whereof began the vsage custom y t the kings of England made their eldest sons dukes of Normandye Warre was renued betwene kynge Henry of England Lewes of France Anno. 18. Lewes inuaded Normandye wyth muche crueltie toke the Citie of Lingnes in Cause Wherfore kyng Henry assemblyng a strong armye met wyth Lewys in playne field and fought with hym a cruell and deadly battayle in the ende wherof Lewes was ouercome cōstrayned to flee the field Baldwyne erle of Flanders was there slayne and Henry recouered the town of Lingnes Anno. 20. Wylliam Duke of Normandie and Riicharde the sonnes of kyng Henry of Englande and Mary his doughter Richard earle of Chester with his wyfe the kynges nece and other to the number of .160 persons passyng from Normandie into Englande by ouersyght of the shyp maister were drowned sauing one butcher which escaped the danger Anno. 24. In this yeare the abbey of Readyng was begun to be buylded by kyng Henry the fyrst he also buylded Cisseter Wyndilsore and Woodstocke wyth the parke Anno. 27. The gray fryers came nowe fyrst into Englande and had theyr fyrst house at Canturbery as saythe Ro. Fabyan Maude the daughter of Kyng Henry after the deathe of her husbande the Emperour came into Englande to her father Anno. 28. The order of sainct Iohns Hospitalles Templars and other lyke beganne fyrste at thys tyme. Anno. 32. In this yere began Foūtains abbey Geffrey Plantagenet erle of Angew maried Maude y e empresse doughter of king Henry of which .ii. descēded Hēry secōd which reigned after Stephen About this time was builded y e priory of Nortō in the prouince of Chester by one Williā the son of Nichole Also the abbey of Cōbremore in y e same prouince was buylded about the same tyme. Robert Curthois dyed in prison and was buried at Glocester Anno. 33. Henry king of Englande because he hadde none issue mal◠ordeyned that hys doughter Maude whiche had bene Empresse shoulde succede hym in the kyngdome Anno. 36. Kyng Henry of Englande beyng in Normandy with a fall of his horse toke his deathe and was buried at Reading when he had reigned .35 yeres .iiii. monthes and one day King Stephen Anno regni 1. STephen Erle of Boloyne the son of the erle of Bloys and Adela Wylliam Conquerors doughter aud nephewe to kynge Henry the fyrst tooke on hym the gouernaunce of this realme of England the seconde day of December in the yeare of our lorde 1135. and left the same in the yeare of our lord .1154 the .xxv. daye of October so that he reigned xviii yeres .x. monthes and .xxiiii. days This was a noble man and hardy of passinge comely fauor and personage in all princely vertues he excelled as in martiall policie gentylnes and liberalitie towarde all men and in especially in the begynnynge For although he had continuall warre yet did he neuer burden his cōmons with exactiōs Only he semed in this blame worthy that contrary to his othe made to Maude the doughter of Henry he was thoughte vniustlye to take on hym the Croune For which cause he was vexed with warres all the tyme of his reigne At this tyme was great trouble and slaughter in Englande for so muche as diuers of the nobles mainteined Maude the empresse agaynst Stephen whiche was in possession of the croune Kyng Stephen made warres against Dauid of Scotlande because he refused to do him his homage for Northumberlande and Huntyngdon whiche he helde by hys wyfe In thys warre the Scottyshe hystorie sayth the Earle of Glouceter was takē But at the length Stephen made peace and agreed with Dauid kyng of Scottes and receiued of hym homage after that he had wonne from hym certaine townes and castels and gaue to Henry the sonne of Dauid the erledome of Huntyngdon Anno. 2. A vayne rumour was spread in Englande of the death of Kyng Stephen which was cause of muche trouble and busynes in the realm For diuers of the lordes got them to their holdes whiche after might scantly with great laboure be quieted and pacified After whiche tyme Stephen passed ouer into Normādye against Geffrey erle of Angew the husband of Maude the empresse which was right heyre to the crowne◠and whē he had quieted that Prouince he made Eustace his sonne Duke of Normandy and ioyned frendshyp and league wyth Lewes kyng of France Anno. 4. Dauid kyng of Scottes repentyng him of the former agremēt made with kyng Stephen and purposyng to recouer the crowne of Englande for Maude his nece cousyn and daughter of kynge Henry in moste cruelle wyse inuaded Northumberland where by meane of Thruston bishop of Yorke the Scottes had an ouerthrow and slayne in greate numbre and Dauid was constrayned to geue his sonne Henry in hostage for suretie of peace In the meane season kyng Stephen was occupied in ciuil warre agayn Robert erle of Gloucester others which fauoured the partes of Maude whome the kyng subdued part of them were forted to forsake the realme Anno. 6. Maude the empresse came into thys lande out of Normandie by ayde of Robert erle of Glocester and Ranulph of Chester made strong warre vpon king Stephen In the end whereof the kyngs partie had the worse and hymselfe takē prisoner and sent to Bristow there to be kept in sure hold But the Kentishe men and Londoners fauourynge the kyng warred vpon the rebelles and in opē field toke Roberte rle of Gloceter◠But shortly after bothe the kyng the duke were deliuered out of prison by exchange And Stephen without delay assemblyng a strong armie in suche wyse pursued his enmies y t hee forced Maude with other of her frendes to forsake the realme This warre continued a longe time to the great domage of the realm About this tyme was foūded the abbey of Stratford Langthorn within .4 myles of London by a knyght called sir William de mount Fichet Anno. 10. About this time the Iewes crucified a chylde vpon Easter day at Norwiche in derision of Christe and his religion Anno. 11. Geffrey Plantagenet the husbande of Maude the Empresse who had long continued the warres against king Stephen of Englande wan from hym the duchy of Normandie and streight thervpon dyed and his sonne Henry succeded in the dukedome Anno. 12. Stephen kynge of Englande after long warre and muche trouble was agayne crowned kynge at Lincolne but Robert earle of Glocester made newe warre vpon hym in whiche he hadde the vpper hand of the kyng at Wilton so that the kyng was like to haue fallen into Roberts danger and escaped with muche paine Anno. 15. Thys yeare the ryuer of Thamis was so stronglye frosen that horse and cart passed ouer vpon the yee Anno. 17. Henry duke of Normādy in the quarell of his mother Maude with a greate puisance arriued in England and at the fyrst wonne the
strong power came to London where they caused the kyng to cal a parliameÌ„t whereof hearynge Alexander Neuyll Archbyshop of Yorke Syr Lionel Uere Marques of Deuelen syr Mychael de la Poole ChauÌ„cellour erle of Suffolk fearyng punyshment fled the lande and died in straunge countreys The kynge by counsayle of the aboue named lordes duryng the parliament caused to be taken syr Robart Triuilian chiefe Iustice of Englande syr Nycholas Brembre late Maior of LondoÌ„ syr Iohn Salysbury knyght of houshold syr Iohn Beauchampe Stewarde of the kyngs house syr Symon Burley syr Iames Bernes and syr Robert Belknappe knyghtes and a sergeaunt of armes named Iohn Uske the whiche by authoritie of the sayde parliament were conuict of treason and put to death at the towre hyll at Tyborne And Iohn Holt Iohn Locton Rychard Gray Wylliam Burgth and Robert Fuithorpe iustice with the other foresayde lordes which before had voyded the land were banished and exiled for euer Anno. 12. Sir Nych Twyford M. Tho. Austen S. Adam Gathill S. This yere the kyng kepte a great iustes in Smythfielde whiche continued xxiiii days This yere on the fifth day of August was the battayle of Ottyrborn where syr Henry Percy slewe the erle Douglas of Scotland and after was taken prisoner Anno. 13. WilliaÌ„ Uenour M. Iohn Walcot S. Iohn Loueney S. An esquier of Nauarre accused an englyshe esquire called Iohn Welshe of treason for the triall whereof a daye of fyght was betwene them taken to bee fought in the kyngs palais at westminster where they fought a strong fyght but Iohn Welshe was victor and constrayned the other to yelde Where he was dispoyled of his armour and draweÌ„ to Tyborn and hanged for his vntruth Anno. 14. Adam Bawme M. Iohn Francis S. Tho. Uiuent S. The duke of Lancaster vncle to king Richard sayled with a company of souldiours into Spayn to claym the realme of Castâ—le for so muche as he had taken to wife the eldest daughter of kyng Peter that was expelled his kyngdom by Henry his bastard brother be conquered the countreye of Galice and made league with the kyng of Portugall but by great mortalitie whiche fell among his people he was fayne to dismysse his armye and shortly after loste all that euer he had wonne Anno. 15. Iohn Hind Draper M. Io. Chadworth S Henry Uamer S A bakers man bearynge a basket of horsebread in Fletestrete one of the bishop of Salisburies meÌ„ toke out a lofe y t baker requyryng his lofe the byshops man brake the bakers head whervpon folowed suche parties takyng that the Maior and Sheriffes and all the quyete people of the citie coulde not order the vnrulynes of the multitude there gathered togyther but that they woulde haue hym deliuered to them who brake the bakers heade or els to breake open the gates of the sayde byshops palaice who was the kynges high treasorer for the whyche the kynge seased the liberties of the Cytie and discharged the Maior and Sheriffes of the rule of the Citie and committed the gouernement therof to a knight of the court called sir Edward Dalingerige The citisens making great sute and labour to obtein the kynges fauoure coulde not thys yere obteyne it Anno. 16. William Stonden Grocer M. Gilbert MaÌ„field S Tho. NewingtoÌ„ S Thys yere by the great sute labour of doctor Grauesend then byshop of LoÌ„don the liberties were shortly restored in reward of whiche paynes he desyred the Maior wyth the citisens of London in their liueries to resort yerely on their ix pryncipall dayes to the Churche of Poules vnto the graue of the same byshop after his decease who lyeth in the myddle of the west end of the sayd churche and there to say De profundis c. As ye may reade in Robert Fabyan Anno. 17. Iohn Hadley Grocer M. Drew BareÌ„tin S. Rich. whittington S. A truce prolonged betwene France and Englande for .iiii. yeares Thys years dyed Quene Anne wyfe to kynge Rychard Anno. 18. Io. FreÌ„che Mercer M Wil. BramtoÌ„ S. Tho. Knolles S. Aboute thys tyme was Wikliffe famous in England King Richard made a voiage into Ireland which was more chargeable then honorable And this yeare was greate tempest of wynde in England Anno. 19. Wil. More Uintener M Roger Elys S wil. SheringhaÌ„ S A truce for .xxx. yeares was made betwene England and France and kyng Richard toke to wife Isabell the daughter of Charles the Frenche kyng Anno. 20. AdaÌ„ bame goldsmith M Tho. Wilford S. williaÌ„ Parker S. The duke of Gloucester king Richardes vncle wyth the Earle of Arundell and other was put to cruel death for so muche as they rebuked the kyng in certayne matters ouer lyberally Anno. 21. Richard WhittingtoÌ„ Mercer M. williaÌ„ AskhaÌ„ S. Io. wodcock S. Thys yeare deceased Iohn of Gaunt duke of Lancaster He was buryed in Poules Churche on the Northe syde of the quyer The Duke of Hereforde and also the Duke of Norffolke were bothe banyshed the lande Anno. 22. Drew BareÌ„tin Goldsmith M. Iohn wade S Io. warner S Kynge Rycharde lette the realme of Englande to ferme to syr Wyllyam Scrope Earle of Wyltshyre and to .iii. knyghtes Busshy Bagot and Grene. And then in Apryll he wente wyth an armye into Irelande leauynge for hys Lieuetenaunte in Englande syr Edmund of Langley hys vncle and Duke of Yorke Kynge Rycharde beyng occupyed in Irelande Henry Bolynbrooke Duke of Hereforde and of Lancaster whyche was banyshed into France beynge sente for of the Londoners came into Englande wyth a smalle power and landed in Holdernesse in Yorkeshyre to whome the Communes gathered in greate number whereof Kynge Rycharde hearynge aboute September he returned and landynge at Mylforde hauen he went to the Castell of Flynt in Wales where he rested hym entendynge to gather more strengthe In the whych tyme Henry Duke of Lancaster came vnto Brystowe where he tooke syr Willyam Scrope Ealre of Wylteshyre and Treasourer of Englande syr Iohn Bushy and syr Henry Greene. Syr Iohn Bagot was there taken but he escaped and fledde the other .iii. were iudged and put to execution Kynge Rycharde beyng in the castell of Flynte hys noble menne forsakynge hym was taken and by Henry duke of Lancaster sente to the tower of London where shortly after he yelded vp and resigned to the saide Henry all hys power and Kyngely tytle to the Crowne of Englande and Fraunce knowledgynge that he worthyly was deposed for his demerites and mysgouernyng of the Common weale King Henry the fourthe Anno Regni .1 HEnry the fourthe was ordeyned Kyng of Englande more by force as it appeared then by laufull succession or election Whyche thynge tourned hym to muche vnquyetnesse and caused often rebellyon in thys Realme of courage he was noble and valyaunt and after the Ciuile warres were appeased shewed hym selfe very gentill and louyng to hys subiectes He began hys reygne
the southe part which part is the front and begynnyng of the Land and endeth narow or as it were in a straighte So the circuit or compasse of the Iland is .xviii. C. myles which is .200 lesse than Caesar doothe recken or accompt Thus muche I haue thought good to take out of Polydore touchynge the diuision of England with the forme and situation of the same Much other good matter that author doth alledge whiche here for breuitie I doo omitte referring those that desyre to know farther herof to that boke where he shall fynde the style and story bothe pleasant and profitable The Race of the kinges of England since Brute the fyrste of this Realme and in the margent are placed the yeares before Christ his byrth when euery kyng began their Reignes tylye come to Cimbilinus in whose tyme Christe the Sauioure of the world was born and then foloweth the yeares from Christ his byrthe AFter the commune and best allowed opinion of the moste ancient and best approued Authours Brute the sonne of Siluius Posthumius arryued in this Ilande at a place now called Toâ—nes in Deuonshire the yeare of the worlde .2855 the yeare before Christes natiuitie .1108 wherin he fyrst began to Reigne and named it Britayn which before was called Albion And therin he builded the noble Citie of London and named it new Troy buildyng there a Temple to Appolyn wherein he placed an Archeflamyn He deuided the same Iland among his thre sonnes vnto Locrine he gaue the midle part of Britayn now called Englande with the superioritie of al this Ile Unto Camber he gaue Wales and to Albanact Scotland After whiche partition he deceassed when he had reigned xxiiii yeres and was buried at London then called new Troy as is aforesayd Locryne the eldest sonne of Brute reigned .xx. yeres he chased the Hunnes whiche inuaded this Realme and pursued them so sharply that many of theÌ„ with their kyng were drowned in a ryuer whyche departeth Englande and Scotland And for so much as the kyng of Hunnes named Humbar was there drowned the ryuer is tyll this daye named Humbar so saythe Hardyng Fabian and other This king Locryn had to wyfe Gwendolynâ— daughter of Corineus duke of Cornewall by whom he had a sonne named Madan he also kept as paramor the beautiful lady Estrilde by whom he had a daughter named Sabryne And after the death of Corineus duke of Cornewal he put from him the sayd Guendolyn and wedded Estrylde but Gwendolyn repaired to Cornwall where she gathered a great power and fought with king Locryn and siue him he was buryed at Troynouant She drowned the ladye Estrylde wyth her doughter Sabrine in a ryuer that after the yong maydens name is called Seuerne Gwendolyne the daughter of Corineus and wyfe to Locryne for so much as Madan her sonne was to yong to gouerne the land was by common assent of all the Britaynes made ruler of the whole Isle of Britayn whiche she well and discretely ruled to the comforte of her subiectes .xv. yeares and then lefte the same to her sonne Madan Madan the sonne of Locryne and Gwendolyne was made ruler of Britayne of hym is lyttle memorie made by any wrtters but that he vsed greate tyranny among his Brytons And that beyng at his disport of huntyng he was deuoured by wyld wolues when he had reigned .xl. yeres He left after hym .ii. sonnes as is reported in Polycronica named Mempricius and Manlius Mempricius the sonne of Madan beyng Kyng by treason slewe his brother Manlius after whose death he lyued in more tranquillitie wherthrough he fell in slouth and so to lechery takynge the wyues and doughters of his subiectes and lastly becam so euyl that he forsoke his wyfe and concubines and fell to the synne of Sodomie with beastes wherby he became odible to God and man And goyng on huntyng lost his company and was destroyed of wyld wolues wherof the lande was then full when he had reigned .xx. yeres Ebranke the sonne of Mempricius was made ruler of Britayn he had as testifieth Policronica Gaufride and other .xxi. wiues of whom he receued .xx. sonnes and .xxx. daughters whiche he sent into Italye there to be maryed to the blood of the Troyans In Albanye now called Scotland he edified the castell of Alclude which is Dumbritain he made the castle of Maidens now called Edenbrough he made also the castel of Bamburgh he buylded Yorke citie wherin he made a temple to Diane and set there an Archeflame and there was buried when he had reigned .lx. yeares About the yeare of the world .3000 according to the prophecie of Helie half the yeares of the world were fulfylled whyche was the yeare before Christes byrthe .963 Brute Greneshield the sonne of Ebranke ruled this lande .xii. yeares and was buried at Yorke leuyng after him a sonne named Leill Leill the sonne of Brute Greneshield beyng a iust man and louer of peace in his tyme buylded Carleile and made there a temple placyng therein a Flamyn to rule the same accordyng to the lawes of theyr gods at that tyme and there was buryed when he had ruled Britayn .xxv. yeares Lud Rudibras the sonne of Leille buylded Canterbury Winchester and Shaftsburye wherein he buylded .iii. temples and placed in the same .iii. flames lyke as byshoppes now be he reigned .xxix. yeares and left a sonne after him named Bladud Bladud sonne of Lud Rudibras who had longe studied at Athens broughte wyth hym .iiii. Philosophers to keepe schole in Britayn for the which he builded Stamford and made it an vniuersitie as saythe Merlyn wherein he had great numbre of scholers studyinge in all the .vii. liberall sciences whiche vniuersitie dured to the commynge of S. Augustine At whiche tyme the byshop of Rome interdited it for heresies that fell among the Sarons and Britons together mixt so saith Hardyng He builded Bathe and made there a temple to Apollo and placed there a Flamyn he made there the hote bathes and practised his necromancye He decked hymselfe in fethers and presumed to flye in the ayre and fallynge on hys temple of Apollo brake his necke when he had reigned .xx. yeares Leire sonne of Bladud succeded hys father he buylded Caire Leyr now called Leicester and made there a Temple of Ianus placyng a Flamyn there to gouerne the same he had .iii. daughters Gonorell Ragan and Cordelle Whiche Cordelle for her wysedom and vertue towardes her father succeded hym in the kyngedome When he had reygned .xl. yeare he deceassed and was buried at Leycester Cordyla the youngest daughter of Liere succedynge her father was sore vexed by her two nephues Morgan of Albanie and Conedagus of Camber and Cornewall who at the lengthe tooke and caste her in pryson where she beyng in dispayre of recoueryng her estate as testifieth Galfride slewe her selfe
when she had reigned .v yeares and was buryed at Leycester in Ianus temple by her father Morgan the eldest sonne of Dame Gonorell claimed Britayn and warred on his nephue Conedagus that was kyng of Camber that nowe is Wales and of Cornwall but Conedagus met with Morgan in Wales and there slue hym which place is called Glamorgan tyll this daye And then Condenagus was kyng of all Britayne he buylded a Temple of Mars at Perche that now is S. Iohns towne in Scotlande placed there a Flamyne he buylded an other or Minerue in Wales which now is named Bangor The third he made of Mercurie in Cornewall where he was borne he reigned .xxxiii. yeares and was buryed at London Riuallo sonne of Conedagus succeded his father in whose tyme it rayned blood .iii. dayes after the whiche tempest ensued a great multitude of venemous flyes which slewe muche people And then a great mortalitie throughe out this land whiche caused almoste desolation of the same This Riuallo reigned ouer this whole Iland .xlvi. yeres and than deceased and was buried at Caire branke that now is Yorke In the yeere .1554 after the vniuersall Floud and after Comerus the fyrst king of Italy .1414 after y e destruction of Troy .432 And after Brute arriued in England .356 Rome was buylded in Italy by Remus and Romulus Gurgustus sonne of Riuallo succeded in the kyngdom of Brytayne who reigned quietly but was a coÌ„mon dronkarde wherof folowed all other vices when he had reigned .xxxviii. yeres he deceased and was buried at Yorke Scicilius the brother of Gurgustus succeded in the Kyngdom of whome is left but little memory but that he reygned liâ— yeares and was buryed at Bathe Iago or Lago cousyn of Gurgustus reigned .xxv. yeares for his euyll gouernement he dyed of a litargie and was buryed at Yorke The game of Chesse about this season was deuysed by wyse men to mytigate the myndes or hartes of tyrantes the yere of the worlde .3339 the yere before Christ .614 Kynimacus succeded Iago in thys realme of Brittany wherin he reigned liiii yeares and was buryed at Yorke Gorbodug succeded his father Kynimacus in this realme of Britain as our Chronicles write He reigned .lxiii. yeres and was buried at London Forrex with his brother Porrex ruled this lande of Britayn .v. yeares but it was not long ere they fel at ciuile discorde for the soueraygne domynion in whiche Forrex was slayne And Porrex afterwardes by his mother was killed in his bed Thus cruelly was the bloodde and house of Brute destroyed when that this Realme by the space of 616. yeares had bene gouerned by that lynage After the death of the two brethren Forrex and Porrex thys Realme was deuided with ciuile warres for lacke of one soueraigne gouernour whiche continued by the space of .li. yeares vntyll that noble Dunwallo reduced the same into one Monarchie MUlmutius Dunwallo the sonne of Cloten duke of Cornewall reduced this realme into one Monarchie beyng before by ciuile warres and discention seuered and brought into dyuers dominions he was the fyrste that ware a crowne of golde he constituted good lawes whiche long after wer called Mulmutius lawes he gaue priuileges vnto Temples and ploughes and beganne to make the fower notable wayes in Britayne In London called then Troy Nouant he buylded a great Temple whiche some suppose to be S. Paules some Blackwell Hall whiche was called Templum pacis Finally when he had brought this Ralme to wealthe and quietnes reygnyng herein .xl. yeares He dyed honourably leauing after hym two valiant and noble sonnes Belinus and Brennus as Fabian writeth He buylded the towne of Malmsbury and of Uies He was buried at London in the temple of Peace before named BElinus and Brennus sonnes of Mulmutius deuyded thys whole Isle of Britayne betwene them Unto Belyne the elder brother was appoynted England Wales and Corn wall Unto the other the North part beyond Humber But Brennus a young man desyrous of glory and dominion thinking hym selfe equall with his brother in marciall prowes was not therewith content Wherfore he raised war agaynste Belyne But in conclusion by the meanes of their mother they were accorded and Brennus brynge geuen wholly to the study of warres lefte his countrey to the gouernance of his brother and went into Fraunce amongest the Galles where in the Prouince of Lions for his excelleÌ„t qualities he was greatly estemed of Siguinus kynge of the countrey whose daughter he maried And of the Galles was made Souerain captain wheÌ„ they made their vsage to Rome Belyne in the meane tyme both in ciuile iustyce and also religyon suche as at that tyme was vsed greatly increased his Realme He made three Archeflames whose seas were at London Yorke and Carlion He fynyshed the fower great waies begon by his father He subdued and made tributarye vnto hym Denmarke In London he made the hauen whyche at thys daye retaineth the name of hym called Belynes gate and as Iohn Leyland writeth whose labour and industry in most diligent serchyng out the antiquities of this Realm is greatly to be coÌ„mended builded y e tower of London He maried his daughter Cambria vnto a prince of Almayn called Antenor of whoÌ„ these people were called Cymbri and Sycambri Fynally after he had reigned with his brother and alone .xxvi. yeres he died and after the pagan maner with great pompe was burned his ashes in a vessell of brasse set on a high Pynacle ouer Belyns gate as saith Robert Fabyan he builded Carlion and also the temple of concorde whyche after the opinion of many is nowe the paryshe churche of the Temple Gurgunstus sonne of Belyne succeded his father He subdued Denmark compellyng them to continue their tribute and in his returne home mette with a fleet of Spaniards which were seekyng for habitations because theyr contrey was so populous and not able to susteyne them to whome the Kynge granted the Isle of Ireland to inhabite and to holde the same of hym as their soueraigne Lord But the Scots write that the Spaniards arriued before this time in Ireland This Gurgunâ—us reigned .xix. yeares and was buried at Carlyon Guinthelinus sonne of Gurgunstus was crowned kynge of Britayne A prince sober and quiet who had to wife a noble woman named Marcia of excellent learnyng and knowledge She deuised certain lawes which long time among the Britains were greatly estemed and named Marcian lawes Fynally when this vertuous prince hadde reigned .xxvi. yeres he dyed and was buried at London Cecilius the sonne of Guenthelyne and Marcia reigned .vii. yeres of hym there remaineth nothyng notable But that as the Scottes write in the fyrst yeare of his reigne a people of Almain called Pyctes arriued here in Britayn and possessed those parties which now be the marches of bothe realmes
shewed to their kyng the ieopardy that might therof ensue and aduertised him to auoyde the danger and expell them out of the realme but all was in vayn For Uortiger by reason of his wyfe bore suche fauour towards the Saxons that he would in no wise heare the coūcell of hys subiectes Wherefore they with one wyll and mynde depriued him of his royall dignitie and ordeyned to theyr Kynge hys eldeste soonne Uortimerus VOrtimer as before is sayde beyng made king in all hast he pursued the Saxons and by his marciall knyghthode vanquyshed theim in iiii greate battailes besydes conflictes and skirmyshes Untyll at lengthe he was poysoned by meane of Rowen his stepmother after hee had reygned .vii. yeares Uortiger obteyned agayn the kyngdome of great Britayne and reygned after this tyme .ix. yeares But shortly after Hengistus whiche was chased of Uortimer into the Isle of Thanet entred the land with a nūbre of Saxons but when he hearde of the great assemble that the britons made against him be treated for peace which in fyne was concluded The Saxons in Britayne by priuy guyle and treason got the kyng Uortiger into theyr handes and kept hym as prisoner and by that meanes constreyned the Kynge to graunte vnto theym thre countreys in the land of britayne that is to say Kent Susser Suffolke and Norffolke Than Hengist beganne his dominion ouer Kent and sendynge for mo saxons to inhabite the other prouinces shortly after made warre vpon the Britayns and so chased them that he kept his kyngdome of Kent in peace and warre .xxiiii. yeares Uortiger fled into Wales and there buylded a castell Of whiche buildyng and longe lette of the same and of his prophete Merlyn the common voyce of the people speaketh many thynges Aurelie surnamed Ambrose and Uther the brethern of Constantius king of brittayne whiche was slayne by the treason of Uortiger landed with a Nauye of shyppes at Totnes and by the healpe of britaynes whyche gathered to them in all haste made warre vppon Uortiger and burned him in his castell in Wales where he kepte hym for hys moste sure defence Aurelius Ambrose was ordeyned kynge of Britayne whyche immediatlye hasted hym wyth an army towards Yorke against Octa sonne of Hengist who wyth hys saxons kepte the Citie where he discomfited and tooke prisoner the sayd Octa. A Saxon named Hella with his .iii. sonnes and a company of Saxons landed in the southe parte of britayne slue the britons chased many of thē into desertes and wods and subdued the countreys of Southery Somerset Deuonshyre and Cornewall which after was called the kyngdome of South Saxons A saxon named Porthe landed wyth his .ii. sonnes at an hauen in southsex After whome the Hauen is named Portsmouthe The kyngdome of the East Saxons began in Britayn vnder a duke named Uffa The kyngdome wherof conteyned Norffolke and Suffolke the kyngs of that lordeshyp were called Uffines great murder veration of the britains was at the entryng of those Saxons In the ende of Aurelie hys reygne Pascentius the yongest sonne of Uortiger who for feare of Aurelius fled into Irelande inuaded this lande with a great armie at which season Aurelius was sicke at Wynchester And therfore sent his brother Uther to resyst the malice of Pascentius Guillamour king of Irelande In the meane tyme Aurelius dyed as some write beyng poysoned whan he had reigned .xix. yeares VTher surnamed Pendragon was crouned kyng of Britayne and reigned .xvi. yeres He was enamored vpon the dukes wife of Cornwall and to obteyne his vnlefull luste made warre vppon her husbande Garelus and slew hym in bataile he was buryed at Stone hynge ARthur the sonne of Uther Pendragon a striplyng of .xv. yeres of age beganne his reigne ouer Britayne and gouerned the land .xxvi. yeares hauynge continuall warre and mortall battayle with the Saxons Of this Arthure be written many thynges in the Englishe chronicle of small credence and farre discordant from other writers but yet all agree that he was a noble and victorious prince in all his dedes◠and they testifie that he fought xii notable battailes agaynst the Saxons and was alway victour But notwithstanding he might not clerely void them out of his land but that they held theyr countreys whyche they were possessed of Iohn Frosarde affirmeth that kyng Arthure buylded the castell of Wyndesour and there founded the order of the rounde Table The fourthe kyngdome of the weste Saxons beganne in Britayne vnder a Saxon called Cerdicus They landed first at an hauē in Norffolk called Yarmouth With this Saxon Cerdicus his people Arthure had muche trouble and warre This lordshyp cōteyned the west part of Englande as Wylshire Somersetshire Barkshire Dorsetshire and other Arthure when after many and dyuers battailes he hadde sette his lande in some quietnes he betooke the rule thereof to hys nephewe Mordred and with a chosen army as saithe Galfride and other sayled into Fraunce where he dyd meruaylous thynges and vanquyshed Lucius Hibertus the Romain Capytayne whyche thyng semeth not to agree with other histories MOrdred whiche had the gouernance of Britayn in the absence of Arthur by treason was crouned kyng through the healpe of Cerdicus kyng of weste Saxons Of whiche treason when relation came to Arthur beyng then in Fraunce wyth all haste he made backe to Britayne where he was mette of Mordred whyche gaue to hym .iii. strong battails In the whiche manye noble and valyaunt knyghtes perished And lastely in a battayle foughten besydes Glastenburye Mordred was slayne and Arthure wounded vnto the deathe He was buried in the valley of Aualon and afterwardes at Glastenbury COnstantine kynsman to Arthur by assent of the brytons was ordeyned kynge of Britayne and reygned three yeares This man was by the two sonnes of Mordred greuouslye vexed For they claymed the lande by the ryghte of theyr father soo that betweene them was foughten sundrye battaylles In the whyche lastely the twoo bretherne were vanquyshed and slayne Holy Gildas our countreyman flouryshed in this tyme he was called Gildas the wyse Aurelius Conanus a britain raised mortall warre against Constantine the kyng and after sore fight slue hym in the field when he had reigned .iii. yeares and was buried at Stonehyng AUrelius Conanus was crowned kyng of Britayn he was noble hardy and therwith very lyberall but hee cherished suche as loued stryfe and discention wythin his Realme and gaue lyght credence to theym whyche accused other wer it right or wrong He imprisoned by stren̄gth his vncle whiche was right heyre to the crown and dyed when he had reigned .iii. yeares The kyngdome of Northumberland began fyrst in Britayn vnder a Saxon named Ida. This prouince was fyrste deuided into twoo kyngedomes The one was called Deyra which conteyned the lande from Humber to Tyne The other Brenicia whiche included the countrey from Tyne to the scottyshe sea
his sonne who inclosed y e same with a depe dyche and grauÌ„ted to the inhabitantes therof great fredom And after builded a church ouer y e place of his sepulture and ordeined there an house of monkes enduyng them with fayre possessioÌ„s And after it was vsed y e kings of EnglaÌ„d wheÌ„ thei wer crouned sent for an offering their crounes vnto S. Edmondes shryne and redemed the same with a good price The englyshe men sente agayne for Etheldred out of Normandye who by the healpe of the Normans and present assistance of his commons expelled Canutus but shortly Canutus returned agayne into Englande where he spared nothynge that myght be destroyed with sworde fyre In whiche tyme king Etheldred ended his lyfe when he had reigned .xxxviii. yeares and was buried in the Northe Isle of Paules churche in London aboue the aultar Fabian saythe that in the seconde yeare of this kynges reigne a great part of the citie of London was wasted with fyre but how it beganne hys aucthor telleth not But ye shal vnderstand that this day the citie of London had moste housyng and buyldynge from Ludgate towarde Westminster and littell or none where the chiefe or hart of the citie is now except in diuers places was housynge but they stoode without order So that many townes cities as CaÌ„terbury York and dyuers other in Englande passed London in buyldyng at those dayes as I haue sene sayth Fabyan by an old boke somtime in the Guyld halle of London named Domes daye But after the conquest it increased and shortly after passed and excelled all the other Aboute the .viii. yeare of this kyngs reign dyed Ethelwald byshop of Wynchester who was born in Wynchester and ther buylded an abbey of Nunnes as sayth Fabyan AFter y e deth of Etheldred great variance fell betwene y e englishe meÌ„ for the election of theyr kyng for y e citezens of London with certayn other named Edmund the son of Etheldred a yong man of lusty and valiant courage in martiall aduentures both hardy and wyse and one that could very well endure all paynes Wherefore hee was surnamed Ironsyde but the more part fauored Canutus the Dane By meanes wherof betwene those two princes were foughten many great battayles in the which either party sped diuersly to the great slaughter of theÌ„ that toke their partes But lastly it was agreed that the two Captayns shold try theyr quarell betwene them selues onely In which fight although Edmund semed to haue the vpper hand yet be condisceÌ„ded to deuyde the realm and make Canutus felow with him in the kingdom whyche agreement was at laste concluded In this tyme there was an englishe Earle called Edricus which by hys falshode had wrought muche hurte to hys naturall country and lastelye was aucthor of the deth of the noble Edmund And therof himself brought fyrst knowledge to Canutus the Dane sayinge in this wyse Thus haue I doone Canutus for the loue of thee To whom hee answered sayinge For my loue thou hast murdered thyne owne soueraigne Lord whome I loued most entierly I shall in rewarde therof exalt thy head aboue all the lordes of Englande And foorthwith commanded hym to be headed and his head to be set vpon a spear on the hyghest gate of London These princes reygned together .ii. yeares Thys Edmund was buryed at Glastenburye VUhen Canutus was stablished in the kyngdom he had knowledge how Olanns king of Norway in his absence inuaded the couÌ„trey of Denmarke wherfore in all hast he sped him thitherward by the maÌ„hod of the english souldiors obteined of them a noble victory recouered Norway to his seignory wherfore when he returned into England he demeaned him toward all men as a sage gentle moderat prince and so continued .xx. yeares Canutus called a parliameÌ„t at OxeÌ„ford where it was decreed that english men and Danes should hold the lawes of Edgare late kyng Canutus subdued the Scots wherby he was king of .iiii. kingdoms y t is to say of England ScotlaÌ„d Denmark Norway After that he weÌ„t into Denmark and so to Rome And after returned again into England Where he kept all his life tyme good iustice and did many charitable dedes And after his deathe was buried in s. Swithins at Winchester Of this Canutus Polidore hath writen a notable history in y e end of his vii boke of the historie of England HArold the sonne of Canutus by hys wyfe Elgina for hys swyftnes surnamed Harefote began hys reygne ouer thys realme of England In the begynning hee shewed some token of crueltie in that he banyshed his stepmother Emma and tooke from her suche iewelles and treasure as she hadde He reigned iii. yeares Hee was buryed at Westmynster and after at S. Clementes without Temple barre HArdikenitus king of Denmarke after the deathe of Harolde was ordeyned kyng of Englande He for the iniurie done to his mother Emma caused the corps of Harolde to be taken out of the sepulchre and smyting of the head caste it with the body into the ryuer of Thames where by a fysher it was taken vp and vnreuerently buried at S. Clementes as afore is sayd He burdeined his subiectes with eractions and tribute and in meat and dryncke was so prodygall that hys tables were spreade .iiii. tymes in the day and the people serued with great excesse whan he had reigned .iii. yeares he dyed sodeinly at Lambeth not without suspection of poysonynge and was buried at Winchester Hardikenitus beyng deade the Danes were beaten slayn and dryuen out of this lande into theyr owne countrey xxviii yeares after that Swayn began fyrst to reigne EDwarde the sonne of Egelrede or Etheldred by the aduice of Goodwyne and Leofricus Erle of Chester after the deathe of Hardikenitus was sent for out of Normandie to take on him the goueruaunce of this realme of Englande whiche hee guyded with much wisdome and iustice from whom issued as out of a fountaiue very godlinesse mercie pitie and liberalitie towarde the pore and gentylnes and iustice towards all men and in all honest lyfe gaue moste godly example to hys people He discharged the englyshmen of the great tribute called y e Dane gelt whiche was often before time leuied to y e impouerishyng of the people He subdued the Wesâ—hemen whiche rebelled and made warre vpon their borders The .xvi. yere of this kyng Edward died y e good Erle Leofricus erle of Mercia of Chester who was buried in the abbey of Couentrie which he hym selfe had caused to be buylded He purchased many great priuileges for the aforesaid towne of Couentrie Willyam bastard duke of Normandie about this tyme came with a goodly company into England and was honorablye receyued to whom the kynge made great cheere And at his returne enriched hym with great gyftes pleasures and as som write made promise to hym that if he died without issue the same
the Kynges officers comming from Abyndon deliuered hym and conueyde hym to Wallyngford where he accursed the mysdoers and compelled the regents and maisters of the vniuersitie to go barefoote through Chepe to Paules at London there to aske him forgeuenes and so were forgeuen Syr Symon Mountforde maryed the Kynges syster named Elianor counties of Penbroke Anno. 22. Richard Renger M. Iohn Withall S. Iohn GouÌ„dresse S. A clerk of Oxenford or more verily a souldior fainyng him self madde enterprised to haue slayn King Henry in hys chamber at Wodstocke but he was takeÌ„ and put to death at Couentrie This yeare was borne Edwarde the kynges sonne called Longshankes Anno. 23. WilliaÌ„ Ioyner M. ReymoÌ„d Bingley S. Rafe Ashewy S. This yere Symon Fitz Marie who before had bene Sheriffe of the citie of London procured the kynges letters to the maior and rulers of the Citie to electe hym agayne to that same office Which the Maior and rulers of the citie refused to do consyderyng it to be a derogation to the libertie of the same Citie This yeare on Candelmas daye the king created syr Symon de Mountford Erle of Leycester Anno. 24. Gerrard Batte Mair Iohn Gysors S. Michel Tony S. The kyng subdued the Welshemen which oftentymes rebelled Anno. 25. Reymond Byngey M. Iohn Uoile S Tho. Duresyne S This yere were aldermen fyrst chosen in London which then had the rule of the wards of the citie but were euery yere changed as y e sheriffes ar now Anno. 26. Reymond Bongley M. Iohn fitz Iohn S. Rafe Ashewy S. Kyng Henry sayled into Normandie with a fayre company purposing to recouer Poytiers Guyan and other couÌ„treys but after many bickeryngs somwhat to the losse of Englyshmen Henry treated a peace Anno. 27. Rafe Ashewy M. Hugh Blunt S. Adam Basyng S. Thys yere the pleas of the crowne wer pleaded in the Tower of London And in thys yeare Griffith whyche was sonne of Lewlyn lately prince of Wales entendyng to haue broken prison fel ouer the inner ward of the Tower of London and brake his necke Anno. 28 Michel Tony M. Rafe Spicer S. Nicolas Batte S. A Iewe dyggyng in the grounde to enlarge his vineyarde founde vnder a stone a boke wherin was written in iii. languages greke hebrue and latin of .iii. worldes that shoulde be of the whiche he appoynted Christ to the begynning of the third world which was expressed in this maner In the begynnyng of the third world Gods son shall be borne of a mayde By the occasyon of this boke the Iewe was turned to the faith of Christ. Anno. 29. Iohn Gysors M. Robert Cornehil S. Adam Bewley S. A maior of London and a sheriff were both deposed from their romes because they were both proued periured and other were chosen in theyr places as testifieth Geffrey of Monmouth Robert Grosthed bishop of Lincolne with other prelates complayned to the King of the wast of the goodes and patrimony of the church which dayly was wasted by alliant byshops and clerkes of this land who shortly were auoided Anno. 30. Iohn Gysors M. Symonfitz mary S. LaureÌ„ce Frowike S. Thys yeare was much stryfe for the election of the emperour some elected one some elected an other Amongest the rest some chose the Kynges brother Richarde Kynge of Almayne and erle of Cornewall But at the last Radulphus Duke of Habspurge in Almayne was by one assent admitted thervnto Thys Richarde the Kynges brother buylded the abbey of Hayles Anno. 31. Piers Alleyn M. Iohn Uoile S. Nicolas Batte S. In thys yeare was a myghtye earthquake in Englande that the lyke to it was not sene many yeares before This yeare the Kyng seysed the fraunchise of the Citie of London for a iudgement that was geuen by the Maior and aldermen against a wydow named Margaret Uiell but shortly the Maior and sheriffes were agayne restored to theyr offices and thys yeare was a new coyn and the olde called in Anno. 32. Michel Tony M. Nicolas ioy S. Geffrey winton S. Thys yeare the wharfe of Quenebyue in London was taken to â—erme by the Communaltye of London to paye yearelye fyftye pounde for the same Anno. 33. Roger fitz Roger M. Rafe Hardel S Iohn tosalan S This yere dyed Robert Grossehed a famous clerke and byshop of Lyncoln who compiled many famous Bookes whyche remayne to this daye in the latin and the frenche tongue the names wherof are partly declared by master Bale in his story of Englyshe writers Anno. 34. Iohn Norman M. Humfrey Basse S WilliaÌ„ fitz Rich. S This yere was a great wynde vpon the day of Symon and Iude whych did muche harme in many places of Englande Anno. 35. Adam Basing M. LaureÌ„ce frowike S. Nicolas Batte S. The frier Augustins began to build or inhabite in Wales at Woodhous Kynge Henry maried his daughter Mary to Alexander kyng of Scottes receiued of him homage for the realme of Scotlande Anno. 36. Iohn Toleson M. WilliaÌ„ DurhaÌ„ S. Tho. Wimborn S. This yere was grauÌ„ted by the king that where before this time the citizens of London did present their Maire before the kyng wher so euer he were and so to be admitted nowe he should come only before the BaroÌ„s of the exchequer and they should admitte him and geue him his othe Anno. 37. Nicolas Batte M. Iohn NorthaÌ„ton S. Richard Picard S. This yere in the moneth of Ianuary tho sea rose in such height that it drowned many vilages and houses nere vnto it in diuers places of Englande This yere also Thames sprange so highe that it drowned many houses about the waters side by meane wherof muche merchandise was perished and lost And this yere was graunted of the kyng that no citizen of London shoulde paye scauage or toule for any beastes by them brought as they before tyme has vsed Anno. 38. Ri. Haâ—dell Dra. M. Ro. Belingtoni S. Rafe Ashwey S. This yere also the liberties of LondoÌ„ were again seased by the meane of Rychard Erle of Cornwayle because the Mayre was charged that he loked not to the bakers for theyr syses of bread so y t the citie was forced to please the Earle with .600 markes and so they were restored againe Alphonce kyng of Castell gaue Elinor his daughter in mariage to prynce Edward the sonne of kyng Henry to whoÌ„ his father gaue the pryncedome of Wales and gouernance of Guyan IrelaÌ„d wherof began that the kynges of England ordeined their eldest sonnes princes of Wales Anno. 39. Rich. Hardel draper M. St. Distergate S Hen. walmode S The kyng agayn seased the liberties of the citie for certeyn money whiche the quene claymed for hir ryght of y e citizeÌ„s so that they gaue vnto his grace .400 marke then were restored to their lyberties agayne The .22 day of NoueÌ„ber were
Symon and Iude syr Hugh Spēcer the father was put to death at Bristowe and after buried at Winchester and on saint Hughes day folowyng was syr Hugh his sonne drawen hanged and quartered at Herford and his head sent to London and sette emong other vpon the bridge After Robert Baldock the Chancellor was sent to London to Newgate where he dyed myserably The earle of Arundell was put to death at Herford and kynge Edward was by parliament deposed from his kingdom when he had reigned .xix. yere .6 monethes and .18 days and not longe after was murthered by syr Roger Mortimer and was buried at Glocester Edwarde the thirde Anno Regni .1 EDwarde the thyrde after the deposing of hys father was crowned king of Englād He begon his reign ouer this realme the .xxv. daye of Ianuarie in the yeare of our lord .1326 and deceased the 21. day of Iune in the yeare .1377 so he reigned .50 yere and .5 monethes lackyng .3 dais This man beside all other gyftes of nature was endued with passynge comely beautie and fauoure Of wytte prouident circumspecte and gentyll of nature doyng nothyng without great wysedom and consideration Hee was a man of excellent modestie temperance and aduanced suche persons to high dignities as dyd most passe other in integritie innocency of lyfe in feares of armes he was very expert as the noble enterprises by hym atchieued doo well declare Of his liberalitie and clemēcy he shewed many great examples Briefly in all princely vertues he was so excellent that few noble men before his tyme were to bee compared to hym At the beginnyng of hys reigne he was chiefly ordered by syr Roger Mortymer and hys mother Isabell. In this fyrst yeare of his reigne he confirmed the liberties of the citie of London and ordeined that the maior of the city of London should sytte in all places of iudgement within the liberties of the same for chiefe Iustice the Kynges person only excepted and that euery alderman that had ben Maior shold be iustice of peace in all London and Middlesex and euery Alderman that had not bene maior should be iustice of peace within his own ward Diuers other priuileges he graunted to the citie whiche ye may reade in Fabian The kynge went towarde Scotlande hauyng vnderstanding that the scottes were entred into England as farre as Stanhop parke He beset them rounde about hopynge to haue broughte them vnder hys subiection But when hee thought to be most sure of them by treason of some of his hoft the scottes escaped cleane and returned back into scotland About the .xxi. day of September Edward the second was murdered in y e castell of Barkley by sir Roger Mortymer was buried at Glocester Anno. 1. Richard Bretain M. Rich. Roting S. Roger Chācellor S. The kyng maried the lady Philip the erles doughter of Henawde in the cytie of Yorke The kynge helde his parliament at Northampton where through the counsaile of syr Roger Mortimer and the old Queene his mother hee made with the scotts and vnprofitable and dishonorable peace For why he restored to them all theyr writyngs charters and patents wherby the kynges of Scotlande hadde bounde them selues to be tributarye to the crowne of England with other like vnprofytable conditions Anno. 2. Hamonde Chikwell S. Henry Darcy S. Iohn Hawden S. Dauid the yong prince of Scotlād maried Iane the syster of kyng Edwarde whom the scots in dirision called Iane makepeace The scotts made many rymes against thenglishmē as saith Guido for the fond disquised apparell by thē at that time worne amongst the whiche this was one Long beardes hartlesse Paynted hoodes witlesse Gay cotes gracelesse Makes England thryftlesse Anno. 3. Iohn Ganthā M Symon Frācis S. Hēry Cōbmartē S. Edward erle of Kent vncle to kynge Edward of England beyng falsely accused of treason was by syr Roger Mortymer put to death at winchester Prince Edward was borne at Wodstocke Who in proces of tyme grew to a noble and famous man and was in his days counted the Flowre of chiualrie through out the world The .xvii. of October sir Roger Mortimer was taken in Notyngham castell and sente to the Tower of London Anno. 4. Symond Swalond S Richard Lazar S Richard Gisours S Syr Roger Mortimer was accused for diuers points of treason as that he murdered king Edward the second and that through hym the scots escaped at Stanhope parke for receiuynge summes of money of the Scottes for which accusations he was shortly after drawē and hanged at London Edward Baylell the sonne of Iohn Baylell late kyng of Scottes by licence purchased of kyng Edward entred into Scotlande clayminge the crowne by the right of hys father where he vanquished the Scottes and was crowned kyng at Stone Anno. 5. Symond Swaylon M. Robert Ely S. Tho. whorwod S. The kyng with a great armye went into Scotland and at Halidon hyll gaue the Scottes battayle wherin he obteined a triumphant victorie and slewe of them .viii. Erles .900 knightes of barons and esquires 400. and .32000 common souldiors he wonne Edenborow Barwicke and many other castels and gaue the gouernaunce of Scotlande to Edward Baylell betwene whome and the Scots was foughten many battels Anno. 6. Iohn Poūtney M. Iohn Mocking S Andrew Aubery S The king of France sent .x. shyps toward Scotland which were so wether driuen into Flanders that they were little worth after that tyme. Anno. 7. Iohn Preston M. Nicolas Pike S. Iohn Husbande S. King Edward went agayn into Scotland and laid siege to the castell of Kylbridge He wan it by strength and sette the countrey in quietnes and cam back to the castell of Tyne where shortly after Edward Baylell kynge of Scottes came and dyd hym homage and sware vnto hym fealtie and fidelitie and returned agayne into Scotlande Anno. 8. Iohn Poūtney M. Iohn Hamond S. Williā Hansard S. Embassadors were sent from Philyp de Ualoys kynge of France for to conclude vpon certain articles of variance betwene theyr lord and the kyng of England but it toke none effect Anno. 9. Reignold at cundyt M. Iohn Kyngston S. Walter Turke S. This yere kyng Edward sent ambassadors into Frāce to conclude a peace whiche likewyse toke none effect Anno. 10. Reignold at conduit M. walter mordon S. Richard Upton S. This yere kyng Edward made claim to the crowne of France and therfore proclaimed open warre betwene Englande and France Anno. 11. Iohn Poūtney M wil. brickelsworth S Iohn Northehall S In this yere as saith Fabian the king consyderyng the charge he hadde with warres in Scotlande and also that he intended to haue agaynst the Frenchemen for the obtainyng of his right gathered togither treasure by dyuers and sundry wayes wherof the maner is not expressed but such great plentie cam to his handes that money was very scant throughout the whole realme by reason of which
scarsnes vitaile and other merchandise were exceding good chepe for at London a quarter of wheate was sold for .ii. s. fat oxe for vi s .viii. d. A fat shepe for .vi. d. and .viii. d. syx pigeons for one peny a fatt goose for .ii. d. a pyg for a peny so all other victuals after y e rate This yeare appered a blasyng sterre Anno. 12. Henry Darcy M. Walter Neale S. Nicolas Graue S. Kyng Edward for the expedition of his warres agaynst the frenche Kynge sent embassadours into the parties beyonde the sea to allie with hym the erle of Heynault and other lordes whiche obeyed not the french king of whom by the meanes of Iaques Dartnell he had great comfort bothe of the Flemmings diuers lordes princes of those parts This yere the kyng granted that the officers of the Maior and Sheriffes of London should beare maces of syluer Anno. 13. Henry Darcy M. Williā of Pomfret S Hugh Marbre S King Edward for more establishmēt of amitie betwene hym and the Hollanders Selanders and Brabanders sailed to Andwarpe where he concluded the matter with his aliances and by the consent of the emperor Lewys was proclaimed vicar generall of the empire In this meane time certayn French men had entred the hauē of Southampton and robbed the towne and brent a great part therof and vpon the sea they toke .ii. great ships called the Edward and the Christopher Anno. 14. Andrew Aubery M. Williā Thorney S. Roger Frosham S. Kyng Henry helde a parlyament at Westminster and there towarde his great charges he demaunded the fyfthe part of euery mans goodes The customes of the wolles to be payd .ii. yeares before hand and the ninth sheaff of euery mans corne Which was granted vnto hym But before it were all payd the loue of the people dyd turne into hatred and theyr prayer into cursyng c. The kyng changed hys coyne made the noble and halfe noble The noble at vi s .viii. d. which is nowe .x. s. King Edward ouer and beside a great army of Englishe souldiours hauynge with him welnere the power of the hole Empire entred the borders of France and made claime to the whole realme of Fraunce as his rightfull inheritaunce and for more auctoritie named hym self kyng of France and entermedled the armes of Fraunce as it remayneth to this day Anno. 15. Andrew Aubery M. Adam Lucas S. Bertholo marys S. The quene of England wife to kyng Edward beyng at Gaunt was deliuered of a sonne whiche afterwarde was called Iohn of Gaunt which was fyrst earle of Richemont and after Duke of Gloucester This yere K. Edwarde sailynge into Flanders nye to y e town of Sluce mett with the Frenche kynges nauy where was foughten a cruell battaile wherof the kynge of Englande had the victorie and the French flete that was in number .400 sayle was welnere destroyed and the souldiors taken slayn and drowned so that of .33000 fower escaped aliue Shortly after this victorye kyng Edward besieged Turney and the towne of saint Omers during the time of whiche siege dyuers out rydynges and enterprises were aduentured by the Heynawes Almains and other his frendes to the great hurt of both parties At the ende of .xi. wekes after the siege a peace was concluded for .xii. monethes and the kyng returned to Londou Anno. 16. Iohn Oxenford M. Rich. barking S. Iohn Rokesley S. This yeare came into England .ii. cardinals to treat a peace betwene the kinges of England of France who cōcluded it for .3 yeres but it lasted not so lōg This yere the quene was deliuered of a mā child at Lāgley which was named Edmunde of Langley was kyng Edwards third sonne Anno. 17. Symon Francis M. Iohn Luskyn S Rich. Kyslingbery S This yere dyed Iohn duke of Britain by reason of whose death warre strife grew and partes taking by the French kyng and kyng Edward Anno. 18. Iohn Hamond M. Iohn steward S. Iohn Ayseshā S. This yere the king called a parliamēt at westmynster In tyme wherof Edwarde hys eldeste soonne was created prince of Wales This yere y e king made a coyne of fine gold and named it the florentine that is to say the peny of the valu of .vi. s .viii. d. the halfpeny of the valu of .iii s .iiii. d. and the farthing of the value of xx d. whiche coyne was ordeyned for hys warres in Fraunce for the golde therof was not so fyne as was the noble before named Anno. 19. Iohn Hamōd M. Geff. wichinghā S. Thomas Legget S. This yere the king held a solemn feast at his castell of Windsor where he deuised the order of the Garter and stablished it as it is at this day Then king Edward sailed into Sluce so into little britain with a strong army But for that he was disappointed of the Flemmyngs by reason of the death of his trusty frende Iaques Dartnell he turned again into England leauing behynd hym the Erle of Salisbury wyth a stronge company to ayde Iohn Erle of of Mountford against Charles de bloys Which Iohn by the aide of Englishmen wan diuers towns holdes in Britain This yeare the kyng sent the Erle of Derby with a strong army into Guyen for to ayde the erle of Northampton Anno. 20. Richard Lacer M. Edmōd Hēpnall S. Iohn Gloucester S. Thys yere kyng Edward made great preparation for the warres of France and Philyp de Ualoys kyng of France made as greate preparation to defende his land against king Edward Anno. 21. Geffrey wichinghā M. Iohn Croydon S. williā Clopton S. This yeare kyng Edward sailed into Normandy with .1100 sayle greate and small and with him his sonne prince Edward they ouer rode spoiled destroied the countrey before them vnto Parys and gathered wonderfull riches of pray which he sent into England Shortly after he encoūtred the french kynge nye the foreste of Cresse when he had not in his host the eight man in comparison of the Frenche army and obteyned of them a triumphant vyctorie Where was slayn the kyng of Bohem with .x. other great princes .80 banners .1200 knyghtes and .3000 common souldiors After this victory kyng Edward went toward Caleys and besieged it In the meane while Dauid of Scotland by procurement of the Frenche kynge made warre vpon the borders of Englande but the byshop of Yorke with other lordes gathered a greate company aswell spirituall as temporall and nere vnto Durham dyd hyd the kynge of Scottes battayle where was fought a cruell and fierce bataille But in the ende the victorie fell vnto the quenes syde and ther was taken the kynge of Scottes wyth many of his greatest lordes there was slain one other aboue .15000 souldiors Anno. 22. Thomas Legget M. Adā Bramson S Rich. basingstoke S This yeare after king Edwarde had lien afore Caleis a yeare more it was
yelded vp to hym as ye maye reade at large in Iohn Frosard his chronicles Anno. 23. Iohn Lufkin M. Hēry Picard S. Simōwoseley S. In the end of this yere about August the pestilence begon in diuers places of England and specially at London and so cōtinued tyll that tyme twelue month Anno. 24. Williā Turke Maior Adam Bury S. Rafe Lynne S. This yeare was Calice lyke to haue ben betrayed but the kyng in tyme preuented it The Kynge caused to be coyned grotes and half grotes the whyche lacked of the weyght of his former coyne .ii. s .vi. d. of a pound troy And about the end of August ceased the death in London whiche was soo vehement and sharpe that ouer the bodies buried in churches and church yardes monasteries and other accustomed buryeng places was buryed in the Charter howse yarde of London as saith Fabyan .l. M. persons And also many persons of good credite yet liuyng in the citie of London affirm that they haue redde the like writen on a plate of laton fastened on a crosse of stone in the same Charter house church yarde and also to haue sene recorded in one olde Booke of the sayde Charter house that at that tyme the said mortalitie was so great that there remained not the tenthe person alyue throughout the realme Anno. 25. Richard Killingbury M. Iohn Notte S. wil. wocester S. This yere king Edward had a goodly victory vpon the sea against Charles the constable of France where he toke xxii of their shyppes Anno. 26. Andrew Aubery M. Iohn wroth S. Gibbō staindrop S. This yeare the castell of Guynes was yelden vnto the englishmen dwellyng in Calice by treason of a Frenche man Also this yere y e englishmen beyng in Britayn had a goodly victory ouer the Frenchemen where they tooke many noble men prisoners Anno. 27. Adam Francis Maior Iohn Peache S Iohn stodeney S This Sommer was so long dry that it was called after the dry sommer for from March tyll the latter end of Iuly fell lytle rayne or none by which reason corne that yere folowyng was scant Anno. 28. Adam Francis Maior Iohn Welde S. Iohn Lytle S. The Duke of Brunswyke made an appeale against Henry duke of Lancaster for whyche was waged battell in the frenche kynges courte and beynge bothe ready within the lystes to fyght the french kyng stayed the matter and toke the quarell into his handes so that either of them departed the field without any stroke striken Anno 29. Thomas Legget M. williā Totinghā S. Richard Smert S. For so muche as the townes in Flanders brake their promyse before tyme made by Iaques Dartnell and now fauoured the french partie king Edward remoued the market and staple of woll out of Flanders into Englande as to Westminster Chichester Lyncolne Bristowe and Canterbury Prince Edward the sonne of kynge Edward passed into Gascoyn where he made sore warre and destroyed castels and townes before hym and tooke the towne of Remorentine wyth other Also this yeare was the house of the Friers Angustines in London finished whiche was reedifyed by syr Humfrey Bobune earle of Hertforde and Essex whose bodye lyeth buried in the quier of the said house before the high aultar Anno. 30. Symond Francis M. Thomas Forster S Thomas Brādon S Edwarde prince of Wales nye to the citie of Poitiers ioyned battel with king Iohn of Frāce of whō the prince by his marcial policy wan a noble victory notw tstandyng that he had in his army but 800. souldiors on the french part were 6000. fighting mē In this conflict King Iohn was taken with his yong son Philyp and many of his nobles brought◠into Englande Anno. 31. Henry Picard M. Rich. Nofinghā S. Thomas Dosel S. Great and royal iustes were holden in Smythfield before the kyng of Englād the frēch king being prisoner the kyng of Scottes and diuers other nobles Anno. 33. Iohn Stody M. Stephen Candish S. Barthol Frostling S. This yere Dauid le Bruze king of scottes was set at libertie when he had put king Edward suretie of .10000 mark for his ransom Anno. 23. Iohn Lufain M. Iohn Barnes S. Iohn Burys S. The englyshemen in Britaine tooke the towne of Ancore and dyuers other and put them to great ransome Anno. 34. Symon Duffild M. Simon Bedinghā S. Iohn Chichester S. Kyng Edward with his son the prince passed the sea to Calice and from thense rode through France by Picard Artois Roan Champayn and so foorth to Britaine euer destroying the countrey before him hys garrisons also made warre in Beauvoisin in Picardye in Brye in Campayn and spoiled well nere all the counntrey Moreouer the kynge of Nauarre vexed sore the marches of Normandy Thus was the realm of France miserably beset at this tyme on all sydes At the last a finall peace was concluded betwene the kynges of Englande of Frāce on this cōdition that king Edward should haue to his possession the countreis of Gascoyn and Guyen Poytiers Lymosyn Baleuile Exantes Calice Guynes and diuers other lordships castels towns all the landes to thē belōging without knowlege of any soueraigntie or subiection for y e same and the king of France shold pay for his ransom 300000. crownes so King Iohn returned into France Anno. 35. Iohn Wroth M. Iohn Denys S. Walter Burney S. King Edward returned from Caleys into Englande and brought with hym many noble men of Frāce for hostages This yere men and beasts perished in England in diuers places with thunder lightning and fiends wer sene in mās likenes aud spake vnto men as they trauailed by the way Anno. 36. Iohn Peche M. Williā Holbeche S. Iames Tame S. This yeare was great death and pestilence in Englande which was called the second mortalitie in which died Hēry duke of Lancaster then was Iohn of Gaunt the kings third son which had maried the dukes daughter made duke of Lancaster Also there were sene this yere in the ayre castels and hostes of men fighting as sayth Fabian Anno. 37. Stephen Cādishe M. Io. of S. Albons S. Iames Andrew S. This yere was a great wynd in England wherwith many steples and towres were ouerthrowen King Iohn of Fraunce came into England and shortly after died at y e Sauoy in London Also this yeare was a great frost in Englande whiche lasted from the myddest of September to the moneth of Aprill Anno. 38. Iohn Notte M Rychard Croydon S. Iohn Hiltofte S. Prynce Edwarde sayled into Burdeaux and receyued the possession of Guyā that kyng Edwarde had newly gyuen vnto hym Anno. 39. Adam of Bury M. Symon Mordant S Iohn of Motford S This yere the kyng began the foundation of saynt Stephens chappell at Westmynster whiche was finished by Rycharde the second sonne of prince Edward Anno. 40. Iohn Lufkyn M. Io. Bukylsworth S Iohn
Oreland S This yere the kyng cōmaunded that Peter pence should no more be gathered nor payde to Rome This yere Prynce Edwarde had hys fyrst sonne whose name was Edward but he dyed at seuen yeres of age Prynce Edward entred Spayne with a great puysaunce where he ouercame the Spanyardes and Frenche men and expelled Henry the bastarde and set Peter in his former estate as kig of Spain But not long after the prynces retorne home agayne Henry repaired his army and warred vpon his brother so fiersly that in the ende he vtterly vanquyshed hym and put him to death and thē without resistance possessed the kyngdome of Spayne Anno. 41. Iohn Louekyn M. Iohn Warde S Williā Dickmā S This yere was borne the second son of Prynce Edward named Rychard Anno. 42. Iames Andrew M. Rich. Torgold S. Williā Dickmā S. This yere appeared Stella cometa that is a blasing starre And this yere the erles of Armenak of brett of Perygort with other nobles of y e duchie of Guyan appealed the Prynce of Wales in the Frenche kynges court that he had broken the peace and wronged them as in exacting of them ouer great sommes of money c. But the Frenche king deferred it for certayne causes to long here to reherse Anno. 43. Symon Mordon M. Adā wymbinghā S. Robert Gyrdler S. This yere the kyng of Fraunce proceaded in iudgement vpon the appellation before made by y e erle of Armenak the lorde of Bret and erle of Perygort agaynst Prynce Edward Wherupon discorde variance began to take place betwene y e two kynges and those lords which before were sworne to kyng Edward dyd nowe yelde dyuers townes of the coūtrey of Poytiers vnto the Frēch kyng The Duke of Lācaster aryued at Caleis and entred Fraunce with a company of souldiours wher not farre from Arde the Duke of Burgoyne lodged within a mile of his army with a great power the space of .xviii. dayes and neuer profered battell But lastly went away by nyght and then the Duke passed further into Fraunce Anno. 44. Iohn Chichester M. Iohn Pyell S. Hugh hoiditch S. This yere dyed Quene Phylip wyfe to Edward the thyrd she buylded y e colledge in Oxēford called quenes colledge In this yere was the thyrd mortalitie or pestylence wherof dyed much people Anno. 45. Iohn Bernes M. Wil. Walworth S Robert Gayton S Iohn Barnes Mayor of Londō gaue a chest with three lockes and a. 1000. markee to be lent to yonge men vpon sufficient gage so that it passed not one 100. markes and for the occupying therof if he were learned to saye at his pleasure Deprofundis for the soule of Iohn Barnes if he were not learned to saye Pater noster But howe so euer the money was lent at this daie the chest standeth in the chamber of London without eyther money or pledges for the same This yere the countrey of Lymosyn with other became obeysaunt to the Frenche kyng and fell from the kynge of Englande by reason that Prynce Edward had lately assessed vpon the inhabytantes of the countrey a great and greuous taske by meanes whereof he lost the loue of the people Anno 46. Iohn Barnes M. Robert Hatfild S. Adam Staple S. The Erle of Penbroke as he passed the sea to reskewe the castell of Rochel was encoūtred with a fleete of Spanyardes whiche kyng Henry of Castell had sent to ayde the Frenche kyng Of these Spanyardes after cruellfyght the Erle was taken and syr Guystarde de Angle and other to the number of .160 persons and the more part of his men slayne and drowned Anno. 47. Iohn Pyel Maior Iohn Phylpot S. Nycolas Brēber S. Iohn Duke of Lancaster entred by Calays into Fraunce passed throughout the Realme by Uermendoys and Campayne nyghe to turdeaux in Aquitane without battayle not withstāding the great hurt and domage they dyd to the townes countreys as they passed Anno. 48. Adam of Bury M. Iohn Aubery S. Iohn Fisshye S. Dyuers entreatyes of peace were made betwene the kyng of Englande Fraunce by meane of the byshoppe of Rome but none was concluded Anno 49. William Walworth M. Rychard Lyōs S W. wodhous S The entreatie of peace continued but not concluded but for foure monethes at the moste in which tyme of entreatie the Frenche kyng wan many holdes townes of the Englyshemen as well in Guyan as in Brytayne and in other places Anno. 50. Iohn Warde M. Iohn hadley S. Wil. Newport S. Many wonderfull sycknesses fell among the people as well in Italy as in England whereof there vsed an exceadyng great number Anno. 51. Adam staple M. Iohn Northampton S Robert Launde S Prince Edward departed out of this lyfe who was in his tyme the flower of chyualry He was buried at Caunterbury and then kyng Edwarde created Richard sonne of prince Edward prince of Wales and because the kyng waxed feble and sickly he betoketh rule of the lande to syr Iohn of Gaunt duke of Lancaster who so continued duryng his fathers lyfe This yere kyng Edward the thyrde ended his lyfe at Rychemonde the .xxi. daye of Iune in the yere of our Lorde 1377. When he had reigned .50 yeres fyue monethes lackynge foure dayes and was buried at Westmynster he left behynde hym foure sonnes Lewes duke of Clarence Iohn of Gaunt duke of Lancaster Edmond of Langley duke of Yorke and Thomas of Wodstocke erle of Cambrydge Richarde the second Anno regni .1 RIchard the second sonne of Prince Edward of Wales was ordeyned kyng of Englande beyng as yet but eleuen yeres of age He began his reigne the .xi. daye of Iune in the yere of our lorde .1377 and left the same the .xxix. daie of September in the yere .1399 so he reigned .xxii. yeres .iii. monethes and eight daies In bountie and liberalitie he farre passed all hys progenitours but he was ouer muche geuen to reste quietnes and loued litle dedes of armes and martial prowesse for that he was yong he was moste ruled by yong counsayle and regarded nothyng the aduertysementes of the sage and wyse men of his Realme for the chiefe about hym were of no wysdome nor estimacion whiche thyng tourned this land to great trouble and him selfe in fine to extreame myserie Of hym Iohn Gower wryteth as Hardyng affyrmeth these verses in latyne folowyng Principio Regis oritur transgressio legis Quo fortuna cadit humus retrograda uadit Quomodo surrexit populus quem nō bene rexit Tēpus ad huc plangit super hoc quod Chronica tangit Stultorū uile cepit consiliū iuuenile Et sectam senium decreuit esse reiectam Tunc accusare quosdam presumpsit auare Vnde catallorum gazas spoliauit corum Whiche may be englyshed thus When this kyng fyrst began to reigne the lawes neglected were Wherfore good fortune him forsooke and thearth did quake for feare The people also whom
whiche tyme the lady hys wyfe myght neuer come to hym nor had any thyng to lyue vpon but what people of theyr charities woulde geue hyr or what she got by hyr nedle Anno. 12. William Hampton FyshmoÌ„ M. Iohn Browne S Th. Bledlowe S This Mayor was a good iusticer he punyshed in hys yere many Bawdes and Strompettes and caused them to ryde with raye hoodes and made a payre of Stockes to bee sette in euerye warde of the cytie Anno. 13. Iohn Tat Mercer M. William Stocker S Robert Bellisdon S In this yere the erle of Excester was founde dead in the sea betwene Douer and Calleys One Iohn Gose was burned at the tower hyll for heresy Anno. 14. Ro. Drope Draper M. EdmuÌ„d Shaw S. Thomas Hyll S. This Robert Drope Maior of LondoÌ„ afore named buylded the east ende of y e conduite in Cornehyll Kynge Edwarde required of his subiectes a beneuolence whiche they gaue him and so he sailed into Fraunce with a great armie to aide the Duke of Burgoyne but by sute of the Frenche kyng a peace was concluded for seuen yeres Anno. 15. Robert Basset Salter M. Hugh prince S. Ro. colwich S. This Maior dyd sharp correction vpoÌ„ Bakers for makyng of lyght bread in so muche that he set dyuers of them on the pyllory whose names I pasâ—e ouer And a woman named Agnes Deyntie was also there punyshed for sellynge of false mynged butter Anno. 16. Rauf Iosseleyn Dra. M. Rich. RawfoÌ„ S. Wil. Horne This yere by the dyligence of this Maior the newe wall of London from Creplegate to Byshopsgate was made as it nowe is the Maior with his company of the Drapers made all that part betwyxt Alballowes church in the same wall and Byshops gate of their owne proper costes and the other companies made y e other deale whiche was a great worke to be done in one yere coÌ„sidering the purueyaunce of the stuffe Anno. 17. Humfrey Heyford Goldsmith M. Henry Colet S. Iohn Stocker S. This yere the Duke of Clarence seconde brother to the kyng beyng prysoner in the towre was secretly put to death and drowned in a barell of maluesey within the sayd towre Anno. 18. Richard Gardyner Mercer M. Rob. Herding S. Robert Byfeld S. This yere was a great dearth and also a great death at London and in dyâ—ers other partes of this Realme Anno. 19. Bartholo Iames Draper M. Thomas Ilam S. Iohn Warde S. This Thomas Ilam sheryffe afore named newely buylded the great conduyte in Cheape of his owne proprecostes This yere at the towre hyll were .4 felons hanged and burned for robbyng of a churche Anno. 20. Iohn Brown M. William Daniel S. William Bacon S. This yere the kynge requyred great sommes of money to be lent hym of the citizens of London who after diuerse assemblies graunted to lende him .5000 marke whiche was repaied agayne in the next yere folowyng Anno. 21. William Hariate Draper M. Robert ae S Wil. Wykyng S Rich. Chawry S This yere the Scottes began to stirre against whom kyng Edwarde sent the Duke of Gloucester and diuers other whiche retourned agayne without any notable battayle Anno. 22. Edmond Shawe goldsmith M. Wil. Whyte S. Iohn Mathew S. This Edmund Shaw builded Criple gate in London Kyng Edward makyng great prouision for warre into Fraunce ended hys lyfe the .ix. of Apryll in the yeare of our Lorde .1483 when he had reigned .22 yeares .i. moneth and v. dayes He was buryed at Wyndsor leauyng after him two sonnes Edwarde the prince Rycharde Duke of Yorke with .v. daughters as Elizabeth that after was quene Cicelie Anne Katherine and Bridget King Edward the fifthe Anno. 1. EDward the fyft of the age of .xi. yeres began hys reigne ouer this Realme of England the .ix. of Apryll in the yeare of our Lord .1483 and was murdred by Richarde Duke of Gloucester the same yere the .22 day of Iune so he reigned .2 monethes and .xi. days Thys Edwarde was neuer crowned but cruelly murdred by Richarde Duke of Gloucester his vnnatural vncle who after vsurped the Crowne and was called Richarde the third King Richard the thirde Anno Regni .1 RIchard the thyrd brother to Edwarde the fourthe thorough many cruel dedes lastly obteyned the Crowne of England Fyrst to compas his wycked and dyuelyshe purpose hee put to death those noble men which he thought wold not consent to hys mynde in all thynges the other he corupted with ryche gyftes then by hys vntruth and falshode he wrested from the quene Elizabeth beynge than in sanctuarie Rychard her yonger sonne and brother to the Prynce Thyrdly he caused to be publyshed at Poules Crosse by one doctour Shawe that Edward the fourthe hys elder brother was not ryghtely begotten of hys mother but by aduoutrye and therefore that neyther he nor hys chyldren had ryght to the Crowne or as some wryte he caused to be publyshed that the prynce his brother were not ryghtfully begotten of Queene Elizabeth and therfore the ryghte of the crowne to be his whiche in fyne he toke vpon hym and to make a perfect worke of his crueltie shortly therupon shamefully murdered the two yonge chyldren in the towre of London and vsurped the crowne two yeres and two monethes Anno Regni .1 Robert BylisdoÌ„ Habardasher M. Tho. NorlaÌ„d S. W. Martyn S. Grudge began betwene kynge Rychard the thyrde and his nere friende the Duke of Buckyngham in so much that for displeasure therof the Duke coÌ„spired with dyuers other noble men agaynst hym and intended to bryng into the lande Henry erle of Rychmonde as ryghtful heyre to the crowne This HeÌ„ry had fled into Brytayne fearyng the crueltie of Edward y e fourth for whiche conspiracie the saide Duke of Buckingham with dyuers other was shortly after taken and put to death Henry erle of Rychemounte aided with the Britaynes entended to arriue in Wales but hys nauie was so scattered with a contrary wynd that he was fayne to retyre backe agayne into Brytayne for that tyme. Dyuers noble men detestyng the tyranny of kyng Richard fled into Britayne and there adioyned them with the Erle of Richemount Anno. 2. Thomas Hyll Grocer M. Richard Chester S Tho. Britayne S Rafe Astrie S This Thomas Hill buylded the Cundyte in Gracious strete The noble prince Henry erle of Richmount with a small company of Frenchemen landed at Mylford hauen nygh Pembroke whose commynge when it was hearde of in Wales dyuers noble men with their retinue forsakyng Rychard gathered to hym in greate number so that his strengthe in short space greatly increased At a village nere to Leicester called â—osworthe he mette with his enemies where betwene them was foughten a sharpe battaile In conclusion kyng Rycharde with dyuers other was slayne and Henry obteyned a noble victory After whyche conquest he was immediatly crowned kynge of England in the field and
the dead corps of kyng Richard was broughte to Leycester and there buried at the Gray friers churche King Henry the seuenth Anno Regni .1 HEnrie the seuenth began hys reigne ouer this realme of England the .22 day of August in the yeare of our Lorde .1485 and deceased in the yeare .1509 the .xxii. day of Apryll So he reigned .xxiii. yeares and .viii. monethes he was a prince of meruailous wysedome and polycie and of great iustice temperaunce and grauitie He so behaued hym in the time of his Reigne that not withstandynge manye and greate occasions of trouble vnquietnes and warre Hee kepte his Realme in ryghte good rule and order Wherfore he was greately estemed reuerenced of foreyne princes Anno. 1. Hugh Brice M. Goldsmyth M. Iohn Tate S Io. Swanne S This yeare maister Thomas Ilam Alderman of London and marchant of the Staple at Calaice newe made the great Cundite in Cheape of hys owne goodes The Kynge ordeyned a numbre of chosen Archers and other stronge and hardy persons to geue daily attendance on his person whom he named yeomen of his garde This yeare was the sweatyng sycknes of the whyche a wonderfull multitude dyed and in London besydes other there dyed .ii. Maiors within .viii. dayes and .vi. aldermen This yeare the beautyfull Crosse in Cheape was newe buylded and made Towarde the buyldyng wherof Thomas Fysher mercer gaue .vi. C. marks Anno. 2. Sir Henry Colet mercer M. Iohn Perciuall S. Hugh Cloptoâ— S. This yere the king maried Elisabeth eldest daughter of Edward the fourth by whyche meanes the twoo famylyes of Yorke and Lancaster the whyche had long caused diuision was knytt together in one About this tyme Francis Louell and Humfrey Stafford rebelled in y e north with them was Martin Swart Which commotion was quieted by the policy of the Duke of Bedford but not without bloud shedde For there was slayne the Erle of Lyncoln the lord Louell Martyn Swart other aboue .iiii. thousand And this yeare was borne prince Arthure in the moneth of September Anno. 3. WilliaÌ„ Horne Salter M. Iohn Fenkyll S. williaÌ„ RemingtoÌ„ S. This yere was quene Elizabeth crowned at Westmynster vppon saynt Katherines daye Anno. 4. Robert Tate Mercer M. williaÌ„ Isake S Rafe Tinley S This yere was a taske of the .x. peny of all mens goodes and landes through which the commons of the northe slew the Earle of Northumberlande wherfore Chamberlayne their capitayn with other was hanged at Yorke Anno. 5. WilliaÌ„ white Draper M. williaÌ„ Capel S Iohn Broke S This yeare one Roger Shauelocke slewe hym self For whole goodes was muche busynes betwene the kyngs amner and the sheryffe Anuo .6 Iohn Mathewe mercer M. HeÌ„ry Coot S. Ro. Reuell S. Hugh HeÌ„berton S. Syr Robert Chamberlain beheaded This yere the Kyng required a beneuolence which was to hym granted toward his iourney into France Thys yeare Creplegate of London was new buylded at the costes and charges of syr EdmuÌ„d Shaw goldsmith late Maior of the same citie In Iuly was Henry the kyngs second sonne borne at Grenewiche This yeare the beautifull Cundyte in Gracious strete was begon to be buylded The stone worke wherof was fynished in the yeare .1494 But the fyrst water ran out therof on the .xix. day of March in the yere .1503 the .xix. yere of Henry the .vii. and not before Whyche Cundyte was buylded at the costes and charges of sir Thomas Hyll grocer as it doth appeare by certaine verses writen on the same Cundyte as hereafter followeth Thomas Hill knight late Maior of this citie with his wife dame Elisabeth of their charity For the loue of God weale of the coÌ„monaltie Of their costs onely thys thyng dyd edyfie Out of the ground with all thyngs necessary Anno. 7. Hugh Clopton mercer M. Tho. Wood S. Wil. Brown S. This yere kyng Henry toke hys voyage into France with a greate army to aide the BritoÌ„s against the french king Anno. 8. Wil. Martin skinner M. Wil. Purchas S wil. Welbecke S This yere was a peace concluded betwene the kings of England France and kyng Henry returned agayne into England And this yere was a fraye or ryote made vppon the Easterlynges or Stilliard men by Mercers seruauntes and other For the whyche dyuers of them were sore punished and the chiefe aucthors were kept long in prison Anno. 9. Rafe â—stry fish monger M. Robert FabiaÌ„ S Iohn wynger S This yeare wheat was solde for vi.d the bushell and baye salte at iii.d ob the bushell Anno. 10. Rich. Chawry salter M. Nicol. Alwin S. Iohn warner S. This yeare was white hearyng sold at xl.d a barell beyng good Dyuers gentylmen in England were appeached of treason and for fauoryng the conspiracie of Parkyn Warbeck of whiche some were pardoned and some put to death Perkyn Warbecke whyche by the counsayle of Margarete of Burgoyne namyng hymselfe Rycharde of Yorke Kynge Edwardes seconde sonne arryued in Kente where hee was dryuen backe by the Uplandyshe menne and other of the inhabitauntes of the countreye wyth the losse of dyuers of hys men and shortely after were hanged an hundred and three score persones of the forenamed Rebelles in dyuerse and sundrye coastes of Englande The .v. captains were Mountford Corbet Whitebelt Quintin and Genyne Anno. 11. Syr HeÌ„ry Colet mercer M. Tho. Kneisworth S Henry Somer S The Scots brake into the north partes of England by the setting on of Perkyn Werbecke and dyd muche harme to the borderers Anno. 12. Iohn Tate mercer M. Iohn Shaw S Rich. Haddon S This Iohn Tate builded saint Anthonies in London a goodly foundation as shall hereafter be declared Where kynge Henry made preparation for warre into Scotland by means of a payment that was graunted to the Kyng by act of parliament a new commotion was made by the Commons of Cornewall whyche vnder the leadyng of the lorde Audeley wyth Mighell Ioseph the Black smyth and dyuers other came to Blacke heath where the kyng met with them and discomfited the rebells and toke theyr Captaines which were shortly after drawen hanged and quartered The lorde Audeley was beheaded at the tower hyll the .xxviii. day of Iune Kyng Henry sent an army into Scotlande under the guydyng of the Erle of Surrey and the lorde Neuell whyche made sharpe warre vpon the Scots A mariage concluded betwene prince Arthur and lady Katherine the kyngs daughter of Spayn Perkyn Werbecke landed agayne in Cornewall and assaulted the towne of Excetour and other places but finally he toke the saintuarie of Beaudly and was after pardoned his life Anno. 13. WilliaÌ„ purchase mercer M. Bartholo Rede S. Tho. windought S. A peace proclaimed betwene the kinges of Englande and Scotlande for the terme of both theyr lyues Perkyn Warbecke endeuoured to steale away secretly out of the land but he was taken
into the Hospitall at the gray friers called Christes Hospitall to the number of fower hundred In the sommer past the other yeare king Edward wēt in progresse into the west countrey where he had so muche exercise of haukynge and huntynge as was thought by some at that tyme to be daungerous vnto his health Towarde wynter he returned to London from thense to Grenewitche where all the Christmas season was passed with muche pleasauntnes and myrthe vntill at lengthe in Ianuarie he felle sycke of a cough whyche ended in a consumption of the lyghtes The sunday before Candelmas which was the .xxix. daye of Ianuarie in the vii yere of Edward the .vi. came a commission to the Churche wardens of all paryshes in London that all their lynnen as albes chesebels and surplices whiche were not occupied reseruynge necessarie linnen for the churche should bee geuen vnto the Hospitall aboue named The .xx. day of May by the encouragemēt of one Sebastian Gabota .iii. great shyppes well furnished were set foorthe for the aduenture of the vnknowen voiage to Moscouia and other easte partes by the northe seas And about the same tyme .ii. other shyps were sent foorth to seke aduentures southwardes In May whiles kyng Edwarde laye daungerously sycke Lorde Gylford the duke of Northumberlandes fourth son maryed lady Iane the Duke of Suffolkes daughter whose mother being then aliue was doughter to Mary king Henries sister whiche fyrste was maried to the frenche kynge and after to Charles duke of Suffolke In this tyme many were punyshed in Englande for talkynge rasshely that the Kyng shoulde be deade and dyuers also for sayenge that he was poysoned for that rumour was spred throughoute the Realme The .22 day of Iune a great thunder began about a .xi. of the clock and dured almoste the space of two houres and about .xii. of the clocke was a wonderfull terrible clap at which clappe the lyttell doore of saint Denyse church in London was driuen open and the locke thereof with a great parte of the lynyng of the same doore was torne awaye Kyng Edward beyng about the age of .xvi. yeres as is sayd before was long sick of a consumption of the lightes and the .vi. day of Iuly ended his life he was in this hys youthe a prince of suche towardnes in vertue learnynge and all goodly gyftes as Europe seldom tymes or neuer hath sene the like and therfore no meruaile considering the state of the realme if all true englyshe hartes dye muche lament soo vntymely death in so tender youthe and so toward a prince The .x. daye of Iuly beyng monday the deathe of Kyng Edwarde was publyshed The same daye in the after noone aboute fower of the clocke the Lady Iane doughter of the lady Frances the Duchesse of Suffolke whyche Lady Iane was maryed vnto the Lord Gyiford Dudley the fourthe sonne vnto the Duke of Northumberland was conueyed by water to the tower of London and betwene .vii. and .viii. of the clocke in the euening proclamation was made throughout the citie whereby was declared by sondry circumstāces that king Edwarde beyng deceased by his wylle had assigned the sayde lady Iane to bee quene and therevppon so proclaymed Quene of England Thys matter was very greuouslye taken of the commom people and a greate numbre of gentilmen for the loue they bare to Lady Mary and the ryghte of her title At thys tyme the state of this realme might wel seme moste myserable wherin the nobilitie and counsell on the one parte and the gentlemen and commons of the other appered to be fully bent to mayntayne two contrary titles For when it was heard that the lady Mary was fled to Framingham castell in Suffolk the people of the countrey almoste wholly resorted vnto her and in Oxenforde syr Iohn Williams in Buckinghamshire syr Edmunde Peckham and in dyuers other places many men of worshyp offryng them selues as guides to the common people gathered greate powers and with all spede made towarde Suffolke where ladye Mary was In thys meane tyme the .xiii. day of Iuly by appointment of the counsell the Duke of Northumberland the Erle of Huntingdon the lorde Grey of Wilton and dyuers other with a great numbre of men of armes went to fetche her by force and was on their way as farre as Bury but not long after the counsell partly moued with the right of her cause partly consideryng that the moste of the realme was wholly bent on her syde changed theyr myndes and assembled them selues at Baynardes castell and there commoned with the erle of Pembroke and immediatly came into Cheapeside with the kyng of heraldes where they proclaimed the lady Mary doughter to kyng Henry the .viii. and quene Katherine quene of Englande France and Irelande defendor of the faithe c. the xix day of Iuly kepyng as prisoners in the tower lady Iane lately proclaimed and Lorde Gylford her husband When this was heard in the dukes campe many of his souldiours forsoke hym and be returnynge to Cambridge proclaimed the Ladye Marye Quene and on the twenty day at nyght beyng apprehended of the garde he with other was brought to the Tower of London the fyue and twentye daye of Iuly Thus was the matter ended wythout bloudshedde whyche menne seared woulde haue brought the deathe of many thousandes Queene Mary Anno Regni 1. MArye the eldest daughter of king Henry the .viii. began her reigne ouer thys realme of England the vi day of Iuly in the yeare of our Lord .1553 deceased in the yere of our Lorde .1558 the .17 day of Nouember so she reigned .v. yeares .v. moneths .xi. days she was proclaimed Quene at London the .xix. day of Iuly and the .xx. day at the castel of Framingham and afterwarde beynge accompanied with a goodly bande of noble men gentylmen and commoners gathered out of all partes of the realme came to London and entred the tower the .iii. day of August In her fathers tyme and brothers tyme dyuers noble men byshops and other were caste into the tower somme for treason layde to their charge as the Duke of Norffolke and the Lord Courtney sonne to the Marques of Excester some for mainteinyng the Popes supremacie as D. Lonstall byshop of Durham and other whiche continued there prisoners at the Quenes commyng to the tower to all these and many other she graunted pardon and restored them to theyr former dignities Lykewise dyd she vnto doctour Gardener bishop of Winchester whom she dyd not only sette at libertie but also made hym hygh chauncellour of Englande For the greate fauour that she shewed to the lord Courtney whom she made Erle of Deuonshyre many men were in opinion that she purposed to haue maryed hym but in the end it proued otherwyse As all sortes of men almoste dyd reioyce that Quene Mary had recouered the crowne so many notwithstandyng muche feared alteration of religion by her For manyfest signification therof was geuen
S. Austins at Canturbery S. Paules church iu LoÌ„don S. Andrews in Rochester Saint Peters at Westminster buylded 613 Mahomete fyrst begynnyng The vii kingdome Paulinus buylded the great churche at Lincolne Iron cuppes fastened by welles fountayns for trauayling meÌ„ to drynke on 635 The fyrste Schoole in Cambrydge buylded Policronica f. Columbe cronicis Colmanni The byshops see of Winchester buylded Glasynge brought fyrst into Englaud Chertesey in Southerye was afterwarde destroyed by the Danes 683 The kyng becam a monke The Ilande called vniuersally England 686 The colledge of Welles the abbey of Glastenbury newly builded The quene of West SaxoÌ„s was abbesse of Barkyng the kynge her husbande became a religious man 724 S. Beda in this tyme wrote in Englande 729 Two comets or blasynge starres Crowlande buylded Beda deceased 745 The kyng depriued and slayne by a swyneheard 748 Winchcombe abbey builded The abbey of S. Albons buylded The Kynge Kenulphus slayne 778 It rayned blood The Danes fyrst entred this lande The kynge poysoned by his wyfe 795 The Danes seconde entryng thys lande 832 Ethelwolphus gaue first tithes in Englande as Iohn Harding affirmeth An hospitall for englyshemen buylded at Rome Oxenforde buylded 855 856 The Danes third entryng this land 893 This kynge deuided y e day and nighte in iii. partes 8. howers to serue god .8 houres where suites of his people and viii houres to take his sleape reste The Danes landed in Northumberlande Kynge Edmunde slayne by the Danes Iohn Lidgate Women to kepe their chastitie disfigured them selues by cuttinge of theyr noses and ouerlyppes The king Etheldred slayn by the Danes The prioryist Excetor builded 872 The kynge counterfeated the mynstrell Shaftesbury Ethlingsey buylded The fyrste graÌ„mer scole in Oxenforde buylded Newe abbey in winchester 901 This K. Edwarde is called Edwarde the senior Herford castell buylded The monastery of S. Peter at Gloceter buyldyd 925 The Kinge was crouned at Kyngston Iohn Lidgate 940 946 The Kynge crowned at Kyngs town 955 He was crouned at Kyngstoune A vicious kinge The kyng depriued 959 He was crouned at Bathsome saye at Kyngstoune This kynge builded and repaired xi abbeis in England as Wilton Peterborowe Thorney Ramsey c. The wolues in Englande destroyed Good lawes made agaynst quaffyng and alehouses Eight pety kyngs rowed kynge Edgar vp and down the ryuer of Dee 975 The Kynge crowned at Kyngston The kyng murdered by his stepmother A blasynge sterre Almsbery Warwel builded 978 The kynge crowned at Kyngston Englande became tributary to the Danes The Danes besieged London Great tribute sayd to the Danes The Danes sodeynly murdered slayne A great number of Danes aryue in thys lande London besiged by the Danes S Edmondes Burye buylded A great fire in London A boke in the Guylde hall of London named domes daye 1016 EdmuÌ„d with the Iron sydâ— 1038 Kynge Edmunde slayne with a speare thrust vp into his foundment as he sat on a priuy I iuste reward geuen Iohn Hars dynge 1018 A parliameÌ„t at Oxforde Polidore Vergile 1038 1041 Reynolde of Chester Robert Fabian 1043 Robert Fabian William bastarde duke of Normandye Thomas Couper The lawes of S. Edwarde the confessor 1066 WillliaÌ„ duke of Normandy conquered this lande Waltham abbey Thomas Couper 1067 Thomas Couper The names of Normanes and other that came with the conqueror 1068 Two castels buylded at Yorke one other at Notyngham and other at Lincolne 1069 1070 1072 Iohn Hardynge The new forest in South-hampton Iohn Hardynge Execution at Wynchester 1079 1081 10â—â— 1082 Srhewsbury and WeÌ„loke bbeys buylded 1085 The numbre of men of cattell and howe many hydes of lande was noted in Englande A greuous reaction 1086 Great plages in England A parte of Poules churche was brent Battaile abbey and Barmondsey abbey builded 1087 It remaineth in recorde of good authoritie that the best payre of hose then to be bought for the kyng coste but .iii. s. as one Robert affirmeth who wrate in the tyme of Henry the thyrde 1088 A great earth quake 1089 1090 Greate teÌ„pest in Englande The roofe of Bowchurche and syxe hundred houses in London bloweÌ„ down 1091 Newe castell vpon Tyne buylded The roofe of Salisburye churche consumed with lyghtnyng 1092 Great frost The welshemen rebelled The dukedome of Normandy morgaged to y e kyng of England Chester abbey buylded 1093 The kyng of Scots slayne in Englande Greate pestilence 1094 Great morein of men Strange sightes sene in the ayre 1096 1097 Westminster hall buylded Iohn Rastall 1098 Great flouds A welle caste out bloud Great flames of fyre sene in the element 1099 Iohn Hardynge 1100 1101 A tribute payed to the duke of NormaÌ„dy 1102 The priory the hospitall of S. Bartholomewe in Smithfielde was begun to be buylded Smith feld a laystowe 1103 1104 Teukesbury abbey builded 1105 Rebellion in Shropshire Cornwall 1106 A blasynge sterre 1107 1108 1109 The strong castell of Brystow builded Euisham abbey buylded 1112 A great earth quake Hyde abbey buylded A blasyng sterre 1114 1117 1119 The kynges chyldren drouned in the sea 1123 Readyng abbey Cisseter Windilsore Woodstocke buylded 1126 The gray friers first came into EnglaÌ„de 1127 1131 Fountaynes abbey builded The priory of Norton and the abbeye of Combremore buylded 1132 1135 Henry the first toke his death by a â—all of his horse 1135 Hector Boice 1136 1138 1140 Kynge Stephen taken prisoner Stratford abbey buylded 1144 1144 1145 1148 A great frost 1150 1151 The abbeyes of Coggeshall of Fourneys and Feuersham buylded 1154 1155 1156 Two sonnes sene in the fyrmament The castel of Rutland and the abbeye of Basyngwerk buylded 1157 Thomas Couper 1159 1160 1161 Great fyre at Canturbery 1163 Thomas Becket bisshop of Canturbery 1167 K. Henries eldest sonne crowned hys rather beynge alyue 1170 1171 Thomas Gouper 1172 1174 The kynges sonne the seconde tyme crowned 1175 Henry the sonne of king Henry rebelâ— agaynst his father 1177 1179 1181 The Kynges son deceased 1184 1185 1187 1289 Thomas Couper Iohn Maiore Many outlawes in Englande The fyrst bailiffes in London 1189 Many Iewes slayne in Englande Quene Elianor released out of prison Ranulph of Chester Guido 1290 The Iewes in Englande were robbd many of them slewe them selues 1191 Kyng Rychard weÌ„t to Ierusalem in his absence his brother rebelled in Englande 1192 Thomas Couper 1193 Kyng Richarde taken prisoner 1194 1195 1196 Great ransom payde for the kyng Kyng Rychard agayne crowned at Wynchester A preacher called Willliam wyth y e long bearde WilliaÌ„ with the long beard forced by fyre to flye oute of Bowchurche in cheape 1197 1198 Kyng Richarde wounded to deathe with a venemous arrow 1199 1199 The kynge toke .iii. s. of euery plough lande Kyng Iohn dueorsed 1200 Ranulph of â—â—ester 1201 Fiue Mones sene in the firmament Robert Fabian xxv Gouernours of the Citie chosen 1202 Great tempest in Englande 1203 Great dearth of wheate in Englande 1204 England interdicted A monstrous fyshe taken 1205 Normandye loste 1205
myddle Englande that rose agaynste hym was depriued when he had reigned .iiii. yeres he was buried in the cathedrall churche of Wynchester EDgar brother to Edwyne began his reigne in Englande He was a prince of worthy memorye for hys manyfold vertues greately renoumed so excellent in iustice and sharpe in correction of vices aswell in his maiestrates as other subiectes that neuer before his dayes was vsed the lesse felony by robbers or extorcion or briberye by fals officers He chastised also the great negligence couetousnes and vicious liuyng of the clergye he refourmed and brought them to a better order of stature he was but litle but of mynde valyant and hardy very expert in marciall policye he prepared a great nauy of shyppes which he disposed in .iii. partes of his realme and had souldioures alway prest and ready agaynste the incursions of foreyn and strange enemies be reigned xvi yeares He buylded Peters Bury Thorney Ramsey and many other was buried at Glastenbury Ludwallus prince of Wales payd to hym yerely in name of tribute .3000 wolues by meane wherof within .iiii. yeares in England and Wales myght scantly be founde one wolfe This Edgare in his floryshing youthe was some deale geuen to the luste of the flesshe whyche he afterwarde greuousely repented In his tyme as well the Danes as all other people in Englande vsed the vice of great drinking The kyng therfore rode through the realme and put downe many alehouses and would suffer but one in a village or town except it were a great borough and ordeined certayne cuppes with pynnes and nailes and made a lawe that who soeuer dranke past that marke at one draught shoulde forfayt a certayne payn wherof the accuser should haue the one half and the ruler of the Towne the other halfe It is written by Fabyan and others that Edgar bring at Chester entred the ryuer of Dee and syttynge in the bote he toke the rule of the helme and caused .viii. kynges to row hym vp down the riuer vnto S. Iohns church and from thens to his palaice in tokē y t he was lord king of so many prouinces EDward the sonne of Edgar by his fyrst wyfe began hys ceigne ouer this realme contrary to the mynd and pleasure of Elfride his stepmother and other of her alliance In all kyndes of honest vertue this man might well bee compared to his father and began hys Reygne wyth suche modestye and myldenesse that hee was woorthylye fauoured of all menne Excepte onely Elfryde whyche euer bare a grudge agaynste hym for so muche as she desyred to haue the gouernaunce of the Realme for her owne soonne Egelrede Edwarde whyle hee was huntyng in a forrest by chaunce loste hys companye and rode alone to refreshe hym at the Castell of Corffe where by the counsayle of hys stepmother Elphrede he was traiterously murthered as hee satte on his horse When hee had reigned .iii. yeares hee was buryed at Shaftesbury After his death God shewed for hym dyuers myracles Wherfore he is numbred among the sayntes and martirs Before the death of thys Edward appeared a blasynge starre of meruailous greatnes It is of some authors writen that the forsaid Elphrede afterwarde take great penaunce and that she buylded twoo Monasteryes of Nonnes Almesbury and Warwell in whyche Warwell she after liued a solitarie lyfe tyll she dyed EGelrede or Etheldrede the sonne of kyng Edgar and Alphrede was ordeyned kynge of Englande and crowned at Kingstoune He was goodly of shape and visage but wholly geuē to idlenes and abhorred all princely exercises a louer of ryotte lecherie and dronkennes and vsed extreme cruelty towardes his subiectes hauyng his eares open to all vniust complaintes In feates of armes of all men moste ignorant his crueltie made hym odious to his subiects and his cowardise encoraged straunge ennemies to inuade his kyngdome By meanes whereof thys lande was sore afflicted with warre famyne and pestilence In his tyme decayed the noble kyngdom of England and became tributarie to the Danes whereby the Danes when they had spent the sayd tribute fel streight again to robberye and arryued in sundry places of Englande as in the Isle of Thenet In Cornewall and Sussex and after many damages by them done and ryche gyftes receaued of the Kynge they retourned into theyr countreye for a tyme. But shortly they agayn entred this lande in so many places that the kynge Etheldrede was to seeke to whiche coast he should fyrst go to withstande hys enemies In conclusyon for aduoydyng of further daunger he was compelled to appeare them with great summes of money but when the money was spente they fell to newe robbyng and cessed not to spoyle the land and lastly besieged Lōdon And to augment the kyngs sorow Elphricus that then was admirall of England traiterously fledde to the Danes And after beyng reconciled fledde to them the seconde tyme While this cruel warre continued in England by meane of a byshop named Elphegus a peace was concluded at whiche tyme as Polidore wytnesseth the kynge made his lande tributarie to the Danes the payment wherof from the summe of ten thousand poundes in few yeres was raised to fifty thousand The bloudy flixe the burnyng feuer wyth dyuers other maladies vexed the people throughout all Englande Etheldred kyng of England toke to wyfe Emma the syster of Rycharde Duke of Normandie whyche for her beautie was called the Flower of Normandie Etheldrede beyng greatly inhanced in his mynd for this his mariage sent forth into al partes of his realme secrete and strayght cōmissions chargyng the rulers that vppon a certayne day and hower assygned the Danes whiche proudely vsed great crueltie in the land should be sodeinly slayn and so was if doone Which thyng was after cause of great misery For Swain kyng of Denmark hearyng of the murder of the Danes and beynge sore moued therwith landed with a strong armye in dyuers partes of thys realme and so cruelly without mercy and pity spoyled the countreye and slue the people that the englysh men wer brought to mooste extreeme and vnspeakable mysery But yet after certayne space a peace was intreated For whyche the Englyshemen payde thirtye thousande poundes Howbeit dyuers princes of the Danes styll continued wastynge the lande in dyuers places Swayn kyng of Denmarke repented of the former couenāts made with the englyshmen thinkyng to attayne to the whole dominiō of this land with a strong army entred fyrste Northumberland than myddle England and so wente foorthe tyll he came to London whyche he besieged and destroyed the countrey of Kent At this tyme Egelrede the kyng despairyng of all recouerie not ones proferynge to resyste his ennemies with his wyfe and children fledde to Richard duke of Normandy then possessed Swayn y e hole kingdom of this realm who spoiled the landes of s Edmunds But after his death succeded Canutus