an Emperour at Rome that was a Sarrasyn a tyraunt that was called Maâ—ence that put to deth all that byleued in god destroyed holy chirche by all his power slewe all Crysten men that he myght fynde And among all other he lete martyr Saynt Katheryne And many other crysten people that hadde drede of deth fledde came in to this londe to kynge Constantyne tolde hym of the sorowe that Maxence dyde to the Crystyanytee Wherfore Constantyne had pyte made grete sorowe and assembled a grete hoste a grete power and wente ouer vnto Rome and there toke the cyte and slewe all that there was in that were of mysbyleue that he myght there fynde And tho was he made Emperour and was a good man and gouerned hym so well that all londes to hym were attendaunt for to be vnder his gouernaunce ¶ And this deuyll and tyraun Marence that tyme was in the londe of Grece herde these tydynges and sodeynly became wood and sodeynly he deyed and so he ended his lyf ¶ Whan Constantyne wente from this londe vnto Rome he tooke with hym his moder Eleyne for the moche wysedome that she coude thre other grete lordes that be moost loued that one was called Hoell an an other was called Taberne the thyrde Morhin And toke all his londe to kepe vnto the Erle of Comewayle that was called Octauian And so anone as this Octauian wyste that his lorde dwelled at Rome Incontynent he seased all the londe in to his honde and therwith dyde all his wyll amonge hyghe lowe they helde hym for kyng ¶ Whan these tydynges came to Constantyne the Emperour he was wonder wrothe towarde the erle Octauian And sente Taberne with .xij. M. men for to destroye the erle for his falsenesse And they arryued at Portesmouth ¶ And whan Octauian wyst that he assembled a grete power of Brytons dyscomfyted Taberne and Taberne fledde thens in to Scotlonde ordeyned there a grete power and came ayen in to this londe an other tyme to yeue batayll to Octauyan ¶ Whan Octauian herde that he assembled a grete power came ayen towarde Taberne as moche as he myght soo that those two hostes mette togyders vppon Stanesmore and strongely smote togyder tho was Octauian dyscomfyted and â—ledde thens vnto Norwaye And aberne seassed all yâ— londe in his honde townes castelles and as moche as they ther had And syn Octauian came ayen from Norway with a grete power seased all the londe in his honde droue out all the Romayns was tho made kynge regned ¶ How Marimian that was the Emperours cosyn of Rome spowsed Octauians doughter was made kynge of this londe THis Octauian gouerned the londe well nobly but he had none heyâ—â—â—aue a doughter that was a yonge childe that he loued as moche as his lyf And for as moche as he wexed syke and was in poynt of deth myght no lenger regne he wolde haue made one of his neuewes to haue be kynge the whiche was a noble knyght a stronge man that was called Conan Meriedok and he sholde haue kepte the kynges doughter haue maryed her whan tyme had ben But the lordes of the londe wolde not suffre it but yaaf her couÌ„seyll to be maryed to some hyghe man of grete honour thenne myght she haue all her lust the couÌ„sell of the Emperour Constantyne her lorde And at this couÌ„seyll they accorded those tho Cador of Cornewaylle for to go to the Emperour for to do this message And he toke the waye went to Rome tolde the Emperour this tydynges well and wysely And the Emperour sent in to this londe with hyÌ„ his owne cosyn yâ— was his vncles sone a noble knyght a stronge that was called Maximian And he spowsed Octauians doughter was crowned kynge of this londe ¶ How Maximian that was themperours cosyn conquereed the londe of Armorycam yaaf it to Conan Meriedok THis kynge Maximian became so ryall that he thought to conquere the londe of Armorycam for the grete rychesse that he herde telle that was in that londe so yâ— he ne lefte man that was of worthynes knyght squyre ne none other man that he ne toke with hym to the grete damage to all the londe For he lefte at home behynde hym no man to kepe the londe but toke them with hyÌ„ fro this londe .xxx. thousande knyghtes that were doughty mennes bodyes and wente ouer to the londe of Armorycam and there slewe the kynge that was called Imball and conquered all the londe And whan he had so done he called Conan sayd For as moche as kyng Octauian made you kynge of Brytayne and thrugh me ye were lette dystroubled that ye were not kynge I gyue you this londe of Armorycam you therof make kynge And for as moche as ye be a Bryton I wyll that this londe haue the same name nomore be called Armorycam but be called Brytayne And the londe from whens we be comen shall be called moche Brytayne And soo shall men knowe that one Brytaytayne fro that other Conan Meridok thanked hym greetly so was he made kynge of lytell Brytayn And whan all this was done Maximiam wente from thens vnto Rome tho was made Emperour after Constantyne And Conan dwelled styll in lytell Brytayn with moche honour there lete ordeyne .ij. thousande ploughmen of the londe for to culture the londe to harowe it for to sowe it feffed them rychely after that they were And for asmoche as kyng Conan none of his knyghtes ne none of his other people wolde not take wyues of the nacion of FrauÌ„ce he tho sente in to grete Brytayne to the Erle of Cornewayle yâ— men called Dionothe yâ— he sholde chese thorugh out all this londe .xi. M. of maydens That is to saye .viij. M. for the meane people and .iij. M. for the gretest lordes that sholde them spouse And whan Dionoth vnderstode this he made a coÌ„maundement thorughout all the londe of Brytayn And as many as the nombre came to he assemblid togyder of maydens for there was no man yâ— durst withstande his coÌ„maundements for as moche that all the londe was take hym to warde kepe to doo all thynge that hyÌ„ good lyked ¶ And whan these maydens were assembled he lete them come afore hym at London And lete ordeyne for them shyppes hastely and as moche as them neded to that vyage And toke his owne doughter that was called vrsula that was the fayrest creature that ony man wyst And he wolde haue sent her to kynge Conan that sholde haue spoused her and made her quene of the londe But she had made pryuely to god a vowe of chastyte that her fader not wyst ne none other man elles that was lyuynge vpon erthe ¶ How Vrsula and .xi. thousande maydens that were in her company wente towarde lytell Brytayne and all
moo with hym but one kynght yf he wolde there abyde Then began Leyr to wepe and made moche sorowe and sayd tho Alas now haue I to longe lyued that this sorowe and myscheyf is to me now fallen For now I am poore that sometyme was ryche But now haue I noo frende ne kynne that to me wyll do ony good But whan I was ryche all men me honoured worshyped and now euery man hath of me scorne and despyte And now I well wote that Cordeyll my yongest doughter sayd me trouth whan she sayd As moche as I had soo moche sholde I be loued And all the whyle yâ— I had good so longe was I loued and honoured for my ryches But mâ— two doughters glosed me thoâ—â— now of me they sette lytell pryce And soth tolde me Cordeill but I wolde not byleue it ne vnderstonde therfore I lete her go fro me as a thynge that I sette lytell pryce of now wote I neuer what for to do fâ—â—th my two doughters haue me thus deceyued that I so moche loued now must I nedes seke her that is in an other 〈◊〉 that lyghtely I lete her go from me without ony rewarde of yeftes And she sayd that she loued me as moche as she ought to loue her fader by all maner of reason And tho I sholde haue ared â—er no more And those that me otherwyse behoteth thorugh ther fals specheâ— now haue me desceyued In this maner Leyr longe tyme began to make his moone And at the last he shope hym to the seâ— and passed ouer in to Fraunce and ared and aspyed where the quene myght be founde And men tolde hym where she was And whan he came to the cyte that she was in pryuely he sent his squyâ—e vnto the quene for to telle her that her fader was come to her for grete nede And whan the squyre came to the quene he tolde her euery deale of her systers from the begynnynge vnto the ende Cordeill the quene anone tooke golde and syluer plente tohe it to the squyre in couÌ„sell that he sholde go bere it to her fader that he sholde go in to certayne cyte hym aray wasshe thenne come ayeâ— to her And brynge with hym an honest company of knyghtes .xl. at the lest with ther meyne And thenne he sholde sende to her lorde the kyng feyne that he we re come for to spehe with his doughter hym for to see so he dyde And whan the kynge the quene herde that they came with moche honour they hym receyued And the kynge of Fraunce tho lete sende thorugh all his reame coÌ„maunded that all men sholde be as entendant to kynge Leyr the quenes fader in all maner of thynges as if were vnto hymself Whan kynge Leyr had dwelled there a moneth more he tolde to the hynge and to the quene his doughter how his two eldest doughters hadde hym serued Agampe anone lete ordeyne a grete hoste of Frenshmen and sente in to Bry cayne with Leyr the quenes fader for to conquere his londe ayen his kyngdom And Cordeill also came with her fader in to Brytayne for to haue the reame after her faders dethe And anone they wente to shyppe passed the see and came in to Brytayne and fought with the felons and them scomfyted and slewe And tho had he his londe ayen after lyued thre yere helde his reame in peas and afterwarde deyed And so Cordeill his doughter thenne lete entre hym with moche honour at Leycestre ¶ Anno muÌ„di .iiij. M.iij C.xlix Et ante xpÌ„i natiuitateÌ„ .viij. C.liij. AMasius sone to Ioam regned on the Iewes .xxix. yere after the whiche the kyngdom of Iewes was without kynge .xiij. yere This man worshyped the goddes of Seyr vt p3 .ij. para xv ¶ Ieroboam sone to Ioam regned on Israell .xli. yere the whiche was manly and victoryous For he ouercame the kynge of Sirie and restored Israel and Damask after the worde of Iono the prophete But he was not good Therfore sayth Austyn Yf good men regne they prouffyte many men And yf ylle men regne they hurte many men ¶ Anno muÌ„di .iiij. M.iij C.lxxxviij Et ante xpÌ„i natiuitateÌ„ .viij. C.xi. OZias or Azarias sone to Amasie regned on the Iury .lij. yere the whiche lyued well afore our lorde of hyÌ„ is none euyll thynge wryten but that he vsurped the dignyte of preesthode vnder Azari the whiche he forbode hym For yâ— whiche cause our lorde stroke hym with a leper vt pêª .ij. para ¶ Ozee bysshop prophete was this tyme yâ— fyrst of the .xij. that is sende ayenst the .xij. tribus ¶ Ioel the seconde of the .xij. prophecyed or Iuda Ananias the thyrde prophecyed ayenst many people Abdias the fourth of the .xij. ê“phecyed ayenst Edom. ¶ Zacharias sone to Ieroboam regned in Israel vi monethes the whiche began to regne the .xxxviij. yere of Ozias was nought in his lyuynge as his preorecessours were And Sellum slewe hym regned a moneth And Manahen slewe hym toke his kyngdom vt pêª .iiij. reguÌ„ This Manahen regned .x. yere the whiche began to regne the .xxxix. yere of Ozias he ruled hym myscheuously And our lorde toke hym in the power of the kynge of Assuriorum And he payed to hym a thousande talentes of syluer vt pêª .iiij. reguÌ„ ¶ Phaseia sone to Manahen regned in Israel .ij. yere he began to regne the .l. yere of Ozias he was nought in his lyuynge ¶ Phase slewe Phaseta regned .xx. yere he began to regne the .lij. yere of Ozias dyde as other cursyd men dyde Plura vide .iiij. reguÌ„ And after this Israel was without ony kynge .viij. yere ¶ How Morgan Conedag that were neuewes to Cordeill warred vpon her and put her in pryson NOw as kyng Leyr was deed Cordeil his yongest doughter regned the .x. yere of Ozias kynge of Iury. And after her regned Conedag the .xv. yere of Ozias Cordeill that was Leyrs yongest doughter after the deth of her fader had all the londe .v. yere And in the meane tyme deyed her lorde Agampe that was kynge of Fraunce after his deth she was wydowe And there came Morgan Conedag that were Cordeils systers sones to her had enuyte for as moche as ther aunte sholde haue the londe So that bytwene them they ordeyned a grete power and vpon her warred gretely And neuer they rested tyll they had her taken and put her vnto deth And tho Morgan Conedag seased all the londe departed it bytwene them And they helde it .xij. yeres And whan that those .xij. yeres were gone there beganne bytwene them a grete debate so that they warred strongely togyders And eueryche of theym dyde other moche dysease For Morgan wolde haue all the londe from beyonde Humbre that Conedag helde But he came agaynst hym with a grete power
Thenne he was martred and buryed in saynt Peters ¶ Anâ—cetus was pope after Piê° almoost .x. yere this man made many decrees of the Canon and for bysshopes Vt in caê° Violatores cÌ„ ¶ Galienus a leche goten in Pergamo was in grete fame at Rome The whiche not alonly expowned the bokes of Ypocras but he put many of them to his bokes And of this man is sayd for his dyscrete abstynence the whiche he vsed he lyued an hondred and .xl. yeres He neuer ete nor dranke his fylle ¶ Nota abstinencâ—am ¶ He neuer toke rawe fruytes Alwaye he had a swete brethe He deyed all oonly thrugh aege no sykenesse ¶ Marcus Anthonius the true and Lucius Comodus were Emperours .xix. yere These toke the Empyre after Anthony the meke and thenne began two Emperours to regne but Lucius Comodus decessed And Anthony was Emperous alone the whiche was a victoryous man and a noble but that he made the fourth persecuycon to kylle crysten men This Marcus was of so grete sadnesse and stedfastnesse that for no chaunce he lough neuer ne chaunged no chere nother for gladnesse ne for sorowe And whanne he was a childe he was of suche manhode that on a certayne trâ—â—e whan he loked his tresourand had 〈◊〉 that whiche he myght gyue his knyghtes and his men whan he wente to fyght ayenst the Germaynâ— the Sclauons and Sarmathus he wolde hurte ne greue no body but had leuer to selle his wyues golden vessel and her arayment her beddynge all her ryall stuff than take taxe of the Senatours or of his prouynce vnder hym But he gate the victorye of his enmyes and recouered all ayen released the prouynces of ther trybutes And those that wolde selle hym his wyues tresour ayen he restored them ther moneye those that wolde not he neuer greued them But the tables of ther dettes betwixt hym them he brente openly in the market place and thanked them that they helped hym in his necessyte ¶ How kynge Lucie regned after his fader that was a good man and after he became crysten AFter this kynge Coill regned Lucie his sone that was a good man to god to all the people He sente to Rome to Eulentre that then was pope sayd He wolde become a crysten man receyue baptym in the name of god tome to the ryght fayth byleue Eulentre sente two Legates that were called Pagan an other Elybain in to this londe baptysed the kynge all his meyne And after wente from towne to towne baptysed the people tyll all the londe was baptysed And this was in the yere an hondred .lvi. after the Incarnacyon of our lorde Ihesu cryste And this kyng Lucie made tho in this londe two Arche bysshops one at Caunterbury an other at Yorke other many bysshops yâ— yet ben in this londe And whan these two Legatê had baptysed all this londe they ordeyned prestes for to baptyse children for to make the sacrament and after they wente ayen to Rome And the kynge dwelled in his londe regned with moche honour .xij. yere and after dedye and lyeth at Gloucestre ¶ How this londe was longe without a kyng how the Brytons chose a kyng THis kyng Lucie had none heyre of his body begoten that was afterwarde grete harme sorowe to the londe For after this kynge Lucies deth none of the grete lordes of the londe wolde suffre an other to be kynge but lyued in warre debate amonges themself .l. yere without kynge But it befell afterwarde that a grete prynce came from Rome in to this londe that was called Seuerie not for to warre but for to saue the ryght of Rome But neuertheles he had not dwelled half a yere in this londe but that the Brytons slewe hym And whan they of Rome wyst that Seueri was so slayne they sente an other grete lorde in to this londe that was called Allec that was a stronge man a myghty of body dwelled in this londe longe tyme and dyde moche sorowe to the Brytons So that after for pure malyce they chose a kynge amonge theym that was called Astelepades And assembled a grete host of Brytons wente to London to seke Allec and there they fouÌ„de hym slewe hym al his felowes And one that was called Walon deffended hym fyersly fought longe with the Brytons but at the last he was dyscomfyted the Brytons toke hym and bonde his hondes feet and cast hym in to a water Wherfore that water was called euer more Walbroke ¶ Tho regned Astelepades in peas tyll one of his Exles that was called Coill made a fayr towne ayenst the kynges wyll lete calle the towne Colchestre after his owne name Wherfore the kynge was full wroth thought to destroy hym And began to warre vpon hym and brought grete power of men yaaf the Erle batayll And the Erle defended hym fyersly with his power and slewe the kynge hymself in that batayll And tho was Coill crowned and made kynge of this londe This Coill regned and gouerned the londe well nobly for he was a noble man well beloued amonge the Brytons ¶ Whan tho of Rome herde that Astelepades was slayne they were wonder gladde and sente an other grete prynce of the Romayns that was called Constance And he came to the kynge Coill for to chalenge the trybute that was wonte to be payed to Rome And the kynge answered well wysely sayd that he wolde paye to Rome al that ryght reason wolde with good wyll And so they accorded tho with good wyl and without ony contake And so bothe they dwelled togyder in loue ¶ Kynge Coill yaaf to hym his doughter Eleyne for to haue her to his spowse that was both fayre wyse and good well lettred And this Constance spowsed her there with moche honour And it befell soone after that this kynge Coill deyed in the .xiij. yere of his regne and lyeth at Colchestre entyred ¶ Of kynge Constance that was a Romayne that was chosen kynge after the deth of Coill for as moche that he hadde spowsed Eleyne that was kynge Coils doughter AFter this kyng Coill Constance was made kynge crowned for almoche as he had spowsed kyng Coils doughter that was heyre of that londe The whiche Constance regned well worthely gouerned the londe And he begate on his wyf Eleyne a sone that was called Constantyne And this kyng bare true fayth And truly dyde vnto them of Rome all his lyf And whan he had regned .xv. yere he deyed lyeth at Yorke ¶ How Constantyne that was kynge Constance sone and the sone of Saynt Eleyne gouerned and ruled the londe was Emperour of Rome AFter kynge Constance deth regned Constantyne his sone the sone of saynt Eleyne yâ— founde the holy crosse in the holy londe And how Constantyne became Emperour of Rome ¶ It befell soo in yâ— tyme there was
wolde serue and your londe kepe helpe and defende from your enmyes yf that ye nede ¶ Whan Vortiger herde these tydynges he sayd gladly he wolde theym withholde vppon suche couenaunt yf they myght delyuer his londe of his enmyes he wolde yeue theym resonable londes where they sholde dwelle for euer more ¶ Engist thanked hym goodly and in this maner he and his company a .xi. thousande sholde dwelle with the kynge Vortiger And moche they dyde thrugh theyr boldenesse they delyuered his londe of his enmyes clene ¶ Tho prayed Engist the kynge of so moche londe that he myght make to hyÌ„ a cyte and for his meyne ¶ The kynge answered it was not to do without the counseyll of Brytons ¶ Engist prayed hym eftsones of as moche place as he myght compace with a thonge of a skynne wherupon he myghte make a Maneer for hym to dwelle on And the kynge hyÌ„ graunted freely ¶ Tho toke Engist a bulles skynne and kytte it as smale as he myght all in to â—o thonge all a rounde And therwith compaced he as moche londe as he myght thenne make vpon a fayre castell And so whan this castell was made he lete calle it Thongcastell for as moche as the place was marked with a thonge ¶ Of Ronowen that was Engistes doughter and how the kynge Vortiger spowsed her for her beaute SO whan this castell was made full well arayed Engist pryuely dyde sende by letter in to the countree where he came fro after an hoÌ„dred shyppes fylled with men that were stronge also well fyghtynge in all bataylles And that they sholde also brynge with them Ronowen his doughter that was the fayrest creature that a man myght see ¶ And whan those people were come that he had sente after he toke them in to the castell with moche Ioye And hymself vpon a daye wente vnto yâ— kynge prayed hym there worthely that he wolde come see his newe maneer that he had made in the place yâ— he had compassed with the thonge of the skynne ¶ The kynge anone grauÌ„ted hym freely And with hym wente thyder was well apayed with the castell with the fayre werke and togyder they ete dranke with moche Ioye And whan nyght came that the kynge Vortiger sholde go in to his chambre to take there his nyghtes reste Ronowen that was Engistes doughter came with a cuppe of golde in her honde and kneled before the kynge and sayd to hym Wassaylle And the kynge knewe not what it was for to meane ne what he sholde answere there vpon for as moche as hymself ne none of all his Brytons coude noo englâ—sshe speke ne vnderstonde it but he spake in the same langage that Brytons done yet Neuertheles a latiner tolde it to the kynge the full vnderstandynge therof Wasshayll and that other sholde drynke hayll And that was the fyrst tyme that wasshayll and drynkhayll came vp in this londe And from yâ— tyme vnto this tyme it is well vsed in this londe ¶ The kynge Vortiger sawe the fayrnesse of Ronowen his armes layde about her necke thryes swetely kyssed her anone ryght he was enamoured vpon her yâ— he desyred to haue her to wyf asked of Engist her fader And Engyst graunted hym vpon this couenaunt yâ— the kynge sholde yeue hym all the couÌ„tree of Kent that he there myght dwelle in his people The kyng hym grauÌ„ted pryuely with a good wyll And anone he spowsed the damoysell that was moche confusyon to hymself And therfore all the Brytons became so wrothe for by cause he spowsed a woman of mysbyleue Wherfore they wente all from hym and no thynge to hym toke ne halpe hym in thynge that he had to done ¶ How Vortimer that was Vortigers sone was made kynge Engist dryuen out And how Vortimer was slayne THis Engist wente in to Kente seased all yâ— londe in to his honde for hym for his men became with in a lytill whyle of so grete power so moche people had that men wyst not in lytell tyme whiche were the kyngê men whiche were Engistes men Wherfore all the Brytons had of hym drede and sayd amonges theym But yf yâ— they ne toke other couÌ„seyll bytwene them all yâ— londe sholde be bytrayed thrugh Engist his people ¶ Vortiger the kynge had begoten on his fyrst wyf thre sones The fyrst was called Vortimer The seconde Catagien the thyrde Passent ¶ The Brytons euerychone by one assent chose Vortimer to be theyr lorde souerayne couÌ„seyler in euery batayll crowned hym made hym kynge wolde not suffre Vortiger no lenger to regne for cause of the alyauÌ„ce betwixt Engist and hym ¶ The Brytons ordeyned a grete hoste to dryue out Engist and his company of the londe yaue hym thre bataylles The fyrst was in Kente there he was lorde the seconde 〈◊〉 at Teâ—â—orde and the thyrde in a shyre a this half Colchestre in a more And in this batayle theym mette Catagien Home Engistes brother so that eche of theym slewe other But for as moche as the couÌ„tree was yeuen longe before to Horne thrugh Vortiger tho he spowsed his cosyn there he made a fayre castell that is called Horncastell after his owne name And Vortimer was soo anoyed for his brothers deth that anone he lete fell downe the castell to the grouÌ„de And after he ne lefte nyght ne daye tyll he had dryuen out Engist and his people of the londe And thenne Ronowen his doughter made sorowe ynough And quentely spake to them that were next the kynge Vortimer and pryuyest with hym And so moche she gaue hym of gyftes that he was enpoysened and deyed at London the fourth yere of his regne there he lyeth ¶ How the Brytons chose an other tyme Vortiger to be theyr kynge and Engist came in to this londe and how they fought togyders AFter Vortimers deth the Brytonr by theyr comyn assente eft soones made Vortiger theyr kyng vpon this couenauÌ„t yâ— he sholdde neuer after suffre Engist ne none of his eft sones to come in to this londe And whan all this was done Ronowen the quene pryuely sente by letter to Engist yâ— she had enpoy sened Vortimer yâ— Vortiger her lorde bare ayen yâ— crowne regned And that he sholde come ayen into this londe wel arayed with moche people for to auenge hym vppon the Brytons and for to wyÌ„ne this londe ayen ¶ And whan Engist herde these tydynges he made grete Ioye And appareylled hym hastely with .xv. thousande men yâ— were dughty in euery batayll came in to this londe ¶ And whan Vortiger herde tell that Engist was come ayen with a grete power in to this londe he assembled his Brytons tho wente ayenst Engist for to yeâ—e hyÌ„ batayll his folke But Engist dradde hym sore of the Brytons for they had dryuen hym before discomfyted hym with strength Wherfore this Engist prayed
In this batayll were slayne thrugh kyng Arthurs fyne kynges of the Paynems of other wonder moche people kynge Arthurs men fought so well that the Romayns and paynems had no more strengthe to withstonde them than .xx. shepe ayenst fyue wulues ¶ And so it befelle that in this batayll in the shoure that was wonder harde longe durynge in that one syde in that other the Emperour amonge them there was slayne but ther was noo man that wyste for very sothe who hym slewe ¶ How kynge Arthur lete entyere his knyghtes that he had lost there in batayll how he sente the Emperours body to Rome that there was slayne in batayll SO whan yâ— Romayns wyst that the Emperour was deed they forsoke the felde yâ— paynems also And kynge Arthur after them chaced tyll it was nyght so many of them slewe that it was wonder to telle And tho torned kynge Arthur ayen whan it was nyght thanked god of his victorye And on the morowe he lete loke serche all the felde for his knyghtes that he there lost That is to saye Borell erle of Maunt. Bedwere Kay and Lyegiers erle of Boleyne Vortiger erle of Baac Aloth erle of Wynchestre Cuisall erle of Chestre and after Holden erle of Flaundres These were the grete lordes that kynge Arthur last in that batayll with other worthy knyghtes them amonge And some he lete entere in abbayes by the couÌ„tree some he lete to be borne in to theyr owne couÌ„tre ¶ And the Emperours body he lâ—te take put vpon a beyr sent it to Rome And sayd to the Romayns that for Brytayne Fraunce whichehe helde other truage wolde he none paye ¶ And yf they axed hym ony other truages ryght suche truage he wolde theym paye ¶ The kynge lete bere Kay to Kenen his owne castell there hym entered And Leygier was borne to Boleyne there he was lorde And Holden was borne to Flaundres there he was entered And all the other he lete entere with moche honour in abbayes in houses of relygyon in the couÌ„tre that they were slayne ¶ And Arthur hymself soiourned yâ— same yere in Bourgoyne with his hoste thought the same yere folowynge to passe the mount Ioye and haue gone to Rome also to haue taken the cyte haue put the Romayns in subgeccyon but the wycked tyraunt Mordred hym letteas after ye shall here ¶ How the traytour Mordred to whom kynge Arthur toke his londe to kepe his castelles helde them ayenst hym AS Arthur had takeÌ„ to Mordred his reame to kepe gone ayenst the Emperour of Rome was passed the see Mordred anone toke homages feaâ—tees of all theym that were in this londe wolde haue had this londe to his owne vse toke castelles about and lete them be arayed And after this falsenesse he dyde an other grete wronge for ayenst the lawe of crystente he tooke his owne emys wyf as a traytour sholde ordeyned hym a grete hoste ayenst Arthurs comynge to holde the londe ayenst hym with strength for euer more to slee kynge Arthur yf he myght sente by the see by londe lete assemble paynems crysten peple And he sente to Saxons to Danys for to helpe hyÌ„ And also Mordred sent to Cheldrik to sende men to hym out of Saxon that was a worthy duke promysed hym yf that he broght with hym moche people he wolde graunte hym InherytauÌ„ce for euer all the londe fro Humbre to Scotlonde all the londe that Engist had of Vortigers yefte whan that he spowsed his doughter ¶ And Cheldrik came with a grete strength and power of people and Mordred hadde assembled also on his half that they had .xl. thousande of stronge knyghtes whan that they had nede ¶ How Arthur enchaced Mordred the traytour how he was slayne also kynge Arthur wounded to the deth AS this tydynges came to kynge Arthur there that he was in Bourgoyne he was full sore anoyed toke all Fraunce to Howell for to kepe with half deale of his men And prayed hym that he wolde it kepe tyll he came ayen For hymself wolde passe in to Brytayne auenge hym vpon mordred that was his traytour And forth with Arthur wente his waye came to Wytsande and made his men to go in to shyppe wolde haue arryued at Sandwyche and brought with hym a grete hoste of Fâ—ensheâ—en also with his owne londe men But or that he myght come to londe with his peple that were come out of his shyppes Mordred was come with all his power yaue a stronge batayll soo that kynge Arthur loste many a man are that he myght come to londe For there was Gawayne his neuewe slayne and Anguysshell that helde Scotlonde and many other wherof kynge Arthur was full sory But after they were come to londe Mordred myght not ayenst them endure But anone was dyscomfyted fledde thens the same nyght with his men and vpon the morne came to London But tho of the cyte wolde not suffre hym to come in And from thens he fledde to Wynchestre and there he hym helde with his people that came with hyÌ„ ¶ Kynge Arthur lete take the body of Gawayne his cosyn the body of Anguysshell lete that one be borne in to Scotlonde and the other to Douer and buryed Anone after kynge Arthur toke his waye for to destroye Mordred he fledde thens in to Cornewayle ¶ And the quene Gunnor that was kynge Arthurs wyf that tho soiourned at Yorke herde that Mordred was fledde thens that he myght not endure ayenst kynge Arthur she was sore aferde had grete doubte and wyste not what was best of all for to done For she vnderstode well that her lorde kynge Arthur wolde neuer of her for to haue mercy for the grete shame that she had done vnto hym And toke her waye pryuely with foure men without moo and came to Karlyon and there she dwelled all ther lyue and neuer after was seen amonges the folke her lyf durynge ¶ Kynge Arthur wyst that Mordred was fledde in to Cornewayle and lete sende after his men in to Scotlande and Northumberlonde vnto Humbre and lete assemble folke without nombre came fro thens in to Cornewayle to seke and pursewe after Mordred ¶ And Mordred had assembled to hym all the folke of Cornewayle had people without nombre and wyst that Arthur was comynge and had leuer to deye take his chaunce than longer flee and abode and yaue an harde batayll to kynge Arthur to his people so that moche people was slayne what of one syde what of that other that no man wyst who had yâ— better party But so it befell at the last that Mordred was slayne all his folke and the good chyualry that kynge Arthur had gadred nourysshed of dyuerse londes and also the noble knyghtes of the rounde table that
haue be auenged 〈◊〉 hym for by cause that yâ— erle Godewin that was Haroldes fader had lete â—lee Alured that was saynt Edwardê 〈◊〉 pryncypally for by cause that 〈◊〉 was quene Emines sone that was Richardes moder duke of Norman dy that was aâ—â—nll to the duke William And neuertheles whan the duke William had Harolde in pryson vnder his power forasmoche as this Harold was a noble wyse knyght a worthy of body that his fader he was accorded with good kynge Edwarde therfore wolde not mysdo hym But all manere thynges that betwixt them was spoken and ordeyned Harolde by his good wyll swore vâ—on a boke vpon holy sayntes that he sholde spouse wedde duke Willyams doughter after the deth of saynt Edwarde that he sholde besely do his dâ—uour for to kepe saue the reame of Englonde vnto the profyte auantage of duke Wyllyam ¶ And whan Harolde had thus made his othe vnto yâ— duke Wyllyam he lete hym goo yaâ—â— hym many a â—â—yche yettes And he tho wente 〈…〉 hym be amenged what 〈…〉 befell ¶ And anone 〈…〉 assemble a grete 〈◊〉 come in to Englonde to auenge hym vpon Harolde to conquert the londe yf that he myght ¶ And in the same yere that Harolde was crowned Harolde Herekynge kynge of Denmarke arryued in Scotlande thought to haue be kynge of Englonde he came in Englonde 〈◊〉 destroyed all that he myght tyll that he came to Yorke there he slewe many men of armes a thousande a hâ—â—dred preestes Whan this tydydges came to yâ— kynge he assembled a grete power and wente for to fyght with Haralde of Denmark with his owne hondes he hym slewe the Danes were dyscomfyted and tho that were left alyue with moche sorowe fledde to theye shyppes And thus kynge Harolde of Englonde slewe kynge Haralde of Denmark ¶ Anno dmÌ„ M.lxvi. ¶ How William Bastarde duke of Normandy came in to England and slewe kynge Harolde ANd whan this batayll was done Harolde became so proude 〈◊〉 no thynge perâ—e with his people of the thynge that he had goten but hel 〈◊〉 all 〈◊〉 hymself Wherfore the moost parte of his people were â—â—â—the from hym 〈◊〉 is yâ— oonly with hym abode 〈◊〉 but his soldyours And vpon a 〈…〉 he sate at meete a messager came to hyÌ„ sayd that Wyllyam bastarde the duke of Normandy was arryued in Englonde with a grete hoste had take all the loâ—de about Haslynge also myned the castell Whan the kynge had herde this tydynges he went thyther with a lytell power in all the hast yâ— he myght for there were but fewe people with hym lefte And whan he was come thyder he ordeyned to yeue bataylle to duke Wyllyam But the duke axed hym of these thre thynges yf that he wolde haue his doughter to wyf as he made swore his othe behyght or that he wolde holde the londe of hym in truage or he wolde determyne this thynge in batayll This Harolde was a proude man a stronge trusted wonder moche vpon his streng the and faught with the duke William and with his people But Harolde and his men in this batayl were dyscomfyted and hymself there was slayne and this batayll was ended at Tombrydge in the seconde yere of his regne vppon saynt Calixtus daye so he was buryed at Walcham ¶ Of kynge Wyllyam bastarde how he gouerned hym well and wysely and of the greate warre bytwene hym the kynge of Fraunce AS Wyllyam Bastarde duke of Normandy had conquered all yâ— londe vpon Crystmasse daye then nexte he lete crowne hym kyng at Westmestre as a 〈◊〉 kyng yoâ—â— vnto Englysh 〈◊〉 largely 〈◊〉 to his 〈◊〉 And afterwarde he wente hym ouer the see came in to Normandye there be dwelled a whyle And in the seconde yere of his regne he came ayen in to Englonde brought with hym Maude his wyf lete crowne her quene Englonde on Wyssondaye ¶ And tho anone after the kyng of Scotlonde that was called Malcolâ—â— began to stryue wanâ— with the kynge Wyllyam And he ordeyned hym towarde Scotlonde with his men bothe by londe by see for to deshore kynge Malcolm But they were â—â—â—ded yâ— kyng of Scotlonde be 〈…〉 man belde all his londe of hym And kynge William receyued of hym his homage came ayen in to Englond And as kynge William had be kyng 〈…〉 it Maude yâ— quene deyed on whom 〈◊〉 ge William had begote 〈…〉 dern that is for to say Robert Curth a William Rous. Richarde also that 〈◊〉 ed. Henry Beauclerke and Maude 〈◊〉 that was the erles wyf of Bleynes other foure fayr doughters ¶ And after his wyues dethe grete deâ—ate began betwixt hym the kyng of FrauÌ„â—e Philip but at the laste they were accorded And tho dwelled the kynge of Englonde in Normandy noo man hym warnedâ— he no man longe tyme. ¶ And the kynge of Fraunce sayd vpon a daye in 〈◊〉 ne of kynge William had longe tyme lyen in childe bedde longe tyme badâ— rested hym there And this worde came to the kynge of Englonde there that he dyde lye in Normandye at Rone And for this worde was tho ruyll apayedâ— also wonder wroth towarde the kyng of Fraunce And swore by god that whan he were arysen of his skyenesse he wolde lygâ—â—â— a thousande candelles to the kynge of FrauÌ„ce 〈◊〉 lete assemble a grete hoste of Normandy of Englysshe men And in the begyunynge of Her 〈◊〉 he come in to Fraunce bende all 〈…〉 that they come by 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 to here 〈◊〉 as moche as he myghte breaâ—e And hymselfe halpe therto alle that he myghte with a good wyll And there was a grete hete what of the fyre that was so grete of the sonne that it was wâ—der hote that it stuffed hym so that he became felle in to a grete dysease skynesse And whan he sawe that he was so stronge syke he ordeyned assygned all Normandye to Robert Curthos his sone all Englonde to Wyllyam the Rous and bequane to Henry Beauclerke all his treasour And whan he thus had done he receyued all the sacramentê of holy chirche deyed the .xx. yere of his regne lyeth at Cane in Normandy ¶ Anno dmÌ„ M.lxvi. ORegorius the .vij. was pope after Alexander .xij. yere this man ordeyned in a generall Synodus that no preest sholde haue a wyf ne sholde dwelle with wyÌ„men but tho that yâ— holy Synodus of Micena other decrees hadde suffred And then yâ— preestê sette nought or lytell pondred his ordynaunce This pope coÌ„maunded yâ— no man sholde here masse of a preest yâ— had a coÌ„cubyne And he on a certayn tyme whan he was Cardynall Legate in to FrauÌ„ce proceded sharpely ayenst prelates preestes that were symoniers And among other was one bysshopp there that was gretely famed