Of the whiche was chyfe occasyoner a man of Clyfforde ynne named Herbotell In this yere also by certayne ambassadoures y t were sente out of EnglaÌ„d into Guyon a maryage was coÌ„cluded in the begynnynge of the yere folowynge atwene the kynge and y e erles doughter of Armenak whiche conclusion was after dysalowed and put by by the meanes of the erle of Suffolke whiche kyndled a newe brande of brunynge enuy atwene y e lorde protectour and hym and toke fyre in suche wyse that it lefte not tyll bothe partyes with many other were consumed and slayne wherof ensued moche myschefe within the realme and losse of all Normandy as after to you shall appere Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xlii.  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C. xlili  Thomas Beaumount  IonÌ„ Athyrley Irenmonger  Anno .xxi.  Rycharde Nordon  IN thys .xxi. yere the foresayde erle of Suffolke whych as before is touched had fordon the coÌ„clusyon of the maryage takeÌ„ by the ambassadours betwene the kyng and y e erle of Armenakes doughter wente ouer hym selfe wyth other vnto hym assygned there in FrauÌ„ce concluded a mariage betwene the kyng and dame Margarete the kynges doughter of Cecyle and of Hierusalem as sayth the Englyshe cronycle And for that mariage to brynge about to the sayd kyng of Cecyle was deliuered y e duchye of Angeou and erledome of Mayne whych are called the keyes of Normandy But the FreÌ„che wryter Gaguyne sayth in hys latyne cronycle y t about thys tyme the erle of Suffolke came vnto Charles the Frenche kyng to a towne in Lorayn named Naunce or NauÌ„t axed of hym his doughter to be quene of England but he gyueth to her no name The whyche request of the sayd Charles to the sayde erle was grauÌ„ted Also he affermeth lytel tofore that season a peace betwene bothe realmes was concluded for the terme of .xxii. moneths whych peace endured but a whyle after And thys yere vpon Candelmas euyn the steple of sait Poules church in LondoÌ„ was set on fyre by tempest of lyghtnynge and lastly queÌ„ched by greate dylygence and laboure of many persones But of all that there laboured the morowe masse preeste of Bowe church in chepe was moste commended and noted Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xliii  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xliiii  Nycholas wyfforde  Thomas Catworthe Grocer  Anno .xxii.  IohnÌ„ Norman  THys .xxii. yere y e erle of Stafforde was made or created duke of Bukkyngham the erle of warwyke duke of warwyke the erle of Dorset marques of Dorset and the erle of Suffolke marquys of Suffolke The whyche marquys of Suffolke soone after wyth hys wyfe and other honourable personages aswell of men as of women with great apparayl of chayres and other costyous ordenaunce for to conuey the forenamed lady Margarete into England sayled into FrauÌ„ce where they were honourably receyued and so taryed there all thys mayres yere In thys yere was also an acte made by auctoryte of the common couÌ„sayll of London that vppon the sondaye shuld no maner of thynge with in the fraunchyse of y e citie be bought or solde nother vytayll nor other thynge nor none artyfycer shulde brynge hys ware to any man to be worne or occupyed that daye as tayllours garmentes or cordewayners shoys and so in lykewyse of all other occupacyons The whyche ordenaunce helde but a whyle Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xliiii  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xlv  Stephyn Foster  Henry Frowyke Mercer  Anno .xxiii.  Hughe wyche  THys .xxiii. yere and moneth of the foresayd lady Margarete came ouer into EnglaÌ„d and in the moneth folowynge she was maryed vnto kyng HeÌ„ry at a towne called Sowthwyke in the countre of Hamshyre And froÌ„ thens she was honourably conueyed by the lordes and estates of thys laÌ„d whyche mette wyth her in sondry places wyth greate retynewe of men in sondry lyueryes wyth theyr sleuys browdered and som betyn wyth gold smythes werkes in moste costly maner And specyally the duke of Glouceter mette wyth her wyth fyue hundreth men in one lyuerey And so she was conueyed vnto Blacke heth where vppon the .xviii. day of May she was mette with the mayre aldermen and sheryfes of the cytye and the craftes of the same in brown blewe wyth brawderyd sleuys That is to meane euery mystery or crafte wyth conysaunce of hys mystery and red hoodes vppon eyther of theyr heddes and so the same daye broughte her vnto London where for her were ordeyned sumptuous and costly pageÌ„tes and resemblauÌ„ce of dyuerse olde hystoryes to y e great comforte of her and suche as came wyth her y e maner whereof I passe ouer for lengthynge of the tyme. And so wyth great tryuÌ„phe she was broughte vnto westmynster where vppon the
of all lordes spyrytuall temporall that than were there aboute By the whyche fynally after many argumentes made for so mothe as kynge Henry contrary hys honoure and promysse at the last parlyament made and assured and also for that y ◠he was reputed vnable and insuffycyent to rule the realme was than by theyr assentes deposed and dyscharged of all kyngely honoure and regally And incontinently by auctoryte of the sayde counsayll and agrement of the commons there present Edwarde the eldeste sonne vnto the duke of yorke thā was there elected and then chosen for kynge of Englande After whyche eleccyon and admyssyon the sayde erle of Marche gyuyng lawde and preyse vnto god vpō the .iiii. day of Marche accompanyed wyth all the foresayde lordes multytude of comons was cōueyed vnto westminster and there toke possessyon of the realme of Englāde And syttynge in hys astate royall in the great halle of the same wyth hys sceptre in hand a question was axed of the people than presente yf they wolde admytte hym for theyr kynge soueraygne lord the whyche wyth one voyce cryed ye ye And thā after y e accustumed vse to kynges to swere and after the othe takē he went into the abbey where he was of the abbot munkys mette wyth processyon conueyed vnto saint Edwardes shryne and there offered as kyng that done receyued homage feaute of all suche lordes as there than were present And vpō y e morowe folowynge were proclamacyōs made in accustomat places of the cytye in the name of Edwarde the .iiii. thanne kynge of Englande Vpō whych day the kyng came vnto the palays at Poulys there dyned and there restyd hym a season in makynge prouysyon to go Northwarde for to subdue hys enemyes Than vpon the saterdaye folowynge beyng the daye of Marche the erle of warwyke with a great puyssaunce of people departed oute of London northwarde And vppon wednysdaye folowynge the kynges fotemen wente towarde the same iourney And vppon frydaye nexte folowynge the kynge tooke hys voyage through the cytye wyth a great hāde of men and so rode forth at Bysshop pesgate In whych selfe same day whyche was the .xii. daye of Marche a grocer of London namyd walter walker for offence by hym done agayne the kynge was behedded in Smythfelde But hys wyfe whyche after was maryed to Iohn̄ Norlāde grocer lastely alderman had suche frendes aboute the kynge that hyr goodes were nat forfayted to y e kynges vse The kyng than so holdyng his iourney mette wyth his enemies at a vyllage .ix. myles on thys halfe yorke called Towtō or Shyreborn and vpon Palme sonday gaue vnto theym batayll The whyche was so cruell y t in the felde and chace were slayne vppō .xxx. thousande mē ouer the men of name of the whyche here after some ensue That is to saye the erle of Northumberlande the erle of westmerlande the lorde Clyfforde y e lorde Eyromonde syr Iohn̄ syr Andrewe Trollop and other to the noumber of .xi. or mo And among other at the same felde was taken the erle of Deuonshyre after the erle of wylshyre whych said erle of Deuonshyre was sente vnto yorke and there after beheded Hēry than whyche lately was kynge with the quene theyr sonne syr Edward the duke of Somerset the lord Rose and other beynge than at yorke herynge of the ouerthrowe of theyr people and greate losse of theyr men in all haste fledde towarde Scotlande And vppon the morowe folowynge the kynge wyth moche of hys people entred into yorke and there held hys Easter tyde And vpon Easter euyn tydynges were broughte vnto London of the wynnynge of thys felde wherfore at Poulys Te deum was songē wyth greate solempnyte so thorugh the cytye in all paryssh churches And thus thys goostly man kynge Hēry lost all whā he had reygned ful .xxxviii. yeres .vi. monethes odde days And y e noble moste boūteous princesse quene Margarete of whome many an vntrew surmyse was imagened tolde was fayne to flye comfortlesse and lost all that she had in Englāde for euer whan that kyng Edwarde with greate solempnyte had holden the feest of Easter at yorke he than remoued to Durham And after hys busynesse there fynysshed he retourned agayne Southwarde lefte in those partyes y e erle of warwyke to se the rule guydyng of that countrey Than the kyng coosted and vysyted the coūtreys Southwarde Eestwarde that about the begynnyng of the moneth of Iuny he came vnto hys manour of shene now called Rychemoūt In all whych pastyme purueyaūce was made for the kynges coronacyō In accōplysshyng whereof the kyng vpō the .xxvii. day of Iuny beyng fryday departed from y e sayde manour rode vnto the towre of Lōdon Upō whome gaue attēdaunce y t mayre hys bretherne all cladde in scarlet and to the noumbre of .iiii. C. cōmoners well horsed cladde all in grene And vpon the morne beynge saterday he made there .xxviii. knightes of the bath after that .iiii. moo And the same after noone he was wyth all honour cōueyed to westminster the sayd .xxxii. knyghtes rydyng before hym in blewe gownes hoodes vpon theyr shulders lyke to prestes with many other goodly and honourable ceremonyes y t whych were longe to reherse in due order And vpon the morne beyng sonday sait Peters day he was wyth great tryūphe of the archebysshop of Caunterbury crowned enoynted before the hygh aulter of saynt Peters churche of westmynster And after thys solēpnysacyon of the crownyng of y e kyng wyth also the sumptuous honorable feest holdē in westminster hall was fynysshed the kynge soone after created George hys brother duke of Clarence And in the moneth of Iuly folowynge at the stādarde in chepe y e hāde of a seruaunte of the kynges called Iohn̄ Dauy was stryken of for that he had stryken a man wythin the palays of westmynster Francia ¶ Carolus .viii CArolus or Charles the .vii. of y e name after the accompte of this boke or the vii after the Frēch hystory sonne of Charlys the .vii. or .vi beganne hys reygne ouer the Frenchmē in the moneth of October in the yere of oure lorde M.iiii C. .xxii and in the begynnyng of Henry the .vi. than kyng of Englāde Of thys Charlys sundry wryters sunderly wryte in so moche as some afferme hym to be the naturall sonne of Charles the .vii some afferme hym to be the sonne of the duke of Orleaunce borne of the quene and some there ben that name hym the sonn̄ of Charles fore named gotten in the baste vppon hys mooste beauteous paramour named Agnes the whych as testyfyeth Gaguynus excelled all other women in feture beaute and for the same to be surnamed the fayer Agnes Thys in hyr myddell age dyed was so ryche y t hyr testamēt amoūted to .ix. M. scutes in golde the whyche in sterlynge money amoūteth to the summe of .x. M. li. Thā to
he entēded to haue folowed to haue made warre vpon the Scottes But he was than vysyted with the sykenes of pockes y t he was forced to leue that iournay In the weke of Crystemas folowynge the Scottes wyth a strōge power perced the lande entendynge to haue rescowed certayne castelles in the north But they retourned shortly wythout harme doynge And shortly after the duke of Somerset and syr Rauffe Percy submitted them to the kynges grace whanne the kynge was cured retourned southwarde the Scottes aboute the tyme of lent entred agayn into Englande layde a syege vnto Banbourth castell and wanne it wherfore the kynge in the moneth of Auguste folowynge rode agayne northewarde wyth hys power and ouer that vytayled certayne shyppes in the west countre manned them sent them thyder to make warre vppon the see coost And in the latter ende of this mayres yere the duke of Somerset herynge that kynge Henry was commynge into the lande wyth a newe strength departed secretly wente agayne to hym Anno. dn̄i M.iiii C.lxiii  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.lxiiii  Robert Basset  Mathewe Phylyp Goldsmyth  Anno .iii.  Thomas Muschampe  IN this yere moneth of May whyche was in the begynyng of the .iiii. yere of kyng Edwarde the lorde Iohn̄ of Mountagu hauynge than the rule in the northe partyes beynge warned of the commynge of Henry late kynge wyth a greate power out of Scotlande assembled the Northynmen and mette wyth hym about Exhm̄ and there skyrmysshed wyth y e Scottes at length wan y e vyctory of hys enemyes and chased Henry so nere that he wan from him certayne of hys folowers trapped wyth blewe veluet and hys bycoket garnysshed wyth two crownes of golde and fret wyth perle and ryche stone He also toke at the sayd iourney y e duke of Somerset the lorde Hungerforde the lorde Roos whych sayde duke was shortly after put to deth at the sayd towne of Exhm̄ the other ii lordes were soon after beheded at new castell And other whyche were after that fyght taken in a wood fast by as syr Phylyp wētworth syr Edmond Fiz knyghtes Blacke Iaquis Iohn̄ Bryce Thomas Hunt were also put to deth at Exhm̄ foresayd or Myddelham after some wryters syr Thomas Husey knyght was beheded at yorke And in the moneth of Iuly next folowyng the sayde lorde Mountagu wyth ayde of hys brother erle of warwyke wan by strēgth the forenamed castel of Bamburgth wherin as one of the said capitaynes was taken wyth other syr Rauffe Gray whyche shortly after at yorke was drawen hanged quartered In such passe tyme in moste secret maner vpon the fyrste daye of May kynge Edwarde spoused Elizabeth late the wyfe of syr Iohan Graye knyghte whyche before tyme was slayne at Toweton or yorke felde whych spousayles were solempnised erely in the mornynge at a towne named Graston nere vnto Stonyngestratforde At whyche maryage was no persones present but the spouse the spousesse the duches of Bedford her mother the preste two gentylwomen a yong mā to helpe the preeste synge After whyche spousayles ended he wēt to bedde so taried there vpon .iii. or .iiii. houres and after departed and rode agayne to Stonyng stratforde and came in maner as though he had ben on huntyng and there went to bedde agayne And wythin a daye or .ii. after he sente to Graston̄ to the lorde Ryuers father vnto hys wyfe shewyng to hym that he wolde come and lodge wyth hym a certayne season where he was receyued wyth all honoure so taryed there by the space of foure dayes In whyche season she nyghtely to hys bedde was brought in so secrete maner that almooste none but her mother was of counsayll And so thys maryage was a season kepte secrete after tyll nedely it muste be dyscouered dysclosed by meane of other whyche were offered vnto the kyng as the quene of Scottes other what oblyquy ran after of thys maryage howe the kyng was enchaunted by the duchesse of Beforde and howe after he wolde haue refused her wyth many other thynges concernynge thys matyer I here paūe it ouer And thys yere was kynge Henry taken in a wood in the north countre by one named Cantiowe and presented to the kynge and after sente to the towre where he remayned longe after Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.lxiiii  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.lxv.  Iohn̄ Tate  Rauffe Iosselyne Draper  Anno .iiii.  Iohn̄ Stone  IN this yere was a new coyne ordeyned by y e kyng y t whyche was named y e Royall was yet is in value of .x. s. the halfe royal .v. s the ferthyng .ii. s. vi d. And ouer y t he ordeyned y e secōd coyne of golde named it y e angel which was yet is in value of .vi. s. viii. d the half angel iii. s. iiii d. He ordeyned also a newe coyne of grotes halfe grotes pens whych were of lasse weyght than the olde grote was by .viii. d. in an vnce And thā was fyne gulde auaūsed frō s. to .xl. s an vnce other baser goldes after y e rate And syluer that before was at .viii. grotes and .xxx. d. an vunce was hyghed to .xl. d. an vunce and .iii. s. ii d. And in thys mayres yere and begynnyng of the .v. yere that is to say the .xxvi. day of May that yere whyt sonday quene Elizabeth was crowned at westmynster wyth great solēpnytie At the whyche season at the towre the nyghte before the coronacyon amonge many knyghtes of the bathe there made was as of that cōpany syr Thomas Cooke syr Mathewe Phylyp syr Rauffe Iosselyne and syr Henry wauyr cytezyns of Lōdon thanne and there made knyghtes Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.lxv.  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.lxvi  Syr Henry wauyr  Rauffe Uerney Mercer  Anno .v.  wyllyam Constantyne  IN thys yere that is to saye the xi daye of the moneth of February was Elizabeth pryncesse and fyrste chylde of kyng Edward borne at westmynster whose crystenynge was done in the abbaye wyth moste solempnyte And the more bycause the kynge was assured of hys physycyons that the quene was conceyued wyth a prynce and specyally of one named mayster Dominyk by whose counsayll greate prouysyon was ordeyned for crystenynge of the sayde prynce wherfore it was after tolde that thys mayster Domynyk to the entente to haue greate thanke and rewarde of the kynge he stode in the second chamber where the quene trauayled that he myghte be the fyrste that shulde brynge tydynges to the kynge of the byrth of the prynce And lastly whan he harde the chyld crye he knocked or called secretly at y e chāber dore and frayned what the quene had To whome it was answered by one of the ladyes what so euer y e quenes grace hathe here wythin suer it is that a fole standeth there wythout And so confused wyth hys answere he departed wythoute saynge of the kynge for
Fabyans cronycle newly prynted wyth the cronycle actes and dedes done in the tyme of the reygne of the moste excellent prynce kynge Henry the vii father vnto our most drad souerayne lord kynge Henry the .viii. To whom be all honour reuerēce and ioyfull contynaunce of his prosperous reygne to the pleasure of god and weale of this his realme AMEN ¶ Prentyd at London By wyllyam Rastell 1533. ⧠CVM PRIVILEGIO MVSEVM BRITANNICVM The table of the fyrste volume of Fabyanes cronycle ALbyon and why thys ile of olde tyme so was called it apereth in the fourth lefe the fyrst chapytre Brute the sonne of Siluius and of hys orygynall and fyrste cōmyng into thys lande ca. ii folio iiii Brute of hys fyrst landynge ca. iii. fo v. Thys Brute the son̄ of Siluius Posthumus descended of the noble blode of Troyans entred fyrst y e ile of Albion which he after named Brytayne and now is called England in the yere of the worlde iiii thousande lxiii and before the incarnacyon of Chryst as in the begynnyng of this worke is more openly shewed reygned yeres .xxiiii. Troynuaunt or London of thys kynge was fyrst foūded ca. iiii fo v. Locrinus or Locryne the eldeste sonne of Brute beganne hys reygne ouer Brytayne in the countrye called Leogria or Logiers that after was named myddell Englande in y e yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .lxxxvii. and reygned yeres .xx. capi v. folio vi Gwendoloena or Gwendoleyn y e wyfe of Locryne began to reygne as quene ouer the Brytons or countrey of Logiers in the yere of the worlde iiii thousande C.vii. and reygned yeres xv ca. vi fo vi Madan the sonne of Locrine and of the sayd Gwendolyne began hys reygne ouer the Brytons in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande C. and xxii and reygned after the agrement of many wryters and moste yeres .xl. ca. vii fo vi In the seconde yere of thys kyng◠reygne ended the thyrde age of the world And Dauyd began to reygne ouer Israell Menpricus or Mempricius the sonne of Madan beganne hys rule ouer the Brytons in the yere of the world .iiii. M.C.lxii the yere before Chrystes incarnacyon and reygned yeres xx ca. viii folio vi Ebrancus or Ebrank the sonn̄ of Mempryce begā to rule the Brytōs in the yere of the worlde .iiii. M.C.lxxxii reygned yeres .xii. Thys kyng made the citie of yorke y e town of Acryncte the castelles of Dunbarre Eddynbourgh in Scotland ca. ix fo vii Brute vixii scutum or Brute Greneshelde sonne of Ebranke was made ruler of the Brytons in y e yere of the worlde .iiii. M.ii. C.xlii reygned yeres .xii. ca. x. fo vii Leylus or Leyr the sonne of the forenamed Brute beganne hys rule ouer Brytayn in the yere of y e world iiii M.ii. C.liiii and ruled yeres .xxv Thys kynge founded the towne of Carleyll ca. xi fo vii Lud Hurdibras or Rudibras the sonn̄ of Leyl begā hys dominiō ouer y e Brytōs in the yere of y e worlde iiii M.ii. C.lxxix ruled yeres .xxxix. This kyng made wynchester Caunterbury Septō now named Shaftysbury ca. xii fo vii Baldud the sonne of Lud began hys domynyon ouer the Brytaynes in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousād iii. C.xviii and reygned yeres .xx. Thys kynge founded the towne of Bathe and the bathes wythin the same after some wryters ca. xiii folio vii Leyr or Leyer the sonne of Baldud was made ruler ouer the Brytons in the yere of the worlde .iiii. M iii. C. and .xxxviii and ruled yeres .lx. Thys kynge made the towne of Leycestre ca. xiiii fo vii Cordeilla the yongeste doughter of the forenamed Leyer beganne to rule the Brytons in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .iii. C.xcviii ruled yeres .v. ca. xvi folio viii Cunedagius with Marganus his neuewes sonnes of the two sisters of Cordeilla beganne theyr dominyon ouer Brytayne in the yere of y e world iiii thousande .iiii. hundreth and .iii. cōtynued yeres .ii. ca. xvii fo viii This Cunedagius forenamed after that he in batayll hadde slayne Marganus beganne hys senyoury ouer the Brytons in the yere of the worlde .iiii. M.iiii C.v. and ruled after moste wryters yeres .xxxiii. ca. xviii fo ix Reynaldus or Rilalnus the sonn̄ of Cunedagius beganne to rule the Brytons in the yere of the world .iiii. thousande .iiii. C. and .xxxviii. reygned yeres .xlv. The .xxxii. yere of this kyng was Rome bylded of the twoo bretherne Remus and Romulus whyche was the yere of the worlde ca. xix fo ix Gurgustius Gurgusto or Gorbodian the sonne of Riuallus was made ruler of the Brytons in y e yere of the worlde .iiii. M.iiii C.lxxxiii and ruled yeres .xxxviii. ca. xx fo ix Sicillius or Siluius the brother or sonne of Gurgustus began hys domynyon ouer the Brytons in the yere of the world .iiii. thousand .v. C. and .xxi. and ruled yeres .xlix. ca. xxi folio ix Iago or Lago the neuewe of Gurgustius was made ruler of Brytayn in y e yere of the world .iiii. thousande v. hundreth .lxx. reygned yeres .xxv. ca. xxii fo ix Kinimacus the brother of Iago and after some wryters the sonne of Siluius began his seygnyorye ouer the Brytons in the yere of the world iiii thousand .v. C.xcv. ruled yeres .liiii. In the .xiiii. yere of thys kynge ended the .iiii. age the Iewes were captyued by the Babylons Also Isopus or Isoppe the feyner of fables in the latter days of thys Kinimacus in the countre of Grece florysshed fayned hys fables ca. xxiii fo ix Gorbodug whome Geffrey of Mōmouth nameth Grobodugo son̄ vnto Kinimacus began hys domynion ouer the Brytons in the yere of the world .iiii. thousande .vi. C.xlix ruled yeres .lxii. Aboute the .xxvi. yere of this kynges reygne was Holiferne slayne of Iudyth the wydow in the chamber of Papiliō As hath Iacobus Philippus ca. xxiiii fo ix Ferrex with hys brother Porrex sonnes of Gorbodug begā iointly to rule y e Brytōs in y e yere after Adam iiii M.vii C. .xi. ruled yeres .v. Here endeth the lyne or ofspryng of Brute ca. xxv fo x. The storys agre that after y e deth of the forsayd bretherne the Brytōs because there remayned no heyre of them were in great dyscorde a longe season were subdued vnder diuers kynges But bycause y e foresayd auctours do nat certyfye y e terme of this dyscorde and also do wryte dyuersly of the reygnes of the forsayd kynges so that some do assyne very few or no certayn yeres and some other many yeres so that in thaccomptyng of the yeres and of tymes there appereth a great alteracyō Therfore it is to be noted as affermeth Ranulph monke of Chester Guydo Galfryde and other that Cunedagius onely began to reygne in the yere of the world .iiii tyousande .iiii. hundreth and .v. And he reygned .xxxiii. yeres whyche maketh the yere of the worlde
perhennis Hic fiet natis altera Troia tuis The whyche versys may be englysshed as here after foloweth Brute farre by wefâ—e ouer the lâ—nde of Fraunce An yle in occean there is all closed wyth the see This yle with gyauÌ„tes whilom inhabyt by chauÌ„ce Now beynge defeâ—â—e 〈◊〉 apte for thy people the. In this of thâ— body kynges borne shal be And of this yle thou shall be lorde and kynge Serche this for here a perpetuall see to the And here to thy childern a new City shal spryng THE III. CHAPITER WHen Brute awoke and remeÌ„bred hym of this vysyon anoÌ„ he called to hym such as he most trusted and shewed to them what he had seen harde wherof they all beynge greatly reioysed caused great fares to be made in the whyche they cast wyne mylke and other lycours wyth dyuerse aromate and spyces of moste swettest odour as in the olde pagan lawes and rytes were vsed whyche obseruaunce wyth other done wyth great ioye and myrthe they entryd into theyr shyppes and pulled vp theyr sayles toke theyr course westwarde And so sayled by the space of .xxx. dayes passynge by many auentures and daungers as of Philenes y e lake called Lacus salinarum or salte lake or the place where salte is made the ryuer called Malea Hercules pyllers came lastly to the see Tyrrhen or Turon where he encouÌ„tred wyth a small nauy of shyppes of the whyche a Troyane and neuew to Brute called Corineus was captayne wheÌ„ eyther of them had saluted other reioysed of theyr metynge they to gyder made towarde land and landyd in the prouynce of Gallia now called Guyan of whyche prouynce at that daye a prynce named Groffariê° was ruler The whyche hauyng knowlege of y e landynge of these straunges wyth his power made towarde them to them gaue batayll But the TroyaÌ„s were victours and ouercame Groffarius wyth all his knyghtes In this batayll was slayne a noble Troyane neuewe to Brute named Turonus and there buryed wherfore in remembraunce of y e sayd Turonus Brute buylded there a cytye and named yt Turon as some authours testyfye But it shuld seme by the sayenge of Polycronyca that thylke cytye Turon was buylded afore all be yt that y e authour of Cronica cronicarum affermyth it to be buylded by Brute in remembrauÌ„ce of his sayd cosyn Turonus whych citye at this daye is yet great fame wyth in the realme of Fraunce This done the sayde Brutes Coâ—ineus wyth theyr Troyans toke agayne shyppynge the whyche after iii. dayes or fewe dayes saylyng landyd at an hauen or porte in Cornewayll named at this day Totnesse from thens yode serchyng the land and couÌ„tre the yere as before is sayd iiii thousande .lxiii before the buyldynge of Rome folowynge the foresayde accompte .iiii. hundred and .xx. before the incarnacyon of Cryste .xi. hundred .xxxvi and before Alexander the great conquered the worlde eyght hundred and .xi also before any kynge reygned ouer the Frenshe men or that they were clere quyte of theyr trewage agayne y e Romayns xv hundred and .lvi. THE IIII. CHAPITER REtourne we then to Brute whyche after his landyng in this I le of Albyon circuyd serchyd y e land ouer all and fouÌ„de yt full fertyle plenteous of wode and of grasse and garnysshed with many fayre ryuers and stremes And in his trauaylynge the lande he was encountred wyth many great and myghty gyauntes the whych he destroyed Among y e which as reherseth that Englyshe cronicle was one of passyng strength named Gogmagog the whyche he caused to wrestle wyth Cormeus or Coryne his neuewe besyde Douer in which wrestlinge that gyauÌ„t brake a rybbe in the syde of Cormeus where thorough Corineê° beyng sore amoued wyth great strength supprysed that gyaunt cast hym downe the rocke of Douer By reason wherof as affermyth y e said englyshe cronicle y e place was named the fall of Gogmagog But after that y e name was chauÌ„ged called the fall of Douer which to this daye enduryth For this dede and other Brute gaue vnto his sayd neuewe Corineus or Coryn the hole countre of Cornewayll And wheÌ„ Brute had thus destroyed the gyauntes serchyd the sayde yle of AlbyoÌ„ thoroughly he coÌ„myng by y e ryuer of Thamis for pleasure y e he had in that ryuer with also the coÌ„modytyes therunto adioynynge began there to buylde a cytye in y e remeÌ„braunce of the cytye of Troye lately subuerted named it Troynouant whyche is as myche to saye as newe Troy whych name endured tyll the coÌ„mynge of Lud after kynge of Brytayne vpon the tyme of a thousande lxviii yere But y e sayd kyng coÌ„maundyd yt to be called Luddys towne which by shortnesse of speche is now called London Then wheÌ„ Brute had thus buylded his cytye saw y t he was stablysshed in his realme quyetly he theÌ„ by thaduise of his lordes coÌ„maunded y e sayd ile couÌ„tre to be called Britayn and his people Brytons and so contynued his reygne prosperousely In the whyche tyme he stablysshed and ordred his people to lyue in tyllynge of theyr lande and otherwyse This Brute had receyued of his wyfe thre sonnes wherof the fyrste was named Locrinus or Locryne y e seconde Cambrius or Cambre and y e third Albanactus or Albanakt To the fyrst and eldest he besette this yle of Brytayne the whyche after was named myddell Englande whych is to meane Troynouant wyth all y e couÌ„tres there about lyenge coÌ„teynynge est west sowth And for this cause and for yt shuld sounde towarde the name of the sayd Locryne this parte of Brytayne was longe after called Loegria or Logiers To the seconde sonne Cambre he beset or appoynted to hym the couÌ„tre of walys the whyche was fyrste named after hym Cambria This in the eest syde was somtyme departed from Englande by the ryuer of Seuerne But now in the north syde the ryuer named d ee at Chester departeth England and walys and in the sowth the ryuer that is called Uaga at the castell of Strynglyng parteth Englande and walys To the thyrde sonne Albanakt he besette the north parte of this yle and named yt Albyon or more veryly the sayd countre toke after y e name of the sayd thirde sonne and was called Albania This couÌ„tre was after named Scotlande and is deuyded from Loegria or Logiers as saythe holy Beda by two armys of y e see but they mete not The eest arme of these two begynneth about ii myles from the mynster of Eburcurynge in the west syde of PenultonÌ„ The weste arme of those twayne hath in y e ryght syde or somtyme hadde a stronge cytye named Acliud whych in y e Brettysshe tunge was called Clyntâ—ton staÌ„deth vppon the ryuer called Clynt Thus wheÌ„ Brute had diuided this yle of Brytayne as before is shewed in thre partes and hadde holden the pryncypate therof nobly by the terme of .xxiiii. yeres after most coÌ„cordauÌ„ce of writers
vnto you the begynnynge of the reygne of y e kinges of FrauÌ„ce and set them in suche a direct order that it shal be apparant to the reder that it shal be certaynly knoweÌ„ what kyng reygned in FrauÌ„ce whan such a kyng reygned in Englande And also I shall somdele touche the actes and dedys of the sayde kynges of Fraunce so y t the cronycles of bothe realmes shall in this worke appere and the names of the prynces which at ones reygned in Englande and in Fraunce Then for the perfourmauÌ„ce of the same fyrste is to be noted that after the subuercyon of Troye by the Grekes as in y e begynnyng of this work is shewyd dyuers Troyans beyng vnder the rule of nobles of the same lygnage as Helenus sonne of Pryamus Eneas Anthenorus other serchyd y e worlde landyd in dyuers couÌ„trees As Helenê° in Grece or Grecia Eneas in Italia or Italy so of other amoÌ„g The whych nobles one named Turchus an other named Franco cosyn Germayns as Turchus the sonne of Troylus FraÌ„co or Francio the sonne of Ector which sayd two cosyns serchyng theyr aduenture after many dyuers daungers ieopardyes passyd by the see lastly landed in a couÌ„tre called Tracea or Tracia in Grece And there wyth theyr coÌ„pany enhabyted them nere vnto a ryuer called Dion And after they hadde contynued there a season of tyme Turchus departed wyth a certayne of Troyans froÌ„ hys sayd cosyn Francio and sayled after into a countre called Faso the lesse where he wyth hys people dwelled longe tyme. whyche Faso shulde be in the countre of Sithia Of thys Turchus dyscendyd as sayth y e FreÌ„che cronycle .iiii. maner of people That is to saye Austrogothis Ipogothis wandalis and Normans And FraÌ„cio or FraÌ„co remoued after wyth hys company into a countree named Pannoma whyche countree now shuld seme to be a parte of Hungery or ioynynge nere to it There nere vnto a ryuer called Thanais they buylded them a cytye and named it Sicambria by reason wherof they were longe after called Sicambri They were also named Franci as sayth the Frenche cronycle after thys man Francio Turpinus that wrote the gestes of the greate Charles sayth that whan Charles hadde made the countre of Spayne subiecte and was retourned into Fraunce he made all the bonde meÌ„ dwellynge aboute or nere vnto Paris or in all Gallia fre in the wourshyppe of saynte Denis and of saynt Iamys of Galis vppon condycyon that they shulde yerely offre foure pence to thys worke of saynt Denis churche By reason wherof they were named Franci as men freed that to fore were bond Policronica saith they were named Franci of Ualentynyan the emperour as it were for fyersnes But how so euer they came by that name they were called Franci as Frenschemen This sayd peple were also named long tyme Galli were trybutaries to Rome vnder theyr rule tyll the tyme of Ualentinyan emperour aboute the yere of Cryste .iii. houÌ„dreth .lxvi. Thys Ualentinyan hauynge the rule of the west parte of y e world made warre vppon a people called Aleynys that dwelled nere vnto the forenamed Gallis These Aleynys were egre of fyghte and ouer y t they were so closyd wyth fennys marrys that the Romaynes myghte not wynne to them by force wherof they often rebellyd agayne the empyre wherfore in the ende Ualentinyan consyderynge the fyersnes of y e Gallis wyth theyr nere dwellynge vnto the sayd Aleynys couenauÌ„ted with them yf they wolde subdue the sayde people they shulde haue releace of .x. yeres trybute whyche couenauÌ„t well and suffycyently confermed to the Gallis they in shorte whyle after by theyr knyghthode and polycy subdued or vtterly chased the sayd Aleynys For the whyche dede they contynued the foresayde .x. yeres wythout payenge of any trybute whyche .x. yeres ronne and expyred y e Romaynes agayn claymed the former accustomed trybute To whom it was answered y t they had redemed the sayd tribute with the price of theyr blood and ought not any more to be charged with any suche trybute wyth whych answere the Romaynes beynge sore dyscontentyd made newe warre vpon y e sayd SicaÌ„bris Of whyche warre the Sicambris or Gallis had the worse and were chasyd from theyr citye of Sicambria Then as wytnessyth Polycronica other they drewe nere vnto the water of Ryne and grewe in shorte processe to suche a multytude of suche strength that they in shorte whyle after by ledynge of theyr .iii. dukes named Marcomirus Somomê° or Symon and Genebaur warred vppon the landes of the empyre such as were subiecte vnto y e same wherof Theodosius surnamed the yonger then emperour beynge warned he anone sente .ii. of his dukes wyth a greate hoste for to subdue the sayde Gallis or Sicambris But they defendyd them so knyghtly y t the sayde dukes were chasyd and as wytnessyth mayster Robert Gagwyne a greate nomber of the Romaynes were slayne THE LXXVII CHAPITER AFter this victory thus opteyned by the Sicambris they waxed so stronge that they wan from the Almaynes dyuers townes and stronge holdes wythin Germania And after that they opteyned the famous cytye named Treueris which as wytnessyth the aucthour of Cronica cronicarum was fyrst foundyd in the tyme of the patryarche Abraham before the incarnacyoÌ„ of Cryst a thousande .ix. houndred .lxv. yeres And so dayly wan vpon the nacyoÌ„s adioynynge to them tyll they came to the ryuer of Seyn where they restyd them and buylded the countre all there about In so mych that they than named them selfe Franci as men freed and out of all daunger of the empyre of Rome and theyr land after them they named Fraunce whyche syns that tyme is greatly encreasyd So that at this daye it is a countre of great welth honoure and conteyneth many prouynces lordshyppes as after the affyrmauÌ„s of Policronica is touchyd in y e .xxvii. chapyter of hys fyrste boke where it is shewed that Gallia which now is Fraunce had that name Gallia of whytenesse of people Thys Gallia or Fraunce hath in the North syde Germania in the Eest the ryuer of Ryne in the Southest the Alpis or the hyghe mountaynes and in the west the see Occean whyche is called both Brytannicum and GallicuÌ„ whyche is to meane Englyshe see Frenche see For yt departyth Englande and Fraunce in the south see of myddell eerth y t wassheth about by the the prouynce of Narbon In the tyme of Iulius Cesar Gallia was departed in thre but for diuers happes that befell after in that land the countre and land that stretcheth from the Ryne to SeynÌ„ is now called Gallia Belgica whyche is very Fraunce And that countre that stretcheth from SeynÌ„ to y e ryuer of Leyr is called Gallia Lugdunensis wherof the ouer parte hyght or is named Burgundia that is Burgoyne and the nether parte is Nestria or Normandye And the countre that stretcheth froÌ„ the ryuer of Leyr to the ryuer of
from the sayde pope that he was well satysfyed and pleasyd And for at those days in Fraūce was vsyd of prestes and men of the chyrche precyouse and shewynge vesture and golden and riche starynge gyrdelles with rynges and other ornamentes of gold the sayde Lowys purchasyd of the pope a correccyon for all suche as vsyd suche dysordynate apparell and causyd theym to vse and were browne sad colours accordynge to theyr honoures and sadnes This Lowys hadde thre sonnes that is to saye Lothayre whome he made felowe of the empyre Pepyn the seconde whome he made duke of Guyan and Lowys the thyrde to whom he betoke the rule of Bayton To this yongeste sonne worde was broughte that Bernarde a ruler in Italy had assembled a great power wyth y e aydes of two other captaynes named Iylys and Reyner the whyche Charlis the great by his lyfe greatly fauouryd occupyed y e strēgthys of the mountaynes and entendyd to kepe the countrey of Italye from the subieccyon of his father the emperoure wherof he gyuynge his father knowlege strong power was gaderyd as well by the father as by Lothayre his sonne and sped theym towarde the mountayns But when the sayde Bernarde was ware of the emperours commyng wyth so great a strength and consyderyd his lacke of power to mayntayn his purpose wyth also the great mercy and pytye that he knew to be in the emperour he submytted hym holy to hys grace and mercy and dyscoueryd to hym the authours of that rebellyon the whyche thys Lowys causyd vnder safe kepynge to be hadde vnto the cytye of Aquisgrany The whyche rebellys were the byshop of Mylayne the byshop of Cremoun and the bysshoppe of Orleaunce The kynge passed all the wynter folowyng at the foresayde cytye and lastely caused to be broughte before hym the foresayde transgressours examyned the cyrcumstaunce of the foresayd treason and after remytted them to the rygour of Lowes where by processe they were condemnyd to deth as many of them as were temporall men Then the emperour hauynge compassion of the forenamed Bernarde for so myche as he was the sonne of Pepyn laste kynge of Italy and his nere kynnesman transmutyd the sentence of deth vnto perpetuyte of pryson and losynge of hys syghte But for the sayde Bernarde Reyner and other chase rather to dye thē to lyue in pryson wyth that deformyte they passyd by dinte of the sworde were beheddyd within or nere to the sayd cytye of Aquisgrani And the sayde bysshoppes were depryued of theyr dygnyteys put into pryuate houses of relygyon And whyle thys Lewys was occupyed in lytell Brytayne in subduynge of that countrey Lothayre the eldest sonne of thys Lewys was sent to rule the lōdes of y e empyre where he bare hym ryght nobly and executed dyuers actes for the weale of the empyre But in thys season .ii. frendes of hys father and hys were for certeyne crymes to them put moste cruelly condēpned to vyle deth with in the cytye of Rome wherof heryng Lothayre than beyng at the cytye of Papy sent worde therof to hys father in all hasty wyse the which was lyke to haue turnyd y e pope to greate trowble yf he by polytyke and wyse meanes had not shortly pacifyed the mater That one of the foresayd two persones so condempned was scrybe to the pope and that other was Donar ye shall vnderstande that thys Lewys hadde two wyues by the fyrste he had the forenamed thre sonnes and of the seconde he receyued a son and named hym Charlys the which whan he came to mannes stature was surnamed Charlys y e bolde He loued entyerly thys Charlys wold often kysse hym in the presence of his brethern For the whych they enuyed theyr sayd brother and also dysdayned theyr father as here after shall appere Thus in processe of tyme Lewys gaue vnto thys Charlys the coūtrey of Neustria or Normādy the which causyd greate dyscencyon amonge the bretherne and also for thys and other causes Lotharius toke partye agayne hys father THE CLX CHAPITER THys seconde wyfe of Lewys was named Indith y e which was accusyd to the pope to be within suche degre of allyaunce to hyr husbonde that she myghte not lawfully contynewe hys wyfe wherfore contrary to the wyll of Leuys by the laboure of some bysshoppes other lordes of Fraūce she was deuorcyd from hym and put into a house of nonnys and there straytly kepte But Lewys for a tyme susteyned thys iniuryes to y e ende y t he myght know whyther his sonnes fauoured the cause or not But in processe of tyme whan he hadde experyence of hys frendes and of hys sonnes he thā assembled to hym a strong hoste and recoueryd hys wyfe malgre to all hys enmyes For the whych dede Lothayre wyth dyuers of the Barons of Fraunce assemblyd theyr people and entendyd to depryue Lewys from all imperyall and kyngly dygnyte wherfore Lewys ferynge hys sonne and hys assystens also for the entent that he myghte assemble the strength of y e empyre he yode vnto Magunce And after he hadde purueyed and garnysshed hys retynewe he retornyd toward Fraunce and met wyth some of hys enemyes and them subdued and so kepte on hys iourney tyll he came to Aquysgrany where he restyd hym and hys people Thus contynuynge thys dyssencyon the sonnes sent wrytyng to the pope than beynge named Gregory y e fourth requyrynge hym of ayde and counceyle to deuyse a concorde and peace bytwene theyr fader and them At whose request and for to cause a naturall charyte to be quyckenyd bytwene the father hys .iii. sonnes he came in hys proper persone into Fraunce and endeuoryd hym to the vttermoste of hys wyttes to agree to the sayd parties In the tyme of this entreaty made by the pope I can not saye for what cause many of the lordes on the partye of Lowys forsooke hym and fled to the sōnys partye so that the emperoure was in great feere of hym selfe of hys parson whan Lewys had seen his frendes thus in tyme of hys nede refuse flee frome hym and lefte hym in great feere and daūger of straūgers he than thoughte better for hym to put hym selfe vnder the Rule and tuycion of hys owne chyldren than to abyde the doute of the sayde straūgers wherfore he sent vnto his sayd sonnes requyrynge theym to prouyde for his safegarde and assurynge of his person and that he were not there oppressyd or murdryd And within shorte space after this message sent to theym withoute answere of them agayne receyuyd he rode towarde theym smally accompanyed where of than Lothayre and hys brother hauynge warnynge in all homble wyse encountred hym and receyued hym vppon theyr knees and so cōueyed hym wyth all reuerēce vnto theyr pauylyon or tent And after for a begynnyng of a peace to be stablysshed bytwene hym and them he to satysfye theyr myndes refused the forenamed Indith and closyd her in a place of relygyon called Torton as
this day in the vtter most border of Fraūce after to Uyenne To y e which citye of Uyen shortly after came vnto hym hys brother Lewys where they two assembled a newe hoste In the whych passetyme as Charlis was comynge towarde hys bretherne messyngers mette with hym sent from his bretherne to comon of a peace So that fynally he was accordyd that the realme of Fraunce shulde be dyuyded in .iii as the father had before dysposyd yt That is to meane Lothayr shuld enioy ouer the landes belongyng to the empyre the countrey of Austracy the whych in processe of tyme was called Lothayre or Lotharingia whyche is to meane Lorayne after his name And to Lewys shulde remayne the prouynce of Germany wyth the coūtrey of Buyan or Benery And to Charlys shulde remayne the countrey called myddell or chefe Fraunce wyth the prouynces of Normandy Burgoyne whyche sayde myddle Fraūce is reportyd to be in space from y e Occean of Brytayne to the ryuer of Mawze The whyche concorde thus fermely stablyshed and fynyshed eyther of other toke theyr departynge and resorted vnto theyr owne lordshyppes But Lothayre dyed shortely after leuynge after hym thre sonnes named Lewys Lothayre and Charlis But this deth of Lothayre is not taken for temporall deth for yt is sayd y t he forsoke the trauayle of y e world and became a munke at the abbaye of Pruny and lyued there a solytary lyfe many yeres after THE CLXIIII CHAPITER CHarlis y e Ballyd thus beyng in peaseble possessyon of the chefe parte of the realme of Fraunce and guydynge yt wyth all sobernes and indifferēt iustyce was well drad and also beloued of his subiectes In processe of tyme as vpon .viii. yeres after that Lothayr abouesayd renouncyd the pompe of the worlde dyed fyrste Charlys the yongest son of the thre of the foresayd Lothayre And after dyed Lothayre the second sonne so that the sayde Lewys onely suruyued whych was after his father enoynted emperour when Charlis kynge of Fraunce knewe certaynely of the deth of these two forsayde brethern and that with out yssu anon he assembled his power and entred the prouynce of Austracy or Lorayne the which his brother Lothayre hadde gyuen to Lothayre his sonne And in shorte whyle after crowned hym kynge of that prouynce wythin the chyrche of saynte Stephan of the cytye of Meaws chefe cyty of that lordshyppe kyngdome wyth the whyche dede Lewys his brother and kynge of Germany and Bayon was dyscontentyd thynkyng hym selfe more ryghtfull enheritour then Charlis for so myche as he was y e elder brother and also brother to the fyrste Lothayre of father of mother where as Charlis was but halfe brother and by the fathers syde onely For this y e sayd Lewys sent to Charlys the Ballyd certayn messyngers gyuynge to hym monycyon that he shulde call to memory the couenauntes betwene theym before tyme stablyshed and that he shulde not meddell hym nor haue to do wythin the landes of his cosyn lately deed vnto such tyme as yt were determyned by theyr bothe counsayles whyther of theym hadde the better ryght this to be obseruyd vppon payne of excōmunycacyon or cursyng But for to Lewys was well sene that his brother Charlis nothyng absteyned hym from the occupyenge of the forenamed countrey he therfore gaderyd an armye to warre vppon his sayde brother In the whych passe tyme Charlys toke to his second wyfe a woman namyd Rychent or Ricent the whyche he before tyme hadde vsyd as his cōcubyne or paramoure And soone after the Danys or Normans inuadyd the landes of Charlys the whych for that tyme he was fayne to appease please wyth ryche gyftes and other pleasures Then Charlys receyued from his brother a seconde ambassade or message the whyche shewyd vnto hym excepte he wold voyde his knyghtes and strengthes that he had sette and put in dyuerse places of the lande of Austracy he shuld be sure to haue of his sayd brother an enymy and that in all haste he wolde entre his lande wyth great force and warre wheruppon was suche answere sente that by both theyr agrementes the mater was hadde in suche cōmunycacyon that fynally yt was agreed that the sayde landes shulde egally be departyd betwene them whyche conclusyon perfyted Lewys wyth his people retournyd into Germany But yt was not longe after that Lewys repented hym of hys agrement so that newe legacyons were made vppon both partyes and lastely wyth myche payne newly agreed After whyche agrement and accorde fynyshed Lewys the emperour and sonne of the fyrste Lothayre sente an ambassade to both the fornamed bretherne admonestynge and warnyng them that nother the one nor y e other shulde intermyt wyth the foresayde landes for so myche as the ryghte therof belonged to him as next heyre to his brother and not to them that were a degre forther The answere of this was deferryd by Charlys how be it his brother Lewis as sayth myne authour gaue ouer his parte shortly after to Lewys y e emperour In this passe tyme Charlys the sonne of Charlis the Ballyd by hys fyrste wyfe whome the father had made ruler of a countrey called Belge hadde rulyd hym insolently and done in that countrey dyuerse outragiouse dedes For the whyche he beyng cōplayned of was brought vnto his father and so by hym commaundyd to pryson But shortely after he was deliueryd at y e requeste of some nobles of Fraūce kept after in his fathers courte where he contynued but a shorte whyle For wythin a lytle season after his father beynge at Lyons he departyd from y e sayde courte and gaderyd to hym a wylde company of euyll dysposyd persons and went agayne into the sayd countrey of Belge and dyd more harme then he had done before season and so contynuyd a long whyle But lastly he was taken and caste agayne in pryson where after longe punyshement he was reued of his syght and then sent vnto the monastery of Corbenyke there safely to be kepte But at length by the entycemēt of his vncle Lewys kynge of Germany and the treason of two mūkes of y e place he scapyd thens and fledde vnto the sayd Lewys his vncle In the which tyme Charlys his father was occupyed in the defence of the Danys or Normannys that then by strength had wonne the citye of Angyers and done therein myche harme whome the kynge closyd wythin the sayd cytye wyth a stronge syege and fynally compellyd theym to seke meanys of peace at the kynges pleasure After whych peace cōcludyd and the sayd Danys auoydyd the kynge repossessyd the sayde cytye It was not longe after that tydynges were brought vnto Charlis of the deth of Lewys the emperoure After knowlege wherof the kynge sent hys other sonne named Lewys into Austracy to haue the rule and y e guydynge of y e countrey And after other thynges ordered for y e weale of hys realme he wyth a stronge company of men of armys passyd y e moūtaynes and
the cytye made vpon the Danys a great scomfyture So that by the prowesse of the foresayde two temporall lordes and assystens of this spyrituall man Rollo was compelled to fle and forsake his siege not without huge slaughter Rollo then hauynge greate dysdayne and dyspleasure of thys ouerthrowe and scumfyture of hys Danys reassembled them that were abrode scatered and coÌ„maunded theÌ„ to ouer ryde the countre and to destroye it in all that they myght After whych coÌ„maundement thus to them gyuen this cruell people slewe man women chylde that were not apte to do to them seruyce and brent the chyrches and temples and rauyshed virgyns as well religious as other So that miserable it was to beholde the greate abhomynacyon of these tyrannous Danys that brent robbed and slewe that innocent people wythout mercy The lordes and comons thus beset with cruell fury of theyr enmyes assembled them by sondry coÌ„panyes and went vnto the kynge shewynge vnto hym theyr mysery and blamed as they durste hys ferefulnesse and negligence that he nor none for hym otherwyse wythstode the crueltye of the Danys that hadde destroyed a greate parte of hys lande THE CLXXXII CHAPITER CHarlys herynge this exclamacyon of hys subgettes and coÌ„syderyng hys lacke of power to withstande that malyce of hys enemyes was ryght pensyfe and heuy in hys herte and castynge in hys mynde many sondry wayes he lastly determyned to sende agayne the aboue named Frank byshop of Roan vnto Rollo prynce of Danys shewynge hym that yf he wolde renye hys pagan lawe and become a crysten man he wolde to hym gyue in maryage Gylda his doughter wyth the hole countre of Neustria for her dowar whan Rollo had receyued this tydynges from the kyng by the mouth of his frende Frank he somwhat attempred hys fury and crueltye and condescended to a trewe by the counsayle of hys lordes for y e terme of .iii. monethes in the whyche tyme he myghte haue some coÌ„munycacyon wyth the kynge for ferther processe of thys mater So that after it was concluded by the counsayle of bothe prynces that theyr metynge shulde be vpon y e ryuer or flode named Ept. where shortly after the sayd prynces had coÌ„munycacyon the one wyth the other theyr people standynge vpon eyther syde of the sayd ryuer where it was concluded that Rollo shulde forsake hys pagan lawe and take vppon hym the lyuerey of Crystes baptym and after to marye the forenamed Gylda and to receyue wyth her as is aboue shewed whyche conclusyon thus taken eyther fro other departed and shortly after at the cytye of Roan all the foresayd couenauÌ„tes were executed and fulfylled And whan the sayd Rollo was crystened his name was chaunged and called Robert after the erle of Poytowe whyche receyued hym at the fonte stone Of thys Rollo or Robert dyscended lynyally duke wyllyam of Normandy whych conquered England as after shal be more clerely shewed Than this Robert thus crystened was seased of the couÌ„tre of Neustria whom the kynge created duke and named hym duke of Neustria But it was not longe after y t this name of Neustria was chaunged called Normandye after the name of Normayns or men commyng out of the North or of Nor that is to meane North and men whyche two syllables togyder make Norman or a man of the North. whyche Normans or Danys after the exposycyon of mayster Gagwyne shulde be descended of the nacyon called the Gothes whyche Gothes of the cytye or men of Sithica ben descended The whyche Gothys in the dayes of the grete CoÌ„stantine for theyr feersnesse and cruelty were dryuen from theyr countre then by them inhabyted nere vnto the ryuer called Thamys in y e North partyes of Europe and nowe ben inhabyted in Dacia whych in our speche is called DeÌ„marke And where some men holde an opynyon that Danys and Saxons shulde be one maner of people it may congruly folowe For Saxons ben of the couÌ„tre of Germany and contayne the lande after the sayenge of Strabo in the west parte of Germania From the flode called Uistergus or wysera vnto the famous ryuer called the Ryne And Dacia or Denmarke is in the North partyes Than to retorne to thys Rollo or Robert the story sayth y t he became a good crysten man In token wherof as affermeth the French boke he gaue vnto dyuers chyrches and monasteryes of Fraunce greate gyftes as well of possessions as of mouable goodes contynued hys pease with the kyng as he before had promised After whyche pease thus stablysshed bytwene the kynge and the Danys Robert brother vnto Eudo last kyng of FrauÌ„ce contrary hys trouth and allegyaunce seased certayne cytyes and other holdes of the kynges enherytaunce wherfore the kynge seynge that he coude not refourme hym of that errour by no meanes of entreaty or other lyke wayes assembled an hoste and met wyth hym in playne batayle in the whych y e sayde Robert was slayne Thys Robert hadde a suster whyche was maryed vnto Hebert erle of Uermendoys whyche erle herynge of the deth of his brother in lawe by enticement of hys wyfe as the story demeth mette the kynge at the retorne of the felde and requyred hym in moste humble wyse that he wolde vouchesafe to lodge wyth hym in hys manour called the castell of Perone The kynge castynge no parell thanked hym of hys kynde request and grauÌ„ted to go wyth hym where he was receyued and fested wyth all honoure But whan thys erle hadde conueyed the kynges frendes and strength from hym he thaÌ„ kepte him there as a prisoner or murdred hym so that he neuer came at large after whyche tydynges certaynly knoweÌ„ Algina wyfe vnto the sayd Charlys the symple mystrustynge the Frenchmen wyth fewe accoÌ„panyed toke secrete shyppyng and wyth her yonge sonne named Lewys sayled into Englande there to be comforted of her fader Edwarde surnamed the elder And thus ended the reygne of thys Charlys the symple whan he hadde reygned after the sayeng of Uynsent hystoryall and other by the terme of xvi yere full leuynge after hym the foresayde chylde named Lewys THE CLXXXIII CHAPITER RAdulphus the sonne of Rycharde duke of Burgoyne began his reygne ouer the FreÌ„chmen in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred xxii and the .xxi. yere of Edwarde y e elder than kynge of Englande Here is to be noted that for so mych as Algina wyfe vnto Charlys the symple was thus secretly voyded y e lande of Fraunce wyth her sonne Lewys and that the lande myghte not be wyth out a ruler the lordes assembled at Parys and there toke theyr counsayle for the admyssyon of an hed or kyng of the lande which lordes after longe debatynge of this mater fynally agreed that thys abouerâ—amed Radulphus or Rauf son of the duke of Burgoyne as aboue is sayd as nexte heyre to the crowne shulde be admytted for kynge and so was admytted Of the whyche lytell of hys dedes are put in memory except that in the tyme of hys
whyche Rycharde was the thyrde duke of Normandy and the fyrste that name and also was surnamed Rycharde wythoute fere or the hardy as more of hym shall be shewyd in the storye of the .vi. Lewis kynge of Fraunce By reason of maryenge of this Emma whych in y e Frenche cronycle is named the flowre of Normandye thys Egelredus was greatly enhauÌ„ced in hys owne mynde By presumpcyon wherof he sent into all good burghes cytyes and townes of his lande secrete and strayte commyssyons chargynge the rulers that vppon a certayne day that is to say vppon the daye of saynte Bryce at an houre assygned in euery place of hys lande the Danys shulde be sodeynly slayne And so yt was done And as the coÌ„mon fame telleth y t this murder beganne at a lytell towne in Hertefordeshyre wythin xxiiii myles of London called welewynÌ„ or welwynÌ„ For the whyche dedeyt toke fyrst that name as who wolde wene that the we le of the couÌ„trey was there fyrste wonne But who that well coÌ„sydereth the sequell of thys storye shall fynde lytell wynnynge or weale ensuyenge of thys dede But or I procede further here I wyll touche somewhat of the pryde and abusyoÌ„ of y e Danis that they exercysed in Englande in some parte therof as I haue sene in an olde cronycle wherof the authoure ys vnknowen There it is shewyd that the Danys by strength caused husbande men to ere and sowe the lande and do all other vyle laboure that belonged to husbandrye and the Dane helde hys wyfe at hys pleasure with doughter and seruaunt And when the husbandeman came home he shulde scantly haue of hys owne as seruauÌ„tes had so that the Dane had all hys commaundement and ete and dranke hys fyll of the beste wheÌ„ the owner hadde scantely hys fyll of the worste And ouer that the comon people were so of theym oppressyd that for fere and drede they called theym in euery suche house as they hadde rule of Lorde Dane But in processe of tyme after the Danys were voyded the lande thys worde Lord Dane was in derysyon and despyte of the Danys turned by the Englyshemen into a name of opprobrye and called Lurdayne whyche to our dayes ys not forgotten But when one EnglyshemaÌ„ woll rebuke an other he woll for the more rebuke call hym Lurdayn Then to retourne to our fyrste mater Treuthe yt is that when the Danys were thus murdred thorugh Englande tydynges therof sprange into Denmarke whyche kyndeled in theym suche a fury that the kyng therof named Swanus assembled shortely a great hoste and nauye of Danys and in shorte processe after landed in Cornewayll And by treason of a Norman named Hugh whyche by fauoure of the quene Emma was made erle of Deuenshyre the sayd Swanus toke Exetour and after bette downe the wallys Then he entred further into the lande In whyche season the kynge sent vnto Edricê° chargyng hym to assemble the weste Saxons and to wythstande the further entre of the Danys The whyche accordynge to his commyssyon assembled the weste SaxoÌ„s and made good contenauÌ„ce to wythstand the sayd enymyes But when the hostes shulde ioyne were it for fere or for treason he fayned hym syke and fled from hys people The whych for lacke of an hed were fayn to gyue backe to theyr hurte and to theyr enimyes great auauntage and comforte wherfore the Danys resorted then to wyltonÌ„ and ShyrbornÌ„ and anon spoyled both those townes and there refresshed theym But for Swanus had wittynge that the kynge was coÌ„myng towarde hym wyth the power of his lande he therfore departed thens and retourned wyth great pyllage to his shyppes sayled aboute the lande and lastely landed in Norfolke where he wastynge and spoylynge the countrey came in processe vnto the cytye of Norwyche and robbed and spoyled yt and after yode to Thetforde and dyd lykewise to that towne and fyred yt and destroyed y e countrey nere there about But soone after a noble man of that countrey called duke Uskatell mette wyth the hoste of Danys and gaue vnto them an hard and sharpe batayll and slewe many of the enymyes and put them backe For this and for huÌ„ger that then assailed this lande Swanus returned ofte vnto his shyppes departed agayne into Denmarke taryed there all y e wynter folowynge In whyche season he made great prouysyon to reenter the lande of Englande THE CXCIX CHAPITER ABout the .xxvi. yere of the reygne of Egelredus the forenamed Swanus with a stronge army landed at Sandwyche and spoyled all the couÌ„trey nere vnto the see syde and rested hym there tyll he harde of an armye coÌ„mynge agayn hym And when he was ware therof he retourned to his shyppes agayne and herynge the kyng was farre westward he landed in Sussex and spoyled yt wonder sore And when he there was warned of the coÌ„mynge of a batayll of Englyshemen anon he toke shyppynge agayne So that when the englyshemen wende to haue met wyth them in one coste then wolde they sodaynly lande in a nother And when y e kyng prouyded to mete wyth theÌ„ vppon the see other they wold fayne to flee or ellys they shulde wyth gyftes blynde the admyrall of the kynges nauy By whyche subtylytye and crafty meanes they weryed and tyred the hoste of EnglyshmeÌ„ And where euer they went they slew brent and robbed wythout compassyon and pytye The kynge then beyng at Shrewesbury herynge of the great sleyght and cruelty of the Danys called his counsayll to rede what were beste to be done for y e defence of his enmyes where it was concluded that y e kyng to haue peace with the Danys shuld pay vnto them .xxx. thousande pouÌ„d But whyle this was in doynge the Danys destroyed a grete part of Baroke or Barkshyre when this peace was thus made Swanus wyth his company retourned into Denmarke And y e yere folowynge the kynge made Edricus forenamed duke of Mercia Thys Edricus was of lowe byrth ryche of tunge false and subtyll of wyt softe and eloqueÌ„t of speche vntrusty and false of thoughte and promyse as of hym somdeale before is shewyd and after more shall appere In the .xxvii. yere of Egelredus a prynce of Danys named Turkyllus landed in Kent The whyche so greuously warred in that couÌ„trey that the Kentyshemen were fayn to make theyr peace and so departed And yet the persecucyon of Danys seased not For in one countre of Englande or other they euer in whylys robbed pilled the Englishmen So y t all the couÌ„trey a longe the coste froÌ„ the Northe parte of Englande vnto the yle of wyghte was by theym destroyed or hugely sette a backe And when the kynge entended to make prouysyon for to wythstande theym euer Edricus wolde counsayll hym to the contrarye shewynge hym that he shulde spende hys treasour trauayle his people in vayne By mean wherof the Danys entred .l. myles wythin the lande and brent and robbed by dyuers tymes many vylages townes So that they
encreased waxed passynge ryche and the Enlyshemen nedy bare poore Thus contynuynge this mysery Swanus or after the englyshe Swayne then beyng in Denmarke and heryng of the encreace of his people within Englande repented hym of his former couenauntes and thought y t the hole domynyon of EnglaÌ„d shulde belong to hym of ryght For the whyche he prepared his armye nauy in moste defensyble wyse and sped hym into England to the ryuer of Humber and landed in Northumberlande where the erle or ruler of that countrey wyth all the rulers of the same sware feaute vnto the sayde Swanus and promysed to kepe that countrey vnto hys vse And when he had done hys wyll in that coste he entred agayne the water and by the ryuer of Trent he passed to Gaynysburghe and so by North watlyngstrete and subdued the inhabytauntes of that couÌ„trey and forced theym to gyue vnto hym pledges whyche pledges wyth also his nauy he betoke vnto Canutus his sonne whyle he wente farther into the lande And that done he wyth his â–ª people kepte on his iourney tyl he â–ª came into Mercia kyllynge and slayeng the men of that prouynce And reserued the women to vnclene lyuynge as well the relygyous as other and toke by strength wynchester and Oxenford and dyd in them what he lyked And after he hadde thus passed the lande he drewe the nexte waye towarde London But in passynge the ryuer of Thames he loste some parte of hys people other for lacke of a brydge or for ieopardynge theyr passage vnauysely And so in processe he came vnto London where at that tyme kynge Egelredus was wherfore Swanus lefte the cytye and drewe into Kente and so towarde Caunterbury wythoute lette weldynge the countrey at hys wyll and lastely beseged that cytye The whyche manfully defended theyr enymyes by the space of .xx. dayes whyche syege beganne vpon the day of saynte Mathewe in the moneth of September and endured as is aboue sayde and then taken by the treason of a deken named Almaricus the whyche beforetyme blessed Elphegus then archebyshop of that see hadde preserued from deth Then the Danys fyred the cytye when they before had spoyled it and toke the archebyshop and put him in strayte pryson And the monkes of saynt Augustynes abbey they tythed that is to meane they slew .ix. by cruel torment and the tenth they kepte a lyue the whych after was solde and sette to all seruyle laboure And as wytnessyth Antoninus or Uyncent hystoryall they slewe and broughte in seruage ouer the summe of .ix. hundred persones of relygyon they slew of men women chyldren beyonde the noÌ„ber of .viii. thousand As with myche more cruelty yt is shewyd in the .vii. chapyter of the .xvi. tytle of the worke of the sayde Antoninus And fynally for this blessed man Elphegus wolde not condescende to gyue vnto them as sayth Policronica .iii. thousande pounde after they had kept hym in harde pryson by the space of .vii. monethes vppon an Ester eueÌ„ they after many vylanyes to hym done at Grenewyche wythin thre myles of London they stoned hym to deth where he lay in the feld vnburyed a certayne of tyme and after caryed to London and buryed reuereÌ„tly in the chyrch of saynt Paule But afterward in tyme of Canutus he was taken vp agayne and caryed to his owne chyrche Of this blyssed Elphegus Antoninus and also Policronicon shewen many vertues and myracles the whyche I passe ouer for lengthynge of the tyme. THE CC. CHAPITER IN this pastyme kynge Egelredus ferynge the ende of thys persecucyon sent Emma the quene wyth her two sonnes Alphrede and Edwarde vnto Rycharde the second of y e name then fourth duke of Normandy whych was brother vnto the sayde Emma wyth whome also he sent the byshoppe of London About the .xxxiiii. yere of the reygne of Egelredus the Danis when they hadde wonne a great part of the couÌ„trey of westsaxon retorned agayn towarde London wherof herynge the Londoners sent vnto theym certayn gyftes and pledges In all thys season myne authoure maketh no mynde that euer the king gaue vnto the Denys any notable batayll but kepte hym in holdes or places for his owne sauegarde and lytell fruyte or profyte to his lande At the laste he was chaced vnto the yle of wyghte where wyth a secrete companye he helde a great parte of the wynter and fynally wythout catall or comforte sayled ouer to hys wyfe into NormaÌ„dy and there held hym a certayne of tyme. whan Swanus was ascertayned of the departynge of Egelredus out of the lande he was enflamed wyth excedynge pryde so that he arrered excedynge imposycyons of the people and greued them wonderfully And amonges other of his tyraÌ„nyes he asked a great summe of money of saynt Edmundes landes whych the rulers denayed for so myche as they claymed to be free of all kynges trybute For thys he entred the terytory of saynte Edmunde and wasted and spoyled the countrey and ouer that despysed that holy martyr wyth manassyng of the place of his sepulture wherfore the men of that countrey ferynge this tyraunt gaue them to fastynge and prayer so that shortly after he was stycked in an euenynge amonges his knyghtes with y e sword of saynte Edmunde in the towne of Shetforde as sayth Guydo but after Policronicon other in the town of Gaynesborugh where he dyed wyth yellynge and cryenge the thyrd daye after In fere wherof Canutus hys son after that he was kynge closed in y e land of that holy martyr with a depe dyche and graunted to the inhabytauntes therof great fredam quyt them of all kyngly taske or trybute And after buylded a chyrch ouer the place of his sepulture and ordeyned there an house of munkes endued them wyth fayre possessyons And after yt was vsed that kynges of England when they were crowned sent for an offerynge theyr crownes vnto saynte Edmundes shryne and redemed them aftewardes wyth a condygne pryce when Egelredus hadde wrytynge of the deth of Swanus by procurement of his frendes he made meanes to retourne to hys owne By whose meanes he was sent for wyth condycyon that he shulde refourme his olde condycyons Ad for perfourmauÌ„ce of the same he sent his son Edwarde into Englande before hym And in the lent folowynge the kyng came hym selfe and wyth his people sped hym towarde Lyndesey where Canutus was at that tyme resseauÌ„t not prouyded of the kynges so hasty commynge wherfore he beynge not purueyed to wythstande the kynge fledde into Sandewyche in Kente And for he there proued suche persones as before tyme his fader and he hadde taken pledges of fande them not perseueraunt in theyr ê“misses he made to be cutte of all the noses and haÌ„des of the sayd Englyshe people and sayled into Denmarke when he had do and retourned the nexte yere wyth a great nauy and sayled about y e land and toke prayes in the South countrey wherof the kynges eldest sonne named Edmunde
Edwarde the confessoure and hys neuewe The seconde was to take wreche of his deth cruell murdour of hys neuew Alfrede and brother of y e blessyd kynge Edwarde that was slayn of erle Goodwyne and his adherentes as before ye haue harde in the storye of Hardykinitus the whyche dede he ascrybed chefely vnto Harolde And the thyrde was for to auenge the wronge done vnto Robert archebyshop of Caunterburye whych as he was enformed was exiled by the meanes and labour of Harolde in the tyme of Edwarde the coÌ„fessour as before is shewed THE CCXVII CHAPITER DUke wyllyam kepynpe hys course landed in processe of tyme at Hastynge in Sussex in a place called Peuenessey And in hys goynge oute of his shyp and takyng the land hys one fote slode and that other stacke faste in the sande The whych espyenge one of his knyghtes y t was nere vnto hym cryed alowde and sayd now syr duke thou holdest Englande and thou shalte soone be tourned from a duke to a kynge The duke of this made game and entred further into the lande and made his proclamacyons and cryes that no man shuld take any prayes or do any force to the people For he sayde that yt was reasonable that he shuld spare that thynge that shulde be hys owne Harolde in thys whyle was in the North partes of Englande and had wittynge of the landynge of the Normayns and sped hym towarde them in all that he myghte and gatheryd his strength by the countreys as he came But the duke made so good spede that he came to LoÌ„don before the kynge where he was holden out tyll he had made good suertye that he and hys people shulde passe thorough the cytye wythout taryenge The whyche was obseruyd And so he passyng the cytye passed the bridge and went ouer into Sussex Kynge Harolde entendynge to know the streÌ„gth of his enmyes sent espyes into the dukes hoste the whyche made reporte vnto the kynge that all duke wyllyams soldyours were prestes For they had theyr ouer lyppes and chekes shauen and the Englyshmen at these dayes vsed the here of theyr ouer lyppes shadde and not shauen But Harold to that answered and sayde they be no prestes but are stalworth and sturdye knyghtes Then Gurth or Surth one of the yongeste bretherne of Harolde counsayled hym that he shulde stande a parte and suffer hym wyth other of hys lordes to fyght with y e NormaÌ„s for so myche as he was sworne to the duke and they were not aledgynge furthermore that yf they were ouerthrowen y t yet he myght defende hys quarell and fyghte for the countrey In this meane tyme wyllyam sent a monke vnto Harold and proferred to hym thre maner of wayes and to chose one of the thre The fyrste that accordynge to his othe he shulde render the lande or delyuer yt vnto the possessyons of wyllyam And y e done to take yt agayne of hym and hold yt of hym as in fee so to reygne vnder hym for terme of hys lyfe and after his deth to retourne yt to the sayd wyllyam or to suche one of his sonnes as he wolde assigne it vnto Or secondly leue the kyngedome without more stryfe Or thyrdely in exchewynge of shedynge of the more plenty of Crysten meÌ„nes blood that he wold defende his quarell in hys owne persone agayne the duke and they two onely to trye the mater by dynte of sworde But Harolde refused these offers and sayde he wolde trye his quarell by dynt of swordis and not by one sworde and that he and hys knyghtes wolde defende theyr couÌ„trey agayn all strauÌ„ge nacyons prayenge to god to deme the ryghte betwene them twayne when duke wyllyam hadde receyued this answere from Harolde and same well that there was no meane but fortune in batayll he charged his people y t myght watche to occupye theym in prayer and specylly the prestes and the religious people where the Englyshemen gaue them all to drynke and songe Then vppon the morowe beynge saterdaye and the .xiiii. daye of Occtober and the daye of saynte Calyxte the pope bothe hostes assayled other in that place where as nowe standeth the abbay of Batayll in Sussex In the begynnyge of thys batayll a banner or a banneret called Thylfer a Norman splayed before the hoste of Normans and slewe an Englysheman or knyghte that came agayne hym and after that one other and so the thyrde and was slayne at the laste Then the seltrons smote to gyther wyth a great noyse and crye and faughte sore a longe season And the Englyshmen defended them manfully and the better for that that they kepte theym hole to gyther wythoute scaterynge or spryngynge a brode The whyche when wyllyam apperceyued he gaue a sygne vnto hys knyghtes that they shulde gyue backe and make countenaunce as they dyd flee Then the Normans imbatelled the fote men and sette horse men for wynges on euery syde By the whyche wyle the Englyshemen were descueryd and soone oute of araye and the Normans tourned agayne vpon y e Englyshemen and slewe theym downe on euery syde Thys batayll was sore foughten of the Englyshemen that duke wyllyam was thryse felled that day by reason that thre horse were that daye slayne vnder hym Lastely Harolde was wounded in the eye wyth an arowe and fyll to the grounde and was slayne and hys people scatered so that well was hym that myghte saue hym selfe by fleynge Then duke wyllyam buryed hys men that there were slayne and fuffred hys enymyes to do the same Of the deth of thys Harolde ys dyuersly wryten For Geraldus Crambrens in hys boke called Itinerarius sayth y t after Harolde had receyued many woundes and loste hys lefte eye he fledde from that felde to the countrey of Chester and lyued longe after an holy lyfe as an ancre in the selle of saynte Iamys faste by saynt IohnÌ„s chyrch made there an holy ende when y e deth of Harold was knowen to the erles of Mercia and of Northumberlande the whyche for streytnesse of waye myght not bryng theyr people to that felde or ellys for that that they wylfully wythdrew theym selfe from Harolde bycause he none otherwise departed y e prayes amonges them and theyr knyghtes at the former feld of Norgaynes then they drewe the next waye to London and take Agatha Haroldê wyfe and sent her to Chester And they and Aldredus byshoppe of yorke with the Londoners agreed and promysed eyther vnto other that they wold make Edgare Athelynge kynge and defende hys ryghte to the vttermoste of theyr powers But that promyse not wythstandynge when they harde of the great strength that dayly fell to duke wyllyam and of hys prouysyons they were fayne to breke that appoyntement And the sayd erles submytted them and gaue vnto hym pledges and became to hym his lyege men by homage and feautye And thus when Harolde hadde ruled the lande from the .v. daye of Ianuary to the .xiiii. daye of October he was slayne when he had reygned ix
abbot and munkes of the same wherfore the kynge spedde hym thyther in all haste But for theyr sauergarde the munkes were compelled to fortyfye the chyrche and to defende them by force of armys so that betwene them and the Burgonions many an arbalaster and stone was shot cast And for the kynge myght not so hastly furnyshe hym of his soldyours he therfore sent vnto the erle of Neuers by whose meane as to the kyng was shewed this ryot began commaundynge hym that he shuld se this ryot appeased and that the chyrch of Uerdeley were restored of suche harmys as to theym was done by the inhabytauntes of the towne But of thys cōmaundement the erle set but lytle so that the burgeses perseuered in theyr erroure wherfore the abbot sente agayne to the kynge besechyng hym of his moste gracyouse ayde and socoure Then the kynge herynge of the erles dysobedyence was therwyth greatly dyspleasyd and suspected y e erle to be partye in the cause sped hym y e faster thetherwarde But when the erle was enfourmed of the kynges cōmynge he somdeale feryd and mette wyth the kynge at a place called Moret and there demeaned hym in suche wyse that the kyng forgaue his offense Then he promysed that the kynges pleasure shulde be fullfylled in all thynge as he hadde before cōmaunded wyth more as yt lyked hym to dyuyse Uppon whych promyse so made he commaunded that the Burgonyons shulde fyrste refrayne theym of that rebellyon agayn the chyrch and that they shuld newly be sworne to be obedient vnto the abbot and vnto hys successours as theyr p̄decessours had ben ouer that for the hurtes harmys y t they had done to the place at that season they shulde paye to the sayde abbot and couēt .lx. thousand sous A sous is in value after sterlyng money i. d. ob so that .lx. thousand sous amounteth in sterlyng money .iii. hundred lxxv pounde After whych ende thus made the kynge retourned into Fraunce It was not longe after that y e kyng receyued of quene Alys hys wyfe a sonne and named yt Phylyppe But for y e kyng Lewys had made many pylgrymages and vsed many ways of charyte in gyuynge of almes and otherwyse for to haue a sonne to be his heyre therfore he surnamed this chylde A dieu done a chyld gyuen of god Then thys Lewys for the intollerable dedes of the Iewes whiche in these dayes had great inhabytynge wyth in the lande of Fraūce vsed vsery sleynge of Crysten chyldren he ponyshed many by deth and many he banyshed his lande but yet many remayned Of this Lewys dedes is lytle more cronacled excepte when his son Philyppe was of the age of .xiii. yeres his fader caused hym to be crowned and resygned to hym all the rule of the lande and dyed the yere folowynge at Parys in the moneth of October in the yere of grace .xi. hūdred and .lxxix. By whyche reason he reygned to reken from his faders deth to his owne vppon .xliii. yeres and was rychely enterred by y e meane of his last wife at the monastery of Barbell the whyche he founded in hys yonge days After whose deth y e sayd quene Alys adorned his sepulture in the moste rychest maner wyth gold syluer and precyous gemmys vppon whose tombe was grauen these two versis folowyng as a counsayll left vnto his sonne Phylyppe 〈◊〉 superos tu qui super es successor honoris Degener es si degeneris a laude prioris whyche versys are to be vnderstanden as after foloweth Nowe take good hede thou that doest ouer lyue Hym that in honoure and vertue dyd excelle Se thou alter not nor thy selfe depryue But folowe hym which was of honoure the well For yf thou do not men shall of the tell Thou arte degenerate and growen out of kynde Thy progenytours laude hauynge nothynge in mynde Anglia THE CCXXXVI CHAPITER HEnry the second of that named sonne of Geffrey Plātagenet erle of Angeou and of Molde y e empresse doughter of Henry y e first began hys reygn ouer the realme of England in the moneth of October the yere of our lorde god .xi. hundred and .lv and. y e xix yere of Lewys the viii then kynge of Fraunce Thys Henry was somdeale redde of face brode of breste shorte of body therwyth fatte the whych to aswage he toke the lesse of metes and drynkes and exercysed myche huntynge He was resonable of speche and well lettered orped and also noble in knyghthode wyse in counsayll and dred to myche distenyes He was also free and lyberall to straūgers and harde and holdynge from hys famylyers seruauntes And whome he loued enterely or hated harde it was to turne hym to the contrary He was slowe of answere vnstedfaste of promyse gylefull of dede open spouse breker hamour of holy chyrch and alwayes vnkynde to god He also loued reste and peace to the ende he myghte the more folowe hys delectacyon pleasure wyth mo vyces rehersed by Gyralde the whyche for length I passe ouer This Henry yet as wytnessyth Ranulfe was not all bareyn of vertues For he was of so gret courageousnes that he wolde often say that all the world suffysyth not to a coragyous harte And he encreasyd hys herytage so myghtyly that he wanne Irlande by strength and toke wyllyam kynge of Scottes and ioyned that kyngdome to his owne From the suthe Occean to the north ylandes of Orkeys he closed all the landes as yt were vnder one pryncypate and spradde so largely hys empyre that men rede not of none of hys progenytours that hadde so many prouynces and countreys vnder theyr domynyon and rule For besyde the realme of Englande he hadde in hys rule Normandy Gascoyn and Guyan Angeou and Chynon And he made subiecte to hym Aluerne and other landes And by hys wyfe he obteyned as her ryghte the mountes and hyllys of Spayne called montes Pyrany Of the whyche wyfe Elynoure by name deuorced as before ys sayde from the viii Lewys kynge of Fraunce he receyued .vi. sonnes and thre doughters Of the sonnes fyue were named wyllyam Henry Rycharde Godfrey and Iohn̄ The eldeste of the maydens hight Molde or Maude and was maryed to the duke of Saxon the seconde Elyanoure to the kynge of Spayne and the thyrd named Iane to wyllyam kynge of Scycyle Thys Henry was prosperouse in hys begynnynge and vnfortunate in hys ende and specyally in the last fyue yeres of hys reygne For in the fyrst of those fyue yeres his strength beganne to mynyshe the seconde yere he loste a vyage in Irlande the thyrde he loste Aluerne agayne the kynge of Fraunce the fourth yere he loste Butyrycan and the fyfte yere he loste the cytye of Cenomenea and Turon wyth many holdes to theym belongynge Thys Henry the seconde ascertayned of the deth of Stephan spedde hym into Englande and was crowned the sondaye before Crystemasse daye of Theobalde archbyshoppe of Caunterbury in westmynster chyrch
Fraunce wyth great pompe and glory It ys affermed of some authours that the Frenche kynge made thys warre vppon kynge IohnÌ„ by excytynge of the pope for hys contumacye agane the chyrche In thys yere also was a communycacyon of a peace to be hadde betwene kynge IohnÌ„ and the archebyshope of Caunterbury and was dryuen to a nere poynte of accorde except restitucyon that kynge IohnÌ„ shulde haue made to the archebysshop and other bishoppes the which his offycers hadde taken in the tyme of theyr absence To the whych restytucyon kynge IohnÌ„ in no wyse wold be agreable wherfore the sayd communycacyon toke none affecte After thys communycacyon kynge IohnÌ„ was so frette wyth malyce that in a fury he let proclayme in sondry placys of hys realme that all suche personys as hadde landes and possessyons wythin Englande spyrytuall or temporall that they shulde returne into Englande by Mychelmas next folowynge or ellys to be clerely excludyd from all suche landes And ouer that streyght commaundement was gyuen to eueryche officer in his countrey to make besye serche yf any wrytynges were broughte from the courte of Rome to any prelate of thys realme and yf any suche were founden to brynge hym and his wrytynges to the kynges presence And more ouer that they shuld sease to the kynges vse all suche landes as to any person were gyuen by the sayde archbyshoppe or by the pryour of Caunterbury syn the tyme of eleccyon of the sayd archebyshoppe and the woodes of the same to be fellyd and solde in all haste Anno domini M.CC.vii  Anno domini M.CC.viii  Roger wynchester  Balliui  Anno .viii.  Edmunde hardell  UPpon the fyrste daye of the moneth of October and .viii. yere of y e reygne of the kyng his fyrst sonne Henry by name was borne of dame Isabell his second wyfe in the cytye of wynchester And thys yere rebellyd the IryshemeÌ„ and dyd myche harme in that countrey whych rebellyon after some wryters was for so myche as the kynge wolde haue leuyed of theÌ„ greuous taskys to haue made warre wyth vppon the French kynge But at lengthe they greuyd or dyspleasyd the kyng in such wyse that he was fayne to sette a taske thorough hys land to oppresse theyr malyce And ouer that he asked of the whyte munkes of England .vi. thousande marke But they excused them by theyr generall hedde so that the kynge toke wyth theym great dyspleasure By reason wherof after his retourne oute of Irlande he vexyd theym sore and gatheryd of theym more then before he hadde desyred and caused some abbottys to forsake theyr houses Then he wyth a puyssaunte armye wente into Irelande and shortely subdued theym and after he hadde sette the countrey in a rule he retourned into Englande Anno domini M.CC.viii  Anno domini M.CC.ix.  Serle the mercer  Balliui  Anno .ix.  Hugh of saynt Albon  IN this .ix. yere the kyng consyderynge the great losse whych he had susteyned by the FreÌ„che kyng in Normandy also in Angeou and Poyteau made ê“uysyon of all thynges belongynge to the warre and after about mydsomer sayled ouer the see and landed at Rochell in Poyteau wyth a myghty hoste At whyche season the Frenche kynge was at Thymon and fortyfyed yt wyth also the castellys of London and Myrable and y e town of Poytyers whyche lytle before he had wonne and after wythoute taryenge returned into Fraunce Then kynge IohnÌ„ herynge of the Frenche kynges departynge sped him to Angiers wanne that towne wyth lytle payne and destroyed y e sayd towne Thyther came to hym the vycouÌ„t of Thonars whyche before was for drede become the Frenche kynges man by his ayde kynge IohnÌ„ then recoueryd some parte of that countrey In thys meane whyle kynge Phylyppe gatheryd a new hoste and herynge of the vnstedfastnes of the vycouÌ„t of Thonars entryd y e landes of the sayde vycounte and wasted and spoyled the countrey withoute pyty Then kynge IohnÌ„ spedde hym towarde the Frenche kynge so that in shorte processe of tyme the two hostys were wythin lytle dystaunce But by what meane of fortune I can not saye for the meane therof ys not expressyd the two kynges there toke peace for two yeres folowynge and after eyther of theym retourned into his owne countrey In this yere the pope beyng ascerteyned of y e cruelnesse of kyng IohnÌ„ executed agayne the whyte munkes of hys lande and also of his obstynacye that he perseuered in agayne holy chyrche sent done a new commyssyon by vertue wherof the curse of enterdytynge was newly denouÌ„cyd and manyfestyd in sondry places of England And ouer that the pope by authoryte of the sayde bulle assoyled or acquyted all the lordes of EnglaÌ„d as well spyrytuall as temporall of all homage and feauty that they of ryght owyd to the kynge to the entent that they shulde aryse agayne hym and depryue hym of all kyngly honour But all this myght not moue the kynge from hys errour ABout the feast of saynt Medard in the moneth of Iuny and later ende of this foresayd .ix. yere the forenamed bayllyues were admytted to y e offyce and the olde that is to meane Roger wynchester and Edmunde Hardell were dischargyd for so myche as they wythstode the kinges purueyour of whete wold not suffer him to conuey certayn mesures of whete oute of the cytye tyll the cytye were storyd For thys the kynge toke such dyspleasure that he sent downe streyght coÌ„maundement vnto the .xxxv. heddes or rulers of the cytye that they shulde dyscharge the sayde two bayllyuys and to put theym in pryson tyll they knewe the kynges further pleasure wherfore the sayd .xxv. persons toke aduyse appoynted a certayne of theym selfe wyth other and rode to the kynge then beynge at Langley to empeter grace for the sayde bayllyues shewynge forther that at that season such dystresse of where was in y e cyty that the common people were lyke to haue made an insurreccyon for the same By whyche meanes and frendeshyppe whyche they had in the court the kynge was so satysfyed that he releasyd theym from pryson And in short tyme after the cytesyns of London made such sute to the kyng that they had graunted to them by y e kynges letters patentes that they shuld yerely chose to them self a mayre and two shryues After whyche graunte to theym confermyd they amonge them self ordeyned that the two shryues shulde be chosen yerely vppon saynte Mathewes daye .ix. dayes before Mychelmas and vppon Michelmas daye to take theyr charge and the mayre to be chosen vppon the same daye and chargyd wyth the other vppon the sayde daye of Mychelmas all be yt that now yt is otherwyse orderyd Anno domini M.CC.ix.  Anno domini M.CC.x. Primus maior    Peter Duke  Henry fyz Alwyn  Anno .x.  Thomas Neell  IN the daye of saynte Mychael the archauÌ„gell and .x. yere of kynge IohnÌ„
his enemyes For subdie wherof the cytezyns of London were constrayned to fynde at theyr propre costes an hundred men of armys the whyche contrary theyr lybertyes with a condycyon that after that daye it shulde be no president they sent vnto Portchestre In thys season passe tyme the quene with syr Edwarde hyr son with a small company of Englysshemen and a crewe of Henawders of the whych syr IohnÌ„ of Henawde the erles brother was capytayne toke shyppynge in those partyes had y e wynde so fauorable vnto them that they landed in Englande at a porte called Orwell besyde Harwyche in Suffolke the .xxv. day of SepteÌ„bre without any resistens of meÌ„ of warre agayne hyr made To whome after hyr landyng the people of the couÌ„tre drewe by great companyes so sped hyr towarde London At thys tyme of the quenes thus laÌ„dyng the kyng was at hys cytye of LondoÌ„ But wheÌ„ he harde of the great people y t drewe to hyr out of all countres he fered wherfore in safegardyng of hym self he fled wyth a small companye towarde walys lefte mayster walter StapyltoÌ„ bisshop of Exceter behynd hym to haue the rule of the cytye of London It was nat longe after the kynges departyng that y e quene sent a letter vnto the mayre comynaltie of the cytye requyred of them ayde to subdue the oppressours of y e comoÌ„ weale of the realme But to that letter was made none answere Therefore she wrote the secoÌ„de tyme aduertysyng them of theyr landynge of the entent that she had to refourme y e enormytyes mysgouernauÌ„ce of the lande in admonestyng them of theyr ayde socoure as by the tenure of y e sayd letter more playnly appereth wherof the circumstauÌ„ce I haue left out of thys boke for so moche as I fynde varyaunce in the contentes thereof and also for the copyes there of ben sette oute in the cronycles of Englande and dyuers other bokes Than thys sayde letter was tacked vpon the crosse in Chepe whyche at that daye was called the newe crosse In the nyght before the day of saynt Denys or the .ix. day of October And other copyes of the same were fastened in dyuerse other places of y e cytye wherof one was fastened vpoÌ„ the mayres gate After whyche letter thus publysshed in the cytye the bisshop of Exceter to whome as before is sayd the kyng had commytted the rule of the cytye sent vnto the mayre to haue the keyes of the gates of the cytye by vertue of hys commission By the whych he stode so fermely vsed so sharpe wordes in the kynges name that varyaunce grew betwene hym the cytezyns so ferfourth that the commons of the cytye in theyr rage toke the sayd bysshop the .xiiii. day of Octobre and hym with .ii. of hys housholde esquyers beheded vnreuerently at y e standard in weschep And the same daye was taken for a spye a cytezyn called IohnÌ„ Marshal whych fauoured the Spensers ê‘tye in y e same place also beheded without processe of lawe And then the corps of y e sayde bysshop with hys .ii. seruauÌ„tes were haryed to Thamys syde where the sayd bysshop had begonne to edyfye a toure and there in the rubbusshe and sande of the same they buryed or conueyed these thre bodyes whyche dispyte to hym was done after some auctoures for so moche as he had vsurped of the comoÌ„ grounde of the cytie in settyng of the sayd toure But for what cause was he thus vngoodly vnreuerentely delte with no mencion is made And in thys passe tyme the quene easely a foote space folowed y e kyng which by thys season was coÌ„mâ— to Brystow hauyng with hym the SpeÌ„sers his dyffamed chauÌ„celler mayster Robert Baldocke syr IohnÌ„ erle of Arundell other where by theyr counsayls it was agreed that syr Hugh SpeÌ„ser the father shulde remayne there and haue the rule of the towne castell whyle the kynge with the other toke shyppynge sayled frome thens into walys to rayse the walshemen And so the kyng with syr Hugh Spenser the sonne the other toke shyppyng at Brystowe so sayled into waâ—ys when the certaynte therof came vnto the quene anone she sent to Brystow the erle of Kent the kynges brother syr IohnÌ„ of Henawde wyth dyuerse other for to take syr Hugh Spenser the father The whyche put them in suche deuour that they tooke the sayde syr Hugh and lefte a certayne to holde the towne castell tyll the quene with hyr power came thyther â–ª In the whyche tyme they sped them into walys and in processe tooke y e kynge hys chaunceller the erle of Arundell and syr Hughe Spenser the sonne and broughte them all to the towne of Hereforde And in thys whyle the cytezeyns of London wan the towre of LondoÌ„ and kept it vnto the quenes vse Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxv  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxvi  Gylbert Moordon  Rycharde Betayne  Anno .xix.  IohnÌ„ Cotton  IN thys .xix. yere and begynnynge of thys mayres charge vppon the morowe folowynge the feaste of Symon and Iude the same daye that the mayre rode to westmynster to take hys charge the same day at Brystow was syr Hugh Spenser the father putte to dethe and after buryed at wynchestre And vppon saynte Huys daye folowynge or the .xviii. daye of Nouembre was syr Hugh hys sonne draweÌ„ hanged and quartered at Herforde and hys hed sent to London and set amonge other vpon the brydge The comon fame of hym went that after he was taken he wolde take no maner sustenauÌ„ce wherfore he was the sooner put vnto deth Of this Hugh a versyfyer made these two verses folowynge Punis cum lignis a te miser ensis ignis Hugo securis equus abstulit omne decus whiche verses to them that vnder stande no latyne maye in thys wyse be expowned or englysshed wyth ropes were thou bounde and on the galowe honge And from thy body thyne hed wyth swerde was kytte Thy bowels in the fyre were throwe and burned longe Thy body in foure pecys eke wyth an axe was slytte wyth horse before drawyn fewe men pytyenge it Thus wyth these turmentys for thy synnes sake from y e wretched Hugh all wordly welthe was take In thys meane tyme and season the kynge was conueyed vnto the castell of Kenelworthe and there kepte vnder the garde of syr Henry of Lancaster or brother vnto the erle Thomas of Lancaster that was behedyd at Pounfrette And mayster Robert Baldoke the kynges chauncelloure was sent vnto London and put into the pryson of Newgate where after he dyed myserably The erle IohnÌ„ of Arundell was also put to deth at Herforde wythin foure dayes of syr Hugh the yonger Spenser Then y e quene wyth syr Edwarde hyr sonne and with a goodly company of lordes and gentylmen retourned vnto London and there of the cytesyns wyth greate honoure and ioye was receyued vppon the daye of saynte Barbara or the .iiii.
be socoured kyng Edwarde for the same entent wyth a stronge power persed the realme of Scotlande after layde hys syege vnto the towne of Berwyke Uppon the .xix. daye of the foresayd moneth of Iuly the Scottes wyth a greate power purposyng to remoue y e sayde syege came towarde the sayd towne wherof kyng Edward beyng enfourmed made towarde theÌ„ ar a place called Halydone hyll gaue to y e sayd Scottes batayll of them had triuÌ„phaunte vyctorye in so moche that he slewe of them as testifyen dyuerse wryters viii erles ix huÌ„dreth knyghtes banerettes iiii C. esquyres and vpon .xxxii. M. of the comon people of Englysshe men were slayne but onely .xv. persones After whych victory thus by the kynge opteyned the capitayne of Berwyke vpoÌ„ y e morew folowynge beyng saynt Margarettes day yelded to the kyng the sayde towne with the castel And that done kyng Edward betoke the guydyng therof with all other castelles townes within that lande vnto the forenamed syr Edward Baylol as kyng of Scottes shortly after retourned into Englande Than Dauyd the sonne of Robert le Bruze beynge as before is sayd kyng of Scottes was constrayned with hys wyfe secretely to sayle into Fraunce thyder was brought by a Flemyng named Marcuell as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle where of Phylyppe de Ualoyes than Frenche kyng the sayd Dauyd with Iane of the towre his wyfe was receyued And for theyr comforte the sayde Frenche kyng gaue vnto them the castell of Gaylarde tyll fortune to them wolde be more frendelye Thys yere also as wytnesseth y e sayd frenche cronycle the Frenche kynge sente vnto the kynge of Englande y e bysshop of Beauuays and the hyghe constable of FrauÌ„ce whych shewed vnto kynge Edwarde that theyr soueraygne lorde entendyd a voyage into the holy laÌ„de and requyred hym of hys ayde and coÌ„pany for perfourmaunce of the sayd iournay whereunto the kynge gaue answere vnto that request than whan the Frenche kynge had perfourmed all suche condycions as he before tymes had promysed to do than he sayd he shuld be conteÌ„ted to gyue suche answere vnto y t request by theÌ„ in hys name made as theruÌ„to shulde be coÌ„uenient And more he added to the same y t he maruayled greatly that the sayd Frenche kynge entended any suche voyage tyll he had clerelye acquyted hym of the sayd promysse couenaunt with whyche answere the Frenche kynge was nothynge contented so that malyce and murmour grewe and encreased betwene them dayly after And an occasyon of thys sharpe answere was for so moche as kynge Edward was credyble enfourmed that the Frenche kynge had vytayll and manned .x. greate shyppes to haue saylled into Scotlande and there to haue warred the whyche by tempest were wedyr dryuen into Flaunders so sore betyn with the see that after they had sold moch of theyr stuffe at y e hauyn of Sluce they were coÌ„pelled of necessyte to retorne without worship into Fraunce Thys with other kyndelyd suche a dedely hate betwene these .ii. crysten prynces y â— moche crysten blode in ê“cesse of tyme folowing was for theyr quarelles shadde Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxxi  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxxii  Nycholas Pyke  IohnÌ„ Preston  Anno .vii.  IohnÌ„ Husbande  IN thys .vii. yere in the wynter season and as sayeth Guydo in the moneth of NoueÌ„bre the kynge yode agayne towarde ScotlaÌ„de and helde hys Crystmas at yorke And after the solempnytie of that hyghe feast ended he sped hym into ScotlaÌ„de where her layde siege vnto y e castel of Kylbrydge lastely wan it by strengthe set the countrey in some quyetnesse And after retourned vnto Newe castel vpon Tyne and taryed there a certayne of tyme and helde there hys feaste of Pentecoste wyth great royalte whyther within shorte space after came syr Edward Baylol kyng of Scottes and vpon the day of saint Geruasi Prothasi or y â— .xix. day of Iune made his homage vnto kynge Edwarde and in presence of many other noble meÌ„ of bothe laÌ„des sware vnto hym feawty or fydelyte And y e done he retourned into Scotlande kyng Edward vnto yorke so vnto wyndesore TheÌ„ were al such lordes of Englande as before tyme were in Edward the secondes dayes disseased of suche landes as they had in ScotlaÌ„d restored agayne to theyr sayd possessions for theym made theyr homage vnto y e kyng of Scottes sauynge theyr allegeaunce vnto theyr naturall soueraygne lorde Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxiii  IohnÌ„ Hamonde  Iohan Ponteney  Anno .viii.  wyllyam Hansarde  IN thys eyghte yere certayne ambassadours were sent from Philip de Ualoyes kyng of FrauÌ„ce as the bysshop of Thuroyn and the lorde of Ferry and Peynguy for to coÌ„clude certayn artycles of variauÌ„ce betwene theyr lord the kyng of England But theyr purpose toke none effecte except that the kyng grauÌ„ted to sende vnto the FreÌ„ch kyng shortly after a certayn of hys lordes to haue forther comunycacion with hym towchyng the sayd artycles The whych promyse he fulfylled as appereth in he next yere ensuyng Anno domini M.CCC.xxxiii  Anno domini M.CCC.xxxiiii  Iohan. Hynkstone  Reynolde at Cunduyte  Anno .ix.  walter Turke  IN thys .ix. yere fell excedynge plente of rayne therupoÌ„ ensuyed great moreyne of beestes And in the moneth of Decembre the kyng entred agayne into Scotlande and helde hys Crystmas at the castell of Rokkysborough the whyche he caused to be newly repayred And after thynges there ordered to hys pleasure he retourned into Englande And soone after he sent the archebysshoppe of Cauntorbury syr Phylip de MouÌ„tague syr Geffrey Scrope vnto the Frenche kynge to the entent to haue concluded an amyte betwene hym and the sayd french kyng whych before was moued by y e freÌ„ch ambassade as before is shewed in the eyghte yere of hys reygne But whaÌ„ these sayde lordes were landed in Fraunce they were longe delayed or they myghte come to the kynges presence in so moche that they sayd playnly vnto suche lordes of FrauÌ„ce as were assygned by y e Frenche kyng to passe the tyme wyth theym that they supposed that it was nat the kynges pleasure to speke with them By meane of whyche wordes they were shortly after broughte vnto the kynges presence of whome they were receyued wyth ioyous countenaunce and so contynued by a certayne of tyme in furtheryng of theyr ambassade so y t in processe of tyme a conclusyoÌ„ of peas to be had betwene Englande and Fraunce was accorded and so ferfourth spedde that proclamacioÌ„ therof shuld haue beÌ„ made in Parys and the countrey there aboute vppon the morowe folowynge But how it came in y e kynges mynde the Englysshe ambassadoures were scantlye retourned to theyr lodgynges whan they were agayne sente fore and farther enfourmed thanne that the kynges pleasure and mynde was to haue Dauyd late kynge of Scottes to be included wythin the same peace
prouynce or couÌ„tre of Berry in the moneth of Iuly made therin sharpe and cruell warre In whyche season also y e duke of Lancaster with the ayde of Phylyp brother vnto the kynge of Nauerne was entred the countre of Constantyne and so with a coÌ„pany of .iiii. thousand men came vnto a place called Lyseux vpon the see coste remoued a syege of FreÌ„ch men that had lyen at that castell vpoÌ„ viii wekes and after repayred the sayde castell whan kynge IohnÌ„ hadde leuyed many great summes of money to y e great grudge of hys comons and rebellyon of some of the sayd comons as in the story of kynge IohnÌ„ shal be towched and preparyd hys hoste he fyrst made towarde the duke of Lancaster But the sayd duke had so fortyfyed y e passage that he myghte not wynne to hym wythout great ieopardye and daunger wherfore he lafte that waye yode to a castell named Bretnell and layde hys syege there vnto and wan it in the ende of .viii. wekes by apoyntement Then he yode to the castell of Chartres and taryed there a certayn tyme for more people and froÌ„ thens toke hys iourneye towarde prynce Edwarde The whyche prynce in thys season was passed the ryuer of Loyre or Leyre so by y e towne of RomuÌ„gtyne where he was encountred of diuers nobles of Fraunce and hadde wyth them a sharpe coÌ„flycte But in the ende god sent to hym the vyctorye so that he slewe many of hys enemyes toke of them many prysoners Amonge y e whych were taken the lord of CraonÌ„ and a knyght called syr BouciquaÌ„t wyth dyuers other to the nomber as sayth the FreÌ„che boke of .liiii. persoÌ„s And whan he had sent the sayde prysoners vnder saufe kepyng to Burdeaux he sped hym toward Towris And the duke of Lancaster wyth hys company after he had repayred the foresayd castell of Lyseux and bestowed suche ordenauÌ„ce as the FreÌ„ch men for haste lafte behynde them at the sayd syege he than toke his way towarde Bertneyll from thens vnto Euroux in breÌ„nyng wasting the countre and townes as he went and from thens to Uermeyll in Perch toke by strength both the towne and castell And whan he had spoyled pylled the towne he set it on fyre and brent a great part therof And whan he had done moch of his wyll in that couÌ„tre he retourned into Brytayne and helde hym there Kynge IohnÌ„ then as aboue is sayde holdynge hys waye towarde prynce Edward came to the cytye of Towrys to fortyfye the sayde towne agayne the sayde prynce Edwarde wherof herynge the prynce toke hys waye toward Poytyers In holding of whyche way as testyfyeth y e FreÌ„ch boke a parte of hys hoste mette with an hoste of Frenchmen gaue vnto them batayle at length chasyd the multytude of them slewe an hundreth sowdyours toke vpoÌ„ .lx. prysoners Amonge the whych were taken the erle of SauÌ„cer y e erle of Iurrygny the lord Chastelleyn mayster of the kynges palayes a knyghte named syr Guyllyam de Daneham the whyche prysoners were also sent vnto Burdeaux And soone after prynce Edwarde lodged hym hys hoste nere vnto Poytyers And shortely after that came the French kyng and lodged hym in a place called in Frenche Chamgny nere also vnto Poytyers so that the froÌ„tes of bothe hoostes laye wythin a quarter of a myle Than the cardynall of Pernygourt sent from pope Innocent the vi rode bytwene the kynge and the prynce sondry tymes to haue agreed some treaty and peace bytwen them yf it myght by hys laboure haue ben opteyned But whan he sawe hys laboure myght not preuayle he departed to Poytiers and taryed there the ende of the batayle The whych was foughten vpon a mondaye the .xix. daye of SepteÌ„ber in the yere of our lorde .xiii. C.lvi and begynnyng of the .vi. yere of the sayd kynge IohnÌ„s reygne as after shal be shewed THan as before is sayde for so mych as the foresayde cardynall myght not purchase any treaty or meane of peace bytwene these two prynces prouysyoÌ„ was made vpon bothe sydes to trye theyr mater by mortall batayle so y t about the houre of two at after noone of the foresayd moÌ„dayne y e duke of Athenes or AtheÌ„s with such other nobles as were with hym in y e French kynges vaweward set vppon the Englysshe hoste The whyche was myghtely fensyd wyth wood and trees in suche wyse that y e French speres myght not wyn vnto them And therwyth the shotte of the Englyshemen was so fyers sharp that it turned ouer horse and man And whyle y e sayde duke of Athenes wyth syr IohnÌ„ de Cleremount than marshall of FrauÌ„ce wyth other thus assayled the prynce his people vpoÌ„ one parte the duke of Normandye kyng IohnÌ„s eldest sonne the duke of OrleauÌ„ce the kynges brother assayled hym vpon a nother part The which two dukes were leders of two stroÌ„ge hostes But as sayth y e FreÌ„che cronycle these thre batayls dyd lytle scathe vnto the Englysshemen But by reason of theyr shotte they were so wouÌ„ded and many slayne y t the resydue fledde to the great dyscomfort of the French kynges people Than kynge IohnÌ„ in all that he myght coÌ„forted hys people and wyth a fresshe company set vpon the Englyshmen that all wayes kept them hole togyder and recyued the Frenchemen vpon theyr wepens poyntes with so greate force y t in the ende the French men gaue backe and were vaynquisshed by the helpe of god and saynte George and slayne as wytnessyth y e sayde Frenche cronycle to the nomber of .xvii. huÌ„dreth men of armys besyde other meane sowdyours AmoÌ„g the whych of noble men were slayne the duke of Burbone the duke of Athenes syr IohnÌ„ de CleremouÌ„t marshal of FrauÌ„ce syr Reynold Camyan baneret whyche that daye bare the oryflambe a specyall relyke that the Frenche kynges vse to bere before them in all batayls and the bysshop of Chalons wyth dyuers other to y e nomber of .liiii. banerettes besyde knyghtes other And of prysoners taken at y e batayle was IohnÌ„ kynge of Fraunce Phylyp hys .iiii. sonne syr Iaques de Burbon erle of Poytyau and brother vnto the duke of Burbon before slayne syr IohnÌ„ of Artoys erle of Ewe syr Charlys hys brother erle of Longeuyle syr Guyffarde cosyn germayn vnto the FreÌ„ch kynge syr IohnÌ„ de Meleoun erle of Cancaruyle syr IohnÌ„ his sonne and heyre doctour wyllyam archbysshop of Sens syr Symon Melon brother vnto the erle of Cancaruyle and erle of Uandature the erles of DaÌ„pmartyne of Uendosme of Salysbruche of Moyson the Marshall of DenehaÌ„ many other as banerettê knyghtes and men of name to the nombre as sayth the Frenche cronycle of .xvi. hundreth aboue And froÌ„ thys batayll escaped by flyght Charles eldest sonne of kynge IohnÌ„ and duke of NormaÌ„dye the duke of Orleaunce the duke of Aniowe wyth fewe other of great fame the whyche yode streyghte vnto Parys where
realme of Fraunce had at Egyncourte a tryumphant victory as in the sayde thyrde yere of HeÌ„ry the .v. is more at lengthe declared Than it foloweth in the story after many townes and stronge holdes by the englysshe men in sondry places of FrauÌ„ce opteined in y e .xxx. .viii. yere of this Charles a frenche man named y e lorde of the I le of Adam IohnÌ„ Uyllers in proper name gatheryng to hym a company of tyrauntes to the nombre of CCC or mo wherof many were old seruauÌ„tes of the kynges housholde than put out by y e Dolphyn other that than had the rule of the kynge by treason of a clerke opteyned the keyes of one of the Gates of Parys and so entred the cytie by nyght by a watche worde amonge them deuysed assocyate to them many Burgonyons and so beynge stronge yode where the kyng was and gate y e rule of his ê‘sone And that done all suche as they myght fynde that than bare any rule they slewe by one meane other so that vpon y e day folowyng was nombred of dede corfes wythin the cytie vpon .iiii. M. Amonge the whiche of noble men was Henry de Marle than Chaunceller of FrauÌ„ce Graunâ—pre with many other And for to haue the more assystence of the coÌ„mon people the sayd Uyllers set y e kyng vpon an horse and ladde hym about the cytie as he that had small reason to guyde hym selfe so ruled all thyng as he his coÌ„pany wolde wherfore the Dolphyn feryng to fall in the daunger of so wylde a coÌ„pany yode to Meldune or and there called to hym suche as then were lefte on lyne to withstaÌ„de these tyrauntes and y e duke of Burgoyne than beynge within the cytie compasser of all thys myschefe as some construed and demed After whyche company to hym gathered he returned to the cytie of Parys and assayled one of the gates But whanne he sawe y e cytezens toke partye agayne hym he thoughte his trauayle loste wherfore without great assaute makyng he called thence his knightes and so departed agayne to the place whiche he came fro and from thens vnto Thuron in appeasynge the countreys townes as he went whiche at those dayes were farre out of frame And than in the .xxxix. yere of the sayd Charles king Henry the .v. landed with a stroÌ„ge power at a place called Touke in Normandy and after layde syege to manye stronge holdes and townes them wanne as Cane Phaleys Roan and other as in the .vi. yere of the sayd Henrye folowynge is more at lengthe declared In tyme of whyche warre thus made by kynge Henry the Dolphyn and the duke of Burgoyne eyther of them prouyded to defende the malyce of the other in so moche that as testyfyeth the frenche cronycle the duke was aduysed to haue taken partie with the Englisshemen This sayeng as wytnesseth an auctour named Floure of hystoryes which toucheth in laten many gestes dedes done by kynges of EnglaÌ„de sayeth that the Frenche men bryng in that for to excuse theyr infortune cowerdyse by reason whereof they loste nat all onely theyr lande but also the honoure name of the same Than lastely the duke beynge of mynde by exortacyon of Phylyppe Iosquyne and IohnÌ„ de TolongnÌ„ with also a lady called the countesse of Grat the duke was reconsyled vnto the Dolphyne and a day of metynge apoynted at Monstruell where eyther of them shulde be accoÌ„panyed with .x. lordes onely without mo At whyche day the sayd prynces with theyr assygned lordes beynge assembled many reasons and argumeÌ„tes were layde and replyed vpon bothe sydes By occasyon wherof one of the Dolphyns company sodainly drewe hys knyfe and strake the duke vnto the harte so that he dyed soone after whyche murder was supposed to be done by a knyght called Tanguyde de Chastell whyche oftyme passed had ben famylyer seruaunt with the duke of OrleyauÌ„ce before slayne by meanes of the sayde duke of Burgoyne After whiche murder thus commytted the lande of Fraunce was broughte in moche more stryfe varyaunce in so moche that Phylyppe the sonne of the sayde IohnÌ„ duke of Burgoyne beynge than in Parys hauynge the rule of y e kynge and the cytie toke partie with the Englysshe men agayne y e Dolphyn By reason wherof as sondry wryters agre king Henryes ê‘tie was greatly augmented holpen so that fynally kynge Henry opteyned moche of his wyll shortly after maryed dame Katheryne doughter of Charles kynge in the .xli. yere of his reygne with assuraunce promyse of the inherytauÌ„ce of the realme of Fraunce to him and his heyres after the dethe of the said Charles as to you more plainly shal be shewed in the .viii. yere of the said Henry the fyfte After whyche maryage concluded and fynysshed yet y e Dolphyn ceased nat to make newe mocyons sterynges Durynge the whiche kynge Charles dyed in Octobre and was buryed at saynt Denys whan he had reygned in greate trouble vpoÌ„ the poynt of .xlii. yeres leauyng after hym as is affirmed by the forenamed auctour Gaguyne a sonne Dolphyn of Uyenne called Charles whiche after was kyng of Frenchemen and was named Charlys the .vii. or the .viii. after some wryters Henry the .iiii. Anglia HEnry the .iiii. of that name and sonne of IohnÌ„ of Gaunte late duke of LaÌ„caster toke possessyon of the domynion of y e realme of Englande as before in the ende of the story of the seconde Rycharde is shewed vpon the laste daye of Septembre in the yere of our lorde a M. CCC.lxxxxix and in the .xix. yere of Charles y e .vii. than kyng of FrauÌ„ce After whyche possessyon so by hym taken anone he made newe officers As the erle of Northumberlande he made Constable of Englande the erle of westmerlaÌ„de was made Marshall syr IohnÌ„ Serle Chaunceller IohnÌ„ Newebery esquyer tresorer and syr Rycharde Clyfforde knyght keper of y e priuey signet And y t done prouysyon was made for hys coronacyon agayne the day of translacyoÌ„ of saynt Edwarde the confessour nexte than commyng And the parlyament was prolonged tyll the tuysdaye folowynge the sayd daye of coronacyoÌ„ Than vpoÌ„ the euyn of the sayd daye of coronacyon the kynge wythin the towre of LondoÌ„ made .xli. knyghtes of the bate wherof .iii. were hys owne sonnes .iii. erles .v. lordes And vpon mondaye beynge the sayd daye of saynt Edwarde the .xiii. daye of October he was crowned at westmynster of the archebysshop of CauÌ„torbury After whych solempnyte fynysshed an honorable feest was holden wythin the greate halle of westmynster where the kyng beyng set in the mydde see of the table the archebisshop of CauÌ„torbury with .iii. other prelates were set at the same table vppon the ryght haÌ„de of the kyng the archebysshoppe of yorke wyth other iiii prelates was set vpoÌ„ that other haÌ„de of the kyng HeÌ„ry the kynges eldest sonne stoode vppoÌ„ the ryghte hande wyth a poyntlesse
batayl was many a noble man slayne vpoÌ„ eyther partye And it was the more to be noted vengeable for there the father was slayn of the sonne the son of the father and brother of brother neuewe of neuewe And in the moneth of August folowynge the duchesse of Brytayne landed at Fulmouth in the prouince of Cornwayll from theÌ„s was conueyed to wynchester where in shorte tyme after kyng HeÌ„ry maryed her in the cathedrall churche of the sayde cytye And soone vpoÌ„ was the eldest doughter of kyng HeÌ„ry named dame BlaÌ„che maryed at Coleyn to the dukes sonne of Bayer Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.ii  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.iii  Rycharde Merlewe  IohnÌ„ walcot Draper  Anno .iii.  Robert Chichele  IN this yere and .xiiii. day of the moneth of Septembre was y e foresayd duchesse of Brytayne and wyfe of y e kyng receyued wyth great honour into the cytye of London so by the mayre and the cytezyns conueyed vnto westmynster where vpoÌ„ the morowe folowyng she was crowned quene of Englande wyth greate honoure and solempnite the cyrcumstaunce wherof I passe ouer In this yere also Rupertus which after the deposynge of wessenselans was by the electours of the empyre and by auctoryte of Bonyface theâ—â—r â–ª than pope admytted for Emperoure of Rome and came into Englande wyth a goodly companye onely to se the countre and commodytyes of the same The whyche of the kynge was honourably receyued and fested and lastely conueyed by the kynge towarde the see syde where eyther departed from other wyth exchaunge of ryche and precious gyft For thys Rurpartus was named of wryters a man of excellente bounte and largesse And he gaue more lyberally for so moche as all the tyme of hys beynge in EnglaÌ„de he laye here at the kynges costes And whyle he was at LondoÌ„ he was lodged at the house of saynte Iohannâ—s in smythfelde Thys yere also vpoÌ„ saiÌ„t LaureÌ„ce euyn or the .ix. day of August a lorde of Brytayne named the lorde of Castyle in Frenche laÌ„ded within a myle of Plymmouth wyth a great coÌ„pany of NormaÌ„s and Brytons and came vnto the sayd town and lodged there all night and spoyled and robbed the sayd towne And vpon the day folowynge whan they had done what they wolde they retourned agayne to theyr shyppes with plente of pyllage and prysoners suche as they fande Anno domini M. CCCC.iii  Anno domini M. CCCC.iiii  Thomas Fawconer  wyllyam Askam  Anno .v.  Thomas Pooll  IN thys yere soone after CaÌ„delmasse the foresayd lorde of Castyle trustynge to wynne a lâ—ke enterpryse as in the yere passed he hadde done he beynge accompanyed wyth a stronge nauy of FreÌ„che men Brytons was encountred wyth the Englyshe floot within .ii. myles of Deermouth at a place called Blakâ—pooll â–ª where after loÌ„ge and cruell fyghte y e sayd lord was slayne wyth the more partye of the people and dyuers of hys shyppes takeÌ„ as wytnesseth the Englysshe cronycle wyth dyuers other Englysshe auctours But the FreÌ„che boke excuseth thys scomfyture of FreÌ„chmen and sayeth that by treason oâ— a Gascoyne named Peâ—yâ— or Perot de Languyle whyche shewed vnto the sayd lorde Castyle that he had espyed certayne Englysshe shyppes in a Greke lyghtly wythout resystence to be takeÌ„ caused the sayd lorde to make sayle towarde the sayd towne of Dartmouthe where after he had contynued a certayne tyme hys course he espyed the hotefloâ—e of Englyshe men whyche made toward hym and so at the sayde Blake pool encountâ—â—d and faughte and lastely escaped the daunger of hys enemyes as testyfyeth the sayde French cronycle â–ª but â—atte unhurt for he was so wouÌ„ded in that fyght that he dyed shortly after And the moneth of Apryll folowynge the duke of Clarence wyth the erle of KeÌ„t many other lordes toke shyppynge at Meregate so sayled vnto Scluce in FlauÌ„ders And after the sayde duke had there refresshed hym hys company he toke shyppynge agayne and holdynge hys course towarde SwynÌ„e he was encouÌ„tred wyth .iii. greate carykes of Ieane the whyche he assayled and after longe bekerynge them toke beynge laden wyth marchauÌ„dyse so wyth that pray retourned to Cambre before wynchelsee in the whyche hauen the sayd goodes were caÌ„ted and shared But how it was by varyauÌ„ce amonge them selfe or otherwyse one of the sayde carykes was sodeynly fyred so coÌ„sumed For restytucyon of whyche goodes shyppes y e marchauÌ„tes IanueÌ„ce made after great longe sute to the kyng his couÌ„sayl in whyche passetyme they borowed cloth wolle other marchaundyses amountyng vnto great and notable sommes of dyuers marchauntes of Englande And whanne they sawe that they myghte haue none hope of recouery of theyr loste they sodeynly auoyded the laÌ„de and lafte y e foresayde notable summes vnpayde to the great hynderaunce and vtter vndoynge of many Englysshe marchauntes In thys yere a yoman named wyllyam Serle somtyme yomaÌ„ of kyng Rychardes Robys was takeÌ„ in the marches of ScotlaÌ„de and broughte vnto LondoÌ„ there in the guildhall areygned for the murder of the duke of Glouceter at Calays UpoÌ„ which murder he was attaynt conuyct vppoÌ„ the .xx. daye of Octobre he was draweÌ„ from the towre vnto tyborne and there haÌ„ged and quartred hys hed was after set vpoÌ„ LondoÌ„ brydg hys .iiii. quarters were sent to .iiii. sondry good townes Anno domini M. CCCC.iiii  Anno domini M. CCCC.v  wyllyam Lowfte  IohnÌ„ Hyende Draper  Anno .vi.  Stephen Spylman  IN thys yere and moneth of Ianuary were certayne courses of warre ron in smythfelde betwene syr EdmuÌ„de erle of Kent the lorde Moryfa BaroÌ„ of ScotlaÌ„de vppoÌ„ y e chaleÌ„ge of the sayd scottysshe lorde But the erle of KeÌ„t bare hym so valy auntly that to hym was gyueÌ„ y e price of that iourney to hys great honour And in the same yere syr Rycharde Scrope than archebisshop of yorke and y e lorde Moubraye thaÌ„ marshal of EnglaÌ„d with other to them allied for grudge that they bare agayn the kynge gadered vnto theym greate streÌ„gth enteÌ„dyng to haue put downe the kynge as the â—ame than wente wherof the kyng beyng enfourmed in all haste sped towarde theym and met wyth them on thys syde yorke where after askyrmysshe by the sayd lordes made they were thaÌ„ takeÌ„ and after presented vnto y e king at yorke where they were bothe demed to suffre deth for theyr rebellyoÌ„ Than whan the bysshoppe came vnto the place of execucion he prayed y e bowcher to gyue to hym .v. strokes in the worshyp of christes fyue woundes for hys more penauÌ„ce At eueryche of whyche .v. strokes kynge Henry beynge in hys lodgyng had a stroke in hys necke in so moch that he demed that some persone there beynge with hym present hadde stryken him And forthwyth he was stryken wyth the plage of lepyr so that than he knewe it was the hande of god and
cytye of yorke and helde yt a certayne of tyme. Then the people of Northumberland varyed with in them self had more leuer ayde the Danys then to reygne vnder the kyng of westsaxōs For here is to be notyd that all such kynges as reygned there after Egbert whyche as before is sayde subdued that prouynce and other reygned as trybutaryes to the kynge of of westsaxons or Anglys wherfore Etheldredus herynge of the auauntage that the Danys then had assembled his people and sped hym thytherwarde and sente vnto the foresayd two kynges commaundynge them also to prepare theyr peple agayne hys cōmynge But howe yt was or the kynge came wyth hys hoste the Danys so prouokyd the Northumbres to batayll that they met in playne feld foughte a longe batayll But finally the Danys wan the pryce and slew both the foresayd kynges wyth a great multytude of theyr people After whych vyctory they subdued myche of the sayde countrey and destroyed y e town of Aklynt or Aclynd the whyche as testyfyeth Beda was somtime one of the strongest townes of the Northe when Etheldrede hadde preparyd all thynge for the warre and was purposyd towarde the North for cōsyderacyon aforesayde worde was brought vnto the sayde kynge Etheldrede of the dyscomfyture of the Northumbres and also of dyuerse of the sayde Danys wyth other that were comen to Mercia and hadde wonne the towne of Snotyngham or Notyngham whyche tydynges lettyd hym of his forth spedde in that iourney But thys sayenge is dysagreable vnto Policronicon For he sayth that the Northumbres were yet of theyr kynge Osbrutus or Osritus after some authours and chase vnto thē a tyraunt named Ella by meane wherof great dissensyon grew amōg them to the great hurte of the countrey But when the Danys hadde passed the countre and wonne the cytye of yorke that then was febly wallyd then by constraynte and of fere for the defence of theyr coūtrey they were fayne to agree and to gather strengthe on all sydes so that bothe the foresayde kynges went agayne the foresayd Danis and both were slayn After whych scomfyture the people as desolate some fledde the countrey and some made peace wyth the Danys and lyued vnder theyr tuycyon And so the Danys kepte the possessyon of that coūtrey in suche wyse that no Angle hadde rule therof tyll the time of Adelstone or Ethelstone or after some wryters tyl the tyme of Edredus so that they helde the possessyon therof ouer the terme of .lx. yeres Then the Danys beynge thus possessyd of the Northe countrey manned the same fortyfyed the stronge holdes therof And the other of them came downe into Mercia or myddell Englande and wanne a parte therof wyth the forsayde towne of Nothyngam and dwellyd there y e more parte of the yere folowynge wherfore kynge Etheldrede wyth ayde of Burdredus then kynge of Mercia layde seage vnto the towne The whyche when the Danys perceyued shulde be wonne they refusyd the towne and toke the towre or castell and defendyd yt in so stronge maner that they helde yt tyll a peas or apoyntement was concludyd betwene the two kynges and theym whyche was that they shulde go free where they wolde and carye wyth theym theyr horse and harnesse wythout any pyllage And whē this peace was thus made eyther of the kinges departed to theyr owne and the Danys retourned vnto yorke dwelled there the yere folowynge And the yere folowynge that sayde yere a parte of the sayde Danys takynge shyppynge in the Northe entendynge to sayle towarde eest Englande mette in the see wyth a flote of Danys wherof the captaynes or ledars were named Hynguoar Hubba The whyche by exhortacyon of the other commynge oute of the North made all one course and lastly landed in eest Englande or Norffolk and in processe of time came vnto Therforde Therof herynge Edmundus then kyng of that prouynce assembled an hoste that gaue vnto them batayll But Edmūde and his hoste was forsed to forsake y e feld the kyng with a few persones fledde vnto the castel of Framilynghā or Framyngeham whome the Danys pursued But he in short whyle after yelded hym selfe vnto the persecucyon of the Danys And for this blessyd man Edmunde wolde not renye or deny Cryste and hys lawys they therfore moste cruelly bonde him vnto a tree and causyd hym to be shot to deth and lastely causyd his hedde to be smytten from the body caste amonge the thycke of the bushes But when his frendes came after to burye this holy treasoure and lacked the hed and made for yt busy serche the hedde beyng in the clawys of a wylde wolfe spake sayde thre tymes dystynctely here here here By reason of whyche speche they came vnto y e place where the hedde in the sayde bestys kepyng laye whyche sayde wolfe contrarye to his kynde anon as he sawe the people fledde from the hedde and suffred theym to take yt vp and folowyd theym after a certayn of tyme as he hadde ben rame Then they wyth great solempnyte caryed the body and hed vnto Eglydon or Eglysdon now callyd saynte Edmundes bury and there buryed hym aboute the yere of our lorde as wytnessen Policronica Guydo and other viii hūdred .lxix as before it is shewyd in y e chapyter of this worke foure score .xiv for whom dayly god shewyd there many miracles THE CLXX CHAPITER WHan this blessyd Edmūde was thus martyred for the loue that he bare towarde his mayster Criste and his lawes his brother named Edwoldus settynge a parte the lykynge and pleasure of the worlde all be yt that to hym belongyd the ryght of that kyngdome toke vpon hym the habyte of an heremyte and lyued onely by brede and water at the abbay of Cern̄ in the countye of Dorset by the clere welle that saynt Austyne by his prayers made to sprynge when he conuertyd fyrst the Saxons of that prouynce to y e fayth of Cryste Of this said abbay of Cerū Policronica sayth y t it was after these dayes ryche and ryght welthy But the gouernours therof mysspent the patrymony therof in excesse glotony not amonge the seruauntes of god wherfore he sayth farther that couetyse and pryde hadde so chaūged all thyng in England in these days that all thynges that before tyme were gyuē to abbays were then more wasted in glotony and outrage of the owners then in sustenaunce and ayde of nedy men and of gestes or nedy waygoers Albe yt he sayth the fyrst doers or gyuer lose not they re rewarde For theyr wyll and entent is full euenly paysed in a balaunce before hym that is the rewarder of all good But though Treuysa y t was the translatoure of this boke of Polycronycon out of laten into our vulgare tunge reporte this to be done or thys mysorder to be vsyd in thys dayes whyche lyued in the tyme of that honorable prynce Edwarde the thyrde yf he now lyued he wold not in no gouernours of munkes