nor to any of his counsayll beynge louers of y e coÌ„mon weale and of hym and of his lande but his enteÌ„t purpose was to remoue from hym a fewe euyll disposed persones by whose meanes y e coÌ„mon people was greuously opressed and the comynaltye greatly enpouerysshed Of y â— whiche he named for principall the duke of Somerset Of whome it was fynally agreed by the kyng â–ª that he shulde be coÌ„mytted to warde there to abyde answere vnto suche artycles as the duke of yorke wolde lay agayne hym Upon whych promesse so made by the kyng the fyrst day of Marche beyng thursdaye the duke brake vp hys felde so came vnto y e kynges tente where coÌ„trary the former promyse made he faÌ„de the duke of Somerset as chefe awayter next vnto the kyng And thaÌ„ was y e duke of yorke sence before to LondoÌ„ was holden somedeale in maner as prisoner more streyghter shuld haue ben kepte ne had ben tydynges whych dayely spraÌ„ge that syr Edwarde hys sonne thaÌ„ erle of y e March was commyng toward London wyth a stronge power of welche men March meÌ„ whych fered so the quene and hyr counsayl that y e duke was lyberted to go where he wolde And so after he departed vnto hys owne countrey and peace was dyssymuled wyth feyned loue for a whyle Ann odnÌ„i M.iiii C.lii  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.liii.  Rychard Lee.  Godfrey Feyldynge  Anno .xxxi.  Rychard Alley  IN thys .xxxi. yere y e kynge helde a solempne feest at westmyster vpon the .xii. day of Cristmas where he created .ii. erles the whyche were hys bretherne vpoÌ„ the mothers syde quene Katheryne that after the deth of kynge Henry the .v. was maryed vnto a knyghte of walys named Dwayne the whych begate vpoÌ„ hyr these forsayd .ii. sonnes wherof that one thys sayd daye was created erle of RychemouÌ„t which was named sir Edmonde the yoÌ„ger called syr Iasper was creat the erle Penbroke The whych lastly was created duke of Bedforde by our souerayne lorde kyng HeÌ„ry the .vii. so dyed And in Marche folowyng as witnesseth Gaguyne was the towne of Herfâ—ewe wonne by the FreÌ„chmen And soone after the cytye of Bayons was gyueÌ„ vp by appoyntment so that the souldyours shuld leue theyr armoure behynde them And for euery woman there beyng was grauÌ„ted an horse to ryde vpon to euery horse maÌ„ .x. scutes to pay for theyr costes to euery fote man .v. wythout more by theym to be taken And thys yere the kynge laye longe syke at Claryngdowne was in great ieopardye of hys lyfe And in y e ende of thys mayres yere begynnynge of the .xxxii. yere of the kyng that is to meane vpon the day of traÌ„slacyon of saynt Edwarde or y e xiii day of Octobre y e quene at westmynster was delyuered of a fayre prynce For the whyche greate reioysyng and gladnesse was made in sundry places of Englande and specyallye wythin the cyâ—ye of London where of the expressemente of the cyrcumstaunce wolde are longe leysoure to vtter Thys prynce beynge wyth all honour and reuerence sacred and crystened was named Edwarde and grew after to perfight and good lye personage and lastly of Edward the fourthe was slayne at Tewkysburye feelde as after to you shall be shewed whose noble mother susteyned nat a lytle dysclaunder obloquy of the coÌ„mon peple sayeng that he was nat the naturall sonne of kynge Henry but chaunged in the cradell to hyr greate dyshonour heuynesse which I ouer passe Thys yere also whyche was the yere of grace M.iiii C.liii. Mahumet thaÌ„ prynce of Turkes in the moneth of Iuny and .iiii. daye of the sayde moneth beynge the thyrde yere of hys empyre or reygne after .l. dayes of coÌ„tynuall assaute by his innumerable multytude of Turkes to the cytye of ConstaÌ„tyne the noble with excedyng force and crueltye made and excercysed wan and opteyned the domynyoÌ„ and rule of the same to the greate hynderauÌ„ce and shame of all crystendome and enhauÌ„cynge of the power and myghte of the sayd Turkes Of the excedynge noumber of men women and chyldren that in that cytye at that daye were slayne I wyll not speke of for the great dyuersyte that I haue seen of wryters Amonge the whyche the emperour named Paleogolus with many other nobles of the cytye beynge taken on lyue were thaÌ„ behedyd and many a preste and relygyous man put vnto deth by sundry cruell turmentes After whych great crueltye wyth many other longe to reherce put in execucyon a commauÌ„dement passed from the sayde emperoure of Turkes that all chyldren beynge aboue the age of .vi. yeres as well men as women kynde shulde be streyght put vnto deth the whyche after some wryters excedyd the nomber of .iiii. M. Here for tydeousnesse and lamentable processe whyche I myghte shewe in the rehersall of the abomynacyon of the moste dampnable and accursyd Turkys by theÌ„ done vnto the crucyfyxe and other images of the chyrches and temples wythin the cytye I cease For paynefull it were to rede more paynefull and sorowfull to here that the fayth of Chryst shulde in so vyle maner be dyspysed Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.liii.  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.liiii Draper IohnÌ„ walden  IohnÌ„ Norman  Anno .xxxii.  Thomas Cooke  IN thys .xxxii. yere IohnÌ„ Norman foresayd vpoÌ„ the morowe of Symonde and Iudys day the accustomyd day whan the newe mayre vsyd yerely to tyde wyth greate poÌ„pe vnto westminster to take his charge this mayre fyrste of all mayres brake that auncyent and olde coÌ„tynued custome and was rowed thyther by water for the whiche y e watermen made of hym a roundell or songe to hys great prayse y t whiche began Rowe y e bote Norman rowe to thy lemmaÌ„ and so forth wyth a longe processe ye haue in your remeÌ„braunce how I before in the .xxx. yere of thys kyng shewed to you of the apoyntement taken bytwene the sayd kyng y e duke of yorke at Brent heth which apoyntement as before is sayde was soone broken and set at nought By reason wherof greate enuye and dyscencyon grewe bytwene y e kynge and dyuers of hys lordes and most specyally bytwene the quenes counseyll and the duke of yorke and hys blode For all contrary y e kynges promyse by meanes of the quene whiche than bare y e cure and charge of the land the duke of Somerset was sette at large and made capytayne of Caleys and had as greate rule about the kynge as he before dayes hadde wherwyth not onely some of the nobles of the land grudgyd but also the comons whyche by hys counsayll and other than rulers as the fame went susteyned many greuous imposycyons charges Thys fyre rancour and enuye by y e space of .xvii. or .xviii. monethes smokynge and brennynge vnder couert dyssymulacyon now at this day brake out in greate and hote flamys of open warre and wrath in so mych that the duke
Gaufryde and beraft hym the gouernaunce of the land vppon certayne coÌ„dycyons to be contynued for terme of lyfe the whyche in processe of tyme more and more were minyshyd as well by Maglaunus as by HeÌ„ninus husbaÌ„des of the forenamed Gonorild Ragan But moste dyspleased Leyr the vnkyndnesse of his two doughters consyderynge theyr wordes to hym before spoken and sworne and now founde prouyd them all contrarye For the whyche he beyng of necessyte constrayned fledde his lande sayled into Gallia for to be comforted of his doughter Cordeilla wherof she hauyng knowlege of naturall kyndnesse coÌ„forted hiÌ„ after shewynge all the maner to her husbande by his agrement receyuyd hym his to her lordes courte where he was cherished after her beste maner Longe yt were to shew vnto you y e circumstaunce of y e vtterans of the vnkyndnesse of his two doughters and of the wordes of comfort gyuen to hym by Aganippus and Cordeilla or of the couÌ„saile and purueyauÌ„ce made by the sayde Aganippus his lordes for restorynge of Leyr agayn to his dominyoÌ„ But fynally he was by the helpe of the sayde Aganippus restored agayne to his lordshyp and so possessed lyued as ruler gouernour therof by the space of .iii. yeres after In whych season dyed Aganippus And when this Leyr had ruled this lande by the terme of .xl. yeres as affermeth dyuerse cronycles he dyed and was buryed at his towne of Caerleir or Leycestre leuynge after hym for to inheryte the lande his doughter Cordeilla THE XVI CHAPITER COrdeilla the yongeste doughter of Leyr was by assente of the Brytons made lady of Brytayn in the yere of y e world .iiii. thousande iii. hundred lxxxxviii the whyche guyded the lande full wysely by the tyme or space of .v. yeres complete The whyche tyme expyred and roÌ„ne her .ii. neuewes called Margan and Cunedagiê° sonnes of her .ii. susters came vpon her land and made therin great waste and destruccyon and at the laste toke her and cast her into a stronge pryson where she beynge dyspayred of y e recouery of her estate as testyfyeth Gaufryde slewe her selfe whenne she hadde reygned as before is declared by the terme of fyue yeres THE XVII CHAPITER CUnedagius and Marganus neuewes as before is sayde of Cordeilla departyd this lande of Brytayne betwene them in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousand .iiii. hundred and .iii. That is to wyt the couÌ„trey ouer and beyond Humber fyll to Margan towarde Catenessey and the other parte of the lande towarde weste as reherseth Gaufride fyll to Cunedagius After two yeres were ronne ended some euyll dysposyd came vnto Margan and sayde that to hym yt was great reproche and dyshonour consyderynge that he was comen of Gonorilla the elder suster of Maglaunus her husbande Cunedag was descended of Ragan the yonger and Hemnius her husbande that he had not y e rule of all y e land to which sedycyous ê‘sons Margan gyuynge credence was supprysed with pryde and couetyse and anon by theyr couÌ„sayle assembled a great hoste made warre vpon his sayde brother brennynge and destroyeng his land with out mercy wherof Cunedag beynge ware in all hast gaderyd his people after certayne message sent to hym of the reconcylyacyon seynge there was no peace to be made but by the iudgement of batayll he mette wyth his brother in playne felde where y e goddes were to hym so fauourable that he slewe myche of the people of his brother and coÌ„pellyd hym to fle After whyche vyctory thus had he pursued Margan from couÌ„tre to couÌ„tre tyll he came wythin the countre or prouynce of Cambria or walys in the whyche couÌ„tre the sayde Margan gaue one other batayll vnto his brother Cunedag but for he was farre the weker he there was ouercomen and slayne in the felde whyche felde or couÌ„tre where the sayd Margan fought was slayne is to thys daye called Glaumargan whych is to meane in our vulgare tung Margan lande And thus was Margan slayne whan he hadde regned wyth his brother two yeres THE XVIII CHAPITER CUnedagius before named the sonne of Hemnius and Ragan yoÌ„ger doughter or myddell doughter of Leyr was made ruler and lorde of all Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .iiii. hundred .v. Of the whyche is nothyng worthy memorye lefte in wrytyng but that he guyded y e lande after the deth of his brother well and honorably by the terme of .xxxiii. yeres After which terme ended he dyed and was buryed at Troynouant or London leuynge for his heyre a sonne as testyfyeth Gaufryde named Riuallo or Rinallo or after some wryters Reyngnolde THE XIX CHAPITER BIuallus the sonne of Cunedagius was made gouernoure of the Brytons in the yere of the world .iiii. thousand .iiii. hundred and .xxxviii the whyche of wryters is called fortunat and restfull This Riuallus ruled y e BrytoÌ„s with great sobernesse kepte the lande in great welthe and prosperyte all be yt that of hym is lefte no specyall memorye of acte done in his tyme except myn authour sayth that in y e tyme of his reygne yt reyned blood by the space of .iii. days contynually wythin the lande of Brytayne After the whych reyne ensued so great excedynge noÌ„ber of multitude of flyes the which were to the people so noyous and coÌ„tagyous that they slewe myche people And after that as sayth an olde authour whose name is vnknoweÌ„ ensued great sykenesse and mortallytie to the great desolacyon of thys sayde lande Then yt foloweth in the story wheÌ„ this Riuallus hadde reygned after moste coÌ„cordaunce of writers by the terme of .xlvi. yeres he dyed was buryed as testyfyeth the sayde olde authour at Caerbrank or yorke leuynge after hym a sonne as wytnessyth Gaufride named Gurgustius In the tyme of the reygne of thys kynge after moste concorde of wryters y e famous cytye of Rome shuld be buylded as is shewed more playnly in the treatyse in the begynnyng of this warke THE XX. CHAPITER GUrgustius the sonne of y e fore named Riuallus was made ruler of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousane .iiii. hundred lxxxiii This in y e cronicle of EnglaÌ„d is named Gorbodiam sonne of Reygnold Of the which is lytell memory made other of his regne or of his dedes by any authours or wryters of y e hystorye of Brytayne excepte the aboue named olde authoure and the authoure called the floure of hystoryes wytnessyth that he reygned xxxviii yeres leuynge after hym none heyre of his bodye begotten and lastely dyed and was buryed by his fader at Caerbrank or yorke Rome as aboue ys towched was fyrst buylded edyfyed in the tyme of Riuallus and after moste writers In the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .iiii. hundred .lxx after the buyldyng of TroynouaÌ„t or London .iiii. huÌ„dred .vii. yeres whych folowyng that accompte shulde be in the .xxxii. yere of the forsayde Riuallus THE XXI CHAPITER SIsillius or after
that he shuld neuer after clayme any part of the empyre And also for the brekynge of this othe he was after chalengyd or blamed of saynt Martyne byshop of Turon To whom he answered that he was compelled of his knyghtes to take vppon hym as emperour or ellys he shuld of theÌ„ haue ben slayne Neuerthelesse the sayde byshoppe shewed vnto hym that for his vntrouth he shuld not longe prospere or reygne After that worde was brought vnto the emperours that Maximianê° had wyth harde bataylles thus subdued Gallia and Germania Gracianê° wyth a great hoste came down to resyste hym But when he harde of y e marciall dedes of Maximianê° he was a drade and fled backe to the citye of Lugdun or LyoÌ„s in FrauÌ„ce where after the sayde Gracianê° was slayne and his brother Ualentinian was compelled to flee to Constantyne the noble Then Maximianê° to haue the more strength to wythstaÌ„de his enimyes made his sonne named Uictour felowe of the emperour In this whyle that Maximianê° warred thus in Italy Conan Meryadoke to whom as before is sayde Maximianê° had gyuen the land of lytell Brytayne for so mych as he his knyghtes had no wyll to mary the doughters of Frenschmen but rather to haue wyues of theyr owne blood therfore this Conan sent messagers vnto Dionotus then duke of Cornewayll and chyfe ruler of Brytayne wyllynge hym to sende his doughter Ursula wyth a certayne nomber of virgyns to be coupled to hym to his knightes in maryage The which soone after prepared accordyng y e request of Conan the foresayd Ursula accoÌ„panyed wyth .xi. thousande vyrgyns and were sent by her sayde father towarde lytell Brytayne as witnesseth the englyshe cronycle Gaufryde and also Policronica But yt shuld appere by the sayeng of Antoninus Iacobê° Philippus and other writers that this Ursula with her company shulde not be sent forth of mych Brytayne nor maryed aboute this tyme but in the tyme of Marcianus beynge emperoure the whyche began his empyre after most accorde of wryters in the yere of our lord .iiii. hundred .li. Of the martyrdome of these maydens dyuers authours wryte dyuersly wherfore I remytte them that wyll haue farther vnderstaÌ„dyng in this mater vnto y e legende of saynts redde yerely in the chyrche where they maye be suffycyenly taught and enformed THE LXXIII CHAPITER ANd as before is shewed Maximianê° beynge occupyed in warres in Italy two dukes named Gwanus and Melga the whych as Gaufryde testyfyeth and other were sent from Gracian and Ualentinian emperours to punyshe and subdue the Brytons that fauoured the party of Maximianê° warred sore vpon the costes of great Brytayne and occupyed a great parte of Albania wherof when Maximianê° had knowlege he sente into great Brytayne a knyght and captayn named Gracianus or Gracyan The whyche wyth two legyons of knyghtes bare hym so knyghtly that in shorte processe he chasyd the sayd .ii. dukes into Irlande helde the lande of Brytayne in good peace to the behalfe of Maximianus In this whyle Maximianê° contynuyng his warre agayn the empyre entendynge to be emperour Theodocius named the elder then emperour of the eest parte of the world herynge of the deth of Gracyan chasynge of Ualentynyan wyth a great power spedde hym towarde the sayd Maximianê° And shortely after at a citye in Italy named Aquilia toke the sayde Maximianê° and hym behedded when knowlege of the deth of Maximianê° was comen to Gracyan that then had the rule of mych Brytayn he seasyd the land made hym selfe by strength kynge of Brytayne wheÌ„ or after that Maximianê° had gouerned the same by most accorde of wryters by the space of .viii. yeres THE LXXIIII CHAPITER GRacianus the whych of Gaufryde is called Municeps y t maye be taken for an hyred or waged knyght or for y e keper of gyftes or berynge the chyef rule of a cytye beganne to rule the Brytons in the yere of oure lorde .iii. hundred .lxxx. x. The whych exercysyd all tyranny and exaccyon vppon his subiectes for the which he was had in wonder full hatered amonge the Brytons and amonge them cast and sought many wayes and meanes for hys destruccyon but he by dyuers meanes escapyd theyr daungers and punysshed greuously all suche fautours wherfore lastly as sayth Gaufryde they fyll vpon hym of an hole assent and kylled hym when he had reygned or more verely vsurped by the terme of .iiii. yeres THE LXXV CHAPITER AFter that Gracian was thus slayne of the Brytons the forsayd Gwanus and Melga knowynge the Brytons to be wythout hed or ruler assembled also people and retourned into mych Brytayne wastynge and brennynge on euery syde and destroyed greate plenty of Brytons as wytnessyth Gaufryde and other But Policronica sayth that whan the Romayns knewe of the deth of Gracyan they sent a knyght called Constantyne to haue the rule of Brytayne and other countrees there about But he was after demed an enemye to the empyre for harme and sâ—athes by hym done in Fraunce wherfore by commaundement of Honorius then emperour a knyght or erle called Constancius was sente agayne the forenamed Constantine and slewe hym at a place or towne called Arelet After thys the BrytoÌ„s were agayne vexed by the Pictes other straunge nacyons By reason wherof they were coÌ„strained to sende agayne to Rome requyrynge them of ayde vppon condycyon that they shuld alway be subiecte vnto Rome The whyche request and promesse thus herde of the senate Honorius aforenamed was sent into Britayne wyth a legyon of knyghtes whyche is .vi. thousande .vi. houndred .lxvi. The which legyon with helpe of the Brytons chasyd y e foresayde Pictes and other enemyes and taughte the BrytoÌ„s to make a walle ouerthwart the lande from see to see that ys to meane from the water of Humber to the Scottyshe see and ordeyned theÌ„ wardeynes and kepars of the wall and after retourned to Rome Thys wall as testyfyeth Policronica was made of turuys and strechyd from PemiltonÌ„ or PenultonÌ„ vnto y e citye of Acliut or Acliud But for thys wall was of small strength the enemyes before named dystroyed certayne partyes of this sayd wall and ouerrode the countre and toke grete prayes dayly dyd as myche harme as they had done before tyme. wherfore the Brytons were constrayned to seke for newe socour to the Romayns Then dyd Foloaynes sende an other legion the whyche agayne chased the sayd Pictes and other enemyes and made than a wall of stone of the thycknesse of .viii. fote and in heyght .xii. fote in the selfe place where before Seuerus had made a dyke and wall of turfes And y t done the Romaynes comforted and exorted the Brytons to be manly and corageous to wythstande theyr enemyes shewyng to them forther that they shuld truste to theyr owne strengthe for so myche as the Romayns beynge so ferre from theÌ„ myght not lyghtly come from so ferre wyth an armye of knyghtes also not wythout great coste and trauayle After whyche monycyon and
folowynge y e accompte shuld be in the yere of our lorde .iiii. hundred .lxxxii and in the seconde yere of Aurely then kynge of Brytayne This kyngdome or lordshippe had in the eestsyde Kent in the south the see and the yle of wyght in the west Hampsyre and in the northe Southrey and conteyned as wytnessyth Guydo Southampton Somersetshyre Deuenshyre and Cornewayl Of whyche sayde kyngdome Ethelbaldus or Ethelwaldê° was the .iiii. kynge and the fyrste crysten kynge Thys kyngdome endured shorteste season of all the other kyngdomes and passyd soonest into the other For yt endured not aboue an hundred and .xii. yeres vnder .v. or .vii. kynges at moste THE XCV CHAPITER THen to returne where we left Aurely whyche as before ye haue harde helde and occupyed the myddell parte of Brytayne wyth CaÌ„bria or walys dyd hys dylygence to repayre ruynous places as well temples as other and caused y e seruyce of god to be sayde and done whyche by meane of the Saxons was greatly decayde thorough all Brytayne And after this Aureliê° beseged y â— Saxons in y e hyll of Badon or Badowe where he slewe many of theym But dayly the Saxons encreasyd landed in myche Brytayn as after shall appere For shortely after a Saxon named Porth landed wyth his two soÌ„nes at an haueÌ„ in Southsex After whome as some authours meane y e haueÌ„ was after called Portismouth whyche kepeth the name at this day And in lykewyse they came to lande in dyuers places of Britayne so that Aurelius had wyth them many conflyctys and bataylles in the whych he spedde dyuersly for he was somtyme vyctour and some season ouer set It is wryteÌ„ of hym in y e englyshe cronicle and other that he by y e helpe of Merlyn shuld fetche the great stones now standynge vpon the playne of Salysburye and called the stone henge oute of Irlande and caused theym to be sette there as they nowe stande in remembraunce of the Brytons that there were slayne and buryed in the tyme of the communycacyon had with Hengiste and his Saxons as before in the storye of Uortiger is touchyd But Polycronica alledgyth y t honour vnto Uter Pendragon his brother In the tyme of this Aurelius as wytnessyth also y e sayde Policronica dyed Hengist in his bed when he had reygned ouer y e Kentysh Saxons .xxiiii. yeres After whose deth Octa or Osca his sonne ruled y e sayd kyngdome other .xxiiii. yeres All be yt that the brytyshe bokes and also the cronycles of Enlande sheweth that after that Aurelius had in batayll slayne Hengiste he toke vnto his grace Octa his son gaue vnto hym a dwellynge place in the countre of Galewey for hym his SaxoÌ„s then lefte on lyue which semeth not to be true for mater that shall after ensue and also for y â— that before is touchyd of the Pictes and Scottes in the tyme of the myserye of the Brytons Then yt foloweth this Octa nother augmented nor mynyshed his lordshyp but helde hym therwyth contented as his fader had to hym lefte yt Lastely in the ende of the reygne of Aurely Pascentius the yongest son of Uortiger whiche after y e deth of his fader was fledde into Irland for fere of Aurely purchasyd ayde of Guilamour kyng of IrlaÌ„de And wyth a great armye inuadyd thys lande of Brytayne by the countre of walys in takynge the cytye of Menenia and in wastynge the sayd couÌ„tre wyth iron and fyre In the which season and tyme Aureliê° laye syke in his cytye of Kaerguent or wynchester For whych cause he desyred hys brother Uter to gather an hoste of BritoÌ„s to appease y e malice of Pascencius his adhereÌ„tis The whych accordyngly preparyd his hoste at length ouercame the hoste of PasceÌ„cius and slewe hym and the forenamed Guillamour in the same fyght In this whyle and season that Uter was thus gone agayne Pascentius a Saxon or other strauÌ„ger feynynge hym a Bryton a connyng man in physyke by the intycemet of Pascencius came vnto Aurely where he lay syke by his subtyle false meanes purchasyd such fauour wyth those y t were nyghe vnto the prynce that he was put in truste to mynystre medycines vnto the kyng This is named of writers Coppa or of some Eoppa The whyche when he had espyed his tyme coÌ„uenyent to brynge about his false purpose he gaue to Aureliê° a pocyon enpoysoned by vyolence wherof he shortely after was dede when he hadde reygned after moste wryters vppon .xix. yeres The thyrde or fyfte THE XCVI CHAPITER IN the tyme of y e reygne of this Aurelius as wytnesseth the authour of Policronica other y e kyngdome of Eestanglis began vnder a Saxon named Uffa about the yere of our lorde .iiii. hundred .lxxx. and xii and the .xi. yere of Aurelius The whych kyngdome conteyned Norlf and Suff. nowe called This hadde in this eest and north sydes the see in the northweste Cambryge shyre and in the weste saynte Edmundes dytche and Hertfordshyre and in the southe Essex This lordshyppe was called fyrste Uffynys lordshyp and the kynges therof were named Uffynys or after some authoures the people But fynally they were named eest Anglys The fyrst cristen kyng of this pryncypate was Redwaldus the thyrde kynge but he was not so stedfaste as belonged to his relygyon His sonne named Corpwaldus was more stedfaste whyche after was slayne of a mysbyleuynge man and for Crystes fayth as some wryte But Guydo sayth that Sebertus was fyrste cristen kynge of this lordshyppe that he made saynt Poulys chyrch of LoÌ„don This vnder .xii. kynges endured tyll the martyrdome of blessyd saynte Edmunde laste kynge therof the whych was martyred nere about the yere of our lord .viii. huÌ„dred and lxix By the whyche reason yt shuld folowe that this kyngdome shulde endure by the terme of .iii. C.lxxvii yeres And of this lordshyp at that dayes was Elman or Thetforde the chyfe towne But after Guydo this lordeshyppe shulde begynne the yere of Grace .v. hundred .lxx then shuld yt endure but .ii. hundred .iiii. score and .xix. yeres Francia THE XCVII CHAPITER CLodoueus the sonne of Childericus or Hildericus before named was after the deth of his fader ordeyned kynge of Fraunce in y e yere of oure lorde .iiii. hundred .lxxx. and .iiii and the thyrde yere of Aurelius then kyng of Brytayne This of some wryters is named Clodoueê° Lowys The whyche shortely after that he of this realme was authorysyd for kynge heryng reporte of the beaute and grete vertue of Clotildis neuewe to Cundebald kynge or ruler of Burgoyne sente vnto hym a knyght named Aurelius to treat a maryage betwene the kynge and Clotyld or Crotild The which Cundebald more for fere then for loue assentyd The cause wherof as myn authour sayth was for y t thys Crotyld was enherytour vnto the sayde lande of Burgoyne and that she be reason of y t maryage shuld recouer her ryghte and put hym from the
the place certayne of hys knyghtes to pull or take hym thens per force And when they came wythin a myle of y e sayde chapell they were so astonyed that they myghte not go one fote forwarde to do the beste they coude when they hadde long stryueÌ„ with oute preuaylynge they retournyd to the kynge and shewed to hym y e trouthe in all thynge as they had done The kynge beynge dyscontent wyth theyr reporte blamed theym and sayde that they feryd hys sonne for the whyche cause they hadde fayned that excuse And incontynently he sente forth an other company the which were delte wyth in lyke maner as y e other were Lothariê° somdele troubled wyth the reporte of his seruauntes consyderyd the chapell to be nere vnto Paris where he then lay coÌ„maundyd his horse to be brought for he wolde proue the mater hym selfe But lyke as his seruauntes were seruyd euen so became of hym so that he myghte go or ryde frowarde or sydewarde but towarde the chapell myght he in no wyse atteyne when this was knowen to y e kyng he coÌ„sydered well yt was the handy-worke of god wherfore by fayre and easy meanes he called home his son and recouncylyd hym and forgaue all trespace To this accordyth the legende of the lyfe of saynte Denys wyth more that shall after folowe in the storye of this Dagobert After thys reconcylyacyon Lotharius ordeyned vnder hym hys sonne Dagobert to be ruler of the sygnory of Austracye But whyther yt were by the elacyon of hys owne mynde or by badde counsayll he shortely after rebellyd agayne hys father and wolde haue reteyned that prouynce to his owne vse For thys were chosen .xii. noble men of FrauÌ„ce to arbytre and deme betwene the father and the son The whyche Lordes after they had longe debated this mater by fayre entreatyse contentyd so the father that he gaue vnto the sonne the sayde lordshyppe of Austracy Soone after thys accorde Clothayre made warre vppon the Gothis or Saxons and them at length subdued For yt is to be knoweÌ„ that lyke as the sayde Saxons inuadyd myche Brytayne or Englande in lykewyse warryd they in Fraunce and lastely subdued the prouynce of Neustria and named yt after theym Normandye as after in the storye of Charlis the symple shall more euydently appere Of thys vyctorye of Saxons ys made a longe rehersayll and howe lastly when Clothayre hadde slayne the kynge or ruler of theym named Berthrande he after yode into the countrey of Germanye and slewe man and chylde that passyd y e length of hys swerde Of this and other dedes by this Lothayre done I myght make a longe worke but I passe ouer Then yt foloweth when Lothayre hadde set his countrey in some reste he assembled hys lordes at a cytye or towne called Traacas or Trecas And after dyuers maters dyscussyd and endyd he axed of theym perfyte allegeaunce and fydelite to hym and hys heyres to be kepte The wyche by the sayde lordes fyrmely promysed and assuryd he commaundyd eueryche of theym to repayre to theyr owne countreys And soone after he made an assemble of hys byshoppes and spyrytuall men at the cytye or towne of Troys by whose counsayllys he orderyd thynges and maters concernynge the we le of the chyrche And shortly after he was vexyd with greuous sekenes wherof he fynally dyed when he hadde reygned after moste wryters .xliii. yeres leuynge for heyre the forenamed Dagobert the whyche enterryd hys fader wyth great poÌ„pe at the abbey of saynt Uincent wythoute the wallys of Paris the whiche abbey is at thys daye called saynte Germaynes The foresayde yeres accomptyd for the reygne of Lothayre be accomptyd from the fyrste daye that he was ordeyned kynge of Soysons vnto the daye of hys deth wherof he reygnyd after some wryters ouer a parte .xxvii. yeres ouerall FrauÌ„ce xvi yeres whyche make the full of xliii yeres Anglia THE CXXVIII CHAPITER CAdwanus or Cadwan the whyche of Guydo ys named duke of Uenedoyce or of Northwalys was by one assente of the BritoÌ„s lastly made theyr souerayne or gouernour in the yere of our lorde .vi. hundred and xiii and the .xxv. yere of the seconde Clothayre kynge of Fraunce and also the fyrst yere of Colwolphus then kynge of westsoxons accomptynge for the reygne of Ceawlmus kynge of the sayde westsaxons .xxxi. yeres And for Colricus nexte succedynge hym .v. yeres ye haue before hard what dyscorde and trouble was amonge the Brytons in the tyme of Careticus laste kynge longe after by reason wher of the SaxoÌ„s wanne the more land and as before is rehersyd in the C. and .xx. chapyter howe Ethelfryde kynge of Northumberlande ouer set the Brytons at the cytye of Chestre forcyd theÌ„ to take ouer Seuarne and so into walys where they then chase thys Eadwane to theyr duke and leder The whyche after he was putte in authoryte assembled hys Brytons and came agayne into Britayne and gaue batayll vnto the sayde Ethelfryde In the whych they spedde dyuersly so that some season the Saxons wanne and some while the Brytons But the Brytons held Chestre other good townes whych they hadde recoueryd sene theyr last commynge It shulde seme by the meanynge of Policronica that thys Cadwan or Cedwall shulde at length slee the sayde Ethelfryde and Osricus bothe kynges of Brennicia and Deyra But Guydo and also Gaufryde wytnessen that after thys Cadwan had the better of Ethelfryde by medyatours yt was agreed that Ethelfryd shulde enioye all the lande ouer and beyonde Humber vnto Scotlande and Cadwan shulde haue the lande from Humber towarde the sowthe To the whyche sayenge agreeth the englyshe cronycle affermynge also that he shulde be the sonne of Brucyuall kynge of Leyceter the whych of other wryters is not testyfyed It is also there shewed that after y e sayde accorde betwene Ethelfryde Cadwan confyrmed that they contynued durynge the lyfe of Cadwan as two especiall louers and frendes and durynge the reygne of this Cadwan the two sonnes of Colricê° Kyngilsus and Quichillynus after the deth of theyr fathers brother Colwolphus ruled ioyntly the pryncypate of westsaxons The whyche in theyr begynnynge faught agayn the Brytons at Ampton besyde Oxynford wanne of them the towne other holdes whyche the Brytons in y t couÌ„tre occupyed But by agrement of wryters this Cadwan was not at this coÌ„flycte nor yet medlyd hym so farre within y e land But as yt shuld seme by Guydo these Brytons shulde be some coÌ„pany that shulde lyue vnder trybute of the Saxons y e whych for the manhode y t they hard reported of Cadwan rebelled agayn y e Saxons Then it foloweth wheÌ„ this Cadwan had thus contynued his amite wyth Ethelfryde a chaunge fell that this Ethelfryde for hatered or otherwise put froÌ„ hym hys wyfe beynge great wyth chylde toke to hym an other wherfore thys woman beynge reedlesse callyng to mynde y e great loue that was betwene her husbande and Cadwan she went vnto
say Mylburga Myldreda and Mylguida and a sonne of great holynesse named Meresyn But after some wryters all these forsayde chyldren shulde be the chyldren of wolpherus and not of Etheldrede And wolpherus also had .ii. holy susters named Kynedda and Kyneswyda bothe nonnes and buryed at Peterborough where saynte Ethelwolde buyldyd after an abbey of maydens ye haue harde before how wylfryd was put out of y e see of yorke wherefore he went to Rome and complayned hym to Agathon the pope and was well allowed in some thynges But the kynge and Theodorus had there such protectours and frendes that he retourned without spedynge of hys cause wherfore he retourned vnto the South Saxons and buylded an abbey in Silesey and preachyd to the south Saxons .xv. yeres and conuertyd myche people and shewed there a greate wonder For where by y e terme of .iii. yeres before hys commynge there fell no rayne vppon the grounde by hys prayer god sent to them rayne the grouÌ„de began to burgen and wax grene y t before was bareyn dryed for lacke of water He also taught to them the crafte of fysshynge Egfrydus kynge of Northumberlande claymed the lande that Etheldrede kynge of Mercia helde for the whyche dyuerse assembles of treaty bytwene them were had but all were dyssoluyd wythout agremeÌ„t wherefore eyther ê‘ty gathered hys streÌ„gth and met vppon a playne nere vnto y e ryuer of Trent where was foughteÌ„ bytwene them a longe and sharpe fyght In the whiche among a great nombre on bothe parties was slayn y e brother of Egfryde named Elswynus but Edfryde or Egfryde had the better Than after this batayle meanes of peace were agayn treatyd so y t fynally Edfryde had great summes of Money in recompencement of his Brothers deth so restyd the sayd .ii. kynges accorded In this batayll was takeÌ„ as prisoner a knyght of Egfryde the which after hys takynge was solde to one Fryson by the knyghtes of Ethelfryde This Fryson to th entent to haue his prysoner the shortelyer redemed kept hym in bandes of iron which prysoner had to his brother a preest a vertuous man that for the delyuere of his brother prayed dayly By meane of whose prayers as ofteÌ„ as y e sayd preste sang masse so often were the bandes of iron lousyd from the prysoner duryng the tyme of the masse The whyche so coÌ„tynued tyll he was clerely delyuered and hys raunson payde And in thys yere apperyd stella comata a blasynge sterre whyche betokeneth deth or mortalyte of y e people And in the yere folowynge dyed of y e Epedemye sykenesse the holy abbes of Ely saynt Etheldrede hyr suster Sexburga that somtyme hadde ben wyfe to Ercobert kyng of Kent was hyr successoure And thys yere also dyed Helda y e holy abbesse of whythy before spoken of whiche was neuew to Edwyne lately kynge of NorthuÌ„berlande In thys abbey were also bretherne vnder the rule of Hylda as at these dayes ben at SyoÌ„ vnder the abbesse there wherfore sondry of theÌ„ were made bisshoppes as Besa wylfryde and other Amonge these bretherne was one named Cedman a man of greate perfeccyon y e which by inspyracyon was taught to make dytyes and songes to moue men to deuocion wherin he passyd all other at those dayes Soone after thys tyme Theodorê° for dyuerse causes kepte a synode or counceyll of Bysshoppes and other men of the chyrche at Hatfelde By authoryte of whych counceyll he deuyded the prouynce of Mercia that Sexwolphus then ruled alone into v. bysshopryches that is one to Chestre the seconde to worcetyr y e thyrd to Lychefelde the fourth to Cedema in Lyndesey the .v. to Dorchester About the .xlvi. yere of the reygne of Cadwall Kenewynus kynge of westsaxons had occasyon of warre agayne y e Brytons so that they met nere vnto the west see where after a sharpe skyrmysshe y e BrytoÌ„s were chasyd And soone after Egfrydus kynge of Northumberlande made warre vpon the Pyctes or Scottes bycause they fauouryd greatly y e cest anglis agayne hym But lastly by colour or fleyng backe they brought Edfryde into a streyte amonge Hylles and mountaynes and slewe hym there with a grete part of his people And after his deth a bastard brother of hys named Alfridus Notus was kynge of Northumberlande reygned there .xviii. yeres as wytnessyth willyam wryter of storyes of kynges And shortly after dyed Cadwall or Cadwalyne kynge of BrytoÌ„s when he hadde reygned as testyfyeth Galfryde Guydo other .xlviii. yeres But nother Polycronyca nor none of the other authours of authoryte which Policronica allegyd shewyth any lyke actes of thys Cadwall as Galfryde doth nor yet that he shuld be buryed to the terrour and fere of the Saxons or an image of brasse set of hym vppon an horse ouer the west gate of LondoÌ„ called Ludgate or yet the chyrche of saynt Martyne there now stondynge shulde be buyldyd by the Brytons to the ende to pray for the sayd Cadwall and hys Frendes or y e Cadwaladrus whych of Beda is named Cedwalla shulde be hys sonne as of y e sayd Gaufryde is affermed Francia THE CXXXVI CHAPITER CLodoueus y e yonger sonne of Dagobert of Nautylda hys wyfe beganne hys reygne ouer the myddell parte of Fraunce and other partes therof in the yere of our lorde .vi. C.xlv and the .x. yere of Cadwall then kynge of Brytons And hys elder brother Sigebert was made kynge of Austracy or Lorayne accordynge to the wyll of Dagobert theyr fader Thys as before is sayd of some wryters is called Lowes the which was guyded by hys mother by the couÌ„seyle of Agaynus than mayster of hys Paleys to whom the fader had by hys lyfe commytted hym for he at thys daye was yonge of age and of dyscrecyon And shortly after he was made kynge all suche porcyon as belonged to the ryght of hys brother Sigebert which was the thyrd of hys faders treasour and iewelles was to hym delyuered whych dystrybucyon made he sped hym to Orleaunce and thyder called to hym the lordes of Burgoyne and receyued of them feauty and homage ordeyned there for hys leutenaunte or deputye a noble Burgonyon named FlantasÌ„ gaue to hym in mariage the neuew of hys mother Nautylda named Ranebert And after with a due charge to hym gyuen for guydyng of the sayd countrey sent hym and the other lordes into Burgoyn But wythin a season of tyme after wilibaldus a great man of birth and myght enuyed this FlantasÌ„ in suche wyse that he had hym in dysdaynynge and began to dystourbe the countrey the kynges peace wherof herynge Clodoueus in all hast commaunded the sayd wilibaldus to appere before hym But whyle wilibaldus sent an erle a bysshop to y e kynges courte to purchace hym frendys about the kynge he was in that whyle slayne by the gyle of hys enemy FlantasÌ„ About the .iiii. yere of the reygne of Clodoueus dyed his mother Nautylda a
the premysses for a reformacyon of the same sent hys ambassade to the pope then beynge zacharye before named askyng hys aduyse whether yt was more necessary or welfull for the realme of FrauÌ„ce that he shulde be admytted for kyng that dyd nothynge but applye hys mynde to all pleasure of hys bodye wythout cure or charge takynge vppon hym for the guydynge of the lande and the people of the same or he that toke upon him all the charge and payne in defence of the lande and kepynge of the people in due subieccyon To this the pope answeryd and wrote vnto Pepyn that he was beste worthy and moste profytable for the realme to be admyttyd for kynge that ruled well the comynaltye by iustyce and prudence and the enymyes therof defendyth and subdueth by his polycy and manhode The whyche answere thus receyued frome the pope and declared vnto the lordes and barons of the realme anone they of one assente and mynde procedyd and went to the deposynge and puttynge downe of theyr kynge and gouernour Hylderyche And in shorte space after closyd hym in a monastery or house of relygyon when he hadde ben occupyer of a kynges rome by the name onely .x. yeres And that done the Frenche men electyd and chase Pepyn for theyr souerayne and kynge In the whyche Hilderyche or Childerych endyd the lyfe or progeny of Meroneus of whome the Frenche kynges lynyally descendyd by contynuaunce of tyme as foloweth Meroneus x. yeres Childericus xxiiii yeres Clodoueus xxx yeres Dagobertus xiiii yeres Clodoueus xvi yeres Clotharius iiii yeres Theodoricus iii. yeres Childericus ii yeres Lotharius l. yeres Chilpericus xxiiii yeres Lotharius xliii yeres Clodoueus iii. yeres Childebertus xvii yeres Dagobertus xi yeres Danyel v. yeres Theodoricus xiiii yeres Theodoricus xix yeres Hildericus x. yeres Anglia THE CL. CHAPITER SIgebertê° or Sigbertus the cosyne of Cutbert laste kynge of the westsaxons beganne his reygne ouer y e sayd Saxons in the yeres of y e incarnacyon of Cryst .vii. huÌ„dred and xlv and the .v. yere of Hildericê° then kyng of Fraunce He was cruell and tyrannous to his subiectes turnyd theyr lawes and customes of his fore fathers after his owne wyll and pleasure And for y e one of the noble men of his dominyon somdele sharply aduertysed him to chauÌ„ge his maners and to behaue hym more prudently towarde his pleople he therfore malycyously caused hym to be putte to cruell deth About this tyme Egbertus after the yonger wylfryde was made archbyshoppe of yorke The whyche brought agayn thyther the pall that his predecessours hadde forgone syns the tyme that the fyrst Paulinê° had lefte that see and fled to Rochester in Kent and there lefte the sayd pall This Egbert was brother vnto Egbert kyng of NorthumberlaÌ„d by whose assystence and comforte he dyd many thynges for the weale of y e see made there a noble library Then yt folowyth for so myche as the kyng Sygebert contynued in his malyce cruell condycyons his subiectes conspired agayn hym and putte hym from all kyngely dygnyte So y t he fell after to great desolacyon mysery in such wyse y t he was founden after in a wood or desolate place wandryng alone without coÌ„forte where he beyng so foundeÌ„ by a swyne herd or vylayne some tyme belongyng to the erle CoÌ„branê° y t he before tyme wyckydly had slayn in auengement of his sayd lordes deth slew hym in y e sayd place which sayd Sigebertus was thus depryued froÌ„ al houour wheÌ„ he after most writers had reygned or tyrannysed .ii. yeres THE CLI CHAPITER KEnulphus of the lyne or blode of Cerdicus fyrst kyng of westsaxons began hys domynyon ouer the sayde westsaxons in the yere of grace .vii. hundred .xlviii and the vii yere of Hildericus then kynge of Fraunce The vertue of thys man passyd his fame For after he hadde with the agrement of the westsaxons depryued Sygebert theyr kynge froÌ„ his authorite and regally he fyrst appeasyd dyuers murmurs and grudgis that kyndelyd among his subiectes set his lordshyp in great quyetnesse and rest touchynge theyr ciuyle dyscorde About the .viii. yere of the reygne of this Kenulphus Offa slewe a tyraunt named Beoruredus y t before had slayne Ethelwald kyng of Mercia After whose deth the sayde Offa as neuew to the sayd Ethelwald reygned as kynge of that prouynce Of this Offa is tolde many notable dedes wherof somwhat I entende to shew He hadde warre wyth the Northumbres theÌ„ for a tyme subdued He also had warre wyth Etheldrede kynge of eest anglys and wyth Egbert otherwyse called Pren kynge of Kent whome he toke prysoner and led hym bounden wyth hym into Mercia Then after these vyctoryes Offa buylded the chyrch of wychcom In tyme of the whyche buyldynge in presens of .xiii. byshoppes and many other great estatys kynge Offa enlargyd the sayde Egbert of imprysonement In token wherof the people beynge there present made such an exclamacyon of ioye and gladnesse that the chyrche therof range Thys kynge Offa hadde suche dyspleasure vnto the cytyzens of Caunterburye that he remoued the archbyshoppes see by the agremente of the fyrste Adryane then pope vnto Lychefelde He also chased the Brytons or welshmeÌ„ into walys made a famouse dyke betwene walys and the vtter bondys of Mercia or mydle Englande the whyche to this day is named Offedyche And after he buyldyd there a chyrch whych longe tyme after was called Offekyrke This Offa also by angelycall inspyracyon translatyd the holy prothomartyr saynt Albone and was fyrst founder of that famous monasterye ouer that holy bodye The whyche syns the fyrste foundacyon hath by sondry tymes ben perished and hurt by Danys other and newely syns that tyme reedyfyed This holy Albon was martyred as before apperyth in the .lxvii. chapyter and storye of CoÌ„stantius about the yere of our lorde two hundred .lxxx. and .xvii. By whych reason he shuld lye or he were translatyd ouer foure hundred and lx yeres This Offa also maried one of hys doughters to Bryghtricus y â— was kynge of westsaxons And for that in his tyme was varyaunce betwene hym and the FreÌ„che men that passage of marchauntes was forboden therfore he sente that famouse doctour Anselmus vnto Charlis the great then kynge of Fraunce to comon the meanes of a peace whyche Charlis hadde after thys Anselmus in suche fauour that he became hys discyple Then retourne we to Kenelphus y t whyche before tyme had had often warre wyth Offa and with hym many conflyctes and lastely agreed About the .xi. yere of thys Kenelphê° Egbert kynge of Northumbres renouncyd his kyngly dignyte and became a munke And lastely the sayde Offa when he had reygned ouer Mercia .xxxix. yeres as sayth Guydo he lefte the kyngdome to hys sonne also named Kenelphus and yode to Rome And this Kenulphê° kynge of westsaxon kepte strongely hys lordshyp agayn y e power of all his enymyes hadde his subiectes in due order of
Raynys whan he had reygned in great trouble .xxi. yeres leuynge for hys heyre a sonne named Lothayr Anglia THE CLXXXVIII CHAPITER EDmunde y e brother of EthelstanÌ„ and sonne of Edwarde the elder of Ethelwyda the thyrde wyfe of the sayd Edwarde begaÌ„ hys reygne ouer Englande in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred and .xl and the .vii. yere of the .v. Lewys thaÌ„ kynge of Fraunce In the fyrste yere of hys reygne the Danys of Northumberland rebelled agayne hym And for to make theyr party the stroÌ„ger they sent for a prynce of Danys named Aulaffe than beynge in Irlande The which brought wyth hym an other prynce or ruler of Danys named Reygnald wyth a great hoste of Danys other strauÌ„ge nacyons and entred the foresayd countre and warred vppon the next borders in wastynge and spoylynge the inhabytauÌ„tes of the same wherof whan kyng Edmund was warned anone he assembled his people and sped hym toward y e countre and lastly faught wyth the two sayd prynces of the Danys or at the leest chaced them from towne to towne tyll he forsyd them wyth all theyr coÌ„pany of straunge nacyons to forsake vtterly that prouynce and bet down that countre of Cumberlande y t had mych fauoured and ayded the sayde enmyes agayne hym and toke therin greate prayes and deuyded them amoÌ„ges hys knyghtes And y e done other for the good seruyce that MalcolynÌ„ kynge of Scotlande hadde in thys vyage done vnto the kynge or for the trowth and allegyaunce that he in tyme folowyng shulde bere vnto hym or for bothe the kynge gaue there to the sayd MalcolynÌ„ the countre of Cumberlande and seased all y e resydue of the kyngdom or lordshyp of Northumberlande and ioyned it vnto hys owne kyngdome But yet y e Danys retorned agayn in the tyme of Edredus the nexte kynge as after shal be shewed so that as yet the fyne or ende of thys kyngdome is not accompted In thys Edmundus dayes the authour of Polycronyca sayth that whan Edmunde hadde ended hys iourney and set that countree in an order he toke wyth hym the bones of the holy abbot Colfrydus and of that holy abbesse Hylda brought theym vnto Glastenbury and there shryned theym This Colfryde was abbot of Bedas abbey or of the abbey of Gyrwye Hilda was abbesse of Stenshalt or whytby And as affermeth y e sayd authour both places ben in y e North partyes of England Thys kynge Edwarde had a noble woman to wyfe named Elgina of whom he receyued two sonnes named Edwyne and Edgar And as testyfyeth Henry archedekeÌ„ of Huntyngdon thys Edward had ofte warre wyth the Danes the whyche as he affermeth helde than many good townes in myddle England as LyncolnÌ„ NothinghmÌ„ Derby Stafforde Laycetour y e which by his knyghtly manhode he wanne from them And by the helpe of holy Dunstan he ameÌ„ded many thynges within his realm y t had beÌ„ loÌ„ge tyme misordered by meane of y e Danys Of the ende or fyne of thys Edmunde dyuers opynyons there be For Marianus the Scot sayth that whyle thys kynge Edmunde endeuered hym selfe to saue his sewer froÌ„ the dauÌ„ger of hys enemye that wold haue slayne hym at Pulkerchyrche the kynge in ryddynge of the fraye was wounded to the deth and dyed shortly after But wyllyam de regibus sayth that the kynge beynge at a feest at y e foresayd towne or place vppon the daye of saynte Augustyne espyed a felon syttyng in y e halle named Leof whych he before tyme for hys felony hadde exyled and lept ouer the table and plucked that thefe by the here of the hedde to the grounde In whych doynge the sayd felon wyth a knyfe wounded the kynge to the deth and also wyth the same knyfe wounded many other of the kynges seruauntes and at length was all to hewen dyed forthwyth If this be trewe it shulde seme that kynges at those dayes vsed not the honour that they nowe haue and exercyse But whych of these two meanes was vsed in the kynges deth by agreemeÌ„t of all wryters thys kynge dyed whan he had reygned .vi. yeres and more was buryed at Glastenbury the whyche before he hadde sumptuously repayred and lafte after hym two yonge sonnes as before is remembred Edwyne and Edgar But for they were to yonge to rule the lande therfore y e rule therof was coÌ„mytted to Edredê° theyr vncle brother to theyr fader THE CLXXXIX CHAPITER EDredus y e brother of EdmuÌ„de and sonne of Edwarde the elder and of Ethylswyda hys thyrde wyfe began his reygne ouer the realme of Englande in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred and .lxvii and the xiii yere of the fyfte Lewys thaÌ„ kyng of Fraunce The whych as before is towched was admytted kyng by authoryte of hys barony For so myche as the two forenamed chylderne of Edmunde Edwyn and Edgar were thought to yonge and insuffycyent to take vpon them so great a charge The whyche Edrede was enoynted kynge of Oddo archbyshop of CauÌ„terbury in y e towne of Kyngestowne And soone after he warred vpon the Danys that then were reentred into Northumberland or after some wryters there dwellynge vnder trybute of the kynge subdued before of Edmunde hys brother and bette theym downe and caused theym to holde and obeye vnto theyr former couenauntes And the Scottes than began to varye which he also brought vnto due obedyence After a certayne terme y e Danys of Northumberlande whyche euer contynued full of gyle and dowblenesse not beyng content to holde the couenauÌ„tes before made promisses vnto Edredus the kynge called vnto theym theyr olde accessaryes and helpers and bereuyd from the kynges subiectes the cytye of yorke and other stronge townes and castelles to the great hurte of the couÌ„trey and vtter dyspleasure of the kynge wherfore he beynge therof aduertysed in goodly and conuenyent haste assembled hys people and spedde hym thyther and destroyed myche of the lande And in that fury brent the abbey of Rypon whyche the Danys kept for a fortresse and strength and wan from them myche of the strengthes that they to fore had woÌ„ne and broughte theym agayne vnder hys subieccyon when this kynge Edrede had thus spedde hys iourney and was retournynge into Englande nothynge suspectynge the sayde Danys a company of them by the excytyng of Hyrcus a kyng or prynce of the Danys theÌ„ folowyd the kinges hoste and on thys halfe yorke fyll vppon the kynges rerewarde and destroyed slew many a man For the whyche doyng the kynge was sore amoued tourned hys people agayne entendynge to haue destroyed y e countrey vtterly wherof the Danys beynge ware so lowely meked theym vnto hym gaue to hym suche gyftes that the kyng refrayned hym of the great yre that he had purposed to theym But amonges other articles y t he bounde them vnto one was that they shuld banyshe and vtterly refuse theyr fore sayde duke or kynge called Hyrcus whyche thynge with dyuers and many other graunted
before is rehersed by y e terme of CC.lv. yeres THE CCX CHAPITER EDward the son of Egelredus of Emma hys last wyfe began his reygne ouer England in the yere of our lord M .xliii and the xiiii yere of Henry then kynge of Fraunce The whyche after the deth of Hardykinitus was sente for into Normandye and pledges layde for hym that he wythout fraude shulde be made kynge And then he came wyth a few straunges But as sayth Marianus some of the lordes had sent for Edwarde the outlaw son of Edmunde Ironsyde for to be theyr kynge But after the affyrmaunce of the said authour when he knew that Edwarde hys neuewe was in possessyon of the lande he wolde medle hym no farther Then thys Edwarde by the great aduyse of GoodwynÌ„ erle of west Saxon and of Leofricê° erle of Chester was crowned kyng at westmynster of Edsius then archbyshop of Caunterbury wedded in processe of time after Goditha the doughter of erle Goodwyne whych of Guydo is called Editha The whych he entreatyd in suche wyse y t he put her not from his bed nor yet delte wyth her fleshely whyther yt were for hate of her kynne or forloue of chastite y e trouth is not shewed But all wryters agreen that he coÌ„tynued his lyfe with outen offence wyth women This kyng discharged Engleshmen of y e great tribute called Dane gelt y t whych before is sundry tyme spoken of so y t after y e daye yt was no more gaderyd And also he subdued y e Brytons or walshmen that made warre wythin the bondes of y e land But after y t theyr duke or leder called Gryffyn or Gryffyth with ayde of y e Irysh men entred the ryuer of Seuerne toke many prayes and departed agayne wythout fyght In the tyme of the reygne of thys Edwarde Emma his moder was accused to be familyer with y e byshop of winchester UpoÌ„ which accusacioÌ„ by couÌ„sayll of erle GoodwynÌ„ he toke from her many of her iewellys caused her to be keptsomdele more straitly in the abbay of warwell and the byshop he coÌ„mytted to the examynacyon and correccyon of the clergye But his moder more sorowynge the defame of AlwynÌ„ the byshoppe then her awne estate wrote vnto dyuers byshoppes and besought them of iustyce affermynge y t she was redy to abyde all leful most sharpest triall Then dyuers of y e byshoppes made laboure to the kynge for her and for the byshop But Robert then archebyshop of Caunterbury beyng wyth theyr laboure dyscontended sayde to them in this maner My brethern bisshoppes sayd he how dare ye defende her that is a wyld beste and not a woman she hath defamed her own son the kynge and nempned her lecherours lemman goddes owne preste But be yt so that the woman wolde purge the preste who shall then purge the woman that is accused to be consentynge to the deth of her sonne Alphred and procured venym to the poysonyng of her son Edwarde But how so yt be that she be gylty or gyltlesse yf she woll go barefoted for her selfe .iiii. steppes for the byshop .v contynually vpon .ix. plough sharys brennynge and fyre hote then yf she escape harmelesse he shall be assoyled of this chalenge and she also Thys was of her graunted and the daye of purgacyon assygned At which day y e kyng grete part of his lordes were present but this Robert fayled were yt for pyte or otherwyse Thys Robert was a monke of an house in Normandy and came ouer by the sonde of the kynge and was fyrste made bysshoppe of London and after archbysshopppe of Caunterbury Then the nyght before Emma shulde make her purgacyon she went vnto the shryne of saynt Swythune at wynchester and there kneled all that night in prayer and receyued dyuyne coÌ„forte Upon the morne she was blyndefelde and ladde vnto the place betwene .ii. men where the iron laye glowynge hote and passed the .ix. sharys vnhurte Then at last she sayde Good lorde when shall I come to the place of my purgacyon when they opened her eyen and she sawe that she was paste the payne she kneled downe and thanked God and saynte Swythune Then the kynge repented hym and restored to her that he before hadde taken from her and asked of her forgyuenesse But the archebyshoppe of Caunterburye fledde into Normandye And thys Emma gaue then vnto the monastery of that holy confessour saynt Swythune .ix. maners and the bysshoppe other .ix. as affermeth Polycronica and other It was not long after that kyng Edwarde gaderyd a stronge nauye at SouthamptonÌ„ or more verely in the hauen of Sandwyche for so myche as he was warned that Swanus kynge of Denmarke entended to make warre vppon hym But Polycronycon sayth that he gadederyd thys nauy to wythstande Harolde Harfagar then kyng of North ganys that entended to haue entred Englande But he was letted by y e forenamed Swanê° y t shortely after made warre vpoÌ„ y e sayd Harold An other cronycle shewyth that the Danys and Norgayns whyche is to meane men of Norway were agreed to come ioyntly into England And whyle the kynge was shyppyng of his mne one brought forth a bole full of mede or meth to drynke vpon bon vyage And after that came bole after bole so that after drynke came dronkenes after iangelyng iangelynge tourned into stryfe stryfe tourned into fyghtynge where thorough many were slayne the other turned to theyr owne so that that iourney was lefte of But the legeÌ„de of hys lyfe in the chyrche telleth that he beynge at masse in the chyrche of westmynster vppon a whytsondaye in the tyme of the leuacyon of the sacrament he laught wherof the lordes beynge aboute hym meruayled greatly and after frayned of hym the cause wheruÌ„to he answered and sayde that the Danys wyth the Norwayes of one assente were purposed to haue comen into thys lande and here haue taken prayes But as the kynge of Danys shuld haue entred hys shyp he fyll into the see and was drowned so that I truste in my days they shall not nor none other straungers make any warre in this lande THE CCXI. CHAPITER IN the tyme of thys Edwarde fyll passynge great snowe the whyche began in the begynnynge of Ianuary and so contynued tyll the xvii daye of Marche or saynte Patrykes daye wherof the great quantyte fyll in the weste countreys of Englande And after that ensued great deth of men and moreyne of beftes and by lyghtnynge the corne vpon the ground that yere was wonderfull brent and wasted Aboute the .x. yere of Edwarde as moueth Policronyca and in the moneth of September Eustace erle of BolongnÌ„ came a lande at Douer whyche erle hadde wedded after the sayenge of the sayde authour kynge Edwardes syster Thys was parted frome hys companye in so secrete wyse that hys knyghtes were fayne to serche for hym wenynge to them that he hadde ben slayne by some of the dwellers of the towne In the
hys reygne ouer England the xvii daye of Nouembre the morowe after saynt Edmond the archbisshop in the yere of our lorde M.CC lxxii the .ii. yere of the .iii. Phylype than kynge of Fraunce reygned nobly yeres .xxxiiii. fo lv Elyanoure mother to kyng Richard was enlarged fo iiii Edmounde Crouchbak was maried to the doughter of y e erle of Amnarle as apereth in fo xliiii EdmouÌ„d wodstocke wroughte treason fo lxxxviii Edward the sonne of Henry foresayd distressed the barons as it is shewed folio xxxix Edwarde forsayd dystressed the Barons the seconde tyme as is shewed folio xxxix Edwarde the holy kyng and confessour was translated as it shewed in folio xliiii Edwarde was crossed into the holy lande and of hys feates there done folio xlv Edwarde of Carnaruan as apereth folio lviii Edward the second called Edwarde Carnaruan the sonne of the fyrst Edwarde began hys domynyon ouer Englande in the moneth of Iuly and yere of our lorde god M.iii. C. vii and the .xxi. yere of the .iiii. Phylyppe or Philip the fayre than kynge of Fraunce and reygned yeres full xix fo lxxiiii Edwarde the fyrst maryed to hys .ii. wyfe the Frenche kynges syster folio lxv Edwarde the .iii. of that name sonÌ„ of Edwarde the secoÌ„de and of dame Isabell the doughter of Philippe le Beawe or the .iiii. Phylyp late kyng of Fraunce whych Edwarde aboute the age of .xv. yeres began hys reygn ouer the realme of England the .xxv. daye of Ianuary in the yere of grace M.iii. C. .xxvi and the .iiii. yere of Charles the fayre thaÌ„ king of FrauÌ„ce the whyche reygned yeres .li. folio lxxxvi Edwarde Carnaruan was myserably slayne as is shewed fo lxxxvii Edwarde Bayloll was made kynge of Scottes fo lxxxviii Edwarde the .iii. sayled into Braban wyth hys wyfe loke in fo xci Edward the .iii. chaleÌ„ged y e hole kingdome of Fraunce fo xciii Edward the eldest sonÌ„ of the duke of yorke was electe for king of EnglaÌ„d loke in fo cc.vi. Edwarde the .iiii. of that name and eldest sone of Rychard duke of yorke whych was proclaymed heyre paraÌ„t to the crowne began hys domynyon ouer the realme of Englande in the iiii day of Marche in y e yere of grace M.iiii C.lx the .ii. yere of the .xi. Lowys than kyng of FrauÌ„ce reygned at that tyme .viii. monethes yeres viii fo cc.xiiii Edwarde the .iiii. beforenamed wan the felde of Barnet vpon Ester daye agayne kyng HeÌ„ry the .vi. in the yere of grace M.iiii C.lxxi yere of Lowys the French kyng aforesayd and reygned after that day .x. monethes and yeres .xii. So that fyrste laste he reygned ouer .vii. monethes assygned to Henry the .vi. dayes .xxxvi. monethes yeres .xxi. or wyth the sayde monethes of Henry the .vi. set to Edwardes reygne make .xxii. yeres and odde dayes fo cc.xx. Edwarde the .v. of that name sonne of Edward the .iiii. of the age of .xiiii. yeres and lasse began to reygne as kyng of EnglaÌ„d the .x. daye of Apryll yere of our lord M. iiii.lxxxiii the xxxv yere of the .xi. Lowys thaÌ„ kyng of Fraunce and reygned tyll the .xx. day of Iuly next folowyng in which season passed dayes .lxxii. folio cc.xxiiii Elizabeth the holy womaÌ„ doughter of the kyng of Hungery fo xxi Eleanoure quene of her progenye loke in fo lxi Emperoure of Almayne came into England fo c.lxvii Emperour forsayd came agayn into thys lande fo c.lxxii Enuye of Frenchmen fo v Enguerram was put to deth folio lxxxiii Epytaphye of Rychard the fyrste as apereth in fo x Epytaphye of Frederyke the emperour fo xxv Epytaphye of Edward the fyrst loke in fo lxviii Epytaphye of Edward the .iii. folio cxvi Epytaphye of kyng Rycharde the .ii. loke in fo clxvi Erthquake fell in EnglaÌ„d fo xxv Erle of Penbroke was ouerset with Frenchmen other fo cxiii ExpressemeÌ„t of the grudges atwene kyng Rychard the fyrst the FreÌ„che kynge fo iiii Eugeny pope and of hys actes folio clxxxvii FAlse Cryst was crucyfyed as is shewed in fo xix False clerke of Oxenforde whych fayned hym selfe madde came to wodstocke enteÌ„dyng to haue slayne king Henry the .iii. fo xxii Faytes or actes of warre done at DoÌ„stable fo xcvi Fysshes wonderfull takeÌ„ in the .xxxv yere of kyng HeÌ„ry the .vi. fo cci FlorenÌ„ of golde was made by kynge Edward the .iii. fo xcvii Fryers mynors came fyrst into Englande loke in fo xix Fryers Augustynes in the .xxxv. yere of kynge HeÌ„ry the .iii. buylded theyr house in a place in walys called wodhous as is shewed fo xxvi Fryers were put to deth loke in folio clix Frenche kyng sent for hys doughter that was kynge Rychardes wyfe folio clix FreÌ„ch nauy dyscoÌ„fyted fo clxxiiii Froste excedyng loke in fo clxviii GAscoynes make warre agaiÌ„st FrenchmeÌ„ borderers in kyng Charles the .v. days as is shewed in folio lxxxvi Gabell or taxe reysed vppon salte in Fraunce loke in fo cxix Guynes castell was yoldeÌ„ to Englishmen loke in fo ci Grudge betwene Baldwyn and his monkes fo vii Grudge arose betwene kyng IohnÌ„ hys lordes fo xvi Grudge and dyspleasure betwene y e bysshop of wynchester and the duke of Glouceter it is shewed in folio clxxxi Grudge and murmure toke place amonge the nobles of Fraunce as appereth fo cc.xxviii HArme done by thonder as appereth in fo cvii Hawâ—e wythout reuerence of the sacrament was slayne in the churche folio cxli Hastynges lord Chamberleyne was sodeynly put to deth fo ccxxiiii Henry the thyrd of that name sonnÌ„ of king IohnÌ„ a chyld of .x. yeres began to reygne ouer EnglaÌ„de in the moneth of Octobre and yere of oure lorde M.CC. .xvii and the .xxxvii. yere of Phylype thaÌ„ kyng of FrauÌ„ce and reygned yeres .lvi fo xviii Henry Bolyng broke y e .iiii. of y e name and sonne heyre of IohnÌ„ of Gaunt duke of LaÌ„castre the whyche IohnÌ„ was secoÌ„d sonne of Edwarde the .iii. lyuyng after theyr father or the .iii. sonne to rekyn prynce Edward this Henry after the deposicioÌ„ of Rychard in the ende of the moneth of SepteÌ„bre begaÌ„ to reygne ouer EnglaÌ„de in the yere of our lorde M.iii. C.lxxx xix and the .xix. yere of Charles y e .vii than kyng of Fraunce and reygned yeres .xiii. fo clxiii Henry the .vi. of that name sonnÌ„ of Henry the .v. of y e name sonne of HeÌ„ry the .iiii. began hys reygne ouer the realme of EnglaÌ„d vppon the morne after saynt Cuthbertys day or y e â—xi day of Marche in the ende of y e yere of grace M.iiii C. .xiii and y e â—xxii yere of Charles the .vii. than kyng of FrauÌ„ce and reygned yeres .ix. fo .clxx HeÌ„ry the .v. dame Kateryne doughter of Charles the .vi. or .vii. a chylde of halfe yere of age begaÌ„ hys reygne ouer EnglaÌ„d FrauÌ„ce in the ende of the moneth of Iuly and yere
appeled the prynce of walys in the Frenche kynges courte that he hadde broken the peace and wronged theym contrary the peace stablysshed betwene Englande FrauÌ„ce requyred the FreÌ„ch kyng y t the sayd appeale myght haue due processe agayne the sayd prynce The whyche as sayth the French cronicle kynge Charles deferred for certayne causes there towched whyche were to longe to reherce Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lxvii  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lxviii  Adam wymbynghmÌ„  Symon MordonÌ„  Anno .xlii.  Robert Gyrdeler  IN thys .xliii. yere or more certaynly in the ende of the precedynge yere one walter Bernes mercer was vpon the day of y e traÌ„slation of saynt Edwarde kyng and confessoure or the .xiii. daye of Octobre chosen by the mayre aldermen mayre of the cytye of London But howe it was for lacke of substaunce or by other impedymente which is nat noted the sayd walter vpon the daye of Symonde Iude folowynge whaÌ„ he shulde haue taken hys othe at Guylde halle apered nat wherfore in hys rome by eleccyon of the foresayde mayre and aldermen was admytted for that yere folowynge Symonde MordonÌ„ fysshmonger mayre of that cytye And in thys yere and moneth of Marche Peter kynge of Castyle whyche by the ayde of the Sarazyns dwellyng in the borders of Spayn hadde wonne and recouered somme parte of the lande of Castyle encountrede wyth hys bastarde brother Henry beforesayde and gaue vnto hym batayll nere to a towne called Sybylle where after longe fyght the sayde Peter was scomfyted and moche of hys people slayne and hym dryuen vnto a castell oute of the whyche he was shortly after by treason gotteÌ„ presented vnto hys brother forenamed by whose senteÌ„ce he was iÌ„medyatly byheded After whose deth the sayd Henry enioyed the hole lande of Castyle whych infortunytie myschauÌ„ce fylle to thys Peter after dyuers wryters for so moche as he cruelly slew hys owne wyfe y e doughter of the duke of BurbonÌ„ And in thys yere and moneth of Maye the kynge of Fraunce in hys hyghe court of parlyamente holdeÌ„ at Parys proceded in iugemente vpon the appellacyons before made by the erle of Armenak the lorde of Bret and erle of Perogort agayne prynce Edward as before is towched in the precedynge yere wherupon dyscorde and varyaunce began to take place betwene the .ii. kynges in so moche y t by meane of the sayd .iii. lordes natwythstandyng that they were before sworne to be to the kyng of EnglaÌ„de trewe lyege men dyuers townes of the countre of Poyteaw yelded them to the Frenche kynge as Albeuyle Rue the more partye of the sayde townes of the sayd countre wherupoÌ„ ambassades were sente vppon bothe partyes dyuers meanes of treaty were comoned whyche conteyneth a longe werke wyth resonynge made vpon the same But in conclusyoÌ„ all came to none effecte So that breche of the peace whych before betwene y e ii kynges was so substaÌ„cially concluded was brokeÌ„ eyther kyng for his partye made prouysioÌ„ for the warre In so moch y e kynge Charles spedde hym to Roan in Normandy there in y e moneth of Iuly rigged his nauy to set theym forewarde for to warre vpon Englande In whyche tyme season y e kyng Charles was thus occupyed in NormaÌ„dy the duke of LaÌ„castre laÌ„ded at Caleys with a stroÌ„ge company of archers other warryours froÌ„ thens passed to ThoroueÌ„ne so to Ayre in wastyng the countre with irne fyre as he went wherfore y e French kyng in defence of those partyes sente the duke of Burgoyne with a puyssaunt armye to withstaÌ„de the sayde duke of LaÌ„castre The whych duke of Burgoyne sped hym iÌ„ such wyse y t about y e .xxiiii. day of August he lodged hys hoste vpon the mouÌ„tayne of Turnehan nere vnto Arde. And the English hoste was lodged betwene Gygowne Arde so that y e frountes of both hostes were within a myle Betwene whome were dayly skyrmysshes and small bykerynges without any notarye batayll And whaÌ„ the sayd duke of BurgoynÌ„ had thus kept the sayde mount froÌ„ the .xxiiii. day of Auguste vnto the .xii. day of SepteÌ„bre he remoued hys hoste yode vnto HesdeÌ„ For the whych dede he was after blamed of kyng Charles hys brother After whych departure of the FreÌ„chemen the duke of Lancastre with hys hoste tooke y e waye towarde Caus or Caux passed the ryuer of SuÌ„me so rode toward Harflew entendynge as sayth the FreÌ„che boke to haue fyred the Frenche kynges nauy But at theyr coÌ„myng thyder y e towne was so stroÌ„gly maÌ„ned y t they dyd there lytell scathe wherfore the sayd duke departed shortly thens and spedde hym into the countrye of Poyteau and so came vnto the towne of Albeuyle where wythout the Frenchemen encountred hym and gaue vnto hym batayll In the whych was taken syr Hugh ChastelonÌ„ knyght with other knyghtes esquyres burgeyses of the towne and vpoÌ„ .xvi. score FreÌ„chmen slayne whyche sayde prysoners to the nombre of fyue fourty were sent vnto Caleys y e duke with hys company yode vnto Burdeaux in spoylyng of the FreÌ„chmeÌ„ as he went Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xlviii  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lix  IohnÌ„ Pyell  IohnÌ„ Chychester  Anno .xliiii.  Hugh Holdyche  IN thys .xliiii. yere and moneth of Ianuary dyed the erle of warwyke at Caleys after he was retourned from the duke of Lancastre whyche was a man of great fame And in y e moneth of August dyed that noble woman quene Phylype wyfe vnto Edwarde the thyrde The whyche was a greate benefactoure vnto the chanoÌ„s of saynt Stephans chapell at westmynster And soon after dyed dame BlauÌ„ch somtyme the wyfe of Henry duke of Lancastre was buryed at Poules vpon the noâ—thsyde of the hyghe aulter by her husbande where she ordeyned for hym and her .iiii. chauÌ„tres for euer an annyuersarye yerely to be kept At the whych ouer great thynges be set vnto the deane chanons of the churche she ordeyned that the mayre beynge presente at the masse shuld offre .i. d. and take vp .xx. s the shyryffes eyther of them a peny and to receyue eyther of them a marke y e chaÌ„berlayn of the cytie .x. s the sword berer .vi. s. .viii. d and euery officer of the mayres there present .xxii. d and to euery offycer to the nombre of .viii eyther of theym .viii. d. admytted for the shyreffes The whyche obyte at thys daye is holden But by reason that the lande is decayed these forenamed summes ben greately mynysshed so that the mayre at thys daye hath but .vi. s. viii.d bothe the shyreffes syxe s. eyghte d and other after that rate In thys yere also the kynge helde hys parlyament at westmynster In the whych was graunted vnto hym iii. fyftenes to be payde in .iii. yeres folowynge And by a conuocacyon of the clergye was also grauted vnto hym .iii. dysmes to be payde in lyke maner And in thys yere
them was fynally coÌ„cluded he y e sayd Lewys all suche as wyth hym were reteyned or allied were for thys offeÌ„ce by y e sayd Charles clerely pardoned one persone all only excepted named Iaket or Iakis by whose treason the castell of Maxente was loste and taken for whyche offence he was after drawen hanged also quartered ThaÌ„ in processe of tyme folowyng the flemynges of GauÌ„te rebelled agayne theyr duke or erle named Philyp The cause of whyche rebellyon was for that he areryd a greuouse taske vpoÌ„ salte put the people ther by to greuouse charge wherevppon dedely warre betwene the duke and hys subiectys arose to the dystruccioÌ„ of moche people vpoÌ„ bothe partyes wherof the cyrcumstauÌ„ce were loÌ„g to wryte Howe be it in the ende y e duke or erle by ayde of the FreÌ„che kynge was vyctour helde them of GauÌ„te so streyghte that they were compelled by force to bye theyr peace wyth great summes of money to theyr other many folde domages About the .xxxi. yere of thys sayde Charles came vnto hym from pope Nycholas the .v. of that name an ambassade for to requyre ayde agayne the Turkys for the defeÌ„ce of CoÌ„stantyne the noble whyche the Turkys purposed shortly after to assayle To whyche ambassade by the sayd Charlys it was answeryd that to hym it was right greuouse to here of the intollerable persecucyoÌ„ whych y e cristeÌ„ dayly susteyned of the Turkys But he was of y e Englysh nacyoÌ„ so vexed and warred that he myghte nat leue hys laÌ„de wythout an hedde to the coÌ„forte of other to lose hys owne But to the entent that he before tymes myght haue warred vppon the sayd Turkys he for that cause onely had offered vnto the kynge of Englande many reasonable offers And if of the Englysshe party any lyke offers myghte be to hym profered he wolde gladly theym accepte turne hys spere incoÌ„tyneÌ„tly agayn the fore named Turkes And ouer that he wolde for the furtherauÌ„ce of the matter sende wyth them vnto the kynge of EnglaÌ„de certayne ambassadours to se yf that as yet any reasonable peace myght be betwene them coÌ„cluded For accomplisshemeÌ„t wherof as testyfyeth myne auctour Gaguynus he sente the archebysshop of Raynes wyth other honorable persones The whych whan they to kyng Henry and hys counsayll hadde shewyd theyr legacyoÌ„ it was to them shortly answered that at suche season as the EnglysshemeÌ„ hadde wonne agayne so moche laÌ„de as the Frenchemen by cawtelys had woÌ„ne from theym thaÌ„ were it good tyme season to treate of accorde nat before By reason of whiche answere the popes ambassade retourned to Rome wythoute ayde or comforte And thus y e FreÌ„che wryters lay euer the charge froÌ„ theyr prynce put it vnto other But of thys ambassade or answere fynde I no memory of any Englysshe wryters Aboute the .xxxiiii. yere of y e reygn of thys Charlys Lewys hys sonne before named beynge a maÌ„ of greate lyberalitye and largesse thought his father departed nat wyth hym of his mouables possessyoÌ„s as he hadde cause to do For the whych by coÌ„fort of yoÌ„ge persones as he had aboute hym he rebelled thys seconde tyme agayne hys sayde father by reason of hys largesse lyberalyte drewe vnto hym moche waÌ„ton wylde people wyth theyr assystence warred vppoÌ„ hys fathers freÌ„des entendyd to depryue hys father of all gouernauÌ„ce of the realme wherof herynge hys father in all possyble haste gathered to hym greate strengthe and spedde hym towarde hys sayd sonnÌ„ But whaÌ„ Lewys was warned of the coÌ„myng of hys father wyth so great an hoste consydered hys quarell wekenesse he wyth a fewe persones fledde towarde Burgoyne whereof herynge the father sente in all â—haste people to kepe the passages and dyd that he myghte to haue stopped hym of hys waye But that prouysyon notwythstandynge the sayd Lewys escaped and came sauely vnto the presence of Phylyppe then duke of Burgoyne the whyche hym receyued wyth gladde chere and entreatyd hym accordyng to his estate and so kepte hym durynge his fathers lyfe Nowbeit he made for hym great sute and labour to wynne him to his fathers grace But all was in vayne For what by obstynacy of the same y t he wolde not submytte hym to his father and comme vnto hys presence when he was sente for for the great stomacke of the father that he wold not be condycyoned with of the son thys varyaunce contynued bytwene them as aboue is sayd y e terme of his fathers lyfe In the whyche passe tyme thys Charlys concluded a maryage bytwene hys doughter called Magdaleyne and Ladyslaus kyng of Beme Hungary and of Polayne But whyle the bryde wyth great apparayle and pompe was conueyed towarde her husbande to be maryed her sayde husbande was taken sodenly with sykenesse and dyed with in .xxiiii. houres after that he fyrste coÌ„playned hym whych was by force of poysone as most wryters agreen Of whych tydynges when Charlys was asserteyned he therwyth toke such a peÌ„syffenesse that he dyed shortely after whan he had ruled a parte and the hole realme to reken from y e deth of hys father .xxxvi. yeres How be it of Frenche wryters no certeyne terme of hys reygne to hym is assygned for so myche as kyng Henry the vi longe after the deth of hys father was alowyd in Parys and many other Cytyes of FrauÌ„ce for souerayne and kynge of that regyon Thys Charlys thus beynge dede lefte after hym two sonnes that is to saye Lewys that after hym was kynge and a yonger named Charlys wyth y e forenamed doughter named Magdaleyne or after some Margarete And after wyth greate pompe hys corps was conueyed vnto saynt Denys and there buryed Francia Lewys the .xi. LEwys the .xi. of y â— name after the accompte of thys boke and .x. after the Frenche accompte whereof y e cause is before shewed sonne to Charles last dede beganne his dominyon ouer the realme of Fraunce in the moneth of October in the yere of grace M.iiii hundreth and .lviii. and the .xxxvi. yere of Henry the .vi. than kynge of Englande This of Gaguinus is called the sturdy or fel Lewys The whiche at the tyme of his fathers deth beyng as aboue is sayd vnrecouÌ„syled in the prouynce of Burgoyne herynge of the deth of his father wyth ayde of the foresayd duke Phylyp shortly entred y e realm of Fraunce toke vpon hym y e rule in euery good cytie town as he passyd as kyng of y e same so y t many lordes hed offycers drewe vnto hym By meane wherof he was stronge put such vnto sylence as after y e wyll purpose of his father wolde haue preferred his yoÌ„ger son named Charlys Than this Lewys by strengthe of his frendes was shortely after at Raynes crowned kynge of Fraunce After whyche solempnyte fynysshed he repayred vnto Parys and there by consent of hys counceyll made a law y t no man of what degre
.iiii. M.iiii C. and .xxxviii. And furthermore the foresayde authours wyth other afferme that the .ii. bretherne Belinus and Brennus dyd enter Italy wyth a great noumber of men in the xi yere of Artaxarses the .xi. kynge of Perse. whyche was the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousand .viii. C. and .xv. and the .viii. yere of the reygne of the forsayd bretherne as sayeth Martynus super Cronicas whereby it playnly appereth that from the laste yere of Cunedage vntyll the eyghte yere of the foresayd bretherne there passed .iii. C.lxxvii yeres And furthermore all wryters afferme that y e sayd Belinus and Brennus dyd succede theyr father Dumuallo and that the sayde Dumuallo reygned .xl. yeres The fyrst yere of whose reygne was the yere of the worlde .iiii. M.vii C.xlviii So that from the laste yere of Cunedage vntyl the fyrst yere of the sayd Dunuallo there passed .iii. C.xxix yeres Of the whych yeres there passed from the fyrst yere of Riuallus or Renaldus vntyll the laste yere of Porrex .ii. hūdreth .lxxviii. yeres By whyche accompte it appereth that the Brytōs after the deth of the fore sayd bretherne were in dyscord by the space of .li. yeres And so the laste yere of the foresayde dyscorde was the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande vii hundreth .lxvii. ¶ Thus endeth the fyrst parte of thys worke that conteyneht .viii. hundreth .iiii. yeres MUlumtius dūuallo y t whiche of some wrytters is named Donobant and sonn̄ of Cloton duke or kynge of Cornewall was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .vii. hundreth lxviii and reygned yeres .xi. Thys was the fyrste that bare crowne in Brytayne Thys also founded the towne of Malmesbury and of Uyes Thys also began the .iiii. pryncipall hye wayes ca. xxviii fo x. Belinus and Brennus the twoo sonnes of the forenamed Dunuallo beganne to reygne ioyntly ouer Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande eyght hūdreth and .viii. and ruled yeres ioyntly and Belynus alone .xxvi. Thys Belinus made the towne of Carleyll Also in London he caused to be made the hauen of Byllyngysgate and ended the .iiii. wayes begonne of hys fader Thys also made a tēple in Londō named it the Temple of Concorde whyche after some wryters opynyōs shulde be the Temple barre now the parysshe churche of the temple as appereth ca. xxix cum folio xi In the tyme in whyche these two bretherne reygned auctours somwhat dyscorde For Policronicon sayeth that Belinus wyth Brennus dyd inuade Italy and besege Rome in the CC.i. yere after the trāsmigragracion of Italy And also that the same tyme Furius Camillus was dyctatour of Rome wherby it appereth that Rome was spoyled of them about the yere of the worlde .iiii. M.viii C. and .x. But Iacobus Phylyppus wyth other sayth that y e forsayd Furius Camillus was dictatour of Rome about the yere of our lord .iiii. M.viii hundreth .lvi. whereby there appereth a dyfference of .xlvi. yeres But Radulphus monk of the order of Cystercieū erreth very farre that affermeth in hys cronycle that y e said bretherne began to reyne ouer Brytayn in the yere of y e world .iiii. M.v. C. and .iiii. whych dyffereth frome other aboue .ii. hundreth and .l. yere And where it is noted of some that y e sayde Belynus reyned .x. yeres that is supposed for the tymes of hys reyn after hys retorne from Italy The victory of the sayd bretherne is shewed in the story folowyng Gurguintus or Gurguyn the son̄ of Belyn was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .viii. C. and .xxxiiii. reygned .xix. yeres ca. xxxii fo xiii Guithelinus or Guitellius called in the Englysshe cronycle Guentolyn̄ the sonne of Gurguintus was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .viii. C. and .liii. and reygned yeres .xxvi. Alexander the great began to reygne aboute the .xxi. yere of thys kynge ca. xxxiii fo xiiii Sisillius or Cecilius the sonn̄ of Guithelinus began his reygne ouer the Britons in the yere of the world iiii thousande .viii. C.lxxix and reygned yeres .vii. ca. xxxiiii fo xiiii Kymerus or Kymere the sonn̄ of Sisillius begā hys rule ouer y e Brytons in the yere of the world .iiii. M.viii C.lxxxvi and ruled yeres .iii. ca. xxxv fo xiiii Elanius the sonne or brother of Kymerus beganne hys reygne ouer Brytayne in the yere of the worlde iiii thousande .viii. hundreth .lxxxix. reygned yeres .ix. ca. xxxvi folio xiiii Morindus or Marwyth the bastarde sonne of Elanius was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .viii. hundreth xci and reygned yeres .viii. ca. xxxvii fo xiiii Gorbomannus or after the Englysshe cronycle Granbodyan sonne vnto Morindus was ordeyned king of Brytayne in the yere of the world iiii thousand .viii. C.xcviii and reygned yeres .xi. ca. xxxviii fo xv Archigallo the second sonne of Morindus beganne hys domynyon ouer the Brytons in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .ix. C.x. reygned yeres .v. ca. xxix fo xv Elidurus the .iii. sonne of Morindus began hys domynyon ouer the Brytons in the yere of the world iiii thousande .ix. C.xv. and ruled yeres .v. ca. xl fo xv Archigallo beforenamed was by the compassyō of hys brother agayn restored to hys former dygnyte in y e yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .ix. hundreth .xx. and reyngned after yeres .x. ca. xli fo xv Elidurus beforenamed was agayne of the Brytons made kynge in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousād ix hundreth .xxx. and reygned yeres ii ca. xlii fo xv Uigenius or Migenius wyth Peridurus hys brother whyche in the Englyshe cronycle are named Hygamus and Petitur brethern of Elidurus deposed by strength theyr sayde brother and began theyr reygne in y e yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .ix hundreth .xxxii. and reygned ioyntly and alone yeres .ix. Thys peridurus or Petitur made the towne of Pykerynge after the opynyon of dyuerse wryters ca. xliii fo xv Elidurus beforenamed was the thyrde tyme restored to the crowne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousād ix hūdreth .xli. and reygned the thyrd tyme yeres .iiii. Galfride sayeth y e durynge the lyfe of the foresayd brethern thys was inclosed in the towre of London whych yf it be trew than is nat trew that the floure of hystorys affermeth whych sayeth that the towre of London was bylded of Cassibelan ca. xliiii fo xvi Gorbonianus or Gorbomannus the son̄ of Elidure was made kyng of Brytayne in the yere of the world iiii thousande .ix. hundreth .xlv. And after hym reygned .xxxii. kynges as in the story is after declared y t which wyth the sayd Gorbonmaus by the reason that foloweth occupyed yeres lxxxvi And in thys tyme duke Haniball of Cartage about the yere of the worlde began to warre agaynst the Romayns And Scipio Affrican vanquyshed Hanyball aboute the yere of the worlde .v. M. ix And about thys tyme Iudas machabeus
in hys .xx. yere reygned after .xv. yeres they haue accoūted the .xv. yere whyche he reygned as crysten kynge and haue lette passe the other .xx. yere And so is it to be thought that the forsayd auctour Peter pictauiens dyd whych reason beynge alowed the sayde table maye agre wyth the sayd Peter wythoute any greate dyfference whyche testyfyeth y e sayd Lucius to reygne .lxxvii yere as kynge After whose deth in so moche that he dyed wythout any lawfull heyre a great contēcion sprange amonge the Brytons that endured by .xv. yeres as shall apere by the sequel Trouth it is after all histories that Seuerus a Romayne succeded Lucius in Brytayne But because y e tyme is nat certaynly sette whan the sayd Seuerus subdued the Brytōs therfore it is to noted that whanne it was shewed to the Romaynes of the sedicion and discorde of the Brytōs of the sleyng of the Romayns than beyng in Brytayn the senate sentte thyder the forsayd Seuerus wyth .ii legions of men whych bare thē selfe so manfully that in shorte whyle he compelled the Brytons to obey to the senate whyche Policronicon affermeth to be about the yere of our lord C.xcv. In whyche yere as hath Iacobus Philippus the sayde Seuerus began to raygne ouer the Romayns But that dysagreeth from other Cronycles For Eutropius Matheolus the forsayde Iacobus Philippus sayth that whan the sayde Seuerus had subdued the Arabyes Parthys and Gallys after many battayls he came into Brytayn where he beynge troubled wyth dyuers chaunces at laste died in y e towne of yorke where by it is to be supposed that in y e ende of hys reygn he came hether about the .xii. yere of hys reygne ouer the Romayns which was the yere of our lorde .ii. C.vii. and that after he reygned ouer the Brytons .v. yere wherefore it euydētly apereth that the forsayd dyscord dured .xv. yeres whych tyme Brytayne was wythoute a kynge Thus endeth the thyrde parte which conteyneth CC.lvi yeres SEuerus emperour of Rome as before is shewed in the .xii. yere of hys empyre and yere of oure lord .ii. C. .vii beganne hys reygne ouer the Brytōs and yere of y e world and reygned as kynge yeres .v. The fyrst persecucyon of the chrysten men was vnder this Seuerus about the yere of our lord .ii. C.x ca. lxi fo xxii Bassianus the sonn̄ of Seuerus began hys reygne ouer the Brytons in the yere of our lorde .ii. C.xii the yere of the worlde and reygned yeres .vi. ca. lxii folio xxii Carassius a yonge and lusty Brytayne of vnknowē blode by meanes as in hys story sheweth began hys domynyon ouer the Brytons in the yere of our lorde .ii. C. and .xviii. and yere of the worlde ruled yeres .viii. ca. lxiii fo xxiii Here agayn authours forget y e yeres of the kynges folowyng Of whyche I nat greatly maruyll For in thys tyme muche discencyon was among the Romayne prynces also amonge the Brytons cyuyll warre ceased nat For they were so styrred wyth dyscencyon and warre y t none coulde occupy the kyngedome any determynate tyme. For whyche cause and suche lyke authours coude nat assyne any certeyne tyme to the prynces as me semeth But that we maye come to some knowlege Policronicon sheweth that constantius y t was father to Constantine the great was sente by the senate into Brytayne about the yere of our lord .ii. C.lxxix and in the seconde yere of Probrus emperour that he shuld subdue to y e Romayns Coelus than there kyng From the whych tyme of the coming of the sayde Constantius vntyll the last yere of Bassianus accountynge bakwarde there passed .lxi. yeres In the tyme of whych yeres there reygned in thys Ilelande these .iiii. kynges that is to say Carassius Alectus Asclepiodotus and Coelus Allectus a duke or senatour of Rome began hys domynyon ouer the Brytons in the yere of oure lorde .ii. C.xxvi of the worlde reygned yeres .vi. ca. lxiiii fo xxiii Asclepeodotus or after the Englysshe boke Asclepades began hys reygne ouer the Brytons in the yere of our lorde god CC.xxxii And the yere of the worlde and reygned yeres .xxx. The syxt persecucyon of crysten men was about the yere of our lorde CC.xxxviii vnder Maximian The .vii. persecucyon was in y e yere of oure lorde CC.lv. vnder Decius In y e whych pope Fabyan was martyred The .viii. persecucion was in the yere of our lord CC.lx. vnder Ualeryan whych was the .xviii. yere of thys Asclepiodotus ca. lxv folio xxiiiii Coelus or Coyll erle of Colchester by exytyng of the Brytōs was made kyng of Brytayne in the yere of oure lord CC.lxii reygned yeres .xxvii. Thys kyng after most wryters made the towne of Colchester in Essex ca. lxvi fo xxiiii Constancius a senatoure of Rome by reason of maryage knyt wyth Eleyn doughter of Coelus beganne to reygne as kyng of Brytayne in y e yere of our lord CC.lxxxix and of y e worlde and reygned yeres xxx The .ix. persecucyon of the crystēmen was vnder Aurelianus Saint Albon prothomartyr in the tyme of thys Constancius as some haue in y e x. persecucyō whych was vnder Dioclesian and Maximian was martyred ca. lxvii fo xxiiii Constancius surnamed the great sonn̄ of Constancius and of the holy Heleyne began his reygne ouer Brytayne in the yere of oure lorde .iii. C.xix and of the worlde and reygned as kyng yeres .x. ca. lxviii folio xxv Octauius duke of Iesses or Iewesses and after named westsaxōs by extorte power began hys reygne ouer the Brytons in the yere of oure lorde .iii. C. .xxix. and of the worlde and reygned yeres .liiii ca. lxxi fo xxvii Of thys kynge folowynge called Maximius or after some Maximianus wryters dyuersly speke so that some say he raygned few yeres But in the concordaunce of cronycles it playnly apereth that the sayd Maximis began to reygn ouer the Brytōs in the yere of our lord .iii. C.lxxxii that he was slayn of Theodosius the elder in the thyrd yere of his reygne whych began to reygne in the yere of our lord .iii. C.lxxxviii And so it appereth playnly that he reygned ix yeres Maximius or Maximianus the son̄ of Leonyne brother to Trahern̄ vncle to Helcyne began hys reygne ouer Brytayn in the yere of our lord iii. C.lxxxii and reygned yeres .ix ca. lxxii fo xxvii Saynt Ursula wyth her felowes in thys kynges tyme were martyred of Enanus and Melga Gracianus an offycer or feede knyght of Maximius began to oppresse the Brytons in the yere of our lorde .iii. C.xc and tyrannysed yeres iiii ca. lxxiiii fo xxviii The storyes agre that after that Gracian was slayne Brytayne was vexed a longe whyle wyth oftē dyscēsions cyuyll warre But how longe thys dyscord dyd last authours trete diuersly for some say it lasted .l. yere some .xl. some .xxx. Therfore to know y e certeynty it is requisite that we dylygently serche howe many yeres passed frō the
fo c.xiiii Lotharius the eldest sonn̄ of y e .v. Lowis was anoīted king of Fraūce in the yere of our lord .ix. C. .xl and viii yere of Edwardus thā kynge of Englād reygned yeres after moste wryters .xxxix. ca. c.xc fo c.xiiii Edwynus y e eldest son̄ of Edmoūd brother of Ethelstane was enoynted kyng of Englāde in the yere of oure lord .ix. C.lvi the secōd yere of Lothayre thā kyng of Fraūce reygned yeres .iii. ca. c.xcii fo c.xvi Edgarus the secōd sonn̄ of Edmoūd brother of Edwyn begā to reygne ouer Englād in the yere of grace .ix. C. .lx y e .v. yere of Lotharius than kyng of Fraūce reygned yeres .xvi ca. c.xciii fo c.xvi Edward the son̄ of Edgare surnamed the Martyr begā hys reygne ouer the I le of Englād in the yere of our lorde .ix. C.lxxvii the .xxii. yere of Lothayre yet kyng of Fraūce and reygned yeres .iiii. ca. c.xcvi fo c.xix. Egelredus y e sonn̄ also of Edgare was made kyng of Englād in y e yere of grace .ix. C.lxxx one the .xxvi. yere of Lothayre yet king of Fraūce and reygned yeres .xxxvi. ca. xcvii folio c.xx. Lowys y e .vi. of y e name sonne of Lothayr begā his reygn ouer Fraūc in y e yere of our lord .ix. C.lxxxvi the v. yere of Egelbertus thā king of England reygned yeres .iii. In thys kyng endeth the lyne of Pepyn ca. cc.i. fo c.xxiiii Hugt Capet y e sonn̄ of Roberte y e tyraūt descended of Hugh le graūde begā to take vppō hym or vsurpe the crowne of Fraūce in the yere of oure lord .ix. C. .ix and y e .ix. yere of Egelrede and ruled yeres .ix. ca. cc.ii. folio c.xxvi Robert the sonn̄ of Hughe began to reygne ouer the Frēchmē in y e yere of our lord .ix. C.lxxx and .xviii. yere of Egelredus than kyng of Englād and reygned yeres .xxx. ca. cc.iii folio c.xxvii Edmoūde Ironsyde the sonne of Egelredus with also Canutus y e son̄ of Swanus begā to reygn ouer Englāde in the yere of our lord M. and xvii y e .xix. yere of Robert thā kinge of Fraūce reygned one yere ca. cc.iiii fo c.xxvii Kanutus which in y e Englysh boke is named Knougth begā after the deth of Edmoūd to reygn alone ouer Englād in the yere of grace M. and xix the .xx. yere of Robert thā kyng of Fraūce and reygned yeres .xix. ca. cc.v fo c.xxviii Hēry the sonn̄ of Robert begā hys domynyō ouer Fraūce in the yere of our lord M. .xxix the .x. yere of Canutus thā king of Englād reygned yeres .xxxi. ca. cc.vii fo c.xxx Harolde surnamed Harefote y e son̄ Canutus began to reygne ouer England in the yere of our lorde M. and xxxix the .x. yere of Henry thā kyng of Fraūce and ruled yeres .iii. ca. cc.viii fo c.xxxi Hardikynitus or Hardiknought y e son̄ of Canutus of Emma was made king of Englāde in the yere of our lord M. .xli the .xii. yere of Hēry thā kyng of Fraūce and reygned yeres .ii. In this kyng ended the line of the Danes that had cōtynued in thys lāde in great persecuciō aboue ii C.l. yeres ca. cc.ix. fo c.xxxii Edward the holy cōfessour son̄ of Egelredus and of Emma his laste wyfe begā hys reygn ouer the realm of Englād in the yere of oure lorde a M. and .xliii the .iiii. yere of Henry thā kyng of Fraūce and reygned in vertue and holynes yeres .xxiiii. In this kynges tyme the chapell of walsynghm̄ was fyrst bylded in y e yere of our lord M.lxi. ca. cc.x. fo c.xxxiii Philippe the fyrst of y e name and son̄ of Hēry begā to gouerne y e Frēch mē in the yere of our lord a M.lxviii and the .xvi. yere of Edward the confessour thā kynge of Englande and reygned yeres .xlviii. Godfrey of Bulyō nat Boleyn̄ ī this Philippes tyme gat by strēgth the citie of Hierusalē was crowned king of y e same in the yere of our lord M.xcix. ca. cc.xv. fo c.xxxviii Harolde y e eldest son̄ of erle Goodwyn begā to reygn ouer Englyshmē in the yere of our lord M.lxvi and y e viii yere of Philippe than kynge of Fraunce and reygned yeres .ix. ca. cc.xvi fo c.xxxviii Thus endeth the .vi. parte that conteyneth .iii. C.lxxxi yeres WIllyam duke of Normādy the bastarde sonne of Robert the .vi duke of the sayd prouynce begā hys reygne ouer the realme of Englande in the .xv. day of Octobre and yere of our lord M.lxvii y e .ix. yere of y e fyrst Philipe yet kyng of Fraūce reygned yere vpō .xxii. In the .xx. yere of thys kyng the church of saint Poule wyth a great parte of Lōdon was burned Thys kyns foūded the monasteryes of Batell and Barmūdesey ca. cc.xix fo c.xlii wyllyam surnamed the Rede and sonne of wyllyam Cōquerour began hys reygne ouer Englād in the moneth of Iuly yere of our lord a M.lxxx .ix .xxxi. yere of Philippe forenamed yet king of Fraūce reygned yeres .xii. ca. cc.xxiii fo c.xlvii Henry surnamed Beawclerke and thyrd son̄ of wyllyam Conqueroure begā hys reygne ouer Englād in the yere of our lord M.C. one and in the .xliii. yere of the foresayd Phylyp yet kyng of Fraūce reygned yeres xxxv ca. cc.xxvi fo c.l. Lowys surnamed the greate and sonn̄ of y e fyrst Philippe was enoynted king of Fraūce in y e yere our lord M.C. .vii and y e .vi. yere of the first Henry than kynge of Fraunce and reygned yeres .xxix. capi cc.xxx folio c.lv. Stephan erle of Boloyng sonn̄ vnto the erle of Blesens of the wyues syster of Hēry the fyrst begā hys reygne ouer Englāde in the yere of grace M.C. .xxxvi and the last yere of Lowys the great reygned yeres xix ca. cc.xxxii fo c.lvii Lowys the .viii. of y e name and son̄ of Lowys the great begā his reygne ouer Fraunce in the yere of our lord M.C.xxxvi the fyrste yere of Stephan than kyng of England reygned yeres .xliii. ca. cc.xxxiiii folio c.lx. Henry the seconde of that name sonne of Geffrey Plantaginet and of molde the emperesse begā hys reygn in Englande in the yere of our lorde M.C. and .lv and the .xix. yere of Lowys the .viii. than kyng of Fraunce and reygned yeres .xxxv. Saynt Edwarde the confessour was trāslated in the .ix. yere of thys kyng And about the .xvi. yere of hys reygne saīt Thomas of Caunterbury was martyred cap. cc.xxxvi folio c.lxii Philippe the second of that name surnamed a Deu don̄e sonne of the viii Lowys beganne hys reygne in Fraunce in the yere our lord a thousande C. and .lxxix and .xxiiii. yere of Henry the seconde than kyng of Englande and reygned yeres .xliii. ca. cc.xli fo c.lxviii Thus endeth the table of the fyrste volume FOR
of Romaynes as wytnessyth Policronica coÌ„queryd and wanne agayne the sayde trybute wythout great fyght And y t done he also subdued the yles of Orchades or Orkeys whych stande beyonde ScotlaÌ„d within the great Occean and after tourned agayne to Rome the .vi. moneth after that he came thens The cronycle of Englande and also Gaufryde saye that in the hoste of the Romaynes was a captayne named Hame or Hamo the whych entendynge hurte and destruccyon of y e Brytons chaunged his shelde or armure dyd vppon hym the armure of a Britayne And by that meane as a Briton mysclad he entred into the thyckest of the hoste and lastely vnto the place where as kynge Guyderius faught shortly after slewe the kynge But Aruiragus seynge this sodayne myschyefe to the ende y t the Brytons shulde not gyue backe he hastely causyd hym selfe to be armed wyth the cognysaunce of the kynge And so for kyng coÌ„tynued the fyght wyth such maÌ„hode that the Romaynes were put to flyght Thus by accorde of wryters Guyderius was slayne of the foresayde Hamo when he hadde reygned ouer the Brytons by the concordaunce of other hystoryes .xxviii. yeres leuyng after hym none heyre of his body to guyde the lande after his deth THE LV. CHAPITER ARuiragus the yongest sonne of Kymbelyne and brother to Guyderius before slayn was ordeyned kyng of Brytons in the yere of our lorde .xliiii. This in the englyshe boke is named Armager the whyche as there is shewed well and knyghtly maynteyned the warre agayne the Romayns and after slew the forenamed Hamo nere vnto an hauen or porte of the see And hym so slayne threwe gobet meale into the same see And for this skyll was this haueÌ„ longe tyme after called HamoÌ„s hauen whych at this daye is called Southampton Then yt foloweth in the .viii. chapyter of the .iiii. boke of Policronicon that Claudius after dyuers happes of batayll toke Aruiragê° to his grace brought his doughter Gennissa by name from Rome and maried her vnto Aruiragus And for he wolde make the place of y e maryage more solemne he therfore called the towne of mariage Claudiocestria after his name the whych before was called in bretyshe tunge Caerleon after Glouernia after a duke of Demecia that hyght Glorio but nowe this towne is named Glouceter All otherwyse telleth the englyshe cronycle sayth that Armager scomfyted Claudius and compelled hym to gyue his doughter GeÌ„nissa or GeÌ„nen to the sayde Armager to wyfe wyth condycyon that the Romayns shulde neuer after that daye clayme any trybute of Brytayne excepte alonely feawte whyche sayenge appereth doutefull for dyuers causes wherof one is that the sayde Armager shulde not constrayne Claudius to gyue his doughter to hym for so myche as the sayde Armager hadde neuer seen the sayde Gennen before tyme nor knewe not of her coÌ„uersacyon Then meruayle yt were that he shulde force her father to gyue hym a wyfe that he hadde cast no loue vnto before tyme. One other reason is that the sayde cronycle testyfyeth that after he hadde maryed the sayd Gennen he was at London crowned kynge of Englande For I wold thinke if he had ouercomeÌ„ Claudius as there is surmytted he wold fyrste haue crowned hym selfe kyng and then haue maried his doughter But by the same reason yt certifyeth more strenger the former sayenge of Policronica For by all lykelyhode Claudius wold not suffer hym to be crowned kyng tyll he hadde full perfourmed his promyse in maryage of his doughter And all be yt that myne authoure Gaufryde varyeth not myche from the englyshe cronicle I thynke in y e doynge he toke example of Homerê° that wrote the dedis and actes of the Grekes the whyche shewed and put in memory all the noble actes by theÌ„ done and specyally in the recuyll or boke made by hym of the syege of Troye But the other dedys concernynge theyr dyshonoure he hyd yt as mych as he myght And in lyke maner do many other writers which I passe ouer And so Gaufride for he was a Bryton he shewed the beste for Brytons Then yt foloweth after the solemnysacyon of this maryage whyche was with all honour finyshed Claudius sente certayne legyons of his knyghtes into Irlande to rule that countre and retourned hym selfe to Rome THE LVI CHAPITER IT was not longe after the departynge of Claudius but y t Aruiragus rode aboute his realme and wyth great dylygence repayred cytyes and townes before decayed broken wyth the strength of the Romaynes and entreated his subiectes wyth suche iustyce and good order that they loued and drad hym more then any of his progenitours This in tracte of tyme made hym welthy And by meane of this welthynes ensued pryde so y t hym thought great shame to be vnder the rule or guydynge of y e Romayns wherfore lastly he denyed the tribute before grauÌ„ted wherof when knowlege came vnto y e senate of Rome in all hast was sent a duke of Rome called Uespasyan wyth a certayne of legyons to subdue Aruiragus ye shall vnderstand that a legyon of knyghtes is .vi. thousande .vi. hundred .lxvi. when Uespasyan was landed in Brytayne as testyfyeth Polycronica he spedde hym so that in shorte whyle he subdued Aruiragus to the empyre and causyd hym to graunte payment of the foresayde trybute which was done as sayth Gaufride by entreatye of the quene Gennissa and of no constraynt nor coaccyon when Uespasyan hadde thus recoueryd the trybute he then also made subiecte to the empyre an I le in the see lyenge vpon the southsyde of Britayne now called the yle of weyght and after retourned to Rome when Aruiragus was thus secondely brought vnder the yocke of y e Romayns he became more mylde towarde them so that whyle he lyued after he payed hys trybute wyth lesse grudge and contynued hym in theyr fauours in suche wyse that he was of theym well beloued And so lastely dyed when he hadde ruled the BrytoÌ„s well and nobly by the terme of .xxx. yeres and was buryed at CaerglonÌ„ CaerleonÌ„ Claudiocestria or Glouceter leuynge after hym a sonne named Marius ⸫ THE LVII CHAPITER MArius the sonne of Aruiragê° was ordeyned kynge of Brytons in the yere of our lorde .lxxiiii. This in the cronycle of Englande is named westmer whych Marius as wytnessyth Gaufryde was an excellent wyse man and guyded his Brytons moste honourably and in grete prosperyte and welthe In the tyme of the reygne of this Mariê° a duke or kynge of a nacyon called Pyctes whych as wytnessyth Uirgilius are descendyd of a people called of olde tymes Scythis They also are named Gothis or Hunys This foresayde leder of Pictes is named of Gaufryde Londricus the which landed wyth a great nauy in the prouynce of Albania now called Scotlande and yt beganne to waste with iron and wyth fyre wherof wheÌ„ Marius was warned he in all haste assembled his knyghtes and made towarde his enymyes and gaue vnto them stronge batayll In the whych
LoÌ„dricus or after some Rodicê° was slayne and a great parte of his people were slayne In remembraunce of whyche vyctorye kynge Marius lette arrere a great stone and in this he commaunded to be grauen Marii victoria whych is to meane the victorye of Marius wyllyam of Malmesburye sayth that this stone was arered in mynde of Marius the consull of Rome The englyshe cronycle sayth that this batayll was foughteÌ„ in a place the whyche now is called Stanysmore But where so this stone is set the countre there aboute was longe after called westmaria and nowe westmerlande Then yt foloweth in the story that when the resydue of the people of Lodricus whyche were fledde from the felde vnderstode that theyr hedde captayne was slayne they made huÌ„ble request vnto y e kynge y t he wolde accepte theÌ„ vnto his grace and that he wold graunt to theym some lande and countre to dwell in whych grauÌ„ted vnto theÌ„ a place in the ferre ende of Scotlande whyche is named of myne authoure Cathenesia where the sayd Scythis or Pictes fyrst inhabyted them And for so myche as the Brytons dysdayned to gyue vnto theÌ„ theyr doughters in maryage therfore they acqueynted them wyth the Iryshe men and maryed theyr doughters and grewe in proces into a great people And for this allyaunce attwene the Iryshe and them theyr countre as wytnessyth Policronycon y e .xxxvii. chapyter of hys fyrste boke was called Irlande and after Pictauia lastely Scotlande And when Marius had thus subdued his enemyes he attendyd and sette his mynde to the common wele of this lande and subiectes and contynued y e resydue of his lyfe in great tranquillite and reste And so lastely payde his naturall tribute was buryed at Caerleyll leuyng after hym a sonne named Coillê° or Coyll wheÌ„ he hadde reygned after moste wryters .lii. yeres THE LVIII CHAPITER COyllus the sonne of Marius was after the deth of his father made kynge of Brytons in the yere of oure lordes incarnacyon a huÌ„dred and .xxvi. This was from hys infancy noryshed and brought vppe amonge the Romaynes in Italia or Rome by reason wherof he was to theym louynge and kynde and they vnto hym And he for so myche as he knewe the power of the Romayns great in auoydyng of warre other daunger payde vnto them the foresayde trybute duryng his lyfe This Coillus also as wytnessyth Gaufryde was a lyberall man of gyftes by reason wherof he obteyned great loue of his nobles and also of his coÌ„mons And as some authours haue this Coyll made the towne of Colchester whych at this daye is a fayre town in the shyre of Essex But other ascrybe yt to Coell or Coill that was kynge nexte after Asclepeodotus But when this Coillus hadde reygned in soueraygne peace by y e terme of .liiii. yeres he dyed and was buryed at Caerbrank or yorke lefte after hym a sonne the whyche was named Lucius or Lucy THE LIX CHAPITER LUcius or Lucy the sonne of Coillus was made kynge of Brytons in the yere of oure lorde a hundred and .lxxx. The whych in all actes and dedes of goodnes folowed his forefaders in suche wyse that he of all men was beloued and drad Of this is litell or none acte notable put in memorye excepte that all wryters agree that this Lucius sent to Eleutherius then pope of Rome certayne pystles or letters prayeng hym that he his Britons myght be receyued to the fayth of Crystes chyrche wherof the pope beynge very ioyous and gladde sente into Brytayne two noble clerkes named Faganus and Dunianus or after some Fugacius and Dimianus These two good and vertuous clerkes were honourably receyued of Lucius the whych by theyr good doctryne and vertuous examples gyuynge coÌ„uertyd the kynge and a great parte of the Brytons But for so myche authours wryters wryte dyuersly of y e tyme of this receyuynge of the fayth by Lucius so that the one varyeth greatly from the other therfore I haue shewed in the forenamed table that yt shall vnder correccyon appere y t the fayth was receyued by Lucius as affermeth Petrus Pictauiens the .viii. yere of the reygne of the sayde Lucius And y t yere after Cristes incarnacion a hundred .lxxxviii. The whych Lucye after the fayth thus by hym receyued by the aduyce of the foresayde clerkes and wyth the instruccyons sent to theym by the foresayde pope Eleuthery instituted and ordeyned that all or the more partye of Archeflamynys and flamynys whyche is to meane archbysshoppes and bysshoppes of the pagan lawe whyche at that daye were in nomber as wytnessyth Gaufryde and other .iii. of the archeflamynys and .xxviii. of the flamynys were made and ordeyned archebyshoppes byshoppes of y e chyrch of Criste as after foloweth Archeflamynys byshoppes constytuted THE LX. CHAPITER THe fyrste of the archeflamynys see rule or iurysdyccyoÌ„ was as wytnessyth Gaufride Policronica at London the seconde at yorke and the thyrde at Caerurst or KaerglonÌ„ or Glouceter To these .iii. archbyshopes were subiecte the foresayd .xxviii. flamynys or byshoppes To the archebyshoppes see of London was subiecte Cornewayll and all myddel England vnto Humber To the archebyshoppes see of yorke was subiecte all Northumberlande from the bowe of Humber wyth all Scotlande And to the thyrde archbyshoppes see whych was at Glowceter was subiecte all walys In whych prouynce of walys were .vii. byshoppes where as now ben but iiii And at y e daye SeuaruÌ„ departed Brytayne and Cambria or walys But in the tyme of Saxons after they had the rule of the lande of Brytayne as testyfyeth wylhelmus de Pontific all be yt that saynt Gregory had graunted vnto London pryuylege of that archbishoppes see neuerthelesse saynt Austayn the which wyth other was sent into Englande by the foresayde Gregorye tourned the archebyshoppes see out of London into Caunterbury after the deth of saint Gregory by meanes of prayer of kyng Egbert or Ethelbert and other cytyzeyns burgesys of Caunterbury where yt hath contynued to this daye except that for the tyme of Offa kynge of Mercia or Mercheryk for dyspleasure that he hadde to the cytezeyns of Caunterburye bynaÌ„me and toke from theym that dygnyte and worshypped Adulphe bysshop of Lychefelde wyth the pall of Caunterbury by the assent of Adryan the fyrste of that name then pope Neuerthelesse in the tyme of Kenulphus whyche not longe after was kynge of the sayde Mercia or Mercheryk yt was agayne restoryd to Caunterbury The worshyp of y e see of yorke hath endured there alwaye and yet dothe though Scotland be withdraweÌ„ froÌ„ his subieccyon The archbyshoppes see of CaerglonÌ„ or Glowceter was tourned froÌ„ theÌ„s to Menenia whych is in y e west syde of Demecia vppon the Iryshe see whiche now is called saynt Dauids lande In this prouynce from the dayes of saynt Dauid vnto the dayes of Sampson bysshop sat .xxiii. byshoppes But in the sayde Sampsons dayes then archebyshop fyll such mortalyte thorowe walys of the yelowe euyll
Geround is called Gallia Aquitania whych is Guyan and stretcheth out of the eest from the riuer of RoonÌ„ vnto the west Occean wherof the ouer parte therof hyght Celtica whyche is to meane Heuenly because that hyghe mountaynes be therin From the water of Gerounde to the see of middell eerth and to the MouÌ„taynes called moÌ„tes Pireni or great hylles of Spayne is clepyd Gallia Narbonensis And now a parte therof is called Gothia and some Uasconia whyche is to meane Gascoyne And so Gallia is closyd aboute wyth thre noble waters wyth the ryuer of Ryne in the north syde wyth the ryuer of Roone in the eest and wyth the Brytyshe occean in y e weste In Gallia or Fraunce ben many noble cytyes wherof Parys is hed and pryncypall whyche in the fyrst foundacyon was clepyd Parydes after Parides a Troyane that departed from Troy wyth Eneas and other as wytnessyth Carinus and other wryters of histories But the frenche cronycle sayth it was fyrst fouÌ„ded by y e Sycambris and named by them Lutecia before the incarnacyon of Cryste .iii. hundred .lxxx. and .xv. yeres And in the whyle that the forenamed Marcomyrus was as there chyefe hedde and gouernour for the more beauty of the name and also in mynde of Paris sonne of Pryame kynge of Troye of the whych he was lynyally descendyd he therfore chaunged the name and commaunded yt to be called Paris In Gallia also be these prouynces and lordshyppes folowynge Braban Flaundres Normandye Pycardye Brytayn the lesse Poytowe Gascoyne Guyan Tolowse Burgoyne Angeo and Mayne Prouynce Champayne and Aluerne All whyche sygnouries and lordeshippes belonged or apperteyned vnto the crowne of Fraunce all be yt that dyuers of theym hath ben gyuen oute by maryage or otherwyse So that the kynge of Fraunce claymeth to be chyef lorde of theym and at this daye hath the possessyon of them excepte Burgoyne Flaundres Braban and Normandye for the whyche he is trybutarye vnto the kynge of Englande Then yt folowyth when the sayde Gallis or Frenchmen hadde thus coÌ„quered these foresayde countres or the more parte of theym or at lesse made theym vnto the sayde Gallis trybutary then the forenamed Marcomyrus as theyr chyef hedde or gouernour closyd cytyes wyth stronge walles and buylded stronge holdes and castelles and after dyed leuyng after hym a sonne garnyshed wyth all knyghtly vertue named Pharamundus or Pharamonde Francio THE LXXVIII CHAPITER PHaramundê° the son of Marcomyrus beforenamed was after the deth of his said fader made or ordeyned the fyrst kyng of Frenchmen by the agrement of hystoryes also as affermeth mayster Robert Gagwyne and other in the yere of our lordes incarnacion foure huÌ„dred and .xx. And of the worlde or after y e creacyon of the fyrste Adam folowynge the accompte of thys worke as before is shewed fyue thousande vi hundred and .xix. After Brute beganne his domynyon in thys yle of Brytayne a thousande fyue huÌ„dred and .lvi. And the yere of mysery of the Brytons .xxvi. Of this Pharamundus is lytell thynge lefte in memory excepte that myne authoure Gagwyne testyfyfyeth that he made certayne lawes whyche longe tyme enduryd after But for the names of the lawes and vse of them be derke to englyshe vnderstandynge therfore I ouerpasse theym and folowe the story whych affermeth that when the sayde Pharamonde hadde ruled the FrenchmeÌ„ well and nobly by the space of .xi. yeres he dyed and lefte after hym a sonne named Clodio Crinitus or Capellatus THE LXXIX CHAPITER CLodio y e son of Pharamonde was made kyng of Fraunce in the yere of our lorde .iiii. huÌ„dred xxxi And the .xxxvii. yere of the foresayd mysery of Brytons The which as before is sayd was surnamed Crinitus and Capellatê° by reason wherof the kynges of Frenchmen longe tyme after were called Criniti This to augment hys lordshyppe made warre vpon a people called Turynges and by great sore fyght made them at leÌ„gth subiecte to hym which countre as sayth the freÌ„che cronycle is a parte of Almayne And at thys daye or tyme of this Clodio his reygne the Romaynes had no more of the land of Gallia or FrauÌ„ce in theyr rule then that whyche lyeth from y e ryuer of Leyr vnto y e ryuer of Ryne whyche is called Gallia Lugdunensis And when he hadde thus subdued the Turynges he then sent his espyes ouer the Ryne to se what strength they were of that inhabyted that countre And after reporte to hym brought of the sayde espyes that the countre was fertyll and ryche and the people therof but of small defence he with his army ouer spred the countre and after shortely beseged the cytyes of Cambrey and Turney and them wanne But in y e cytye of Turney was a certayn nomber of Romaynes whyche manfully defendyd the towne longe tyme. And when they ê‘ceyued that they myght no lenger holde the towne they then manfully issued out and gaue to the Frenchmen harde batayll But fortune was to theym frowarde so that they were dystressyd After whyche countres and townes thus goten by Clodio wyth other vyctoryous dedes by hym done he lastely dyed when he had ruled the freÌ„chmen .xix. yeres wythout issue of his body Anglia NOwe then lette vs retourne vnto tharchbyshop of LoÌ„don and the other Brytons beyng in Britayne the lesse the whych vppon the promyse before rehersed receyued of Albroenus kynge of lytell Brytayne his brother named Constantyne y e whych wyth a certayne nomber of knyghtes shortly after laÌ„ded at Totnesse in mych Brytayne gaderyd to them the floure of y e BrytoÌ„s whyche before they re landynge were hydde in dyuerse places of the lande By whose power marcyall knyghthod the enymyes of the lande were sheÌ„dfully chasyd and vtterly coÌ„founded whyche victorye thus by the BritoÌ„s obteyned they of one mynde conueyde theyr chefetayne Constantyne vnto the towne of Kaercegent nowe called Cicestre and there crowned hym accordynge to the promyse made vnto his brother kynge of this yle of the more Brytayne THE LXXX CHAPITER COnstantinus the brother of Aldroenus kynge of lytell Brytayn was crowned kyng of myche Brytayne in the yere of oure lorde foure hundred and .xxxiii and the thyrde yere of Clodio then kynge of Fraunce The whyche guyded the lande with suche manhode and polyce that he kepte yt from daunger of enymyes and for tyme of hys lyfe helde yt in god quyete reste Of thys CoÌ„stantyne is lytell mynde made or lefte in wrytynge excepte that he receyuyd of his wyfe thre sonnes the whyche he named Constante Aurely or CoÌ„stantius Aurelius Ambrosius and Uter whyche was surnamed Pendragon But for he sawe and perceyuyd that his eldest sonne named ConstaÌ„t was dull and insolent of wytte he therfore made hym a monke in the monasterye of saynte Amphyabyll of wynchester whyche monasterye at this daye is called saynte Suythynes abbey And to the other two bretherne he betoke vnto Guethelinus archbyshoppe to noryshe and brynge forth In the courte of this CoÌ„stantyne
made one monarchye of all .vii. kyngdomes in which tyme dyd flowe or passe thre huÌ„dred lxxviii yeres THE CVI. CHAPITER NOwe then I wyl returne vnto Arthur the whych by a longe tyme dwelled in warre and mortall batayll wyth y e SaxoÌ„s by meane of theyr dayly repayre into this lande The whyche also alyed them with Pictes and other nacyons and made theyr partye the strenger by y e meane But yet Arthur by his marciall knyghthod brought theym in suche frame that he was accoÌ„pted for chyef lord of Brytayne Fynally when he hadde by a longe tyme maynteyned hys warres agayne the Saxons and specyally agayne Cerdicus or Childricus kyng of westesaxons he for a fynall concorde gaue vnto the sayde Cerdicus as testyfyeth Policronica in the .vi. chapyter of his .v. boke the two couÌ„tres of Hampshyre and Somerset And when he hadde sette hys lande in some quietnesse he betoke the rule therof vnto hys neuewe Mordred and wyth a chosyn armye sayled as sayth Gaufryde and other vnto FrauÌ„ce where by the reporte of Gaufryde he wrought wonders But the wryters of Frenche cronycles touche nothynge of suche notable dedes nor yet the wryters of Romaynes mynde nothynge of suche actes done agayne theyr consull or emperoure called by Gaufryde Lucius Hybertê° Therfore I wyll spare all that longe mater remyttyng the welshemen as touchynge y e processe vnto the sayd Gaufride And here I wyll folowe Policronicon where he sayth that for as mych as the forenamed Mordred was desyrous to be kynge feryd some dele the myght of Cerdicus kyng of westsaxons he therfore drewe to hym the sayde Cerdicus by great gyftes as of townes and castelles other meanes where thorough the sayd Cerdicus to hym assented so that Mordred was at London crowned kyng of Brytayn and Cerdicus after the vse of pagaÌ„s was at wynchester then called Kaerguent crowned kyng of westsaxons when relacyoÌ„ came to Arthur of all this treason wrought by his neuewe Mordred he in all haste made towarde Brytayn as yt is redde in the englyshe cronycle laÌ„ded at Sandwyche where he was mette of Mordred and hys people whych gaue vnto hym strong batayll in tyme of his landyng and loste there many of his knyghtes as the famouse knyghte Gawyne and other But yet this not withstandyng Arthur at leÌ„gth waÌ„ne the lande and chasyd his enymyes and after the enterynge of his cosyn Gawyn and other of his knyghtes there slayne he sette forwarde his hoste to pursue his enymyes Mordred thus beynge ouersette of his vncle at the see syde withdrewe hym to wynchester where he beynge furnysshed of newe soudyours gaue vnto Arthur as sayth Gaufryde y e secoÌ„de fyghte wherin also Mordred was put to the worse and constrayned to flee Thyrdely and lastely the sayde Mordred faught wyth his vncle Arthur besydes Glastynbury where after a longe and daungerouse fyght Mordred was slayn y e victorious Arthur wounded vnto the deth and after buryed in the vale of Aualon besyde Glastynbury beforesayde Of this laste ende and buryenge of Arthur in the brytyshe bokes are tolde many fables But to oppresse y e errours of Brytons y e thynke or byleue y t Arthur yet lyueth Policroniconshe with in his forenamed chapyter of his .v. boke y t in the secoÌ„de Henryes tyme kynge of Englande the bonys of the sayd Arthur and Gwaynour his wyfe were fouÌ„den and traÌ„slated into the forsayde chyrch of Glastynbury and there newe buryed in the yere of our lord .xi. hundred .lxxx. And more specially yt is noted in the xxiii chapyter of the .vii. boke of Policronicon aboue sayde wherfore to be at coÌ„clusyon of a fyne of this noble warryour he was as before is shewed slayne or wounded to deth when he hadde reygned ouer the Britons by y e terme of .xxvi. yeres wyllynge before his deth that Constantyne the son of Cador duke of Cornewayle for so mych as of his bodye remayned none heyre that he shulde be his heyre and enheryte the land of mych Britayn after his deth Anglia THE CVII CHAPITER CONstantinus the son of Cador duke of Cornewayle by assent of the Brytons was of them crowned kynge of myche Brytayne in the yere of Crystes incarnacyon fyue huÌ„dred .xliii and the .xix. yere of Lotharius then kynge of Fraunce This was nere kynnesman vnto Arthur and was by the two sonnes of Mordred greuously vexed for so myche as they claymed the lande by the ryghte or tytle of theyr father So y t betwene hym and them were foughten many and sondry bataylles wherof nother of place nor of tyme is left any conuenyent memorye nor yet of the names of the sayde two sonnes But as dyuerse authours agreen after these forsayde batayllys thus foughten fynylly the two sonnes of Mordred were constrayned of pure force to seche strong holdes for theyr refuge â–ª wherfore that one toke London and that other wynchester wherof Constantyne beynge warned lefte not tyll he had slayne that one wythin the monastery of saynte Amphiabilâ— at wynchester and that other wythin a temple or chyrche of London whych temple is named of Gaufryde an hous of freres But y e sayeng is doutefull for at that days yt is to be supposed that there was none hous of freres within London nor by a longe tyme after when Constantine hadde thus subdued his enymyes and thought hymselfe in a maner of suertye of his regyon then fortune as she hadde enuyed his glory arreryd agayne hym his owne kynnesman named Aurelius Conanus the whych agayn hym made mortall batayll and finally or at the last slewe hym in y e felde when he hadde reygned after most accorde of wryters .iii. yeres the whych was then huryed at Stone hyenge by the sepulture of Uter PeÌ„dragon wyth great solemnytye THE CVIII CHAPITER AUrelius Conanus the cosyn of Constantync last named was crowned kyng Brytayne in the yere of our lord .v. hundred .xlvi the .xxxii. yere of Lothariê° before named then kynge of Fraunce This was noble and lyberall But he was a man that cherysshed suche as loued stryfe and dyscencyon wyth in his lande and gaue lyghte credence to them y t accused other were yt ryght or wronge And as testyfyeth Gaufryde and other he toke by strength his vncle whyche of ryght shulde haue ben kyng and caste hym in a strong pryson and after sâ—ew tyrannously the .ii. sonnes of his sayd vncle But he reioysed his reygne but shorte whyle For as wytnessyth the sayde Gaufryde when he hadde reygned two yeres he dyed were yt of the sonde of god or otherwyse leuynge after him a sonne named Uortiporius as hath the authoure of the boke named Floure of hystoryes Of this Uortiporius speketh nothynge the englyshe cronycle but telleth of two kynges that shulde reygne nexte after Constantyne both at ones wherof that one he nameth Adelbryght and that other Edyll. wherunto none other writer agreeth except that he nameth them for some of the kynges of the Saxons For aboute
then had possessyon of And as wytnessyth Gaufryde other he by hys manhode subdued y e iles of Iseland Orchades or Orkeys and Norway wyth other In the tyme of the reygne of thys Malgo reygned in the lordshyp or kyngdome of Kent Ethelbertus the whych as wytnessyth PolycronycoÌ„ assembled an hoste of hys knyghtes and gaue batayle vnto Ceawlmus sonne of Kenricus and then kyng of westsaxon the cause whereof ys not expressyd But thys batayle was y e fyrste batayle that was foughten by twene the Saxons after that they opteyned lande and dwellynge with in Brytayne whyche was foughten in a place called wylbaldowne And in the fyghte was slayne .ii. dukes of Ethelbertus and hym selfe with his people chasyd Also yt'ys wytnessyd of the sayde Polycronica that y e yere folowynge Cutwolfus the brother of Ceawimê° before named faughte strongely agayn the Brytons at Bedforde and berafte them .iiii. cytyes or townes named Liganbroght Egelsborgth Besyngton and Euysham Then to retorne agayn to Malgo kynge of the Brytons the authour of the Floure of historyes sayth that not wythstandynge the many vertues the whyche god had endowed hym wyth he lastely forgate god for sakynge all vertue and gaue hym to sondry vices and synnes wherof the odible synnes of Sodomy was one wherfore fell to hym great ê‘secucyoÌ„ of hys enemyes the Saxons as before soÌ„dele is shewyd more ensueth It was not longe after the forenamed batayle done at Bedforde but that the foresayd Cutwolfus dyed But yet hys sayd brother Ceawlmê° couetouse of worshyppe maynteyned hys warre agayne the Brytons so that after he made a newe voyage agayne them and made of them an other scomfyture toke from them y e famous cytyes of Bathe of Glouceter and wâ—rceter whyche shulde be by y e meanynge of Ranulfe about the yere of the reygne of thys Malgo .xxix. Of all thys spekyth nothynge the cronycle of England but he maketh hys processe of a kynge named Cortyf By the whyche as yt shulde seme by the rehersall folowynge that he makyth of Gurmunde that Careticus ruled the BrytoÌ„s nexte after the deth of thys Malgo as when the tyme cometh more playnly yt shall appere Then it foloweth aboute the .xxxiii. yere of thys Malgo Ceawlmus before named gadered hys Saxons and foughte wyth the Brytons at a place called Fechanlege where after longe fyght Ceawlmus chasyd the Brytons wan of them vyctory But hys brother called Cutha was slayne in y e fyght for whom he made greate sorowe Thus in his latter dayes Malgo beynge oppressyd pursued of hys enemyes lastly dyed when he hadde reygned after moste coÌ„corde of storyes .xxxv. yeres Francia THE CXII CHAPITER CHilpericê° the .iii. son of Lotharius or Clotharius before named begaÌ„ hys reygne ouer y e parte of FrauÌ„ce called Soysons in the yere of oure lorde god .v. hundred .lxiiii and the xiiii yere of Malgo then kynge of Brytayne Thys not beyng content wyth suche as hys fader had hym be set so soone as the obsequy and enterremeÌ„t of his fader was fynysshed he spedde hym vnto Parys and possessyd hym of hys faders treasoure wherof his .iii. bretherne beyng warned purchasyd to theÌ„ such freÌ„dshyp of the nobles of Fraunce that they vnwetynge theyr sayd broder hadde entre into Paris and lykely to haue takyn hym there in yf he had not the soner escaped For thys incoÌ„uenyence grete disceÌ„cyon was lykely to haue growen by twene these .iiii. bretherne hadde not ben the mediacyon of frendes vpon bothe partyes The whyche by good polityke wayes at length pacyfied all varyauÌ„ces amonge them concluded for a fynall pease y t eyther of the sayd bretherne shuld hold hym coÌ„tent with such porcyoÌ„ as was before assygned to theÌ„ by theyr fader That is to saye to the eldest brother named Aribertê° or after some wryters Cherebris shulde falle the countrey that is lyenge about Paris called mydle Fraunce to Guntranus shulde falle the prouynce of Orleaunce and to thys Chylpericus the prouynce of Soysons and to Sygebertus the yongest brother shulde belonge the countrey of Mees or of Austracy whych lordshyp begynneth at Champeyne as affyrmeth the Frenche cronicle and stretchyth to the lordshyp or prouynce of Lorayne vppon one parte to Almayne vppoÌ„ that other part After which coÌ„corde agremeÌ„t thus fynysshed eyther of y e sayd brethern depted vnto his ê“per lordshyp If I shulde here discribe the maners condycyons of these .iiii. prynces or to expresse y e vnlauful lechery of the eldest brother Aribertus in refusyng hys laufull wyfe Ingebryda or Ingeberta or of the rauyshement of wyues virgyns by hym done or yet the vnstablenesse of lyuyng that was also in y e seconde brother Guntranê° with vertues and vyces of the other I shuld therof make a longe worke wherfore to brynge this story to some coÌ„uenyeÌ„ce I thus begynne Trouth it is that thys Chilpericus or after some Hilpericus toke to wyfe the doughter of the kynge of Spayne called Athanahildê° whose name was Golsanda The whyche had to hyr handmayden a mayde called Fredegunda the whyche was of passyng beaute and shappe of body But to hyr was ioyned subtyll wyt and euyll condycyons contrary to hyr lady and maysters which was symple and of vertuous condycyoÌ„s To the yongest brother named Sigebert was coupled in mariage the syster of the sayde Golsanda named Brunechildis or after y e Frensh cronicle Brunecheuste a woman of peruers wycked coÌ„dicyoÌ„ as after shall appere Then it foloweth Chilperich within shorte tyme that he was thus maryed vnto Golsanda caste vnlaufull loue vnto hyr woman FredeguÌ„da By reason wherof fell suche vnkyndnesse bytwene them y e lastly she was fouÌ„den in her chamber dede and strangelyd wyth a corde whych was done by the hande of hyr housbande as testyfyeth y e frenche boke Then secondly he maryed a nother wyfe named Audouera a woman of great byrth how be it myne authour nor yet y e frenche cronycle declaryth not her progeny with y e which he coÌ„tynued kepte hyr after hyr honour But yet he withdrew not hys vnlaufull loue froÌ„ y e forenamed FredeguÌ„d In thys passetyme cause of warre was moued bytwene Sigebert the yonger brother and men of the countrey of Sweuy for the whyche the sayde Sigebert requyred ayde of hys brother Chilperich At whose request he in all haste assembled hys people and spedde hym towarde hys brother leuynge hys wyfe greate wyth chylde in the kepynge of the soresayde Fredegunde Of the whyche wyfe as testyfyeth the Frenche booke he hadde before receyued .iii. sonnes named Theodobertus Meronens and Clodoueus It was not longe after that Chilperiche as before is sayd in ayde of his brother was departed but that his wyfe was delyueryd of a doughter And when thys chylde shulde be confermed of the byshoppe this Fredegunde entendynge to make a deuorce betwene Chilperich his wife by her subtyle and false coniectoure counsayled the quene that she shulde for
hym and specyally besoughte hym to recoenyle her lorde husbande that she myght be restoryd to hys company But for Cadwan after many meanes and requestis myght not bryng that about he therfore tenderynge her necessyte kepte her in hys owne courte tyll she were lyghted The whyche at tyme brought fourth a man chylde whom she lette call Edwyn And soone after was the wyfe of Cadwan delyueryd of a sonne whom the father callyd Cadwalyn But the authour of the Floure of hystoryes sayth y t these two chyldern were long borne before this tyme. The whych shuld seme to be true for so myche as this Cadwalyn was of lawfull age to beweld his lande wheÌ„ his father dyed the which he coude not do yf he hadde nowe be borne But as affermeth Policronycon yt shulde seme lyke to a fable all the rehersayll that Gaufride maketh in the ende of hys boke as well for Cadwalyn and Edwyn as for the other cyrcuÌ„staunce of the mater there rehersyd whych varyeth from other wryters both for the tyme and also for the mater as somdeale is more in the hystorye hereof before made mencyon and also by the coÌ„tynuauÌ„ce of this storye For as Giraldus Cambrens and other seyen this Edwyn was the sonne of Elle or Ella kynge of Deyra the whyche was persecutyd of Ethelfridus before named theÌ„ kynge of both prouynces that is to meane Brennicia and Deyra so sore that he was compellyd to flee to Redwaldus then kynge of Gestanglys The whyche for mede or fere of the sayde Ethelfride was lastely consentynge to haue betrayed Edwyn of whyche daunger the sayde Edwyn was delyueryd by warnynge of a frende of hys After this escape as Edwyn satte vppon a time in a great study alone a straunger apperyd to hym sodeynly and sayde I know well the cause of thy thought and heuynes Therfore yf thyn enymyes were slayne thou restoryd vnto thy kyngdome sette the in better maner then any of thy forefathers woldyst thou not admytte such one for thy frende and assent and do by his rede and couÌ„sayll yes trewly sayd Edwyn and that I surely and fastely promise the. Then this man layd his hand vpon Edwynes hedde and sayde to hym Edwyn when this token is broughte to the then haue thou mynde of this tyme of trybulacyon and of this promyse thou haste made And anon as thys was spoken this man vanyshed out of his syght sodeynly In a conuenyent season after Edwyn assemblyd hys hoste and gaue batayll vnto Ethelfryde in the countrey of Mercia by eest the ryuer of Idle and slewe hym in that fyghte wyth a great noÌ„ber of his knyghtes and theÌ„ seasyd in his possessyon both the foresayde pryncypates and was kynge of Northumberlande by the terme of .xvii. yeres ye shall vnderstande that the forenamed Ethelfride hadde .iii. sonnes whyche are mynded besyde other The fyrste eldest was named Eaufricus the seconde Oswaldus and the thyrde Oswye The fyrst was of lawfull age so that he myght helpe and shyft for hym selfe But Oswald was but .xii. yeres of age and Oswy farre yonger wherfore theyr wardeyns immediatly after theyr faders deth sente theym into Armorica or lytell Brytayne there to be brought vppe or more veryly into Albania or Scotlande THE CXXIX CHAPITER ABoute this tyme and season as wytnessen Policronica Guydo and other began the kyngdome or lordshyp of Mercia vnder the stronge paynym and Saxon called Penda The whyche Mercia or Mercherike conteyned Huntyngdon shyre Hertfortshyre Gloucetershyre wyth dyuers other and was grettest and largeste of all the other was closyd in y e west syde wyth the ryuer of Dee stretchynge to Chestre Seuarne and so to Shrouesburye and Brystowe in the eest yt was closyd wyth the see Occean in the South with Thamys vnto London and in the north with y e ryuer of HoÌ„ber and had hys begynnynge vnder the fore named Penda as the accorde of dyuerse authours wytnessyth in the yere of oure lordes incarnacyon .vi. hundred .xxvi and after the fyrste commynge of Hengyste a hundred and lxxvi yeres All be yt that of the fyrste kyng dyuerse opynyons there ben wherof a cause maye be for so myche as this lordshyppe in the fyrst begynnyng was departyd in .iii that is to say y â— fyrst was called eest Mercia the .ii. was named myddell Mercia and the .iii. weste Mercia But after yt was brought to one pryncypate called Mercherike or of some wryter myddell Englande Of thys lordshyppe the fyrste crysten kynge was called wolpherus that was the sonne of the forenamed Penda But of all the kynges of thys kyngdome of Mercia whych were .xviii. in nomber as testyfyeth Policronica Offa was of moste myght and power as after shall more playnly appere This lordshippe endured to reken moste certaynly tyll the yere of oure lorde .viii. hundred and .lxxvi. In the whych yere Alurede or Alhered then kynge of westsaxons ioyned yt vnto his owne kyngdome whych by that accompte shulde be two hundred .l. yeres All be yt that some accompte the endurauÌ„ce therof to the last yere of Burdredus that was putte out by the Danes by whyche rekenynge yt shulde then endure .iiii. yeres lesse And some wryters accoÌ„pte the terme therof whyle the tyme of Edward called the elder whych after the deth of his fader Alured put out the Danes from the sayde lordshyppe and ioyned yt agayne to westsaxon and by that accompte yt shulde laste .ii. hundred .lxxx. yeres and odde ye shall also vnderstande that in this kyngdome reygned dyuerse holy kynges whyche nowe be alowed by the chyrche for sayntes as Offa Kenelphus Kenelmê° and other as hereafter somedeale shall appere I haue seen an old regyster within the chyrche of Poulys of London wherin ys conteyned many thynges concernynge the fyrst foundacyon of that chyrch wyth certayne olde cronycles of thys lande Amonge the whyche yt is there notyd that in the tyme and season when Cadwan was kynge or ruler of the Brytons that in the same moment and tyme reygned in dyuers partes of this lande these .vii. kynges vnder wryten As fyrste Sybertus that then was kynge of Eestsaxons no Essex Redwaldus was then kynge of Eestanglys now Norff. and Suff. Ethelbertus was then kyng of KeÌ„t Ethelwaldê° was kynge of Southsex Kyngylsus was kynge of westsaxons Penda was kynge of Mercheryke And Ethelfridus was then kynge of the North couÌ„tre or Northumb. All whyche regyster this worke accordyth with yf the storys of this Cadwan Careticus Cadwall be duely serchyd THE CXXX CHAPITER LEtte vs than retourne to the perfourmauÌ„ce of the story of Cadwan and of such dedes as were done in his dayes About the .xiiii. yere of his reygne Quincellinus y â— was brother vnto Kyngylsus and kynge with hym as before in the C. and .xxviii. chapyter is touchyd ruled y e westsaxoÌ„s sent vpon an Eester day a swerdman to sle Edwyn kyng of Northumberland This swerdeman came to a cytye besyde the water of Darwent in
hoste and chasyd Kynwalcus out of his kyngdome kept hym thens .iii. yeres By whyche season was Anna kynge of Eestanglis there conuertyd to the feyth of Cryste cristyned of Felix aforenamed then byshoppe of DuÌ„wyke or Thetforde and after he recoueryd hys kyngdome by the ayde and assystence of the sayde Anna when Kenwalcus was restoryd to hys lande he made a byshoppes see at Kaerguent or wynchestre and ordeyned there a byshop named Agilbert a frenche man of byrthe but he was called out of IrlaÌ„d The which when he had sytten there a certayn of tyme he was put theÌ„s I ne wote for what cause and in his place was set an other named wyn Of this wyn as sayeth Policronicon the towne of wynchester toke y e name as he declaryth in y e .liii. chapyter of his fyrst boke as yt were wynnes cytye But he was also putthens and then was Leutherius byshop and after Leutherius succedyd Cedda And after Theodorus the archbyshop of Caunterbury ordeyned two byshoppes to that prouynce of westsaxoÌ„ That one at wynchester to that was subiecte two couÌ„treys Southrey and South hampshyre And that other see he ordeyned at Shyreborne to the which were subiecte .vi. couÌ„treys that is to saye Berkshyre wyltshyre Somersetshyre Dorsetshyre Deuenshyre Cornewayll But in wyllyam the coÌ„querours tyme y e see of Shyreborne was tourned to Salysbury with the see of RaÌ„mysburye It was not longe after that Kenwalcus was warreyd with the kyng of Brytons the whyche fought with hym at a place called wyght Gosneborough and were of him there ouercomyn Then Cadwall assembled a newe hoste of Brytons and mette wyth Kenwalcus at a place called the hyll of Pent where after longe fyghte the Brytons were putte to flyghte YE haue harde before how that blessyd man Oswall the son of Ethelfryde was ordeyned kynge of Northumberlande the whyche contynued hys lyfe in iustyce and vertue as kynge by the terme of .ix. yeres But Penda kynge of Mercia that to hym to all crysten men had great disdayne and enuye about the ix yere of Cadwall made warre vppon Oswald and slew hym in a feld callyd Meserfeld where after hys deth god shewed for hym many myracles But after one yere of his deth Oswy his yonger brother recoueryd the kyngdome and buryed his hed in the chyrcheyarde of Lyndesar for the bodye was conueyed by the Pagans and deuyded in sundry peces But yt is sayde that the hed is nowe at Durham betwene saynt Cutberttus armes And the other parte of y e bodye whyche was longe after founden was had to the abbay of Burdeaux by Ostrida doughter of Oswy quene of Mercia where strauÌ„gnesse was made by the ruler of that hous for the receyte of those relykes tyll a myracle or dyuyne token there was shewyd But after the sayde bodye bones were brought to Glowceter to an hous of chanoÌ„s and one of hys armes is at Peterboroughe hole of fleshe fell as some haue and tellen whan Oswy had a season rulyd hys kyngdome he fande vnlefull meanes to slee Oswyn that was kynge of Deyra This Oswyn was the son of Eaufrycus eldest brother of Oswalde whyche Oswyn was good of condycyon and there wyth both meke and mylde when thys Oswyn was slayn by the consent of his neuewe Oswy then Oswy toke to hym as felow of that kyngdome his broders sonne Odylwaldus the son of Oswalde Thys Oswalde gaue vnto Cedda byshoppe of whynchester before named a grouÌ„de in a place of the North couÌ„trey in the hygh hylles called Lastyngaye for to buylde vpon an abbay which he there buyldyd after there taught his brother Chymbyllus how he shuld rule that place PeÌ„da kynge of Mercia which forgate not the strengthynge and fauourynge that Anna kynge of Eestanglys had shewyd to Kenwalchus hys doughters husband and his enymye gaderyd a power of knyghtes and yode agayne the sayde Anna slewe hym in playne batayll And the same yere one Botulphus buyldyd an abbay besyde Lindecolne or Lincolne in a place that hyght I canno And as wytnessyth Beda in the .iiii. chapiter of his thyrd boke thys yere whych shuld be the .xxi. yere of y e reygne of Cadwall Penda that of thys former vyctory was supprysyd wyth great pryde came wyth hys hoste into the boundes of Northumland entendynge to slee Oswy as before he had slayne his brother Oswalde wherof wheÌ„ Oswy was ware he assemblyd hys knyghtes made towarde hym And for affynyte of maryage y e was betwene theyr chyldren as after shall be shewed and other causes Oswy offeryd to hym many great offers to the entente to haue had hym refused that batayll to haue hadde peace with hym when Oswy perceyued the obstynacye and pryde of PeÌ„da and saw that by no reasonable offers he myghte of hym wynne no peace he sayde sens thys paynym can not receyue our gyftes and proffers that we haue offeryd to hym we shall offer theÌ„ to hym that can receyue theym And anon he made hys auowe vnto god that yf he myght haue vyctory of his enymyes he shuld offer his doughter Elfleda to hym wyth suffycyent possessyons for to buylde .xii. abbayes and after ioyned in batayll with the sayde Penda in the couÌ„trey of Ledis not farre from yorke which was so sore foughten y t the lyke therof was not seen many yeres beforne But fynally Penda was slayne and xxx of his chefe captayns with hym and yet he had thryes the people that Oswy hadde And those that scaped the shot and the swerde were for the more partye drowned in the ryuer of wynwed whyche was nere vnto the place of that batayll And among the prysoners that were taken at this felde the wyfe of Penda was one and her sonnes vncle named Egfridus was an other Then Oswy yelded hys thankes to god and accordynge to hys former promyse he offryd hys doughter Elfleda or Enfleda of the age of .iii. yeres vnto god and toke her to the lore of Hylda abbesse of Hertsey or Hertis iland And after that the sayde Hylda remoued to the abbaye of Stremshalte in the vale of whitby .xxx. myle from yorke where she was after abbesse y e sayd Elfleda also And Oswy as he had promysed gaue landes and rentes to buyld .xii. abbeys wherof .vi. were in the prouynce of BreÌ„nicia and .vi. in the prouynce of Deyra This fornamed Penda hadde dyuerse sonnes by accorde of wryters that is to meane wolferê° weda and Egfridus besyde other not mynded To this seconde sonne weda Oswy had beforetyme maryed a doughter of his by coÌ„sent of Penda his fader The whyche weda by helpe of Oswy was made kynge of south Mercia the whyche lordshyp is seueryd from the northe Mercia by the ryuer of Trent and conteyned by recorde of holy Beda fyue thousande housholdes This weda also promysed when he maryed the sayd doughter of Oswy that he shulde become a crysten man the whyche he perfourmyd
after the deth of his father But when he hadde scantly reygned thre yeres ouer the sayd Southmercis he was by the treason of hys wyfe slayne And after that kyngdome fell to wolferus the other brother the whyche hadde weddyd the doughter of Ercombert kynge of Kent named Ermenylda This wolferus was shortly after crystyned or before so that he is accoÌ„pted for the fyrste cristened kyng that reygned in Mercia This was fader to Keneredus that holy virgyne and menchon wereburga And for yt is longe that I spake of Kenwalcus kynge of westsaxons yt is to be noted that after he hadde ouercomen the Brytons as before is shewyd and at that tyme had not perfyted the byshoppes see of Kaerguent or wynchester he then besyed hym there about And accordyng to the wyll of kyngylsus hys father he gaue to the sustentacyon of the sayd see all the lande whyche laye wythin vii myles of the sayde cytye as affermeth the authoure of the Floure of hystoryes and fynyshed yt somdele to hys purpose But let no man thynke that it was buylded as yt is nowe For nother y t nor none other ben at this daye standynge monastery paleys nor other but y t they haue ben sens those daies alteryd and new chauÌ„ged and some clerely throweÌ„ downe and some new buylded all be yt that many stande vppon theyr fyrste foundacyon as thys yet dothe Soone after that Kenwalcus had endyd this worke he made warre vppon wolferê° of Mercia But in that iourney fortune was not to hym fauourable for he loste thereby wan nothynge of hys entent It was not long after that Ercombert kynge of Kent dyed and his son Egbert was kyng after hym .ix. yere And soone thereafter fell great mortalyte and sekenesse in thys lande of Brytayne the whyche coÌ„tynued and encreasyd more and more durynge y e lyfe of Cadwall now kyng of Brytons and of Cadwaldyr hys successour or sonne after some writers In the whyche season and begynnynge of this mortalyte and sekenesse dyed many byshoppes in this lande in so myche that Uitalcanus then beynge pope ordeyned Theodorus archbysshoppe of CauÌ„terbury to haue y e rule of the chyrches of Brytayne Somwhat before this tyme Benet that was in good fauour wyth kyng Ofwy dyscendyd of ryche kynne forsoke seruyce and house and all hys kynred and became Crystes seruaunt He went .v. sythes to Rome and came agayne and at euery tyme he brought wyth hym relykes or bokes of Crystes lore And lastely he was made munke and buyldyd .ii. abbeys that one ouer agayn y e other vppon the ryuer of wyre that renneth in the countrey of This Benet was the fyrst y t brought the crafte of glasyng into this lande and he was Abbot of both the foresayde abbayes and toke to hys lore Beda when he was but .vii. yeres of age and taughte hym durynge hys lyfe Of the vertue and pacyence of thys holy munke and byshoppe Benet I myghte make a longe rehersayll But for the holynes of his lyfe is declaryd in the legende of sayntes and other bokes of authoryte here for lengthynge of the tyme I ouer passe yt and wyll retourne agayne to Oswy The whyche when he had longe reygned ouer the Northumbers he made Cedda that was abbotte of Lastyngay archbishoppe of yorke more by wyll then by skyll and put out wylfrida the archbishop of that see But yt was not longe after that Cedda was depryued of that dygnyte by the authoryte of tharchebisshop Theodorus as he depryuyd dyuerse other that tyme whych came to theyr benefyces agayne the ordynaunce of the holy lawes of Crystes chyrche and made hym by great instaunce after thys byshoppe of westsaxons And about the .xxx. yere of the reygne of Cadwall Cissa that was father to Ine kynge of westsaxons buyldyd y e abbey of Abyndon In these dayes the munkes and clergye of Brytayne set all theyr myndes to serue god and not the worlde the herte and not the wombe wherfore they were then hadde in great reuerence honour so y t they were theÌ„ receyuyd wyth all worshyp And as they went by y e stretys wayes men that sawe them wold ronne to them and desyre theÌ„ blessynges And well was hym that theÌ„ myght gyue vnto them possessyons buyldyd to them houses chyrches But as they encreasyd in ryches of the worldly treasoure so they dyscreaced in heuenly treasour as in the dayes of Aluredus somdeale beganne and sythen that tyme hath spronge not all to the pleasure of god wherof all is to be coÌ„mytted to his pleasure Then they plyed nothynge that was worldely but gaue them to prechynge and techynge of the worde of our sauyour and folowyd the lyfe that they preachyd by gyuynge of good example And ouer that they were so voyde of couetyse that they receyuyd no possessyons but yf yt were perforce THE CXXXV CHAPITER OSwy kynge of Northumberlande dyed and Edfrydus his sonne was kyng after hym .xv. yeres Hys fader had reygned wyth hys felowes Oswynus and Odyswalde xxviii yeres Edfrydus or Egfrydus had to wyfe that holy woman Ethelfryde y t before was the wyfe of Tonbertê° prynce of the south Eyrwayes the whyche whan Egfrydus hadde holden .xii. yeres as hys wyfe and myghte not in that whyle haue leue of hyr to deale wyth hyr carnally for prayer nor great gyfte he then gaue to hyr lycence to be a menchyon at Colud vnder Aebba that than was awnte vnto hym And after she remened to Ely and there was abbesse lyued in greate penaunce and abstynence and dyed there after she had ben .vii. yere abesse And Kenwalcus kynge of weste Saxon dyed about the yere of the reygne of Cadwall kyng of BrytoÌ„s the .xxxix. when he had regned ouer them .xxx. yeres And hys sonne Kenewinus succedyd hym after that Sexburga hys mother or wyfe to hys fader had ruled that prouynce one yere Cedda the bysshop of westsaxons dyed and hys deken wenfrede was hys successoure And whan he was put down the abbot of MedaÌ„pstede that now is called Peterboroughe was there bysshop after hym Sone after this tyme dyed wyna bysshop of LoÌ„don after whom was bysshop Erkenwald the whych was brother to Ethelburga or Alborough the Menchen and after abbesse of Berkynge in Essex Thys holy bysshop Erkenwalde foundyd the monasteryes of Chertsey in Southery and Berkynge afore sayde whyche place hath ben preserued sens y e fyrst foundacyon But that of Chertsey was throwen downe by the Danes and reedyfyed by Edgar kynge of Englande as after foloweth After the deth of wolpherus kyng of Mercia reygned hys brother Etheldredus And the wyfe of wolpherus named Ermenilda was made a menchon at Ely and wereburga his doughter was also made a nonne at Trikyngham and dyed at hamburgam where she laye in the Erth .iii. hundred yeres hole and sounde and after that she was conueyde to Chester Thys Etheldredus kynge of Mercia had .iii. holy doughters y t is to
woman of great wisdome of vertuous condicion and was honorably buryed by Dagobert hyr husbande in the church of saynt Denys Soone after ensued such scarcety of corne y â— whete other greynes were at an excedynge pryce For after the rate of money nowe curraÌ„t a quarter of whete was worth .ii. markes a halfe by meane of which scarcitye myche poore people were famisshed dyed for defaut wherefore the kyng entendyng a remedy for the nedy people causyd yÌ„e house or church of saynt Denys that his fader before tyme had coueryd with plates of syluer to be rased of coueryd with lede that syluer to be dystributyd amonge the poore comoÌ„s to socoure theÌ„ agayn the great and huge famyn that then reygned all be it that this ded was somedeale withstanden by Agulphus Abbot of that place for that tyme. About the .viii. yere of his reygne the firste Pepyn that than ruled the house of Sigebert kyng of Austracy dyed And soone after dyed Agaynus mayster of the paleys of Clodoueus For which .ii. princis in eyther Countreys that they rulyd great dole and sorowe was for theym made After the deth of which sayd PriÌ„cis a noble man cosyn to Dagoberte late kynge was chosen mayster of the paleys with Clodoueus Thus kynge Clodoueus otherwyse called Lowes contynued his reygne in great peace prosperyte tyll lastly it fell in his miÌ„de that he wolde vysyte y e sepulcre of saynt Denys where after he had done certayne obseruauÌ„ces and made his prayers he wolde nedely se the holy relykes and handle them wyth the doynge whereof it semed the holy martyrs were not contentyd For immedyately ensued suche a derknes that the kynge and all that were aboute hym were wyth it greately astonyed and aferde in so mych that the kyng loste the vse of reason and wente from hym selfe more than two yeres folowynge It is wryten of some authours that the kynge handelyd the body of saynte Denys so rabbysshely that he brake one of his armes But the Frenche booke and mayster Roberte Gagwyne sayen y t he dysseueryd one of the armes from the sayd holy body the whych he after whan he was somdele restoryd to hys helthe closyd in golde and precyous stoones and restored it to the sayd monasterye and lyued vppon two yeres folowynge that he was amendyd but not lyke vnto hys former beynge so y t he lastly dyed whan he had reygned syke and hole by y e terme of .xvi. yeres not without vyce as glotony lechery excedyng aueryce And was buryed by hys parentes in the monasterye forenamed leuynge after hym thre sonnes named Clotharius Chyldericus and Theodorych After whose deth hys wyfe named Batylde became a nonne in the monastery of Corbye that she before tyme had newly renued or reedyfyed and ended there in holy lyfe THE CXXXVII CHAPITER CLotharius the eldest sonne of Clodoueus was ordeyned kynge of Fraunce in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon .vi. hundred .lxii and the .xxvi. yere of Cadwall than kynge of BrytoÌ„s The whych anone as he was somwhat stablysshed he made the mayster of hys palayes a myghty man and tyrannous of condycyon named Eboryn as shall appere by hys condycyons ensuynge whan the tyme conuenyent of the expressement of them shall come But of thys Clotharius is lefte nothyng in wrytynge of worthy memory excepte that the Frenche cronicle sayth that he reygned .iiii. yeres THE CXXXVIII CHAPITER THeodoricus the second sonne of Clodoueus beganne hys reygne ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of grace .vi. hundred .lxvi and the .xxx. yere of Cadwall than kynge of Brytons The whych by couÌ„ceyll of his lordes sent his yonger brother Chylderych into the lordshyp of Austracy or Lorayne to guyde that couÌ„trey wyth the ayde and assystence of wolphanus a noble man of y e countrey For Sigeberte laste kynge of that prouynce was before this tyme dede wythout heyre of hys body This Theodorych gaue hym all to slowth rest so that the gouernauÌ„ce of the realme was all in the power of the mayster of y e paleys whych was styll contynuynge the forenamed Eboryne The whyche among other cruell dedys by hym done he emprysoned the holy bishoppe of Oston called Leodegayr And lastely after many tormentes and vylanyes to hym done he raced hys eyen oute of hys hedde This dede wyth many other to the kynges dyshonour he â—momysyd which all were layd to y e kynges charge for so myche as the kynge kept most what his paleys Except y e one season of the yere in the moneth of may he shulde be broughte wyth great pompe into a place where the people shulde behold hym and gyue and offer vnto him gyftes and returne vnto y e paleys y t he was broughte fro and there to reste all the yere folowynge By meane wherof Eboryn dyd what to hym was lykynge and vexyd and troubled the people greuously wherfore by one assent y e lordes assembled theym and by authoryte depryued the kynge of all dignytye and closyd hym in a monastery there to contynue the resydue of hys lyfe when he hadde borne the name of a kynge wythout execucyon of the acte therunto belongynge .iii. yeres and the cruell Eboryn they exyled to Luxon or Luxunborgh in the prouynce of Burgoyne and not to departe thens vppon payn of hys lyfe THE CXXXIX CHAPITER CHildericus or Hildericus the thyrde sonne of Clodoueus that was sent to rule the prouynce of Austracy was ordeyned kynge of Fraunce in the yere of grace .vi. hundred .lxix. the .xxxiii. yere of Cadwal before named Of the whyche dede the sayde lordes shortely after repended theÌ„ For this Chylderych which was yonge and of lyght maners oppressyd his subiectes greuously and vsed the lawes of hys progenytours after hys pleasure and wyll wold nothynge be aduertised nor ruled by wolphanus before named y e whyche was before tyme assigned to hym for hys counceyllour and guyde But in augmentynge his malyce he caused a noble maÌ„ of his realme named Bolyde wythout gylte or trespace or greuous offence doynge to be bounden to a stake and there betyn tyll he yelded the spyrite For y e whych crueltye and other the lordes wyth the coÌ„mons murmuryd sore agayne hym ferynge lyke punyssyon wythout deseruynge wherfore they conspyryd agaynste hym and moste specyally two noble men of byrth of myghte named Iugebert Amabert which two wyth other awayted theyr tyme season wheÌ„ they myght fynde tyme coÌ„uenieÌ„t to bryng y e kyng out of lyfe And vpon a daye when y t kyng with his wyfe and small companye wyth theym were in the wood in theyr dysporte and game the sayde two lordes accompanyed purposely fell vppon hym slewe hym there and hys wyfe also great wyth chyld y e which ranne betwene her lord and them to y e entent to haue sauyd her lord and husbande from the dynt of y e sworde The whyche dede was done when y e sayde Childeriche had reygned
thys lande euery lordshyp was stablyshed for the tyme and sette THE CXLI CHAPITER IUe or Iewe discendyd of the blode of Saxons was ruler or kyng of westsaxons nexte after that y e forenamed Cadwaladyr had renounced the pompe of the worlde The whyche to folowe the opynyon of Policronicon began hys reygne the yere of grace .vi. hundred .lxxx. vii and the .xvi. yere of the seconde Theodoricus then kynge of Fraūce and ruled the westsaxons knyghtly and maynteyned such warre agayn the Kentyshe Saxons y t the men of Dorobernia or Caunterbury grauntyd vnto hym to haue peace And also for a recompensement of the deth of Mulkynge brother to Cadwaladyr before slayne as is shewed in the precedynge chapyter by the sayde Kentyshe Saxons they gaue vnto hym for the sayd consyderacyōs thre thousande pounde About y e yere of the reygne of Iue the holy man Cutlake about y e .xxiiii. yere of his age renouncyd the pōpe and pryde of this worlde and toke y e order of munkes in the abbay of Repyndon And the .iii. yere after he wēt to Crowlande and there lad for the whyle an holy Ankers lyfe and dyd there many myracles and there fynally was buryed In whyche yle and place of hys buryenge standeth nowe a fayre abbay the whyche for the greate resorte of gestes that thyther drawyth and for the good and frendely chere that gestes there receyue and take the sayd place hath purchasyd a surname and is named Crowlande the curteys the whyche is a place of good fame And there lyeth also the holy confessoure Neotus somtyme dyscyple of Erkenwalde byshoppe of London In the .xi. yere of the reygne of Iue befell the wounder and meruayle that ys tolde of Bryghtwaldus the whyche after he hadde ben a longe whyle ded was restoryd to lyfe agayne and tolde many thynges of great wonder to many men whereby he causyd great almys and many other dedes of charyte to be executyd And after the dysposycyon of hys owne goodes by the agremēt of his wyfe he went vnto y e abbay of Maylroos and there in great holynes contynued the resydue of his lyfe About the .xvi. yere of the reygne of Iue Etheldredus before mynded in the C. xxxv chapiter kyng of Mercia forsoke this wordly honour and became a munke at Bardeney when he hadde longe tyme rulyd the men of Mercia or myddell Anglys Hys brother Kenredus was kynge after hym the whych also after he had reygned fyue yeres lefte his kyngdome vnto Colredus the sonne of hys vncle and he wyth Offa the sonne of Iue now kynge of westsaxons and wyth Egwinus byshop of wykcies or of wyke whych see is now at worceter wyth thys forsayde companye this Kenredus yode vnto Rome in pilgrimage and there endyd his life And aboute the .xviii. yere of the reygne of Iue dyed the holy byshop Aldelme whyche fyrste was munke and abbot of Malmesbury and the laste byshoppe Of hym yt is writen that when he was styryd by his gostly enymy to the synne of the fleshe he to do the more torment to hym selfe and of hys body wolde holde within his bedde by hym a fayre mayden by so longe tyme as he myght say ouer the hole sauter all be yt that such holynesse is no artycle of saynt Benettis lore yor yet for dyuerse inconuenyence moste alowyd by holy doctours And amonge many of his vertuous holy dedys Ranulph mūke of Chester she with that for the same of hys holynes sprange wyde Sergius the fyrste of that name beynge pope sente for hym to Rome In whyche season of his there beynge the sayde Sergius was accusyd or defamed of the gettynge of a chylde the whyche the .ix. daye of the sayde chyldes age was brought to holy Aldelme to be crystyned By vertue of whose prayer the sayde chylde answered vnto certayn questyons and cleryd the pope of that cryme y t was before put vppon hym Nere about the .xxiii. yere of Iue Colredus then kynge of Mercia for cause of variaunce betwene him and Ine vnremembred of myn authour assembled hys knyghtes and began to warre vppon hym wherof y e other hauynge knowlege in lykewyse gatheryd his power and lastely met to both theyr harmes at a place called wodynsburgth where after longe fyght eyther of them sped so vnhappely that yt was not knowen whether hoste hadde moste domage And nere about y e .xxv. yere of Iue as wytnessyth holy Beda saynte Iohan of Beuerlay that then was bysshoppe of yorke dyed and was buryed in the porche of the mynster of Deyrwood or Beuerlay Thē Iewe or Iue callynge to mynde the counsayll of holy Aldelme y t beforetyme had coūsaylyd hym to buylde an abbay at Glastenbury began the sayd worke about the .xxxii. yere of his reygne and founded there an abbaye the whyche contynued prosperously tyll y e comynge of y e Danis by whose cruelty yt was then sore blemyshed But afterward by the helpe of saynt Dunstane in the tymes of Edmond and Edgare yt was agayne suffycyently repayred so cōtynued tyll the comyng of the Normās after which season yt was agayne besette wyth hard happes But now at this daye yt standeth a place of great welthe and honour Then yt folowyth when Iue had ruled the westsaxons nobly by the terme of .xxxvii. yeres by the assyduate labour of hys holy wyfe Ethelburga as she that longe had laboured hym to leue the world and coude not brynge about her purpose vpon a season when the kyng and she had restyd them in a fayre paleys rychely behanged and were vpon the morne thens departed she by her commaundement caused the sayd paleys to be replenysshyd wyth all kynd of fylth and dunge and hogges and vyle bestes there in to be layde as well in y e chambers as other houses of offyce And when she knewe that thys paleys was thus deformyd she besought the kynge to vysyte the sayde paleys And when she had broughte hym therunto she sayde to hym I praye you my lorde behold now this house where are now the ryche tappets and clothes of gold and of silke and other ryche apparell that we left here thys other daye And where be the delyces and plesaunt seruytours and costly dyshes that you and I lately were seruyd wyth Be not all these passyd and gone My lorde in lyke maner shall we passe and sodenly as ye se these worldely thynges ben passyd And oure bodyes whych now ben delycately kepyd shall fall and turne into fylth of y e erthe wherfore haue in mynde my wordes that before this tyme to you I haue often shewyd told and busy you to purchase that paleys y e euer shal endure in ioy wythout transmutacyon By meane of these wordes other the quene turnyd so y e kynges mynd that shortly after he resygned the gouernaunce of his kyngdome vnto Ethellardus his neuewe he for the loue of Cryste toke vpon hym the habyte of a poore man and settynge a parte
all pompe and pryde of thys worlde accompanyed hym in the felowshyp of poore men and yode vnto Rome in pylgrymage wyth great deuocyon when he hadde ben kynge of the westsaxons as before is sayde xxxvii yeres After whose departyng the foresayde Etheldreda hys wyfe went vnto barkynge .vii. mylys froÌ„ London where in the abbay before of Erkenwalde foundyd she contynued and ended an holy lyfe wheÌ„ she hadde ben abbesse of the same place a certayn of tyme. It is sayd testifyed of wyllyam wryter of kynges that this Iue was the fyrste kynge that grauntyd a peny of euery fyre house thorow this realm to be payed to the courte of Rome whych at this daye is called Rome stote or Peter pens and yet is payed in many places of Englande But why yt was graunted the cause is not here shewed how be it yt shall be shewyd after Francia THE CXLII CHAPITER CLodoueus y e thyrd of y e name son of the secoÌ„d Theodoricus beganne his domynyon ouer the realme of Fraunce in the yere of grace .vi. hondred .lxxx. and .x and the thyrd yere of Iue then kyng of westsaxons Of this Clodoueus is of wryters lefte no maner of memorye soundynge to good or euyll but Pepyn before named contynued as master of the paleys by all the tyme of the reygne of y e sayd Clodoueus The whych after that he hadde borne the name by the space of .iii. yeres he dyed wythoute yssue and was buryed by his father By reason of whose deth the sayde kyngedome fell by successyon vnto hys brother Childebert THE CXLIII CHAPITER CHildebertus the second sonne to Theodoryche and brother of Clodoueus foresayde began his domynyon ouer y e realme of FrauÌ„ce in the yere of grace .vi. hundred .lxxx. and .xiii and the .vi. yere of Iue then kynge of westsaxons In tyme of whose reygne also the foresayde Pepyn contynued as chefe ruler of the kynges house all be yt y e he for such other charge as he had of ouerseyng of the realme set in hys place a substâ—tute or depute as his sonne Grimonart and other Thys Pepyn contrary to the lawe of the chyrche helde besyde hys lawfull wyfe called Pleâ—trude a womaÌ„ named Alpayd For the whyche the holy bysshop of Treet named Lamberte blamynge and rebukynge the sayde Pepyn of the brother of the forenamed Alpayde whyche is called Dodon or Dodoin was slayne martyred in the yere of our lorde .vi. hundred .lxxx. and .xii as testyfyeth Antoninus in the .vi. chapyter of the â—iii tytle of the seconde parte of hys worke called summa Antonini And as affermeth the sayde Antoninus also the Frenche cronycle the sayde Pepyn receyued of the sayd Alpayde a sonne whom he named Charlys whyche Charlys was after surnamed Marcellus was ryghte profytable to the realme of Fraunce as after shall appere Of the foresayd kyng Chyldebert is nothynge lefte in wrytyng worthy memory excepte that he receyued of hys wyfe a sonne named Dagobert and kepte the name of a kynge by y e terme of .xvii. yeres as sayth the cronycle in French and than dyed and was buryed in the abbey of Caus in y e chyrch or chapell of saiÌ„t Stephan THE CXLIIII CHAPITER DAgobertê° the seconde of that name and sonne of Chyldebert before named began his reygne ouer the Frenchmen in the yere of grace .vii. hundred and .x the .xxiii. of Iue than kynge of westsaxons The whyche was vnder the rule of Plectrude the wyfe of Pepyn than dede and of Theodowald than mayster of the paleys Thys Plectrude as before is shewed was stepmother to Charlys sonne of Pepyn and of Alpayde wherfore she berynge malyce to the sayd Charlys caused hym to be holden as prysoner wythin Coleyne where he so as prysoner remaynynge the foresayd Theoldowalde exercysed suche tyrannys and putte vpon the people suche exaccyons y e dyscensyon grewe bytwene hym and the lordes of FrauÌ„ce so that dyuers coÌ„flyctes and skyrmysshes were had amonge the nobles of Fraunce for partyes were taken vpon eyther sydes whereby the kynges partye at length was wekyd And fynally the sayd Theoldowalde was depryued of hys rome and one Rangafredus was made mayster of y e paleys The whyche beynge Accompanyed with conuenyent strength toke with hym the kynge and coÌ„ueyed hym thorow the forest of CharboÌ„nur tyll he came vnto y e ryuer of Mense In y e which passetyme the forenamed Charlys beynge as aboue is sayde prysoner by fauoure of hys kepars or otherwyse brake pryson and escapyd And shortly after dyed the kynge whan he hadde reygned or borne the name of a kynge as other of hys progenytours hadde done by y e terme of .xi. yeres leuyng after hym nother chylde as than knowynge nor nere of a lye whyche was cause of mysorder of the tytle of Fraunce as afterwarde shall appere THE CXLV CHAPITER DAnyell that of y e Frenchmen was after named Chilperich was by assente of them made kynge in the yere of grace .vii. hundred and xxi and the .xxxiiii. yere of Iue than kynge of westsaxons Thus as testyfyeth mayster Robert Gagwyne and also the Frenche cronycle was a preste or clerke and for his wysedome was cherysshed before tyme in the kynges paleys in y e whyche tyme and season he sufferyd hys crowne to be ouer growen Or ellys after Antoninus this Danyell after y e deth of Dagobert for so mych as he lefte after hym none of y e royall blode the Frenchemen supposynge hym to be apte for y e rule of the lond for suche experyence as before tyme in hym had be proued kepte hym secrete a certeyne of tyme tyll his heyre was fully growen and than declared hym to be the brother of Dagobert and chaungyd hys name and called hym Chylperych so by one assente admytted hym for kynge of Fraunce Charles before spoken of sonne of Pepyn beynge escapyd the daunger of prysonement sought and compassyd by all maner of wayes how he myghte obteyne the rome that sometyme hys fader occupyed And thys to brynge to effecte he purchasyd to hym a yonglynge of fayre goodly maners stature named Clothayre and sayd that he was descendyd of y e royall blode of Fraunce by meane wherof in shorte tyme he gaderyd to hym greate strength wherof heryng Chylperych commaunded Rangafrede to assemble hys knyghtes to wythstoÌ„de the purpose of Charlys And soone after bothe hostes mette nere vnto the forenamed ryuer of Mense where was foughte a strong and cruell batayle of y e whych Rangafrede was vyctor and compellyd Charles to forsake the felde But he shortly afterward assemblyd and gaderyd agayne togyder all suche as before were dysperklyd and fought efte wyth the sayde Rangafrede at a Place called Ablane Of the whyche batayle wyth great dyffyculte Charlys was lastly wyctour and chasyd Rangafrede and hys hoste greatly demynysshed lassyd Than thyrdly these two hostes met in a felde called the wyne felde where also was present the sayd Danyell or Chilperych hauynge in
empyre and sette suche a man of myghte in the rome therof Thys Charlis had dyuers wyues But of the seconde named Eldegard he receyued .iii. sonnes that is to say Lewys Pepyn Charlis y e whyche Pepyn he made kynge of Longobardes or Italy as before is shewyd Of thys great conqueroure what shulde I holde lenger processe For lyke as I before shewyd of his notable dedys myght I make a great volume yf I shuld of them shew the clerenesse and the circuÌ„staunce of euery coÌ„quest that he in his tyme acheuyd But deth that is to all ê‘sones egall lastly toke him in his dymme dauÌ„ce when he had ben kynge of Fraunce with his brother alone .xlvii. yeres Of the whyche he ruled the empyre as before is shewyth .xiiii. yeres in y e yere of his age as sayen the frenche cronycles .lxxii and was buryed at Aquisgrany wyth great pompe in y e yere of our lordes incarnacyon .viii. hundred and .xv. wyth this superscripcyon vppon his toumbe Caroli Magne christianissimi imperatoris RomanoruÌ„ corpus sub hoc sepulchro condituÌ„ est which may be englished as folowith Of Charlis the great and emperour moste crysten Of Rome the bodye is hyd thys toumbe wythin Of the forenamed sonnes of Charlys suruyued y e eldest Lewys by name and the other two Pepin Charlys dyed before theyr father Anglia THE CLVII CHAPITER BRigthricus of the blood of Cerdicê° fyrst kyng of westsaxons desceÌ„dyd beganne hys reygne ouer the sayd Saxons in yere of oure lorde .vii. hundred and .lxxviii and the .x. yere of Charlis the great then kynge of Fraunce This before tyme hadde maryed one of the doughters of Offa kynge of Mercia as before is touchyd by whose ayde and power he put out of hys rule Egbert the sonne of Alcumundus the whyche Egbert at that daye was an vnder kynge or ruler in the lordshyppe of westsaxon whyche Egbert was descendyd of y e blood of the holy Genulphus of whome som parte of the storye ys declared in the .xxv. chapyter of the .v. boke of Policronica And after he was thus of Brigthricus expulsyd he saylyd into Fraunce and there exercysyd hymselfe in featys of warre wyth the knyghtes of Charlys courte durynge the lyfe of the sayde Brigthricus About the .ii. yere of thys Brigthricus was sene in great Brytayne a wonder syghte For sodeynly as men walked in y e strete crossys lyke vnto blood fell vppon theyr clothes and blood fell from heuen lyke droppes of rayne This after some exposytours betokened the commynge of the Danes into this lande the whyche entryd shortely after For as wytnessyth Polycronica aboute the .ix. yere of Brigthricus the Danys fyrste entryd this lande In defence wherof thys sayde kynge sent forth hys stewarde of housholde wyth a smalle company whych shortly was slayn But by the strength of Brygthricus and the other kynges of Saxons they were coÌ„pellyd to voyde the land for that tyme and season Brigthricus thus well knyghtly rulynge his land his wyfe named Ethelburga not wyth hym coÌ„tentyd as she oughte to be soughte dyuerse wayes and meanes how she myghte brynge her lorde oute of lyfe so that fynally she poysoned hym wyth many other of hys housholde meyny wherfore she ferynge punyshement fledde into Fraunce and by suche freÌ„dshyppe as she there hadde was well cheryshed in Charlis courte surnamed the great Of her yt is told that whan he had hadde some informacyon of the vnstablenes of this womans condycyons he at that season beynge a wydowar vppon a season in passynge of the tyme wyth her sayde nowe I put to youre choyse whyther ye wyll haue me vnto your wedded lorde or ellys my sonne staÌ„dyng here in your presence And hym that you chose hym shall you haue and enioye for your husbande But she chase y e son and lefte the father Then sayde the kynge yf thou haddest chosen me thou shuldest haue hadde my sonne But for thou haste forsaken me thou shalt haue nother of vs. And after he closyd her in an abbey where in processe a lewde man kept with her such company that she was voydyd that place and after demeaned her so vycyously that in processe of tynie she fell in such pouerte that she dyed in great penurye and myserye For the whyche mysse demeanure of this woman that she had innaturally slayne her lorde and husbande the kyng of Anglis and specially of westsaxons wolde not suffer the wyues to be callyd Sueuys nor yet suffer them to sette by them in places of great honour or kyngely sete by a long tyme after Thus as before is shewyd by the impoysonynge of his own wyfe dyed y e kynge Brigthricus when he had ruled y e westsaxoÌ„s after most concorde of writers by the terme of .xvii. yeres THE CLVIII CHAPITER EGbertus the sonne of AlcumuÌ„dê° as before is shewyd began hys reygne ouer the westsaxons in y e yere of grace .vii. hundred .lxxx. and xv and y e .xxvii. yere of Charlis the great then kynge of Fraunce Thys as before is sayde was dryuen oute of the lande of Britayne by y e streÌ„gth of Brigthricus But he hauynge knowlege of hys deth spedde out of Fraunce and in so knyghtely wyse hym demeaned that he obteyned the regiment and gouernaunce of the aboue sayde kynge Bernulphus kynge of Mercia had this Egbert in derysyon and made therof dyuerse scoffys iapynge rymes y t which he susteyned for a time But when he was somdeale stablysshed and hadde prouyd the myndes and hartis of his subiectes he lastly assembled his knyghtes and gaue to hym a batayll in a place called Elyndome in the prouynce of Hampton And all be yt that in that fyght was great dyuersyte of nomber as .vi. or viii agayne one yet Egbert had the victory For his knyghtes were lene megre pale and longe brethed so that they myghte endure to fyghte But Bernulphus knyghtes were fatte corpulent shorte brethed so that they were soone ouercome with swet and shorte labour Here is to be noted that after the deth of Offa kyng of Mercia or middell Englande of whome somwhat is touched in the story of Kenulphê° reygned his son Egfertê° after Egfertê° reygned Kenulfus or KeÌ„wolfus y e which Kenwolphus was father to y e holy martyr Kenelme to .ii. fayre vyrgyns Ouindred and Burgenulda or Ermenilda And after Kenwolfus succedyd the foresayd Kenelme and after Kenelme reygned Colwolphus and after hym succedyd Bernulphus before named Then to retourne agayne to Egbert the whych when he had as before is sayd ouercome Bernulphus he seasyd that lordshyppe into hys hande And that done he made war vppon the Kentyshe Saxons and at leÌ„gth in lyke wyse of them obteyned vyctorye And as wytnessyth Polycronica he also subdued the Northumbrys and caused the kynges of these thre kyngdomes to lyue vnder hym as trybutaryes or ioyned them to hys kyngedome as testyfyeth the authour of the Floure of hystories Thys Egbert also wanne from y e
this day in the vtter most border of Fraūce after to Uyenne To y e which citye of Uyen shortly after came vnto hym hys brother Lewys where they two assembled a newe hoste In the whych passetyme as Charlis was comynge towarde hys bretherne messyngers mette with hym sent from his bretherne to comon of a peace So that fynally he was accordyd that the realme of Fraunce shulde be dyuyded in .iii as the father had before dysposyd yt That is to meane Lothayr shuld enioy ouer the landes belongyng to the empyre the countrey of Austracy the whych in processe of tyme was called Lothayre or Lotharingia whyche is to meane Lorayne after his name And to Lewys shulde remayne the prouynce of Germany wyth the coūtrey of Buyan or Benery And to Charlys shulde remayne the countrey called myddell or chefe Fraunce wyth the prouynces of Normandy Burgoyne whyche sayde myddle Fraūce is reportyd to be in space from y e Occean of Brytayne to the ryuer of Mawze The whyche concorde thus fermely stablyshed and fynyshed eyther of other toke theyr departynge and resorted vnto theyr owne lordshyppes But Lothayre dyed shortely after leuynge after hym thre sonnes named Lewys Lothayre and Charlis But this deth of Lothayre is not taken for temporall deth for yt is sayd y t he forsoke the trauayle of y e world and became a munke at the abbaye of Pruny and lyued there a solytary lyfe many yeres after THE CLXIIII CHAPITER CHarlis y e Ballyd thus beyng in peaseble possessyon of the chefe parte of the realme of Fraunce and guydynge yt wyth all sobernes and indifferēt iustyce was well drad and also beloued of his subiectes In processe of tyme as vpon .viii. yeres after that Lothayr abouesayd renouncyd the pompe of the worlde dyed fyrste Charlys the yongest son of the thre of the foresayd Lothayre And after dyed Lothayre the second sonne so that the sayde Lewys onely suruyued whych was after his father enoynted emperour when Charlis kynge of Fraunce knewe certaynely of the deth of these two forsayde brethern and that with out yssu anon he assembled his power and entred the prouynce of Austracy or Lorayne the which his brother Lothayre hadde gyuen to Lothayre his sonne And in shorte whyle after crowned hym kynge of that prouynce wythin the chyrche of saynte Stephan of the cytye of Meaws chefe cyty of that lordshyppe kyngdome wyth the whyche dede Lewys his brother and kynge of Germany and Bayon was dyscontentyd thynkyng hym selfe more ryghtfull enheritour then Charlis for so myche as he was y e elder brother and also brother to the fyrste Lothayre of father of mother where as Charlis was but halfe brother and by the fathers syde onely For this y e sayd Lewys sent to Charlys the Ballyd certayn messyngers gyuynge to hym monycyon that he shulde call to memory the couenauntes betwene theym before tyme stablyshed and that he shulde not meddell hym nor haue to do wythin the landes of his cosyn lately deed vnto such tyme as yt were determyned by theyr bothe counsayles whyther of theym hadde the better ryght this to be obseruyd vppon payne of excōmunycacyon or cursyng But for to Lewys was well sene that his brother Charlis nothyng absteyned hym from the occupyenge of the forenamed countrey he therfore gaderyd an armye to warre vppon his sayde brother In the whych passe tyme Charlys toke to his second wyfe a woman namyd Rychent or Ricent the whyche he before tyme hadde vsyd as his cōcubyne or paramoure And soone after the Danys or Normans inuadyd the landes of Charlys the whych for that tyme he was fayne to appease please wyth ryche gyftes and other pleasures Then Charlys receyued from his brother a seconde ambassade or message the whyche shewyd vnto hym excepte he wold voyde his knyghtes and strengthes that he had sette and put in dyuerse places of the lande of Austracy he shuld be sure to haue of his sayd brother an enymy and that in all haste he wolde entre his lande wyth great force and warre wheruppon was suche answere sente that by both theyr agrementes the mater was hadde in suche cōmunycacyon that fynally yt was agreed that the sayde landes shulde egally be departyd betwene them whyche conclusyon perfyted Lewys wyth his people retournyd into Germany But yt was not longe after that Lewys repented hym of hys agrement so that newe legacyons were made vppon both partyes and lastely wyth myche payne newly agreed After whyche agrement and accorde fynyshed Lewys the emperour and sonne of the fyrste Lothayre sente an ambassade to both the fornamed bretherne admonestynge and warnyng them that nother the one nor y e other shulde intermyt wyth the foresayde landes for so myche as the ryghte therof belonged to him as next heyre to his brother and not to them that were a degre forther The answere of this was deferryd by Charlys how be it his brother Lewis as sayth myne authour gaue ouer his parte shortly after to Lewys y e emperour In this passe tyme Charlys the sonne of Charlis the Ballyd by hys fyrste wyfe whome the father had made ruler of a countrey called Belge hadde rulyd hym insolently and done in that countrey dyuerse outragiouse dedes For the whyche he beyng cōplayned of was brought vnto his father and so by hym commaundyd to pryson But shortely after he was deliueryd at y e requeste of some nobles of Fraūce kept after in his fathers courte where he contynued but a shorte whyle For wythin a lytle season after his father beynge at Lyons he departyd from y e sayde courte and gaderyd to hym a wylde company of euyll dysposyd persons and went agayne into the sayd countrey of Belge and dyd more harme then he had done before season and so contynuyd a long whyle But lastly he was taken and caste agayne in pryson where after longe punyshement he was reued of his syght and then sent vnto the monastery of Corbenyke there safely to be kepte But at length by the entycemēt of his vncle Lewys kynge of Germany and the treason of two mūkes of y e place he scapyd thens and fledde vnto the sayd Lewys his vncle In the which tyme Charlys his father was occupyed in the defence of the Danys or Normannys that then by strength had wonne the citye of Angyers and done therein myche harme whome the kynge closyd wythin the sayd cytye wyth a stronge syege and fynally compellyd theym to seke meanys of peace at the kynges pleasure After whych peace cōcludyd and the sayd Danys auoydyd the kynge repossessyd the sayde cytye It was not longe after that tydynges were brought vnto Charlis of the deth of Lewys the emperoure After knowlege wherof the kynge sent hys other sonne named Lewys into Austracy to haue the rule and y e guydynge of y e countrey And after other thynges ordered for y e weale of hys realme he wyth a stronge company of men of armys passyd y e moūtaynes and
But to folowe myne authour I shall procede as foloweth THE CLXXVII CHAPITER LEwys the fourth af that name and sonne of Charlis as before is sayde beganne his reygne ouer y e Frenchmen in the yere of our lorde .viii. hundred .lxxx. .vi and the .xiiii. yere of Aluredus then kyng of Englande Of thys Lewys yt ys testyfyed of dyuers wryters that he shulde enamoure hym selfe vppon a menchon of the monastery of Chyell and her drawe oute by force and marye her vnto his wyfe For the which dede and other he purchasyd the aboue said name was called Lewis nought doynge In thys tyme the Danys contrary to theyr ê“myse before made made new warre wythin the land of FrauÌ„ce wherfore the Frenchmen hauyng lytell hope in theyr kynge sente vnto Charlon or Charlys y e emperour sonne of Lewys kynge of Germany as before is shewyd requyryng him in all humble wyse to vysyte y e realm of Fraunce and to defende yt from the persecucyon of the Danys In these dayes also was lyuynge in Fraunce the forenamed Hugh whych as ye before haue herd maynteyned the quarell of Lewys Charlys last kynges agayn Lewys kyng of Germanye The whyche Hugh of some writers is called Hue le grauÌ„d that is Hugh the great Thys man gaderyd an hoste of Frenchmen and gaue batayll vnto the Danys and slewe of them a great nomber It shulde seme by the wryters of the frenche storye that these noble men of Fraunce as thys Hugh and other shulde haue the rule of the spyrytuall possessyons of abbayes and other houses of relygyon For of myne Authour mayster Gagwyne they are in laten named abbates and in the Frenche boke abbis whych is to meane abbottes And also yt is testyfyed of the sayd writers that this Hugh and Robert erle of Parys were the fyrst that left the dystrybucyon of those spyrytuall goodes vnto theyr knightes gaue ouer that name of abbotte the whyche in some other estates contynued tyll the dayes of Roberte kynge of Fraunce Then yt folowyth accordynge to the request made vnto the emperour as aboue is shewyd he gatheryd a stronge hoste of Italyons and parced the lande of Fraunce and bare hym so vyctoryously agayne the Danys that he forced theym to obey to all theyr former promyse condycyons But Eusebiê° and other y t wrote the actes of the emperours sayen y t this Charlis whyche they name the thyrd of y â— name and also Grossus y t is great subdued the Danys of Fraunce compellyd theyr leder or prynce named there Rodefredus to take the habyte of Crystes relygyon and receyued hym at the coulde wa ter In whyche tyme or soone after wherof y e tyme is not duely ascertayned dyed the forenamed kynge Lewys surnamed nought doynge when he hadde reygned after most wryters viii yeres leuyng after hym a sonne named Charlis y t whyche after was surnamed symple But for he was to yonge to take vpon hym such a charge the lordes put hym vnder good conuenyent guydynge and chase an other as foloweth to guyde y e lande tyll he were come to hys laufull age whyche was named Eudo. THE CLXXVIII CHAPITER EUdo the sonne of Robert erle of Angeowe beganne his reygne ouer the French men in the yere of our lorde .viii. hundred .lxxx. .xv and the .xxiii. yere of Alurede then kynge of Englande ye shall vnderstand that the aboue named Robert erle of Angeow was as tutor and guyder vnto the forenamed kynges of Fraunce Lewys and Charlys and lastely was slayne of the Danys The whyche Robert left after hym .ii. sonnes Eudo and Robert whych Eudo for the great fame that he was of and also for y e great trouth that in hym was prouyd and knowen y e lordes of one assent chose hym to be kynge of the lande for the terme of his lyfe And as affermeth the french boke other he was crowned of walter then archebyshoppe of Senys Howe be yt this is somdele doutfull to be gyuen credence vnto for dyuers reasons that therunto myghte be made Mayster Gagwyne sayth that he hath sene some authoures that testyfye this forenamed Charlis the symple to be the lawfull son of Lewys Balbus and the foresayde Lewys and Charlis late kynges of Fraunce to be the bastarde sonnes of the sayde Lewys Balbus Then to folowe the mater thys Eudo in coÌ„syderacyon that the sayd Charlis the symple was insuffycyeÌ„t to guyde the lande he was putte vnder the guydyng of this sayd Eudo and he was made kynge in his stede The whyche myghtly defendyd the lande from all daunger of enymyes And ouer y t he caused the sayde Charlys the symple to be noryshed and broughte vp wyth moste dylygence so that he was informed exercysed wyth all vertues doctrine and other thynges necessarye vnto a prynces son And finally when this noble and vertuous knyghte Eudo knew y t he shulde dye he called before hym the lordes nobles of Fraunce y t whych he charched by solemne othe that after his deth they immedyatly shulde crowne Charlis for theyr kyng and dyed soone after when he hadde reygned as affermeth authours by the terme of .ix. yeres Anglia THE CLXXIX CHAPITER EDwarde surnamed the elder and son of Aluredus began his reygne ouer y e more part of England in y e yere of our lord .ix hundred one the .vii. yere of Eudo then kynge of Fraunce This was lower then hys father in letter and connynge but he was hygher in honoure worshyp By his fyrst wife he had a son named Ethelstane the whych was kynge after hym By his seconde wyfe he had two sonnes Edredus Edwynus vii doughters And of y e thyrd wyfe he receyued two sonnes Edmunde Edrede and two doughters Edburga and Edgina The fyrste of these .iii. wyfes hyght Edwyna the second hyght Edgina the thyrde was named Ethleeswyda Of y e forenamed .vii. doughters which he had by his second wife one named Alunda or Almyda was maryed to the fyrst Otto the emperour And a nother named Algina was maryed to Charlis the symple kyng of west FrauÌ„ce And the yoÌ„gest of his doughters as sayth Policronica he wedded vnto Lewys kyng of Guyan But therof speketh nothyng the frenche cronicle He set his sonnes to scole and his doughters he sette to woll worke takyng exemple of Charlis the conquestour By authoryte of Formosus the pope he made .vii. byshoppes in Enlande wherof he ordeyned .v. in west Saxon one in southe Saxon one in Mercia at Dorchester He also for that the munkes of wynchester sayd that his father Alurede walkyd caused hym to be remoued vnto the new abbay About the .v. yere of his reygne Clyto Ethelwaldus a nere kynnesman of his rebellyd agayn hym and occupyed y e towne of wymborne besydes Bathe toke thens by force nunne went thens vnto the Danys dwellyng in NorthuÌ„berlande excyted them to ryse agayn kyng Edwarde But the kynge pursued hym
vppon the breste wyth a spere So y t the kynge awoke wyth that stroke and charged that the belle shulde be restored to the chyrche of Saynt Eltutus and all other thynges that were taken wyth the same But the kynge dyed wythin .x. dayes after whan he had reygned after moste wryters the full terme of .xvi. yeres And was buryed at Glastenbury leuynge after hym two sonnes Edwarde the martyr Egelredê° by .ii. sondry wyues Henricus the hystographer made of hym these verses folowynge Ayder of the poore and punyssher of trespasse The gyuer of worshyp kyng Edgar is now gone To the kyngdome of heuen whyche lyke to prayse was As Salomon that for wysdome aboue all shone A fader in peas a lyone to his foone Founder of temples of monkes stronge patrone Oppresser of all wronge and of iustyce guardone WIllelmus de regibus testifyeth that in the yere of our lorde M.lii whiche was after the deth of this noble kynge Edgar .lxxvi. yeres an abbot of Glastenbury named Aylewarde dygged the graue of this noble man vnreuerently At whyche tyme the body was fouÌ„den hole and so full of flesshe that the body wolde not entre into a newe cheste without pressynge By reason wherof fresshe droppes of blode issued out of the same body Than the abbot foresayd fyll sodeynly madde and went out of the chyrch and brake hys necke and so dyed Than the body was put in a shryne that he before tyme had gyuen to the place set vppon y e auter wyth the hed of saynt Apolinare and other relyques of saynt Uyncent the whych y e kyng Edgare before dayes had brought thyther and gyuen to y e house wherfore it maye well appere to all that rede thys story that what lyuynge thys man was demed of y t he purged hym in suche wyse by penauÌ„ce that he made a seth and amendes to goddes pleasure THE CXCV. CHAPITER IN y e story of thys noble prynce Edgare I fynde wryten a story the whyche is alleged by the authour y t it shulde be done by a kyng of Syrye named Cambyses in the tyme of the reygne of thys Edgare But in that sayenge he varyeth froÌ„ other authours and wryters very farre as Uincencius hystorialis Antoninus Ranulphus and other For all be it the sayde acte was done by y e sayd Cambyse as the forenamed authoure affermeth yet it was by the sayd Cambyses executed longe before the incarnacyon of Cryste For thys Cambyses was the sonne of Cirus kyng of Parsys and of Medis whyche reygned ouer those prouynces about the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousand .lxx before the commynge of Cryste folowyng the accompte of thys worke .xi. hundred yeres .xxix. But it myghte be y t the whyte monke that was authoure or wryter of this acte to the story of Edgare was moued for the greate iustyce that he radde in the story of thys Edgare thynkyng to enhaunce it by the reason herof where he sayth that in the tyme of thys CaÌ„byses a iudge was to hym accused and conuycte vppon the same accusacyon that he hadde gyuen a wronge sentence by meane of takynge of mede wherfore thys Cambyses to the terrour and fere of other commaunded the sayde iudge to be flayne quycke and the skynne to be spred ouer the place or stole of iudgement and that done made the sone of the foresayd iudge to sytte as iudge in the place where hys fader before sat wyth these verses wryten vppon the face of the sayde place of iudgement as foloweth Sede sedens ista iudex inflexibilis sta A manibus reuoces munus ab aure preces Sit tibi sucerna sex sux pessisque paterna Qua recedes natus pro patre sponte datus whyche verses maye be englysshed in maner and fourme as foloweth Thou that syttest in thys iudycyall place Sytte vp ryght holde thyne handes from mede Thyne erys from prayer fauoure from the chace Let lawe be thy gyde kepe iustyce in thy rede Thy faders skynne whych doth thy chayer sprede Haue in thy mynde fall not to lyke offence Leste for thy faute thou make lyke recompence AS I haue before shewed this acte was put in execucyon y e xi C. yere and odde before the commynge of Cryste And syns the sayd coÌ„mynge or incarnacyon haue expyred .xv. hundred yeres more which all maketh ouer two thousande .vi. hundred yeres In all whyche tyme I haue nat radde in any cronycle of thys lande nor other where that any iudge hath ben put to lyke sentence wherfore it is to presuppose that in the lawes bothe spyrytuall temporall all iudges haue wel borne these verses in mynde and exercysed them in mynystrynge of dewe iustyce as perfytely as theyr cusshons had ben fresshely lyned wyth the foresayde skinne empriÌ„ted so narowly these verses in the boke of theyr coÌ„science that they in all theyr iudgementes set asyde all parcyalyte and fauour and holde theyr handes from all medes and rewardes so that now it is thus wyth more or ellys thus it shulde be THE CXCVI. CHAPITER EDwarde the sonne of Edgare and of hys fyrste wyfe named Egelfleda beganne hys reygn ouer thys realme of Englande in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred and .lxxvii and the .xii. yere of Lothayre than kynge of Fraunce ye shall vnderstand that after the deth of Edgare stryfe arose amonge the lordes for admyssyon of theyr kyng For Elfryda or Estrylde with Alphrede duke of Mercia made dyuers frendes to haue her sonne Egelredus promoted to that dygnite a chylde of .vii. yeres of age that she he myghte haue the rule of the land But holy Dunstane wyth ayde of other bysshoppes and of the erle of eest Englande or Essex wythstode so that doynge that he crowned thys Edwarde kynge at y e towne of Kyngestowne to the greuous dyspleasure of hys sayd moder Elfryda and other of her affynyte In the tyme of thys Edward appered stella cometa a blasing sterre wherafter ensued many inconuenyences as well to men as to bestes as sykenesse hunger moreyne other lyke myseryes But none of this fyll in the dayes of this Edwarde but after hys deth The forenamed Alpherus duke of Mercia whyche in all thynges fauoured mych the dedes of the quene put out y e monkes at wynchester that kyng Edgare as before is shewed had there set in brought in for theym wanton clerkes or as Ranulphe sayth clerkes wyth concubynes But Dunstane and the erle of Essex wythsayde that doyng and helde agayne the duke and suche as fauoured hys partye For the whych arose greate stryfe bytwene the prestes and the monkes of Englande For y e clerkes that were before tyme put out by Edgare sayd that it were a wretched and cursed dede that a newe comon company vnknowen shulde put out olde landysmen from theyr place nor it shulde not be pleasyng to god y t had graunted y e place to the olde woÌ„ner nor no good man ought to alowe
suche doynge for the ensample that therof myght ensewe The monkes sayde yetCryste alowed nother the olde dweller nor yet the persone But who so wolde take the crosse of penaunce vppon hym and folow Cryste in vertuous lyuynge he shulde be hys dyscyple For thys was holden a generall counsayle of bysshoppes and all the clergy of the land at wynchester where holy DuÌ„stane helde wyth the vertuous And whyle they were there in greate argument for thys mater as dyuers wryters testyfyeÌ„ a rode there beyng or standynge in the wall spake myraculously and sayd that Dunstanes wayes was good and trewe But for all thys the stryfe seased not In so mych that a new assemble of the clergye and other was appoynted after at a place called the strete of Calue where the counsayle was kept in an vpper lofte In thys counsayle DuÌ„stane was greuously despysed and rebuked of some vnskylfull meÌ„ But yet he kept hys opynyon grounded vpon iustyce and vertue And whyle they were there in thys greate dyuysyon and argument whyche waye shulde be admytted and alowed sodeynly the ioystes of the lofte fayled and the people fell downe so y t many were slayne greuously hurte But holy Dunstane escaped wyth fewe other that toke hys partye vnhurte This wonder with the other caused sylence amonges them that enteÌ„ded to maynteyne this foresayd quarell so that Dunstane had all hys wyll Thus passynge the tyme of the reygne of Edwarde the kynge he came vppon a season from huntyng in the forest or woode after some wryters nere to the castell of Corfe in y e west countre where he losynge hys company and seruauntes resorted vnto the castell before sayd where at that tyme hys moder with her sonne Egelredê° kept her housholde whan the quene was warned of hys commynge anone she called to a seruauÌ„t of hers whych she mych trusted and tolde to hym all her counsayle shewynge to hym forther how he shulde behaue hym in accomplysshynge of her wyll and mynde And that done she went towarde the kynge and receyued hym wyth all outwarde gladnesse and desyred hym to tary wyth her that nyght But he in curteyse maner excused hym selfe for spede desyred to drynke vpon hys horse syttyng y e whych was shortly brought And whyle the cuppe was at hys mouth the seruaunt before of the quene enfourmed strake hym to the herte wyth a sworde or a longe dagger sharpe on both sydes After whiche stroke by the kynge receyued he toke the horse wyth the spores and ranne towarde the place that he was comen fro or ellys suche waye as he supposed to mete of hys company But he bled so sore that for fayntnes he fyll from hys horse hys one fote beynge faste in the styrroppe By reason wherof he was drawen of y e horse ouer wayes and feldes tyll he came to a place named than Corysgate where he was founden dede And for y e maner of hys deth was vnknoweÌ„ â–ª and also he for kynge not knowen he was buryed vnworthely at the towne of warehmÌ„ and there rested by the terme of .iii. yeres after In whyche tyme and season god shewed for hym dyuers myracles as syghte to the blynde helthe to the syke and herynge to y e defe wyth dyuers other whyche I ouer passe wherof herynge hys stepmoder began to take repentaunce and entended to vysyte hym by way of pylgrymage But how or for what cause she entended inwardly I can nat saye but the horse or beest y t she rode vpon myght not nyghe y e place by a certayne space for betynge or any other thynge that to hym myght be done by man But after this by her meanes he was translated from theÌ„s to SeptonÌ„ that now is called Shaftesbury there buried with great honour But syn that tyme parte of his bodye was translated to the abbaye of Leof besyde Hereforde in the edge of walys and some parte therof to AbyndonÌ„ And yt is reported that at Shaftesbury remayne hys lunges and ben shewed in the place that is called Edwardysstowe For the murder of this blessed man yt is sayde as before is shewed in the story of Edgar that his stepmother fouÌ„ded two monasteryes of women y e one at Ambrisbury and that other at warwell In the whyche place of warwell in her latter dayes she refusynge the pompe of the worlde helde there a solytary and strayte lyfe and ended her lyfe wyth great penaunce and repentaunce and was there buryed when she dyed Thus as ye haue harde was this vertuous yonge kynge Edwarde martyred wheÌ„ he had reygned after most wryters .iiii. yeres leuyng none yssue wherfore the rule of the lande fyll to Egelredus his brother THE CXCVII CHAPITER EGelredus the sonne of Edgar and Alfrida or Estryld his last wyfe beganne his reygne ouer Englande in the yere of our lorde .ix huÌ„dred .lxxxi and the .xxvi. yere of Lothayre then kynge of Fraunce This is named of some wryters Etheldredus and in the englyshe cronycle Eldrede In whose begynnyng the grounde waxed bareyne and all myseryes before bodyd by the apperynge of the blasynge starre in the dayes of Edwarde the martyr nowe beganne to take place and encreace vppon the erth This as the other of his ê“genytours was crowned kyng at Kyngestone of the holy archbysshoppe Dunstane and of Oswalde archebyshop of yorke To whome as yt is redde in the lyfe of saynt Dunstane amonges his prophecyes that in the day of his coronacyon he sayd vnto the kynge for thou comest to this kingdome by the deth of thy brother in whose deth Englyshemen coÌ„spyred with thy wykked moder they shall not be wythout blood shedynge and sworde tyll there come people of vnknowen tunge and brynge them into thraldome And thys trespace shall not be clensyd wythoute longe vengeaunce Of this Egelredê° wryters agreen that he was goodly of shappe and of vysage but that was mynged wyth lechery and cruelty It is also redde that when holy Dunstane shuld crysten hym as he helde hym ouer the fonte he felyd the holy lyker wyth y e fruyte of his wombe wherfore holy Dunstane sware by god and by hys mother this shal be vnkynde to god and his chyrche whych fayled not in his forth goynge for he was vngracyous in his begynnynge wretched in y e myddell of his lyfe and hatefull to men in the ende therof In the seconde yere of his reygn a cloude was sene in Englande the whyche appered halfe lyke blood the other halfe lyke fyre and chaunged after into sundry colours dysaperyd at the laste In the thyrd yere of his reygn y e Danys aryued in sundry places of his lande as in the yle of Thanet besyde Kente in Cornewayll and Sussex and dyd in those costes myche harme And after some of theym came to London but there they were put of How be yt they destroyed a great part of Chestershyre And in the ende of the same yere a great parte of the cytye of London was wasted with fyre
were not of that blode as Eudo and Radulphus but admytted of the barony of Fraunce to rule the lande tyll two of that progeny that is to meane Charlys the symple and Lewys the .v were comen to theyr lawfull age So that from the fyrst yere of Pepyn whyche began his reygne in the yere of grace .vii. hundred .l. to the fyrst yere of Hugh Capet that began hys reygne in the yere of our lorde god .ix. hundred and lxxxix expyred or passed .ii. hundred .xxxix. yeres Pypyn the fader of Charlys the greate Charlys the great emperour Lowys the fyrste emperour The kynges of Germany Lothayre emperour and the sonne of Lewys the fyrst Lowys emperour the sonne of Lothayre Lothayre the seconde the son of Lothayre Charlys the .iii. and sonne of Lothayre Lewys kyng of Germany and broder vnto the sayd Lothayre Lewys the sonne of Lewys whyche was broder vnto Charlys grossu◠emperour Lewys the son of Lewys which of some ys compted emperour Arnusphus the sonne of Lewys emperour Lewys the sonne of Arnulph last emperour of Fraunce The kynges of Fraunce Charlys the ballyd the sonne of Lewys the fyrst of hys .ii. wyfe emperour Lewys Balbus the son of Charlys the Ballyd Lewys Charlys sonnes of Lewys Balbus Lewys the .iiii. and son of the foresayd Charlys Charlys the symple the sonne of Lewys the forth Lewys the .v. and the sonne of Charlys the symple Lothayre the sonne of the foresayde Lewys Lewys the sonne of Lothayr and the last kyng of that flock THE CCII. CHAPITER HUgh the sonne of Robert the tyraunt descended of Hugh legraunde beganne to take the rule or to vsurpe the crowne of Fraunce in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred and .lxxxix and the .viii. yere of Egelredus than kynge of Englande Thys as wytnessyth the Frenche Cronycle was erle of Parys and marshall of Fraunce And as sayth Antoninus he maryed one of the doughters of Edwarde the elder Thys also was named Capet for so myche as in hys youth he vsed in game to laye asyde hys felowes hodes In whose begynnyng Charlys that was the brother to Lothayre and vncle vnto Lewys the .vi. laste kynge herynge of the deth of hys neuewe Lewys wythout issue as nexte heyre wyth ayde of some lordes of Fraunce and also of Loreyn the whyche than he was lorde of gadered an army and entred Fraunce and than came to the cytye of Laone wythin whyche cytye he wyth hys wyfe and people by the treason of the bysshoppe of the same cytye was taken and delyuered wyth hys wyfe and chylder into the handes of hys enemyes the whyche sent them to Orleaunce there sauely to be kept Than thys Hugh was crowned in the cytye of Rayns and welded the lande wyth more suerty How be it the erle of Flaunders named Arnulphus or Arnolde before spoken of wolde not be vnder hys obedyence wherfore thys Hugh assembled hys kynghtes and by hys strength toke from hym the coutre of Artoys wyth many stronge holdes and castels and lastly forced the sayd Arnolde to fle into Normandy to aske ayde of Richarde the fyrste of that name before spoken of in the story of the .vi. Lewys By whose meanes after some wryters wyllyam Longa Spata fader to y e sayd duke Richarde was slayne But that not wythstandynge by frendshyp of the sayde duke Richarde thys Arnolde was reconcyled vnto the kynge and contynued after as hys subiecte In the cytye of Rayns was arch bysshoppe at thys daye a noble prelate named Arnolde sonne of baste of Lothayre and neuewe to Charlys than prysoner as before is touched The whyche for malyce that the kynge bare vnto hym for cause of the forenamed Charlys called a counsayle of the clergy of hys lande and layde agayne hym suche obieccyons that he by theyr assent was putte from that benefyce and sente hym to Orlyaunce there also to be kepte in pryson And set in hys place one Gylberte or after the Frenche boke Gerbres a connynge man in phylosophy whiche had before tyme ben tutor or mayster to Robert sonne of the sayde Hugh But after .iii. yeres pope Iohn̄ the .xvi. of that name sent downe hys maundement vnto Guyan archebysshop of Sens chargynge hym that he sholde remoue y e sayde Gerbers and restore the sayde Arnolde to hys proper see whyche was done shortely after and y e sayde Gerbers was after this preferred by one of the Othons emperour vnto y e chyrche of Rauenne and contynued there tyll the deth of the .xvii. Iohn̄ After whose deth he was electe pope of Rome and was named the secōde Siluester lyued as pope .iiii. yeres Than it followeth in the story whan thys Hugh had reygned full viii yeares and more he dyed in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred .xciii. and was buryed at saynte Denys leuynge after hym a sonne named Robert THE CCIII CHAPITER RObert the sonne of Hugh Capet beganne his reygn in the yere of our lord .ix. hundred .xcviii and the .xvii. yere of Egelredus then kynge of Englande This was cōnynge in many scyences and a man of good maner vertue He made dyuers hymnes sequences respondes as O Iuda et Hierusulem O cōstantia martyrum As sit nobis scti spūs gratia or more cōgruely Sancti spiritus assit nobis gratia wyth dyuers other In y e beginnyng of his reygn while Bowcharde erle of Meleon̄ was at the kynges court Galtyer or walter a knyghte and seruaunt of the sayde Bowcharde to whom the sayd Bowcharde hadde delyuered his castell of Meleon̄ to kepe in his absence for great gyftes the sayde walter hadde delyuered the sayde castell unto Eudo erle of Carnotens wherfore the kyng at the request of the sayd Bowcharde sente streyghte commaundement vnto the sayd Eudo chargyng hym in all goodly wyse to restore the sayde castell vnto Bowcharde The whyche commaundement he vtterly refused to obey For y e whych ȳe kyng beyng so amoued sent for Rycharde the seconde of that name then .iiii. duke of Normandy and wyth theyr both armyes besyeged the castell vppon euery parte and at length wan yt and toke the sayd walter wythin the same whom the kinge for his vntrouthe commaunded soone after to be hanged vppon a gybet and the castell to be restored vnto y e forenamed Bowcharde and after returned euery man to his owne In the tyme of the reygne of thys Robert dyd Henry then duke of Burgoyne The whyche for lacke of yssue of his body bequethed his dukedome vnto kynge Robert But the Burgonyons wythstode that legacy and drewe to theym for an hed captayne Lawdry erle of Neuers and wyth hym helde by strength or for a strength the cytye of Anxerre wherof herynge kyng Robert sente for the foresayde duke of Normandye and so spedde theym towarde Burgoyne and besyeged the forsayd cytye But at length y e cytye was yolden and Lawdry put at the kynges grace And that done the kyng with his hoste besyeged a
kynge after hym To the whyche questyon was answered by Peter the kyngedome of Englyshemen is the kyngedome of god wherfore the kynges therof shall stande at goddes puruyaunce And also a nother doctour called Henry of Huntyngdon shewyd that an holy man warned Englyshe men y â— a lorde whyche they thought nothynge vppon shulde come out of Fraunce brynge them ryght lowe In the tyme also of thys Canutê° by agrement of many wryters fyll one thynge worthy mynde and memory In a town of Saxony named Calbis in y e dyocesys of Magburgh and parysshe of saynt Magii xviii men and .xv. women vppon the euen of the Natyuyte of our lorde began a daunce about the chyrche yarde of saynt Magu afore sayd the person or other prestes beyng than at masse wythin y e same chyrche which beyng troubled wyth the noyse of the mynstrellys also the dynne of the sayde men and women sent vnto them in monysshynge them to seace of that doynge But all was in vayne for they wolde not seace of theyr dysport for any commauÌ„dement y t to theÌ„ was gyuen wherwyth the preste beynge dyscontented that they none other wyse reuerenced y e sacrament noryed that solempne season besought god and saynte Magii that they shulde contynue theyr daunce by the space of an hole yere The whyche prayer was harde in suche wyse that they contynued the same songe daunce tyll that daye twelue monethes and neuer eate nor dranke nor rested theÌ„ in all y e season And moreouer dewe nor rayne fyll vppon them in all that yere nor garment nor no thyng that was about them was impayred shoo nor other At the yeres ende Horobertus archbysshop of that dyocesys came vnto y e sayde place and lowsed them of that bonde whych the preste had bounde them in and before the awlter of the chyrche them reconsyled Of the whyche a prestes doughter and two other dyed forth wyth and the remenaunt yode to reste and slepte by the space of .iii. dayes and iii. nyghtes folowynge where after some of them dyed and suche as lyued fell lame of theyr lymmes And one of the same .xviii. men beyng named Ubertus or Hupertus wrote thys wonder wyth hys owne hande for a more recorde of the trowth Then let vs retorne to Canutus of whom it is redde that after hys coÌ„myng from Rome he beganne somdele to presume in pryde set more by hym selfe than good wysdome wolde In tyme of whyche exaltacyoÌ„ of hys mynde he went vnto the Tamys syde and behelde howe the water swelled or flowed And so standynge nere the water the water touched hys fete Than he charged the water that he shuld flowe no hygher and that in no wyse he shulde to wche hys lordes clothes But the water kepte his course and wette at length the kynges thyes wherewyth y e kyng abasshed sterte backe and sayde all erthly kynges may know that theyr powers be vayne and that none is worthy to haue the name of a kynge but he that hath all thynges subiecte to hys hestes as here is shewed by worchynge of hys treature by thys water And for thys as wytnesseth Polycronycon and other he offered hys crowne to y e rode of wynchester and neuer bare it vpon his hed after It is also wytnessed of the sayde authour that Canutus maryed hys doughter hadde by hys laste wyfe vnto Henry sonne of Conradus the emperour the seconde of that name as also it is testyfyed of the authour of Cronica cronicarum And he repayred many monasteryes and specyally suche as before tyme were hurte or throwne downe in the tyme of hys fathers persecucyon And began and ended the monastery of saynt Edmundes Bury endowed it wyth ryche possessyons as before is towched And dyed fynally at Shaftesbury and was buryed at wynchester whan he hadde reygned .xix. yeres leuyng after hym two sonnes of hys wyues the eldest was named Harolde and the yonger Hardykynytus the whyche lyuyng hys fader was made kynge of Denmarke Francia THE CCVII. CHAPITER HEnry the sonne of Robert begaÌ„ hys domynyon ouer the French men in the yere of our lord M.xxix and the .x. yere of Canutus than kynge of Englande To the whyche Henry CoÌ„stantyne the moder was so vnkynde that she by her meanes wolde haue preferred her yonger sonne Roberte duke of Burgoyne to the rule of the lande before thys Henry so that by her meanes bothe cytyes and castels were wyth holden from hym and was by her suche other as toke her parte so ouer lad that he was forced to resorte to Robert than duke of Normandy for to aske helpe of hym to wythstande hys enemyes ye shall vnderstande that this Robert was the .vi. duke of Normandy and sonne of Richarde the seconde and also father vnto wyllyaÌ„ bastard that conquered Englande Thys Roberte was lyberall and noble of condycyon but defamed of y e deth of hys elder brother Rychard the thyrde For the whyche murder as wytnessyth dyuers authours the vii yere of hys dowchery he went to Iherusalem and dyd in that pylgre mage many honourable and liberall actes the whyche in good order ben remembred in the .xix. chapyter of the vi boke of Polycronicon This Robert receyued kyng Henry wyth all honour and gaue vnto hym greate and ryche gyftes sent for hys frendes and knyghtes so y e the kynge had by hys ayde a greate myghty hoste And retorned agayn into Fraunce and in short whyle after recouered from hys sayde moder bothe cytyes townes and castelles that she and her fautours from hym wythhelde And fynally agreed so wyth her that he and she contynued frendes theyr lyfe tymes enduryng After whyche accorde about the .v. yere of hys reygne he made warre vppon Eudo erle of Champayne vppon Baldewine erle of FlauÌ„ders and in processe of tyme wan froÌ„ them certayne cytyes and castelles the whyche Constance his moder hadde before tymes gyuen to them in tyme of dyscencyon In thys warre was slayne Eudo erle of Champayne wherfore hys .ii. sonnes Stephen Thybaud maynteyned the warre agayne the kynge but to theyr bothe harmes in y e ende For Stephen loste therby the cytyes of Chartres and towers and Thybaude y e cytyes of Troyes Maulx wyth other whan Henry hadde ended thys warre set hys lande in some quyetnesse he thaÌ„ buylded a monastery of saynt Martyne called Des ChaÌ„ps besyde Parys and set therin seculer prestes In thys passetyme Robert duke of Normandy moued in conscyence to vysyte the holy sepulture of oure lorde called before hym hys lordes of hys lande wyllynge and coÌ„maundynge them to owe theyr trewe allegaunce vnto hys yonger sonne wyllyam and to take hym for theyr lord and duke yf he retorne not agayne And to thys he caused to swere Robert than archbysshop of Roan with the other of hys lordes and after departed vppon the sayd iourney and dyed in the cytye of Bethenia as he was coÌ„mynge homewarde wherof y e lordes of Normandy beynge assertayned
and was anone after the deth of hys brother sent for into Denmarke and receyued ioyously and crowned at Londō of Ethelnotus than archybysshop of Caunterbury But this was of suche cruelty that he sent Alfrycus archbysshoppe of yorke and erle Goodwyne vnto westmynster commaundynge them for the iniury by hys brother Harolde before done vnto his moder Emma that they shuld drawe the corps out of y e place where it was buryed and to be throwen into the ryuer of Thamys which was done accordynge to hys wyll whych corps after as testyfyeth Guydo and other was founden by a fyssher and buryed vnreuerently within the chyrcheyarde of saynt Clement standyng wythout the Temple barre of London And as Polycronycon sayth for a more curelty he caused fyrst the hed of hys sayd brother to be smyten from the body and than throwen in to the sayd ryuer Lette the herers to thys gyue credence as them lyke for to me it semeth though the kyng had ben of suche cruelty that the bysshop forenamed wolde not haue ben the executour of so fowle a dede Thys kyng also leuyed the forenamed trybute named Dane gelt spent it to the lytell comforte of the realme but gaue vnto shypmen and maryners and other lewde persons greate and vnsyttynge fees and wages and was of suche prodegalyte that his bourdes and tabelles of his courte were spred .iiii. tymes in the daye and the people serued of great excesse both of mete also of drynke wyth leuyeng of the foresayd try bute the comons greatly grudged so that in worceter two of hys seruauntes whyche were assygned to gader that money were there slayne For the whyche dede the kynge was so sore dyspleased y t he brent a great parte of that towne Thys Hardykynutus after some authours maryed hys syster named Gunylda vnto the thyrde Henry emperour The whych was of passyng beaute and was the doughter also of Emma laste wyfe of Canutus But in processe of tyme thys Gunylda was falsely accused of spowsebrech for tryall wherof she was put to her champyon wherfore she beynge in greate agony lastely trustyng to god and knowyng her selfe without gylte of that offence putte a chyld that she wyth her had brought out of Englande in stede of the champyon The whyche fought wyth a man of geauntes stature and fynally hym slew and broughte vnto confusyon when Gunylda by dyuyne power hadde thus clered her selfe she vtterly refused the emperours company and ended her lyfe in the seruyce of hym the onely god that so hadde defended her ryght But yt shulde appere by Polycronycon and also by Antoninus that thys mayden was maryed to y e sayde Henry by the lyfe of her father Canutus and also durynge the lyfe of the sayde Henryes father named Conradus the second as before is touched in the storye of the sayde Canutus and not by thys Hardykinytus her brother It is rad that the kynge betoke all the rule of the lande vnto hys moder and erle Goodwyn the whyche had maryed as wytnessyth the englyshe cronycle the doughter of Canutus gotten vppon hys fyrste wyfe Elgina By whome many thynges were mysse orderyd and specyally by the subtylyte of this erle Goodwyn This erle had many sonnes as wytnesseth Polycrony con in the .xxv. chapyter of hys .vi. boke By his fyrste wyfe that was kynge Canutus syster not hys doughter as is aboue sayde he hadde one sonne The whyche by vndyscrete strykynge of an horse was throwen into the Thamys and drowned And the mother was lastely smyttē wyth lyghtenyng and so dyed Of whome yt is there remembred that she was so vngracyous and of so vyle condycyon that she set yonge womē to horedome for to gader by that vnlefull meane ryches After the whyche wyfe so dyed he maryed the seconde of whome he receyued .vi. sonnes That is to wyt Swanus Harolde Tostius wylnotus Sirthe or Surthe and Leoffricus and a doughter named Goditha whych after was maryed to Edwarde the confessour The two sonnes of Egelredus Alphredus and Edwarde whych as ye before haue hard were sent into Normādy by Emma theyr mother came in y e tyme of the reygne of thys kyng into Englande for to vysyte and se theyr mother brought wyth them a great nomber of Normans Then thys Goodwyne ymagyned in hys mynde howe he myght preferre hys doughter Godyth to one of these bretherne and thoughte in his mynde y t the eldest wold dysdayne that maryage And for he thought to ioyne her vnto the yonger and to make hym kynge and her quene he compassed the deth of y e elder And by this mean Goodwyn warned the lordes of Englande and sayde yt was a great ieoperdye for the lande to suffer so many straungers to entre the land without lycence wherfore yt were necessary that they were punyshed to the example of other By whych meanes he gat authoryte to order that mater as to hym semed beste or of his owne power because he was of moste myght nexte the kynge wherfore he yode and mette wyth the sayde Normans and slewe of theym the moste nomber For vppon Guylde downe he slewe alway .ix. saued the .x. And yet for he thoughte to many by that meane lefte a lyue he eft agayne tythed agayne the sayd tythe and slew euery tenth knyght of them and that by cruell deth as wyndynge theyr guttes out of theyr bodyes as sayth Polycronycon and amonge other put out the eyen of the elder brother Alphredus sent hym to Ely where he dyed in short tyme after all be it y e englyshe boke sayth y t he was slayne by the forenamed tormente And Edwarde was conueyed and by some other waye broughte to hys mother But she ferynge the treason of Good wyne sente hym soone ouer the see agayne Howe be yt the ynglyshe cronycle telleth all otherwyse when Goodwyne was after accused for thys cruell dede he sware depely y t he was forced of the kynge so for to do But in one cronicle I fynde that thys dede was executed by Goodwyne in the tyme of Harolde Harefote beynge kynge Then yt foloweth in the story this kynge Hardykynytus beynge at a feste at Lambehyth besyde London mery and iocande whyle he stode drynkynge he fyll downe sodaynly and dyed or waxed dumbe and lay tyll the .viii. daye after the whyche was the .viii. daye of the moneth of Iune and then dyed when he hadde reygned after moste wryters two yeres leuynge after hym none yssue of his bodye lawfull and was buryed by his father at wynchester Thus here endeth the lyne or ofsprynge of Swanus and all other Danys so that after thys kynge the blood of Danys was clerely extyncte and putte oute from all kyngly dygnyte wythin thys realme of Englande And also the persecution of thē seased clerely after thys kynges deth The whyche had contynued to rekē from theyr fyrst landynge in tyme of Brightricus kyng of west Saxon the .ix. yere of his reygne as in y e storye
pytye that he suffered hym to be at hys lybertye whyche after the opynyon of wyllyam de regibus was done more of pryde than of compassyon THE CCXXV. CHAPITER IN the .xi. yere of the reygne of thys wyllyam the rede at a towne called Fynchanster in the couÌ„trey of Barke shyre a welle caste out blode as before it hadde done water And after by the space of .xv. dayes great flames of fyre were sene in the elemeÌ„t in sundry places and tymes Thys yere also y e two erles of Shrewesbury and of Chester eyther named Hugh by the kynges commauÌ„dement entred wyth theyr knyghtes the I le of Man or Anglesaye slewe therin many welshemen and gelded many moo Amonge the whyche a preste named Kynredus was draweÌ„ out of a chyrch and serued of y e same wyse and also cut hys tunge out of hys hed and put out hys one eye But this preste was of such vertue that by myracle he was restored to helthe within .iii. dayes ensuynge In the whyche season and tyme the kynge of Northganys or Norwaye wan the iles called than Orcades and now Orkeys after came wyth hys strength into the foresayd ile of Man where at the same season were the sayde two erles Than bytwene them was mortall fyght in y e whyche Hugh erle of Shrewesbury was stryken with an arowe in y e eye and dyed wythin .viii. dayes after But as sayth Guydo the Danys were chased and the Englysshemen hadde the vyctory Kyng wylliam was mych in Normandye for so myche as Robert his brother was all thys season in the holy land of whose actes shall some deale be towched in y e story of Henry the fyrste And wyllyam had myche payne to rule the Normans for they rebelled often agayne hym In the .xii. yere of hys reygne he came out of Normandye and when he saw the hall of westmynster y t he had caused to be buylded he was therwyth dyscontented that it was so lytell wherfore as it is rehersed of some wryters he entended yf he had lyued to haue made a larger and y t to haue serued for a chaumber Robert Losaunge that somtyme had ben abbot of Ramsey and than bysshop of Thetforde by gyfte of a thousand pounde to the kyng repented hym after and bewept that vnskylfull dede and toke hys waye to Rome and dyd for it hys enioyned penaunce and after retorned into Englande and turned hys see from Thetforde to Norwyche founded there a fayre monastery of hys owne goodes not of the patrymony of crystes chyrch But therin is a dowt to consyder For he was fyrste an abbot and after a bysshop About thys tyme by the meanes of one Stephen Hardynge a munke of Sherbourne an Englyshman of y e order of Sisteaux or whyte muÌ„kes had hys begynnynge in the wyldernesse of Cystery within the prouynce of Burgoyne as wytnesseth Ranulf munke of Chester But other wryters as Jacobus Phylyppus the authour of Cronica cronicaruÌ„ Matheolus wyth other sayen that this Stephen was the second abbot of y e place y t it was fyrste fouÌ„ded by the meanes of one Robert abbot of MolyneÌ„se in the yere of grace M.xcviii whyche to folow theyr sayeng shuld be in the .ix. yere of the reygne of this kyng This order was after brought into Englande by one called walter Espeke that fouÌ„ded the fyrste abbay of that relygyon at Ryuall about y e yere of grace .xi. C.xxxi The whyche shulde be about the .xxxi. yere of the fyrste Henry than kyng of England Somwhat of theyr relygyon is towched in the .x. chapyter of the .viii. boke of Polycronycon After that kynge wyllyam as before is sayde was retourned out of Normandy many wonderfull prodygyes and tokyns were shewed in England as the swellyng or rysyng of y e water of Thamys in suche wyse that it drowned dyuers townes and dyd mych harme by out passyng his boundys in dyuers places about LoÌ„don and ellys where Also the deuyll was sene walke in mannes lykenesse wyth dyuers other thynges whyche I ouerpasse The kyng was warned of this and tolde by his famylyers y t god was not coÌ„tent with his lyuing But he set all at nought and made of it a scoffe or a iape In the .xiii. yere of his reygne and begynnynge thereof as the thyrde daye of Auguste after the sayenge of Ranulfe thys kyng wyllyam beyng at hys dysporte of huntynge wythin the newe forest by glaunsynge of an arowe shot of a knyght named walter Tyrell was wounded to the deth in the .xliiii. yere of hys age After whyche dede the sayde walter escaped and saued hym self for few there were that hym pursued And so the kynge thus wounded was layde vppon an horse lytter and so conueyed to wynchester where shortly after he dyed and was buryed Of this man myghte be made a myche lenger story yf all hys dedes shulde be towched The whych toke vpon hym great thynges and mych gretter enteÌ„ded yf he myght haue lyued The daye before he was slayne one axed of hym where he wold kepe hys Crystmasse At Poytiers sayde the kynge for the erle entendeth to go towarde Hierusalem and I woll assaye to haue hys erledome in morgage for well I knowe he must cheuyche for money to perfourme that iourney The day that wyllyaÌ„ dyed he helde in his haÌ„des the .iii. bysshopryches of CauÌ„terbury of winchester and of Salysbury and dyuers abbayes of the whyche he let some to terme Also he refrayned y â— money y â— of olde tyme was payed to Rome called Rome scotte Of this wyllyaÌ„ reportyth Henry of HuÌ„tyngdoÌ„ sayth y t though this maÌ„ were lyght of som thynges yet he was stedfast stable of his promyse so y t what he ê“mysed good or euyll shuld be ê‘formed And though he were named couetous yet it shuld seme y t he was liberall as sheweth by this narracyoÌ„ folowyng Upon a season when the abbot of a place in Englande was dede two munkes of the same place the which before hadde gatheryd money made theyr frendes to kynge willyam and offered large offers eyther of them to be promoted to that dygnyte There was also a thyrde munke the which of mekenesse of humylyte folowed the other two to the entent that vppon hym that the kynge had admytted for abbot he wolde haue gyuen attendaunce and as his chapelayn to haue wyth hym returned The kynge called before hym the .ii. munkys seuerally and eyther out profered other And as he caste hys eye asyde he espyed the thyrd the whych he demed hadde comen also for the same cause Then the kynge called hym and asked yf he wold geue any more then his bretherne had offered to be abbot But he answered to the kynge and sayde that he wolde nother offer nor yet gyue for yt one peny nor wold haue so great a charge by any meane wrongefull when the kynge had well vnderstanden thys thyrde munkes answere he sayde that he was best worthy to be
slew many of his men and gat the fauour of the walshmen by gyftes and plesauÌ„t wordes and also compelled the sayd Robert to forsake EnglaÌ„d The whyche then sayled into a corner of NormaÌ„dye kept him there secretely tyll such tyme as to hym was thyther comen willyaÌ„ erle of Cornewall which wyllyam was also erle of Nortom in Normandye when these two erles were assocyat they gaderyd to them a great strength of Normans dyd great harme wythin the prouynce wherfore the kynge sayled thyther made sharpe warre vppon them In the whych he loste many of his men But in y e ende he put froÌ„ them theyr strength and toke theym both prysoners and so helde them y e terme of theyr lyues And that done he sette that couÌ„trey in good reste and peace and after retourned into Englande After whyche returne kynge Henry made sharpe lawes agayne theues and other that vsed vnleful meanes In whyche lawes was conteyned losynge of lyfe of eyes of stones and other members of man as the gylte requyred And soone after Anselme archbysshoppe of Caunterbury assembled a great couÌ„sayll at London of the clergy of England By authoryte of the which couÌ„sayll dyuers abbotes and other were put from theyr dygnytie for that they had taken before tyme theyr abbayes by vnlefull meanes And amoÌ„ges all other decrees one was y e prestes shulde forgo theyr wyues Then strife fell betwen y e kyng Anselme for that that he wold not sacre the prestes that hadde taken inuestyture of lewde mennys handes whyche before was forboden vppon payne of cursynge But Gyralde archebyshoppe of yorke for the pleasure of the kynge sacred suche bysshoppes wherfore Anselme beynge dyscoÌ„tent departed y e land and yode to Rome to shewe thys wyth other thynges to the pope whyche at that daye by moste accorde of wryters shulde be Pascall the seconde In the .vi. of the kynge the countrey of FlauÌ„dres was sore blemyshed and hurte by meane of the see so that the Flemynges yode aboute to haue socoure of dwellynge and requyred of the kyng to haue lycence that they might inhabyt them in the eest parte of the ryuer of Twede the whych to them was graunted But after a certayn of yeres they were remoued ito westwalys where they remayned a longe whyle but after they sprad all Englande ouer In the .vii. yere of thys kynge vppon a frydaye at nyghte in the fyrste weke of clene lent was sene an vncouth starre betwene y e south and the weste the whyche nyghtely appered at one howre and coÌ„tynued so by the space of .xxv. days And fore agaynst that oute of the eest parte appered a great leuyn or beme of bryghtnes whyche stretched towarde the sayde starre And vppon shere thursdaye nexte ensuynge were sene two monys that one in the eest and that other in the weste And in thys yere Anselme by the kynges agrement returned agayne from Rome and shortely after called a conuocacyon at London In the whyche by the popes authoryte yt was newely conformed and enacted that no temporall man after that daye shuld make inuesture with crosse or wyth rynge In the .viii. yere of the reygne of kynge Henry the fourth Henry emperour of Almayne the whyche had maryed Molde the eldeste doughter of kynge Henry when she was of the age of .v. yeres prysoned pope Pascall and dyuerse of the cardynallys This Henry also warred agayne his father Henry the .iii and lastely caste hym in stronge pryson For the whyche dede as assermeth Ranulphe he wylfully when he had ruled the empyre .xx. yere resygned hys dygnyte into the handes of Calixtus y e secoÌ„de of that name then pope after came secretely into England vnto Chester vnwyttynge hys wyfe or any of hys frendes where he lyued longe after a strayte lyfe and was buryed there at laste But to this sayeng dysagreeth the wryters of the storyes of emperours For of them yt is wytnessed that this Henry the emperour after he had ruled the empyre as before is sayd .xx. wynter he dyed at a place in Almayn called Spyre and there was buryed wyth this scrypture vppon his toumbe Filius hic pater hic auus hic preauus iacet hic whyche is to meane in our vulgare tunge as foloweth The son here lyeth with also y e fader The belsyre for y e great grauÌ„fader when Henry the emperour was thus dede as after yt shal be shewed when conuenyency of tyme requyreth what became of his wife it shall there be declared In the .ix. yere of y e reygne of kyng Henry the archebyshoppe Anselme professed Gerarde archbyshoppe of yorke to the yoke of hys obedyence as he was before taught by the lore of Lamfranke his predecessour And the .x. daye of Auguste folowynge he sacred .v. byshoppes at one tyme as of wynchester of Salysbury of Exeter of Herforde and of Glamurgan And kynge Henry ordeyned a byshoppes see at Ely and ordeyned there Henry that hadde ben bishoppe of Bangor and besette Cambrydgeâ—shyre to the see of Ely And to the bisshoppes see of Lyncolne he gaue his owne towne of Spaldynge for he hadde mynyshed that see by the preferment of Ely In the .x. yere dyed Anselme archbyshop of Caunterbury After whose deth that see was voyde .v. yeres the goodes of the chyrch spent to the kynges vse And wheÌ„ he was prayed to helpe y e chyrch that was wythout an hedde and a pastor he vsed to answere that his fader and also his brother had accustomed to set there the beste proued men y t they might fynd And to the entente that he myght do the same he toke the more tyme laysure wyth suche mylde answeres he so put of the tyme that be fylled hys cofers wyth the great sommes of y e benefyce And who that is desyrous to knowe of the great vertue of thys byshoppe Anselme lette hym rede in the .xiiii. chapyter of the .vii. boke of Polycronycon there he shall fynde a parte therof About this tyme as wytnesseth the frenche cronycle a coÌ„trauersy began betwene the kyng and Lewys kyng of Fraunce son to Phylyp the fyrste This Lewys was surnamed Lewis the great other for hys bygnesse of person or ellys for greatnesse of hys dedes This Lewys sent vnto kyng Henry beynge in Normandy gaue vnto hym monycyon of homage for the duchy of Normandy also that he shulde restore vnto hym or bete down to the grouÌ„de the castell of Gysours also to recompence and restore for hurtes and harmes that his Normans hadde done in those partes But all this of kyng Henry was denyed and shortely after skyrmysshes and cocke fyghtes beganne betwene the sayde two prynces kynge Henry lyenge at the sayde castell of Gysours and Lewys at a place called mounte Calue But thys encreased in suche wyse that after eyther prynce soughte more rome places whose knyghtes sundry tymes met But of any notable batayll I fynde no remembraunce all be yt that the
sayde warre contynued by the terme of two yeres In the ende of whych two yeres wyllyam the eldest sonne of kynge Henry beynge a chyld and wythin age contented so well the mynde of Lewys that he refrayned of hys warre for that tyme. In the .xiii. yere at Shrewesburye was a great erth quake and at Nothyngham from the morne to the vndertyde The ryuer of Trent was so fordryed in the moneth of June as sayth Guydo that men wente ouer drye And the starre called stella cometa or the blasynge sterre aperyde soone after Theruppon folowed an harde wynter great deth of the people and scarcete of vitayll by the great moreyn of bestes In thys yere also the kynge founded the abbay of Hyde wythoute the wallys of wynchester that of olde tyme was wythin the wallys THE CCXXVIII CHAPITER IN the .xv. yere of hys reygne y e kynge enteÌ„dyd to haue â—moted Faricus abbot of Abyndon vnto the see of Caunterburye But by a counsayll kept at wyndesoure of bysshoppes y e kynges mynde was chauÌ„ged and to that see was then admytted Raufe that was byshoppe of Rochester And the same yere one Thurstone was chosen archebyshoppe of yorke the whyche wythsayde hys professyon of obedience that he shuld owe to the see of Caunterbury wherfore at lengthe he was depryuyd of hys dygnyte But after by laboure that he made to Pascall the pope before named the sayde pope wrote vnto the kynge that he shulde restore Thurstone agayne to the see of yorke By whyche meane he was agayne restoryd but yet he disdayned to do hys lawefull obedyence vnto Raufe archebyshope of Caunterbury Then the stryfe was renewed which Lamfranke before as ye haue harde in the thyrde chapyter of wyllyam Conquerour dyd appeace and was brought in argument before the pope The whyche at the kynges request promysed y t he wolde nothyng do nor ordeyne that shuld be derogacion to the archbyshop of Caunterbury or to the dygnyte of his chyrche But in coÌ„clusion the pope gaue such a defuse sentence in thys mater that he lefte the stryfe vndetermyned and vnassoyled And when y e kynges procuratours wyth also the archbyshop of Caunterbury were absent were yt for nede or for fauour the pope was so bowed that he forsoke y e olde rule vsed before hys days and sacred the sayde Thurstone and gaue vnto hym the pawle For this dede y e kyng was sore dyscontented wyth Thurstone and warned hym the entre of his lande wherfore the pope wrote after shortely to the kynge wyllyng hym to suffer Thurstone to occupye his see peaseably or he shulde be accused and suspended by the dygnyte of the offyce of Caunterbury and so Thurstone enioyed his see In the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred .xviii. as sayth the frenche cronicle whyche was the .xvii. yere of thys kyng Henry the fyrst the warre was agayn quyckened betwen kyng Henry and Lewys kynge of Fraunce wherof was the occasyon as sayth the sayde frenche cronycle Thybaude erle of Chartres whych Thybaude was greuyd by the Frenche kynge and for necessyte requyred kynge Henry of ayde and helpe to whome the kynge as to hys kynnesman sent ayde and socoure And afterwarde the kynge sayled ouer with a stronge armye and sente a nobleman named Stephan into the lordshyppe of Brye to defendeyt agayn the Frenche kynge when Lewys vnsterstode that kynge Henry was landed in Normandye wyth so great power he in all haste assembled a stronge power and drewe hym towarde the kynge But there were so stronge holdes mannyd wyth Normans also such depe and great ryuers that the Frenche kynge myght not wynne vnto kynge Henry Then lastely by a feate of warre whyche were longe to reherse he wan a town named Lyngues in Cause in the whyche towne was a brydge to passe the ryuer of Thee and so into Normandye when a certayne of the knyghtes of Lewes had thus wonne the foresayd towne the sayd Lewes wyth his people spedde hym shortly after and rescued his foresayde knightes then spoyled and robbed the towne the whyche was ryche for so myche as yt hadde ben in quyet and rest many yeres before He also slewe and toke prysoners all y e Normans there dwellyng put in theyr stede FrenchmeÌ„ And that done he sped hym towarde kynge Henry the which was at a castell called Male assyse there made purueyaunce for the defence of the Frenchmen And when he hadde garnyshed yt to hys pleasure he departed thens But not longe after the Frenche kynge came thyther wyth his hole hoste of Frenchmen and after many sore cruell assautys wan the sayde castell and bette yt downe euen wyth the grounde After whych season as sayth the sayd cronicle fell to the Frenche kynge many and dyuerse mysfortunes For shortely after amonge other myssechaunces a noble captayn of hys named Angueran de Chanmount the whyche had done myche harme in Normandye to kynge Henry and wonne there some castelles and other stronge holdes dyed sodeynly And in shorte tyme after Baldewyne erle of FlauÌ„dres a man of great streÌ„gth and puyssaunce as he beseaged a castell was wounded in the face and dyed wyth in .vi. dayes after Then Fauques erle of Aungeos in whom also this Lewys affyed mych and trusted maryed his doughter vnto willyam the eldest sonne of kynge Henry and refused the kynge of Fraunce parte and ayded and assysted kynge Henry in all that he myght so that dayly the power of kyng Henry encreased and the Frenche kynges mynyshed Lastely these two prynces met wyth theyr both hostes in playne feld and foughte a dedely and cruell batayll where in the ende the Frenche kynge was ouercomen and loste myche of his people and was coÌ„pelled to flee vnto a place called Audely for his sauegarde But thys ouerthrowe of Frenchemen is excused in the moste fayrest maner so y t they excuse them selfe and saye that kynge Henry set vppon kynge Lewys when he was not ware but hys knyghtes all oute of aray order and also kyng Henry had farre excedynge nomber of men ouer that theyr kyng had with other wordes of boste of them selfe slaunder of Englyshemen the whyche as to me appereth is an augmentacyon of theyr owne shame But Ranulfe the munke sayth shortely that kyng Henry ouercame the Frenche kynge royally in batayll Then yt foloweth in y e story fynally these sayde prynces were agreed and wyllyam the sonne of kyng Henry dyd homage vnto y e French kyng for the landes of Normandye by the agrement of his fader For the kyng thought hym selfe to good to be vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of y e Frenche kyng Then kynge Henry caused hys free men of Englande and of Normandy to do homage vnto his sonne wyllyam And soone after Fouques before named lefte hys erledome of Angeer or Angiers in guydyng of kynge Henry and yode hym selfe into the holy lande and wylled in his testament that yf he retourned not agayne that the sayde erledome shulde remayne vnto his sonne
what maner of tytle or successyon In the .xxxii. yere of the kyng dyed Robert Curthose the kynges broder the whyche he hadde kept as prysoner in the castell of Cardyfe from the iiii yere of his reygn or there about whose corps as before is shewed was buryed at Glouceter before the hyghe alter And aboute this tyme was founded the pryorye of Norton in the prouynce of Chester by one wyllyam the sonne of Nychelle And the abbay of Combremer in the same prouynce was also founded aboute the same tyme. In the .xxxv. yere of kynge Henry was borne of Molde the empresse Henry shorte mantell or Henry the seconde The whyche as after shall be shewed was consentynge to the martyrdome of saynt Thomas of Caunterburye Kynge Henry beyng in Normandy after some writers fell from or wyth hys horse whereof he cought hys deth But Ranulphe sayth he toke a surfet by etynge of a lamprey ther of dyet when he hadde reygned full xxxv yeres and odde monethes Then y e kynges bowellys were drawen out of hys body and then salted wyth myche salte And for to auoyde the stenche whych hadde infected many men the body was lastely closed in a bulles skynne and yet yt was not all stynted He that clensed the hed dyed of the stenche of the brayn Then lastely the body was brought into England buryed in the abbay of Redynge that he had before founded Then y e fame of hym was blowen abrode as yt is blowen of other prynces and sayde y t he passed other men in .iii. thynges In wytte in eloquence and fortune of batayll And other sayde he was ouercomen wyth iii. vyces wyth couetyse wyth cruelty and wyth luste of lechery One other made these verys of hym as folowen Kynge Henry is dede bewte of the world for whom great dole Goddes now maken for theyr kynde brother For he is sole Mercurius in speche Marce in batayll harte stronge Appollo Iupiter in hest egall with Saturne and enymye to Cupido Kyng he was of right man of most myght and glorious in raynyng And when he left his crowne theÌ„ fell honour downe for mysse of suche a kynge Normandy than gan lowre for losse of theyr floure sange wel away Englande made mone Scotlande dyd grone for to se that daye Francia THE CCXXX CHAPITER LEwys the sonne of the fyrste Phylyp beganne hys reygne ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred .vii. to reken his begynnynge from the deth of his father and the .vi. yere of the fyrste Henry then kyng of England This Lewys as before is touched was admytted to the rule of the land certayn yeres or hys father dyed and was surnamed Lewes the great for grossenesse of his body Anon as this Lewys had fynyshed the obsequy of the funerallys of hys father he wythoute taryenge called a counsayll of hys lordes spyrytuall and temporall at the cytye of Orleaunce where of the byshoppe of the same see wyth other adioynynge he was solemnly anoynted crowned But not wythout grudge of the archbyshoppe of Raynes for so mych as of custome the Frenche kynges vsed there to be crowned Soone after the coronacyon of Lewys Guy le Rous and Guy de Cressy his sonne whych before tyme hadde ben at debate and warre with Lewys and Lewys had from them taken y e castel of Gurnaye this Guy le Rous wyth hys sonne seynge they might not preuayle agayn the kyng awayted theyr tyme and season and espyed when Endo hys owne broder and erle of Corbueyll went forth on huntynge and toke hym as a prysoner kept hym in the castell of Bawdum whereof the cause was for so myche as the sayde Endo wolde not assyste nor ayde y e sayd Guyle Rous his brother agayne the kynge when thys was knowen anon the frendes and tenauntes of the sayde erle shewyd this mater vnto the kynge besechynge hym that he wolde ayde and assyste theym to recouer theyr naturall lorde wherunto the kynge granÌ„ted and forth wyth sent a knyght or captayn of his named Auncelyne accompanyed with .xl. horsmen before for so myche as yt was shewyd vnto the kyng y t such as had y e rule of the castell wolde receyue suche persones as were sent from hym and delyuer the castell wyth the prysoner vnto them Uppon whyche appoyntemeÌ„t thys Ancelyne as before is sayd was sent to entre this castell But all contrary to the former ê“mise made this Auncelyne was betrayed and taken and many of his men slayne hym selfe set in prison where the sayd erle of Corbuayll was wherof when the kynge was enfourmed he was passynge greuously dyscontent wherfore in all haste he sped him thyther compassed y e castell wyth a stronge syege and those that were wythin defended them manfully In the tyme of the whyche syege nother Guy the fader nor Guy hys sonne were with in the sayde castell of Baudum But Guy y e son as a lusty and iuperdous knyght put hym self in aduenture dyuers wayes and tymes to haue entred the sayde castell for comfort of his men but all was in vayn Fynally the kynge made so sore and cruell assautes that he wan the fyrst warde wyth great dyffycultye and after the hole and delyueryd the erle and Auncelyn his stewarde y e which were in great doute of theyr lyues And such as he toke prysoners of the soldyours some he put to deth and some he prisoned to theyr lyues ende to the terrour and fere of other In processe of tyme after at a place called the Roche of Guy whych one Guy of olde tyme had buylded dwel lyd at this daye one of that stocke named also Guy the whyche hadde to wyfe a fayre and good woman the doughter of one wyllyaÌ„ a Norman whyche wyllyam entendynge to dysheryte the sayde Guy and to be lord of that stronge place vppon a tyme when the sayde Guy was in y e chyrch or chapell to here his dyuyne seruyce entred the chyrche wyth a certayn of harnessed knightes vnder theyr man tellys and fell vppon hym and all to hewe hym wherof herynge the wyfe ranne as a madde woman and fell vppon her husbande to the enteÌ„t to saue hym from the strokes But the tyrauntes were so cruell y t they forbare nothynge of theyr cruel tye but wounded her wyth her husbande so that both were slayne and that done entred the castell and slew all suche as they found therin when this willyam fader to y e wife of Guy or broder to her as affermeth maister Robert Gagwyne was possessed of y e castell of Guyon he thought therby to rule all the countrey enuyron But the gentylles and commons he rynge of thys shamefull murder assembled theÌ„ to gither of one mynde whyle some of them yode to the kyng to enfurme hym of that cruell dede the other prepared abyllementes of warre and layde syege to the sayde castell The kynge Lewys herynge of this shamfull dede and the wynnynge of so stronge
whyche was consentyng to the same murder was hanged vppon a galos by the waste and armys and by hym amastyfe or great curre dogge the whyche as soon euer he was smytten bote vppon the sayde Bartopus so that in processe he all to rent hym dyd to hym so great payne that lastely he endyd his lyfe in great mysery In the time of y e reygn of this Lewys the bishop of Clermōde was voyded his see by the cruelnes of the erle of Auerne wherfore the kyng assembled his knyghtes and by strength set the byshoppe in hys place agayne maugry his enymyes And agayne the second tyme when he was eft put out by the sayde erle the kynge restoryd hym and toke suche pledges of the erle that he remayned after in good quyet In y e later dayes of this Lewys his eldest sonne named Phylyppe wyth a conuenyent company vppon a daye for his dysporte rode about certayne stretys of the cytye of Parys and as he rode an hogge sodeynly starte amonge the horse fete of the chylde wherwyth the horse beynge frayde lepte sodeynly and cast the chylde to the grounde wyth so great vyolence that he dyed y e nyght folowynge For this myssehappe the kynge toke great heuynesse so that he waxed dayly more feble And for he was vnweldly by reason of ouer ladynge of fleshe and myghte not well trauayll he therfore by the aduyce of hys lordes admytted hys seconde sonne named Lewys to the rule of the realme and hym he crowned by his lyfe tyme and also maryed hym vnto Elynoure the doughter of the duke of Guyan by whych he was inherytoure vnto her father And shortely after the kynge sykened and to hys great payne in an horse lytter was brought vnto saynt Denys where he lyenge a season syke and knew that the owre of deth was nere commaunded suche as were aboute hym that they shulde spredde a tapytte vppon the ground and then laye hym vppon the sayde tappette and vppon hym to be made a crosse of asshes whyche all was done accordynge to his commaundement And there he so laye tyll he dyed in the yere of hys reygne to reken from the deth of his father to his owne endynge daye .xxx. yeres so that he reygned .xxix yeres full and odde monethes and was buryed in the monastery of saynte Denys with great pompe wyth thys scrypture folowynge vppon his tombe Illustris genitor Lodouict rex Lodouicus Vir clemens Christi seruorum semper amicus Institui fecit pastorem canonicorum In sella veteri trans flumen Parisiorum Hane vir magnanimus asmi victoris amore Auro reliquijs ornauit rebus honore Sancti Dionysi qui seruas corpus humatum Martyr antisles Lodouici solue reatum whyche versys may be expowned in our vulgar as foloweth The noble father of Lewys Lewys the kynge To Crystes seruauntes ryght meke and louynge Caused to be made of chanons an howse In a selle of Paris where the streme flowes whyche this man myghty for loue of saynte Victor wyth golde an relyquys enorued with great honor wherfore saynte Denys whyche kepest hys body graued Martyr and bishoppe pray that his soule be saued Angsia THE CCXXXII CHAPITER STephan erle of Boloyn and son of the erle of Blesence and of the wyues syster of Henry the fyrst named Mary beganne his reygne ouer the realme of Englande in the yere of our lord .xi. C.xxxvi the first yere of Lewes y e .viii. of y t name then kyng of Fraunce This was a noble man and hardy But contrarye hys othe after the affyrmaunce of some wryters that he made to Molde the empresse he toke vpon hym y e crowne and was crowned vppon saynte Stephans daye in the Crystemasse weke at westmynster of the archbisshoppe of Caunterbury the whyche in lykewyse had made lyke othe vnto the sayde empresse in presence of her fader as before is touched In punyshment wherof as men denied the sayde archbyshoppe dyed shortly after And many other lordes whyche dyd accordyng lyke went not quyte wythout punyshement A great causer of this periurye as rehersyth one authour was this one Hugh Bygot stewarde somtyme wyth Henry the fyrste immedyatly after the deceace of the sayde Henry came vnto England and before the sayde archbysshop and other lordes of the lande toke wyllfully an othe sware that he was present a lytle before the kynges deth when kynge Henry admytted chase for hys heyre to be kynge after hym Stephan hys neuewe for so myche as Molde his doughter had dyscontented hym wher vnto the archbyshoppe wyth the other lordes gaue to hasty credence But this Hugh scaped not vnpunyshed for he dyed myserably in a shorte tyme after when kyng Stephan was crowned he sware before the lordes at Oxynforde that he wolde not holde in hys hand the benefyces that voyded and that he wold forgyue the Dane gelt as kyng Henry before hym had done wyth other thynges whyche I passe ouer And for this Stephan drad the cōmynge of the empresse he therfore gaue lycence vnto his lordes y t euery of them myght buylde a castell or strong fortres vpon his own groūd And soone after he agreed wyth Dauyd kynge of Scottes receyued of hym homage after he had from hym wonne some townes and holdes The towne of Exetoure rebellyd agayne the kynge in the seconde yere of hys reygne But he in the ende he subdued theym And wyllyam archbyshoppe of Caunterburye dyed the same yere whose benefyce was after gyuen to Thibaude abbot of Becco in Normandye About the fourth yere of his reygne Dauyd kynge of Scottys repentynge hym of hys former agrement made wyth the kynge entred of newe the boundes of Northumberlande aboute the ryuer of Theyse towarde the prouynce of yorke and brent and slewe the people in moste cruell wyse not sparynge man woman nor chylde Agayne whome Thurstone by the kynges cōmaundement was sent The whych wyth his power quytte hym so knyghtly that he ouer threwe the hoste of Scottes and slewe of theym a great nomber and compellyd theym to wythdrawe agayne into Scotlande In the which passetyme y e kyng layde syege to the castell of Bedforde and wanne yt And that done he then made a vyage into Scotlande where he dyd lytle to hys pleasure or profyte Then in his retourne homewarde he toke Alexaunder byshoppe of Lyncolne and helde hym in duresse tyll he hadde yelded or gyuen vnto hym the castell of Newerke And then he chased Nygellus byshop of Ely Also in thys furye he toke suche displeasure with his louynge frende Roger byshop of Salysburye that he caste hym in bondes tyll the sayde Roger hadde rendred vnto hym the two castellys of Uyes and Shyrburne For the whyche thys Roger in remembrynge the great ingratytude of the kynge toke such thought that he dyed shortely after and left in redy coyne .xl. thousande marke whyche after hys deth came to the kynges cofers One cronycle sayth that kynge Stephan obteyned these foresayde castellys
abode her people the whyche was deuyded and scateryd And in thys whyle she sente vnto Dauyd kynge of Scottes and her vncle for to ayde her the whyche in all haste came vnto her and so yode to wynchester where she layde syege to the byshoppes towre the whyche the kynges brother at that tyme helde wyth strength Then the quene wyth ayde of her frendes of Kentyshemen and other made a stronge hoste wherof was capytayne a knyght named Guyllyam de Pre. wheÌ„ the empresse harde of y e great strength of the quene and saw that her owne mynyshed rather then encreasyd she fled secretely and escaped vnto Glouceter And erle Robert her brother was taken soone after and put in pryson Then Dauyd kynge of Scottes herynge of thys returned into Scotland Then meanes was made vpon eyther syde for deliuery and exchaunge of the prysoners so that fynally yt was agreed that the kynge shulde be delyueryd for erle Robert But or thys agrement were concluded myche sorowe was wroughte wythin thys realme For the empresse pylled and spoyled on hyr partye and the quene by promyses and manaces borowed toke vppoÌ„ y e other syde the soudyours stale and extorcyoned vpoÌ„ both partyes so that riche men were made nedy and the poore were oppressed In thys meane whyle the empresse retourned agayne to Oxynforde vytayled and manned yt in her beste maner Then lastely the kyng was delyuered vpon holy Roode day in haruest and soon after he becleped Oxynford wyth a stronge syege from the tyme of Mychelmasse vnto the season of Crystemas at whyche tyme and season the empresse vsed a new gyle for constraynte and necessyte of vytayle In that tyme was great plente of snow fallen vppon the grounde and the frost was therwyth so great that Thamys wyth other great ryuers were then frosen ouer so that man horse myghte passe y e water vppoÌ„ the yse The empresse then constrayned of nede as before is sayd apparayled her and her companye in whyte clothynge whych a farre of apered lyke the snow and so vpon a plumpe goyng to gyther as nere as they myght escaped the daunger of theyr fone so came to walyngforde And thens in processe of tyme she wyth a small companye departed and retourned fynally into Normandye vnto her husbande So soon as the empresse was thus departed from Oxenforde the town was yelden vnto y e kynge where the kyng had mich of the empresse stuâ—â—e as wel harnes as other stuffe of housholde TheÌ„ he entendyd to haue pursued her But tydyngê° were brought vnto hym y t Ranulfe erle of Chester wyth an hoste of walshmen was commyng towarde hym But by medyacyon of frendes thys Ranulfe in the ende to the kynge was reconcyled and was wyth hym agreed About this tyme and season as yt is testyfyed of dyuerse authours the Iewes vpon Ester euyn crucyfyed a chylde named wyllyam in the cytye of Norwyche And in the tyme of Henry the second about y e .vi. yere of his reygn as sayth Policronicon they crucified an other at Glouceter In the .xxii. yere of his reygn kyng Stephan was agayne crowned at Lyncolne And soon after he toke froÌ„ Ranulphe erle of Chester the castell of Lyncolne Robert erle of Glouceter made also newe warre vppon the kynge had the better of the kynge at wyltone so that the kynge was lyke to haue fallen in Robertys dauÌ„ger But yet the kynge escaped wyth myche payne And there was taken a baron of the kynges named syr willyam Martel for whose delyuery the kynge gaue after to the sayde erle the castell of Shyrbourne And that done y t sayd erle Robert began to fouÌ„de a stronge castell at Faryngdone wherof the kynge beynge enfourmed assembled his knyghtes and sped hym thytherwarde by meane wherof the worke was for that tyme empeached let In the .xv. yere of the reygne of kynge Stephan the ryuer of Thamys was so strongely ouerfrosen that horse and carte passed ouer vppon the yse In the .xvi. yere Ranulphe erle of Chester dyed that was surnamed Gercyous and was the .iiii. erle after the conqueste and his sonne Hughe was erle after hym which was a maÌ„ of great strength and vertue And in the same yere as wytnessyth Guydo and other dyed Geffrey Plantagenet husband of Molde the empresse After whose deth Henry short mantell that was the son of the sayde Geffrey and Molde was made duke of Angeous Normandye The which in few yeres after maryed Elyanour the doughter of the erle of Poytow the whych Elyanour was before maryed vnto Lewys kynge of FrauÌ„ce and from hym deuorced for nerenes of blood when he hadde receyued of her .ii. doughters named Mary and Alys as wytnessyth the frenche cronycle And so this Henry was erle of Angeous by his fader duke of Normandy by his mother erle of Poytowse by his wyfe It was not longe after that Eustace the sonne of kynge Stephan wyth ayde of the Frenche kyng warred vppon Henry duke of Normandye the whyche after some wryters was ymagyned by Stephan his father to the entent to let or stop hym y t he shuld not come into England to clayme his enherytaunce But duke Henry defended hym so knyghtly y t the sayde Eustace wanne therby lytle honour or profyte An old cronycle sheweth that kyng Stephan entended to haue crowned the sayde Eustace his sonne kyng of Englande by his dayes but the bysshoppes of Englande refused y e dede by coÌ„maundement of the pope In the .xxvii. yere the kynge layd syege vnto the castelles of Newebery of walyngforde and of warwyke or warwell the whyche hadde ben kepte by the empresse frendes from the tyme of her departyng vnto that daye and hoped of rescous by Henry duke of Normandy But y e kynge then wan the castellys of Newebery and of warwell and walyngforde defended the holders tyl the coÌ„myng of Henry the duke The whyche in the ende of y e sayde yere wyth a great armye entred Englande and fyrste wanne the castell of Malmysburye And thens he yode to London and wanne the towre as myche by Polycy and by fayre ê“myse as by streÌ„gth And suche stuffe of vytayle and armoure as he fande therin he sent to walyngforde And that done he weÌ„t to the towne of walyngforde wan such holdes as were there about Then kyng Stepan wyth his power drewe towarde the duke and fynally by meane of medyatours as Thybaude archbyshoppe of CauÌ„terbury and other both prynces to comon of peace met nere vnto y e water of Uryn or Urn. But as fast as some laboured to haue peace so fast other laboured to haue warre so that at that communacacyon the peace was not concluded After the kynge and the duke were departed the kynge yode towarde Epyswyche in Suff. And the duke toke the way to Srewesbury where he wan the castell of the sayde town From thens the duke wente to Nothyngham and wan the towne wherfore the soldyours that helde the castell seynge that the
abbot and munkes of the same wherfore the kynge spedde hym thyther in all haste But for theyr sauergarde the munkes were compelled to fortyfye the chyrche and to defende them by force of armys so that betwene them and the Burgonions many an arbalaster and stone was shot cast And for the kynge myght not so hastly furnyshe hym of his soldyours he therfore sent vnto the erle of Neuers by whose meane as to the kyng was shewed this ryot began commaundynge hym that he shuld se this ryot appeased and that the chyrch of Uerdeley were restored of suche harmys as to theym was done by the inhabytauntes of the towne But of thys cōmaundement the erle set but lytle so that the burgeses perseuered in theyr erroure wherfore the abbot sente agayne to the kynge besechyng hym of his moste gracyouse ayde and socoure Then the kynge herynge of the erles dysobedyence was therwyth greatly dyspleasyd and suspected y e erle to be partye in the cause sped hym y e faster thetherwarde But when the erle was enfourmed of the kynges cōmynge he somdeale feryd and mette wyth the kynge at a place called Moret and there demeaned hym in suche wyse that the kyng forgaue his offense Then he promysed that the kynges pleasure shulde be fullfylled in all thynge as he hadde before cōmaunded wyth more as yt lyked hym to dyuyse Uppon whych promyse so made he commaunded that the Burgonyons shulde fyrste refrayne theym of that rebellyon agayn the chyrch and that they shuld newly be sworne to be obedient vnto the abbot and vnto hys successours as theyr p̄decessours had ben ouer that for the hurtes harmys y t they had done to the place at that season they shulde paye to the sayde abbot and couēt .lx. thousand sous A sous is in value after sterlyng money i. d. ob so that .lx. thousand sous amounteth in sterlyng money .iii. hundred lxxv pounde After whych ende thus made the kynge retourned into Fraunce It was not longe after that y e kyng receyued of quene Alys hys wyfe a sonne and named yt Phylyppe But for y e kyng Lewys had made many pylgrymages and vsed many ways of charyte in gyuynge of almes and otherwyse for to haue a sonne to be his heyre therfore he surnamed this chylde A dieu done a chyld gyuen of god Then thys Lewys for the intollerable dedes of the Iewes whiche in these dayes had great inhabytynge wyth in the lande of Fraūce vsed vsery sleynge of Crysten chyldren he ponyshed many by deth and many he banyshed his lande but yet many remayned Of this Lewys dedes is lytle more cronacled excepte when his son Philyppe was of the age of .xiii. yeres his fader caused hym to be crowned and resygned to hym all the rule of the lande and dyed the yere folowynge at Parys in the moneth of October in the yere of grace .xi. hūdred and .lxxix. By whyche reason he reygned to reken from his faders deth to his owne vppon .xliii. yeres and was rychely enterred by y e meane of his last wife at the monastery of Barbell the whyche he founded in hys yonge days After whose deth y e sayd quene Alys adorned his sepulture in the moste rychest maner wyth gold syluer and precyous gemmys vppon whose tombe was grauen these two versis folowyng as a counsayll left vnto his sonne Phylyppe 〈◊〉 superos tu qui super es successor honoris Degener es si degeneris a laude prioris whyche versys are to be vnderstanden as after foloweth Nowe take good hede thou that doest ouer lyue Hym that in honoure and vertue dyd excelle Se thou alter not nor thy selfe depryue But folowe hym which was of honoure the well For yf thou do not men shall of the tell Thou arte degenerate and growen out of kynde Thy progenytours laude hauynge nothynge in mynde Anglia THE CCXXXVI CHAPITER HEnry the second of that named sonne of Geffrey Plātagenet erle of Angeou and of Molde y e empresse doughter of Henry y e first began hys reygn ouer the realme of England in the moneth of October the yere of our lorde god .xi. hundred and .lv and. y e xix yere of Lewys the viii then kynge of Fraunce Thys Henry was somdeale redde of face brode of breste shorte of body therwyth fatte the whych to aswage he toke the lesse of metes and drynkes and exercysed myche huntynge He was resonable of speche and well lettered orped and also noble in knyghthode wyse in counsayll and dred to myche distenyes He was also free and lyberall to straūgers and harde and holdynge from hys famylyers seruauntes And whome he loued enterely or hated harde it was to turne hym to the contrary He was slowe of answere vnstedfaste of promyse gylefull of dede open spouse breker hamour of holy chyrch and alwayes vnkynde to god He also loued reste and peace to the ende he myghte the more folowe hys delectacyon pleasure wyth mo vyces rehersed by Gyralde the whyche for length I passe ouer This Henry yet as wytnessyth Ranulfe was not all bareyn of vertues For he was of so gret courageousnes that he wolde often say that all the world suffysyth not to a coragyous harte And he encreasyd hys herytage so myghtyly that he wanne Irlande by strength and toke wyllyam kynge of Scottes and ioyned that kyngdome to his owne From the suthe Occean to the north ylandes of Orkeys he closed all the landes as yt were vnder one pryncypate and spradde so largely hys empyre that men rede not of none of hys progenytours that hadde so many prouynces and countreys vnder theyr domynyon and rule For besyde the realme of Englande he hadde in hys rule Normandy Gascoyn and Guyan Angeou and Chynon And he made subiecte to hym Aluerne and other landes And by hys wyfe he obteyned as her ryghte the mountes and hyllys of Spayne called montes Pyrany Of the whyche wyfe Elynoure by name deuorced as before ys sayde from the viii Lewys kynge of Fraunce he receyued .vi. sonnes and thre doughters Of the sonnes fyue were named wyllyam Henry Rycharde Godfrey and Iohn̄ The eldeste of the maydens hight Molde or Maude and was maryed to the duke of Saxon the seconde Elyanoure to the kynge of Spayne and the thyrd named Iane to wyllyam kynge of Scycyle Thys Henry was prosperouse in hys begynnynge and vnfortunate in hys ende and specyally in the last fyue yeres of hys reygne For in the fyrst of those fyue yeres his strength beganne to mynyshe the seconde yere he loste a vyage in Irlande the thyrde he loste Aluerne agayne the kynge of Fraunce the fourth yere he loste Butyrycan and the fyfte yere he loste the cytye of Cenomenea and Turon wyth many holdes to theym belongynge Thys Henry the seconde ascertayned of the deth of Stephan spedde hym into Englande and was crowned the sondaye before Crystemasse daye of Theobalde archbyshoppe of Caunterbury in westmynster chyrch
solet The whythe versys to our vnderstandynge may thus as folowyth be englyshed and expowned The Rose of the worlde but not the clene floure Is here now grauen to whom bewtye was lent In thys graue full darke nowe ys her bowre That by her lyfe was swete and redolent But now y t she is frō this lyfeblente Though she were swete nowe fowly doth she stynke A myrrour good for all that on her thynke Longe tyme after the deth of the sayde Rosamounde in the sayde abbaye was shewed a cofer of the sayd wenches of the length of two fote in whych apperyd fyghtynge geaūtes stertlynge of bestes swymmynge of fyshes and flyenge of fowlys In the forsayde .xx. yere after the opynyon of Guydo the kynge had the seconde monicyon of mendynge of hys lyfe by an Iryshe man y t told vnto hym many secret tokens whyche the kynge supposyd no man had knowen but hym selfe But yet the kynge toke lytell hede therunto In the .xxii. yere of his reygne after the forsayde takynge of y e Scottyshe kynge and .ii. erlys the .xi. day before Septēber wyllyam kynge of Scottys by assent of the lordes spyrytuall and temporall dyd homage to kyng Henry at hys cytye of yorke where the sayde wyllyam graunted by hys letters patentys that he and his successours kynges of Scotland shuld make theyr homage and fydelyte vnto the kynges of Englande as often as they shal be necessaryly requyred And in sygne and token of that subieccyon the kyng of Scottes offered hys hatte his sadell vppon the aulter of saint Peter in y e chyrch of york whyche for a remembraunce of that dede the sayd hat sadell were there kepte many yeres after And ouer y t the lordes of Scotland swore that if theyr kynge at any tyme wold wythdrawe hym from allegeaunce they wold all aryse agayn hym and be to hym as enymyes tyll he were returned to his fayth kepyng of his promyse And for the more strēgth of the sayd cōposycyon the kynge of Scottis came after to y e kyng Henries parlyament holden at Northāpton and a nother season into Normandye Ranulfe munke of Chester sayth that Lewys the .viii. of that name kynge of Fraunce delyueryd vnto kynge Henry a doughter of hys to haue in guydynge and to haue ben maryed vnto Rycharde hys son the whyche after the deth of Rosamoūde he defloured of her vyrgynyte After whyche dede as affermyth the sayde authoure the kynge was in wyll to haue wedded that damoysell For expedicyon wherof he made great meanes ta Hugūcia a cardynall then beynge in his land that he wold make a dyuorce betwene hym and Elyanoure the quene And thys he dyd to the ende to haue the more fauoure of the Frenchemen that by theyr ayde he myghte the better dysheryte hys sonnes But he fayled of his purpose and also yt turned to hys owne harme For by this means he caused the sayde Rycharde hys sonne to shewe all hys demeanour vnto the Frenche kynge so that by hys informacyon vnkyndnesse kyndled betwene them two therof ensued mortall warre as sayth the englyshe cronycle and also Polycronycon But of thys warre speketh nothynge the frenche cronycle nor of none other durynge the lyfe of the sayd Lewys after this daye which dyed in the .xxiiii. yere of thys Henry But the warre that was betwen the two kynges of England and of Fraunce was betwene thys Henry and Phylyppe sonne of thys Lewys as after shal be shewed About the .xxiiii. yere of thys kyng as wytnessen dyuerse wryters fell wonderfull wederynge and tempest of thunder in myddewynter tyme in Hampshyre and other places by violence wherof a preste amonges other was slayn And in the somer folowynge about Mary Magdalene tyde fell hayle of suche bygnesse y t yt slew both men and bestes And about this tyme were the bonys of kynge Arture and his wyfe Gueynour founde in the vale of Aualon whose here of the hed of the sayde Gweynour was then hole and of freshe coloure but so soone as yt was touched yt fell in powder whyche bonys were translated and buryed wythin the chyrche of Glastenburye and were founden by a synger of gestis vnder an holow oke .xv. fote wythin the grounde whyche fyndynge and translatynge is an obiecte to y e fantastycall sayeng of the walshemen that afferme hys commynge agayne to reygne as he before dyd Then hadde kynge Henry the seconde monycyon by a knyghte called syr wyllyam Chesterby or Lyndesey the whyche warned hym specyally for the reformacyon of .vii. artycles The fyrste was that he shuld sette better dylygence to the defence of holy chyrche and maynteynynge of the same The seconde that he shulde se hys lawes executed wyth better iustice then at those days was vsed The thyrd was that he shuld surmyse no mater agayn ryche men and by that mean plucke from them theyr landes goodes The fourth that he shulde restore all suche landes and goodes gotten by suche vnlawfull meanes or by any other The fyfte that he shuld for no medetarye ryghtfull sentence but suffer the ryght to haue hys processe The vi that he shulde se to the payment of hys subiectes for suche stuffe as was dayly taken to his vse also to the payment of hys seruauntes and souldyours wages whych dayly fell to robbynge for defaute The .vii. and the laste was that he shulde in all haste voyde the Iewys of hys lande whyche dayly wrought great sorowe to his commons and to leue theym somwhat to spende in theyr iourney But as he toke the other monycyons so he toke thys and cōtynued hys lyfe as he before hadde done THE CCXXXIX CHAPITER IN the .xxviii. yere of his reygn after moste writers dyed Henry his eldeste sonne then lyuynge y e whych as before is sayde was crowned to the derogacyon of the martyr saynte Thomas And in thys yere whyche shulde be the .iiii. yere of Phylyppe the seconde or of Phylyppe surnamed Gyuen of god the warre beganne betwene kynge Henry and hym wherof was occasyon as testyfyeth the sayd Frenche cronycle the denyenge of the deferrynge of homage that shuld be done to the sayde Phylyppe of Rycharde then eldest sonne of kyng Henry for the lādes of Poytow An other cause also was that where certayne couenauntes were stablyshed and enrolled betwene kynge Henry and Lewys father of thys Phylyp at the maryage of Henry his sonne and Margarete syster of Phylyppe for certayne holdes and castellys wherof y e castell of Gysours was one whych were delyueryd in dower wyth the sayde Margarete vppon condycyon that yf the sayde Henry hadde yssue by y e sayde Margarete then the sayde castellys to remayne to the sayde heyres and yf the sayde yonge Henry dyed without yssue of y e sayde Margarete that then the sayde castellys and holdes to be reuerted vnto the crowne of Fraunce and for that kynge Henry denyed or deferred these two poyntes and wold not answere when he was called the Frenche kynge therfore entred the
harte After thys he loste more dayly so that hys enymyes preuayled strongely agayne hym It is rede of hym that he shulde be at so great an after deale in thys warre that hastely he shuld put hym in the kynge of Fraunces mercy his honoure and hys crowne reserued But this is doutefull of credeÌ„ce For sure I am yf the Frenche kyng had suche auauntage of hym yt shulde not haue fallen throughe the boke but haue ben regystred in the moste auauntynge maner where as in the frenche cronycle is touched no word of lyke mater But trowth yt ys that fortune was to him contrary in such wyse that wyth or for anger and impacyence he fell into a feuer wherof he lastely dyed in the castell of Conomeus or of Chynon in Normandye in the moneth of Iuly when he had reygned .xxxiiii. yeres and .viii. monethes wyth oddes dayes and was buryed at Fount Ebrade wyth thys epytaphy vppon his tombe Sufficit hic tumulus cui non sufficerat orbis Res breuis est ampla cui fuit ampla breuis Rex Henricus eram mihi plurima regna subegi Multiplicique modo duxque comesque sui Cui satis ad votum non essent omnia terrae Climita terrae modo sufficit octo pedunâ— Qui legis haec pensa discrimina mortis in me Humanae speculum conditionis habe Quod petis instante operare bonum quia mundus Transit incaâ—tos mors inopina rapit The whyche versys are thus myche to meane in sentence ¶ Suffysyth nowe this graue to whom all erthly thynge Syffysyd not my mynde so hyghe was sette Tyme that was shorte my name wyde dyd sprynge whyche fame by deth is into shortenesse fette Kynge Henry was I called no man I thought my bette whose mynde sometyme all erth not suffysed viii fote of ground now hath my bodye comprysed Thou that thys redest the parell of deth and in me Thou mayste beholde the course of euery wyght That erthely is wherfore prouyde and se That thou well maye do shortely do yt and tyght Defer not the tyme for I ascertayne the ryght The world is transytory and vnwarely men taketh Cruell deth from whome non estate escapeth Gerardus CambrensÌ„ whyche in hys boke of dystynccyons sette oute the lyfe of thys Henry sayth dredefull yt is to allege agayne hym that maye putte a man oute of lande and to descrybe hym wyth many wordes that may exyle a man wyth one worde wherfore yt were a notable dede to tell the sothe of a prynces dedys and offende the prynce in no meane But yet when the prynce ys passed and gone then men wyll talke without fere that before tyme they spared for fere Then to folow the sooth this kyng Henry noryshed stryfe amonge hys chyldern wyth all dylygeÌ„ce hopyng therby to lyue hym selfe in the more reste when men wolde aske of hym when he wolde leue his great dedes he vsed to answere that the worlde shulde fayle or a courageouse harte shulde sease of great dedes He was pereles in chyualry in warre and in lecherye He wedded Elyanoure wyfe of Lewys kynge of Fraunce contrary to the commaundement of hys father For he hadde shewed to hym that he hadde lyen by her when he was the sayde kynges stewarde He reygned .xxvi. yeres somdeale to hys wordely blysse and foure yeres somwhat to hys payne but the laste fyue yeres to hys great troweble and sorow Farthermore the sayd Gerarde descryueth the progenye of thys Henry whyche I ouer passe because yt is so common Rycharde hys sonne wolde often tell that wonder and vsed to saye no meruayle though they greued the peple that were comon of such kynd For of y e deuyll they came and to the dyuyll they shall It ys also redde of thys Henry that in a chaumber at wyndesore he caused to be paynted an egle wyth foure byrdes wherof thre of theym all rased the bodye of the olde egle and the fourth was cratchynge at the olde eglys eyen when the questyon was asked of hym what thyng that pycture shuld sygnyfye yt was answered by hym thys olde egle sayde he is my selfe and these .iiii. eglys betoken my foure sonnes the whyche sease not to pursue my deth And specyally my yongeste sonne IohnÌ„ whyche nowe I loue moste shall most specyally awayte and imagen my deth Francia THE CCXLI. CHAPITER PHylyp the seconde of that name surnamed Dyeu done or gyueÌ„ of god and sonne vnto y e viii Lewys beganne to reygne ouer the realme of Fraunce in the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred and .lxxix and the .xxiii. yere of Henry the seconde than kynge of Englonde whyche sayde Phylyppe reygned somwhat of tyme by the lyfe of hys father which tyme is accompted vnto the reygne of hys father Thys in the fyrst yere of hys reygne for the great enormytyes that the Iewes vsed wythin the realme of Fraunce as crucyfyenge of chyldren and exercysynge of theyr detestable vsery he after due profe made put the malefactours to dethe and the other in auoydynge more daunger he exyled and put clere out of hys realme This Phylyp also as before in the story of Henry the seconde is towched excyted the sonnes of the sayde Henry to make warre vppon theyr father by whyche meane thys Phylyppe gate many holdes and townes from the sayde Henry wythin hys duchy of Guyon But after the deth of Henry thys Phylyppe gaue ouer all the sayde holdes and townes vnto Rycharde the eldeste sonne of the sayde Henry and receyued of hym homage for the same And as wytnessyth the French cronycle the sayd Rychard in token of obedyence was present at the coronacion of the sayd Phylyppe But ye shall vnderstande that than he was not kynge of Englande .x. yeres after But yf yt so were that he were present at the sayd coronacyon yet was he duke of Guyon onely Aboute the thyrde yere of hys reygne Eraclius patryarke of Hierusalem came into Fraunce and requyred ayde of thys kynge Phylyppe to wythstande the furye and persecucyon whyche Saladyne prynce of Turkes hadde excuted and dayly contynued in the countrey of Palestina agayne the Cristen to the great destruccyon of theym and vndoyng of the countrey and great ieoperdye of the losynge of the holy cytye of Hierusalem For thys the kynge assembled a great counsayll at hys cytye of Parys where the sayde Eraclius made requeste to the kynge as before he hadde done to Henry the seconde For he was in Fraunce in the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred .lxxx. and two and in Englande he was in the yere of grace .xi. hundred .lxxx. and .vii. After whyche counsayll there so holden yt was agreed that the kynge wyth ayde of the byshoppes and other of the spyrytualtye shulde ayde the sayde patryarke the whyche where sette forthe in all possyble haste But after the reporte of Peter Dysroye whyche made a recule or lytle boke of the wynnynge and losyng of Hierusalem they with mo crysten prynces were dryuen by tempeste of the
enfourmed and also of the peace bytwene the erle of Thoners and the Frenche kynge he by meanes of one Roberte a legate of Rome sought meanes of treaty and of peace so that in processe by dylygence of the sayde Robert and other a peace was concluded for .v. yeres whyche peace concluded and assured eyther kynge returned into theyr owne prouynces wythin short whyle after y e Frenche kyng was returned into FrauÌ„ce he called to mynde the great vyctory had of the Almayns wyth also one other whych Lewys his son about y e same tyme had agayne or of kynge IohnÌ„ in the countre of Aungeou at the castell of Moyne or Mayne For the whyche .ii. vyctoryes the kynge edyfyed a monastery besyde the cyty of Sayntles in the honour of saynt Uyctor and endowed it wyth fayre and ryche possessyons and named it the abbey of saynt Uyctor In the .xxxvi. yere of the reygne of thys Phylyppe Lewys hys sonne by procurynge and sturrynge of the lordes of Englande sayled into the sayde prouynces as more playnely shall be shewed in the .xvi. yere of the reygne of kynge IohnÌ„ Many mo storyes actes myght I brynge in and set in thys story of thys kynge Phylyppe yf I shulde folowe the Frenche boke For he maketh there a rehersayll that conteyneth .xxxix. greate leuys of parchemyne Of the whyche I haue taken out suche as to me semeth moste conuenyent and haue ouer passed the other for lengthe of the tyme. Than it foloweth thys Phylyp after these dayes drewe hym to more quyet and reste so that after thys peace or trewce coÌ„cluded wyth kyng IohnÌ„ of Englande the authour speketh not or myndeth of any noble dede by hym done So that in the yere of our lorde .xii. hundred and .xxii whyche shulde be the yere of hys reygne .xliii the sayd authour begynneth and sayth that in that foresayd yere apered a greate eclypce of the son wherof the lyke hadde not ben seen in many yeres passed And in the yere folowynge dyed thys Phylyppe in the moneth of Iunii whan he hadde reygned vppon xliiii yeres Before whose deth apered a great comete or blasyng starre the whyche the Frenche men wyth also the foresayde eclypce they adiudged for pronostiquys and tokens of the kynges deth the whyche was buryed wyth excellent pompe in the monastery of saynt Denys in the yere of our lorde a thousand two hundred and .xxiii. and of hys age .lviii leuynge after hym the fore named Lewys whyche was enoynted kyng after hym Thys Phylyppe amonges other notable thynges ordeyned in hys testament be sette to the aydynge and wynnynge of the holy cytye of Hierusalem thre hundred thousande pownde of Parys money to the hospytall in Mount forte a hundred thousande pownde and to be dystrybuted amonges the poore comons of hys londe he gaue twenty thousande pownde But here is to be noted there is a great dyuersyte bytwene a pownd of Parys money and a pownde of sterlynge money For a pownde of Parys money is but two shyllynges and .vi. pence sterlynge or nere there about And so it foloweth that a thousande pownde of Parys is but a hundred fyue and twenty pownde sterlynge By whyche accompte it foloweth that thys kynge gaue to the ayde of the holy londe .xxxvii. thousande and fyue hundred pownde sterlynge to the hospytall xii thousande and fyue hundred pownde sterlynge and to the poore people two thousand fyue hundred pownde And thus here I make an ende of thys volume for cause and coÌ„syderacyon as after is shewed in the begynnynge of the nexte volume more manyfestely ¶ Lenuoye PRece forth rude volume and recoÌ„mende me To my derest frende experte in all scyence Praye hym at leysour the to ouerse And where in meter or prose he fyndeth offence Or congrewe englysshe or of perfyte sentence Humbly hym praye that he woll the correcte whyche in all hys faytes is so cyrcumspecte And shewe to hym forther hys meryt to encreace The seconde volume ys redy to hym dyght Praye hym he woll not therfore wyth the sursease Tyll that thy felow he haue by hys insyght And by hys scyence brought in so good plyght That to all readers it maye be delectable And to the herers frutefull and profytable And not to dysdayne my malapert rudenesse That to hys payne I shulde thus boldely sende Or hym to wyll to suche greate besynesse So rude a worke to correcte and amende But shew hym sothely that all that I entende Is for to enhaunce hys prayse and greaâ—e laude As he shall knowe I truste wythout frawde ¶ The seconde volume of Fabyans cronycle Conteynyng the cronycles of Englande and of Fraunce from the begynnyng of the reygne of king Rycharch the fyrste vntyll the begynnyng of the reyne of our moste redoubted souerayne lord kynge Henry the .viii. ⧠¶ Prentyd at London By wyllyam Rastell 1533 ⧠CVM PRIVILEGIO THE TABLE THere begynneth the table of the seconde volume whiche denounces and sheweth all the actes done in euery kynges dayes conteyned in the sayde volume and that euery acte folowes by letter and by the nouÌ„ber of y e lefe as in thys sayd table is expressed and begynneth at the wardes of London at kynge Rycharde the fyrste whose actes more at leÌ„gth in thys sayd volume shal be shewed wyth other kinges ensuyng by letter in this sayd table as fyrste A.B.C. and so forthe ACrys a stronge citye in the holy laÌ„d was wonne by the crysten as appereth fo iiii Actes of the great Cane of Tartaris folio xxiii Abbotte of waltham was accorded wyth the citesyns of LoÌ„don fo xxviii Accorde made betwene kyng Henry the .iii. and hys barons fo xxxviii Actes done in Hethenes by Lowys the Frenche kyng fo xlviii Acris or Acon abouenamed cytye woÌ„ne agayn by y â— Turkes fo lxix Accorde or agrement was made bytwene EnglaÌ„d ScotlaÌ„d fo xc Actes were made for weryng of sylk folio xci Actes in Fraunce done by the duke of Lancastre fo ciii Actes made by FreÌ„chmeÌ„ for the occupyeng of y e admissioÌ„ of y e enherytour of Fraunce folio cxxxvii Accorde made betwene the dukes of Orleaunce and of Burgoyne fo clx AccusacyoÌ„s by the duke of Burgoyn agayn the duke of Orleaunce fo clxi Accorde made betwene the sayde dukes folio clxi Acte made for gyuynge of lyuereys folio clxv Actes made agayn straungers se in folio clxxc Actes made for halowynge of the sondaye wythin the cytye of LondoÌ„ folio cxciâ—i Abbay of Bury was spoyled fo cxiii Adyme was graunted to kyng HeÌ„ry the fyft fo clxxvii A quyndecyme was grauÌ„ted to king Henry the .iii. fo xxi A letter deuysed by the baroÌ„s sente to kyng Henry the .iii. fo xxxvii A letter was sent by Rychard kynge of Romayns to the baroÌ„s fo xxxvii A quarter of where was solde for ii s. folio xc A fraye was made in Fletestrete vpoÌ„ a bakers seruaunt fo cxlv A fray made in Fletestrete by one Her bottell fo cxcii
dyspleased for that he myght gyue no bysshopryches withī the realme of Englande in the .xviii yere of kyng Edwarde the .iii. as apereth fo xcvi Cytezyns of London are tolle free folio xx Cytezyns of Londn were arrested folio xxx Clerkes of Orleaunces wythstande the kynge of Fraunces commaundement fo cxix Churche or monastery of westmynster was ended of buyldyng as apereth fo lviii Condycions made by the borough-maysters of the towne of Burgys agaynst theyr erle fo lxxxvi Constable of Fraunce was murdred by the aduyse of Charles kyng of Nauerne fo cxxii Constable of the towre of London was drowned whose name was called syr Thomas Ramston̄ as appereth folio clxviii Constantynoble was wonne by the Turkys as it is shewed in folio cxcix Colacyon made by the archebysshop of Caunterbury to the lordes for the deposycyon of kyng Rycharde the .ii. folio cliiii Conclusyon of maryage by kynge Henry the .vi. fo cxcii Condycyons of kynge Lowys as is shewed fo ccxxii Commynge of the emperoure into Fraunce and of hys honourable receyte folio cxxxvii Composycyon was made betwene kynge Henry the syxte and the duke of yorke as appereth folio ccv Copy of a letter sent from Edwarde the .iii. vnto the Frenche kynge and answere to the same made loke in folio xcv Copy of an instrument made for deposyng of kyng Rycharde as is shewed folio cliii Copye of a byll put into the parlyament house for the temporaltees as is shewed fo clxix Copy of a letter sent by the bysshope of wynchester vnto the duke of Bedforde folio clxxxi Copy of a pardon made by the kyng vnto the cytezyns of London as apereth fo xli Correccyon of aduoutry as is shewed folio lxxiii Coronacion of quene Katheryne as appereth fo clxxvi Courses of seruyce for the feest of the sayd coronacyon fo clxxvi Corps of kynge Henry the .v. was with great solempnite brought vnto the monastery of westminster as apereth fo clxxi Countesse of Henawde laboured to make a peace betwene kyng Edward the thyrd kynge Phylyp of Fraūce folio xcv Couenauntes betwene the regente the kynge of Nauerne are expressed and shewed folio cxxxi Couenauntes of maryage betwene kynge Henry the .v. and the Frenche kyng beholde in fo clxxv Crossed treers came fyrste into Englāde in the .iii. yere of kyng Edward the .ii. folio lxxv Crucyfix of golde belongyng to sait Denys church in Fraunce was axed by the kyng of the monkes for ayde folio cxx DAme Blaunche was ayded by Phylip the French kynge as appereth folio lii Dame Elynour Cobham was arrested of treason as it is shewed in folio cxci Dauyd brother of Lewyn prynce of walys wrought treason as it is shewed in fo lvii Dauyd aforesayd was taken folio lviii Daunsynge wonderfull beholde folio lix Derthe of corne folio lx Dede knyght apered to one mayster Morres in walys fo xiii Derknesse intollerable fylle in Paulys churche the bysshoppe beynge at masse folio xxi Deuorce betwene Charlys y e French kynge and Blaūche as it is shewed folio lxxxiiii Dede corpsys what noumbre in one yere were buryed in London fo c Depe a towne in Normandy was strongly assayled by the lord Talbot folio cxcii Denham esquyer toke the lorde Ryuers at Sand wyche folio cciiii Dyscencyon amonge the lordes of Englande fo xxxii Dyscencion fyll amōge the lordes in Normandy fo cxix Dyscencion grewe betwene y e Frēche kynge and the kynge of Nauerne folio cxxii Dyscencyon fylle amonge the Frēch men for cessynge of an ayde folio cxxiii Dyscencyon grewe amonge the thre astates of the realme of Fraunce folio cxxvi Dyuers inconuenyences fyll in Englande and in Fraunce as is shewed folio c Dyuerse vysyons and meruayles were sene in the ayer as it is shewed folio cviii Duke of Ostryche dyed and the hostages of kynge Rycharde were free delyuered folio ix Duke of Lancasters actes folio ciii Duke Iohn̄ of Lācastre made warre in Fraunce folio cxi Duke of Lancastre passed thorugh Fraunce wythoute fyghte folio cxiii Duke of Burgoyn complayneth vppon syr Iohn̄ Chalous knyghte folio cxviii Duke of Normandy maketh hys oracion to the cytesyns of Parys folio cxxviii Duke foresayde was proclaymed regente of Fraunce as it is shewed folio cxxx Duke of Lancastre reentred Fraūce folio cxxxvi Duke of Lācastre warred in Spayn̄ folio cxlv Duke of Glouceter spake sharpe wordes to kyng Rycharde the secōd folio cxlix Duke of Glouceter was arested and murdered folio cxlix Dukes of Herforde and of Northfolke fyll at dyscencyon for cause shewed folio cl Duke of Lancastre claymed the crowne folio cliii Duke of Orleaunce laboured agaīst the vnyuersyte of Parys folio clx Duke of Orleaunce was slayne folio clx Dukes of Orleaunce of Burgoyn maketh new warre fo clx Duke of Burgoyne was slayne folio clxiii Dukes and barons were put to deth for treason folio clxv Duke of Clarence was slayn folio clxxvii Duke of Glouceter was made protectour of Englande in the fyrste yere of the reygne of kynge Henry the syxte and the duke of Bedforde regente of Fraunce as it is shewed in fo c.lxxix Duke of Bedforde wynneth holdes in Fraunce se in fo clxxx Duchesse of Holād was taken prysoner loke in fo clxxxi Duke of Alenson was delyuered for hys raunsom fo clxxxii Duke of Northfolke was in greate ieopardy of drownyng fo clxxxiii Duke of Burgoyne turned from the Englysshe partye to y e French partye as is shewed in fo clxxxviii Duke of Burgoyn layde syege to Calays fo clxxxix Dukes erles were created as apereth in fo cxciii Duke of Suffolke was arrested folio cxcv Duke of Somerset was arrested as sheweth in fo c.xcviii Duke of yorke gathered people as apereth in fo cxcviii Duke of yorke dyscharge of hys protectourshyp fo cci Duke of yorke and othe were attaynted as apereth in fo cciiii Duke of Bukkyngham many other were slayne fo cciiii Duke of yorke taketh the kynges royall see fo ccv Duke of yorke with other was slayn folio ccv Duke of Burgoyne assisteth y e Frēch kynges sonne agaynst hys father as is shewed in fo ccix Duke of Brytayn other conspyred agayne theyr kyng fo ccix Duke of Somerset wyth other put to deth fo ccxv Duke of Clarence wyth other lāded at Dartmouh fo ccxviii Duke of Exceter was founde dede in the see folio ccxxi Duke Clarence was drowned in wyne fo ccxxii Duke of Glouceter was made protectour fo ccxxiiii Duke of Bukkyngham sheweth the tytle of kyng Rychard fo ccxxv Duke of Glouceter taketh possessyō at westmynster as appereth folio ccxxv Duke of Bukkyngham cōspyreth agaynst kyng Rychard was taken beheded at Salysbury fo ccxxv Duke of Orleaūce was taken in batayll as is shewed fo ccxxviii Duke of Brytayne dyed whereby great warre foloweth as it is shewed fo ccxxviii EDwarde the fyrste of that name sonne of Henry y e thyrde surnamed Edwarde Longe shanke began
many forfaytes escheatys For this gentylmen and men of honour malygned agayn hym But he had such coÌ„forte of the kynge that he kepte on his purpose Then the kynge beynge warned of the congregacyons that thys wyllyam made commauÌ„ded hym to cease of such doynges y t the people myght exercise theyr artes occupacyoÌ„s by reason wherof it was left for a while But it was not long or the people folowed hym as they before that tyme had done Then he made vnto them colacyons or exhortacyons and toke for hys anteteme Haurietis aquas in gaudio de fontibus saluatoris That is to mean ye shall drawe in ioye waters of the wellis of our sauyour And to this he added I am sayde he the sauyour of poore men ye be poore and haue assayed y e harde handes of riche men Now draw ye therfore holefull water of lore of my wellys that wyth ioy for the tyme of your vysytacyon is comen I shall sayde he departe waters from waters by waters I vnderstande the people Then shall I departe the people whychis good and meke from the people that ys wycked and prowde and I shall dysseuyr the good and the ylle as the lyght is departed from y e darkenes when thys came to the knowlege of the archebyshoppe of Caunterbury he by counsayll of the lordes of the spyrytualty sent vnto this wyllyam commaundynge hym to appere before the lordes of the kynges counsayll to answere vnto suche maters as there shulde be layde vnto hym At whyche daye thys wyllyam appered hauyng wyth hym a multytude of people in so myche that the lordes were of hym adrad For the whyche cause they remyttyd hym wyth plesaunt wordes for y e time commaundyd certayne persones in secrete maner to espye when he were voyde of hys company and then to take hym and to put hym in sure kepyng The whyche accordynge to the commaundement at tyme conuenyent as they thought sette vpon hym and to haue taken hym But he wyth an axe resysted theym and slewe one of theym and after fled to saynt Mary Bowe chyrche of Chepe and toke that for his sauegarde defendynge hym by strength and not by the suffrages of the chyrche for to hym drew shortley great multytude of people But in shorte processe by meane of the heddys and rulers of the cytye the people mynyshed so y t in shorte tyme he was lefte wyth few personys after by fyre coÌ„pellyd to forsake the chyrch and so was taken but not wythoute shedynge of blood After whyche takynge he was areygned before the iudges there wyth .ix. of his adhereÌ„tes caste and iudged to dye was hanged they wyth hym the day folowynge But yet the rumour seased not for y e coÌ„mon peple reysed a great cryme vpon the archbyshop of Caunterbury other and sayd y t by theyr meanes willyam whych was an innoceÌ„t of such crymes as were obiecte put agayne hym was a defendor of the poore people agayn extorcyoners wronge doers was by theym put wrongfully to deth approuyng him an holy maÌ„ martyr by this tale folowyng sayeng y t a man beyng syke of the feuers was cured by vertue of a cheyn whych this wyllyam was bounde wythin tyme of his dures of imprysonement which by a preste of the allye of the sayde wyllyam was openly declared preached wherby he brought the people in suche an errour that they gaue credence to hys wordes secretly in the nyght coÌ„ueyed away the iebet that he was haÌ„ged vppon scraped away y e blood that was shed of him when he was taken or ellys when he was hedded quarteryd so y t they made there an holow place by fetchyng away of that erth and sayde y t syke men women were cured of dyuerse sykenesse by vertue of that blood erth By these means and blowynge of fame y e place was the more vysyted by women vndyscrete ê‘sones of the whych some watched there the hole nyght in prayer so that the lenger thys coÌ„tynued the more dysclaunder was anotyd to the iustyces and to suche as put hym to deth Not wythstandyng in processe of tyme when hys actes were publysshed as the sleynge of a man wyth hys owne hande and vsynge of hys concubyne wythin saynte Mary chyrche in tyme of hys there beynge as he openly coÌ„fessed in the houre of hys dethe wyth other detestable crymes somwhat keled the great flame of the hasty pilgrymage But not clerely tyll the archebyshoppe of CauÌ„terbury accursed y e preste y t broughte vp the fyrste fable and also causyd that place to be watched that suche idolatry shuld there no more be used Anno domini M.C.xcviii  Anno domini M.C.xcix  Roger Blount  Balliui  Anno .ix.  Nycholas Duke  IN the moneth of Apryll and ix yere of kynge Rycharde when he had prouided to sende forth xx thousand pouÌ„de to the emperour for full payment of hys raunsome the pledges whyche had lyen for the same came sodeynly into England and shewed vnto the kyng that after his departynge the emperour sente them vnto the duke of Ostrych to remayne with him tyll the money were payde And forther there they shewed that the sayd duke was accursed of y e pope y t then was Innocent y e thyrde by reason of his wronge done to the kynge that his prouynce was greuyd wyth many myscheues And as the duke rode forth on a daye in hys disport beyng saynt Stephans day he hurte his fote in such wyse wyth a thorne or other venym whyche rancled grewe so sore y e lastly he shuld dye or cutte yt of But in hope of recouery he contynued tyll in the ende he was warned that he shulde dye Then he sent for his byshoppes and axyd to be assoyled of the sentence of the chyrche whyche he stode in The whyche was denyed hym excepte he wolde swere to stande and abyde the ordynauÌ„ce and dome of holy chyrch touchynge the wronge that he hadde done to kynge Rycharde The duke sware and was assoyled and shortly after the two byshoppes pledgys for y e money were delyuered at theyr lybertye Then kynge Rycharde callyng to mynde that the vttermost daye of the trewes takeÌ„ betwene hym and the Frenche kynge approched made hym redy and sayled into Normandye where before his commyng the Frenche kynge by occasyon of the Normannis as sayth the frenche boke was entred the couÌ„trey of Burgys towarde whom kyng Rycharde sped hym wyth all possyble spede so that both hostes laye partyd wyth a ryuer called Osson or Ossyne Then to folowe the sayenge of the frenche boke for so myche as the englyshe cronycle spekyth lytle or nothynge of thys acte lette wyse men that here thys cronycle constrew yt after theyr dyscrecyons For all be yt the Frencheman wrote yt to the honour of Frenchmen yet to other that shall rede or here yt because yt soundyth so nere vntrouth yt shal rather
and the frenche boke sayth .xv. M. marke Anno domini M.CC.xviii  Anno domini M.CC.xix  Thomas Bokerell  Robert Serle  Anno .ii.  Rafe Gylande  IN thys seconde yere of kynge Henry when the lande was voyded of the stranÌ„gers then inquysycyons were made to knowe what persones hadde fauored the partye of Lewys agayne the kynge of the whyche the kynge pardonyd many of the lay fee. But y e spyrytuall were put to suche fynes y e they were compellyd to laye that they myghte to pledge to please the kynge and ouer that to sue to Rome to be assoylyd And thys yere Ranulphe erle of Chester for consyderacyons hym mouynge toke hys iourney into the holy lande But one cronycle sayth he toke that iourney vppon hym for so myche as hadde contrarye hys allegeaunce made homage vnto Lewis aboue named and for malyce whych he bare towarde kynge IohnÌ„ entendyd at the tyme of that homage doynge to haue made the sayde Lewys kynge of Englande Anno domini M.CC.xix  Anno domini M.CC.xx.  Benetle Ceytur  Robert Serle  Anno .iii.  wyllyam Blounde  IN thys thyrde yere of kynge Henry a parlyament was holden at London by vertue wherof was graunted to the kynge .ii. s. of euery plough lande thorough England whych was for y e charge that he before had wyth Lewys warre Also this yere saynt Thomas of Caunterbury was traÌ„slated in the .vii. day of this moneth of Iuly the whyche was done wyth so great a charge vnto mayster Stephan Langton then archibishop of Caunterbury that the charge therof was not contented many yeres after y e deth of the said Stephan And thys yere as wytnessyth Polycronycon kynge Henry began the new worke of the chyrche of westmynster whyche after that sayenge shuld be in the .xii. yere of hys age Anno domini M.CC.xx.  Anno domini M.CC.xxi  IohnÌ„ wayle  Robert Serle  Anno .iiii.  Iosnele Spycer  IN thys yere Alexander kynge of Scottes maryed dame Iane or Iohan the syster of kynge Henry And this yere was great harme done in Englande by vyolence of a whyrlewynde and fyry dragons and spyrytys were sene fleynge in the ayer And this yere were proclamacyons made in London and thorough out Englande y e all straungers shuld auoyde the lande by Mychelmasse next folowyng except such as came wyth marchauÌ„dyse and to make sale of them vnder the kynges saufe coÌ„duyt which was chefely made to auoyde Foukes de Brent and his complycys whyche kepte the castell of Bedforde agayne the kynges wyll and pleasure And in thys yere was kynge Henry secondaryly crowned at westmynster the .xvii. daye of May. And thys yere the cytye called Damas in the holy land was by crysten men gotten from the Turkys And thys yere came out of the holy lande into Englande Ranulphe erle of Chester and beganne to buyld the castellys of Charteley of Bestone after he buylded the abbay of Delartesse of y e whyte oâ—der For charge and coste of whyche sayde castellys abbay he toke toll thorough all hys lordshyp of all such as passyd y e way wyth any chafire or marchaundyse Anno domini M.CC.xii.  Anno domini M.CC.xxii  Rycharde wymbeday  Robert Serle  Anno .v.  IohnÌ„ wayell  IN thys .v. yere of kynge Henry at Oxenforde was holden a generall couÌ„sayll of the byshoppes and clergye of thys lande In tyme of whyche counsayle a man was taken the whyche shewyd hym selfe to be Cryste and preached many thynges of errour whyche the clerkes at those dayes vsyd And to approue that he was Iesus the sonne of god and that he was comen to refourme those errours and other he shewyd the carectys and tokens of woundes in hys bodye handes and fete like to Iesus that was nayled on the crosse Then he was apposyd and approuyd a false dyssymuler wherfore by dome of y e counsayll he was iudgyd â—o be nayled to the crosse and so delyueryd to the executours the whyche at a place callyd Alburburye nayled hym to a crosse tyll he was dede Also this yere the kynge layde syege vnto the castell of Bedforde that Fowkys de Brent hadde so longe holden by strength Thys syege beganne vppon the euen of the Assencyon of our lorde and so contynued tyll our Lady daye assumpcyon In whyche passetyme many stronge assautys were made to the great losse of men on bothe partyes But fynally aboute thys foresayde daye of assumpcyon yt was taken by fyerse assaute wherein was taken the forenamed Fowkys de Brent and vpon the noÌ„ber of .lxxx. souldyours wherof the more parte were put to deth and the sayde Fowkys after he had lyen a certayne of tyme in pryson was for his fynaunce delyueryd and flemyd the lande And in this yere came the frere Mynors fyrst into Englande These are graye freres of the order of saynte Fraunces whych yf that be trewe they shulde come in to Englande vppon .vi yeres before the deth of saynt Fraunces For after affyrmaunce of the authoure of Cronica cronicarum Iacobus Philippus and other saynte Fraunces dyed in the yere of grace .xii. huÌ„dred and .xxvii. And that order was fyrst confyrmed of Honorius the thyrde of that name pope of Rome in the yere of grace .xii. hundred and .xxiiii. Thys order fyrste beganne vnder a fewe nomber of frerys at the cytye of Caunterbury and after came vnto London and restyd theym there tyll they hadde an house there foundyd by Isabell wyfe of Edwarde the seconde as after shall be shewyd in the storye of the sayde Edwarde all be yt the sayde house was begonne of Margarete the wyfe of Edwarde the fyrste Anno domini M.CC.xxii  Anno domini M.CC.xxiii  Rycharde Renger  Robert Serle  Anno .vi.  Ioseus le Iosne  IN thys .vi. yere of the reygne of kynge Henry a conspyracy was made by one Constantyne the sonne of Arnulphe wythin the cytye of London for the whyche he was drawen and haÌ„ged the morow folowynge our Lady daye Assumpcyon This conspyracy was dysclosed by a cytezyn named walter Bokerell and was so heynous greuous to y e king that he was in mynde purpose to haue throwen downe y e wallys of the cytye But when he had well conceyued that the persones whych enteÌ„ded this coÌ„spiracy were but of the rascallys of the cytye that none of y e heddys or rulers of the same were therunto consentynge he aswagyd hys ire and greuouse dyspleasure whych he entendyd towarde the cytye Anno domini M.CC.xxiii  Anno domini M.CC.xxiiii  Rycharde Iyoner  Robert Serle  Anno .vii.  Thomas Lamberde  IN this seuenth yere Iohan kynge of Hierusalem came into Englande and requyred ayde of kyng Henry to wynne agayne that holy cytye but he retourned wyth small comforte And about this tyme IohnÌ„ the sonne of Dauid erle of Angwyshe in Scotland and nere kynnesman vnto Ranulphe of Chester
maryed the doughter of Lewelyn prynce of walys as yt were for a fynall accorde betwene the sayde Lewelyne and Ranulphe euer after to be contynued Anno domini M.CC.xxiiii  Anno domini M.CC.xxv  wyllyam Ioynour  Rycharde Reynger  Anno .viii.  Thomas Lamberte  IN thys .viii. yere of kyng Henry a parlyament was holden at where among other thynges the lordes and baronye of the lande graunted vnto the kynge and to his heyres kynges the warde and mariage of theyr heyres which dede was after of lerned men called Initium malorū that is to meane the begynnynge of yllys or of harmes Anno domini M.CC.xxv  Anno domini M.CC.xxvi  Iohn̄ Trauers  Rycharde Renger  Anno .ix.  Andrew Bokerell  IN thys .ix. yere of kynge Henry Frederyke the seconde of that name emperour of Almayne for his contumacy agayn the chyrch of Rome was accursyd of the .ix. Gregory then pope wherfore soon after he toke two cardynallys and dyuers prelatys as they were goynge to a generall counsayle kepte by the sayd pope at a place callyd Spolete a cytye of Italye Anno domini M.CC.xxvi  Anno domini M.CC.xxvii  Roger Duke  Rycharde Renger  Anno .x.  Martyne fyz wyllyam  IN thys .x. yere of the reygne of kynge Henry the plees of the crowne were pletyd in the towre of London In this yere also as wytnessyth the Frenche cronycle dyuerse souldyours whyche as to thys daye kepte certayne castellys in the countye of Poytiers as the castell of Monstruell the castell of Nyort and the townes of Angely and of Rochel were by the Frenche kynge so assautyd that they were constrayned to gyue them ouer to the Frenche kyng then beyng Lewis the nynthe of that name or after some writers the .viii and sonne of Phylyppe the seconde Anno domini M.CC.xxvii  Anno domini M.CC.xxviii  Stephan Bokerell  Roger Duke  Anno .xi.  Henry Cobham  IN thys .xi. yere of thys kynge Henry the shyrywyke of London and of Mydd were lettyne to ferme for the summe of .iii. hundred poūde by yere to the shryues of London And the .xviii. daye of February the same yere was graunted by the kynge that all werys in Thamys shulde by plucked vppe and destroyed for euer And the .xvi. daye of Marche folowynge the kynge graūted by hys charter ensealyd that the cytyzens of London shulde passe toll free thorough all Englande And yf any cytezyns were cōstrayned in any cytye borough or towne in England to paye any toll y t then the shryues of London to attache any man commynge to London of the sayde cytye borough or towne where suche toll was payed and hym and hys goodys to wythholde and kepe tyll the cytesyners of London be restoryd of all suche money payed for the sayde tolle wyth all costes and damagys sustayned for the same And the xviii daye of Auguste folowynge the kyng graūted to y e sayd cytesyns of London wareyn that is to meane that the cytesyns haue free lybertye of huntynge certayne cyrcuyte aboute London And in thys yere the towne of Lymosyn wyth dyuers holdes in Pyerregot and Aluerne in the countye of Guyan were geuen vppe to the forenamed Lewys the Frenche kynge wherfore the kynge sente ouer hys brother Rycharde erle of Cornewayll shortely after whyche landed at Burdeaux wyth .iii. hundred saylles Anno domini M.CC.xxviii  Anno domini M.CC.xxix  Stephan Bokerell  Roger Duke  Anno .xii.  Henry Cobham  IN the begynnyge of thys .xii. yere of kynge Henry mayster Stephan Langton archbyshoppe of Caunterburye dyed and the great deane of Paulys mayster Rycharde wethyrshed was hys successour And in thys tyme the fraunchyse and lybertyes of the citye were by the kyng confyrmyd to eueryche of y e sheryues was graūted to haue .ii. clerkes .ii. officers wythout mo And to the citesyns of Lōdon was also graūted thys yere that they shuld haue vse a common seale And in this yere Rycharde erle of Cornewayll besyeged the town of saynt Machayre in Guyan And whan he hadde wonne yt by strength he then layed hys syege to y e town of Rochell tyll yt was restoryd by the marshall of Fraunce Anno domini M.CC.xxix  Anno domini M.CC.xxx  walter wynchester  Roger Duke  Anno .xiii.  Robert fyz Iohn̄  In this xiii yere of kynge Henry vppon Trynyte sondaye or after an other authour vpon whyt sondaye whyle the byshoppe of London was at the hygh masse in saynte Paulys chyrch of Lōdon fell sodeynly suche thyckenesse of darkenesse of cloudes and therwyth suche stenche and tempeste of thunder and lyghtenynge that the people there assemblyd voyded the chyrche and the vycaryes and chanons forsoke theyr deskys that the byshoppe remayned in great fere alone excepte a fewe of his menyall seruauntys and suche as attendyd vpon hym at the aulter Also in thys yere the fame of that blessyd woman Elyzabeth doughter of the kynge of Hungarye beganne to spredde The whyche before and after the deth of her husbande Langraue duke of Thorynge in Almayne shamyd not for Crystes sake to weshe the sorys and bylys of lazars and of other poore men besyde other manyfolde dedes of charyte By vertue of whyche blessyd and vertuouse lyfe she by her lyfe thoroughe the power of god shewed many and dyuerse myracles Among the whyche by her prayer .xvi. men were from deth to lyfe arreryd and a man borne blynde to syght restoryd wherfore by Gregorye the .ix. of that name and pope of Rome she was amonge the college of the blessed nomber of sayntes ascrybyd and alowed and commaunded her feast to be halowed the .xiii. kalendas of December Anno domini M.CC.xxx  Anno domini M.CC.xxxi  Rycharde fyz wyllyam  Roger Duke  Anno .xiiii.  Iohn̄ wodbourne  IN this .xiiii. yere of the kinge was ordeyned by the mayre and rulers of the cytye of London that no shryue of that cytye shulde cōtynew lenger in offyce then one yere wherof the cause was that dyuerse of theym by contynuaunce of theyr offyce dyd dyuerse extorcyons and toke brybys of vytellers wyth other defautys whyche were founde and prouyd preiudycyall hurtefull to the common weale of the sayde citye Anno domini M.CC.xxxi  Anno domini M.CC.xxxii  Mychaell of saynte Elene  Roger Duke  Anno .v.  walter Denfelde  IN this .xv. yere the kynge had graūted tyll hym a quindecim or fyftene of the temporaltye and a dyme and an halfe of the spyrytualty to recouer hys lādes loste in Normandy Guyan and Poyteau And in this yere Huberte of Burgth y t at this daye was chefe iustyce of Englande hadde greuyd or dyspleased the kynge in suche wyse that he was compellyd to fle the kynges syght But he was so strayghtly pursued y t he was taken in a chapell of Brentwood in Essex and so cast in
after smote hym wych hys crosse vpon the lefte syde Upon the morne after the pope was fouÌ„den dede and hys bedde all blody But of thys is nothynge in the cronycle or storye of Innocent After that sayenge of Polycronycon this byshoppe Grostehede shuld dye in the .xxxvii. yere of thys kynge Henry the whyche sayenge agreeth better with the storye except that the sayde pope lyued after the deth of the sayde byshoppe .vi. yere Anno domini M.CC.l.  Anno domini M.CC.li.  Humfrey Basse.  IohnÌ„ Norman  Anno .xxxiiii.  wyllyam fyz Rycharde  IN this .xxxiiii. yere was an excedynge wynde the whyche in sondry places of England dyd great harme whyche was in the begynnynge of this yere vppon the daye of Symon and Iude. About thys tyme in the duchy of Burgoyne as testyfyeth Fasciculus temporuÌ„ and other an hyll remouyd from hys proper place and glode by many a myle and lastely ioyned hym vnto other hyllys In the whyche glydynge or ronnynge the sayde hyll oppressyd or slewe v. thousande people And thys yere Symon fyz mary alderman of London for hys dysobedyence and euyll counsaill that he gaue vnto Margarete Uyell before in the xxxi yere of thys kynge touchyd wyth other secret labours and maters entendyd by hym to the hurte of the cytye was dyschargyd of hys aldermanshyppe and put oute of the counsayll of the cytye Anno domini M.CC.li.  Anno domini M.CC.lii  Laurence Frowyke  Adam Basynge  Anno .xxxv.  Nycholas Batte  IN thys .xxxv. yere of kynge Henry beganne the frere Augustynes to buylde or inhabyte them in walys in a place callyd woodhouse And in this yere maryed kyng Henry his doughter Mary or after some wryters Margarete vnto Alexander kynge of Scottys at the cytye of yorke and dyd receyue homage of the sayde Alexander for the kyngedome of Scottes or for the prouynce of Scotlande in lyke maner as many of his progenytours had done dyuerse and many tymes before as in this worke both before thys tyme and also after is shewyd Anno domini M.CC.li.  Anno domini M.CC.lii  wyllyam Durham  IohnÌ„ Toleson  Anno .xxxvi.  Thomas wymborne  IN thys .xxxvi. yere the kynge graunted vnto the shryues of London that they shulde yerely be alowyed of .vii. pounde for certayne pryuyleges or grounde belongynge to saynte Paules chyrche the whych at this daye is allowyd by the Barons of the kynges excheker to euerey shryue when they make theyr accompte in the offyce of the pype Also thys yere was grauÌ„ted by the kynge for the citesens more ease that where before tyme they vsyd yerely to present theyr mayre to y e kynges presence in any such place as he then were in Englande that nowe from thys tyme forthwarde they shulde for lacke of the kynges presence beynge at westmynster presente theyr mayre so chosen vnto the barons of hys Excheker and there to be sworne admyttyd as he before tymes was before the kynge Anno domini M.CC.lii  Anno domini M.CC.liii  IohnÌ„ Northampton  Nycholas Batte  Anno .xxxvii.  Rycharde Pycarde  IN thys .xxxvii. yere the water of the see aboute the daye of saynte Paulyn in the moneth of Ianuary rose of suche heyghte that yt drowned many vyllagys and housys nere vnto yt in dyuerse places of Englande And thys yere the kynge the quene and syr Edwarde his son wyth Bonyface archebyshoppe of Caunterburye and dyuerse other nobles of the realme sayled into Normandye and taryed at Burdeaux a certayne of tyme. But of theyr dedys or cause of theyr saylynge thyther is no mencyon made in the cronycle of England How be yt in the FreÌ„che boke yt is shewed y t the cause was to ioyne Edwarde the kynges sonne vnto the syster of y e kyng of Spayne by maryage This yere also the water of Thamys sprange so hygh that yt drowned many housys about the waters syde by meane wherof myche maâ—chaundyse was peryshed and loste And thys yere the cytezyns hadde graunted of the kynge that no cytesyns shulde paye scauage or tolle for any bestes by them brought as they before tymes hadde vsyd Anno domini M.CC.liii  Anno domini M.CC.liiii  Robert Belyngton  Rycharde Hardell  Anno .xxxviii.  Ranfe Aschewye  IN thys .xxxviii. yere by procurement of syr Rycharde erle of Cornewayll for dyspleasure whyche he bare towarde y e citye for exchauÌ„ge of certayne grounde to the same belongynge the kynge vnder coloure that the mayre hadde not done due execucyon vppon the bakers for lackynge of theyr syzys seased the lybertyes of the cytye That ys to be vnderstanden that where the mayre and comynaltye of the cytye hadde by the kynges graunte the cytye to ferme wyth dyuerse customys and offyces for astynted and ascertayned summe of money now the kyng sette in offycers at hys pleasure the whiche were accomptable vnto hym for all reuenues and profytes that grew wythin the sayde cytye But wythin foure dayes folowynge the feste of saynte Edmunde the byshop or by the .xix. daye of Nouember the cytesyns agreed wyth the sayde erle for .vi. hundred marke After whych agrement wyth hym concluded they soone after were restoryd vnto theyr lybertyes This yere syr Edward the kynges sonne and heyre was maryed vnto Eleanour y e kinges sister of Spayn And in the Cristmas weke the kyng landed at Douer and y e quene wyth hym wyth many other lordes when the kynge was comen to London he was lodgyd in the towre where he sent for to come vnto hym the mayre and the shryues wyth whom he resoued greuously for the escape of one callyd IohnÌ„ Gate This IohnÌ„ had murderyd a pryour allyed vnto the kynge The mayre layde the charge of this mater from hym vnto y e shryues for so myche as to theym belonged the kepynge of all prysons wyth in the cytye so that the mayre returnyd home and the shriues remayned there as prisoners by y e space of a moneth after or more And in theyr places and for theym were chosen Steuen Oystergate Henry walmoode But how the old shryues passyd out of the kynges daunger I fynde not Anno domini M.CC.liiii  Anno domini M.CC.lv.  Stephan Oystergate  Rycharde Hader  Anno .xxxix.  Henry walmoode  IN this .xxxix. yere in the feaste of saynte Etheldrede dame Eleanour wyfe vnto the kynges son syr Edwarde came vnto London where she was honorably receued of the cytesyns and the cytye rychely curteyned and garnyshed wyth dyuerse ryche clothes where the kynge was present at her commynge And she was honorably coÌ„ueyed through the cytye to saynte IohnÌ„s wythoute Smythfelde and there lodgyd for a whyle But after she was remouyd vnto Sauoy It was not longe after y t the kyng seasyd the lybertyes of the cytye for certayne money whyche y e quene claymed for her ryght of the cytesyns so that about saynte Martyns tyde in
into the holy lande the xx peny of euery mannes substaunce mouable thorough out hys lande of the lay fee and of the spyrytualty by assent of y e .x. Gregorye then pope .iii. dysmes to be leuyed in thre yeres Anno domini M.CC.lxx  Anno domini M.CC.lxxi  walter Porter  IohnÌ„ Adryan Uyntyner  Anno .lv.  IohnÌ„ Taylour  IN thys .lv. yere the kynge of Romains coÌ„cludid a couenauÌ„t betwen y e kyng syr Gylbert de Clare erle of Glouceter for a vyage to be taken into the holy lande by the sayd erle for the kynge For the whych vyage the saide erle shuld haue toward his charge .viii thousand mark and at the takyng of his shyppyng other iiii thousande marke and to be redy by the fyrst daye of May next folowynge and yf the erle were not redy at the see syde at that day with his company to take his shyppynge he shuld then forfayte to y e kyng .ii. M. marke For suertie wherof y e sayde erle shuld delyuer into the kynges possessyon his castell of Henleger standynge vppon y e marche of walis But this cam after to no purpose wherfore y e cause is not shewyd But y e iourney was perfourmed by syr Edwarde the kynges sonne as after shall be to you declared In this passe tyme the cytesyns of London contentyd so well syr Edwardes mynde that he laboured so for them to the kynges grace that they had then theyr chartour so coÌ„fermyd that they shuld after theyr auncyent lybertyes chose of them self a mayre and two shryues and y e sayd shryues to haue the offyces therunto belongynge to ferme as they to fore hadde excepte that wheretofore they payde for the fee ferme .iii. hundred and l. punde nowe they shulde pay .iiii. hundred and .l. pouÌ„de After whyche confyrmacyon thus grauÌ„ted and passed by y e kynges brode seale the cytesyns vppon the .xiiii. daye of Iuly assembled at the Guyldhall chase for theyr mayre IohnÌ„ Adryan draper and for shyreffes walter Porter and IohnÌ„ Tayller And vppon y e xvi daye folowynge syr Edwarde beynge present presented them vnto y e king at westminster where they were admitted sworne And then was syr Hugh of Othon dyschargyd of that rule of the cytye Then the citesyns of theyr fre wyll gaue vnto the kynge an C. marke to syr Edwarde .v. huÌ„dred marke whyche gyft the kyng well accepted And soone after they receyued theyr chartour of confyrmacyon berynge date the .xxi. day of Iuly and yere of the kynges reygne .lv. And for the former conuencyon betwene the kyng and the erle of Glouceter was not holden syr Edwarde toke vppon hym the kynges crosse To whom the kynge gaue all suche money as was graunted of y e lay fee as before is shewyd then toke his leue of the kyng and after toke shyppynge at Douer the .xx. daye of August and so sayled to Burbeaux with his wyfe and other noble company And for that holy Lewys then kyng of Fraunce was gone he taryed at Burdeaux a certayne season and after sped hym with his forsayd company toward y e cytye of Thunys where y e Frenche kyng was But or he came thyder saynt Lewys was dede And y e peace coÌ„cluded betwene Phylyppe hys son and the kynge of Thunys wherfore syr Edwarde entendynge to greue goddes enmyes wyth some knygtes of Fraunce whych enteÌ„ded the same toke leue of the Frenche kynge and of syr Charlâ—s hys vncle then kynge of Scycyle sayled further into the holy lande and arryued at a porte of Acris or Acon For at y e daye in the holy lande was no mo cytyes in the possessyon of cristen men but that and the cytye of Tyre wyth certayne castellys wherunto the crysten fled often for socoure agayne the Sarazyns when syr Edwarde was comeÌ„ to y e cytye of Acon y e crysten knyghtes receyued hym with gret honour gladnesse and lodged hym in theyr beste maner where he taryed by the space of a yere after as aftermeth y e french cronycle For yt was not longe after his commynge thyder but that the Soudane of Sury the whych had wonne al the countreys there about came thyther wyth a great power of Sarazyns and assauted the towne vygurously But syr Edwarde with the ayde of crysten men bare hym so knyghtly that he defended the cytye and the castellys to the same belongynge terrytores of the same that the Soudane for all hys great multytude and power gate there lyteil honoure notwytstandynge that he hadde in hys hoste as affyrmeth the frenche cronycle ouer an hundred thousande Sarazyns And more affyrmeth the sayde cronycle that syr Edwarde in his polycyes and manfull actes so honorably behauyd him that he neuer dyd such acte in all his lyfe folowynge all be it that after he dyd many of grete honour But none that was lyke vnto the actes that he there accomplyshed and brought vnto ende By reason wherof his name amonge infidelys was had in memory many yeres after Of the honoure of thys marcyall knyght I haue shewed the lenger rehersall for so myche as I fynde yt testyfyed of the French men the which I knowe well by theyr other cronycles that they make of Englysh prynces must be of great authoryte or ellys by them yt shuld not so specyally haue ben noted And more ouer I am assured that yf a Frenche prynce had deseruyd suche a generall pryce yt shulde haue ben set out and artyculed euery acte thereof that yt shulde haue conteyned a large worke the specyaltyes therof declared to they re moste laude and honour Then thys noble prynce beynge thus in Acon and dayly puttynge the Suryens to shame and great damages they seynge they might not preuayle agayn hym by strength of vatayll cast how they myght destroy hym by treason and sente vnto hym a Sarazyne in name of a messanger the whyche in tellynge of hys fayned message wouÌ„ded hym wyth a knyfe enuenomyd of the whyche wounde he laye longe or he were therof cured But after confessyon made by the Sarazyn of all hys coÌ„passed treason he was put vnto cruell deth In thys yere also fyll downe the steple of saynt Mary Bow in Chepe of LoÌ„don slew women chyldren Anno domini M.CC.lxxi  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.lxxii  Gregory Rokkysle  IohnÌ„ Adryan wyntener  Anno .lvi.  Henry waleys  IN this .lvi. yere in the moneth of Nouember at the parliameÌ„t holden at westmynster the marchauÌ„tes of LoÌ„don and other places of Englande complayned them to y e kyng that the countesse of Flaundres had taken from them certayne gooddes amountynge to a great summe Uppon whych complaynt the kyng sent to her to make restytucyon But for noâ—e was had the kyng coÌ„maunded that all men born in y e partyes in Englande shulde be arrested and they theyr goodes to be vnder suer kepynge By the whych meane in conclusyon she sent ouer embassadours and besought the kyng that
be all seased Soone after the kynge wyth hys lordes toke shyppynge and sayled with great daunger of tempest tyll lastly he came to the I le of Sardynes where the crysten host rested theym a season and after kept theyr cours til they came to the porte of Thunys or Cartage the .xviii. day of the moneth of Iulii where they rested in theyr shyppes that nyght Upō the morne whan they shuld lande all the porte was beset with Turkes and infydeles whych shotte dartes and kast stones to the greuaunce of the crysten host so that they wanne lande wyth great dyffyculte payne whan the kynge was landed he lodged hys people and after sent to serche for fresshe water to refresshe with hys hooste In whyche meane whyle the Admyrall of the kynges nauy came vnto the kynge requyryng hī to haue a certayne of knyghtes assygned vnto hym trustynge in god to wyn shortly the towne And so sped hym and assauted the towne But anone as the capytayne of the towne was ware of theyr commyng he with a great company issued oute of the towne and forced the crysten hoost to gyue backe wherfore kynge Lowys sent the Marshal of hys host with a certayne nombre of knyghtes to socoure the sayd Admyrall and in tyme of the fyght gatte betwene the Sarazyns and the towne so that whyle some faught with the Turkes the other wanne the towne wherof the Turkes beynge ware fled soone after but nat without great slaughter of thē For after that fyght many of theym whyche escaped frō the batayll were after slayne in cauernys and holes where they hyd theym in the grounde whan the towne of Cartage or Thunis was by y e cristē thus wonne anone the kynge commaunded the dede bodyes to be caste out the towne to be clēsyd of all ordours and fylthes And when all was done as the kynge had commaunded he then entred the towne and lodged within as many as the towne wolde holde And y e other he fortyfyed with dyches and other strengthes to preserue them from theyr enemyes and so taryed there the cōmyng of Charles hys brother and kyng of Cycilia It was nat lōge after that the cytye or towne was wonne but y t the kyng of Thunys with a great host of Turkes came nere to the towne made showys offers but they abode not therby One day the erle of Artoys in one company and a knyghte called syr Peter Cabellane in an other companye gatte betwene the see and the Turkes that they were compelled to fyght so that betwene theym was a cruell fyghte many slayne vppō both sydes But in the ende the Turkes were scomfyted chaced to theyr shyppes In thys fyghte were slayne ii cristen knyghtes named le Chastelayn and syr Iohn̄ de Ronssoylyers After thys batayll or fyght the Sarazyns made no great assautes But thē by reason of the unholsomnes of that countre sykenes fyll amonge y e crysten hoost so that the people dyed faste And shortly after the kyng was takē with suche a flixe and therwith an agu that he kept hys bedde And after the ryghtes of the chryche takē and certayne monycyons gyuen to hys sonne Phylyp how he shulde behaue hym in gydynge of the realme of Fraunce knowynge the houre of dethe approched charged suche as were aboute hym that they shuld lay hym vpon a bed of asshes powdre where he so lyeng a season in prayer expyred the day folowyng saint Bartholomeus tholomeus day or the .xxv. day of August when he had reygned .xliiii. yeres lackynge .ii. monethes leuynge after hym the .iii. forenamed sonnes Phylyp Iohn̄ Peter Thē the Bowellys were buryed in Cecilia and the body enbawmed with ryche oyntementes was recaryed vnto saynte Denys of Fraūce therwith greate reuerence entered The whych after for hys myracles of y e .vii. Bonyface was sette amonge the nombre of sayntes PHylyp the thyrde of that name and sonne of saynt Lowys beganne his reygne ouer the realme of Fraūce the .xxvi. daye of y t moneth of September in the yere of our lord .xii. C.lxx. and the .liiii. yere of Henry the .iii. than kynge of Englande and began than as before is shewed in Affrica at the towne or cytye of Thunys or Cartage accōpanyed with Charles hys vncle kynge of Cycyll the whych came to y e porte of Thunys the same day that kynge Lowys dyed after taryed there had many conflictes wyth the Turkes and bare hym so manfully that in the ende he forced y e kynge of Thunys to seche to hym for a peas The which was cōcluded for .x. yeres with certayne condycyōs of payeng of certayne money for y e kynge of Fraūces costes and certayne trowages of old tyme due vnto the kyng of Cycyll ye rely to be payde with many other artycles concernynge the same peace whyche I passe ouer After whyce peas concluded and assured the kynges of Fraunce and Cycyll toke shyppynge at the sayde porte of Thunys sayled towarde theyr countrees with great daunger of tempest of the see in processe of tyme landed in Cycyll where Philip with greate reuerence obseruaūce in mount Royall buryed y e bowelles of his father And y t done he toke his iourney towarde Fraunce thorughe Italy In whyche iourney dyed Isabell hys wyfe y e kyng of Nauerne Mary hys wyfe with many other to the nombre of .iii. M. and mo Lastly the kyng came vnto the cyty of Uiterbe where the cardynalles other spyrytuall men were in counsayll for the chosyng of a newe pope For at y e tyme the see was voyde by the deth of Clement the .iiii. But that eleccion was so dyuers that .ii. yeres expyred or they myght agree vpon a new pastor And thā they agreed vpō Theobalde archidiacon of Landēsse named after the .x. Gregory Frō Uiterbe the kyng rode to the moūt of Flaston̄ so ouer to the coūtre of Tuscayne so to the mount of Bergue then to y e cytye of Florēce from thens to Boloyng le Greysse and frō thens to Cremoygū where y e kynges officers were nat all well entreated In recōpensement wherof y e mayre burgeyses of that towne presented the kyng with .vii. stedes trapped in cloth of sylke other presētes whych the kyng with curteys thākfull wordes refused Then frō thens the kyng departed to Milan from Milan to Annergeaux and so to Susane a cytye of Sauoy and after passed the moūtaygnes so into the valys of Moryen and frō thens tourned towarde the cytye of Lyōs vpon Rosne and so to the cytye of Mastō in Burgoyn̄ and passed y e coūtre tyl they came to the abbey of Cluny and frō thens into the coūtre of Chāpayn so to the city of Trois and frō thēs passed the countrees tyll he came to the lordshype of Parys and so into the cytye of Parys Here I passe ouer the great prouysyon made by the cytesyns of Parys for the receyuynge
Cambrees erle of Atles and syr IohnÌ„ Comyn with other the whyce voluntarylye were sworne in presence of the kynge and hys lordes that they shuld be trewe vnto the kynge of Englande kepe the lande of Scotlande to hys vse agayne all other persones And yf any rebell or other malycyous persone distourbed the laÌ„de or breke y e kynges peas they shulde cause hym to be taken and sent vnto the kynge wyth many other articles coÌ„cernyng theyr allegeaunce the whyche full falsely they brake and contraryed shortely after Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.v.  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.vi  Raynold Doderell  IohnÌ„ Blount  Anno .xxxiiii.  wyllyam Cansyn  IN thys .xxxiiii. yere Robert le Bruze contrary hys othe to kynge Edwarde before made assembled the lordes of Scotlande and by the couÌ„sayll of thabbot of Stone and other that fauoured hys vntrouthe he sent vnto the pope than Clement the .v for a dyspensacyoÌ„ of hys othe before made vnto kynge Edwarde and surmysed to hym that kyng Edwarde vexed and greuyd the realme of Scotlande wrongfully whereupoÌ„ the pope wrote vnto kyng Edwarde to leue of suche doynges And whyle thys matter was thus complayned on vnto the pope y e sayd Robert le Bruze made all the labour he myght vnto y e lordes of ScotlaÌ„de that he were admytted for kyng of y e regyon so that vpon the daye of the concepcyon of our Lady or the .viii. day of Decembre a great assemble of the lordes was made at the abbey of Stone And vpoÌ„ the day folowyng by the meanes of the abbot of y t place many of the sayd lordes assented to y e wyl of the sayd Robert except syr Iohan Comyn onely The whych in defence of hys trouthe and othe before sworne vnto kyng Edwarde many reasons excuses made and fynally sayd that he wolde nat false hys othe for no man For thys the sayd syr Iohan Comyn had great maugre of syr Robert le Bruze many of y e nobles of Scotlande But he helde hys oppynyon so fermely that other began to take hys parte that in that counsayll rose suche contrariete of opynyons and reasons that the sayd couÌ„sayll was dyssolued and a newe sette at the graye freers of Dunfrize after Candelmas next ensuyng At whych daye of assemble whenne the cause of theyr meting was by Robert le Bruze denouÌ„ced and shewed many of the great lordes of the land had grauÌ„ted to hym theyr aydes assistence the forenamed syr IohnÌ„ Comyn other sat styll and sayd no worde whyche Robert le Bruze marked well and to hym sayd And you syr IohnÌ„ I trust for defence and weale of thys realme ye wyll nat be behynde wherunto he answered syr I wolde that ye and al my lordes here present knowe well that for the weale and defence in the ryght of thys lande I wolde stande with it to the vttermost of my power But for I se that ye enteÌ„de rather the subuercyon than the weale therof I wyll therfore ye know I shal nother ayde you with counsayll nor yet with strength Some other also there were whose names the auctoure myndeth nat whyche allowed the sayenge of the sayde syr IohnÌ„ and in some wordes admytted hys sadde and trewe answere For the whyche Roberte le Bruze was so amoued that when syr IohnÌ„ Comyn with syr Rogyer hys brother was departed from the counsayll and was comyn into the chyrch of the freers Robert le Bruze hym folowyd and wounded to the deth with his swerde and after slew syr Rogier hys brother whyche wolde haue defended the foresayde syr IohnÌ„ After whose deth lytell or no resysteÌ„ce was made agayne the vntrewe meane dedes of the sayd Robert le Bruze so that he at saynte IohnÌ„s towne was crowned kynge shortly after It was nat longe after that kyng Edwarde was monysshed of all this vntrouth of the scottes wherfore he prepared hym to wende thyder And at Penthecoste he helde a great feaste of hys barony at westmyster durynge that feast made a greate noÌ„bre of knyghtes ouer CC. after mooste wryters And that feast ended he seÌ„t with a fayre company of knyghtes syr Aymer de Ualaunce erle of Penbroke and syr Henry Percy erle of Northumberlande into ScotlaÌ„de sped hym selfe wyth hys hoost soone after Than about the feast of the assuÌ„pcyon of our Lady the kyng faughte with the sayd Robert le Bruze and al the power of Scotlande in a playne nere vnto saynt IohnÌ„s towne And after loÌ„ge fyght and great slaughter of the scottes to y e nombre of .vii. M he chased the scottes In whyche chase syr Symon de Fryseyll erle of DuÌ„barre was takeÌ„ with also the bishoppes of saint Adrews and of Bastoon the abbot of Stoon or Scoon syr IohnÌ„ Chambres erle of Atles which bysshoppes and abbot kyng Edward sent after vnto innoceÌ„t the .v. thaÌ„ pope with reporte of theyr ê‘iury how they were taken armed in the felde to shede the blode of cristeÌ„ men And y e teÌ„porall lordes he sent into EnglaÌ„de so vnto the towre of LondoÌ„ And Robert le Bruze after thys scomfyture losse of hys chyef freÌ„des feryng lest y e scottes with suche Englysshmen as kyng Edward laft there wolde aryse agayne hym all comfortles fledde vnto the kynge of Norwaye there abode duryng whyle kyng Edwarde lyued whan thys noble prynce Edward had thus subdued y e scottes he yelded thankes to god of hys vyctorye And wheÌ„ he was ascertayned of the auoydyng of Robert le Bruze had set y e laÌ„de in a quiet ordre he retourned into Englande In thys passetyme were y e forenamed lordes of ScotlaÌ„de areygned at LondoÌ„ vpoÌ„ the euyn of the Natyuyte of our Lady put to deth theyr heddes after set vpoÌ„ LondoÌ„ brydge And shortly after was IohnÌ„ waleys brother vnto wyllyaÌ„ waleys whych for lyke treason was put to deth in y e preceding yere taken haÌ„ged quarteryd And some scottes that were taken as prysoners remayned loÌ„ge in EnglaÌ„de or they myght acquite theyr fynaunce Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.vi  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.vii.  Symon Bolet  IohnÌ„ Blount  Anno .xxxv.  Godfrey de la Conduyt  IN thys .xxxv. yere y e kynge for certayne causes hym mouyng retourned agayne into Scotlande Or after some wryters he taryed at Berwyke helde hys Crystmasse Easter in those partyes came nat into EnglaÌ„de after he had scoÌ„fyted y e scottes In the season of somer as he was retournyng into EnglaÌ„de a sykenes toke hym so ferueÌ„tly y e he knew wele he shuld dye wherfore he beyng at Burgthe vpoÌ„ the sande beyonde Carleyll called to hym syr Aymer de Ualance erle of PeÌ„broke syr Henry Percy erle of NorthuÌ„berlande syr HeÌ„ry Lacy erle of LyncolnÌ„ syr Robert Clyfforde baroÌ„ caused them to besworne before hym y t they shuld crowne hys sonne Edwarde in as conuenyent tyme after hys dethe as they myght and
daye of December and so conueyed vnto westmynster where in the octauys of the Epyphanye of our lorde a parlyament was holden durynge the whych certayne soleÌ„pne messangers were sent vnto the kynge to the castell of Kenelworthe that is to saye thre bysshoppes thre erles two abbottes ii barons and two iustyces wyth the procuratoure of that parlyament syr wyllyam Trussell to depose hym of all kyngly dygnytye as before was agreed by all the lordes spyrytuall and temporall and comons of y e sayd parlyament and they to resygne vnto the kynge all homages and feautyes to hym before made in the name of all the barony of England Then the forenamed syr wyllyam Trussell vppon the daye of the conuersyon of saynte Poule or the .xxv. daye of Ianuary by the authoryte of hys offyce in the presence of the foresayd lordes hadde these wordes folowynge vnto the kynge I wyllyam Trussell in y e name of all men of this lande of England and procuratoure of this parlyament resygne to the Edwarde y e homage that was made to the somtyme and from thys tyme forth depryue the of all kyngly power And I shall neuer be attendaunt vnto y e as kynge after thys tyme. And thus was Edwarde the seconde deposyd and his sonne made kynge when he hadde reygned full .xviii. yeres .vi. monethes odde dayes Than Edwarde thus remaynynge in pryson as fyrst in the castell of Kenelworth after in the castell of Barkle toke greate repeÌ„tauÌ„ce of hys former lyfe and made a lamentable complaynte for that he hadde so greuously offended god â–ª wherof a parte I haue after set out but not all leste it shulde be tedyous to the reders or herers Dampnum mihi con tulit tempore brumali Fortuna satis aspera vehementis mali Nullus est tam sapiens mâ—tis aut formosus Tam prudens virtutibus ceterisque famosus Quin stultus reputabitur satis despectus Si fortuna prosperos aâ—ertat effectus These wyth many other after the same makynge I haue seen whyche are reported to be of hys owne makynge in the tyme of hys enprysonement The whych for length of tyme I haue lefte out of thys worke and shewd y e effecte of them in Englysh as foloweth Whan Saturne with his colde isy face The ground with hys frostys turnyth the grene to whyte The tyme of wynter which trees doth deface And causyth all verdure to auoyde quyte Than fortune which sharpe was with stormes not alyte Hath me assautyd with hyr frowarde wyll And me beclypped with daungers ryght yll What man in this worlde is so wyse or fayre So prudent so vertuese or famous vnder thayre But that for a foose and for a man dispised Shal be take whan fortune is from hym deuided Alas now I crye but no man doth me mooue For I sue to them that pytye of me haue none Many with gret honours I dyd whylom auauÌ„ce That nowe wyth dyshonoure done me stynge and launce And suche as somtyme dyd me greatly scere Me dispise and let not with sclauÌ„der me to deere O mercyfull god what loue they dyd me shewe And with detraccion they do me hacke and hewe Alas moste synfull wretche why shulde I thus complayne If god be please â— that I shulde thus susteyne For the great offence before by me doone wherfore to the good sorde I wyll retourne este soone And hooly coÌ„mytte me thy great mercy vntyll And take in pacience all that may be thy wyll And all onely the sâ—rue with all dysygence Alas that before this tyme I had not that cence But now good lord which aâ—â—e â—mnipotent Behold me moste wretched and greatly pâ—nitent And of my trespas forgyuenesse thou me graunt And by what sorow my carkes is now daunt Graunte it may be to my sowle remedy That the sooner I maye attayne it by For to the swete Iesu I yelde me sore wepynge And aske of the pardon for my greuous synnynge Moste blessed Iesu Roote of all vertue Graunte I maye the sue In all humylyte Sen thou for our good Lyste to shede thy blood And stretche the vpon y e roode For our iniquyte And thou most myld mother and virgin most pure That bareste swete Iesu the worlde redempture That shynyst and flouryshest as floure moste sine And lyke as nardus of his swete odoure Passyth all other so thou in all honoure Surmountes all sayntes by thy great excellence Wherfore to praye for my greuouse offence I the beseche Moste holsome leche That thou wylt seche For me suche grace That when my body vyle My soule shall cryle Thou brynge in short whyle It in reste and peace Francia LEwys the xâ— of y e name and sonne vnto Philyppe le Beawe or y e .iiii. Philyppe began his reygne ouer y e realme of FrauÌ„ce in the yere of our lorde M.iii. hundreth and .xv and the .viii. yere of the seconde Edward then kynge of Englande Anone as thys Lewys was crowned Enguer raâ— whyche as ye haue herde was chyefe and moste secrete counccyloure wyth Phylyppe the .iiii. laste kynge of Fraunce was called to accompte by the meane of Charles de Ualoys vncle vnto thys kynge And for so moche as the sayd Enguerram had gyuen sharpe and hastye wordes vnto the sayd Charles in affyrmyng that moche of the kynges treasoure remayned in the handes of the sayde Charles for thys he toke so great displeasure agayne the sayd EnguerraÌ„ and bare towarde hym suche raÌ„coure and malyce that he lefte nat tyll he had bereuyd hym of hys lyfe so that in processe he was accused of .xxxvi. artycles concerning treason iniury done unto kyng Philip foresayde vnto the realme of Fraunce y e which articles in ordre are set out in y e freÌ„ch cronicle whych I here overpasse By force wherof thys Enguerram was lastly conuycte and iuged vnto deth and for the same in the euyn of assencion of our Lorde hanged vppon the gybet of Parys Thys yere also fell greate scarcyte of corne and frute in Fraunce by meane of vnsesonable wederynge as was in Englande in the .ix. and .x. yeres before after of the reygne of Edward the seconde at thys day then kyng of Englande By reason wherof great famyne and deth of poore people fell in Fraunce as it then dyd in Englande ye haue before in the .xxvii. yere of Philip father vnto this Lewys hard howe the Flemynges agayne rebelled howe by the meane of Enguerram the Frenche hoste was then retourned with dishonour into FrauÌ„ce for reuengemeÌ„t wherof thys Lewys assembled a ryght stronge armye of the more partye of all the noble men of FrauÌ„ce in the moneth of SepteÌ„bre entred the countrey of FlauÌ„ders so came vnto y e towne or nere there vnto called Courtray lodged hys people nere vnto the ryuer of Lys or Lyse for so moche as y e brydges ouer that ryuer by the Flemynges were brokeÌ„ where the kyng with hys host so lyeÌ„ge the Flemynges vpoÌ„
had reygned fyue yeres and odde dayes leuynge after hym none heyre of hys body excepte the quene was than wyth chylde whyche chylde dyed soone after y e byrthe wherfore some questions for that kyngedome were moued as before touched in the ende of the fourthe yere of thys Charles after shal be forther expressed Anglia Edwarde the thyrde EDwarde the .iii. of that name sonnÌ„ of Edward the seconde and of Isabell y e alonely doughter chylde of Phylip le Beawe or Phylyppe the fayre father to Charles laste kynge of Fraunce beganne to reygne as kynge of Englande his father yet lyuynge the syx twenty daye of Ianuary in the ende of the yere of grace a thousande thre hundreth and syx and twenty and the fourth yere of Charles the fyfth last kynge of Fraunce and was crowned at westmynster vppon the daye of the puryfycacyon of oure Lady nexte ensuynge In hys begynnynge came forthe plentye and gracyous happes for the erthe tooke plentye the ayre tempoure the see quyetnesse and to the chyrche grewe peace In thys fyrste yere he confermed the lybertyes and fraunchyses of y e cytye of London and ordeyned that the mayre for the tyme beyng shuld sytte in all places of iugement within the lyberty of the same for chiefe iustyce the kynges persone onely excepte that euery alderman that hadde ben mayre shuld be iustyce of peace in all London and Myddelsex eueryche alderman that hadde not be mayre shulde be iustyce of peace wythin his owne warde And also he graunted to the cytezyns the fee ferme of London for .iii. hundreth pownde that they shulde not be constrayned to go out of the cytye to fyghte or defende the land for any nede Also that after that daye the fraunchyse of the cytye shulde not be seasyd into the kynges handes but onely for treason or rebellyon done by the hole cytye And Southwerke was admytted to be vnder the correccyon and rule of the citye and the mayre of London to be baylyffe of Southwerke and the mayre to chose ordeyne such a baylyffe of that borough as hym lyked whiche ordinaunce endureth to this day In the moneth of Apryll for so mych as meanes were made by the frere prechours or the blacke freres for the delyuery of kynge Edwarde the .ii. out of pryson therfore he was had out of the castell of Kenelworth coÌ„ueyed vnto y e castel of Berkeley where after about saynt Mathewys tyde the sayde Edward by y â— meanes of syr Roger Mortimer was myserably slayne Of this Edward are lyke opinyoÌ„s as were of Thomas of Lancaster whyche I referre to goddys iudgement For certayne it is that for hys former wyld and insolent lyuynge he toke greate repentaunce And so he hadde great cause for durynge hys reygne there was hedyd and put to deth by iugement vppon xxviii barons and knyghtes ouer y t noble men that were slayne in Scotlande by hys infortunyte Kynge Edwarde as yet beynge of tender age not passing .xv. yeres heryng of the great pryde and presuÌ„pcyon of the Scottes and howe they dayly warred vpon the borders and entryd the lande in brennynge and spoylyng his people assembled hys people about Easter so sped hym toward Scotland In whych meane tyme the Scottes were entred the land were comen as farre as StaÌ„hop in Uiridale and had lodged theÌ„ in the woddes of Stanhop parke in dyuers bushementys wherof y â— kyng beyng enfourmed made such prouysyon that he beset them rouÌ„de about and trusted well to haue brought theÌ„ vnder hys subieccyon But when the kynge thoughte to be of them moste sure by treason of some of hys hoste the Scottes were clene escaped and retourned into Scotlande wherof y e fame ranne vpon syr Roger Mortymer But how so it was y â— kyng loste that iournay and retourned into Englande with lytle worshyppe And here ye shall vnderstand that to this day the olde mayre and shyryâ—â—es y t is to meane Hamunde Chyckwell Benet Fulham and IohnÌ„ Canston stode in offyce tyll y e day folowyng of SymoÌ„ Iude which was almost y â— full of y e fyrst yere of y e sayd Edward the .iii. And then for the residue of the fyrst yere for the more party of the second yere was electe and charged the mayre and shyryffes folowynge Anno domini M.CCC.xxvi  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxvii  Henry Darcy  Rycharde Betayne  Anno .i.  IohnÌ„ Hawteyne  IN the ende of the fyrste yere of thys kynge Edwarde begynnyng oâ— thys mayres yere the kynge after Crystmas maryed dame Phylyppe y e erles doughter of Henawde in the cytye of yorke in the euyn of y e conuersioÌ„ of saynt Paule or y e .xxiiii. daye of Ianuary And soone after the kyng about y e feast of Pentecoste helde hys parlyament at Northampton At the whych parlyament by euyll couÌ„sayl wherof syr Roger Mortymer the olde quene bare the blame the kynge made wyth the Scottes an vnprofytable and a dyshonorable peace For fyrste he released to theym theyr feauty and homage Also he delyuered vnto theym olde auncyent wrytynges sealed wyth the seales of the kynge of Scottes and of dyuerse lordes of that lande bothe spyrytuall temporall with many other charters patentes by the whyche y e kynges of Scottes oblyged them to be feordaryes vnto y t crowne of Englande At whyche season also was delyuered certeyne iewelles whych before tymes had ben woÌ„ne froÌ„ y e Scottes by kynges of England Amonge the whych the blacke crosse of Scotlande is specyally named a relyke accompted of great preciosyte And nat alonely the kyng by hys synystre couÌ„sayll lost hys tytle and ryght that he had to the realme of Scotlande as farre as the sayd couÌ„sayl might helpe it but also all lordes barones all other men of England that had any landes or rentes within Scotlande loste theyr ryghte in lyke maner excepte they wolde dwel vpon the sayd landes and becomme the kynge of Scottes lyege men And soone after was concluded a maryage betwene Dauyd le Bruze sonne of Robert le Bruze and Iane the kynges syster whyche of diuerse writers is surnamed Iane of the towre or Iohan of Towers Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxvii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxviii  Symon Fraunces  Hamonde Chyckewell  Anno .ii.  Henry Combmartyn  IN thys yere whyche at thys daye was the seconde yere of the kyng Dauyd foresayd the son of Roberte le Bruze thaÌ„ kynge of Scottes maryed vppon the daye of mary Magdaleyne at hys towne than of Berwyke y e fore named Iane syster vnto the kynge of Englande But it was nat longe after or the Scottes in despyte of the Englysshemen called hyr Iane make peace And also to theyr more derysyon they made dyuerse truffes roundes and songes of the whyche one is specially remembred as foloweth ¶ Longe beerdys hartles Paynted hoodes wytles Gay cotes graceles Maketh Englande thryfteles whyche ryme
Derbye and of Northampton wyth other and for the Frenche kynge the dukes of Burbon of Burgoyne with other for hys party But thys agremente stoode to lytle effecte For it nat wyth standynge the warre betwene these two kynges was contynued so that eyther fortyfyed theyr frendes and allyes And soone after happened that where Iohan duke of Brytayn dyed wythout issu variaunce fel betwene Charles de Bloys and IohnÌ„ erle of Mountforde for the tytle of that dukedome so that betwene theÌ„ mortall warre was exercysed as in the story of Phylyppe de Ualoyes shall after more playnly be declared whyche warre so contynuynge the kynge of EnglaÌ„de ayded y e party of the erle of Mountforde and the FreÌ„ch king ayded Charles de Bloys And ouer that duryng the terme of y e sayde treuce the French kyng made warre vpon the Gascoynes as after shall apere And in Scotlande some styrynge was made thys yere by excytynge of the Frenche kynge in so mych that the kynge was fayne to sende thyder a crewe of soudiours to strength suche holdes as he there helde And in thys yere was y e quene delyuered of a man chyld at y e towne of Langeley the whyche after was named Edmunde and surnamed Edmunde of Langley Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xli  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xlii  IohnÌ„ Luskyn  Symond Fraunces  Anno .xvii.  Rycharde Kyslyngbury  IN thys .xvii. yere kynge Edwarde at the request of dyuers of hys yonge lordes and knyghtes suffered to be exercysed certayn poyntes and feates of warre as iustys turnamentes and other whych were executyd at Dunstable where the kynge and the quene were present wyth the more partye of the lordes and ladyes of the lande Thys yere dyed the forenamed IohnÌ„ duke of Brytayne by reason of whose deth the warre as in the precedynge yere is touchyd grewe bytwene the sayde Charlys de Bloyes and the erle of Mountforde Thys Charlys de Bloyes made his claym to that duchery by tytle of his wyfe that was doughter of Guy vycount of Lymogys and seconde brother of the foresayde IohnÌ„ duke of Brytayne And IohnÌ„ erle of Mountfort claymed by the tytle that he was thyrde brother vnto the forenamed duke But of thys mater I entende to shewe more playnely and of the ende therof in the story of Phylyp de Ualoys as before I haue sayde and rather there than here bycause the fayte therof was not done in Englande but in Brytayne wherof the sayde Phylyppe pretendyd rule and chyefe sygnory Anno domini M.CCC.xlii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xliii  IohnÌ„ Stewarde  IohnÌ„ Hamonde  Anno .xviii.  IohnÌ„ AyleshmÌ„  IN thys .xviii. yere the kynge shortely after Easter callyd a parlyament at westmynster In tyme wherof Edwarde hys eldeste sonne was creatyd prynce of walys And many ordynauÌ„ces for the weale of y e lande there were enactyd whych for length I passe ouer In thys yere also Clement the .vi. of y e name whyche newly was made pope toke vpon hym to gyue dyuers bysshopryches and benefyces which then fell voyde in Englande wherwyth the kynge was nothynge contented in so mych that he sent out coÌ„myssyons and strayte commaundementes that no man in tyme folowynge shulde present or inducte any suche persone or persones that so by the pope were promoted wythout y e agremente of the kynge as farre as towchyd hys prerogatyue The sayd pope Clement was fyrste archebysshoppe of Roan and munke of saynt Benettes order a Frencheman of byrth and before called Peter a man of excellent cunnyng but a waster of goddes patrymony promoted to y e dygnyte by instaunt laboure of the Frenche kyng which sent hys sonne IohnÌ„ duke of Normandy the duke of Burgoyn vnto the cytye of Auynyon or AuygnoÌ„ to procure and further the eleccyon By meane wherof he was there chosen pope aboute the vii day of May and tronysed in the sayd moneth of May in the begynnynge of the yere of grace after thaccompte of the chyrche of Englande M.CCC .xliii. By meanes and fauoure of whyche pope the Frenche kynges causes and maters betwene kynge Edwarde and hym were some deale promoted For as testyfieth the Frenche boke the French kyng thys yere put to deth one mayster HeÌ„ry de Malestrete a graduat man and brother vnto syr Godfrey de Malestrete knyght lately also put to deth by the sayde Frenche kynge for theyr fydelyte whyche they bare towarde kyng Edward as hys feodaryes wherof kynge Edwarde made hys coÌ„playnt vnto the pope of thys and other thynges to be done contrary the constytucyons of the former peace concluded by the two cardynalles and had therof no remedye In thys yere also kynge Edwarde made a coyne of fyne golde and named it the Floryne that is to say the peny of the value of syxe s. viii d. the halfe peny of the value of thre s. iiii d and the far thynge of the value of .xx. d. whyche coyne was ordeyned for hys warres in Fraunce for the golde therof was nat so fyne as was the noble whyche he before in hys fourthen yere of hys reygne had caused to be coyned Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xliii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xliiii  Geffrey wychyngham  Iohan Hamonde  Anno .xix.  Thomas Legge  IN thys .xix. yere the kyng held a solempne feaste at hys castell of wyndsore where betwene Candel masse and lent were holden or executed many marcyall actes as iustes tournamentes with diuerse other at the whyche were present many strauÌ„gers of other landes And in y e ende therof he there deuysed the order of the garter and after stablisshed it as at thys daye it is contynued In this yere about midsomer kyng Edward wyth a stronge armye sayled vnto Sluse and so into lytle Brytayne But for he was dyspoynted of the ayde of the Flemynges by reason of the deth of hys trusty frende Iaques de Artyuele whyche than was slayn of the Flemynges of Gaunt by a coÌ„spyracy that they made agayne hym by suche as fauoured the partye of y e French kyng he tourned home into Englande agayne the same yere leuynge behynde hym the erle of Salysbury with a stronge company to ayde IohnÌ„ erle of MouÌ„tforde agayn syr Charles de Bloys The whyche IohnÌ„ by the ayde of the EnglysshmeÌ„ wan diuerse townes holdes in Brytayne vpoÌ„ the sayd syr Charles his FrenchmeÌ„ But in the ende of thys yere he was taken with such sykenes y t he dyed in a towne called Corentyne After whose deth the sayd Charles posseded the more parte of the duchye of Brytayne Thys yere the kyng sent y e erle of Derby with a stroÌ„g army into GuyaÌ„ for to ayde the erle of NorthaÌ„pton whome y e kynge before had left there at Burdeaux to streÌ„gth that couÌ„trey agayne the French men To whome after the dethe of the forenamed syr IohnÌ„ erle of Mountforde drewe many of the soudyours that were on his partye Anno domini M.CCC.xliiii Â
forenamed duke Appellaūte after thys noble duke of Lācastre to the great honour of all Englande And soone after dyuers obseruaūces accordyng to the law of armys done solempne othes taken eyther set in the rest to haue rōne the fyrst course But kynge Iohan of hys especyall grace ceased y e mater toke the quarell into hys handes so that eyther of theym departed the felde wythout any stroke strykynge and pacyfyed the appeale to the honoure of the duke of Lancastre as wytnesseth the Frenche boke nat wyth standynge he was the French kynges enemye And soone after the sayde duke of Lancastre wyth other nobles assygned to hym by the kyng of England wentte to Auynyon wyth the archebysshoppe of Roan than chaunceller of Fraunce and the duke of Burbō and other appoynted for the kynge of Fraunce to conclude efte a peace betwene theyr two prynces The whyche at the cytye beforesayd were harde at lengthe before the newe pope than named Innocente the .vi. whych also lyke to hys predecessour was a Frencheman and cardynall of Lymosyne in Normādy called by hys proper name Stephan Aubert In conclusyon after great argumēte made on eyther partye before the pope and hys counsayl fynally it was agreed that y e peace betwene the .ii. kynges shuld be kept holden inuiolate tyll mydsomer next folowynge Anno domini M.CCC.liii  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.liiii  wyllyam Tontynghm̄  Thomas Legge  Anno .xxix.  Rycharde Smert  IN thys .xxix. yere kynge Edward by the aduyce of hys coūsayll for so moche as the townes of Flaunders brake theyr promyse before tyme made and helde nat the bādes of amyte by theym promysed by the lyfe of Iaques de Artyuele but fauoured the Frēche kynges partye therefore he with drewe from theym the markettes and staples of wolles that in sondry townes of Flaunders had than lately by the prouycyon of the foresayd Iaques to theyr greate aduauntage vsed to be kept and ordeyned than the sayde staples to be holden in sondry good townes of Englande as westmynster Chychester Lyncolne Brystowe and Caunterbury And shortely after Easter the Frenche kynge sent hys eldest sonne Charles dolphyne of Uyenne into Normandy for to take the rule of y e countre and specially for to sease certayne landes castelles whyche at y e daye belonged vnto the kyng of Nauerne whyche than was oute of the Frenche kynges fauour for the deth of syr Charles of Spayne constable lately of Fraūce y t he had by his meanes murdered in a towne called the Aygle in Normandy vpō .ii. yeres before passed And whyle y e sayd dolphyne was thus besyed in Normādy he made suche meanes to y e rulers therof that they graūted vnto hym ayde of .iii. M. mē for .iii. moneths at theyr proper costes and charges Of thys soone after sprange suche tydinges y t the kyng of Englād was enfourmed that the Frēch kyng had gyuen to hys sonne Charles y e duchy of Normandy with all Gascoygne Guyan and howe y e Normānes had graūted vnto y e sayd Charles .iii. M. mē for .iii. moneths to warre at theyr costes vpō y e Englyshmē whych as y e Frēch boke testifieth was graūted to hym onely to defēde y e kyng of Nauerne y t came to Cōstātyne shortly after for to repossesse all such lādes as the sayd dolphyn of hys had there seased for that wyth a bygge armye made warre vpon the sayd dolphyn But were it thus or otherwyse trouth it is as diuers wryters agreē in the moneth of October and ende of thys yere prynce Edwarde wyth a great hoste entred Gascoyne and passed by Tholouse and passed the ryuer of Gerounde or Geron̄ and so passed by Carcassyon and brent the bulwerkes of that cytye and from thens he rode to Nerbon̄ in pyllyng spoylynge the countre as he went And in the same yere kynge Edwarde wyth his power landed at his towne of Caleys where he rested hī by all y e tyme of this mayres yere And in this yere was the house of the freres Augustynes of Londō fynysshed whyche was reedyfyed by syr Humfrey Bohum erle of Hertforde and Essex whose body lyeth buryed in the quere of the sayde house or chyrche before the hygh aulter Anno domini M.CCC.liiii  Anno domini M.CCC.lv  Thomas Forster  Symon Franceys  Anno .xxx.  Thomas Brandon  IN this .xxx. yere the kynge as ye before haue herde beyng at Caleys shortly after the feast of Alhalloyne toke his iournay towarde the Frenche kynge and contynued his iournay tyll he came to a towne named Hesden and brake there the Frenche kynges parke toke suche pleasures as hym there lyked In whiche season of his there beynge tydynges were brought vnto hym y t y e Scottes had gotē y e towne of Berwyke and how they made dayly assautes to wynne the castell wherfore the kyng made the more hasty spede and returned to Caleys and so into Englande For whiche cause sayth y e Frenche cronycle y t kynge Edwarde fled from the Frenche kynge y t than with a strōge power came from Amy as vnto saynt Omers Than kynge Edwarde sped hym into Scotlande so y t in the moneth of Ianuary and begynnynge of the xxx yere of his reygne and .xxvii. day of the sayd moneth he layd his syege to y e towne of Berwyke had it yolden vnto hym in shorte processe of tyme after And that doone he entred ferther into the lande and subdued y e cheyf townes holdes as he went pursued the Scottysshe kynge so narowly that in the ende he was fayne to submytte hym to y e kynges grace as prysoner and resygned his power into the kynges hande And whan kynge Edwarde had set that coūtre in a rule he returned with the Scottysshe kyng agayne into Englande and called his courte of parlyament at westmynster In y e whiche amōge other thynges to the kynges auauntage was graunted to the mayntenaunce of his warres .l. s. of a sacke of woll for y e terme of .vi. yeres But it contynued lenger though the marchaūtes staplers therat grutched Than let vs now retourne vnto that noble prynce Edward the fyrst begotten sonne of the kynge whych by all thys tyme warred vppon the Frenchmen as in y e precedynge yere is touchyd So that lastly he retourned to Burdeaux wyth many ryche prysoners and pyllages to the great honoure of hym selfe and the greate auauncement of hys soudyours And all be it that in that countrees whyche he then passed were the erles of Armenake and of Foyze of Poytyers and of Cleremount wyth syr Iames de Burbon̄ and many other knyghtes the whyche hadde dowble the people as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle that the prynce had yet passed he from Tholous to Nerbon̄ fro Nerbon̄ to Burdeaux wythout batayle And after the prynce hadde there a whyle rested hym and hys people and sent dyuers of hys prysoners in to Englande he wyth hys hoste entred the
kept to the entent that at all tymes when any cytesyne wolde borowe any money that he shulde haue it there for the space of a yere to laye for suche a summe as he wold haue plate or other iewellys to a suffycyente gayge so that he excedyd not the summe of an hundreth marke And for the occupyenge therof yf he were lerned to saye at hys pleasure De profundis for the soule of IohnÌ„ Bernys and all christen soules as often tymes as in hys summe were comprysed .x. markes As he that borowed but .x. marke shulde saye but ouer that prayer And yf he had .xx. marke then to saye it twyes and so after the rate And yf he were not lerned then to saye so often hys Pater noster But how so thys money was lent or gyded at thys daye the cheste remayneth in the chamber of London wythout money or pledges for the same Anno domini M.CCC.lxx  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxi  Robert Hatfelde  IohnÌ„ Bernes  Anno .xlvi.  Robert GaytonÌ„  IN thys .xlvi. yere and moneth of February kynge Edwarde helde hys parlyamente at westmynster In the whych he asked of the spirytualtye .l. M. li as moch of y e laye fee. The whych by the temporal was graunted but the clergye kepte them of wyth plesaunt answeres So that the kyng and hys couÌ„sayll was with them dyscontented in so moche that to theyr dyspleasures dyuers offycers as the chaunceler the pryuye seale the tresourer and other were remoued beyng spyrytuall men and in theyr offyces places temporall men set in And shortly after the foresayde cardynall of Beauuays came into Englande to treate of the peace betwene the .ii. realmes But he spedde nothyng to the effect therof wherfore in the moneth of Iuly y e Frenche kyng sente into the countre of Poyteaw the forenamed syr Barthram de ClayconÌ„ wyth a stronge armye where he wan dyuers holdes fortresses from the Englyshmen In whyche season kynge Edwarde for strengthyng of the couÌ„tre specially to defende y e towne of Rochell which as aboue in the other yere is shewed was at this yere besieged by the sayd syr Barthran sente the erle of Penbroke wyth other noble men to forty fye the sayde towne and to remoue y e syege But or he myght wynne to the sayd towne he was encountred with a flote of Spaynardes the whyche kyng Henry of Castyle had sent into Fraunce to strength the French kynges partye Of the whyche flote after longe and cruell fyght the sayde erle was taken wyth syr Guycharde de Angle and other to the nombre of C and thre score prysoners the more partye of hys men slayne and drowned wyth the losse of many good shyppes And in the begynnyng of the moneth of Septembre folowyng a Gascoygne borne a man of good fame whome the kyng of England had admytted for hys lyeutenaunt gouernoure of the countre of Poyteaw named le Captall de Bueffe faughte wyth an armye of Frenchmen before a towne named Sonbyse where in conclusyon hys men were slayne and chased he wyth .lxx. of hys partie taken prysoners Than the dukes of Berry of Burgoyne vppon the .vi. daye of Septembre came before Rochell and had certayne communicacioÌ„s with y e rulers of the sayd towne for the delyuery therof In this passe tyme season kyng Edward heryng of the takyng of the erle of PeÌ„broke of the losse that he dayly had of hys men in dyuers partyes of Fraunce with also the ieopardye that y e towne of Rochell and other stode in made hasty prouysyon entendyd to haue passed the see But the wynde was coÌ„traryous that he myght haue no passage wherfore he retourned as sayth PolicronicoÌ„ agayne into the land Than vpon the .viii. daye of Septembre beforesayd the captayne of Rochell hauynge no coÌ„forte of short rescous yelded vppon certayne appoyntementes the sayde towne vnto the forenamed dukes vnto the FreÌ„ch kynges vse And shortely after were also yolden to theym the townes of Angolesme of ExaÌ„ctes of saiÌ„t IohnÌ„ de Angely wyth dyuers other Anno domini M.CCC.lxxi  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxii  IohnÌ„ Phylpotte  IohnÌ„ Pyell  Anno .xlv.  Nycholas Brember  IN thys .xlvii. yere at a wrestelynge holden vpon blake Heth besyde London was slayne a mercer of LondoÌ„ named IohnÌ„ Northwode For the whyche greate dyssencyon grewe amonge the felyshyppes of y e cytye to the houge dystourbaunce of it and a good season after or the rancoure thereof myghte be duely appeased In thys yere also the duke of LaÌ„castre syr IohnÌ„ of Gaunt syr EdmuÌ„de his brother erle of Cambriged wedded the two doughters of Peter whyche was late kynge of Castyle put to deth by HeÌ„ry hys bastarde brother as before I haue shewed in the xliii yere of thys kyngê reygne Of y e whyche two doughters syr IohnÌ„ of Gaunt maryed the eldest named CoÌ„stance hys brother the yonger named Isabell so that by these maryages these .ii. bretherne claymed to be enherytours of the kyngdome of Castyle or Spayne And in thys yere after the duke of Brytayne had receyued many exortacyons requestes frome the Frenche kyng to haue hym vpon hys partye he sente for certayne sowdyours of Englishmen strengthed with them some of thys castelles holdes wherof heryng kyng Charles sent thyder wyth a stronge power the forenamed syr Barthran de Claycon warnyng theym to make warre vpon them as an enemye vnto the house of FrauÌ„ce The whyche accordynge to theyr coÌ„mission entred the lande of Brytayn in wastyng it with irne fyre and in shorte processe had yolden vnto hym the more partye of the chyef townes excepte Brest Aulroy and Deruall Than in the ende of Iuny the sayde syr Barthran layd syege vnto Brest the lord of Craon wyth other laye before Daruall In all whyche season the duke of Brytayne was in Englande For so soone as he hadde as before is sayd bestowed the foresayd Englyshe sowdyours he sayled into Englande to speke wyth kynge Edwarde In the moneth of Iuly the duke of LaÌ„castre wyth syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„t forde duke of Brytayne other with a myghty puyssaunce landed at Caleys And after they had rested them there a certayn days they rode vnto Hesden and lodged them within the parke an other season And after passed by DourloÌ„s by Benquesne and so vnto Corbye where they passed y e ryuer of Some and rode vnto Roy in Uermendoys where they rested them by the space of .vii. dayes At whych terme ende they set fyre vpon the towne toke theyr way towarde Laemoys and burned spoyled the countre as they weÌ„t And in processe of tyme passed the ryuers of Osne Marne and of Aube rode thorugh ChaÌ„payne by the erledome of Brame streyghte vnto Guy passed the ryuer of Seyn so towarde y e ryuer of Leyr and vnto Marcynguy y e noÌ„nery And whan they were passed the sayd nonnery they kepte theyr waye
Flemynges helde on theyr waye tyll they came nere vnto the kynges tent which thaÌ„ was also vnarmed But by the noyse crye he beynge warned â–ª in all haste armed hym In the whyche season as god wolde for the Frenche hoste certayne Marshallys of the Frenche hoste wyth a stronge company retorned from y e assaute of an holde therby and encountred the Flemynges and helde wyth them batayll whyle the kynge and his lordes made them redy So that in processe the Flemynges were closed wyth theyr enemyes and had a sharpe and cruell fyghte wherin they defended theym vygorously But in the ende the losse of y â— felde iourned vpon the Flemynges so y t the capytayne named 〈◊〉 was slayne wyth many other to the nombre of .xviii. M. aboue as wytnesseth the Frenche boke ouer many whyche were there taken prysoners of poore men and artyfycers for the multitude of the gentylmeÌ„ were vpoÌ„ the erles partye After whyche victorye thus opteyned by the kynge anone he caused y e sayde towne of Cassell to be set vpon a fyre after yode vnto Bruges and had it yolden vnto hym And in lyke wyse was Ipre Poperynge Fournays Tournaye Terrouer many other good townes yoldeÌ„ vnto hym Amonge the whyche GauÌ„t is nat named wherfore it is to deme that it was none of those townes y t at thys season rebelled ThaÌ„ in short proces folowynge the kyng had the rule of the hole erledome of Flaunders and delyuered the possessyon therof vnto Lowys the foresayde erle of that couÌ„tre and after retourned into FrauÌ„ce wyth pompe leuynge the erle in hys countye of Flaundres TheÌ„ whyche dyd after so cruell iustyce vppon hys subiectes that he put to deth by dyuerse tourmentes as rakkynge heddynge hangynge in sondry townes places of hys lordshyppes vpoÌ„ the noÌ„bre of .x. M ouer aboue many dyuers whych were banysshed som for fewe yeres some for many som for euermore IN the secoÌ„de yere of thys kyng Phylyp lyke as before is shewed in the thyrde yere of kynge Edwarde the sayd Edwarde made hys homage vnto the sayde Phylyp in y e towne of Amyas for the duchy of Guyon countye of Poytyers And soone after thys Phylype sente into Flaundres dyuers bysshoppes and other noble men by whose meanes y e gates of Brugê of Ipre of Courtray and of other townes were abated throwen downe for fere lest the sayde townes wolde oft rebell agayne hym or theyr erle In thys yere also syr Roberte de Artoys began hys plee in parlyameÌ„t agayne Iohan countesse of Artoys for that erledome in claymynge the ryght therof by certayne endentures of couenauÌ„tes of maryage betwene syr Phylype de Artoys hys father dame BlauÌ„che of Brytayne hys mother whyche wrytynges had ben by longe tyme kept from hym and now newly founden And for to haue the better expedicion in hys matter he brought vnto the kynge the erle of Alenson the duke of Brytayne with dyuers nobles the whyche made request for hym to the kyng y t he might haue iustyce And with the countesse came the duke of Burgoyne Lowys erle of Flaundres and dyuers other noble men makynge lyke request for her and for her ryght Than syr Robert shewed forth a wrytynge sealed wyth the seale of armys of the erle of Artoys conteynynge that whan the maryage was soleÌ„pnysed of syr Phylyp de Artoys father to the sayd Robert of dame Blaunche doughter vnto the duke of Brytayne and mother vnto the sayd Robert it was accorded that the sayd syr Phylyp hys father gaue vnto y e sayd dame BlauÌ„che and to her heyres the erledome of Artoys whiche wrytynges at the instaunce prayer of the countesse of Artoys were than delyuered into y e court to be kept sayeng that the sayd wrytynges were vntrewe couÌ„terfeted Upon the whych the sayde countesse brought suffycient prouffe that the sayd wrytynges were falsely made sealed by a gentylwomaÌ„ doughter vnto the lorde of Dygnon of the castell of Bethune y t whyche was so lerned in Astronomy y t she toke vpon her to shew thynges to come wherin somtyme she happed vpon the soth but more oftener she fayled By meanes of whyche womaÌ„ an olde chartre sealed wyth the seale of the forenamed syr Phylip was fouÌ„d the whych she craftely toke of set it vpon a new writyng made to y e auauÌ„tage of the sayd syr Robert of Artoys after presented them vnto the sayd syr Robert sayenge y t she had founde theÌ„ in the town of Acras The which he ioyfully receyued and made hys tytle and clayme vpoÌ„ the same This matter thus haÌ„gyng before the kyng and hys lordes in the .iii. yere of hys reygne in y e cytye of Parys after due prouffe made vpon the same the sentence was gyuen agayne syr Robert of Artoys to hys great dyspleasure In so moche that he sayd openly by me he was made a kynge and by me he shal be dysmyssed yf I maye And for he fered to be caste in pryson by y e French kyng he therefore conueyed hys horse and goodes secretely vnto Burdeaux vpon GerouÌ„de and there toke shyppyng and so passed into Englande hys sayd horses and treasour hym selfe yode vnto hys cosyne the duke of BrabaÌ„t with whome he bode a certayne of tyme after passed into EnglaÌ„de and excyted kyng Edward hougely for to make warre vpon the Frenche kynge In the .iiii. yere of y e reygne of this Phylip the sayd syr Robert was proclaymed open enemy to the crown of Fraunce and hys landes seased into the Frenche kynges handes and he banysshed the lande for euer excepte that he within a moneth after Easter next ensuyng wolde come into y e kynges court submyt hym hooly vnto the kynges grace whyche senteÌ„ce passed agayne hym for so moche as he apered nat In y e .vi. yere of the reygne of this Philip the wyfe of syr Robert of Artoys y t whych was syster vnto kyng Philip was accused to be a great occasioner of the offence of her husbaÌ„d For y e which she with her childer was sent into Gastenoys there holden in strayte pryson In y e .viii. yere of hys reygne kyng Philip vysyted diuers parties of his realme in y e doynge vysyted many places of pylgrymages which before he had promysed to seche for the restitucioÌ„ of helth to his eldest sonnÌ„ IohnÌ„ thaÌ„ duke of NormaÌ„dy whych y e yere before my meane of sekenes was in great ieopardy of lyfe coÌ„tynuynge the sayd iourney rode vnto AuygnoÌ„ and vysyted there y e pope than beyng Benet the .xii. of y e name And whaÌ„ he had sped hys nedes wyth hym he yode into the prouynce of Mercyle for to se there his nauy and after retourned by Burgoyne where of the duke he was royally receyued and feested In which season of his there tarieng a coÌ„playnt was brought before hym by y e sayd duke agayne syr IohnÌ„ de Chalon for clayme of
a poore lyfe to y e whyche thys Gawyn resorted releued And lastely whaÌ„ne he thoughte he was somdele of hym assured he brake vnto hym hys mynde sayd if he wolde be ruled by hym he wolde restore hym to hys former prosperite welth wheruÌ„to thys Colyner grauÌ„ted ThaÌ„ anone thys Gawyn shewed hym a lettre wylled hym to bere it vnto y e kyng of EnglaÌ„d with certayn rewarde to hym gyuyng also promysyng of moch more with that y t he retourned to hym shortly to y e citie of Raynes with aÌ„swere of y e same whaÌ„ thys poore and indygeÌ„t man had receiued this lettre he cast many ê‘elles in hys mynde How be it fynally coÌ„trary his othe and promyse he toke hys waye towarde the French kyng and presented hym with y e letter in y e whych was expressed all the maner ordre how the sayd citie of LaoÌ„ shuld be betrayed whan the kyng was aduertysed of all the circumstaunce of thys treason he enfourmed this Colyner how he shuld behaue hym selfe in beryng of hys answere and prouyded hys tyme accordynge as though he had ben in EnglaÌ„d by conuenieÌ„t day came vnto hym to Raynys accordyng to the former appoyntmente In whych season the kynge had sent in secrete maner vnto the prouoste of Raynes that so soone as the sayd Colyner had shewed to the sayd Gawyn his answere y t the sayd Gawyn shuld be attached and had vnto pryson the whyche was accordyngly executed And in short processe folowynge for so moch as he was within ordres he was by the prouost sent vnto y e cytye of Laon and there put to the bisshoppes pryson But whan y e comoÌ„s of y e sayd cytye harde of suche a maÌ„ there beyng prysoner that wolde haue betrayed theyr cytie they assembled theÌ„ in great multitude wold haue broken the prysoÌ„ to y e ende to haue slayn hym But they were so paciently answered by the bysshoppes offycers y t they retourned vnto theyr houses Upon the morow folowyng to cease y e rumour of y e peple he was brought vnto his iugement there condempned for his dymeryte vnto perpetual pryson And more therunto was added y t for his more diffamy shame he shulde be sette in a tumbrel vpon hygh bareheded that of all people he myght be seen so with moste shamefull instrumentes lad throughe the hygh stretes of y e cytye and brought agayn vnto y e bisshopes pryson and there to remayne for terme of lyfe But he was nat fer in such maner coÌ„ueyed by y e offycers froÌ„ y e Gaole but the coÌ„mons fyl vpon hym with crye castyng of myre stones that or he were halfe way lad of hys circuyte or progresse he was stoned to deth and after his body buryed within a maroys nere vnto the sayd cytye And shortely after at Parys was done to cruell deth a cytezyn of y e sayd citie which enteÌ„ded to haue betrayed the sayd cytye of Parys For y e which treason he was fyrst dismeÌ„bred of legges armes and after haÌ„ged by the nek vpon the gybet of Parys In the same yere aboute y e feest of saynt IohnÌ„ Baptyst y e Englyshmen y t had holdeÌ„ the towne castell called the roch of Aryan in Brytayn by the terme of two yeres passed at this season they were besieged fiersly assauted by syr Charles de Bloys and his frendes in so furyous maner y t they rent wyth great ordenaunce dyuers places of the castell walles in processe threwe downe the rofe of a chaÌ„bre where the wyfe of the capytayne of the castell lay in her chyld bed so ferre put in fere that the rulers of the towne and castell grauÌ„ted to delyuer the towne castell to y e sayd syr Charles wyth that they myghte departe with theyr lyues goodes y e whyche offer to hys payne charge he refused For in short tyme after syr Thomas of AgornÌ„ an englysshe knyghte wyth a stroÌ„ge company of archers other sowdyours rescowed the sayd towne castell And after loÌ„ge fyght and great dauÌ„ger as by loÌ„ge proces is declared in the FreÌ„che story y e sayd syr Thomas toke the sayde Charles de Bloys prysoner and slewe many of hys lordes as before is shortely touched in the ende of the .xxii. yere of kyng Edwarde After whych victory thus opteyned hys prysoners put in suer kepynge he toke y e ordenauÌ„ce of the duke left in y e felde wyth other pyllage put it wythin the towne castell aforesayd And for y e vyllages and meÌ„ of the couÌ„tre there about had ayde the duke agayne the towne and castel therfore the sayd syr Thomas punysshed the sayd vyllages and ruralles by greuous fynes helde theÌ„ in great seruytude and daunger and ouer y e slewe many of theym many they helde as drudges captyues And thys done the Englysshmen repayred agayne the walles and suche other places as were before tyme beten downe by force of the sayd syege strengthed it in theyr best maner IT was nat longe after y e kyng Phylype at the requeste of the couÌ„tre sent thyder the lord of CaronÌ„ wyth a stronge army to whome also great multytude of the people of that countre resorted wyth whose aydes the sayd lorde assayled the sayd town castell by .ii. dayes contynuell But the EnglysshemeÌ„ deffended them selfe vygurously and threw vpoÌ„ theyr enemyes hote boylynge oyles and other gresys with fyre coles hote asshes wherwith they greued theyr enemies paynfully Thus coÌ„tynuyng the siege meanes of treaty were offered and coÌ„dyssended to yelde the towne with condicyoÌ„ that they mynght saufely depart with theyr lyues and goodes but the FreÌ„chemen and Brytons wolde nat to it be agreable Than the assaute began of new And the lord of CaronÌ„ to encourage hys sowdyours henge a purse and therein .l. scutes of golde vpon a sperys ende and cryed wyth lowde voyce that who that fyrste entred the towne shulde haue the sayde l. scutes of golde whan the ianuays or sowdyours of the cytye of Ieane and of the cytye of Italye harde the promyse of theyr cheuytayne a certayne of theym with longe pycaxses and sharpe approched theym vnto y e wallys and so demeaned them that in lesse than .v. houres they mynded so the wall that there fyll thereof as testyfyeth the sayde Frenche cronycle the lengthe of .l. fote By reason wherof entred fyrste the Ianuays after the hole hoste The whych with out compassyon or pyte slewe man woman chylde that came in theyr waye nat sparynge the chylder that souked vpon the mothers brestes spoyled and robbed the towne euery man gettynge what he myght to his owne aduauntage And whanne the FreÌ„chmeÌ„ and Brytons had thus miserably slayne many EnglysshmeÌ„ also BrytoÌ„s other inhabytauÌ„tes of the towne they than assayled the castel to y e which was fled vpoÌ„ .ii. C. .xl EnglyshmeÌ„ After dyuers assautes it was offered by the sowdyours
of the castell y t they wolde yelde the castell theyr lyues and goodes saued And finally it was agreed theyr bodies onely to departe to be cōueyed .x. miles vpon theyr waye towarde such place as they wolde appoynt vpō y e which appoyntement .ii. knyghtes Brytons y t is to saye syr Syluester de la Fulle and syr wyllm̄ de Stratton receyued them in theyr cotes and cōueyed thē with great payne nat without losse of some For theyr enemies of y e hoste caste stones at theym and bete them so with theyr staues that dyuers of theym dyed the remenaunt were broughte nere vnto a castell than in the power of Englysshemen named Quyntyne But whan the commōs of y e town there nere harde of the cōmynge of suche Englysshmen vnder saufe conduyt the whiche before in the batayl of the roche of Arian where syr Charles de Bloys was taken had slayne theyr lord that is to meane the lorde of Quyntyne anone they issued oute of the towne and for they fonde lytel resystence in theyr guydes they slew theym there excepte one whych was capytayne of the Englyshmē whych one of y e sayd knyghtes caused to be set vpon hys horse so fledde frō the peryll And whā the cruell Brytons had thus shamefully slayne the Englyshmen they gadered y e cariens vp on an hepe suffered theym there so to lye to y e ende that beastes foules myght deuoure them And in shorte tyme after y e erle of Flaūdres by meanes of the Frēch kyng left the doughter of kynge Edwarde and was maryed vnto the doughter of y e duke of Brabant In the .xx. yere of Phylyp y e town of Calays was goten lyke as the circumstaūce thereof is declared in the xxii yere of kyng Edward the thyrd And in the same yere the mortalite or sykenes whych after reygned in Englande reygned nowe feruentely in Fraunce and moste specially in the cytye of Auynyon by force wherof y e thyrde parte of the people of y e cytye dyed And frome thens it came vnto saint Denys and so vnto Parys In which coost it was so feruent y t there dyed in those .ii. townes ouer the nōbre of .lvi. M. within y e space of .xviii monethes And in thys yere the dolphyne of Uyen named syr ymberte solde hys dolphynage vnto the Frēch kyng became a freer at Lyon vpō the rosne of the ordre of the freer prechours or blacke freers In the .xxi. yere of thys Phylyp Charles the fyrste begotten sonne of Iohn̄ duke of Normādy eldest sonne of thys Phylip toke possession of the sayd dolphynage of Uyen And in the moneth of August folowyng dyed y e duchesse of Normādy and mother of the sayd Charles And in the moneth of Decembre folowynge dyed dame Iane quene of Fraūce doughter of Robert duke of Burgoyn And in thys yere was the treason wroughte by syr Godfrey de Charny to haue agayne wonne the towne of Calays lyke as I to you before haue shewed in the .xxiiii. yere of kyng Edward y e iii. And in y e moneth of Ianuary next ensuynge .ix. day of the same kyng Phylyp spoused hys .ii. wyfe Blaūche somtyme y e doughter of y e quene of Nauerne lately dyscesed whyche was syster vnto the erle of Foyze whyche espousayles were secretely done in the manour of Robert erle of Bray And so the sayde kyng Philip was wydowe frome the .xii. daye of Decembre to the nynthe daye of Ianuary whyche was by the space of xxviii dayes And vpon the .ix. day of the moneth of February Iohn̄ duke of Normandy eldeste sonne of thys Philippe spoused hys seconde wyfe Iohanne Countesse of Boloygne at a towne called Miriaux nere vnto Meulene And so he morned for hys wyfe whych was named y e good Duchesse of Normandy by the terme of vi moneths .ii. dayes lackynge In the .xxii. yere of kyng Philip moneth of Iuly syr Thomas de Agorne befornamed was by chaūce medly slayne of a Brytō knyght called syr Raufe de Cuours And vpon the .xxiii. daye of August folowynge dyed syr Phylyp de Ualoys kyng of Fraūce whā he had reygned ouer y e Frēchmen in great vexaciō trouble by the space of .xxii. yeres lackynge v. monethes odde dayes and was after enterred at saynt Denis by his fyrste wyfe left after hī Iohn̄ duke of Normandy for hys heyre ¶ Of kynge Iohn̄ IOhn̄ the fyrste of that name sonne of Phylype de Ualoys began to raygne ouer the Frenchmē in the moneth of August yere of our lord M.CCC and .l .xxiiii. yere of Edwarde the .iii. than kyng of Englande was crowned at Raynes the xxvi day of Septembre folowynge wyth dame Iohanne hys wyfe In tyme of the whych solempnite kyng Iohn̄ dubbed hys eldeste sonne dolphyne of Uyen and Lowys hys .ii. sonne erle of Alēson knyghtes with other noble men And vpon the .xvi. daye of Nouēbre folowynge syr Rauffe erle of Ew and cōstable of Guynes whā it was Frenche the whych was newly commen out of Englande where he had ben longe prysoner was accused of treason and so commaūded vnto pryson at Parys within whyche pryson he was shortly after byheded in y e presence of the duke of Burgoyne and other nobles In the thyrde yere of kyng Iohn̄ viii day of Ianuary Charles kyng of Nauerne caused to be slayne with in the towne of Aygle in Normandy syr Charles de Spayne cōstable of Fraūce For the whych murdre sourdyd great warre betwene kynge Iohan the sayde kynge of Nauerne whych contynued many yeres after natwithstādyng that the sayd kynge of Nauerne had maryed the doughter of y e sayd kyng Iohn̄ Thā by meditaciō of frendes a peas was dryuē betwene theym so that kyng Iohan shuld gyue vnto y e kyng of Nauerne for contētacyon of certayne summes of money yet owynge vnto hym for the dower of hys wyfe certayne landes within the duchy of Normandy and ouer that the Frēche kyng shuld pardone all suche persones as were consentynge to the deth of the constable before murdred After whych treaty thus concluded the kynge of Nauerne vnder assuraunce of hostage came vnto kyng Iohn̄s presence at Parys And after he had taried there a season he departed with dyssymulacion on eyther partye vsed as after shall appere In the .iiii. yere of kyng Iohn̄ syr Godfrey de Harecourt whych wyth hys sonne other hadde ben consentynge vnto the deth of the constable of Fraunce were reconsyled agayne to the kynge The whyche ensensed hym agayne the kynge of Nauerne by meanes of theyr sinister report so that the peace betwene theym before cōcluded was dysapoynted brokē And soone vpon thys syr Robert de Loryze that was chamberlayn vnto kynge Iohn̄ auoyded the courte for fere leste the sayde syr Godfrey hadde shewed of hym any thynge to the kynge and so yode vnto the kynge of Nauerne in Normandy After whose commyng the kynge of Nauerne departed
to the value of a M. marke sterlynge Upon a tuysdaye beyng the fyrste day of Iuly was foughten a batayll at Parys betwene two knyghtes wherof the appellaunte was named syr Foukes Dorciat and the defendauÌ„t syr Maugot Mawbert whych appellauÌ„t was sore vexed with a feuer quarteyne by reason wherof and of the great hete that y e day appered after longe fyght the sayd appellauÌ„t lyght from hys horse for hys refresshemeÌ„t wherfore hys frendes of hym were in great doute But his enemye was also so sore trauayled y t what for hete laboure he was also ouercome was lykely to haue fallen froÌ„ hys horse and or he myght be taken downe he swowned dyed whan syr Fowkes was ware of y e feblenesse of hys enemye anon as he might he dressed hym on fote toward hys aduersary fande hym starke dede whyche by lyceÌ„ce of the kynge was after had out of the feelde and secretlo buryed the sayde syr Fowkes for feblenesse was by hys freÌ„des ladde vnto hys lodgyng In the .xii. yere of kynge IohnÌ„ xxi day of Nouembre Phylyp duke of Burgoyn erle of Artoys of Aluerne and of Boloyngn a chylde of the age of .xiiii. yeres or lesse dyed at a town nere vnto Rome called GuyoÌ„ By reason of whose deth kyng IohnÌ„ as nexte heyre had after possession of al the sayd laÌ„des toke possioÌ„ therof shortly after In the .xiiii. yere of the reygne of kyng IohnÌ„ thyrd day of Ianuary he for specyall causes hym mouyng as for the enlargyng of his sonne the duke of Orleaunce other yet pledges for hys rauÌ„some toke shyppyng at Boloyne so sayled into EnglaÌ„d and arryued at Douer the .vi day of the sayde moneth and after yode to Eltham and from theÌ„s was coÌ„ueyed vnto LoÌ„don as before is shewed in the .xxxvii. yere of kyng Edward In tyme of whose there beyng syr BarthraÌ„ de Glaycon made warre vpoÌ„ the kynge of Nauerne wan from hym the towne of Maunt in Normandy And by the duke of NormaÌ„dy soone after was wonne from the sayd kyng the towne of MeÌ„leÌ„ce within y e which were taken dyuers Parysyens that shortly after for theyr infidelite were put in execucioÌ„ at Parys And thus the warre betwene the kynges of FrauÌ„ce Nauerne was newly begoÌ„ Than kynge IohnÌ„ beyng as before is sayde in Englande a greuous malady toke hym in the begynnynge of Marche of the whyche he dyed at London vpoÌ„ the .viii. daye of Apryll folowynge so wyth great honoure and solempnyte coÌ„ueyed to the sees syde and there shypped thaÌ„ in processe caryed into Fraunce where vpon the .vii. day of May and yere of our lorde god M.CCC.lxiiii he was solempnely enterred in the monastery of saynt Denys whaÌ„ he had reygned .xiii. yeres .vii. monethes and odde dayes leuynge after hym thre sonnes that is to say Charles whych was kyng after hym Lewys and Phylyp CArolus or Charles y e .vi. of that name or .v. after som writers y e eldest sonne of kyng IohnÌ„ beganne hys reygne ouer the realme of FrauÌ„ce the .ix. day of Apryll in the begynnynge of the yere of our lorde god M.CCC.lxiiii and the .xxviii. yere of Edwarde the the .iii. than kynge of Englande and was crowned with dame Iane hys wyfe at Raynes the .xix. day of May folowynge In thys fyrste yere syr Barthran de Glaycon lyeutenaunt of the sayde Charles in NormaÌ„dy fought with a capytayne of the kynge of Nauerne named le Captall de Bueffe nere vnto a place called Cocherell nere vnto the crosse of saynte Lyeffroy in whiche fyght the sayd Captall was scomfited and great noumbre of his people taken and slayne hym selfe chased taken for whome the frenche kynge gaue after vnto the sayde syr BarthraÌ„ the Erledam of Longeuyle And whaÌ„ he had receyued him he sent him vnto a stroÌ„ge pryson called the Merchy in Meaux At Myghelmas folowynge the duke of Brytayne syr Charlys de Bloyes and syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tfort sonne and heyre to the fore named sir IohnÌ„ Mountforde before dede whiche by a longe season bothe father the sonne had holden warre with the sayd syr Charles met in playne batayle in y â— which as before is shewed in the .xxxviii. yere of king Edwarde the sayde syr Charles was slayne dyuers noble men of Fraunce with him In the moneth of Iuny and seconde yere of this Charlys an other accorde was yet concluded atwene this Charles and the kynge of Nauerne By reason of whiche accorde the Captall of Bueffe was clerely delyuered and Maunt and Menlene agayne also to the kynge restored And ouer that to the kynge of Nauerne was geuyn for a recompensement the Erledome of Longeuyle whiche as aboue is sayd the frenche kyng had gyuen vnto syr Barthran de Glaycon for to haue the Captall to his prisoner And also to the sayde kynge of Nauerne was gyuen the lordshyppe of Mountpyller And in the moneth of February began the warre in Spayne where prince Edwarde ayded Peter kyng of y e lande as before is shewed iÌ„ the .xl. and .xlii. yeres of kynge Edwarde In the .iiii. yere the peace atwene the kynges of Englande of FrauÌ„ce began to breke by meanes of the erle of Armenake other as in the .xlii. yere of kynge Edwarde is before shewed And in the moneth of Decembre and the sayd yere the quene was lyghted of a man Chylde in the Hostell of saynt Paule the whiche was after christened with excedynge solempnyte ouer other before passed in the churche of saint Paule in Parys the .vi. day of Decembre of the cardinal of Parys To whome were godfathers the erles of Mountmerency and of Dampmartyn godmother Iane quene of Euroux and bare the name of Charlys after the erle of Mountmerency In the .v. yere of this Charlys he called his counsell of parlyament at Parys Durynge the whiche the appellacyons of the erle of armenake and other purposed ageyne prynce Edwarde were publysshed and radde the answeres of the said prince vpon the sayd appellacyons made whiche I ouerpasse for length of the mater But the conclusyon was that the prince had broken the peas and couenauntes of the same as they there demyd wherfore all suche townes holdes as the frenche kyng had gotten he shulde them retayne make warre vpon the kynge of Englande for the recouery of the other where vpon kynge Charles in the moneth of Iuly folowyng rode vnto Roan and there rygged his nauye entendynge as sayth the frenche historye to haue made warre vpon EnglaÌ„d and to haue sent thyther his yongest brother Philippe than duke of Burgoyne with a stronge armye But whyle he was there besyed about his purpose the duke of Lancastre arryued with a strong power at Caleys and so passed to Tyrwyn so vnto Ayr. wherfore kynge Charlys then chaunged his purpose and sent his sayde brother into those ê‘ties Then by that season that y e sayd duke was prepared with hys people the englysshemen were
about Dunkyrke they gaue vnto hym suche assaute that he was constrayned to gyue backe And for the said shippes and goodes shulde nat come vnto the possessyon of his enemyes he sette them on fyre within the hauen and so was wasted bothe shyppes and goodes And all be it that after this mysse happe he recouered his strengthe layed syege vnto y e towne of Ipre and wrought the flemynges moche care and trouble shortely after suche syckenesses fell amonge his people as the flyre and other that his souldyours dyed of them great noumbre for the whiche he was compelled to leaue hys iourney and to retourne into EnglaÌ„de In this yere also was a batayle or feates of armes done in the kynges palays of westmynster atwene one called Garton Appellaunt and syr IohnÌ„ Ansley knyght defendauÌ„t of whiche fyght at length the knight was vyctor and caused his enemye to yelde hym For the whiche the sayd Garton was from that place drawen vnto Tyburne and there hanged for his false accusacyon and surmyse Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxiiii Grocer Symonde wynchecombe  Nycholas Brembre  Anno. vii  IohnÌ„ more   Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxiiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxv  Nycholas Exton  Nycholas Brembre  Anno. viii  IohnÌ„ Frenshe  THis yere king Rycharde holdynge his Christmas at Eltham thyther came vnto hym the kynge of Ermony whiche was chased out of his lande by the Infydels and Turkes and required ayde of y e kynge to be restored vnto his dominyon The kynge fested and comforted him according to his honour after couÌ„sell taken with hys lordes concerninge that mater he gaue vnto him great sommes of money and other ryche gyftes with the whiche after he had taryed in Englande vpoÌ„ ii monethes he departed with glad countenaunce And soone after Ester the kynge with a greate armye yode towarde ScotlaÌ„de But whan he drewe nere vnto the borders such meanes were sought by the Scottes that a peace was concluded atwene bothe realmes for a certayne tyme. After whiche conclusion so taken the kynge returned vnto yorke and there restyd hym a season In which tyme varyaunce fell atwene IohnÌ„ HolaÌ„de brother to the erle of Kent and the erles sonne of Stafforde by reason of whiche varyaunce in conclusion y e sayd sonne of the erle was slayne of the hande of the same syr IohnÌ„ HolÌ„ade for the whiche dede the kynge was greuously amoued departed shortely after with his company toward London Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxv  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxvi Grocer IohnÌ„ Organ  Nycholas Brembre  Anno. ix  IohnÌ„ Chyrcheman  THis yere kynge Rycharde assembled at westmynster hys highe court of parliameÌ„t Durynge the whiche amonge other many actes in the same counsell concluded he created .ii. dukes a marques and .v. erles Of the whiche firste syr Edmonde of Langley the kynges vncle and erle of Cambrydge was created duke of yorke syr Thomas of woodstoke his other vncle erle of Buckyngham was create duke of Gloucester syr Lyonell Uere y t was erle of Oxenforde was made marques of Deuelyn sir Henry Bolingbrooke sonne and heyre of IohnÌ„ of GauÌ„t duke of Lancastre was made erle of Derby syr Edwarde sonne heyre vnto the duke of yorke was made erle of Rutlande syr IohnÌ„ Holande brother to the erle of Kent was made erle of Huntyngdone syr Thomas Monbraye was made erle of Notyngham and Marshall of Englande and syr Mychaell de la Poole was made erle of Suffolke ChauÌ„celler of EnglaÌ„de And by auctoryte of the same parlyamente syr Roger Mortymer erle of the Marche and sonne and heyre vnto syr Edmonde Mortymer and of dame Philyppe eldest doughter and heyre vnto syr Lyonell y e seconde sonne of Edward the thyrde was soone after proclaymed heyre paraunt vnto the crowne of Englande The whiche sir Roger shortely after sayled into Irelande there to pacifye hys lordeshyppe of wulster whiche he was lorde of by his foresayde mother But whyle he was there occupyed aboute the same the wylde Irysshe came vpon hym in noumbre and slewe him and moche of his company This sir Roger hadde Issue Edmonde and Roger Anne Alys and Elynoure that was made a nunne The .ii. foresaid sonnes died without issue and Anne eldest doughter was maryed to Rycharde erle of Cambrydge whiche Rycharde was sonne vnto syr Edmonde of Langley before named The which Rycharde hadde issue by the sayde Anne Isabell ladye Bouchier Rycharde that after was duke of yorke father to kynge Edwarde the .iiii. whiche sayd Richarde erle of Cambridge was put to deth by Henry the .v. as after shall appere In this yere also syr HeÌ„ry Bolingbroke erle of Derby maryed the Countesse doughter of Herforde by whome he was lorde of that countrey And by her he had issue Henry that after him was kynge Blaunche duches of Barre and Philippe that was wedded to the kynge of Denmarke Also Thomas duke of Clarence IohnÌ„ duke of Bedforde Humfrey duke of Gloucester Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxvi  Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxvii Goldesmythe wyllyam Stondon  Nycholas Exton  Anno. x.  wyllyam More  IN this .x. yere the erle of Arundell was sent into the duchye of Guyan for to strengthe suche soudyours as the king at that tyme had in those parties or after some wryters to scoure the see of rouers enemyes The whiche erle in kepynge his course or passage encountred a myghtye flote of Flemynges laden with Rochel wyne set vpon them and distressed them theyr shyppes and so broughte them vnto dyuers portes of EnglaÌ„de By reason wherof the sayde wyne was so plenteous in Englande that a tonne thereof was solde for a marke and .xx. s. the choyse And amonge other in that flote was taken the Admyralle of Flaunders whyche remayned here longe after as prysoner Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxvii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxviii Goldesmythe wyllyam Uenour  Nycholas Exton  Anno. xi  Hughe Fostalfe  THis .xi. yere of kyng Rycharde syr Thomas of woodstocke duke of Gloucester the erle of Arundell with the erles of warwyke of Derby and of Notyngham consyderynge howe the king and hys lande was mysse ladde by a fewe persones aboute the kynge entendyng reformacion of the same assembled them to haue a counsell at Radecoke brydge and after arrered great people so with a stronge power came to London there caused y e king to call a ê‘liament wherof herynge maister Alexander Neuyle than archebysshop of yorke sir Lyonell Uere marques of Deuelyn and syr Mychaell de la Poole Chaunceller and erle of Suffolke fearyng punisshement fledde the lande and so died in straunge countreys Than the kynge by counsell of the other aboue named lordes durynge the parlyament caused to be taken syr Roberte Treuylian chefe Iustyce of Englande syr Nycholas Brembre late mayre of the cytie of London sir IohnÌ„ Salysbury knyghte of housholde sâ—r IohnÌ„ BeauchaÌ„p stewarde also of the kynges house
FrauÌ„ce and after maryed vnto Charlys son and heyre to the duke of Orleaunce as before I haue shewed in the .xxii. yere of hyr sayde fathers reygne Than it foloweth in the story of kynge Henry whan he hadde fermely consydered the greate conspyracy agayne hym by the forenamed lordes and other persons entendyd and imagyned to hys distruccyon and releuynge of Rycharde late kynge he in auoydynge of lyke daunger prouyded to put the sayde Rycharde out of thys present lyfe and shortely after the opynyon of moste wryters he sente a knyghte named syr Pyers of Exton vnto Pountfreyte castell where he wyth .viii. other in hys companye fell vppon the sayde Rycharde late kynge and hym myserably in hys chaumber slewe but not wythout reuengemente of hys dethe For or he were felled to the grounde he slewe of the sayde .viii. foure men with an axe of theyr own But lastely he was wounded to deth by the hande of the sayde syr Pyers of Exton and so dyed After execucyon of whyche dedely dede the sayde syr Pyers toke great repentaunce in so myche that lamentably he sayde alas what haue we done we haue now put to deth hym that hath ben our souerayne drad lorde by the space of .xxii. yeres by reason wherof I shall be reproched of all honoure where so I after thys daye become and all men shall redounde thys dede to my dyshonour and shame Other opynyons of the dethe of thys noble prynce are lefte by wryters as by waye of famyne and other But thys of moste wryters is testyfyed and alleged whan the deth of this prynce was publyshed abrode he was after opeÌ„ vysaged layed in y e mynster of PouÌ„frayt so y t all men myght know and se that he was dede And the .xii. daye of Marche folowynge he was wyth great solempnyte brought thorough the cytye of London to Paules and there layed open vysaged agayne to the ende that hys deth myght be manyfestly knowen whyche was doutfull to many one specyally to suche as ought to hym fauoure And than after a fewe days the sayd corps was caryed vnto the freers of Langley there entred But after he was remoued by kynge HeÌ„ry the .v. in the fyrst yere of hys reygne wyth great honoure and solempnyte coÌ„ueyed vnto the monasterye of westmynster and there wythin the chapell of saynt Edwarde honourably buryed vppoÌ„ the south syde of saynt Edwardes Shryne wyth hys epytaphy vppon hys toumbe as foloweth Prudens mundus Richardus iure secundus Per fatum victus iacet hic sub marmore pictus Verax sermone fuit plenus ratione Corporae procerus auimo prudens vt omerus Ecclesiam fauit elatos subpeditauit Quemuis prostrauit regalia qui violauit ¶ whyche verses are thus to be vnderstande in our vulgare Englysh tonge as foloweth Parfyght and prudent Rycharde by ryghte the seconde Vaynquysshed by fortune lyeth here nowe grauen in stone Trewe of hys worde therto well resounde Semely of persone lyke to omer as one In wordely prudence euer the churche in câ—ie Vphelde fauoured castyng the proud to grouÌ„d And all that wolde hys royall state confounde But yet alas though that this metyr or ryme Thus doth enbelysshe this noble princes fame And that some clerke whiche fauoured hym some tyme Lyst by hys connynge thus to enhauÌ„ce his name â–ª Yet by his story apereth in hym some blame wherfore to princes is surest memory Theyr lyues to exercyse in vertuous constancy whanne thys mortall prynce was thus dede grauen kyng HeÌ„ry was inquyet possessyon of the realme and fande great rychesse y t before tyme to kynge Rycharde belonged For as wytnesseth Polycronycon he fande in kyng Rychardes tresoury .iii. hundreth thousande li. of redy coyne besyde iewelles and other ryche vessels whyche were as moche in value or more And ouer that he espyed in the kepyng of the tresourers haÌ„des an C. and .l. M. nobles and iewels and other stuffe that cuÌ„teruayled the sayd value And so it shulde seme y e kynge Rycharde was ryche whan hys money iewelles amuÌ„ted to .vii. C.M. li. And in the moneth of Octobre and ende of thys mayers yere was brent in smythfelde of LondoÌ„ a preest named syr wyllyam Sawtry for certayne poyntts of heresy Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.i Goldsmyth IohnÌ„ wakele  IohnÌ„ Fraunces  Anno .ii.  wyllyam Ebot  IN thys seconde yere of kynge Henry and moneth of Frebruary were drawen and hanged for treason a knyghte named syr Roger Claryngeton at tybourne wyth two of hys seruauntes the pryour of LaÌ„de and eyghte freres mynours of gray freres of the whyche some were bachelers of dyuynyte And in thys yere began a greate dyscencion in walys betwene y e lorde Gray Ryffyn a welsheman named Howen of Glendore whyche Howen gathered to hym greate strenghte of welshemen and dyd moche harme to that couÌ„trey nat sparynge the kynges lordshyppes nor hys people and lastlye toke the sayd lorde Gray prysoner helde hym prysoner tyll contrarye hys wyll he hadde maryed the sayde HoweÌ„s doughter After which matrymony fynysshed he helde the sayde lorde styl in walys tyll he died to the kynges great dyspleasure wherfore the kynge wyth a stroÌ„ge army spedde hym into walys for to subdue the sayde HowenÌ„ hys adherentes But whan the kyng wyth his power was entred y e couÌ„tre he with hys fawtours fledde in to the mountaynes helde hym there so that the kyng myght nat wynne to hym with out dystruccion of hys hoste wherefore fynally by the aduyce of hys lordes he retourned into Englande for that season In thys yere also whete other graynes beganne to fayle so that a quarter of whete was solde at London for .xvi. s derer shuld haue beÌ„ had nat ben the prouysyon of marchauÌ„tes that brought rye rye floure out of Spruce wherwyth thys laÌ„de was greatly susteyned and eased Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.i  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.ii  wyllyam Uenour  IohnÌ„ Shadworth  Anno .iii.  IohnÌ„ FremynghmÌ„  IN thys yere the coÌ„duyte standyng vpon cornhylle in London was begon to be made And in the somer folowynge syr Thomas Percy erle of worceter and syr HeÌ„ry Percy sonne heyre vnto the erle of Northumberlande gadered a greate power and vppoÌ„ the daye of saynte Praxede the vyrgyne or the .xxi. daye of Iuly mette wyth the kynge nere vnto Shrowysbury and there gaue vnto hiÌ„ a cruell batayll but to theyr owne confusion For in that fyght y e sayd syr Thomas Percy was taken and hys neuew the foresayde syr Henry wyth many a stronge man vppon theyr partye was there slayne And vpoÌ„ y e kynges partie the prynce was wouÌ„ded in the hed the erle of Stafforde wyth many other slayne And the .xxv. daye of Iuly folowynge at Shrowysbury the sayd syr Thomas Percy was beheded and after hys hed caried to London there set vpoÌ„ the brydge In thys
as some drowned .iii. of the grettest of theyr carykkes taken Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.vi  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.vii  Roberte wodtyngton  Henry Barton Skynner  Anno .v.  IohnÌ„ Couentre  THys yere the kynge holdynge hys parlyameÌ„t at westmynster to hym was graunted by auctoryt of the same a Fyftene And by a conuocacyon of the clergy was grauÌ„ted to hym a dyme for the mayntenaunce of hys warrys wheruppon newe prouysyon was made for hys seconde vyage into Fraunce By authoryte of this parlyament also Rycharde whyche was sonne heyre of y e erle of Cambrydge which erle was put to deth at Southampton was created duke of yorke whiche after was maryed vnto Cecyle y e doughter of Daraby erle of westmerlande by reason that he brought his wardshyp of the kynge By the whiche lady Cecyle he hadde Henry that dyed yonge Edward that after was kynge Edmunde erle of Rutlande Anne duchesse of Exceter Elyzabeth duchesse of Suffolke George duke of Clarence Rycharde duke of Glouceter and after kynge and Margaret duchesse of Burgoyne And whaÌ„ all thynge was redy for the kynges vyage he ordeyned IohnÌ„ duke of Bedforde hys brother protectour of thys land in the tyme of his absence And that done he wyth hys lordes aboute wytsontyde toke hys shyppyng at SouthamptoÌ„ and so sayled into Normandye and landed vpon LaÌ„mas daye at a place called Toke or Towke And after he was wyth hys hoste there landed for so moche as he was warned of certayne shyppes of warre y e entendyd to do some harme in Englande beynge than vppon the see he therfore to wythstaÌ„de theyr malycyouse purpose sent the erle of Marche the erle of Huntyngdon wyth other to scowre the see The whyche encountred the sayde enemyes and after a loÌ„ge and cruell fyght them veÌ„quysshed ouercame whyche fyght was vpon the daye of saynt Romayne or the .ix. day of Auguste as hath the Frenche cronycle And of the French nauy was chyefe capytayne the vycount of Narbon whych in that fyght was taken with great pleÌ„ty of treasour For as sayth Gaguinus he with one Mountney an other capytayne to whom y e sowdyours wages was coÌ„mytted of one assent of theyr synguler lucre wythhelde the sayde wages By reason wherof whan they shuld ioyne in batayll many of them wyth theyr shyppes withdrew last theyr capitayns in the dauÌ„ger of theyr enemyes But this is lyke to be a fayned excuse of y e sayd Gagwyne to saue the honoure of the FreÌ„chmen as he many tymes semblably dothe in many places of hys boke Then to retourne vnto kyng Henry whan he was thus landed he sent vnto y e rulers of the town of Towke and had it vnto hym delyuered But the castell was defended agayn hym tyll saynt Laurence daye folowyng the whyche he gaue after vnto hys brother the duke of ClareÌ„ce wyth all the sygnory therunto belongynge And thys done the kynge spedde hym toward Cane layde his syege therunto vpon y e .xvii. day of the foresayd moneth of August The whych contynued tyll the feest of the Natyuyte of our lady than won vpon y e ê‘ty y t the duke of ClareÌ„ce assawted But the castel helde by apoyntemeÌ„t yf no rescouse were had tyll the .xiiii. day folowyng At whych day y e sayd castel was delyuered with other .xiiii stroÌ„ge holdes which had before takeÌ„ y e same apoyntmeÌ„t Than the kynge made the foresayd duke of Clarence capytayne of the sayd town castell And in this passetyme were dyuers other townes stroÌ„ge holdes goten by dyuers of y e kynges retynew as y e erle Marshall the erle of warwyke other y e which wan Louers Faloys Newelyn Cherburgth ArgeÌ„tyne Bayons the citye with many other stroÌ„ge abbays pilys ThaÌ„ the king helde there saynt Georges feest and dubbyd there .xv. knyghtê of y e Bath after coÌ„tynued his warres duryng this mayres yere in wynnyng vpon the FreÌ„chmen by apoyntementê and otherwyse wherof the cyrcumstauÌ„ce were very longe to declare in order In this yere also vpoÌ„ the festfull day of Ester tyll a chaunce in LoÌ„doÌ„ which to y e fere of all good crysteÌ„ men is necessary to be noted For vpoÌ„ the hygh soleÌ„pne day by excytyng of y e deuyll yll disposycioÌ„ of .ii. women that is to mene the wyfe of the lorde StrauÌ„ge y e wyfe of syr IohnÌ„ Trussell knyght such vnkyndnes fyll bytwene theyr two husbaÌ„des y t eyther wold haue slayne other within y e parysh chyrch of saynt DuÌ„stanes in the Eest In ê‘tyng of which persons dyuers men were hurt sore wouÌ„ded one named ThomÌ„ PetwardeÌ„ slayne out of hand which was a freeman fysshemoÌ„ger of the cyty Than lastly both frayers were takeÌ„ brought vnto the CouÌ„tour in y e Pultry And for the sayd lorde StrauÌ„ge was demed culpable of y e begiÌ„nyng of this fray he therfore vpoÌ„ the soÌ„day folowyng for suspendyng of the chyrche was denouÌ„ced acursyd at Poulys crosse in all parysshe chyrches of LondoÌ„ And fynally he was demed to open penaunce dyd it and made greate amendes vnto the wyfe of the sayde Thomas for the deth of her husbaÌ„d And in the ende of thys yere where at LoÌ„doÌ„ was sold for .ii. s. a busshell Anno domini M. CCCC.xvii  Anno domini M. CCCC.xviii  Henry Rede  Rycharde Merlowe Iremonger  Anno .vi.  IohnÌ„ Gedney  IN thys yere syr IohnÌ„ Oldcastell lorde CobhmÌ„ the whyche as before is shewed in the ende of the fyrste yere of thys kynge escaped out of the Towre of London was in the moneth of sent vnto London by the lorde Powys out of walys The whyche syr IohnÌ„ for heresye treason was conuycte in the moneth of folowynge and for the same drawen vnto saynt Gyles feld where he was hanged vppon a newe peyre of galowes wyth chaynes and after consumed wyth fyre And about that season the person of wortham in Norfolke whyche longe tyme had haunted Newmarket heth and there robbed spoyled many of the kynges subgettes was nowe with his concubyne broughte vnto Newgate where he lastly dyed And kynge Henry beynge styll in Normandy deuyded hys people in thre partes wherof one he reserued vnto hym selfe the seconde he commytted to the rule of the duke of Clarence and the thyrde vnto the erle of warwyke whyche sayde duke erle employed theyr armes so well and valyauntly that eyther of theym encroched sore vppon the Frenchmen and wanne from them many stronge holdes and pyles And the kynge after longe syeges by hym contynued aboute Argentyne Cressy saynte Launde and other he then in y e ende of thys yere that is to saye vppon y e daye of the translacyon of saynt Edwarde or the .xiii. daye of October layde hys syege vnto the cytye of Roan and contynued the same tyll the .xii. daye of Ianuary folowynge In the whych passetyme the olde mayre was chaunged to a new
they entended theyr diuyne seruyce praied more specyally for hym as they were bounde of duety whereunto it was after pardon requyred lastely by the sayde father answered that in conuenyent wyse they naturally might nat praye for hym and hys good spede consyderynge that he dayely warred vpon theyr fathers and kynnesmen and slewe of theym and spoyled theÌ„ dayly and enpouerysshed that laÌ„de whyche they of very kynde ought to loue and praye for After whyche answere thus by them made the kynge auoyded the hous of them and turned the lande thereof to suche vse as hym best lyked and suffred the hous to fall in ruyne And ouer thys great acte of fouÌ„dyng of these .ii. religious houses he ordeyned at westmynster to brenne perpetually wythoute extinccion iiii tapers of waxe vppon the sepulture of kyng Rychard and ouer that he ordeyned therto to be continued for euer one day in y e weke a solempne Dirige to be songe vppon the morowe a masse after which masse ended certayn money to be gyueÌ„ as before is expressed with other thynges in y e begynnyng of this kynges reygne And ouer thys his great besynesse in warre natwithstaÌ„dyng this most cristeÌ„ priÌ„ce by his lyfe chase his place of sepulture within the foresayd monastery there ordeyned for hym to be songe .iii. masses euery day in the weke whyle the world lasteth in maner and forme as by these verses folowyng doth appere Henrici missae quinti sunt hic tabulatae Quae successiue sunt per monachos celebratae ¶ Prima fit Assumptae de festo virginis almae Poscit pusiremam Christus de morte resur gens Dominica ¶ Prima salutate de festo virginis extat Nunciat angelicis laudem postrema choreis â—unc ¶ Esse deum natum de virgine prima fatetur Commemora natam sic vltima missa Mariam Martis ¶ Prima celebretur ad honorem neupmatis almi Vltima conceptam denunciat esse Mariam Mercurij ¶ Semper prima coli debet de corpore Christi Vltima fit fata de virgine purificata Iouis ¶ Concedet vt prima celebretur de cruce sancta Atque salutate fiet postrema Mariae Veneris ¶ Omnes ad sanctos est prima colenda supernos Vltima de requie pro defunctis petit esse Sabati ¶ Semper erit media de proprietate dei Omni die ¶ Missa Assumptionis Mâ—tiae Missa dnÌ„ieae resurrectionis 1 ¶ Missa salutationis Mariae Missa annuÌ„ciatioÌ„is Mariae 2 ¶ Missa natiuâ—tatis Christi Missa natiuitatis Mariae 3 ¶ Missa sancti spiritus Missa conceptionis 4 ¶ Missa corporis Christi Missa purificationis 5 ¶ Missa sanctÌ„ae crucis Missa salutationis Mariae 6 ¶ Missa omnium sanctorum Missa de requie 7 ¶ Missa diei quotidie ¶ whyche verses may thus to vnletteryd be englysshed Loo here is noted and put in memory That ouer these actes noble and Marcyall Thys excellent prynce thys fyfte kyng Henry Hys soule to endowe he was memoryall For wyth suffrages whyche euer laste shall Of masses thre that folowe ceryously At westmynster he ordeyned to be sayde dayly Upon sondaye the fyrste masse to begynne Deuoutly to be sayd of the Assumpcion Of our blessed Lady and nat thereafter blynne But than the latter of the resurreccion And on the mondaye of the Uisitacion The fyrste masse after ordeyned is Of the Annunciacion the latter masse sayd is Upon the tuysday to kepe the ordre iust The fyrste to be sayd of crystes Natiuite Than of our Lady byrth the latter folow muste On wednysdaye the holy ghost halowed to be And of the Concepcion the thyrd wylled he The thursday to synge the fyrste of Corpus xpÌ„i Of the Purificacion the laste of our Lady Upon the frydaye a masse of crystes crosse And of the Salutacion the latter for to synge And for of daye or tyme shuld be no losse Upon saterdaye the fyrste of that mornynge A masse of all sayntes to pray for the kynge Than masse of Requiem to be laste of all And euery day the day masse amyd these masses to fall ¶ Lenuoy ¶ O mercifull god what a prynce was this Whiche his short lyfe in marciall actes spent In honour of conquesi that wonder to me it is Howe he myght compasse suche dedys excellent And yet for that his mynde nothynge detent Alâ— ghostly helthe for his soule to prouide Cut of his world or he fatally shulde slyde So that though I had Tullyes eloquence Or of Sâ—â—ek the great moralyte Or of Salomon the perfyght sapience Or the swete dyties of dame Caliope Yet might I nat in prose or other dytte Accordyngly auaunce this princes fame And with due honour to enhaunce the same Consideringe his actes wherof percell appere In this rude wâ—rke with many mo left out The tyme also whiche was lesse than ten yere That he so shortly brought all thynge about By diuine grace forthryd without doute That myghtfull lorde he halâ—e his ghostly knyght With grace honour to passe this worldes sight And to haue rewarde dowble condigne And first for marciall actes by hym doone To be auaunced amonge the worthys Nyâ—e And for his vertues vsed by hym efte soone With many good dedes which he in erth had done Aboue the Hierarches he is I trust now stalled That was on erth kyng of kynges called Anglia ¶ Henry the syxte HEnry the .vi. of y e name and onely sonne of Henry the .v of quene Kathryn doughter of Charles y e seuenth kyng of Fraunce began hys reygne ouer the realme of Englande the fyrst day of September in the yere of our lorde M.iiii C. .xxii. and in the ende of the laste yere of the reygne of the foresayde .vii. Charles than kyng of Fraunce Thys Henry for the insufficience of hys age whyche as before ys shewed was but of .viii. monethes and odde days was commytted vnto the rule of hys vncles the dukes of Bedforde and of Glouceter The whyche durynge hys none age ruled the realmes of Englande of Fraunce honourably as the duke of Glouceter protectour of Englande and duke of Bedforde regent of Fraunce Than vpon the .xxi. day of October duryng thys mayres yere Robert Chyceley dyed at Parys the aboue named vii Charles kynge of Fraunce By reason of whose deth by force of appoyntemeÌ„t before made betwene HeÌ„ry the .v. and hym as before is towched in the seuenth yere of the sayde Henry the realme of Fraunce right thereof fylle vnto the yonge kynge Henry To whose vse the nobles of Fraunce excepte a fewe of suche as helde wyth the Dolphyne delyuered the possession therof vnto the duke of Bedforde as regent therof durynge that nonage of thys kynge Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xxii  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xxiii  wyllyam Estfeylde  wyllyam walderne  Anno primo  Robert Tatersale  IN the begynnyng of thys mayres yere and fyrste yere of the
The whiche he helde so streyght that lastly Gyrande the captayne therof agreed to delyuer it by a certayne day excepte he were rescowed After whiche appoyntment so taken the sayde Gyrande as wytnesseth Gaguinus sent worde to Charles the .viii. of y e name or y e .vii. after dyuers wryters which of his fautoures was than accōpted for kyng of Fraūce And he in all possyble hast sent thyder y e duke of Alanson y e erle of Turon̄ or of Douglas of Bowgham or Boucam of Daumayll y e vicoūt of Nerbon̄ with a strōg power of Armenakkes scottes Frēchemē y e which host or it myght approch to y e sayd towne to make rescouse y e day expired it vnto y e duke deliuered whā y e duke of Alāsō was asserteyned of y e deliuere of y e towne he toke his aduise of y e other capitaynes whether it was better to retourn consyderyng the towne was yolden or to gyue batayll vnto the Englishe men But fynally for no reproche shuld be to them arected as they had fled for fere they kept on theyr iournany pyght theyr felde in a playne nere vnto the sayd town of Uernoyl where they beynge strongely enbataylled vpon the .vii. day of the moneth of August the duke of Bedford wyth hys retynue gaue to thē sharpe and cruell batayll the whyche endured longe wythoute knowlege of vyctory But fynally by goddes ordenaūce and power the vyctyry fyl to the Englysshe partye to the greate losse of theyr enemyes For in the fyghte was slayne as testyfyeth the French Gaguyne the erles of Turon and Boucam of Daumayle wyth the Uycounte of Narbon̄ and dyuers other men of name And of the commons were slayne to the nombree of fyue thousande And there was taken the duke of Alanson the Marshall of Fraunce and other But y e englysshe wryters affermeth .x. M. to be slayne and mo Anno dn̄i M. CCCC.xxiiii  Anno dn̄i M. CCCC.xxv  Symonde Seman  Iohn̄ Mychell  Anno .ix.  Iohn̄ Bywater  THys yere after Easter y e kynge helde hys parlyamente at westmynster the whych began vpō the daye of Etkenwalde or the laste daye of Apryll And .ii. dayes before the kynge wyth the quene his moder came thorugh the cytye from wyndesore And whan he came at the west dore of Poulys the lorde protectour toke him out of the chare and so was ladde vpon hys fete betwene y e sayde lorde Protectour and the duke of Exceter vnto the steppes goyng into y e quyer Fro whēs he was borne vnto the hygh aulter and there kneled in a trauers purueyed for hym And whan he had be there he yode to the rode of y e north dore and there made hys offerynges And thenne was he borne into the churche yerde there set vpon a fayre courser and so conueyed thorugh chepe and the other stretes of the cytye vnto saynt Georges barre and so helde hys iournay to hys Manour of Kenyngton̄ And contynuyng the foresayd parlyamēt the kyng was sondry tymes cōueyed to westmynster and wythin the parlyament chāber kept there his royall astate By auctoryte whereof to hym was graunted a subsidye of .xii. d. in the .li. of all maner marchaundyse cōmyng in or passing out of this realm and .iii. s. of a tunne of wyne for y e terme of .iii. yeres to be holden And ferthermore it was enacted that all marchaunt straungers shuld be set to an Englysshe hoste wythin .xv. dayes of theyr commyng to theyr porte sale to make no sale of any marchaundyse or they were so lodged theym wythin .xl. dayes folowynge to make sale of all that they brought And yf any remayned vnsolde at the sayde xl dayes ende that than all such marchaundyse beyng than vnsolde to be forfayted vnto the kyng Also that all straungers that caryed any wolles out of thys lande shuld pay .xliii. s. iiii d. for a sakke custome where y e Englysshe marchaunte and denyzen payde but .v. nobles wyth many other condycyons and penaltyes as well for Englysh as the other marchauntes whyche wolde are longe leysour to shewe enacted and passed durynge thys sayde parlyamente And the seconde daye of the moneth of Auguste was yolden vnto the erle of Salysbury appoynted wyth other by the regent the cytie of Mans vnder appoyntemente comprysed in .ix. articles wherof one specyall was that yf any persones were founde wythin the cytye whyche had ben consentyng vnto the dukes deth Iohan late duke of Burgoyne that they shulde stande at the grace of the sayde regent Also thys yere the duke of Glouceter lord protectour whiche lately before hadde maryed the duchesse of Holande a woman a greate possesiō for cause of rule wherof to haue domynyō of the same he wyth the sayd duchesse sayled towarde that coūtre and thereof her subgectes was peasybly and wyth honour receyued But fynally he had suche chere y t he was gladde to retourne into Englande leuynge hys wyfe therein a towne of her owne named Mounse But after hys departynge the duke of Burgoyne so demeaned hym to the rulers of that towne were it by batayll or otherwyse that they deliuered her to the sayde duke and he forthwyth sente her vnto Gaunte there to be kepte as prysoner But by the Frenshyppe of one named syr Iaques de la Grayll a Burgonyon knyghte her owne polecy she escaped thens in a mannes clothynge and came to a towne in zelande named zyryxe and frome thens to an other towne in zelande called Ghwode or Ghow-Ghowde where she wythstode the dukes power Than the duke of Glouceter heryng of the escape of his wyfe and of the malyce of the duke foresayde in all haste prouyded a stronge company of soudyours and archers and cōmytted them vnto that rule of y e lord Fitzwater The whych in processe of tyme landed wyth them at a place in zelande called Brewers hauē where of theyr ēnemyes they were encountred and dryuē backe so retourned into Englande wythoute any greate fete doynge leuynge the duchesse behynde them for that season Thys yere about Myghelmasse y e prynce of Portyngale came into Englande was honourable receyued and fested of the kynges vncles and taryed here the tyme of thys mayres yere This yere also began a grudge to kyndle betwene the lorde protectour and hys halfe brother the bysshoppe of wynchester the whyche after grewe to a greate dystourbaunce of the cytie of London as in the next mayres yere shal be shewed And in the ende of thys yere were many honeste men of the cytye apeched of treason by a false and malycyous persone belongynge vnto the sayde bysshoppe and putte theym vnto greate vexacyon and trouble whych was done by the procurement of the sayde bysshoppe as the comon fame than wente And nat alonely men of the cytie were thus vexed but also other burgeyses of dyuers good townes as Leyceter Caūterbury Northampton and other Anno dn̄i M. CCCC.xxv  Anno dn̄i M.
Englande Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xl.  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xli  Iohan Sutton  Iohan Paddysley goldsmythe  Anno .xix.  Wyllyam wetynhale  THis .xix. yere began murmure grudge to breke at large that before had ben kepte in mewe atwene ê‘sones nere aboute y e kyng and his vncle the famous Humfrey duke of Gloceter and protectour of the lande Agayne whome dyuers coÌ„iectures were attempted a farre whiche after were sette nere to hym so y t they lefte not tyll they had broughte hym vnto his confusyon And fyrste this yere dame Eleanoure Cobham whom he was familier with or she were to hym maryed was arested of certayne poyntes of treason and therupon by examynacion conuict and lastly demed to dwell as an outlawe in the yle of Man vnder the warde of syr Thomas Stanleye knyghte And soone after were arested as ayders and councelers of the foresayd duchesse mayster Thomas Southwell a Chanon of saynt Stephyns chapell at westmynster mayster Iohan Hum a chaplayne of the sayde duchesse and mayster Roger Bolyngbroke a man experte in nygromancy a womaÌ„ called Margery Iourdemayne surnamed the wytch of Eye besyde wynchester To whose charge it was layde that these iiii persones shulde at the request of the duches deuyse an ymage of wax lyke vnto y e kyng the whiche ymage they delte soo with that by theyr deuyslysshe incantacyons and sorcery they entended to brynge out of lyfe lytell and lytell the kynges person as they lytell and lytell consumed y e ymage For the whiche treason and other fynally they were coÌ„uycte and adiuged to dye But mayster Thomas Southewell dyed in the towre of London the nyght before he shuld haue ben iudged on the morne as in the nexte yere folowynge shal be declared ye haue in y e preceding yere herde how the towne of Pountlarge was wonne by Charles y e toke vpon hym as kyng wher as mani EnglysshmeÌ„ were taken prysoners and sente to a castell named Coruyle where they so beynge in pryson laboured vnto the ruler of that holde that one of them myght be sette at large to laboure to theyr freÌ„des for theyr raunsom The whiche persone whan he was at his lybertye went vnto a strength thereby wherof an aragon knyght was a Capytayne vnder the duke of yorke and shewed to hym that the castell of Coruyle was but sklenderly maÌ„ned and that it myght be wonne by polycy and strengthe wherupon the sayd capytayne named Frauncys in the nyght folowynge sette a busshmente nere vnto the sayd castell and in the daunynge of the mornynge arayed iiii of his sowdyoures in husbandmeÌ„nes aray and sent them with sakkes fylled with dyuers fruytes to offer to sell to the occupyers of the castell The whiche whan they were comyn to the gate by theyr langage taken for Frenchemen anone without suspicion were taken in and seyng that fewe folkes were styrryng held y e porter muet whyle one gaue the foresayde bushmente knowledge so that shortly they entred and toke the capytayne in his bedde and after spoyled the castell and delyuered the Englysshe prysoners and coÌ„ueyed the FreÌ„chemeÌ„ with all the goodes y t they myghte cary out of the castell vnto RoanÌ„ Upon the day of the translacyon of saynt Edward or the twelfe day of Octobre vpon whiche daye the mayre is named by the mayre and his bretherne for y e yere folowynge that day whan the comons of the cytye after theyr auncyeÌ„t custome had chosen two alderineÌ„ suche as before had ben shyreffes of London and of myddelsex that is to wete Roberte Clopton Draper and Rauffe HolaÌ„d tayllour and them presented by name vnto the mayre and hys brother than syttynge in the vtter chambre where the mayres courtes ben kepte to the entent that the sayde mayre hys brother myghte chose one of the sayde two suche as they thoughte moste necessary and worshypfull for the rome the sayde mayre and hys brethern chase there Roberte CloptoÌ„ and broughte hym after downe vppon hys ryght hande towarde y e hall whereof whanne certayne tayllours there beynge were ware and sawe that Rauffe HolaÌ„de was nat chosen anone they cryed naye naye nat this but Rauffe Holande wherewyth the olde mayre beynge astonyed sâ—ode stylle vpon the stayer and commaunded them to kepe silence after helde on his waye to the eest ende of y e hall and there set hym downe and his brethern about hym In whyche meane tyme the sayde tayllours had contynued theyr crye and encensed other of lowe felysshyppes of the cytye as symple persones to take theyr parte and to crye as faste as they wolde nat cease for speche of the mayre nor oyes made by the mayres sergeaunt of armes wherefore the mayre to appese the rumour sente downe the shyreffes and commaunded them to take the mysdoers and to sende theÌ„ vnto pryson The whych precept obserued and a twelf or syxten of the chiefe of them sent vnto Newgate the sayde rumour was anone ceased Of the whyche prysoners some were after fyned and some punysshed by longe inprysonemente Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xii.  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xlii.  wyllyam Cumbys  Robert Clopton  Anno .xx.  Rychard Ryche  IN thys .xx. yere and in the moneth of folowyng the partyes before in that other yere arrested for treasoÌ„ were brought vnto the guyldhall of London and there arreygned of such poyntes as before ben reherced and for y e same fynally mayster IohnÌ„ Hum and mayster Roger Bolynbroke were iudged to be drawen hanged quartered the wytche to be brent But mayster Thomas Sothwell dyed in the towre y e nyght before y t he shuld haue be iudged ThaÌ„ accordyng to the sentence of the courtâ— before passed mayster Roger was drawen to tyborne and there hanged quartered the which at y e season toke vpon hys deth that he was nat gylty of y e treason that he was put to iuged for And the next day folowyng was the wytch brente in Smythfelde and mayster Iohan Hum was pardoned suyd oute hys charter This yere also y e lord Talbot layd syege before an hauen towne in Normandy named Depe set hys ordynaunce vpoÌ„ an hylle called Poleet where amonge other engynes and instrumentes of warre he hadde deuysed a myghty towre of tymbre out of the whyche he shotte hys gunnes and other ordynaunce and therewyth brosyd and crasyd the wallys and wrought therby greate dyspleasure vnto the towne of Depe In thys towne was capytayne Charlys Mareys a Frenche knyght knyght the whyche manfully defended the towne tyll vnto hym wyth rescous came IohnÌ„ Notice of Orleaunce knyght wyth a coÌ„pany of M. sowdyours And there after came to the rescous of the sayde towne .ii. other knyghtes named Arthur de LoÌ„geuyle and syr Thomas Droynon wyth .vi. C. meÌ„ And after thys Charles whyche named hym selfe FreÌ„che kyng sent thyder the thyrde rescous of .v. C. men of armys and a M. of other sowdyours vnder .ii. leders called
fyersly vpon the cytezyns that he draue theÌ„ backe from y e stulpes iÌ„ Southwarke or brydge fote vnto y e drawe brydge In defendynge wherof many a man was drowned and slayne Amonge y t whiche of men of name was Iohan Sutton aldermaÌ„ Mathewe Gouth gentylman and Roger Heysande cytezyn And thus contynued this skyrmysshe all nyght tyll .ix. of the clocke vpon the morne so that somtyme the cytezyns had the better thus soone the Kentysmen were vpon the better syde But euer they kepte them vpon the brydge so that the cytezyns passed neuer moche the bulwarke at the byrdge fote nor y e KentysshmeÌ„ moche ferther thaÌ„ the drawe brydge Thus coÌ„tynuyng the cruel fyght to the dystruccyon of moche people on bothe sydes lastly after the Kentysshmen were put to the worse a trewe was agreed for certayne houres Duryng the whiche trewe the archebysshop of Cantorbury than chaunceler of Englande sent a generall pardon to the capytayne for hymselfe and an other of hys peple By reason wherof he hys company departed the same nyght out of Southwarke so retourned euery man to hys owne But it was nat longe after that the capytayne wyth hys coÌ„pany was thus departed that proclamacyons were made in dyuers places of Kent of Southsex and Sowtherey that who myghte take the foresayde Iak Cade other on lyue or dede shulde haue a M. marke for hys trauayle After whych proclamacion thus publisshed a geÌ„tylmaÌ„ of KeÌ„t named Alexander IdenÌ„ awayted so hys tyme that he toke hym in a gardyn in Sussex where in the takyng of hym the sayd Iak was slayne so beynge dede was brought into Southwarke the daye of the moneth of there left in the kynges benche for that nyght And vpon y â— morowe the dede corps was drawen thorugh the hyghe stretes of the cytye vnto New gate there heded and quartered whose hede was than sent to LondoÌ„ brydge his .iiii. quarters were sent to .iiii sondry townes of Kent And thys done the kyng sent hys commissions into Kent rode after hym selfe and caused enquery to be made of thys riot in Caunterbury where for the same .viii. men were iuged put to deth And in other good townes of Kent Southsex dyuers other were put in execucyon for the same ryot In thys yere also in the west couÌ„tree was slayne the bisshop of Salysbury by the commons of that couÌ„tre wherfore after the kyng had sped his besynesse in Kent Sussex he rode thyder to se also those malefactours punysshed Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.l.  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.li.  IohnÌ„ Myddylton  Nycholas wyfforde Grocer  Anno .xxix.  wyllyam Dere  IN thys .xxix. yere vpoÌ„ sait Leonardes daye or the .vi. daye of Nouembre began the parlyamente at westmynster And the fyrste day of DeceÌ„bre folowyng the duke of Somerset whyche newly was commyn out of Normandy was putte vnder arest and his goodes by the coÌ„mons were fowly dyspoyled borne a waye out of the blak fryers For at this season was moche people in the cytie by reason of the parlyament specially of lordes seruauntes whyche were awaytynge vppon theyr lordes and maysters in great multytude For ye shall vnderstande y e temporall lordê in those dayes kepte other maner of housholdes other maner of reteyndour of housholde seruauntes and other nombre ferre excedynge that the lordes at these dayes done wherefore at parlyament tymes and other great counsayles the cytyes or townes where they assembled were hougely stuffed wyth people Than after thys ryot thys commytted vpon the morowe folowynge proclamacyon was made thorugh the cytye that no man shulde spoyle or robbe vppon payne of dethe And the same day at the staÌ„darde in Chepe was a maÌ„ beheded for brekyng of the sayd proclamacioÌ„ And thus begoÌ„ rumour malyce to spryng betwene y e lordê of the laÌ„de And specially y e duke of Somerset other of y e quenes couÌ„sayll were had iÌ„ great hatered for y e losiÌ„g of NormaÌ„dy wherof y e chief citie of RoaÌ„ was lost or gyue vp by apointemeÌ„t y e yere precedyng as witnesseth Gaguynus vpon coÌ„dycyon that the duke of Somerset with his wyfe and Englyssh sowyours shulde with suche goodes as they myghte cary departe frely from y e cytie For whiche fre passage he shulde pay vnto y e Frenche kynge lvi M. scutes which amouÌ„te to .xiiii. M. marke sterlyng And also he was bounde to delyuer into the Frenche kynges possession all townes and castelles that at that daye were in the possessyon of Englysshemen within the duchy of Normandy For performaunce of whiche couenauntes the lorde Talbot was set for one of the pledges and so by one Floquet before named all the sayd townes and castelles were by hym to the Frenche kynges vse receyued Harflete onely excepted wherof y e capytayne named Cyrson or Curson denyed the delyuery with assystence of one named syr Thomas Auryngham The whiche in despyte of all the Frenche kynges power layde bothe by see and lande helde it from the begynnynge of Decembre tyll the moneth of Ianuary and than for lacke of rescouse gaue it vp by appoynment in y e begynnynge of this mayres yere For this yeldynge vp of Normandy moche dyspleasure grewe vnto the quene and her counceyll in so moche y t the duke of yorke father vnto kyng Edwarde the .iiii. with many lordes with hym allyed toke partye agayne hyr and her counsayll so that mortall warre therof ensued as here after in this story wall appere Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.li.  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lii  Mathewe Phylyp  wyllyam Gregory skynner  Anno .xxx.  Chrystofer warton  IN thys .xxx. yere .xvi. daye of February the kynge beyng accompanied with the duke of Somersette and many other lordes toke theyr iournay towarde the marchys of walys for so moche as he was credibly assertayned y t the duke of york assysted with dyuers other lordes meÌ„ of name had in those partyes gathered great strengthe of people and with them was entrynge the lande and so helde on his iourney towarde hym But whan y e duke had wytyng of the kynges great power he swaued the way from the kynges hoste and toke the way towarde London And for he had receyued knowlege from the cytie y t he myght not there be receyued to refresshe hym and his people he therwith went ouer Kyngstone brydge and so into Kente and there vpon an hethe called Brente heth he pyght his felde wherof the kynge houynge knowlege sped hym after and lastly came vnto Blacke hethe there pyght his felde where bothe hostes beynge thus enbatayled meidacioÌ„ was made of peace by twene both hostes For furtheraunce wherof to the duke were sente y e bysshoppes of wynchester and of Ely with the erles of Salysbury and of warwyke To whome it was answered by the sayd duke y t he nor none of the company entended none hurte vnto the kynges persone
retourne to thys Charlys lykely it is that he was nat y e naturall sonne of the forenamed Charlys for as moche as hys sayd father ordeyned and wylled the realme of FrauÌ„ce vnto Katheryne hys doughter and wyfe vnto kynge HeÌ„ry the .v and agreed wyth the consente of the more parte of y e lordes of hys realme bothe spyrituall temporall that duryng hys lyfe the sayd kynge Henry shuld be regeÌ„t of FrauÌ„ce after hys deth to be kyng of the sayd regâ—oÌ„ as more at lengthe before I haue shewed vnto you in the .vii. yere of the sayd Henry the .v. But whether he be hys legyttymat sonne or nat where uppoÌ„ I purpose no leÌ„ger to stande trouth it is that he was by his father admitted made dolphyne of Uyen by reason wherof he was in a greate auctoryte wan to hym fauoure of som lordes of FrauÌ„ce whych stroÌ„gly maynteyned hys partye durynge the lyfe of kyng HeÌ„ry the .v after all y t season whyle the duke of Bedforde occupyed there as regent of that regyoÌ„ was of some parties of FrauÌ„ce reputed for kyng Howe be it he was neuer crowned so loÌ„ge as the sayde duke of Bedforde lyued Neuerthelesse he by meane of polycy hys freÌ„des so defended hym selfe that lytle by the EnglyshemeÌ„ was wonne vpoÌ„ hym of suche laÌ„des as he fyrste was in possessyon of But polytykely he defended theym lytle and lytle so preuayled agayne them that in the ende he all onely wanne nat to hym the possessioÌ„ of that prouince y t which is named FrauÌ„ce but also he wanne to hym in the ende the kynge of Englandes olde enherytaunce that is Normandy wyth all domynyons to the same apperteynynge The maner of wynnynge of them I woll nat in thys story speke of for so moche as in the former yeres of kynge Henry the .vi. I haue there expressed the maner of somme parte therof But that I shall speke of theÌ„ shal be of thynges done betwene hym other prynces And for that I before in the .viii. yere of HeÌ„ry the vi promysed in the .vi. yere of thys Charles to shewe vnto you som what of the maydeÌ„ or pucel which y e FreÌ„ch men named la pucelle de dieu her for a messenger from god to be sente reputed I shall here folow y e saying of Gaguyne whyche sayeth as foloweth In the .vi. yere or there aboute to rekyn from the deth of thys Charles father a weÌ„che or mayden beyng bred in a strete or vyllage called in latyne Ualli color in thys tyme beynge sproÌ„ge to the age of .xx. yeres or there about hauing to father a poore man named Iakes Delarch and hyr mother Isabell she also berynge the name of Iane or Iohan required by dyuers sundry tymes an vncle of hyrs beyng prefecte of the foresayde vyllage that he wolde presente hyr vnto the FreÌ„che kynge for thynges coÌ„cernyng greatly the weale of hym of hys realme whyche sayd prefect after many delayes for so moche as in hyr wordes he had lytle truste yet at leÌ„gthe hyr sayd vncle beynge named Robert Baudryncourt sent hyr wyth a coÌ„uenyent company vnto the kyng wyth letters certyfyenge hym of all the maner of thys mayde wherof the sayd Charles beynge asserteyned thought he wold vse som meane to knowe the vertue of thys wenche And for he had perfyghte experyence that before tymes thys woman had neuer sene hys persone he thoughte he wolde chaunge hys rome and habyte to se whether she by hyr vertue coulde knowe hym frome other and that done he standynge amonge other of his familiers as one of them she was called into the chaumber demaunded yf euer before tyme she had sene the kynge And after she hadde answered nay she was byddeÌ„ to espye oute the kynge whych there stode amonge that companye The whyche anone wythout dyfficulte him fande and saluted as king And all be it that he refused hyr reuereÌ„ce sayd y t she erred in hyr choyse yet she parseuered kneling at his fete and sayde that by goddes purueyauÌ„ce she was taught that he was hyr very soueraygn prince none other wherfore the kynge all hys lordes had in hyr the more affyauÌ„ce that by hyr the laÌ„de shulde be releuyd whych at that daye was in passyng mysery Than after dyuers questyoÌ„s to hyr made what was the cause of hyr thyther commynge she answered sayd that she was sent frome god to stablisshe the kynge in hys realme and that by hyr she beynge leder capytayne of hys people by dyuine grace onely the kynge shulde shortely subdue hys enemyes By reasoÌ„ of which wordes the kyng wyth hys lordes were somedeale comforted Upon thys armour sword was sought for this maydeÌ„ the whych as sayeth my sayd auctour was fouÌ„den myraculously wherof the processe to me appereth so darke faÌ„tastycall y t therewith me list nat to blot my boke but suffre it to passe by Than thys weÌ„che being purueyed of all thinges necessary to the warre a company of knyghtes soudyours to hyr by the kynge was assygned And so she rydynge as a man in maÌ„nes habyte contynued by the space of .ii. yeres more and dyd many wonderful feates and gat from the Englysshemen many stroÌ„ge townes and holdes wherefore amonge Frenchemen she was wordshypped for an auÌ„gell or a messynger sent frome god to releue theyr great myserye And as affermeth the sayd auctour she by hyr prouydence caused the sayd Charles as kynge of Fraunce to be crowned at Raynes in the yere of oure lord M. foure hundreth and .xxix. All be it nouther the Frenche cronycle nor other whyche I haue sene testyfyeth that but affermyn that he was nat crowned duryng the lyfe of the duke of Bedforde But almyghty god whyche for a season suffereth suche sorcery and deuelyssh ways to prospere reygne to the correccyon of synners lastely to shewe hys power and that good men shuld nat fall into any erroure he sheweth the clerenesse of suche mystycall thynges and so he dyd in thys For lastely she by a knyghte Burgonyon was taken after sent to Roan and there breÌ„t for her demerytes as in the .viii yere of Henry the .vi. is more at leÌ„gth shewed ThaÌ„ the tyme forth passyng and coÌ„tynuall warre betwene Englande FrauÌ„ce contynuyng among many trybulacions by thys Charles susteyned one that was hys owne sonnÌ„ named Lewys comforted and assysted by the dukes of BurboÌ„ and AleÌ„son wyth other meÌ„ of name rebelled agayne hys father and warred vppon hym and by strengthe wan frome hym certeyne townes strong holdes For remedy whereof the sayde Charles made warre vppon the forenamed duke of Burbon and wasted wyth iron and fyre the countreyes of the sayde duke of Burbon By meane whereof after thys vnkyndely warre hadde duryd by the space of syxe monethes or more a peace and vnyte betwene the father sonne was treated by meanes of the erle of Ewe a coÌ„corde vnite betwene
of Brye the cytyes of Melde Monstruell and Meldune therof to be excepted And vnto Charlys sonne of the duke of Burgoyne he was contented to gyue so myche money as he hadde spent in that iournay But all was refused And fynally for obstynacy of bothe partyes the daye of expyracyon of the trewe approchyd wythout hope of accord coÌ„cludyng wherfore prouysyon for warre vpon bothe partyes was deuysed Than begaÌ„ grudge and murmure bytwen the cytesyns and the kynges sowdyours wherthorough many of the comons hertes turned to the lordes so that for fere the surer and stronger watches were kepte to the kynges great charge Shortely after tydynges were brought vnto the kynge y t the castell of Gysons was of the lordes vesyeged and that also the prefecte of the kynges paleys in Roan was taken of the cytesyns and holden in prysone And the daye folowynge came an other messengare shewynge vnto the kynge that the duke of Burbone was by the posterne receyued into the castell of Roan and was lykely to haue shortely the rule of the cytye whyche came to effecte in shorte whyle after whan the lordes hadde gotten the castell and cyty of Roan whyche is hed cytye of Normandy as Parys is hed of Fraunce than in maner of derysyon they sent vnto y e kynge sayenge that nother with Champayne nor with Bry hys brother Charlys wold be contented but scantely wyth the hole duchy of Normandy Than kynge Lewys coÌ„syderyng the great auauÌ„tage which y e lordes had of him both by strength and fauour of hys comons whyche dayly drewe vnto them by sondry coÌ„panyes in auoydyng of more daunger concludyd a peas For perfourmauÌ„ce wherof he grauÌ„ted vnto Charlys his brother y e hole duchy of Normandy takyng to hym in exchauÌ„ge the county of Berry And to Charlis sonne to the duke of Burgoyne PeronÌ„ Roya a cytye or towne called in latyne MondideriuÌ„ and therwith he ioyned Gwynary and y e erledome of Boloyne which lordshyps y e sayd kynge Lewys hadde before tymes bought of duke Phylyp his father To IohnÌ„ of Calabre he grauÌ„ted all such suÌ„mes of money as he demaundyd to wage with soudiours to ayde his father agayne Fardynande then kyng of Aragon And to IohnÌ„ duke of Burbon y t which as before is said had maryed his syster he grauÌ„ted all such dowar as to hym was ê“mysed at y e tyme of maryage all such pencyon as he was wont yerely to take of the graunte of Charlys last kyng within the realme of FrauÌ„ce To the duke of Brytayne was restoryd the erledome of MouÌ„tferard with great suÌ„mes of money which the kyng had receyued of the sayd county And to y e erle of Dampmartyne was restored all suche landes as before by acte of parlyameÌ„t were forfayted to y e kyng To the erle of saynt Poule was restored the offyce of the constablerye of FrauÌ„ce to other meÌ„ of name other notable thynges which I passe ouer All whyche grauntes fermely and fastely assuryd proclamacyons were made of thys pease thoroughe the realme of Fraunce And after thys pease was thus concluded the kyng and hys lordes mette To whome he shewed greate semblaunt of kyndnesse and specyally vnto hys brother wherin appered great dyssymulacyon as here after shall appere For thys Lewys was of suche condycion that what he myght not ouer come wyth strength he wold wynne wyth dyssymulacyon and trechety After whyche peace thus concluded and the lordes departed the kynge festyd the rulers and consuls of the cytye of Parys and gaue vnto them due thankes for the greate trouth fydelyte whyche they bare towarde hym duryng that troubelous season and graunted vnto them suche thynges as then they wolde aske for the weale of that cytye IT was not longe after that dyssymulacyon fell bytwene Charlys duke of Normandye and IohnÌ„ foresayde sonne vnto the duke of Calabre and the erle of Dampmartyne wherof a parte of the cause was that the sayde Charlys after theyr thynkyng hadde not so bounteously rewarded them as they had deserued Of whyche dyscorde kyng Lewys was fayne and in spedy maner rode vnto a towne called Argentyne and there wyth the sayd IohnÌ„ than beynge duke of Calabre by reason of hys fathers deth helde wyth hym longe and great counsayll to y e entent to dyspossesse hys brother of the duchy of Normandye By reason of whych dyscorde bytwene the sayd two dukes kynge Lewys as ayder of the duke of Calabre made warre in the partyes of Normandye and in processe wanne therin dyuers castels and other stronge holdes and compelled hys brother to holde the cytye of Roan for hys refuge where he so beynge the kyng wanne dayly vppon hym in so myche that dyuers townes and stronge holdes submytted them to his grace wherof hering the cytesyns of Roan made an ambassade vnto the kynge for purchace of grace for theyr duke and for them selfe The whych when the duke vnderstode ferynge leste his owne cytesyns wolde betraye hym fled thens and so yode to Humflewe and from thens to Cadomy In whyche passe tyme y e kynge was wyth due honour receyued into y e cytie of Roan where he remoued many from theyr offices and of his seruauntes or such as lyked hym put in theyr places moch of the ordynaunce and of abylymentes of warre belongynge to y e towne he sent vnto Parys and the prouost of Roan named Gauyne Manuell he put to deth after hys body was cast into the ryuer and his hed sette vppon a pole dyuers of the colege wyth the deane of y e same place were put vnto deth And all whych tyrannye by the kynge executyd and the towne put in suertye by strength of soudyours he after spedde hym vnto Orleaunce where as sayth myne authour he puruayed an honorable ambassade and sent it vnto Edward the .iiii. then kynge of Englande In the .ix. yere of y e reygne of thys Lewys was so greate a mortalyte of men in Fraunce that in Parys dyed that yere ouer .xl. M. people And in thys yere began a grudge to growe bytwene this Lewys and Phylyppe duke of Burgoyne But it was kept vnkyndely duryng y e lyfe of y e duke which dyed shortely after To whom succedyd Charlys his sonne before named which in processe of tyme maryed dame Margarete syster vnto kynge Edward y e .iiii. as after shal be shewyd It was not longe after that thys Lewys assembled a great hoste of people to make warre vpon Charlys duke of Burgoyne Of whyche people he had coÌ„mytted the rule and charge vnto IohnÌ„ Balna whych at that daye was preste and cardynall and he as a teÌ„porall capytayne toke of them the mustyrs other orders where at the teÌ„porall lordes dysdaynynge the erle of DaÌ„pmartyne sayd in the names of them vnto the kyng Moste redouted souerayne lorde it hath pleased your hyghnesse to commytte vnto a spyrytuall maÌ„ y e charge of your puyssaunt hoste he not ferynge god hath taken vpon hym the cure
largesse was one as it appered by sondy gyftes which he gaue vnto sōdry straūgers which in his story somdeale I haue towchyd And also his bounty apperyd by a gyfte y t he gaue vnto y e lorde Hastynges than lord chāberlayn as xxiiii dosen of bollys wherof halfe were gylt half whyte which weyed vpō .xvii. nobles euery cup or more Thē to retourne vnto kynge Edward trouth it is y t after y e cōformacyon of y e foresayde peas kynge Edward returned to Calys there shypped so sped hym y t vpon the .xxviii. day of Septēber folowynge he was with great tryumghe receyued of the mayre cytesyns of Londō at Blakheth with all honour by them conueyed thorough the cytye vnto westmynster the mayre and aldermen beynge cladde in scarlet and the comoners to y e nomber of .v. C. in murrey Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.lxxv  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.lxxvi  Hugh Bryce  Rober Basset Salter  Anno .xv.  Robet Colwych  THys yere this mayre dyd sharp correccyon vppon bakers for makynge of lyght brede in so moch that he set dyuers vpon y e pyllory Amonge the whyche in the moneth of Iohn̄ Mondue baker was there punysshed And in the moneth of one named wyllyā Hubbard was also there shryned for lyke offence And a woman named Agnes Deynty was also there punisshed for selling false myngyd butter Anno domini M.iiii C.lxxvi  Anno domini M.iiii C.lxxvii  Rycharde Rawson  Rauffe Iosselyn Draper  Anno .xvi.  wyllyam Horne  IN this yere the mayre hauyng a great mynde to haue the walles of the cytye repayred by a cōsente of the benche and of the comyn coūsayle caused the More felde to be serched and there prouyded for bryk lyme As fyrste caused the erthe to be dyggyd and tempred and then sette men or werke to moolde and thenne sent into the west countre and there purueyed wode for to bren it And that done sente into Kent and there purueyed chalke that shortely was brought into the sayde More felde And ryght there in a kylle whych he in that season hadde prouyded was brent and made lyme of a great fortheraunce of that werke The mayre then beynge purueyed of bryk and also of lyme the whyche was brent within the sayd more caused by consent of a comen counsayle to be graunted that in euery parysshe chyrche euery Sondaye euery parysshon shulde paye toward the charge .v. d. And for an ensample to other felysshyppes he caused his owne company to make as mych of the walle as strechyth frome the chyrche of Alhalowen wythin the sayde walle vnto Bysshoppes gate whyche presydent caused other worshypfull felysshyppes to make the other parter as now appereth newe made and the more part therof done in thys yere by hys procurynge and callynge vppon of hym whych was wonderfull that so myche shulde be spedde in one yere consyderynge the puruyaunce of the stuffe whych had ben suffycyent for some man to haue purueyed for in an hole yere Anno. dn̄i M.iiii C.lxxvii  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.lxxviii  Henry Colet  Humfrey Heyforde Goldsmyth  Anno .xvii.  Iohn̄ Stocker  IN thys yere that is to meane the .xvii. daye of February the duke of Clarence and seconde brother to the kynge thanne beynge prysoner in the towre was secretely put to deth and drowned in a barell of maluesye wythin the sayde towre And thys mayre thys yere pursued also the reparacyon of the wallys but not so dylygently as hys predecessour dyd wherfore it was not sped as it myghte haue bene And also he was a syke and feble man and had not so sharpe and quycke mynde as that other had And one other cause was whych ensueth of a generalyte that for the more partye one mayre wyll not fynysshe that thynge whych that other begynneth For then they thynke be the dede neuer so good and profytable that the honoure therof shal be ascrybed to the begynner and not to the fynyssher whyche lacke of charyte and desyre of veyn glory causeth many good actes and dedes to dye and growe out of mynde to y e greate decaye of the comon weale of the cytye Anno. dn̄i M.iiii C.lxxviii  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.lxxix  Robert Hardynge  Rycharde Gardyner Mercer  Anno .xviii.  Robert Byfelde  IN thys yere was great mortalyte and deth in London and many other partyes of thys realme the whyche began in the latter ende of Septēber in the precedynge yere and contynued in thys yere tyll the begynnynge of Nouember In the whyche passe tyme dyed innumerable people in the sayde cytye many places ellys where In this yere also the mayre beyng at Poules knelyng in hys deuocyōs at saynt Erkenwaldys shryne Robert Byfelde one of the shyryffes vnauysedly knelyd downe nyghe vnto the mayre wherof the mayre after resonyd hym layde it to hys charge But that other beynge somdele rude for lacke of connynge answered the mayre stubbernly and wolde not be aknowe of hys offence wherfore the mayre shewed hys behauour both of worde and dede vnto the benche by authoryte wherof after y e mater had ben there at length debated the sayd Robert was fyned at .l. pounde to be payed towarde the reparacion of the conduytes Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.lxxix  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.lxxx  Thomas Ilam  Bartylmewe Iamys Draper  Anno .xix  Iohn̄ warde  IN this yere one called Robert Deynys for that that he presumed to mary an Orphan wythout lycence of y e mayre and aldermen was for that offence demyd to paye to the chamber as a fyne .xx. li. And in the yere and moneth of were .iiii. felowes hanged at the Towre hylle and incontynently theyr bodyes wyth the gybbet brent vnto asshes whych execucyon was for that they robbed a chyrche and entreated the sacramēt of the aulter inreuerently Anno domini M.iiii C.lxxx  Anno domini M.iiii C.lxxxi  wyllyam Danyell  Iohn̄ Browne  Anno .xx.  wyllyam Bacon  THys yere kynge Edwarde requyred great sūmes of money to hym to be lent of y e cytesyns of London To whom after dyuers assembles they graūted to lende vnto hym .v. thousande marke For the leuyenge wherof a man was chosen of euery ward that is to meane .xxv. men The whych .xxv. persons assembled in the Guyldhalle sessyd all the cyty ouer wyth two persons of euery parysshe to them assygned whyche sayd .v. thousand marke was repayed in the yere folowynge Anno. dn̄i M.iiii C.lxxxi  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.lxxxii  Robert Cate.  wyllyam Haryat Draper wyllyam wykyng Anno .xxi.  Rycharde Chawry  THys yere in the moneth of February or ende of Ianuary dyed wyllyam wykynge one of the sheryffes for whom was imedyately chosen Rycharde Chawry And in the moneth Iuly folowynge y e kyng rode on huntynge in to the forest of waltham where he commaūded the mayre wyth a certayne
of hys brotherne to come to gyue attendauÌ„ce vppon hym wyth certayne comeners of the cytye where when they were comâ—â— the kynge caused the game to be brought before them so y t they sawe course after course and many a derâ— bothe rede falowe to be slayne before them And after that goodly dâ—spoâ—tâ— was passyd the kynge commaunded hys offycers to brynge the mayre and hys company vnto a pleasauÌ„t lodge made all of grene bowys and garnysshed wyth tables other thynges necessary where they were set at dyner and serued wyth many deynty dysshes and of dyuers wynes good pleynty as whyte rede and claret and caused them to be set to dyner or he were seruyd of hys owne ouer that caused the lorde chamberlayn wyth other lordes to hym assygned to chere the sayde mayre and his company sondry tymes whyle they were at dyner at theyr departynge gaue vnto them of venyson greate pleynty And in y e moneth of August folowynge the kynge of hys greate bounte sente vnto the mayresse and her systers aldermennes wyfes two hartes and .vi. buckes wyth a tonne of wyne to drynke wyth the sayd venyson The whyche venyson wyne was hadde vnto the drapers halle to whych place at a day assygned the mayre desyred the aldermeÌ„ and theyr wyfes wyth sondry comoners and there the venyson wyth many other good dyshes were eryn and the sayd wyne merely dronken The cause of whyche bounty thus shewed by the kynge was as moste men toke it for that that the mayre was a marchauÌ„t of wonderous auentures into many and sondry countrees By reason wherof the kynge had yerely of hym notable summes of money for hys customes besyde other pleasures y t he hadde shewed to the kynge before tymes Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lxxxii  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lxxxiii  wyllyam whyte  Edmonde Shaa Goldsmyth  Anno .xxii.  IohnÌ„ Mathewe  THis yere that is to meane of y e mayre and begynnynge of the xxiii yere of the kynge at westmynster vppon the .ix. daye of Apryll dyed the noble prynce Edwarde the iiii late kynge of Englande whose corps was after conueyed wyth due solemnyte vnto wyndsore and there honourably buryed when he hadde reygned to reken hys begynnynge out of the lande with all other tyme full .xxii. yeres and as moch as from the .iiii. daye of Marche vnto the .ix. daye of Apryll leuynge after hym .ii. sonnes that is to say prynce Edward hys eldest sonne and Rycharde duke of yorke and .iii. doughters as Elysabeth that after was quene Cecyle and Katheryne Edwarde the .v. EDward the .v. of that name sonnÌ„ vnto Edwarde y e iiii beganne hys reygne ouer the realm of EnglaÌ„d y e .xi. day of Apryl in the beginnyng of the yere of our lord god M.iiii C.lxxxiii and the .xxiiii. yere of the .xi. Lewys than kynge of Fraunce Anone as kynge Edward the .iiii. was dede grudge and vnkyndnesse beganne to take place bytwene the kynges and the quenes allye For y e lorde marquys of Dorset brother vnto the quene and other of hys affynytye hadde then the rule kepyng of thys yonge kynge whyche at the tyme of hys fathers deth was of the age of .xi. yere or there about and so beyng in hys guydyng in y e Marche of walys coÌ„ueyed hym toward London and there to make prouysyoÌ„ for hys coronacyon and for other necessary thynges for hys weale But the duke of Glouceter brother vnto Edward the .iiii. entendynge otherwyse as after shall appere wyth a competent noÌ„ber of gentylmeÌ„ of the North all clad in blacke met with y e kynge at Stonyngstratforde there after dyssymuled countenaunce made bytwene hym the forsayd Marquys dischargyd him of the rule of y e king and toke vpon hym the rule so froÌ„ thens beynge accompanyed with the duke of Buckyngham broughte the kynge with all honour toward LondoÌ„ wherof heryng quene Elysabeth moder vnto the kyng feryng the sequele of thys besynesse went or toke sentwary within westmynster wyth her yonger sonne Rycharde the duke of yorke And the kynge drawynge nere vnto the cytie vpon the .iiii. day of Maye was of the mayre and hys cytesyns mette at Harnesey parke y e mayre and hys bretherne beynge clothed in scarlet the cytesyns in vyolet to the noÌ„ber of .v. hondred horses and than from thens conueyed vnto the cytye the kynge beynge in blewe veluet and all hys lordes and seruauÌ„tes in blacke clothe and so after coÌ„ueyed vnto the byshoppes palays of London and there lodgyd And shortely after the sayd duke of Glouceter inueleged so the archbisshop of CauÌ„terbury named Bowchyer that he went wyth hym to the quene Elysabeth and there made suche assured promyse to the sayde quene that she vppon the sayd archbyshoppes promyse delyuered vnto them her yonger sonne duke of yorke And than the sayde duke caused the kynge to be remoued vnto the towre and hys brother with hym But the quene for all fayre promyses to her made kept her and her doughters wythin the foresayde seyntwary and the duke lodged hym selfe in Crosbyes place in Bysshoppesgate strete Than prouision was made for the kynges coronacyoÌ„ In whyche passe tyme the duke beynge admytted for lorde protectour caused syr Antony wydyuyle called lorde Scalys brother vnto y e quene a vertuous knight wyth the lorde Rycharde the quenes sonne syr Rycharde Hawte and syr Thomas UaghanÌ„ knyghtes to be beheded at Pountfreyt more of wyll than of iustyce Than the lorde Protectour in furtheryng of his purpose and cuyll entent sente for the more partie of the nobles of the laÌ„de and behaued hym so couertly in all hys matyers that fewe vnderstode hys wykked purpose And so dayely kepynge holdynge the lordes in counsayll and felynge theyr myndes sodaynly vppoÌ„ the .xiii. daye of Iuny beynge wythin the towre in the counsayll chambre wyth dyuerse lordes wyth hym as the duke of Bukkyngham the erle of Derby the lord Hastynges thaÌ„ lord ChaÌ„berlayne wyth dyuerse other an owte crye by hys assent of treason was made in the vtter chambre wherwyth the sayd lorde Protectour beyng warned roose vp and yode hym selfe to the chaumber dore and there receyued in such persones as he before had appoynted to execute hys malycious purpose The The whych incontynently set hande vpon the forenamed lord Chamberlayne and other In the whyche styrrynge the erle of Derby was hurt in the face and kept a whyle vnder the holde Than by coÌ„maundemente of the sayd lorde Protectour the sayde lord Chamberlayne in all haste was ladde in the court or playn where the chapell of the towre staÌ„deth there wythout iugemeÌ„t or loÌ„ge tyme of coÌ„fessyon or repentauÌ„ce vpoÌ„ an ende of a loÌ„ge great tymber logge whyche there laye wyth other for the repayrynge of the sayd towre caused hys hedde to be smyten of and all for he knewe well that he wolde nat assente vnto hys wycked entent whose body wyth the hed was after caryed vnto wyndesore
.vii. of y e name sonne vnto the erle of RichemouÌ„t began his domynyon ouer the realme of Englande the .xxii. daye of Auguste in y e yere of our lorde god M.iiii C.lxxxv and the secoÌ„de yere of the .viii. Charlys then kynge of FrauÌ„ce And the .xxx. daye of October folowynge with great solempnyte y e sayd Henry was crowned at westmynster And here accordynge to my fyrste sayenge in the begynnynge of thys rude worke I make an ende of the vii parte and hole worke the .vii. day of Nouember in the yere of our lord Iesu Crystes incarnacyon M.v. C. and .iiii and the .xx. yere of our moste crysten and drad soueraygne lorde kynge Henry after the conquest of y e name the .vii. For whyche expedycyoÌ„ and good exployt that I haue hadde in the accomplysshyg of thys work wherin is included to rekyn from the landynge of Brute in thys I le of Albyon vnto the fyrste yere or begynnyng of the reygne of our most dead sayd souerayne lord ii M.vi C. and xx yeres I here agayne salute and gyue thankes vnto that moste excellent vyrgyn our lady saynt Mary with the last and .vii. ioye of the foresayd vii ioyes begynnynge Gaude virgo mater pura c. Be ioyfull and glad virgyn and moder pure For ferme and stedfast thy ioye shall abyde And these .vii. ioyes shall euermore endure And neuer hereafter minishe by tyme nor by tyde But euer shall encreace â—â—oryâ—â—e and abyde By worldes all euer in one to laste Tyme to come tyme preseÌ„t tyme that is past And thus than endyth thys seuenth part the which from the fyrst yere of wyllyam Conquerour to y e laste yere of Rycharde the thyrde includeth iiii C.xvii yeres Lenuoy Limas adest praecessit opus ne liâ—idus assis Lector habent mendas denia presa suas Quoduis ingenium quadam vel parte redundat Vel ruduÌ„ vel mancuÌ„ est vel graue vel fluiduÌ„ Concio â—rebra tibi culpatur furta Maronis Est Cicero elumbis pes tibi naso ceser Non satis historiae Crispi praefatio quadrat Nil adeo cultum liuor iniquus habet Non minus hoc poterit tantillum capere morsor Laeserit illustres cum fera lingua viros Sed quid agas residem taxabit inertia mutum Scriptorem risor extenuabit inners Audendum tamen est spernendi mâ—lle latratus Occidet a busto murmur inuidia The whyche verses to them that ben vnlettered may be Englyshed in maner and fourme as foloweth An ende of thys boke or of thys rude warke Here is now fyned wherof the sence precedyth Thou that shall it rede be thou laye or clerke Be not enuyous consyder how it ledyth The reygne of prynces And where as mendement nedyth If thou experte be the fawtes therof amende And hym ascrybe no sclaunder that dyd but well entende Consyder euery scyence in parte that it is suche To rude or to curyous to breef or to longe Some blamyn Liuins for that he wrote so moche Some other Uyrgyle and Cicero amonge For he was to scarse Salust that dytyes songe So excelently yet is he not vnblamed So that to all men nothynge is duely framed Than syn the olde wryters whyche were so excellent Myghte not all men please wyth theyr famous wrytynge No maruayll though I whyche neuer connynge hâ—nt Myghte order thys mater to euery mannys lykynge And specyally to suche as haue theyr delyghtynge Euer wyth dysclaunder moste wryters to lacke And barke whyle they maye to sette good wryters a backe But though that ignoraunce and derysyon ben mette And reproue the maker in all that they can why shulde any good worke for theyr malyce be lette For though they grudge scorne yet euery wyse good man wyll take the entent and prayse the maker than And hym allow for hys laborous dede And requyre of god that he maye haue hys mede Anno domini M.iiii C.lxxxv  Anno domini M.iiii C.lxxxvi  IohnÌ„ Tate  Hugh Bryce Goldsmyth  Anno .i.  IohnÌ„ Swan  IN thys yere a prest was made to the kynge of .ii. M. li of the whyche the mercers grocers drapers lent .ix. C.xxxvii li. and .vi. s. The coronacyoÌ„ was holden at westmynster the .xxx. day of October And this yere whete was at .iii. s. y e busshell baye salt at the same pryce Anno domini M.iiii C.lxxxvi  Anno domini M.iiii C.lxxxvii  IohnÌ„ Percyuall  Syr Henry Colet  Anno .ii.  Hugh Clopton  In thys yere the kynge maryed kyng Edwardes eldest doughter named Elizabeth This yere was slayn at Stookfelde the erle of Lyncolne And in the moneth of SepteÌ„ber was borne prynce Arthur Anno domini M.iiii C.lxxxvii  Anno domini M.iiii C.lxxxviii  IohnÌ„ Fenkyll  wyllyam Horne  Anno .iii.  wyllyam Remyngton  THys yere was the quene crowned at westmynster vpon saynt Katheryns daye And this yere was a prest of .iiii. M. li. wherof mercers grocers Drapers lent .xvi. C. .xvi. li. And thys yere was an other prest of two thousaÌ„d And thys yere IohnÌ„ Ashley wyth other two were putte in execucyon at the Towre hylle Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lxxxviii  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lxxxix  wyllyam Isaak  Robert Tate Mercer  Anno .iiii.  Rafe Tynley  IN thys yere the comons of the North slewe the erle of Northumberlande and Chamberlayne theyr capytayne wyth dyuers other were after at yorke hanged Thys yere was the taske of the tenth peny of mennes landes and goodes This yere was the felde oÌ„f Dykysmew in Flaunders foughten by the lorde Dawbeney Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lxxxix  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xc.  wyllyam Capell  wyllyam whyte  Anno .v.  IohnÌ„ Brook  IN this yere one named Roger Shauelok slew hym selfe For whose goodes was besynesse bytwen the kynges amner and the sheryffe But the amner optayned Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xc.  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xci.  Henry Coot  IohnÌ„ Mathew Mercer Robert Reuell Anno .vi.  Hugh Pemberton  IN this yere dyed Robert Reuel shyryffe in his stede was chosen Hugh PeÌ„berton And in March syr Robert chaÌ„berlayne knyght was behedyd And thys yere was a great benyuolence graunted vnto y e kynge for his iournay into FrauÌ„ce where vnto the felysshyp of the Drapers graunted more than any other felysshyp of the cytye and euery aldermaÌ„ of London that tyme beynge payed volente nolente two hundreth pound Ouer whyche somme the comoners somme exteÌ„dyd to .ix. M.vi C.lxxxii li. xvii s. iiii d. And this yere was a busshell of whete at .xxii. d. Anno domini M.iiii C.xci.  Anno domini M.iiii C.xcii  Thomas wood  Hugh Clopton Mercer  Anno .vii.  wyllyam Browne  IN thys yere a yoman of the crowne named was put to deth at Tybourne for treason And in thys yere was the cytye of Garnad gotteÌ„ by y e kyng of Spayn And iÌ„ this
yere was syr Iamys Parker knyght slayne in iustynge at Rychemont with a gentylman named Hugh Uaghan Also in the moneth of September the kynge toke hys vyage towarde Fraunce Anno domini M.iiii C.xcii  Anno domini M.iiii C.xciii  wyllyam purchase  wyllyam Martyn Skynner  Anno .viii.  wyllyam welbek  IN thys yere vpon the .ix. daye of Nouember was red a letter in the Guyldhall y t shewed of a peas cōcluded bytwen the kynges of England of Fraūce And the .xvii. day of December folowynge the kynge landed at Douer And the saterdaye before Cristmas he came to westmynster Uppon the .xvii. daye of Maye were .iiii. men put to deth at Tyborn for treason And thys yere in the moneth of October and ende of thys mayres yere was the fray made vppon the Eesterlynges by the comons of the cytye and specyally mercers seruauntes Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.xciii  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.xciiii  Robert Fabyan  Rafe Astry Fysshemonger  Anno .ix.  Iohn̄ wyngar  IN this yere in y e beginnyng an enquery was made for y e ryot forenamed for the which many yong men were punysshed by long imprysonment Also vpō the .xxii. day of February were regnyd at y e Guyldhall iiii persons named Thomas Bagnall Iohn̄ Scotte Iohn̄ Heth and Iohn̄ Kenyngton which were taken out of saynte Martyns seyntwary wherof .iii. were put to deth at Tyborne Thomas Bagnall was had vnto the towre of London And the xxvi day of the sayd moneth with y e foresayd .iii. persons was put in execyon willyā Bulkley a yoman of the kynges chāber and a duche man Thys yere whete was at .vi. d. a busshell and bay salt at .iii. d. ob And thys yere doctor Hylle bysshop of Lōdon pursued greuously Persy than pryour of Crystes chyrch in Londō And in thys yere was the royall feste kept in westmynster halle by y e kyng This yere in the ende of Apryll was brent in Smithfelde an olde woman for heresye whych was called moder to the lady yonge And thys yere the xv day of August were reyned at the Guyldhalle one named Iohn̄ Norfolk an other named Iohn̄ white cōuict for baudry set vpō y e pillory Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.xciiii  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.xcv.  Nycholas Alwyn  Rycharde Chawry Salter  Anno .x.  Iohn̄ warner  THis yere the daye that y e mayre toke hys charge in y e afternone came thorugh the cytye Henry duke of yorke a chylde about .iiii. yeres of age towarde westmynster rydynge vppon a courser with many goodly gentylmen to conuey hym And vpon the .ix. daye of Nouember folowyng was holden a goodly iustyse within the paleys of westmynster wherof were chalengeours syr wyllyā de la Pool then duke of Suffolk therle of Essex syr Robert Curson Iohn̄ Pechy esquyre Also this yere about Cristmas sir Robert Clifford whych before was fled the land came agayne appechyd syr wyllyā Stanley than chamberlayne to the kynge of treason which syr wyllyam vpon the .xvi. day of February folowynge for the sayd treason was behedyd at the Tower hylle And y e same season was adiudged to deth at the Guyldhall the deane of Poulys a famous doctour precher the prouyncyall of the blak freres and y e pryour of Langley the person of saynt Stephyns in walbroke named doctour Sutton syr Thomas Thwatys knyght Robert Ratclyffe wyllyam Dawbeney willyā Cressener esquire with syr Simond Moūford knight mo other wherof y e more part was pardoned And this yere was whyte heryng at .xl. d. a barel And this yere began the fyrst trouble of syr wyllyā Capell alderman And in Iuly Perkyn with his rebelles ariued in Kent which named hym selfe Rychard seconde sonne of Edward the .iiii. And in y e same moneth was doctour Draper perforce borne out of Poulys so ladde to Lābehyth for varyaunce that than was bytwene the bysshoppes of Can̄terbury and Londō And soone after was hanged in sundry costes of Englande an C. and odde persons of the forenamed rebellys And thys yere was a perlyamente holden at westmnynster Also in the moneth of October was an excedynge thunder Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.xcv.  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.xcvi  Thomas Kneysworth  Syr Henry Colette Mercer  Anno .xi.  Henry Somyr  IN thys yere in the .xvi. daye of Nouēber was holden the sergeaūtes feste within the bysshop of Elyes place This yere was the body of Rychard Hakendyes wyfe takyn vp in saynt Mary hyll chyrche hole y t had lyen in the groūd ouer C. .xx. yeres And thys yere was great bysynesse for the entercourse bytwene England and Flaunders And this yere the kynge of Scottes made sharp warro vppon the marches And this yere many lollers stode wyth fagottes at Poulys crosse Anno domini M.iiii C.xxvi  Anno domini M.iiii C. cxvii  Iohn̄ Shaa  Iohn̄ Tate Mercer  Anno .xii.  Rycharde Haddon  THe latter ende of October by great coūsayll holden at westmynster was graunted to the kynge fer the defence of the Scottes C.xx M. li. The .xviii. daye of Nouember was Poulys chyrch suspendyd by a fraye of two yonge men And in the same moneth was graūted to y e kyng a prest of the cytye of .iiii. M. li. And the same moneth at Calys was behedyd the lord Fitzwater The .xxi. day of Ianuary a parlyament beganne wherby was graunted two dymes a halfe two aydes and two fyftenys to leuy the foresayd C.xx M. li. And in the moneth of Iuny and .xvii. day were the Cornyshmen dyscōfyted at Blakheth And vpon the .xxviii. daye of Iuny the Smyth a gentylman named Flāmok two capytaynes of y e sayd rebelles were put in execucyon at Tybourne And shortely after the lorde Audeley which was hed capytayne of the sayd rebelles was put to deth at y e Towre hylle And this yere was concluded a maryage bytwene my lorde prynce the kynges doughter of Spayne Thys yere also the kynge sent into Scotland an army vnder y e guydyng of the erle of Surrey and the lord Neuyle the whyche made sharpe warre vpon y e Scottes And ī y e moneth of October Perkyn landed in Cornwayle and assayled the towne of Exceter other townes But fynally he toke the seyntwary of Beawdely and after was pardoned of hys lyfe Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.xcvii  Anno dn̄i M.iiii C.xcviii  Bartholomewe Rede  wyllyam Purchace Mercer  Anno .xiii.  Thomas wyndowght  IN this yere vpō the .xxviii. day of Nouēber the sayd Parkyn was brought thorugh the cyty vnto the Towre there left as prysoner And with hym a tall yomā somtyme sergeaūt ferrour to the kyng whych ferrour one named Edwarde were shortely after put to deth at tibourn Upon saynte Nycholas daye was a proclamacyō made thorugh y e cytye of a peas bytwene the realmes of England
Scotland for terme of both kynges lyues And in December a carpenter called Godfrey toke downe the wedercok of Poulys slyple set it vp agayne And this yere in Crystmas weke was a part of the kinges palayes of RychemouÌ„t brent And this yere vppon the .ix. daye of Iuny the forenamed Parkin beyng at large in the kynges court went secretely awaye and lastly went to the fader of Syon And after the second pardon to hym by the kynge graunted he was shewed at westmynster in Chepys syde with moch wonderment and fynally had to the Towre and there keped Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xcviii  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xcix  Thomas Bradbery  Syr IonÌ„ Percyuale  Anno .xiiii.  Stephyn Ienyns  IN thys yere vpoÌ„ the .xxx. daye of Octobre came my lord price through y e cytye wyth an honorabell coÌ„pany toward westmynster And vppon shroue tuysdaye was put in execucioÌ„ at saynt Thomas warrynge a strepelyng of .xx. yeres of age whych had auauÌ„ced hym selfe to be the sonnÌ„ or heyre to the erle of warwykes landes was the sonne of a cordyner of LondoÌ„ And thys yere mayster IohnÌ„ Tate aldermaÌ„ begaÌ„ y e new edefyinge of saynt Anthonies church And this yere vpoÌ„ the .xvi. day of Iuly beynge sonday vpoÌ„ the sonday folowyng stode .xii. heretykes at Poules crosse shryned wyth fagottes Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xcix  Anno dnÌ„i M.v. C.  Iamys wylforde  Nycholas Alwyn  Anno .xv.  Rychard Brond  IN this yere the .xvi. day of NoueÌ„ber was areyned in y e whyte halle at westmynster the forenamed Parkyn .iii. other The whych Parkyn and one IohnÌ„ Awatyr were put shortly after in execucioÌ„ at Tyborne And soone after was the erle of warwyke put to deth at the towre hylle one Blewet Astwood at Tyborne And thys yere in May the kyng the quene sayled to Calays And thys yere was BabraÌ„ in Northfolke breÌ„t And in Iuly was an olde heretyke breÌ„t in Smythfelde And thys yere was a great deth in LondoÌ„ whereof died ouer xx M. of all ages And this yere dyed doctour MortoÌ„ cardynall and chaunceler of Englande in the moneth of October Anno. dnÌ„i M.v. C.  Anno dnÌ„i M.v. C.i.  IohnÌ„ Hawys  wyllyam Remyngton  Anno .xvi.  wyllyam Stede  IN this yere the .xxi. daye of DeceÌ„ber in the nyght was an hydyous thuÌ„der And this yere was the name of the kyngê palays of Shene chauÌ„ged called after y e day RychemouÌ„t And this yere in August departed secretly out of this laÌ„de the duke of Suffolke And the .iiii. daye of October laÌ„ded at Plymmowth KaterynÌ„ doughter of y e kyng of Spayn And thys yere was fynysshed by mayster Tate the church of saynt Anthony Anno domini M.v. C.i.  Anno domini M.v. C.ii.  Syr Laurence Aylemer  Syr IohnÌ„ Shaa  Anno .xvii.  Henry Hede.  IN this yere began the mayre hys bretherne to ryde to the barge other places UpoÌ„ sait ErkeÌ„waldes day was my lord prince maryed to the kyng of Spaynes doughter And this season the duke of Bukkyngham wyth other was chief chaleÌ„geour at a royall iustyce turney holdeÌ„ in the palays of westmynster And thys yere came a greate ambassade out of ScotlaÌ„d by reason wherof coÌ„clusion of maryage was made betwene the king of Scottes dame Margarete eldest doughter to oure soueraygne lord Also thys yere was an excedyng great fysshe taken nere vnto Quynbourgh And in Marche syr wyllyam of Deuynshyre syr Iamys Tyrell his eldest sonÌ„ one named welborne were arested for treason And in Apryll â—olowyng dyed y e noble prynce Arthur in the towne of Ludlow And upoÌ„ y e last day of April were set vpoÌ„ y e pyllory .ii. yoÌ„gmen for defamyng of y e kynges couÌ„sayll and there erys cut of Also aboute thys tyme y t gray fryers were coÌ„pelled to take theyr old habit russet as y e shepe doth dye it And the .vi. day of Maye Iamys Tyrell syr IohnÌ„ wyndhmÌ„ knyght were beheded at y e towre hyl And a shypmaÌ„ for the same treason was the same day draweÌ„ to tyborne there haÌ„ged quartered And soone after a purseuauÌ„t named Curson a yoman called Mathew Ionys were put in execucioÌ„ at Guynys all was for aydyng of syr EdmoÌ„d De la pool Also thys yere about mydsomer was takeÌ„ a felowe whych hadde renewed many of RobiÌ„ hodes pageÌ„tes which named him selfe Greneleef And this yere begaÌ„ the new werke of y e houses offyce wythin the Guyldhall of London And in the ende of October was proclaymed a peas betwene the king the archeduke of Burgoyne And y e sonday before saint SymoÌ„d Iude was shewed a bull by vertue wherof were denouÌ„ced at Poules crosse as accursed syr EdmoÌ„d de la pool late duke of Suffolke syr Roberte Curson knyght .v. other persones And all such as ayded any of theÌ„ agaiÌ„ y e king Anno domini M.v. C.ii.  Anno domini M.v. C.iii. Goldsmyth Henry Kebyll  Bartholmew Rede  Anno .xviii.  Nycholas Nynys  IN this yere begaÌ„ the new werk of the kynges chapell at westmynster And vpoÌ„ the .xi. daye of February dyed quene Elizabeth within the towre lieng in chyldbed And vpoÌ„ the fyrst sonday of leÌ„t was solemply accursed at Poules crosse wyth bel candell syr EdmoÌ„d de la pool syr Robert Curson other all y t the ayded agayn the kyng And in th eÌ„de of the moneth of marche was y e pryour of y e Charterhous at Shene sinfully murdered wyth an other muÌ„k of the same house by synyster meanes of a munk of the same place named Good wyne other mischeuous ê‘sones And this yere the felisshyp of tayllours of LoÌ„don purchased a grauÌ„t of the king to be called marchauÌ„t tayllours And y e viii day of August was the kynge of Scottes maried vnto y e eldest doughter of y e kyng Also in Iuly were areyned at the Guyldhall Olyuer saynte IohnÌ„ Robert Simpson wellysâ—orfi before named Pool bayly of Thorok amp .iiii. other all beyng cast for treason whereof the sayde Olyuer and Pool wyth hyppemen were putte in execucion at Tyborne and the other were pardoned Anno. dnÌ„i M.v. C.iii.  Anno dnÌ„i M.v. C.iiii. Draper Chrystoffer Hawys  Syr wyllyam Capell Robert wattes Anno .xix.  Thomas Granger  IN thys yere the .xiii. day of NoueÌ„ber in the palays of y e archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury at LaÌ„behyth was holdeÌ„ the sergeauÌ„tes feest And the .xxi. day of NoueÌ„ber in the begynnyng of y e nyght was a dredeful fyre vpoÌ„ the north ende of LondoÌ„ brydge And vppoÌ„ the .vii. daye of Ianuary were certeyne houses coÌ„sumed wyth fyre agayn saynt Botulphis churche in Thamys strete UpoÌ„ the .xxv. daye of Ianuary begaÌ„ a parliameÌ„t at westmynster And y e .xxvii. day of March was an house breÌ„t agayn saynt Mattyus le grauÌ„t And the same day was hurt
to the entent he myght fortyfye theym wyth his knyghtes to wythstande the empresse whose cūmynge he euer fered And y e yere folowynge he wāne wyth strength the castellys of Glowceter of Herford of webley of Brystowe of Dudley of Shrewesburye for the whyche cause Robert erle of Glouceter began to wythdrawe hys allegeaunce from kynge Stephan This Robert was the son of Henry the fyrst by reason of baste and for thys dyspleasure sent letters vnto Molde the empresse hys syster promysynge to her great ayde to wynne her ryght In the meane whyle that the empresse made prouysyon for her iourney kynge Stephan concluded a maryage betwene Eustace his sonne and Constaunce the kynges syster of Fraunce doughter of Lewys the great the whyche contynued the amyte betwene England and Fraūce Then in the moneth of Iuly and vi yere of Stephan Molde the empresse as testyfyeth Henry the chanon in hys .ix. boke entred this land by the porte of Portesmouthe and so kepte on her iourney tyll she came to Brystowe and dyd great harme by the meane of her passage through the countrey In whyche tyme of her sayde landynge kyng Stephan laye at the syege of walyngforde castell But as soone as he harde of the landynge of the empresse he anon sente oute commyssyons for more strength and so drewe towarde hys enymyes But in this tyme and season Robert erle of Glowceter and Ranulfe erle of Chester wente vnto the empresse wyth all the power that they might make The empresse herynge the great power commynge wyth the kynge drewe to the cytye of Nycoll now called Lyncolne and there helde her a longe season for all that the kyng myght do But lastely the empresse wyth her people escaped and the kynge was possessyd of the cytye and there bode tyll Candelmas After whyche season erle Robert and Ranulfe before named with a great power of walshmen y e power of the empresse came agayn the kynge where as when bothe hostes were nere ioynyng the erle Ranulfe of Chester spake to his knightes and sayd I requyre you that I that am cause of your parell may be the fyrst that shall entre into the parell Then answered erle Robert and sayd yt is not vnworthy to the y t axeste the fyrst stroke and dignyte of this fyght For to the yt is syttynge for noblesse of blood and vertue of strength in the whyche thou passest other men But the kinges false othe moueth men to warre and to fyght where we muste now wynne the mastry or be ouercomē And he y t hath none other socour is cōstrayned to defende hym by knyghtly and stronge dedes of armes of manhode And so shall we now agayne theym that by entryked wyth gyle wyckednesse as Robert erle of Mellent the erle also of Albemarll and Symon of Hampton the which is a man of great boste and of small myght Then kyng Stephan prepayred to set forwarde hys people and erle Baudewyne had wordes of comfort to the kynges peple sayde Men y t shall fyghte to theym is behouefull thre thynges The fyrst is ryght of y e cause leste men fal in parell of soule The second is quantyte of men of armys leste men be oppreste wyth excedynge nomber And the thyrde is the effecte corage of strēgth of knightes y t the quarel shuld not fayle for lacke of hardy and assured fyghtynge As touchynge whyche thre poyntes I truste we be well sped But ye take hede farthermore what enymyes we haue fyrste we haue agayne vs Robert erle of Glouceter whyche vseth great manasses and executeth lytle or small dedys In mouth he is a lyon but in harte he is a shepe He is pompous in speche and darke in vnderstandyng There is also Ranulfe erle of Chester a man wythout reason and full of folehardynesse redy and preste to all conspyracy and vnstedfastnesse of maner and dedes hasty and furyouse of hart and vnware of parellys He assayeth oft to acheue great dedes but he bryngeth none to effecte And what he fyrsly and fresshely begynneth he cowardely and fayntly forsaketh as vnhappy and vngracyous in all his dedys and is ouercomen in euery place For he holdeth wyth hym banyshed men scullers And the mo of them that be in a company the soner they be ouercomē and weke they be in fyghtyng for eyther of theym putteth truste in his felowe whyle hym selfe is ouerthrowen But or he myght haue finyshed his wordes to moste mennys audyence the crye of the enymyes wyth noyse of trumpettes and gruntyng of horsys approched and smote to gyther and forth go the arowes and gresely cruell fyghte was contynued vppon bothe sydes for the whyle y t yt enduryd where through the grene feld was turned into a perfyte redde so that many a pale wan vysage was there sene yeldynge the gooste wyth armys and legges disseueryd and departed A longe whyle thys fyghte stode in questyon whyther partye shulde obteyne vyctorye But in the ende kynge Stephans partye gaue backe and fledde and he full knyghtly abode on felde wyth a fewe of his knyghtes and was taken and so was brought vnto the empresse the whyche commaunded hym to be conueyed vnder sure kepyng vnto Brystowe where he was kepte as a prysoner from the sayde tyme of Candelmasse vnto holy Roode daye next ensuynge Aboute this tyme was founded the Abbay of Stratforth Langthorne wythin .iiii. myles of London by a knyght called syr wyllyam de Moūtfychet THE CCXXXIII CHAPITER WHen the empresse hadde wonne this vyctorye and had commytted the kyng to warde as before ye haue harde she was not therwith a lytle exalted but thoughte in her mynde that she was in a suerty of the possessyon of the hole realme But she was disceyued for Kent toke partye wyth kynge Stephan But yet after this victory thus obteyned the empresse came vnto wynchester and after to wyltone to Oxenforde to Redynge and to saynte Albonys into the whyche cytyes and townes she was receyued wyth all honoure And fynally she came to London for to entre the state of the lande At her whyche there beynge the quene made assyduat laboure for the delyuerye of the kynge her husbande promysynge that he shulde surrender the lande into her possessyon and he to be come a religyous man other ellys a pylgryme to hys lyues ende But all was in vayne for she myght purchace no grace as then vppon no maner of condycyons The cytezens of London also made great laboure that they myghte vse the lawys of Edwarde the confessoure as they were graunted by wyllyam Conqueroure and not the lawys of her father whyche were of more straytnesse wherof in no wyse they of her coūsayll myght haue any graunte For this the cytezens were dyscontentyd and knowynge that the countrey of Kent wolde strength theyr partye ordeyned to haue taken her But she beynge therof warned departed in haste and lefte behynde her hyr store of housholde and so fledde vnto Oxynforde where she
The fyrste yere of hys reygne he subdued Irlande And soone after Thomas Beketh whyche after was byshoppe of Caunterbury was made chaunceller of Englonde This kynge caste downe dyuers castellys that before in tyme of kynge Stephan were buylded other for dyspleasure of the owners or ellys for the fere they shulde be strengthed agayne hym And also he banyshed many of the lordes and gentylmen that kynge Stephan hadde in hys fauoure Aboute the thyrde yere of hys reygne in the moneth of October were sene in the fyrmament two sunnys and in the mone was sene a redde crosse But of thys wonder sheweth the authoure of Cronica cronicaruÌ„ and sayth that aboute thys tyme in Italy in the moneth of Nouember appered thre sunnys by the space of thre owres in the weste and the yere folowynge appered thre monys whereof the myddle mone hadde a redde crosse ouerthwarte the face whyche there ys noted for a prodygy or a token of the scysme that after fell amonges the cardinallys for eleccyon of the pope AlexaÌ„der the thyrd whyche scysme by meane of the fyrste Frederyke then emperoure endured almoste .xx. yeres Also aboute this tyme Adryan the fourthe of that name was pope an Englysheman borne in the towne of saynte Albon of whome is more declared in the begynnynge of the .xxii. chapyter of the .vii. boke of Polycronycon Also in thys yere the kynge wente wyth a stronge armye into walys and after he hadde sette that countrey in an order and quyet he buyldyd a stronge castell at Rutlande and founded the abbaye of Basyngewerke In the .vi yere of hys reygne thys Henry maryed hys seconde son Henry vnto the kynges doughter of FrauÌ„ce that is to meane Lewys the viii whyche the sayde Lewys receyued of hys seconde wyfe named Constaunce the doughter of the kyng of Spayne as before ye haue harde in the seconde chapyter of y e story of the sayd Lewys This mayden was named Margaret By reason of whych maryage was appeased the warre that was begonne betwene Fraunce and Englande for the landes of Poyâ—owe and other the whyche kynge Henry helde by reason of hys wyfe In y e whych warre mych harme was done and more wolde haue ensued yf yt hadde not by thys meane haue ben agreed In the .vii. yere of his reygn Theobalde archbyshoppe of Caunterbury dyed and Thomas Beket chaunceller of Englande was archebysshoppe â–ª after hym of whome more shall folowe In the same yere kyng Henry with a stronge hoste yode to Scotlande and made so cruell warre vppon willyam kynge of that lande that lastely he was taken and dyd to the sayd Henry recompensacyon in yeldynge vnto hym the cytye of Carlell the castell of Bamburghe the newe castell vpon Tyne wyth dyuers other holdes and a great parte of Northumberlande the whyche he hadde wonne from the borderers And after fewtye and homage done by the sayde wyllyam vnto the kynge and a certayne summe of money by hym promysed wythin .ix. monethes folowynge the kynge suffred hym to go at large But an other authour sayth that the kynge of Scottys was not taken but strongely besyeged in a towne or castell so that fynally he was forced to agree to the foresayde couenauntes In the .viii. yere the cytye of CauÌ„terburye was fyred by neglygence a great part therof brente And in that season the archbyshoppe Thomas beganne to replye agayne y e kynges mynde for thynges that the kynge dyd exercyse agayn the liberties of the chyrche THE CCXXXVII CHAPITER IN the .ix. yere of hys reygne the kynge for dyuerse causes coÌ„cernyng y e nedes of his realme called a parliament at hys towne of Northampton Durynge whyche parlyament dyssencyon fell betwen the kynge and Thomas archbyshop of Caunterburye for dyuerse actes and ordinaunces that the kyng there procured to passe agayne the lybertyes of holy chyrch the whych Thomas gaynstode and denyed wherfore the kynge toke a great dyspleasure with Thomas in so myche that shortely after he was fayne to flee the lande and in processe of tyme spedde hym to Rome where he complayned hym to Alexaunder the .iii. of that name then pope and there contynued and in Fraunce and in other places in poore estate by terme of .vi. yeres and more when kynge Henry hadde certayne vnderstandynge that Thomas was thus departed out of hys lande he seased his maners and temporall landes into hys hande so that hys mouable goodes were spoyled and rauenyd amonge the kynges offycers In the .xiiii. yere of his reygne the kynge crowned Henry hys eldest sonne then lyuynge kynge of Englande at westmynster whyche was done to the derogacyon or harme of the archbyshoppe Thomas as yt is wytnessyd in hys legende and for that doynge Roger archbyshoppe of yorke whyche crowned hym was accursed But an other authour sayth that the kynge crowned Henry hys sonne to the ende he myght haue ful power and authoryte to rule thys lande and the people of the same whyle hys father was occupyed in Normandye and other countreys where hys landes laye In myche of thys season that thys blessyd man Thomas was thus banyshed the lande the kynge sente ouer byshoppes and proctours to complayne vppon hym to the pope for well nere all the bishoppes of Englande were agayne hym And yf any toke hys parte they durste not speke for the displeasure of theyr temporall lorde so that this blessed man defended the quarell of the chyrche alone In the .xvi. yere of y e reygne of kyng Henry Lewys the kynge of FrauÌ„ce agreed kynge Henry and the archbysshoppe the kynge then beynge in Normandye Uppon whyche agrement thys blessyd man came to hys owne chyrche of Caunterbury and there so restynge hym sente for such persones as had spoyled and taken perforce the goodes of the chyrche aduertysynge theym by fayre meanes to restore the sayde goodes and to be reconcyled to the chyrche as trewe crysten men shulde But when he sawe that he myght not reconcyle theym by fayre meanes he then vsed compulsaryes and denounced them accursed but if they restored the goodes of the chyrche by a certayne day wherewyth the partyes beynge agreued sayled ouer to the kynge into Normandye and shewyd vnto hym greuous complayntes and more greuouse then the cause or mater requyred For the whych the kynge which hadde not yet quenched the bronde of malyce in hys harte the whyche he bare agayne thys holy man gaue lyght credence vnto those complayntes and was sore ferueÌ„tly amoued agayne the holy man Thomas in so myche that vppon a daye herynge the complayntes of this blessyd mannes aduersaryes he sayd in oppeÌ„ audyence of hys knyghtes that yf he had any good knyghtes about hym he had ben adueÌ„ged of that traytour longe or that tyme. At the tyme of whyche wordes vtterynge was present syr wyllyam Bryton syr Hugh Moruyle syr wyllyam Tracy and syr Regnolde fytz Urle whych foure knyghtes thynkyng that they shuld to theyr mayster do a synguler pleasure yf they slewe thys blessyd man hastely takynge aduyse
theyr weyghtes founde and proued false And ouer y t all suche wares as they shuld have weyed at the kynges beame they weyed moche therof in theyr sayd houses to the hynderaunce of y e kynges custome For whyche offeÌ„ces agayne theym proued to the nombre of .xx. of the sayd straungers were arrested and sent vnto the toure of LoÌ„don and theyr weyghtes brent consumed in westchepe of London the thursdaye before the feast of Symon and Iude. And fynally the sayd marchauntes were delyuered by fyne makynge to the kyng of a thousande .li when they had suffered by a season harde vyle prysonement Anno domini M.CC.lxxxvi  Anno dnÌ„i xii C.lxxxvii  Thomas Crosse.  Syr IohnÌ„ Bryton  Anno .xv.  wyllyam Hawteyn  IN thys .xv. yere the Iewes of Englande were sessed at great summes of money whych they payd vnto the kyng But of one other auctour it is sayd that the commons of Englande graunted to the kyng the v. parte of theyr mouables for to haue the Iewes banysshe out the laÌ„de For whiche cause the sayd Iewes to put the commons from theyr purpose gaue of theyr free wylles great summes of money to y e kyng whych sayeng appereth to be trewe for the sayd Iewes were exyled within few yeres after Thys yere about the begynnynge of May the kynge sayled to Burdeux and frome thens he rode into Fraunce where as witnesseth y e freÌ„sh boke he was honourably receyued of Phylyp le Beau or Philyp the fayre than kynge of Fraunce and after receyued homage of the sayd Edward for the duchy of Guyan And when kynge Edwarde had taryed a season in Fraunce he retourned vnto Burdeux whyther came vnto hym a certayne ambassadours from the kyng of Spayne with the whych he helde longe dalyaunce wherfore of y e freÌ„sh kyng he was suspected that he shuld allye hym with the kyng of Spayne agayne the Frenche kynge And thys yere as testyfyeth Policronycon the somer was so excedyng vote that men dyed for hete And thys yere whete was so plentuous that it was solde at London for xl.vi a quarter Anno domini .xii. C.lxxxvii  Anno domini M.CC.lxxxviii  wyllyam Herforde  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xvi.  Thomas Stanys  IN thys vvi yere of kynge Edwarde saynt Thomas of Herforde was translated And thys yere fyll dystauÌ„ce betwene syr Payne Tip toft wardeyn of certayn castels in walys a walsh knyght called syr Ries ap Mordek So y t sundry skyrmysshes were foughten betwene them many men slayne vpon bothe sydes to the great dystourbaunce of all y e countre Thys yere vpon saynt Margaretes euyn or the .xix. daye of Iulii fyll wonderfull great hayle that the lyke therof was nat of men than lyuynge seen And after that ensued coÌ„tynuell rayne whyche dysteÌ„peryd the grouÌ„d in such wyse that the yere folowyng whete was sold for .xviii. d. a busshel and thys yere for .xiiii. d. And so encreased yerely after duryng y e reygne of the kynge and after in hys soÌ„nes days tyll it was lastly solde for .xl. s. a quarter and aboue Anno domini .xii. C.lxxxviii  Anno domini M.CC.lxxxix  wyllyam Betayn  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xvii.  IohnÌ„ of Caunterbury  IN thys .xvii. yere the warre before in the yere laste paste betwene syr Payn Typtoft syr Ryes contynuynge to the entente that the sayd Ryes myght reuenge hys cause agayne the sayd syr Payne he arrecyd a greate multytude of walshemeÌ„ and brent and wasted dyuers fownes in walys so that the kynge then beynge in Normandy sente 〈◊〉 the â—tle of Cornewayll then beynge the kynges lyeu tenaunte in Englande that he shuld sende thyder an army of knyghtes to withstande the malyce of the walshmen The whych preparyd shortly an army yode with them into the borders of Northewalys where he with hys coÌ„pany bare hym so knyghtly that in the ende the sayd Ryes was takeÌ„ brought vnto porke where he was after drawen hanged and quartered Anno domini .xii. C.lxxxix  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xc  Full 〈◊〉 saynt Edmunde  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xviii.  Salaman Langforde  IN thys .xviii. yere vppon once Lady cuyn Assumpcion kyng Edwarde was honorably receyued of the cytezeyns of London and so conueyed vnto westmynster where shortely after were broughte before hym many greuous complayntes of dyuers of hys iustyces as syr Thomas weylande Adam Stretton and other The whych the kynge caused streyghtly to be examyned and lastly were founde gylty of such trespasses and causes as they were accused of wherfore some of theym were outlawed and loste suche goodes as they hadde and the other punysshed by longe enprysonemente and lastely delyuered by payenge of greate fynes Anno domini M. CC.lxc  Anno domini M. CC.lxci  Thomas Romayn  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xix.  wyllyam de Lyre  IN thys .xix. yere the kynge ordeyned y t all woll whych shuld be sold vnto straungers shulde be brought vnto Sandewyche where the staple therof longe after was as it is now at y e towne of Caleys And thys yere were the Iewes banysshed the lande for the whych cause the coÌ„mons gaue vnto the kyng a quindecym or fyftene Thys yere also syr Gylbert de Clare erle of Glouceter maryed dame Iane doughter of kyng Edwarde Thys was called Iohanne of Acrys for she was born at Acrys wheÌ„ kyng Edwarde was there vpon hys great iourney And soone there after in the same yere the duke of Brabannys sonne wedded Margarete the syster of the sayd Iohanne Anno domini .xii. C. lxci  Anno domini M. CC.lxcii  Rauffe Blount  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xx.  Hamonde Boxe  IN thys .xx. yere begynnynge of the maryes yere and also of the kynges .xx. yere that is to meane vpon the euyn of saynt Andrewe or the .xxix. day of NoueÌ„bre dyed quene Elyanore the kynges wyfe and was buryed at westmynster in the chapel of saynt Edwarde at the fete of HeÌ„ry the thyrde where she hath .ii. were tapers brennyng vpon her tumbe both daye and nyght whyche so hath contynued syne the day of her buryenge to thys present daye Thys gentyll woman as before is towched in the xxxviii yere of kyng Henry the third was syster vnto the kyng of Spayn By whome kyng Edwarde had .iiii. sonnes that is to saye Iohn Henry Alphons and Edwarde whych Edwarde succeded his father by reason that the other .iii. died before theyr father Also he had by her .v. doughters The fyrste Elyanore was maryed vnto wyllyam erle of Barre the seconde Iohan of Acrys was maryed as before is sayde vnto the erle of Glouceter the thyrde Margarete was maryed to the dukes sonne of BrabaÌ„t the .iiii. Mary by name was made a menchon at Ambrysbury the .v. named Elyzabeth was maried vnto the erle of Holande and after hys deth she was maryed vnto Humfreye Boherum erle of Hereforde And
thys yere dyed also the olde quene Elyanore wyfe vnto HeÌ„ry the thyrde and mother to thys kyng Edwarde whose herte was buryed at the graye freres in London and her body at Ambrysbury in the house of Nunnes Anno domini M.CC.xcii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xciii  Henry Bale  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xxi.  Elys Russell  IN thys .xxi. yere the kyng helde hys great courte of parlyament at London to the whyche with dyuers lordes of that prouince came the kyng of Scottes And after he had contynued there a conuenyente season he was coÌ„ueyed with dyuers lordes ferre vpoÌ„ hys iourney towarde hys owne countre And in thys yere as one Rychard Bagle offycer of the sheryfes of London was ledynge a prysoner towarde the Gayole the whyche he before had arrested thre men rescowed the sayde prysoner and toke hym from the offycer The whych were pursued and taken and by iugemente and lawe than vsed broughte into westchepe and there had theyr ryghte handes smyten of by the wrestes Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xciii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xciiii  Robert Rokysley  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xxii.  Martyn Awbry  IN the .xxii. yere of kynge Edwarde vpon the daye of saynt Tyburce and Ualeryan or the .xiiii. daye of May fyll a woÌ„derfull snow and therwith and excedynge wynde By vyolence wherof greate harme was done in sundry places of Englande In remembraunce whereof a Metrycyan made these verses folowynge Crastino Tiburci sanctorum Valeriani Nix cadit immanis ventus vehemens boriasis Euulsit siluas vulsit quas reperit herbas â—des dampnose detexit impituose Quas clam prostrauit sic plurima daÌ„pna paraâ—it The whyche verses may thus be Englysshed as here after foloweth The morow folowynge Tiburce Valerian The blessed sayntes of snow fyll suche plentie That at that day was no lyuyng man That myght remembre of so great quantyte The Northyn wynde blewe wyth such fyerste That houses trees with herbys it ouer cast And many other harmes by sande eke by see Of that wynde came the whyse that it dyd laste IN thys yere also about y e ende of the moneth of Iulu dyed freer Pekham than archebysshop of Caunterbury In whose see was after stalled mayster Robert of wynchester And aboute the myddes of Septembre folowynge the erle of Barre a frenche man maryed Elyanore y e kynges doughter in y e towne of Brystowe And about the ende of thys yere dyed Alexandre kyng of Scottes where soone after ensuyd great warre and trouble for the enherytaunce of that lande as in some parte shall after appere And thys yere whete was solde at London for .ii. s. a busshell In this yere also as wytnesseth the Frenche cronycle Phylyp le Beawe thaÌ„ kyng of Fraunce made warre in Gascoyne and Guyau for the cause as there is shewed sayeng that kyng Edwarde vnder coloure to haue made a vyage into the holy lande gathered a great army and sodeynly entred into Normandy bothe by lande and water dyd moche harme in spoylynge and takyng dyuers shyppes of Fraunce and brynnyng and spoylyng diuers townes of the same and after came vnto the towne of Rochell where to it the Englysshemen made dyuers assautes wherby the dwellers also the towne susteyned moche harme wherof the kynge of Fraunce beynge enfourmed sent vnto kyng Edward monisshing hym to come vnto hys parlyamente also to make satysfaccyon for suche harmys as hys people had done within hys domynyon of Fraunce and Normandy But for that kyng Edwarde refused that to do therfore y e sayd Phylyp le Beawe sent Rauffe de Neell thaÌ„ coÌ„stable of Fraunce into Gascoygne with a greate myghty power the whyche made sharpe warre vppon y e Gascoynes But the Gascoines with helpe of the Englysshemen defended theym in suche wyse that great hurt was done vpon bothe partyes ThaÌ„ fynally as testifyeth the sayd frenche cronycle to the entent that kyng Edwarde myghte make the better clayme to al the hole duchy of NormaÌ„dy he sent the Frenche kynge worde y t he wolde gyue ouer into hys handes the duchye of Guyan holde no lande of the kyng of Fraunce Anno domini M.CC.xciiii  Anno domini M.CC.xcv  Henry Boxe  Syr IohnÌ„ Bryton  Anno .xxiii.  Richarde Glouceter  IN thys .xxiii. yere the walshemen by styrryng of one named Madok rebelled agayne the kynge wherfore he in all haste spedde hym vnto westchester and about the feast of saynte Nycholas wan frome the walshmen the ile called Anglesya or the I le of Manne and buylded newe the cytye castell of Beau Maryse and broughte the vnstedfast walshemen to newe reclayme then caused the woodes of y e countre to be hewyn downe wherein before tymes they vsed to hyde theym as a cony dothe in hys claper and repayred so the castelles and stronge holdes with buyldynge of some newe that he caused the walshmeÌ„ to thryue agayne theyr wylles For by the strengthe of those castelles they were kepte from theyr olde accustomed rauyns and stelynges and put so in execucyon by the rulers of the sayd castelles stronge holdes that they fyll vnto occupacyon and to byenge and sellyng and gathered treasoure and beganne to lyue after the maner of EnglisshemeÌ„ so that more and more that countre grewe to more restefulnesse and peace In thys yere also the frenchemen arryued at Douer wyth a certayne of shyppes beynge vnder the rule of syr Mathew de mounte morency and of syr Iohan Harcourte knyghtes and spoyled that towne and brent a parte of yt In whych skyrmysshe was slayne or martyred an holy man named saynte Thomas of Douer And in this yere as testifieth y e frenche cronicle Charles de Ualoys brother vnto kyng Phylyp of Fraunce was sent by hys sayd brother into Gascoygne with a greate hooste The whyche Charles layde hys syege vnto the castell of Ryon wherin at that tyme were syr Iohan Seyn IohnÌ„ IohnÌ„ de Brytayne the whych manfully vygorously defendyd the sayd castel agayne the Frenchmen all that yere and more as in the next yere shall appere Anno domini M.CC.xcv  Anno dnÌ„i xii C.xcvi  IohnÌ„ Dunstable  Syr IohnÌ„ Bryton  Anno .xxiiii.  Adam Halyngbery  IN this .xxiiii. yere the kyng for the great warre y t he had wyth the Frenche kyng and els where coÌ„maunded a new subsidie to be leuied vpon all the sarplers of wolle goyng out of Englande with all fellys and hydes in lyke maner And ouer that all suche money as before was grauÌ„ted by the clergy of Englande towarde the defence of the holy lande the kyng then for reporte that he hadde from Rome of the popes maners thaÌ„ Bonyface the .viii coÌ„maunded it to be brought vnto hys tresoury And by a coÌ„uocacioÌ„ made of the sayd clergye he had graunted towarde hys nedes halfe of theyr spyrytuall temporall landes begynnyng at .xx. marke benifice so ascendyng vpward the whych was nat