And now to ê“cede to the cronycles of Englonde for that whiche namely this boke is made ¶ Venys Padua were buylded about this tyme of the resydue of the Troyans ¶ Homere the grete poete about this tyme was that whiche wrote fayned gloryously many a lesynge ¶ Incipit regnum Britannie nunc dicitur Anglia ¶ Here may ye se how Englonde fyrst began at Albyon Albyon ¶ Afore that I wyll speke of Brute it shall be shewed how the londe of englonde was fyrst named â—byon for what cause it was so named IN the noble londe of Sirrie there was a noble kynge myghty a man of grete renome that was called Dioclesyan that well worthely hyÌ„ gouerned ruled through his noble chyualry So that he conquered all the londes about hym so that almoost all the kynges of the worlde to hyÌ„ were attendauÌ„t It befell thus that this Dioclesian spoused a geÌ„tyll damoysel that was wonders fayre that was his vncles doughter Labana she loued hym as reason wolde so that he gate on her .xxxiij. doughters of that whiche the eldest was called Albyne and these damoyselles whan they came vnto age be came so fayre that it was wonder whereof Dioclesian anone let make a somnynge coÌ„maunded by his lettres that all the kynges that helde of hym sholde come at a certayn daye as in his lettres were conteyned to make a feest royal At whiche daye thyder they came brought with them admyrats princes dukes noble châ—ualry The feest was royally arayed and there they lyued in ioye and myrth ynough that it was wonder to wyte And it befell thus the Dyoclesyan thought to mary his doughters amonge all those kynges that were at the solempnite And so they spake dyd that Albyne his eldest doughter all her systers rychely were maryed to .xxxiij. kynges that were lordes of grete honour at this solempnite And whan this was done euery kynge toke his wyfe ladde them in to theyr owne couÌ„tre there made them quenes And it befell thus afterward that this dame Albine became so stoute so sterne that she tolde lytel pryce of her lorde of hyyÌ„ had scorne despyte wold not do his wyll but she wold haue her owne wyll in dyuers maters And all her other systers euerychone bare them so euyll agaynst theyr lordes that it was wonder to wyte And for as moche that them thought that theyr husbondes were not of so hye parentage comeÌ„ as theyr fader But those kynges that were theyr lordes wold haue chastysed them with fayre maner vpon al loue frendshyp that they shold amende theyr euyll condicyons But all was for nought for they dyd theyr owne wyll in all thynge that them lyked had of power Wherfore those .xxxiij. kynges vpon a tyme often tymes bette theyr wyues For they wende that they wold haueamended them theyr tatches wyckednes But of suche condicions they were that for fayre speche warnynge they dyd all the worse for betynges eftsones moche the worse Wherfore the kyng that had wedded Albyne wrote the tatches and condicyons of his wyfe Albyne the lettre sent to Dyoclesyan her fader And whan the other kynges herde that Albynes lorde had sente a lettre to Dioclesyan anone they sente lettres sealed with theyr seales the condicyons tatches of theyr wyues Whan the kynge Dioclesyan sawe herde so many complayntes of his doughters he was sore ashamed and became wonderssy angry and wroth toward his doughters and thought how he myght amende it that they so mysoyd anone sent his lettres to the .xxxiij. kynges that they sholde come to hym brynge with them theyr wyues euerychone at a certayn day for he wolde there chastyse them of theyr wyckednes yf he myght iÌ„ ony maner wyse So that the kynges came all at the tyme daye that tho was set bytwene hym and the kynges Dioclesyan receyued them with moche honour made a solemâ—e feest vnto all that were vndernethe his lordshyp And the thyrde daye after that solempnite the kynge Dioclesyan sent after his .xxxiij. doughters that they shold come speke with hym in his chambre And whaÌ„ they were come he spake to them of theyr wyckednes of theyr cruelte angerly them reproued blamed said to them That yf they wolde not be chastysed they sholde lose his loue for euermore And whan the ladyes herde al this they became abasshed gretly ashamed sayd to theyr fader that they wolde make all ameÌ„des And so they departed out of theyr faders chambre And Albyne that was the eldest syster ladde them all to her chambre tho made to voyde al that were therin so that no psone was amonge them but she her systers togyder ThaÌ„sayd this Albyne My fayre systers well we knowe that the kyng our fader vs hath reproued shamed despysed for bycause to make vs obedyent to our husbondes but certaynly that shall I neuer whyles the Ilyue syth that I am come of a more hyer kynges blode than myn husbonde is And whan she had thus said all her systers sayd the same And than sayd Albyne Well I wote fayre systers that our husbondes haue coÌ„playned vnto our fader vpon vs wherfore he hath vs thus foule reproued despysed wherfore systers my couÌ„seyle is that this night whan our husboÌ„des ben a bedde all we with one assent to kytte theyr throtes than we may beâ— peas of them better we may do this vnder our faders power thaÌ„ ony where els And anone all the ladyes consented grauÌ„ted to this counseyle And whaÌ„nyght was comen the lordes ladyes went to bedde And anone as theyr lordes were aâ—â—ept they kytte all theyr husboÌ„des throtes so they shewe them all Whan Dioclesian theyr fader herde of this thynge he became wroth ryght furyously agaynst his doughters anone he wole them all haue brent But all the harons lordes of Sâ—rrye counseyled not so for to do suche straytnes to his owne doughters but shold boyde the londe of them for euermore so that they neuer sholde come agayne so he dyd And Dioclesyan that was theyr fader anone coÌ„mauÌ„ded them to go in to a shyppe delyuered to them â—itayles for halfe a yere And whan this was done all the systers wente in to the shyppe sayled forth in the see betoke all theyr frendes to Appolyn that was theyr god so longe they sayled in the see â—yll at the last they came arryued in an yle that was all wyldernes And whan dame â—â—yne was come to the londe all her systers this â—â—byne went fyrst forth out of the shyppe sayd to her other systers For as moche as I am the eldest syster of all this coÌ„pany first this londe haue take for as moche as my name is Albâ—ne I wyl â— this londe be called Albion after myâ—â— owne name And anone all her systers grauÌ„ted
a grete prynce came fro Rome in to this londe y◠was called Seuerye not for to warre but for to saue the ryght of Rome But neuertheles he had not dwelled halfe a yere in this londe but that the brytons slewe hym And whan the Romayns wyst that Seuerye was so slayne they sente an other grete lorde in to this londe that was called Allec that was a stronge man a myghty of body dwelled in this londe longe tyme dyd moche sorow to the brytons so that after for pure malyce they chose them a kynge amonge them that was called Asclepades and assembled a grete hoost of Brytons went to London to seke Allec there they foūde him and slewe hym all his felawes one y◠was called walon defended hym fyersly fought longe with the Brytons but at the last he was discōfyted the Brytons toke hym boūde hym handes feet cast hym in to a water wherfore y◠water was called for euermore Walbroke Than regned Asclepades in peas tyll one of his erles that was called Coyl made a fayre towne agaynst the kynges wyll let call y◠towne Colchestre after his name wherfore the kynge was wroth thought to destroye hym and began to warre vpon hȳ brought grete power of men gaue the erle batayle the erle defended hym fyersly with his power slewe the kynge hymselfe in that batayle And thā was Coyll crowned and made kynge of this londe This Coyll regned nobly was well beloued of the brytons Whan y◠Romayns herde y◠Asclepades was slayne they were wonders glad sent an other grete prȳce of y◠Romayns that was called Constance he came to kynge Coyll for to chalenge y◠trybute of Rome which he graūted hym full gladly So they accorded y◠kyng Coyll gaue to hym his doughter Eleyne to wyfe y◠was bothe fayre wyse well lettred dwelled togyder in loue And soone after this kyng Coyll dyed in the .xiij. yere of his regne lyeth at Colchestre ¶ How Constance a Romayn that had spoused Eleyne kynge Coyls doughter was chosen kynge after kynge Coyll AFter this kynge Coyll Cōstance was made kynge crowned for as moch as he had spoused kyng Coyls doughter that was heyre of the londe the whiche Constance regned well worthely gouerned the lōde And he begate on his wyfe Eleyne a sone that was called Cōstantyne And this kyng bare true fayth truly dyd to them of Rome all his lyfe And whā he had regned .xv. yere he dyed and lyeth at yorke ¶ How Constantyne that was kynge Constances sone sone to saynt Eleyne gouerned and ruled the londe and after was emperour of Rome AFter kynge Constance deth regned Constantyne his sone sone to saynt Eleyne that foūde y◠holy crosse in the holy londe how Cōstantyne became emperour of Rome It befell that in that tyme there was an emperour at Rome that was a sarasyn a tyraūt that was called Maxence whiche put to deth al y◠byleued in god destroyed holy chirche by all his power slewe all chrystē men that he myght fynde amōge all other he let martyr saynt Katheryne many other christen people that had drede of deth fled came in to this londe to kyng Constantyne tolde hym of y◠sorowe that Maxence dyd to chrystē folke wherfore Cōstantyn had pite made grete sorow assembled a grete host a grete power and went ouer vnto Rome there toke the cyte slewe all y◠was therin of mys byleue And than was he made emperour was a good man and gouerned hym so well y◠all londes were to hȳ attendaūt for to be vnder his gouernaūce ¶ And this deuyll tyraūt Ma 〈…〉 y◠tyme was in the londe of Grece herde these tydȳges sodeynly became wood dyed sodeynly ¶ Whan Constantyne went from this londe to Rome he toke with hȳ his moder Eleyne for her grete prudence thre other grete lordes y◠〈◊〉 moost loued the one was called Howell y◠other Taberne the thyrde Mo 〈…〉 And toke all his londe to kepe to the erle of Cornewayle that was called Octauian And anone as this Octauian wyst that his lorde dwelled at Rome incontynent he cesed all the londe into his handes therwith dyd all his wyll amōge 〈◊〉 lowe they helde hym for kyng Whan these tydynges came to Cōstantyne the emperour he was wonders wroth towarde the erle Octauyan and sent Taberne with .xij. M. men agaynst hym they arryued at Portesmouth Whan Octauian wyst that he let assembled a grete power of Brytons dyscomfyted hym And Taberne fledde in to Scotlonde ordeyned there a grete power came agayne in to this londe another tyme for to gyue batayle to Octauyan And whan Octauyan vnderstode that he assembled a grete power and came towarde Taberne as fast as he myght so that those two hoostes mette togyder on Stanesmore strongly smote togyder And than was Octauyan dyscōfyted fledde thens vnto Norway And Taberne seased all the londe in to his handes bothe townes castelles But Octauyan came agayne fro Norway with a grete power droue out al the Romayns than he was made kyng of this lond ¶ How Maximian that was the emperours cosyn of Rome spoused Octauyans doughter and after was made kynge of this londe THis Octauian gouerned the londe well and nobly but he had none heyre saue a doughter that was a yōge chylde that he loued as moche as his lyf And for as moche as he waxed seke and was in poynt of deth and might no longer regne he wolde haue made one of his neuewes to be kyng which was a noble knyght a stronge man that was called Conan Meriedok he shold haue kepte the kynges doughter haue maryed her whan tyme had ben But the lordes of the londe wolde not suffre it but gaue her coūseyle to be maryed to some hygh man of grete honour thā might she haue al her lust the coūseyle of her lord Cōstātyne the emperour And at this coūseyle they accorded chose Cador of Cornewayle for to go to the emperour on this message he toke the waye went to Rome tolde the emperour these tydynges well wysely And the emperour sent in to this londe with hym his owne cosyn that was his vncles sone a noble knyght a stronge that was called Maximyan he spoused Octauyans doughter was crowned kyng of this londe ¶ How Maximian that was the emperours cosyn cōquered the londe of Amorican gaue it to Conan Meriedok THis kyng Maximian became so ryall that he thought to conquere the londe of Amorican for the grete rychesse that he herde tell that was in y◠londe so that he ne left no man of worthynes knyght ne squyer ne none other mā that he ne toke with him to the grete domage of all
begynnynge vnto the ende Cordeil the quene anone toke gold syluer plente toke it to the squyer in couÌ„seyle that he sholde go in to a certayne cite and hym araye wasshe than come agayn to her and brynge with him an honest company of knyghtes .xl. at the leest with theyr meyny and than he sholde sende to her lorde the kynge feyne that he were comen for to se speke with his doughter hyÌ„ And so he dyd And whan the kynge and the quene herde that they came with moche honour they hym receyued And the kynge of frauÌ„ce than let sende through all his realme coÌ„mauÌ„ded that all men sholde be as entendauÌ„t to kynge Leyr yâ— quenes fader in all maner of thinges as it were vnto hymselfe WhaÌ„ kyng Leyr had dwelled there a moneth more he tolde to yâ— kynge to yâ— quene his doughter how his two eldest doughters had serued hym Agampe anone let ordeyne a grete host of frenshmen sent in to Britayne with Leyr yâ— quenes fader for to conquere his kyngdome agayne And Cordeil also came with her fader in to Britayn for to haue the realme after her faders deth And anone they went to shyppe passed the see came in to Brytayne fought with the felons discoÌ„fited them slewe than had he his londe agayn after lyued thre yere helde his realme in peas afterward dyed And Cordeil his doughter him let bury with moche honour at Leycestre ¶ Anno muÌ„di .iiij. M. iij C .xlix. Et ante Christi natiuitatem viij C .liij. AMasias sone to Ioam regned on the Iewes .xxix. yere after yâ— whiche yâ— kyngdom of iewes was wtout kyng .xiij. yere This man worshypped the goddes of Seyr Vt pêª patet .ij. para .xxv. ¶ Ieroboam sone to Ioam regned on Israel .xlj. yere yâ— whiche was manly vyctoryous for he ouercame the kynge of Sirie restored Israel Damaske after the worde of Iono yâ— prophete but he was not good Therfore sayth saynt Austyn Yf good men regne they ê“fyte many men And yf yll men regne they hurte many men ¶ Anno muÌ„di .iiij. M. iij C .lxxxviij. Et ante Christi natiuitatem .viii. C. xj Ozias or Azarias sone to Amasias regned on the Iewry .lij. yere the whiche lyued well afore our lorde of hyÌ„ is none euyll thyÌ„ge wryten but that he vsurped the dignite of preesthode vnder Azari the whiche he forbade hym For the whiche cause our lorde stroke hym with a lepre Vt patet .ij. para ¶ Ozee bysshop prophete was this tyme the fyrst of the .xij. that was sent agaynst yâ— xij trybes Iohel the seconde of the .xij. prophecyed of Iuda Ananias yâ— thyrde prophecyed agaynst many people Abdias the fourth of the .xij. prophecyed agaynst Edom. ¶ zacharias sone to Ieroboam regned in Israel .vj. monethes the whiche began to regne the .xxxviij. yere of Ozias was nought in his lyuynge as his predecessours were And zellum slewe hym regned a moneth And Manahen slewe hym and toke his kyngdome Vt pêª patet .iiij. reguÌ„ This Manahen regned .x. yere the whiche began to regne yâ— .xxxix. yere of Osias he ruled hym mischeuously our lord betoke hym in yâ— power of yâ— kyng of AssurioruÌ„ and he payed to hym a. M. talentes of syluer Vt pêª patet .iiij. reguÌ„ ¶ Phaseia sone to Manahen regned in Israel two yere and he began to regne the .l. yere of Ozias and he was nought in his lyuyng ¶ Phasee slewe Phaseia regned .xx. yere he began to regne the .lij. yere of Ozias dyd as other cursed men dyd Vide pl’a plura iiij reguÌ„ And after this Israel was wtouten ony kyng .viij. yere ¶ How Morgan Conedag neuewes to Cordeil warred on her put her to deth WHan that kyng Leyr was deed Cordeill his yongest doughter regned yâ— .x. yere of Ozias kyng of the Iewry And after her regned Conedag the .xv. yere of Ozias And Cordeill that was Leyrs yongest doughter after the deth of her fader had al yâ— londe fyue yere in the meane tyme dyed her lorde Agampe yâ— was kyng of fraunce And after his deth there came Morgan Conedag that were Cordeyls systers sones to her had enemite for as moche as theyr aunt had yâ— londe so yâ— bytwene them they ordeyned a grete power and strongly warred on her neuer rested tyll they had taken her put her to deth And than Morgan Conedag seased al the londe departed it bytwene them they held it .xij. yere whan yâ— .xij. yere were gone there began bytwene them a grete debate so yâ— they warred strongly togyder dyd to eche other moche dysease for Morgan wold haue all yâ— londe fro beyonde Humber yâ— Conedag helde But he came agaynst hym with a stronge power so yâ— Morgan durst not abyde but fledde away in to Wales and Conedag pursued hym toke hym slewe hym And than Conedag came seased al the londe in to his handes helde it regned after .xxxiij. yere than he dyed lyeth at newe Troy ¶ And bycause yâ— mater coÌ„teyneth most coÌ„modiously togyder of yâ— kynges of Britayn now called Englonde for yâ— tyme of them is not certaynly knowen what tyme of yâ— worlde these kynges folowynge regned therfore they shall be togyder tyll it be comen vnto Euentolyn kyng of Brytayne now called Englonde ¶ How Reynolde that was Conedags sone regned after his fader and in his tyme it rayned blode thre dayes in tokenynge of grete deth AFter this Conedag regned Reynold his sone yâ— was a wyse an hardy knyght curteys yâ— well nobly ruled yâ— londe was well beloued of all folke And in his tyme it rayned blode yâ— lasted thre dayes as god wolde soone after there came a grete deth of people for hoostes wtout noÌ„bre of people fought tyll yâ— god therof toke pite than it cesed And this Reynolde regned .xxij. yere than dyed lyeth at Yorke ¶ How Gorbodian regned in peas that was Reynoldes sone AFter this Reynolde regned Gorbodian his sone .xv. yere than dyed and lyeth at Yorke ¶ How Gorbodian had .ij. sones how the one slewe yâ— other for to haue yâ— londe how ydoyne theyr moder slew yâ— other wherfore the londe was destroyed WHan this Gorbodian was deed his two sones yâ— he had became stoute proude euer warred togyder for the londe yâ— one was called Ferres yâ— other Porres And this Ferres wolde haue all yâ— londe but that other wold not suffre hym This Ferres had a felonous hert thought through treason to slee his broder but pryuely he wente in to frauÌ„ce there abode with the kynge Syward tyll vpon a tyme whan he came agayn to fyght with his broder Ferres but full euyl it happed him for he was slayne fyrst Whan ydoyne theyr moder
soune at the bought of the beme appe red a dragons heed out of his mouth came two huge lyghtes that were as bryght as ony fyre brennynge the one beme toward frauÌ„ce streyght ouer the see thyderwarde out of the beme came vij bemes full clere longe as it were the lyght fyre This sterre was seen of many a man but none of them wyst what it betokened Vter that was kyng Auri lambros broder that was in Wales with his hoost of Brytons sawe that sterre the grete light that it gaue he wondred therof gretly what it myght betoken let call Merlyn prayed hym for to tell what it myght betoken ¶ Of the betokenynge of the sterre MErlyn sawe that sterre behelde it longe tyme sythen he quoke and wept tenderly and sayd Alas alas that so noble a kynge and so worthy is deed And I do you to vnderstande that AurilaÌ„bros your broder is empoysoned and that I se well in this sterre your selfe is betokened by the heed of the dragon that is seen at the bought of the beme that is your selfe that shall be kyng and regne And by the beme that staÌ„deth toward the eest is vnderstande that ye shall gete a sone that shall conquere all Fraunce all the londes that belongeth to the crowne of frauÌ„ce that shall be a worthyer kyng and of more honour than euer was ony of his aunceters And by the beme that stretcheth toward Irlonde is betokened that ye shall haue a doughter that shall be quene of Irlonde And the .vij. bemes betoken that ye shall haue .vij. sones euery one of them shall be kynge shall regne with moch honour And abyde ye no longer here but go gyue batayle to your enemyes fyght with them boldly for ye shal ouercome them haue the victo ry Vter thaÌ„ked Merlyn hertely toke his men went towarde his enemyes they fought togyder mortally so he discomfyted his enemyes and destroyed them hymselfe slewe Passent that was Vortigers sone And his Britons slewe Guillomer that was kynge of Irlonde and all his men And Vter anone after the batayle toke his waye towarde Wynthestre for to do bury kynge AurilaÌ„bros that was his broder But thaÌ„ was the body borne to Stonehenge with moche honour that he had do make in remem brauÌ„ce of the Brytons that there were slayne through treason of Engyst that same daye that they sholde haue ben accorded and in the same place they buryed Aurylambros the seconde yere of his regne with all the worship that myght belonge vnto suche a kynge On Whose soule god haue mercy Amen ¶ Of Vter pendragon wherfore he was called so ye shall here And how he was ouertaken with the loue of Igreyne that was the erles wyfe of Cornewayle AFter the dethe of Aurilambros Vter his broder was crowned regned worthely And i remembrauÌ„ce of the dragon that he was likened to he let make two dragons through couÌ„seyle of his Britons made that one for to be borne before hym whaÌ„ he went in to ba tayle that other for to abyde at Wynchestre in the bysshops chirche And for that cause he was called euer after Vter pendragon And Otta that was Engistes sone coÌ„mended Vter but lytell that was made newe king agaynst hym began to moue warre ordeyned a grete company of his frendes of his kynne of Ossa his broder had taken all the londe from Humber vnto Yorke But those of Yorke helde strongly agaynst them and wold not suffre them to come in to the cite neyther to yelde the cite to them he besyeged the towne anone ryght gaue therto a stroÌ„ge assaute but they of that cite kepte them well strongly And whan Vter herde therof he came thyder with a grete power for to helpe and rescow the cite put awaye the syege and gaue a stronge batayle Otta his company defended them as well as they myght But at the last they were discoÌ„fyted the moost parte of them slayne and Otta Ossa were taken put in prison at Lon don And Vter hyÌ„selfe dwelled a whyle at Yorke after he went to Londe And at Eester after he wolde bere crowne holde a solemâ—ne feest and let somon all his erles barons that they shold come to that feest all those that had wyues shold brynge them also to yeâ—eest And all came at the kynges coÌ„maundement as they were commauÌ„ded The feest was rychely arayed holden all worthely set to meet after that they were of estate So that the erle Gorloys of Corne wayle Igreyne his wyfe sate nexte to the kynge And whan the kynge sawe the fayrnes of that lady that she had anone he was rauysshed for her beaute ofre he made to her nyce countenauÌ„ce in lokynge and laughynge So at the last the erle perceyued the preuy lokynge laughynge and the loue bytwene them and rose up from the table in wrath toke his wyfe and called to hym his knightes went thens all in wrath wtout takyng leue of the kynge The kynge anone sent after hym that he sholde come agayn go not thens in despyte of hyÌ„ And the erle wolde not come agayne in no maner of wyse Wherfore the kynge was full wroth in wrath hym defyed as his deedly cuâ—my And the erle went thens in to Cornewayle with his wyfe in to the castell of Tyntagell And the kynge let ordeyne a grete hoost came in to Cornewayle for to destroye the erle yf he myght But he had put hym in yâ— stronge castell of Tyn tagell that was well arayed wolde not yelde hym to the kyng And the kyng anone besyeged the castell there dwelled .xv. days might not spede euer thought vpon Igreyne vpon her layde so moche loue that he wyst not what to do So at yâ— last he called to hym a knyght that was called Vlfin that was preuy with hym tolde hyÌ„ all his couÌ„seyle asked of hym what was best to do Syr sayd he sende after Merlyn anone for he can tell you the best couÌ„seyle of ony man lyuynge Merlyn anone was sent after came to the kyng And the kyng told hym all his couÌ„seyle and his wyll Syr sayd Merlyn I shall do so moche through the crafte that I can that I shal make you come to nyght in the castell of Tyntagell shall haue all your wyll of that lady ¶ How kyng Vter begate on Igreyne that was the erles wyfe of Cornewayle Arthur kynge MErlyn through crafte that he coude chaunged yâ— kynges fygure in to the lykenes of the erle Vlfin Garloys his chamberleyn in to the fygure of Iordan that was yâ— erles chamberleyn so yâ— eche of them was traÌ„sfigured to others lykenes And whan Merlin had so done he sayd to the kynge Syr sayd he now may ye go sodeynly to the
and came in to Normandy for to defende that londe And the warre bytwene them lasted two yere tyll at the last they two fought togyder and the king of FrauÌ„ce was dyscomfyted and escaped awaye with moche payne and the moost parte of his men were discomfyted and taken And the kyng dyd with them his pleasure some of them he let go frely and some he let put to deth But afterwarde the two kynges were accorded Whan kynge Henry had hoolly all the loâ—de of Normandy discomfyted his enemyes of FrauÌ„ce he returned agayn in to Englonde with moche honour And his two sones Willyam Rychard wolde haue comen after theyr fader went to the see with a grete coÌ„pany of people But or that they might come to loÌ„de the shyppe stroke agaynst a roche brake in peces were all drowned that were therin saue one mâ— that was in the same shyppe yâ— escaped And this was on saynt â—atherynes daye these were the names of theÌ„ that were drowned Willyam Rychard the kyÌ„ges sones the erle of Chestre Ottonell his broder Geffrey rydel Walter emurci Godfrey archdeken the kynges doughter the couÌ„tesse of perches the kyÌ„ges nece the couÌ„tesse of Chestre many other Whan kynge Henry other lordes arryued in engloÌ„de and held these tydynges they made sorowe ynough all theyr myrth Ioye was turned in to mournynge sorowe ¶ How Maude the empresse came agayn in to englond how she was afterward wedded to Geffrey the erle of Angeo ANd whan two yere were gone that the erle had dwelled with the king the erle went from the king began to warre vpoÌ„ hym dyd moche harme in the londe of Normandy toke there a stronge castell there he dwelled all the yere And than came to hym tydynges that Henry the emperour of Almayne that had spoused Maude his doughter was deed that she dwelled no longer in Almayn that she wolde come agayne in to NormaÌ„dy to her fader And whaÌ„ she was comen vnto hym he toke her than to hym came agayn in to Englonde made the englysshmen to do othe feaute vnto the empresse And the fyrst man that made the othe was Wylliam the arche bysshop of CauÌ„terbury and that other Dauid kyng of Scotlonde after hym all the lordes and barons of Englonde ¶ Also after that the noble erle of Angeo a worthy knyght sent vnto the kyng of Englonde that he wolde grauÌ„te hyÌ„ to haue his doughter Maud the empresse to wyfe And bycause that her fader wyst that he was a noble man the kynge grauÌ„ted hym consented therto And than toke he his doughter ladde her in to NormaÌ„dy came to the noble knyght Geffrey there he spoused the foresayd Maude with moche honour And the erle begate vpon her a sone that was called Henry the empresse sone And after whaÌ„ all this was done kyng Henry dwelled all the yere in Normandy And after that a longe tyme a greuous sekenes toke hyÌ„ where through he dyed And this king Henry regned .xxxv. yere and .iiij. monethes His herte was buryed in the grete chirche of our lady in Roen And his body was brought with moche honour in to Englonde and buryed in the abbey of Redynge of that whiche he was founder HEnricus the fourth was emperour in Almayn after Henry the thyrd xv yere This man put his owne fader in prison there helde hym tyll he dyed He toke pope Pascall with his cardynalles and prysoned them as is sayd afore for the whiche cause as it is supposed he lacked yssue For he wedded the kynges doughter of Englonde Maude But afterwarde he came to grace and all the lawes of the chirche he resygned frely to Calixte the pope and beâ—ought hym to gyue hym in penaunce that he sholde neuer come agayne to his empyre that he myght haue remyssyon of his trespace And after the opynyon of many a man he was wylfully exiled and bothe he and his wyfe dyed at Chestre in Englonde ¶ Gelasius was pope after Pascall two yere and fledde from Henry the emperour in to Burgoyn and there decessed This emperour chose Benedicte a Spanyarde to be pope the whiche stroue with Calixtus ¶ Calixtus was pope after hym two yere and fyue monethes This Calixtus was the sone of the duke of Burgoyne and was chosen in the place of Gelasius And whan he sholde come to Rome he toke the foresayd Benedictus and made hym to ryde afore hym shamefully For he on a mule turned his face to the tayle of the mule helde the tayle in his hande as a bryâ—â—â— tyll he came through the cite than he was put in pryson And the pope made peas with the emperour ¶ Honorius was pope after hym two yere lytel of hym is wryten ¶ Nora ¶ Henry the fourth Emperour of Annâ—yne decessed this tyme was buryed with his progeâ—ytours after some men with suche an epiâ—aphe Filius hic pater hic auus hic proauus â—acer istis But it is lykely to be truer that the Gerald sayth in Itinerario wallie where he sayth that after he had prysoned his carnall fader his spirytuall fader the pope with his cardynals after he was reconsyled wylfully he was exiled And he left Maude his wyfe the kynges doughter of Englonde pryuely and lyued an heremytes lyfe at Chestre .x. yere where he myght lyue as no man knewe hym he called hyÌ„selfe Godiscallus the whiche godson is called So the emperour went secretly awaye and Maude his wyfe the empresse went to her fader Henry in to NormaÌ„dy where anone after she was wedded vnto Geffrey plantagines the duke of AndegaÌ„me vpon whome he begate Henry the seconde that afterward was kyng of Englonde vnder whome saynt Thomas of CauÌ„terbury regned dyed ¶ Lotharius was emperour after Henry the fourth .xij. yere And lytell of hym is wryten but that he was manerly to the chirche and that he subdued Roger the vsurper of the kyngdom of Cycyle ¶ â—agâ— de sancto Victore was a noble man this tyme at Parys and a noble doctour of the nacyon of Saxons ¶ The ordre of saynt Iohn baptyst at Ierusalem began this tyme by the worshypfull man Raymond myghtely disposed vnto the werkes of mercy All this ordre made theyr waye to serue poore men ¶ Anno domini M C .xxxiiij. INnocencius was pope aftre Honorius .xiiij. yere .vij. monethes This man was a very deuoute man with suche men he cöpanyed hym And he had stryfe .vij. yere agaynst Pyers of Lyon that whiche named hym Anocâ—eâ—uÌ„ by strength he toke the poperyche the whiche Innocent sawe with two galeys fledde in to FrauÌ„ce was worshipfully receyued of saynt Bernard the whiche that tyme had all the kynges prynces in his handes and he ê“uoked them for to brynge this pope Innocent in to his dignite agayn At the last all thynge was cessed and his enemyes
abbot of saynt Anastasy by Rome came to the churche of saynt Cesary was chosen pope by the cardynals he no thynge knowynge therof and for drede of the senatours he was coÌ„secrated without the cite This man was an holy man suffred tribulacyon And at the last with moche holynes he decessed and lyeth at saynt Peters And anone after decessed sayÌ„t Bernard ¶ Petrus Lombardus the bysshop of Parys broder to Gracian compyled the foure bokes of the sentence this tyme. ¶ Petrus coÌ„mestor broder to Grarian to Pyers Lombarde made historiaÌ„ scolasticaÌ„ other bokes ¶ Frederiâ—us primus after Conradus was emperour in Almayn and in Rome .xxxiij. yere This man after the deth of Adryan the pope the whiche crowned hym dyd cursedly with Alexander to hym grete preiudyce For he dyd helpe foure the stroue agaynst the apostles sect And he fought mightely agaynst the kyng of FrauÌ„ce through power of the danes other nacyons But Rychard the kyng of Englond holpe for to expulse him And he destroyed Medio lanii to the grouÌ„de of the whiche circ the walles were hyer than the walles of ony other cite This man at the last after that he had done many vexacyons to the pope he was recoÌ„syled For he dradde lest the lombardes wold haue rebelled agaynst hym he asked forgyuenes of the pope toke the crosse vpon hym went to the holy londe dyd many meruaylous thinges there almoost as moche as euer dyd Ka rolus magnus And there he came by a towne that men called Armeniam in a lytell water he was drowned at TiruÌ„ he was buryed ¶ Anastasius was pope after Eugenius .iiij. yere and more This man was abbot of Rufy than he was chosen cardynall after pope ¶ Of kynge Henry the seconde that was the empresse sone in whose tyme saynt Thomas of Caunterbury was chaunceler ANd after this kynge Stephen regned Henry the empresse sone and was crowned of the archebysshop Theobald the .xvij. daye before Chrystmasse And in the same yere Thomas Beket of London archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury was made the kynges chaunceler of Englonde The second yere the he was crowned he let cast downe all the newe castels that were longynge to the crowne the whiche kynge Stephen had gyuen to dyuers men them had made erles and barons for to holde with hym to helpe hym agaynst Henry the empresse sone ¶ And the fourth yere of his regne he put vnder his owne lordshyp the kyng of Wales And in the same yere the kynge of Scotlonde had in his owne handes that is to saye the cyte of Karleyll the castell of Bamburgh the newe castell vpon Tyne the erledom of Lancastre ¶ The same yere the kyng with a grete power went in to Wales let cast down wodes made wayes made stronge the castell of Rutlonde Basingwarke amonge the castels he made an hous of the temple ¶ And in the same yere was Rychard his sone borne that afterward was erle of Oxforde And the fourth yere of his regne he made Gaufryde erle of Brytayn And in that yere he chaunged his money ¶ And in the .vj. yere of his regne he ladde a grete hoost to Tolouse and coÌ„quered it And the .vij. yere of his regne dyed Theobald the archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury And than almoost al the cite of Caunterbury through myschefe was brent ¶ The .ix. yere of his regne Thomas Beket that was his chauÌ„celer was chosen archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury And vpon saynt Bernardes daye he was sacred And in the yere was borne the kynges doughter Elenore ¶ And in the .x. yere of his regne saynt Edwarde the kynge was translated with moche honour ¶ And the .xi. yere of his regne he helde his parlyament at Northamton and fro thens fled saynt Thomas arche bysshop of CauÌ„terbury for the grete debate that was bytwene the kyng hym For yf he had ben fouÌ„de on the morowe he had beÌ„ slayne therfore he fled thens with thre felowes on fote onely that no man wyst where he was went ouer the see to the pope of Rome And this was the princypall cause For as moche as the kyng wolde haue put clerkes to deth the were atteynted of felony wout ony preuylege of holy chirche And the .xij. yere of his regne was Iohn his sone borne And the xiij yere of his regne dyed Maud the empresse the was his moder The .xiiij. yere of his regne the duke of Saxon spoused Maude his doughter he begate vpon her thre sones the is to say HeÌ„ry Othus Willyam And the .xv. yere of his regne dyed the good erle Robert of Glocestre the founded the abbey of Nonnes of Eton. And in the saine yere Marke kyng of Ierusalem coÌ„quered Babylon ¶ And the xvâ— yere of his regne he let crowne his sone Henry at westmynster hyÌ„ crowned Roger the archebisshop of yorke in harmyng of Thomas the archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury wherfore the same Roger was accursed of the pope ¶ Of kynge Henry the was sone of kyng Henry the empresse sone of the debate that was bytwene hym and his fader whyle that he was in Normandy AFter the coronacion of kyng Henry the sonne of kynge Henry the empresse sone that same Henry the empresse sone went ouer in to Normandy there he let mary Elonore his doughter to the Dolfyn that was kyng of Almayn ¶ And in the .vij. yere that the archebysshop saynt Thomas had ben outlawed the kynge of Fraunce made the kynge saynt Thomas accorded And thaÌ„ came Thomas the archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury agayn to his owne chirche And this accorde was made in the begynnyng of aduent And afterward he was slayne martyred the fyfth daye of Chrystmasse next folowyng For king Henry thought vpon saynt Thomas the archebysshop vpon Chrystmasse day as he sate at his meet and these wordes said That yf he had ony good knyghtes with hym he had ben many a day passed auenged vpon the archebysshop Thomas And anone syr WillyaÌ„ Breton syr Hugh Moruyle syr Willyam Tracy syr Reynold fitz vrse beers sone in englisshe pryuely went to the see and came in to Englond vnto the chirche of CauÌ„terbury there they hyÌ„ martyred at saynt Benets awter in the moder chirche And that was in the yere of the incarnacyon of Iesu Chryst M C .lxxij. yere ¶ And anone after Henry the newe kyng began to make warre vpon Henry his fader and vpon his brethern Willyam Othus And so vpon a daye the kyng of FrauÌ„ce all the kynges sones and the kyng of Scotlond the gretest lordes of Englonde were rysen agaynst kynge Henry the fader And at the last as god wolde he coÌ„quered all his enemyes And the kyng of FrauÌ„ce he were accorded And than sent kyng Henry the fader specyally vnto the kynge of FrauÌ„ce and prayed hym hertely for his loue that he wold sende to hym the names by
to them he made his cōplaynt of his sorowe of his disease And ofte tymes asked of his wardeyns what he hadde trespaced agaynst dame Isabell his wyfe syr Edward his sone y◠was made newe kyng that they wold not visyte hym And thā answered one of his wardeyns sayd My worthy lorde dysplease you not y◠I shall tell you the cause is for it is done them to vnderstande y◠yf my lady your wyfe come ony thynge nye you that ye wolde her strangle slee also that ye wolde do to my lorde your sone y◠same Than answered he with a symple chere Alas alas am not I in prison and all at your owne wyll now god it wote I neuer thought it now I wolde y◠I were deed so wolde to god y◠I were for than were all my sorowe passed It was not longe after y◠the kyng through coūseyle of Roger Mortymer graūted y◠warde kepynge of syr Edward his fader to syr Thomas Toiourney to y◠foresayd syr Iohn Mautreuers through the kinges lettre put out holly y◠foresayd syr Moryce of the warde of the kyng And they toke lad the kyng to y◠castell of Corf ▪ y◠whiche castel y◠kyng hated as ony deth And they kept hym there tyll it came vn to saynt Mathewes day in September in the yere of grace M CCC .xxvii. that the foresayd syr Roger Mortimer sent y◠maner of y◠deth how in what wyse he shold be put to deth And anone as y◠foresayd Thomas Iohn had seen y◠〈◊〉 cōmaūdement they made kynge Edwarde of Carnaruan good chere good solace as they might at y◠souper and no thynge the kyng wyst of y◠treason And whan tyme was for to go to bedde the kynge wente vnto his bedde laye and slepte fast And as the kyng laye slepte the traytoures false for sworne agaynst theyr homage feaute came pryuely in to y◠kynges chambre theyr company with them layde an huge table vpon his wombe with men pressed helde fast down the foure corners of y◠table on his body wherwith y◠good man awoke and was wonders sore adrad to be deed there slayne turned his body tho vp so downe Than toke y◠fals traytours tyraūtes an horne put it in to his foundement as depe as they myght toke a spyt of coper brēnynge put it through the horne in to his body and ofte tymes therwith thyrled his bowelles so they slewe theyr lord that nothynge was perceyued was buryed at Glocestre ¶ How kynge Edward spoused Philip the erles doughter of Henaud at Yorke ANd after Chrystmasse than next folowynge syr Iohn of Henaud brought with hym Philip his broders doughter that was erle of Henaud his nece in to Englond kyng Edward spoused her at Yorke with moche honour And syr Iohn of Bothum bisshop of Ely and syr William of Melton archebysshop of yorke sange the masse the sonday on the euen of the cōuersion of saint Paule in the yere of grace M CCC .xxvij. But bycause that the kynge was yonge and tender of age whan he was crowned full many wronges were done whyle that his fader lyued bycause that he byleued the coūseylers that were fals aboute hym to do otherwyse than reason wolde wherfore grete harme was done to the realme to the kyng all men directed it to the kynges dede it was not so almyghty god it knoweth Wherfore it was ordeyned at the kynges crownyng that the kyng for his tender age sholde be gouerned by .xij. of the gretest lordes of Englonde without whome no thynge shold be done that is to saye the archebysshop of Caūterbury the archebisshop of yorke the bisshop of wynchestre the bysshop of Herford the erle of Lancastre the erle Marshall the erle of Kent that were the kynges vncles the erle of Garen syr Thomas wake syr Henry Percy syr Olyuer of yngham Iohn of Roos barons All these were sworne truly for to coūseyle the kyng they shold answere euery yere in the parlyamēt of that that sholde be done in the tyme of theyr gouernall But the ordynaūce was soone vndone that was moche harme to all Englōde For the kyng all the lordes the shold gouerne hym were gouerned and ruled after the kȳges moder dame Isabell by syr Roger Mortimer And as they wolde all thynge was done bothe amonge hye lowe And they toke vnto them castels townes londes rentes in grete harme losse to the crowne of the kynges estate out of mesure ¶ How the peas was made bytwene the Englisshmen the Scottes and also of iustyfyenge of Troylebaston BYnge Edwarde at whytsontyde in the seconde yere of his regne through the coūseyle of his moder syr Roger Mortimer ordeyned a parlyamēt at Northamton And at that parlyamēt the kyng through theyr coūseyle none other of the londe within age graunted to be accorded with the Scottes in this maner That all the feautees and homages that the Scottes sholde do vnto the crowne of Englonde forgaue them for euer more by his chartre ensealed And forthermore an endenture was made of the Scottes vnto kynge Edwarde that was kyng Henryes sone whiche endenture they called ragman in the whiche were cōteyned al the homages feautees Fyrst of the kynge of Scotlonde of all the prelates erles barons of the realme of Scotlonde with theyr seales set theron and other chartres remembraunces that kynge Edwarde and his barons had of theyr right in the foresayd realme of Scotlond it was forgyuen them agaynst holy chirche And also with the blacke crosse of Scotlonde the whiche the good kynge Edwarde conquered in Scotlonde and brought it out of the abbey of Scone that is a full precyous relyke And also forthermore he relesed forgaue all the londes that the barons of Englonde had in Scotlonde by olde conquest ¶ And this peas for to be hold and last the Scottes were bounde vnto the kyng in .xxx. M. poūde of syluer to be payed within thre yere that is euery yere .x. M. poūde by euen porcyons And forthermore aboue all this they spake bytwene the partyes aboue sayd that Dauyd Dritonautier that was kynge Robert the Brus sone the fals tyraunt fals forsworne agaynst his othe that arose agaynst his lyege lorde the noble and good kyng Edward and falsly made him kyng of Scotlōde that was of the age of .v. yere And so through this cursed counseyle Dauid spoused at Barwyk dame Ione of the toure that was kynge Edwardes syster as the gest telleth vpon Mary Magdaleyns daye in the yere of grace M CCC and .xxviij. to grete harme empayrynge of all the kynges blode wherof that gentyll lady came alas the tyme for wonders moche was that fayre damoysell desparaged syth that she was maryed agaynst all the comyns assent of Englonde And fro the tyme that Brute had conquered
of gouernauÌ„ce toke husbaÌ„des as well strauÌ„gers as other lewde symple people yâ— whiche forgetynge theyr honour worshyp birth coupled maried them with them yâ— were of lowe degre lytell reputacyon ¶ In this same yere died Henry duke of Lancastre also in this yere Edwarde prynce of Wales wedded the couÌ„tesse of KeÌ„t yâ— was syr Thomas wyfe of Holand the whiche was departed somtyme de uorced fro yâ— erle of Salysbury for cause of yâ— fals knyght And about this tyme began rose a grete coÌ„pany of diuers na cyoÌ„s gadred togider whose leders were Englysshmen wtout ony heed yâ— whiche dyd moche harme in yâ— party of FrauÌ„ce And not longe after there arose an other coÌ„pany of dyuers nacions yâ— was called the whyte coÌ„pany yâ— which in yâ— partyes of Lombardy dyd moche sorowe ¶ The same yere syr Iohn of Gaunt the sone of king Edward yâ— thyrde was made duke of Lancastre by reason and cause of his wyfe that was the doughter heyre of Henry somtyme duke of Lancastre ¶ Of the grete wynde and how prynce Edwarde toke the lordshyp of Guyen of his fader and went thyder AAd in the .xxxvij. yere of kynge Edward the .xv. day of Ianyuer that is to saye on saynt Mauryce daye about euensongtyme there arose came suche a wynde out of yâ— south with suche a fyersnes strength that it brast blewe downe to yâ— grouÌ„de high houses stroÌ„ge buyldynges toures chirches steples other stronge places all other stroÌ„ge werkes yâ— stode styll were shaken therw t that they ben yet shall euermore be the febler weyker whyle they stande And this wynde lasted wtout ony â—â—ssyng vu dayes coÌ„tinually And anone after there folowed suche water in hey tyme in yâ— haruest tyme that al felde werkes were gretly letted left vndone ¶ And in the same yere prynce Edwarde toke yâ— lordshyp of Guyen dyd to kyng Edwarde his fader homage fraute therof weÌ„t ouer see in to Gascoyn with his wyfe chyldren ¶ And anone after kynge Edward made syr Leonell his sone duke of Clarence syr Edmonde his other sone erle of Cambrydge ¶ And in yâ— xxxviiâ— yere of his regne it was ordeyned in the parlyament that men of lawe bothe of yâ— chirche teÌ„porall lawe sholde fro yâ— tyme forth plete in theyr moder tongue And in yâ— same yere came in to Englonde thre kynges yâ— is to saye yâ— kyng of FrauÌ„ce yâ— kyng of Cypres yâ— kyng of Sectionde bycause to visyte to speke with the kynge of Englonde And after they had beÌ„ here loÌ„ge tyme two of them went home in to theyr owne couÌ„trees kyngdomes but the kyng of FrauÌ„ce through grete sekenes malady that he had abode styll in Englonde ¶ And in yâ— .xxxix. yere of his regne was a stronge grete frost that lasted loÌ„ge that is to saye fro sayâ—â— Andrewes tyde to the .xiiij. kal. of Apryll yâ— the tylthe sowynge of the erth other suche felde werke hande werkes were moche let lefte vndone for colde hardnes of yâ— erth And at Drray in Brytayn was ordeyned a grete deedly batayle bytwene syr Iohn of MouÌ„ford duke of Britayn syr Charles of Bloys but yâ— victory fell to the foresayd syr Iohn through helpe socour of yâ— englysshmen there were taken many knightes squyers other men yâ— were vnnombred in yâ— whiche batayle was slayne Charles hyÌ„selfe with all yâ— stode about hym of yâ— Englysshmen were slayne but .vii. ¶ And in this yere dyed at the Sauoy Iohn yâ— king of FrauÌ„ce whose seruyce and exequyes kynge Edwarde let ordeyn dyd in dyuers places worshypfully to be done at Douer ordeyned hym worthely to be ledde with his owne costes expences fro thens he was fet in to FrauÌ„ce buryed at saynt Denys ¶ In yâ— .xl. yere of king Edwarde the .vij. kal. of Feueryer was borne Edward prynce Edwardes sone the whiche whaÌ„ he was .vii. yere of age dyed And in the same yere it was ordeyned yâ— saint Peters pens fro yâ— tyme forth sholde not be payed yâ— whiche kyng yuo somtyme kyng of EngloÌ„de of yâ— couÌ„tre of westsaxons yâ— began to regne the yere of our lord god .vi. C .lxxix. fyrst grauÌ„ted to Rome for yâ— scole of Englonde there to be coÌ„tynued ¶ And in this same yere fel so moche rayne in hey tyme the it wasted destroyed bothe corne hey And there was suche debate and fyghtyng of sparowes by diuers places in these days yâ— men fouÌ„de innumerable deed in yâ— feldes as they went And there fell also suche a pestylence yâ— neuer was seen suche in no mannes dayes yâ— than lyued for men the went to bedde hole and souÌ„de sodeynly they dyed ¶ Also the tyme a sekenes that men call yâ— pockes slewe bothe men women through theyr enfectyng ¶ And in the .xli. yere of king Edward was borne at Burdeux Rychard the seconde sone of prynce Edward of Englonde yâ— whiche Rychard kynge Rycharde of Amorican heued at the fontstone after whome he was called Rychard And this same Rychard whan his fader was deed kyng Edward also he was crowned kyng of Englond the .xl. yere of his age through right lyne herytage also by yâ— comyn assent desyre of the comynalte of the realme ¶ Aboute this tyme at kyng Edwardes coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of EngloÌ„de whan all the castels townes were yelded to hym yâ— were holden in FrauÌ„ce by a grete coÌ„pany assembled togyder syr Bartram Claykyn a noble knyght a good warryour went purposed hyÌ„ to put Piers kynge of Spayne out of his kyngdome with helpe of yâ— moost party of yâ— foresaid grete coÌ„pany trustynge also vpon helpe and fauour of yâ— pope for as moche as it came to his ere yâ— the same Pyers sholde lede vse a synfull lyfe yâ— whiche Piers smytteÌ„ with drede of these tydynges fledde in to Gascoyn to prynce Edwarde for to haue socour of hym And whan he was fledde out of Spayne Henry his broder that was a bastard by assent of yâ— moost partye of Spayne through helpe of yâ— ferefull company yâ— I spake of fyrst was crowned king of Spayne the noÌ„bre of that same coÌ„pany was rekened and set at the nombre of .lx. M. fyghtynge men ¶ This same yere in yâ— moneth of Iune there came a grete company a nauy of Danes and gadred them togyder in the north see purposyng to come in to Englonde to reue robbe also to slee with whome they encouÌ„tred mette in yâ— see Maryners other good fyghtyng men of the couÌ„tre dysperpled them And they ashamed went home agayne in to theyr owne couÌ„tre but amonge all other there was a buistous vessel a stroÌ„ge of theyr nauy that was ouersayled by the Englysshmen was perysshed drowned in the whiche the stewarde other grete men of DeÌ„marke were takeÌ„
that rebelled and prospered ryght wysly euermore on them At the last with a blyssed ende he decessed And in the lyf of saynt Laurence he and his wyfe be put for ensamples bycause of theyr holy and vertuous lyuynge ¶ Benedictê° was pope after Iohn .xi. yere This man had grete stryfe in his dayes For he was put out an other was put in And this Benedictus after that he was deed was seen of an holy bysshop in a wretched fygure he had grete payne And this fygure sayd he trusted no thynge in the mercy of god no thynge profyted hym that was done for hym for it was goten by extorcyon vniustly ThaÌ„ this bysshop lefte his bysshopryche for drede of this sight went in to a monastery lyued vertuously all his dayes ¶ IohaÌ„nes the .xx. was pope after hym .xi. yere lytell profyted ¶ Of kyng Knoght that was a Dane ANd after the deth of this Eldred Knoght that was a Daue begaÌ„ to regne But Edmund Irensyde that was king Eldredes sone by his fyrst wyfe ordeyned a grete power of men began to warre on kynge Knoght And so he dyd many tymes ofte the warre was so stroÌ„ge harde the wonder it was to wyte And the quene Emme that than dwelled at westmynster had grete drede of her two sones Alured Edward lest they sholde be destroyed through the warre wherfore she sente them ouer see in to Normandy to the duke Richard theyr vncle there they dwelled in safete peas loÌ„ge tyme. ¶ This Edmund Irensyde Knoght the Dane warred fyersly togyder But at the last they were accorded in this maner that they sholde departe the realme bytwene them and so they dyd and loued togyder lyke two bretherne ¶ How kyng Edmund Irensyde was slayne through treason by a traytour that was called Edryth of Stratton ANd than after regned kyng EdmuÌ„d Irensyde Knoght the dane But thus it befel afterward that in the same yere that they were accorded so moche loued togyder wherfore a fals traytour had enuy at the loue that was bytwene them whose name was Edrith of straâ—toâ— that was a grete lorde that was Edmunde Irensydes man of hym helde all the londe that he had neuerthelesse he thought to betraye his lorde make Knoght kyng of all the londe to the entent rychely to be auauÌ„ced with hym to be well beloued Wherfore he prayed his lorde Edmunde Irensyde on a daye with hym for to ete And the kyng hym curteysly grauÌ„ted and to hym came at his prayer And at meet the kyng was ryally serued with dyuerse metes and drynkes And whan nyght came that he sholde go to bedde the kyng toke his owne meyny and went to the chambre where as he shold take his nyghtes rest And as he loked aboute hym he sawe a fayre ymage a well made in semblauÌ„t as it were an archer with a bowe bent in his hande in the bowe a fyne arowe Kynge Edmund went nere to beholde it better And whan he was by it anone the arowe smote hym through the body there slewe the kynge for the engyn was made to slee his owne lorde traytoursly And whan kynge Edmund was thus deed slayne he had regned but .x. yere And his people made moche sorowe for him his body they bare to Glastenbury there buryed hym And this fals traytour Edrith anone went to the quene that was kynge Edmundes wyfe that wyst not of her lordes deth toke from her two sones that were fayre yonge that her lorde had goten on her that one was called Edwarde that other Edwyne ladde them with hym to London toke them to kyng Knoght that he sholde do with them what his wyl were And told hyÌ„ how subtylly he had slayne king Edmund bycause the Knoght sholde haue all the londe of Englonde ¶ O thou fals traytoure hast thou slayne my true broder that was so true bycause of me a man that I moost loued in the worlde Now by my heed I shall for thy trauayle the well rewarde as thou hast deserued anone let hym be taken and bouÌ„de hym handes feet in maner of a traytour let cast hym in to the ryuer of Tamyse And in this maner the fals traytour ended his lyfe The kyng toke the two chyldren put them vnto the abbot of West mynster to warde to kepe tyll he wyst what was best with them for to do ¶ How kynge Knoght sent bothe kyng Edmondes sones in to Denmarke for to be slayne and how they were saued ANd it befel soone afterward that kynge Knoght had all the londe in his handes spoused the quene Emme through consent of al his barons for she was a fayre woman the whiche was Eldredes wyfe and the dukes syster of Normandy they lyued togyder with moche loue as reason wolde The kyng asked vpon a daye couÌ„seyle of the quene what was best to do with Edmond Irensydes sones Syr sayd she they be the ryght heyres of the londe and yf they lyue they wyll do you moche sorowe with warre and therfore let sende them in to a strauÌ„ge londe aferre to some man that may destroye them The king anone let call a Dane that was called Walgar coÌ„mauÌ„ded hym that he sholde lede those two chyldren in to Denmarke so to do and ordeyne for them that he sholde neuer more here of them Syr sayd this Walgar your commauÌ„dement gladly shall be done And anone he toke the two chyldren ledde them in to Denmarke And for as moche as he sawe that the chyldren were wonders fayre mâ—ke he had of them grete pite ruth wold not slee them but ledde them to the kynge of Hungary for to nourysshe For this Walgar was well beknowen with the kynge well beloued Anone the kynge asked fro whens the children were And Walgar tolde hym sayd that they were the ryght heyres of Englonde and therfore men wolde destroye them therfore syr vnto you they be comen to seke mercy helpe for soth yf they may lyue your men they shall become and of you they shall holde all theyr londe The kynge of Hungary receyued theÌ„ with moche honour and let them worthely be kepte And thus it befell afterwarde that Edwyne the yonger broder dyed Edwarde the elder broder lyued a fayre man and a stronge and a large of body gentyll and curteys of condicyons so that all men loued hym And this Edwarde in the cronycles is called amonge Englysshmen Edwarde the outlawe And whan he was made knyght the kynges doughter of Hungary loued him moche for his goodnes and his fayrnes so that she called hym her derlynge The kynge that was her fader perceyued well the loue that was bytwene them two he had none heyr but onely that doughter And the kynge vouchedsafe his doughter to no man so well as he dyd to hym that she loued
so well and he her agayn and gaue her vnto hym with a good wyll And Edwarde her spoused with moche honour The kyng of Hungary sent after all his barons and made a solempâ—e feest and a ryche weddynge and made all men to vnderstande that this Edwarde sholde be kyng after his decesse of all the londe of Hungary Of the whiche tydynges they were all ryght glad And this Edwarde begate vpon this lady a sone the whiche was called Edgar Helyng and afterwarde a doughter that was called Margarete that afterwarde was quene of Scotlonde And by the kyng of scotlond that was called Mancolin she had a doughter that was called Maud that was quene afterwarde of Englonde through kyng Henry yâ— was the fyrst sone of the conquerour that her wedded he begate on her a doughter that was called Maud that afterward was empresse of Almayne And of this Maud came the kyng of Englonde that vnto this daye is called Henry the empresse sone and yet had this Edwarde an other doughter by his wyfe that was called Christian she was a nonne ¶ How kynge Knoght that was a proude man conquered Nor way and how he became afterwarde meke and mylde NOw haue ye herde of Edmunde Irensydes sones that king Knoght wende they had ben slayne as he had coÌ„ mauÌ„ded Walgar before And this kyng Knoght had in his handes all yâ— realme of Englond Denmark And after that they went vnto Norway for to coÌ„quere that londe But the kynge of the londe that was called Elaf came with his people wende to haue well kepte defended his londe so there he faught with hym tyll at yâ— last he was slayne in that batayle And thaÌ„ this Knoght toke all yâ— londe in to his haÌ„des And whaÌ„ he had coÌ„quered Norway takeÌ„ feaute homage there he came agayne in to Englonde helde hyÌ„selfe so grete a lorde that hym thought in all the worlde was not his pere became so proude hauteyne that it was grete wonder ¶ And so it befell vpon a daye as he had herd masse at west mynster wolde haue gone in to his palays the wawes of the Tamyse so swyftely came agaynst hym yâ— almoost they touched his feet Than sayd yâ— kyng with a proude herte I coÌ„maunde the water to turne agayn or elles I shall make the. The wawes for his coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t wold not spare but flowed in heyght more more The kyng was so proude of herte that he wold not flee yâ— water but abode styll in yâ— water bette it with a yerde yâ— he had in his hande coÌ„mauÌ„ded the water that it sholde go no ferder But for all his coÌ„mauÌ„dement yâ— water wold not cese but encreased more more so that the kyng was all wete stode depe in the water And whan he sawe the water wold not do his coÌ„mauÌ„dement he wtdrewe hym stode vpon a stone holdyng vp his handes on hye sayd herynge all yâ— people This god that maketh yâ— see thus aryse on hye is kyng of all kynges of all mygh tes moost and I am a caytyf a deedly man he may neuer dye all thynge doth his coÌ„mauÌ„dement hym obeyeth To that god I praye that he be my warrauÌ„t for I knowlege me a caytyf feble of no power therfore I wyll go vnto Rome without ony longe lettyng my wycked nes to punysshe me to amende For of god I clay me my londe for to holde of none other And anone made redy his heyre hyÌ„selfe went to Rome without ony lettynge And by yâ— waye dyd many almes dedes at Rome also And whaÌ„ he had ben there done penauÌ„ce for his synnes he came agayn in to Englonde became a good man an holy leuyng all maner pryde lyued an holy lyfe made two abbeys of saynt Benet one in Englonde and another in Norway by cause he loued saynt Benet more specyally than ony other sayÌ„t he loued moche also saynt Edmund the kyng often he gaue grete gyftes to the hous made it ryche And whan he had regned .xx. yere he dyed lyeth at Wynchestre ¶ Anno dnÌ„i M .xviij. BEnedictê° the .ix. was pope after Iohannes he was a grete lethour therfore he was dampned he appered to a certayne man vnder a meruaylous fygure an horryble His heed his tayle was lyke an asse that other part of his body lyke a beer And he sayd to this maÌ„ to whom he appered Be not aferde for I was a man as ye be now but for my beestly lyuynge whaÌ„ I was pope I appere now lyke a beest ¶ In this maÌ„nes tyme was grete diuisyon sclauÌ„dre to yâ— chirche for he was put out in two tymes And here Ptholomeus noteth that the pryde of bysshops had euer an euyl ende it was euer yâ— occasyon of moche vnrest batayle ¶ CoÌ„radus the fyrst was emperour after HeÌ„ry .xx. yere This maÌ„ made many lawes coÌ„mauÌ„ded peas to be kept moost straytly of ony man But yâ— erle of Ludolf was accused he fledde froÌ„ his londe desyred more to lyue lyke a chorle than lyke a gentylman yet meruaylously his sone was made emperour by yâ— coÌ„maundement of god agaynst the wyl of Conradus And at the last they were accorded he toke Conradus doughter to his wyfe ¶ Of kynge Harold that had leuer go on fote than ryde on horsbacke THis Knoght of whome we haue spokeÌ„ of before had two sones by his wyfe Emme that one was called Hardiknoght that other Harold he was so lyght on fote that men called hym comynly Harold hare fote And this Harold was no thynge manerd after Knoght his fader for he set not by cheualry curteysy ne worship but onely by his owne wyll And he became so wicked that he exiled his moder Emme And she went in to FlauÌ„dres there dwelled with yâ— erle wherfore he his broder hated echeother deedly And whan he had regned ij yere more hedyed lyeth at West mynster ¶ Of kynge Hardiknoght that was Haroldes broder AFter this Harold hare fote regned his broder Hardyknoght a noble knight a worthy moche loued cheualry and all maner of goodnes And whan this Hardiknoght had regned a lytell whyle he let vncouer his broder Harold smote of his heed made it to be cast in to a gonge the body in to Ta myse And after came fysshers toke yâ— bedy with theyr nettes by nyght bare hym to saynt ClemeÌ„tes chirche there buryed hym Thus auenged hym Hardiknoght on his broder Thus kyng Har diknoght was so large a gyuer of meet drynke that his tables were set euery daye thre tymes full with ryall metes drynkes for his meyny for them that came to his courte And this kyng Hardiknoght sent after Emme his moder made her to come agayn for his broder Harold hare