Saynte Mychaell there Crepelgate warde xxv Saynte Mary magdaleyn in mylke strete Saynt Mary in Aldermanbury Saynt Mychaell in Hogynlane Saynt Albons in woodstrete Saynt Alphy by Crepulgate Saynt Olaff in Syluer strete Saynt Gylys wythout the gate The summe of the paryshe chyrches wythin London C.xiii. HEre after ensue the howsys of relygyon monasteryes colleges chapellys and other beynge no paryshe chyrches wythin the cytye The cathedrall chyrch of saynt Poule in the ende of Chepe The pryory of saynte Barthelmewe in Smythfelde The hospytall or spytyll a cell of the sayde pryory The charter house standyng wythin the warde of Crepulgate Elsynge spytall wythin the sayde warde The chapell of our Lady of Bedlem in Byshoppes gate warde The house of saynt Elyne in y e same warde of nunnys The pryory of Crystes chyrche with in Algate Saynte Anne abbaye wythin Portsokyn warde of whyte munkys The howse of y e Meneressys of close nunnys wythin the same warde The chapel of our lady of Barkyng in the towre warde An howse of crossed frerys in the same warde A colege of saynt Antony in y e warde of Bredstrete A colege of saynte Thomas called Acrys standynge in Chepe An house of frere Augustynes in Brode strete warde An house of gray frerys standyng in the warde Faryngedon wythin An house of blacke freres standynge by Ludgate within y e foresaid warde An house of whyte freres standynge in Flete strete A chyrche or college called the Temple standynge at Temple barre A chapel standyng in pardon chyrch yarde wythin Poulys A chapell standyng in y e chirch yarde at Poulys ouer the charnell house A chapell standynge wythin Crepell gate saynt Iamys in the wall A chapell called Pappey staÌ„dyng besyde Bishoppes gate founded by the prestes of that fraternyte A chapel of corpê° Cristi in y e Pultry A chapell of saynt Thomas of CauÌ„terbury staÌ„dyng vpon LoÌ„donbridge A chapell standynge in yelde Hall yarde of our Lady A colege of prestes standynge by Poulys called saynte Martyne le graunde The summe of housys of relygyon chapellys and other .xxvii. westmynster The abbbaye of westmynster The kynges newe chapell Saynte Stephans chapell Saynt Margaretes chyrche A chapell at Totehyll A chapell of saynt Anne in Totehyll strete Saynte Iamys in the felde A chapell at Rauncyuale A paryshe chyrche therby of saynte Martyne A chapell of our lady of Pewe Chyrches monasteryes chapellys and other housys wherin god is dayly seruyd standynge in the cyrcuyte of the cytye wythoute the wallys and fyrste wythoute Algate A paryshe chyrche of our ladye standynge wythoute the barrys called whyte chapell A colege of saynte Katheryne standynge on the eest ende of the towre of London A paryshe chyrch or chapell wythin the sayde towre of saynte Peter Southwarke The monastery of Bermundsey A paryshe chyrch of Mary Magdaleyne standynge faste by A paryshe chyrche of saynt George A paryshe chyrch of saynt Magaret An hospitall or college of saynt Thomas A paryshe chyrche of saynte Olas A monastery of chanoÌ„s callyd saynt Mary Ouereys and with a paryshe chyrche of saynt Mary Magdaleyn standynge faste thereby wythout the Temple barre A paryshe chyrch of saynte Clement A chapell of saynte Spyryte Saynte Ursula at strande wythoute Smythfelde The pryorye of saynte IohnÌ„ in Hierusalem A house of nuÌ„nys named ClerkeÌ„wel A a chapell in pardon chyrche yarde wythout Byshoppes gate Shordyche paryshe chyrche Saynte Mary spytell A house of nunnys callyd Halywell And of the dyuyne houses without the cytye .xxviii. The summe of all the dyuyne houses wythin the cytye and wythoute is a hundred and .lxviii. RIcharde the fyrst of that name and seconde sonne of Henry the second beganne hys reygne ouer EnglaÌ„d in the moneth of Iuly and yere of our lorde .x. hundred .lxxx. and .x and the .xi. yere of the seconde Phylyppe then kynge of Fraunce Thys Rycharde prouyded besely to sette good rule in NormaÌ„dy when he hadde harde of hys fathers deth and after spedde him into England where he was ioyously receyued in the moneth of September folowynge and thyrde daye he was crowned at westmynster of Baldwyn archbyshoppe of Caunterburye Uppon the whyche daye the Iewys of Englande and specyally suche as dwellyd within London and nere about assembled of them a certayn nomber and presumyd farther then requyred for theyr authoryte For whyche presumpcyon they were fyrste rebuked after one of theÌ„ strykeÌ„ which thyng sene of the coÌ„mon people supposyd that to be done by the kynges commaundement wherfore in a fury as those that they hated as the deuyll for theyr vsury other vnhappy condycyons they fell vppon theym and chased them to theyr houses them robbed and spoyled wythout pytye and brent some of theyr housis wher of the rumour ranne to westmynster to y e kynges audyeÌ„ce wherfore in all haste he sent downe gyuyng strayte coÌ„maundement that they shuld cease of that ryot But the people were in suche ire and wodenesse that they refrayned not for all the kinges sonde tyll they hadde executed the fyne of theyr malyce And all be yt that thys ryot was after greuously shewyd agayne the commons of the cytye yet yt passed vnpunyshed for the great nomber of the transgressours And the sayde daye of coronacyon all prysoners that lay in any pryson aboute London at the kynges sute or for other small or fayned accyons were frely delyueryd Soone after the kynge gaue many dygnytyes and to hys brother IohnÌ„ he gaue the prouynces of Notyngham Deuonshyre and Cornewall and creatyd hym erle of Lancaster And then the kynge ordeyned the cytye of London to be ruled by two baylyues whose names were as foloweth Anno domini M.C.xc.  Anno domini M.C.xci.  Henry of Cornehyll  Balliui  Anno primo  Rycharde fyz Ryuer  IT was not longe after that y e the kynge hadde thus exalted hys brother IohnÌ„ as before is shewwyd but that he also preferryd hym to the maryage of the erle of Glouceters doughter by reason wherof he was lorde of that erledome These great auauÌ„cementis made him after vnkynde to his broder and by pryde therof to coueyt afterwarde the hole kyngdome Thys yere kynge Rycharde was assoyled of the offence that he had vsyd in rebellyon agayne hys father In recompeÌ„sacyon wherof as testyfyeth the authour Guydo he voluntaryly toke vppon hym and promysed to warre vppon Crystes enymyes All be yt that other wryters shewe that yt was for that that hys father had so wylled hym by hys lyfe But for what cause so yt was preparacyon and prouysyon for that iourney was made from that daye forthwarde Thys yere also the kynge enlarged Elyanoure hys moder whyche long before at the commaundement of his father her husbande was as a prysoner kepte in secrete kepynge After whych enlargyng y e land was mych guydyd by her counsayll And thys yere as sayth Ranulfe kynge Rycharde gaue ouer the castellis of Barwyke and Rochysburghe to y e Scottyshe kyng for the summe
in all that he myght and caused his brother to man and vytayll dyuers castelles within walys specyally the castell of Swandon wherin he mych trusted and gatheryd vnto hym the walshemen by gyftes and other meanes so that he was very stronge wherof when the kynge was informed he wolde therunto gyue no credence tyll he had sent thyther and receyued from theÌ„s the certaynte But for so myche as wynter was toward and he myghte nat conueniently go thyder wyth any power he therfore prouyded to send men and vytayl to strength the castelles of Flynt Rutlande and other holdes whyche he there had and wyth prouysyoÌ„ made to warre vppon theym in the begynnynge of the nexte yere suffered that wynter to passe Anno domini M.CC.lxxxi  Anno dnÌ„i xii C.lxxxii  wyllyam Mazerer  Henry waleys  Anno .x.  Nycholas wynchester  IN thys .x. yere y e kyng heryng more and more of the vnstedfastnes of the walshe men for to let them of theyr purpose to greue hys holdes beforenamed he sente thyder with a crewe of sowdyours the erles of Northumberland and of Surrey with whome amonge other went syr Rogyer Clyfforde syr wyllyam Lyndesey syr Rycharde Tanny many other noble knyghtes and squyres The whyche with greate corage entrede into walys and made with the walshemen many skyrmysshes tyll lastly vpon Palme sondaye Dauyd with a great power of walshmeÌ„ met with the sayde lordes knyghtes at a place nere to a towne called Hanardyne where betwene theÌ„ was a sore fyght But in the ende the losse fyll to the Englysshmen For there were slayne syr wyllyam Lyndesey syr Rycharde Tanny with many other and syr Rogyer Clyfforde was taken After whyche ouerthrowe of the Englysshmen the sayde Dauyd layde syege vnto the castelles of Flynt and of Rutlande And his brother in that season warred and occupyed the landes of syr Edmunde Mortymer and wanne the towne called Lambatre vaure and there threwe the walles therof downe to the grounde Thys towne is also called Abreswith It was nat longe after or the brute of thys ouerthrowe of the EnglysshmeÌ„ came vnto y e towne wherfore he sped hym the faster thyderwarde Anno domini M.CC.lxxxii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.lxxxiii  Rauffe Blunt  Henry walys  Anno .xi.  Hawkyn Betnell  IN thys .xi. yere vppon the day of saynte Leonarde or the syxt daye of Nouembre whyle kynge Edwarde was thus occupyed in rescowynge of hys men whyche were besyged of Dauyd syr Rogyer Clyfforde wyth other whyche entended to make a reysynge vppon the walsh men was drowned by foly vppon a brydge made of bargys and plankes to haue passed a water betwene Snowdon and Anglyssey And the thyrde daye of Decembre folowynge was Lewelyne prynce of walys slayne by syr Edmunde Mortymer and hys company and hys hed sente vnto the kynge thaÌ„ beyng at Rutlande The whyche he sent vnto London chargynge that yt beset vppon the toure of London Of thys Lewelyne a walshe metrycian made these foure verses folowynge Hic iacet Anglorum tortor tutor venedorum Princeps wallorum Lewelinus regula morum Gemma ceuorum flos regum preteritorum Forma futurorum dux laus lex lux populorum whyche verses are thus to meane as foloweth Of Englysshmen the scourge of walshe the protectoure Lewelyn the prynce rule of all vertue Gemme of all lyuers and of all other the floure whyche vnto dethe hath payde hys dette due Of kynges a mirrour that after hym shall sue Duke and prayse and of the lawe the ryght Here in thys graue of people lyeth the lyght But an Englysshe metrician wrote other .iiii. verses in dyspraysynge of the sayd Lewelyn as foloweth Hic iacet errorum princeps ac predo virorum Proditor Anglorum fax liuida secta reorum Numen wallorum trux dux homicida piorum Fex troianorum stirps mendax causa masorum The whyche maye in thys wyse be Englysshed Here lyeth of errour the prynce yf yewyll ken These and robbour traytour to Englysshmen A dym bronde a sect of doers yll God of walshmen cruell without skyll In sleyng the good and leder of the badde Lastly rewarded as he deserued hadde Of Troyans blode the drastes and nat sede A rote of falshode and cause of many yll dede Anno domini M.CC.lxxxiii  Anno domini M.CC.lxxxiiii  Iordan Goodchepe  Henry waleys  Anno .xii.  Martyn Box.  IN thys .xii. yere the kynge beynge stylle in walys pursued Dauyd the brother of Lewelyn from towne to towne so that lastly he was taken and broughte vnto the kynge aboute the natyuyte of saynt IohnÌ„ and so holden in warde tyll the kyng had there sped hys nedes Then the kyng had all the countre at hys wyl and gaue vnto Englyssh lordes townes in the myddes of walys and deuyded the couÌ„tre into shyres and ordeyned there shyryfes and other offycers as then were vsed in Englande At Aberconow he made a stronge castell where before was a house of whyte monkes The whych he remouyd thens and ordeyned for them in some other place He also made than the castel of CarnaruaÌ„ fast by Snowdon and repayred agayne the towne of Lambatre or Abreswyth which Lewelyn had before betyn downe Also he garuysshed the castelles and holdes standyng vpon the see syde with Englysshmen and made Englysshemen lordes of the groundes belongyng to the same And whan y e kyng had set that couÌ„tre in rule theÌ„ about Mychelmasse he retourned so Shrewysbury where he set a parlyament In the tyme wherof the forsayd Dauyd as chyef styrrer begynner of al thys warre was there deinyd to be drawen haÌ„ged quartered so he was shortly after at y e sayde towne of Shrewysbury hys hede sent to LoÌ„don set by the hed of hys brother Lewelyn And thys yere was the fyrste son of kyng Edwarde borne whyle the kyng was in walys at y e castel of Carnaruan By reason wherof he was after named Edward of Carnaruan He was born vpoÌ„ y e day of saiÌ„t Mark or y e .xxv. day of April This yere also one LaureÌ„ce Duket a cytezyn of LoÌ„doÌ„ was fouÌ„de dede hanged within sait Mary bow chyrch of chepe For y e which enqueres were made lastely for y t dede were ataynted these .vii. ê‘sons folowing y t is to say Reygnold of lancaster Robert Pynnot Paule of Stepynhith Thomas Cordwayner IohnÌ„ Tolanson Thomas Russell and Robert Scotte the whyche were all for that dede drawyn hanged And a woman for the same dede was also brent And Rauffe Crepyn Iourdan Good chepe Gilbert Clerk and Geffrey Clerke were also attaiÌ„t for the same cause But they were repryed and sent vnto the toure of LoÌ„don where they remayned loÌ„ge after and lastly delyuered And in thys yere the greate conduyte standynge agayne saynte Thomas of Acres in Chepe was begon to be made In this yere also stryfe and vnkindenes beganne to kyndelle betweene the kynge the erle of
worshype of the same Henauder that the kynge for hys guerdon made hym streyghte knyght Upon the .vii. daye in lykewyse played insemble an Henauder and one IohnÌ„ StaÌ„dysshe esquyer y â— whyche semblably for hys prowesse manly dealyng was also of y e kyng dubbed knyght And a GascoynÌ„ that the same day wan y e pryce of an other straunger was immedyatly made knyghte of y e kyng And vpoÌ„ the .viii. daye or laste day of thys chalenger came into the felde .ii. Henauders Unto whome came .ii. bretherne beyng sowdiours of Calays y e whyche bekered togyder a loÌ„ge seasoÌ„ so y e eyther ê‘tye receyued plentye of good strokes tyll peas by y e kyng was coÌ„mauÌ„ded And so thys chaleÌ„ge was fynysshed to y e great honour of y e kyng the whych after feasted these straungers wyth ryche gyftes sente and retourned theym agayne to theyr countrees Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.ix  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.x.  IohnÌ„ Lawe  Rycharde Marlowe Irenmonger  Anno .xi.  wyllyam Chycheley  IN thys yere moneth of Marche a tayloure of London named Iohan Badby was brente in Smythfelde for heresy all be it that by meanes of the prynce one mayster Courtnay thanne Chauceller of Oxenforde he was for a whyle reconcyled and promysed to leue that erroure But whan the sacramentâ— of y e aulter was brought tofore hym he dyspysed it and wolde in no wyse therein byleue wherefore he hadde as he deserued Of whom a versifier in reproche of hys errour made these ii verses folowynge Hereticus credat vt perustus ab orbe recedat Ne fideÌ„ ledat sathan huÌ„c baratro sibi predat The whych verses are thus moch to meane in englysshe The peruerse heretyke though that he do brenne And from this worlde be rased vtterly No force syn that he lyst nâ—t kenne Our sacred fayth but it right perversâ—y â—yst of his wyll erroniously to reply What force thought sathaÌ„ with his eternall payne Do hym rewarde syn he wyll not refrayne IN thys yere also moneth of Apryll wythin the lystes of Smythfeld was foughteÌ„ a sore fight betwene an esquyre named Glouceter AppellauÌ„t an other esquyre called Arthur DefendauÌ„t The whyche acquyted them eyther partye so maÌ„fully that the kynge of hys especyall grace seyng they were bothe so well fyghtyng men toke the quarell into hys handes pardoned the offeÌ„ce to eyther partye And thys yere the market howse called the Stokes staÌ„dynge by the churche of saynt Mary wolchurch of London was begoÌ„ to be edyfyed In thys yere also the kyng helde his parlyameÌ„t at westmynster Durynge the whych y e coÌ„mons of thys laÌ„de put vp a byll to the kynge to take y e teÌ„porall landes out froÌ„ spyrytuall meÌ„nes handes or possessioÌ„ The effect of whych byll was y t the teÌ„poraltes dysordinatly wasted by meÌ„ of the church myght suffyce to fynde to y e kynge .xv. erles xv C. knightes vi M. ii C. esqiers an C. houses of almes to the releef of poore people mo thaÌ„ at y e days were wythin EnglaÌ„d And ouer all these foresayd charges y e kyng myght put yerely in hys cofers .xx. M. li. Prouyded y e euery erle shuld haue of yerely reÌ„t .iii. M. marke euery knight an C marke .iiii. plough lande euery esquyre .xl. marke by yere w t .ii. plough laÌ„de euery house of almesse an C. marke with ouersyght of .ii. trew seculers vnto euery house And also wyth prouisioÌ„ y t euery towneshyppe shuld kepe all poore people of theyr owne dwellers whych myght nat labour for theyr lyuyng with coÌ„dicion y t if mo fell in a towne thaÌ„ the towne might maynteyn thaÌ„ the sayd almes houses to releue such townshyppes And for to beare these charges they alledged by theyr sayd bylle y t the teÌ„poralties beyng in the possessioÌ„ of spirytuall meÌ„ amounted to .iii. C. .xxii. M. marke by yere wherof they affermed to be iÌ„ y e see of CauÌ„terbury with the abbays of cristes church of saynt Augustyns Shrowysbury Coggeshale saynt Osiys xx M. marke by yere In the see of DurhmÌ„ other abbeys there xx M. marke In y e see of yorke abbays there xx M. marke In the see of wynchester and abbays there xx M. marke In the see of LoÌ„don wyth abbays and other houses there xx M. marke In y e see of LyncolnÌ„ wyth y e abbays of Peterbourth Ramsay and other xx M. mark In the see of Norwych wyth the abbeys of Bury and other xx M. marke In the see of Hely wyth the abbays of Hely SpaldiÌ„g other xx M. mark In the see of Bathe wyth the abbay of Okynborne other xx M. marke In the see of worceter with y e abbays of EuishmÌ„ AbyngdonÌ„ other xx M marke In the see of Chester with precinct of the same with the sees of saiÌ„t Dauid of Salysbury and Exceter wyth theyr precinctes xx M. marke The abbays of Rauens or Reuans of fountaynes of Geruons and dyuers other to the nombre .v. mo .xx. thousand marke The abbays of Leyceter waltham Gysbourne HertonÌ„ Tircetir Osney and other to the nombre of .vi. mo twenty thousande marke The abbays of Douers Batell Lewis Cowentre DaueÌ„tre and Courney xx M. marke The abbays of NorthamptonÌ„ Thortone Brystow Kelyngworth wynchescoÌ„b Hayles Parchyssor Fredyswyde Notley and Grymmysby xx M. marke The whych forsayd suÌ„mes amouÌ„t to the full of .iii. C.M. marke And for the odde .xxii. M. marke they appoynted Herdforde Rochester HuntyngdonÌ„ Swyneshede Crowlande Malmesbury BurtonÌ„ Tewkisbury DuÌ„stable ShirbornÌ„ TauntonÌ„ and Bylande And ouer thys they alledged by the sayde byll that ouer and aboue y e sayd suÌ„me of .iii. C. .xxii. M. marke dyuers houses of relygion in Englande possessed as many temporaltyes as myght suffice to fynde yerely xv M. preestes and clerkes euery preest to be allowed for hys stypende vii marke by yere To y e which byl none answere was made but that the kyng of thys mater wolde take delyberacioÌ„ aduycemente and wyth that answere ended so that no ferther laboure was made Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.ix  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.x  IohnÌ„ Penne.  Thomas Knolles Grocer  Anno .xii.  Thomas Pyke  IN thys yere asquyer of walys named Ryze ap dee the whych had loÌ„g tyme rebelled agayn y e kyng and â—rotysfyed the partye of Howan of Glendore was takeÌ„ and broughte to London and there vppon the .ix. daye of Decembre drawen hanged and quartered and hys hed set vpon the brydge amoÌ„ge the other In this yere also was the guylde halle of LoÌ„don begonne to be newe edyfyed and of an olde lytell cotage made into a fayre and goodly house as it nowe appereth Anno domini M. CCCC.x  Anno domini M. CCCC.xi  IohnÌ„ Raynewell  Robert Chycheley Grocer  Anno .xiii.  wyllyam CottonÌ„  IN thys yere and vpon the .xii. day of Octobre were thre flodes in thamys
kynge thus beyng asserteyned of the maner of these strauÌ„gers and that they were of the gentyle of pagan law sayde he was very heuy sory that they were myscreantes But he was ioyous glad of theyr commynge for so myche as he had nede of suche sowdyours to defende hym and his lande agayne his enymyes And so receyued them to hys wages and seruyce as is wytnessed of Gaufryde and other mo wryters THE LXXXIII CHAPITER BEda the holy man sayth that Uortyger sent for the SaxoÌ„s stronge men of armes that hadde no lande to dwelle in The whych came in thre longe shyppes called Obylas and receyued a place of hym to dwell in in the Eest syde of Brytayne called the yle of Tenet besyde Kent Guillelmus de regibus a writer of hystoryes â—ayth that the Saxons came oute of Germany by wyll to wynne worshyppe lande and not by lotte or compulsyon And also that they worshypped at that dayes a god named woden and a goddesse named Frya In the worshyppe of the whyche god the thyrde feryall daye in the weke they named wodnesd aye whyche at this daye we call wednysdaye And in worshyppe of the sayde goddes they called the fyfth daye friys daye the whyche we call now frydaye Of these foresayde people came thre maner of people or thre maner of names that is to say SaxoÌ„s Anglys and Iewetes Of the Saxons came the eest Saxons westsaxons the south Saxons Of y e Anglys came the eest Anglys the myddell Anglâ—s or Merceys whyche helde myddell England that stretcheth westwarde toward the ryuer of Dee besyde Chestre and to SeuernÌ„ besyde Shroysbury and so forth to Brystowe and eestwarde toward the see and southwarde to Thamys and so forth to London and northwarde to Humber and tourned downewarde and westward to the ryuer Mercea and so forth to the weste see And of the Iewetys come the Kentyshmen men of the yle of weyght Of the fyrst coÌ„myng of these SaxoÌ„s into great Britayn authours in party varrey wherfore in the table before named it shall appere vnder correccyon that the forenamed Hengistus and Horsus wyth theyr company fyrst landed in the foresayde yle of great Brytayne in the yere of our lorde .iiii. hundred and .l the thyrd yere of Uortiger Then yt foloweth these Saxons wyth the kynges power bete downe the enymyes before sayde and defendyd the land in most knyghtly wyse so that the kyng hadde the Saxons in great loue and fauour whyche fauour Hengistus wel apperceyuyng vpon a season when he sawe conuenyent tyme he axed of the kynge so myche grounde as the hyde of a bull or other beste wolde compare which the kynge to hym graunted After whyche graunt the sayde Hengyste to the ende to winne a large grouÌ„de causyd the sayd bestes skyn to be cut into a small and slender thonge And with the same mette out a large and great circuyte of grounde vpon the whyche he shortly after buylded and sette a large and stronge castell By reason of whych thonge the sayd castell was loÌ„g afternamed Thonge castell whyche was sette by the agrement of all wryters in the countre of Lyndesey After thyse tydynges sprange into Germania of the plentye and fatnes of the lande of Brytayne wyth other commodytyes perteynyng to the same By meane wherof the Saxons dayely drewe to the sayde lande and conuenauÌ„ted with the Brytons that the Britons shuld entende theyr worldlynes and other necessaryes and y e Saxons as theyr sowdiours shulde defende the land from incursyon of all enymyes For the whych the Brytons shulde gyue to them competent mete and wages Then by the sonde of Hengiste came wyth .xvi. sayles Ronowen the doughter of the sayd Hengist which was a mayden of excelleÌ„t beaute After whose commyng Hengiste vpon a daye besought the kyng y t he wold se his castell whyche he had newely edyfyed To whose request the kyng was agreable at the day assygned came to y e sayd castell where he was ioyously receyued And there amoÌ„ge other passetymes the sayde RonoweÌ„ wyth a cuppe of golde full of wyne presentyd the kynge salutynge and sayeng wassayle The kynge whych before that tyme had herd no lyke salutacyon nor yet vnderstode what she ment axed of her fader what she mente by that worde wassayle To whom yt was answered by Hengistê° that yt was a salutacyon of good gladnesse and that the kynge shuld drynke after her ioynynge there vnto this answere drynke haylâ— wherfore the kyng as he was enfourmed toke the cuppe of the maydens hand and drank after beheld the weÌ„che in suche maner that he was wounded with the darte of the blynde god Cupide that neuer after he coude wythdrawe his loue from y e wenche but lastely by instygacyon of the deuyll axed her in maryage of her fader And by force therof as wytnessyth Policronica he put from hym his laufull wyfe of the whyche he had before tyme receyued .iii. noble sonnes called Uortimerus Caâ—agrinus and Pascentius Then the kyng gaue vnto Hengistus the lord shyppe of Kent though Garangonus then erle therof therat grudged wyth many of his Brytons For this and for that that y e kynge had maryed a woman of vncought beleue well nere all the Brytons forsoke hym and his workes Neuerthelesse some there were as well nobles other that coÌ„forted the kynge in his euyll doyng By whych meane and other vnlefull dedys then dayly vsyd the fayth of Cryste began sore to apalle And ouer that an heresye called Arianes heresy began then to sprynge in Brytayn For the which two holy byshoppes named Germanus and Lupus as of Gaufryde is wytnessyd came into Brytayne to refourme the kynge and all other y t erred from the waye of trouth Of this holy man saynt Germayn Uincent historyall sayth that vpon an euenynge when the weder was passynge cold and the snowe fyll very faste he axed lodgyng of the kyng of Brytayne for hym and his comperys whych was denyed Then he after syttyng vnder a bushe in the feld the kynges herdmen passyd by and seynge this byshop wyth his company sittyng in the weder desyred hym to his house to take there such poore lodgynge as he had â–ª wherof the bysshoppe beynge glad and fayne â—yode vnto the house of the sayd herdman the whyche receyued hym wyth glad chere And for hym and his company wysled his wyfe to kyll his onely calfe and to dresse yt for his gestes souper y e which was also done when the holy man had souped he called to hym his hostes wyllynge and desyrynge her that she shulde dylygently gader to gyder all the bones of the deed calfe and them so gaderyd to wrappe to gyder wythin the skynne of the sayde calfe then it lay in the stall before the racke nere vnto the dame whych done accordyng to the commaundement of the holy man I shortly after the calfe was restoryd to lyfe and forth wyth eâ—e haye wyth the dame at y e racke
that tyme reygned in kent or soone after Ethelbert or Athelbert whyche myghte be taken of some for Adelbryght And that other whyche he named Edylf myght be taken for Ella kynge of Southsaxons But this Ella shulde not by concorde of wryters be lyuynge at this tyme. It myght wyth more conuenyency accorde that yt shulde be a kynge of Deira or of NorthuÌ„berlande named Ella the whyche reygned more aboute this tyme and season Of these two kynges the sayde englyshe cronycle telleth a longe processe the whych for I fynde none authour of authoryte that wryteth or speketh of the same I passe yt ouer ye shall also furthermore vnderstande that after this daye the Brytons dayly dyscreasyd of lordshyppe and rule wythin Brytayne drewe them towarde Cambyr or walys so that the countre about Chestre was the chyefe of theyr lordshyp wythin Brytayne For dayly the Saxons landed wyth companyes and occupyed y e princypall partes of y e same as shortely here after shall appere The fyfthe kyngdome of the Saxons THE CIX CHAPITER IN the tyme of the reygne of this fore named Aurelius Conanus as wytnessyth Polycronica Guido other beganne the kyngdome or lordshyp of Brenicia vnder a Saxon named Ida the yere of our lorde .v. hundred and .xlvii and the seconde or laste yere of the sayd Conanus Thys lordshyp was in the north parte of Brytayne and grewe in short whyle more more so that fynally it was named the kyngdome of Northumberlande But ye shall vnderstande that this lordshyp was fyrste deuyded in two kyngdomes wherof the fyrste as aboue is sayde was called Brenicia and that other Deyra The meris or markis of this kyngdome of NorthuÌ„berlande were by Easte and by west the occean see by south the ryuer of Humber and so downwarde towarde the weste by the endys of y e shyres of Notynghm and Derby vnto the ryuer of Merse or Mercia and by north the Scottysshe see whyche is called forth in Scottysh in Brettyshe the werde The southsyde of thys lordshyppe was called Deyra whyche is nowe called the bysshopryke of Durham and the north syde was called Brenicia whyche were than departyd or seuered by the ryuer of Tyne Deyra conteyned the lande from Humber to the ryuer of Tyne and Brenicia included the countree from Tyne to the Scottysshe see In Brenicia regned fyrste as is aboue sayd Ida or Idas in Deyra regned fyrste Ella whych lordshyppes began bothe within .iii. yeres But in processe of tyme bothe in one were named the kyngdome of Northumberlande whych so contynued somwhyle vnder one kynge somewhyle vnder two by the terme of .iii. hundred and .xxi. yeres as sayth Ranulphe munke of Chester And after furth contynued y e name vnder Saxons and Danes tyll the comynge of Edredus brother of Ethelstane son of Edwarde y e elder The whiche Edredus in the .ix. or last yere of hys reygne ioyned thys to hys owne kyngdome By which reasoÌ„ it shulde seme that thys kyngdome endured vnder that name vpon .iiii. hundred and .ix. yeres The fyrste crysten prynce of thys kyngdome was named Edwynus that receyued the fayth of saynt Paulyne as testyfyeth Guydo In thys lordshyppe also were included these shyres and countrees nowe called yorke Notyngham shyre or Snothyngham shyre Derby shyre y e bysshopryke of Durham Copelande and other Amonge the many kynges y t reygned in thys lordshyppe whych after some wryters were to the nomber of xxiii reygned one accoÌ„pted the .viii. kynge by Guydo named Ethelfridê° sonne of Ethelricus whych Ethelfridus destroyed mo Brytons than all y e other kynges of SaxoÌ„s This was fader to saint Oswold Oswi He slewe also many of the BrytoÌ„s at a batayle that he had agayn them besyde Kaerlegyon or Chester and two thousande and a huÌ„dred of monkes of the house of Bangor as it ys testyfyed of Polycronicon in the .x. chapyter of hys .v. boke the whyche monkes were comen thyder to praye for the good spede of the Brytons And ouer thys forsayde nomber of monkes .l. fled whereby they wyth theyr leder named Brucyuall were sauyd Of suche a nomber of monkes of one house myghte be demyd a wonder But the sayd Policronica wyth Guydo and other wryters affermyn that in that house of Bangor were at those dayes for the more party thre tymes vii hundred monkes the whych lyued by the trauayle of theyr handes onely The forenamed Oswye was after Oswolde kynge of thys prouynce whych gaue wyth hys doughter Elfleda a nonne .xii. lordshyppes into y e chyrche to buylde wyth .xii. monasteryes whereof .vi. of the sayde lordshyppes were in Brenicia and .vi. in Deyra as sayth Guydo And also Ranulphe in hys .v. boke of Polycronyca and .xvi. chapyter affermyth the same THE CX CHAPITER UOrtiporiê° sonne of Aureliê° Conanus after the opynyon before sayd was ordeyned kynge of Brytayne in the yere of our lorde .v. hundred and .xlviii. and the .xxxiiii. yere of Clotharius thenne kynge of Fraunce Of the whych is lytell memory lefte in any cronycler or wryter excepte y t Guydo testyfyeth hym to be a vyctoryous knyght shewyng breefly that he in sondry batayles scomfyted the Saxons and defendyd hys lande and Brytons from y e daunger of them and other that the Saxons alyed them wyth In the tyme of the reygne of thys kynge a Saxon named Ella the son of Iffus began to reygne in y e south syde of the kyngdome of Northumberlande called Deyra as before is touchyd in the chapyter of the sayde kyngdome Then yt foloweth whan this Uortiporius hadde ruled the Brytons knyghtly by the terme of .iiii. yeres he dyed and was put to hys fader leuynge none heyre of hys body For as myche as all wryters agreen that the kynges of westsaxon at length subdued all the other kyngdomes and made of the hole land of mych Brytayne but one kyngdome or monarchye and all other as well of Brytons as of Saxons fayled or lefte of that all onely excepted therfore I entende to brynge in the name of euerych kyng of westsaxon froÌ„ the fyrst Cerdycus or Chyldricus ioyne them wyth the kynges of Brytons for so long as hereafter y e sayd Brytons contynued theyr reygne wythin any parte of Brytayne THE CXI CHAPITER MAlgo a duke of the Brytons and neuewe of Aureliê° Conanus as sayth the authour of the Floure of hystories begaÌ„ his reigne ouer the Brytons in the yere of oure lorde .v. hundred .lii and the .xxxviii. yere of Clotharius then styll kynge of Fraunce and also the .xv. yere of Kenricus the sonne of Cerdicus and seconde kyng of westsaxoÌ„ aforesayd accomptyng .xv. yeres of the reygne of hys fader as Guydo allowyth Thys Malgo after y e accorde of all wryters that make mencyon was y e comlyest and moost personable man of all Brytons than lyuyng therewyth endowed with knyghtly manhode The whyche wythstode y e Saxons and kepte them of that they damaged not the lande the whyche he
began to take place as after shal be shewed THE CXIX CHAPITER IN thys tyme also after the accorde of moste wryters as wytnessyth Polycronyca other Ethelbertê° reygned in Kent by knyghthode and greate myghte bare hym and behaued hym so victoryously that he enlarged hys kyngdome to the boundys of Humbyr In which tyme Gregory whyche for hys notable dedes was surnamed great was made pope of Rome The whych as before is touchyd in the precedynge chapyter hauynge compassyon that the couÌ„tre from whens so fayre chylderne came as he before had seyne shulde be inhabyte wyth Pagans or people of mysbyleue sent into Brytayne that holy man Austayne wyth other of hys bretherne to preche to the Anglis the fayth of Cryste But as wytnessyth Antoninus in the .iii. chapyter .xii. tytle of hys foresayde worke when Austayn was .iii. dayes iourney gone and passed suche a sodeyne fere entryd in hym and hys feloushyppe that they turned agayne Then Gregory coÌ„forted the sayd coÌ„pany and sent them wyth letters to the bysshop Arelatensis wyllynge hym to helpe and ayde Austayne in all that in hym nedyd The tenoure of whyche letters and other sent to Ethelbert kynge of Kent wyth theyr answeres are wryteÌ„ with other questyons in the regester of Gregory in the bokes of Beda and other Austayne thus comfortyd sped his iourney and landed in the Eest syde of Kent in the I le of Thauet wyth .xl. felowes wherof some were interpretours or such as cowde speke all langages Nere vnto the place before named where holy Austayne landed stode at those dayes the manoyre or palayes of the sayd kyng Ethelbert wherof at thys daye appere somme of the ruynous walles is called of the inhabytaunces of that ile Rychbourgh It is apparent betwene the ile the towne of Sandwych vpon a myle a halfe from the sayd towne Eestwarde from Caunterbury TheÌ„ when Austayne was landed he sent the sayde interpretours vnto Ethelberte sayenge y t they were sent from Rome for the hele and saluacyon of the kynge hys realme The kynge before tyme had herde of the fayth of Cryst for he hadde to wyfe as sayth Polycronycon a french woman that was cristened and had receyued hyr vppon condycyon that he shuld suffer hyr to lyue after hyr lawe Then after a certeyne tyme y e kyng spoke with Austayne but that was without y e house after the maner of hys lawe Agayn his comyng he arreryd a baner of y e crucifyx sange y e lateny preachyd to hym the worde of god Then y e kyng sayd it is fayre that ye promyse But for it is to me vncowth new I may not so soone assent to you But for ye be comen so farre for my sake ye shal be fayre entreatyd and haue all thynge y t is to you necessary we graunte to you leue to torne of our people whom ye maye when they had receyued thys coÌ„fort of the kynge they went wyth processyoÌ„ to the cytye of Dorobernia or CauÌ„terbury syngynge Alleluya where they lad theyr lyues as holy faders dyd in the begynnynge of the chyrch as in fastyng prayeng watchyng preachynge of the worde of helth sange masses and crystened such as they coÌ„uertyd in y e Eest syde of the cytie in the old chyrch of saynt Martyne vnto the tyme y t the kyng was coÌ„uertyd At length when the kyng had well consyderyd the coÌ„uersacyoÌ„ holy lyfe of Austayn and his felowes he harde them more gladly and lastly by theyr good exortacyoÌ„s and gostly loue was by them coÌ„uertyd crystened in y e yere of our lorde after moste accorde of wryters .v. C. lxxx xvi and the .xxxvi. yere of hys reygne as affermeth Policronicon Then he gaue to Austayne a place for his bishoppes see at Cristes chyrche in Dorobernia and buylded the abbey of saynte Peter and Paule in the eest syde of the sayde cytye where after Austayne and all the kynges of Kent were buryed and that place is nowe called saynte Augustyne In thys whyle Augustyne saylyd into Fraunce to the byshoppe ArelatensÌ„ and was of hym sacryd archebyshoppe when holy Gregory was certyfyed of the good expedycyon of Augustyne he sent then to him mo helpers as Melytê° Iustê° Paulinus with bokes and relykes of holy sayntes and answeres to saynte Augustynes questyons that was that all suche goodes as fell to the chyrche shulde be deuyded in fouÌ„re ê‘tes that is to meane the fyrste shuld go to the housholde of the byshoppes house and charge of the same the seconde to the clergy the thyrde to the amendemeÌ„t of chyrches the fourth to the relyfe of the poore people and other dedys of mercye when Austayne hadde baptyzed a great part of the kyngdome of Kent he after made two archebyshoppes by the coÌ„maundement of saynte Gregorye as wytnessyth Polycronicon that one at London and that other at porke and by the helpe of Ethelbert he assembled and gatheryd together the byshoppes and doctoures of Brytayne that were before dysperkled The place of assemble was callyd longe after Austeyns oke whych is expowned to be Austeyns streÌ„gth and is in the marche of wykeres and of the westsaxons In thys place he charged the sayd byshoppes y t they shulde wyth hym preache the worde of god to the Anglys and also that they shuld amoÌ„g them selfe amende certayne errours then vsyd in the chyrche and specyally for kepynge of theyr Ester tyde where agayne the byshoppes of Brytayne helde opynyon tyll Austayne by hys prayers shewyd there a myracle by a blynde Angle or Saxon. After the whyche myracle shewed y e sayd byshoppes applyed them to the wyll of Austayne in that cause But for all this there was of theym that sayd that they myghte not leue the custome whych they so longe hadde continued wythout assent of all such as hadde vsyd the same Then he gatheryd a synode to the whyche came seuen byshoppes of Brytons wyth the wysest meÌ„ of that famouse abbey of Bangor But fyrste they toke couÌ„sayle of an holy man and heremyte whether they shulde be obedyent to Austayne or not The heremyte sayd yf ye fynde hym humble or meke as to Crystes dyscyple belonged y t then they shulde assent to hym whych mekenesse they shulde perceyue in hym yf he at theyr commynge into the synode or councell arose agayne them when the sayde byshoppes entred y e sayde synode Austayne sate styll in the chayre and remouyd not wherfore they were wroth and dysdaynyd hym and wolde not obey to hys requestes Then he sayd to them syns ye woll not assente to my hestes generally assent ye to me specyally in thre thynges The fyrste is y t ye kepe Ester daye in due fourme and tyme as yt is ordeynyd The seconde that ye geue crystendome to the chyldern in the maner y t is vsed in the chyrche of Rome And the thyrde is that ye preache vnto the Anglys the word of god as a fore tymes
strenght of theym in to Champayne and Cathaloyne where yt was shewed that Sigebert hadde gatheryd great strenghtys Then forsoke the party of Sigebert many nobles of Austracye amonge the whyche myne authoure nameth Rucco Sigoldus and Enulanus and yelded them to the mercy of Clothayre Then shortly after the hostes of Clothayre and Sygebert mette where Garnerye by tokens betwene hym and dyuerse of the captaynes of Sygebert before assygned y e sayd captaynes wyth theyr people wythdrewe them so that Sygebert wyth hys two bretherne Corbo and Meroneus gaue backe whyle they came to the ryuer of Sigoune where after lytle resystence the foresayde two bretherne were taken But the frenche cronicle sayth that all foure brethern were there taken All be yt mayster Gagwyn sayth that Sygeberte by the vertue of hys horse escapyd so that he was not after that daye seen And soone after thys victory Brunechyeldes which also of the frenche cronycle ys named Bruneheuste was broughte as prysoner vnto the presence of Lothayre wyth a suster of Theodoryche whych Garnery or Gerney hadde taken in the tentes of his enymyes Then Lotharius forthwyth commauÌ„ded Corbon to be behedded and preseruyd Meroneus for so mych as he was to hym godfather and euer after cheryshed hym as his kynnesman Lotharius thus hauyng y e victory of his enimyes made great ioy And after he hadde somedeale sette that countrey and other in quyete he then toke aduyse of hys lordes howe he shulde be demeaned wyth Brunechielde that hadde ben authoryce of so manyfolde mychyefes and crymynous dedê The whych of one coÌ„sent and mynde condescendyd agreed that she shuld be put to moste paynfull and vyle deth And fynally after fore betynges she was sette vppon a horse and so conueyed thorough the hoste that all men myghte beholde and se her and after brought agayn to y e kynges presence where then the kynge rehersed vnto her a longe processe of all her murdurs conspyracis and wycked dedes affermynge that she hadde ben the occasyon and cause of the deth of .x. prynces besyde other meane persones And wheÌ„ he hadde sayde hys pleasure he then commaunded her to be bounden to a wylde horse tayle by the here of her hedde and so to be drawen whyle she were dede And when this iudgement was executed she by the lycence of the kynge was buryed in an house of relygyon wythin the cytye of HosdonÌ„ or OsdonÌ„ that she before tyme hadde buyldyd in the honoure of saynte Martyne besyde other many that she in her lyfe buyldyd in dyuerse other places endowyng them wyth great and ryche possessyons THE CXXVII CHAPITER THus dame Fortune fauoured the partye of Lotharius that this kyngdome whyche hadde from the tyme of Clodoueus Lewes coÌ„tynued vnder .iiii. gouernours or rulers for the more partye nowe was fallen to hym so that he hadde all vnder obeysaunce and rule then anon thys Lotharius made Garnery prefecte and mayster of hys paleys and releasyd vnto the Longebardes or Lombardes a trybute of .xii. thousand pounde yerely payde to the kynges of Frannce the whych was fyrst sette vppon theym by Gunthranus hys vncle And in thys whyle to hys more encreace of wordely ioye he receyuyd of hys wyfe Bergeruda a sonne the whych he named Dagobertus The whyche when he came to couenable age he betoke to the lore of Arnolde then byshoppe of Meâ—s And when the fyrste wyfe of Lotharius was ded he maryed a seconde named Sichilde of whom he receyued a chyld and named yt Haybert when Dagobert the fyrste sonne was comen to a lawfull age after vsuell custome of all prynces of Fraunce he gaue hym myche to the chase of wylde bestys And as by chaunce one daye he folowed the chace of an hert and tryed yt so sore y t he broughte hym to a bay in a place that then was called the strete of Catulyen In the whyche strete was then an old lytle chapell to the whyche the forsayde herte entred and there helde hym all be yt that a great nomber of houndes folowed hym to y e chapell dore none of theym wold enter but there stode bayenge And when Dagobertus came after and behelde the maner of the houndes and dyd what he coude to cause them to entre the chapel and myghte not he thus departed wythout more doynge at that season not wythout great meruâ—â—â—lynge in hys mynde It was not longe after that Clothayr coÌ„syderynge the frowardnesse of growyng in his sonne Dagobert assygned to hym a tutour or lerner of worldely and knyghtely maners whose name was Sadragesyle And for his sonne shulde haue hym in the more awe and fere the kyng gaue vnto the sayde tutoure the dukedome of Guyan But so yt was one daye that for a cause thys Sadragesyle wold haue chastyzed this Dagobert wherof he beyng ware associated vnto hym certayne wanton persones and bete his mayster after in way of dyspyte caused the berd of hys tutour to be shauen of For the whyche dede Lothayre was agayne hym greuously dyspleasyd in greatire and haste sente for hys sonne Dagobert But he feryng punyshement wythdrewe hym and went vnto the forenamed chapell trustyng veryly that wheretofore a beste was shewid such comforte that he by holy prayers shulde there be comforted tyll suche tyme as he myghte atteyne vnto the grace of hys father ye shall vnderstande that before tyme after he hadde experyence of that wonder shewyd by the herte he lerned that the holy martyrs saynte Denys and hys two felowes Rusticus and Eleutherius shulde be buryed wythin the sayde chapell the whych were martyryd in the persecucyon of Domycyane the emperour aboute the yere of Crystes incarnacyon .lxxx. and .xvi. In the honoure of y e whych martyrs the foresayd poore chapell was arreryd as witnessyth the frenche cronycel by the meanes of a deuout french man whose name ys not expressyd Thus Dagobert in thys chapell abydynge in prayer in the fyrste nyght he beyng in slepe apperyd vnto hym .iii. olde faders sayenge vnto hym yonge man we be those martyrs whyche many yeres passyd were slayne for the fayth of Cryste and buryed in thys place by Catula that good woman whyche place is not duely nor suffyciently honoured nor yet the people of FrauÌ„ce hath not vs in due reuereÌ„ce and worshyppe And therfore when thou art of myghte and power then remembre vs and helpe thys place to be otherwyse buyldyd whych shall not be longe to And for thou shalte not take thys for a dreme or fantasye dygge hereafter thys grounde and thou shalte fynde oure thre bodyes hole and vncorrupt and vppon eueryche of vs our names with letters fresshely wryten And after thys they vanyshed awaye when Dagobert awoke he called well to mynde thys vysyon And promysed inwardely betwene god and hym that yf he were recouncylyd to hys father as to hym they hadde promysed he wolde fulfyll that they hadde desyryd After thys the father beynge warnyd that Dagobert was in thys chapell sent vnto
grounde And for y t more cruelty or terrour to the people to be shewyd he eryd the stretys of the sayde cytye and sewe theym wythsalte for a sygne and token that he wolde haue that cytye subuertyd for euer The whyche ruyne to thys daye appereth for there where the olde cytye stode is now called y e olde Poytiers and where that other standyth nowe is called the newe cytye of Poytiers The cause of thys destruccion of the citye countre as sayeth mayster Roberte Gagwyne was for that that y e erle of Poytiers rebellyd agayne the kynge Thus this man that whylome was a lambe was now turned to a tygre And ouer hys cruelnesse he was gyuen to all sensuall luste of hys body in so myche that where so he rode he hadde folowynge hym a company of strumpettes besyde suche as he kept in dyuerse places of his realme appareylyd and fed lyke vnto quenes For thys rule other vyces vsyd by the kynge Pepyn then mayster of the paleys was put in great wyte and blame of dyuerse lordes of the lande thynkynge that by hys counsayle and sufferaunce the kyng was so lad and guyded This was y e fyrst Pepyn The seconde was mayster of the placys in that tyme of the seconde reygne of the fyrste Theodoricus and was surnamed Uetulê° and Breuis whyche is to meane old and lytle And y e .iii. Pepyn was son of Carolus Marcellus The fyrste Pepyn was graundefader to the seconde by the moders syde and the seconde was graunsyr to the .iii. by y e mannes syde whyche thyrde Pepyn was by hole assent of Frenchmen ordeyned kyng of FrauÌ„ce as after shall appere was father vnto the kynge named Charlis the great and emperour of Rome All whyche Pepyns descendyd of the blood of Austracye and hadde great possessyons wythin that prouynce when the forenamed Pepyn vnderstode the grudge and murmour of the lordes whyche they bare agayne hym for the kynges demeanour he by theyr aduyces toke vnto hym a nother great lorde named Martyn to be vnto hym assystent and ouer that he caused y e blessyd man Amandus to accompany y e kynge By whose couÌ„sayle the kyng somdeale refrayned hym from vyce but not all as the good byshop hym aduertysed In this tyme Heybart the kynges halfe brother dyed and also hys son shortly after named Chilperych By reason of whose dethes the lordshyp and countrey of Tholouse fell to the possessyon of Dagobert It was not longe after that a people called Asclauons or Sclauons made warre vpon the couÌ„trey of Austracy These also are called Bulgaris and ioyne vppon a parte of Austracy Of these tydynges when Dagobert was lerned he sped hym into Austracy and there assembled a myghtye hoste of knyghtes so sped him tyll he came nere hys enymyes But y e sayd Sclauons hauynge knowlege of the kynges great hoste agreed by oratours to hym sent to contynue the trybute that they before tyme payde y e which was yerely fyue huÌ„dred oxen where thorough y e warre was appesyd for that tyme and newe allyaunce vpon both partyes confermed After the whych peace thus stablysshyd y e kyng made his son Sigebert as kynge ruler of that lordshyp of Austracy assygnynge to hym the bisshop of Colayn named Cunbert and the erle Palatyne named Agasyle to be hys tutours and rulers contynuynge his yeres of youth And that done y e kyng retourned into FrauÌ„ce where soone after he receyued of hys wyfe a sonne named Clodoueus the whych of many wryters is called Lodouicus or Lowes To thys Lowes the father at couenable tyme after gaue the countyes of Burgoyne and Neustria or Normandy Then the kynge graunted to the house of saynte Denys a fayre to be kepte yerely in the moneth of Iune in a felde nere vnto the sayde monasterye and that no marchaunte of Paris nor good towne there about shulde sell any marchaundyse but onely in the fayre wyth many other customes to the great auauncement of that house And after the kynge hadde subdued the Gascoynes and the Brytons of Armorica or lytle Brytayne he then assembled a multytude of bysshoppes for to dedycate and halowe the monasterye of saynte Denys in moste solemne wyse where a great myracle was shewyd of the clensyng of a leper or lazar that durynge the nyght laye wythin the sayde chyrch and there beyng in his deuoute prayers sawe our sauyour Cryste accompanyed wyth Peter and Paule and also the holy martyrs saynte Denys wyth hys two felowes entre the chyrche by one of the wyndowes and after halowed the sayde chyrch whyche after came to the sayd lazar and commaunded hym to shew vnto the byshoppes y t he in proper person hadde halowed the sayd chyrche and for a token and knowlege of y e same he hadde receyued hys helthe And for more recorde of the trouth of this mater our sauyour Cryste as wytnessyth mayster Robert Gagwyn also the frenche cronicle drewe of the skynne of the face of the sayde lazar and threwe yt agayne a stone where yt remayneth at thys daye to be sene The whyche token when Dagobert and his byshoppes vppon the morne after behelde and sawe they beynge greatly ameruaylyd laft of any forther besynesse touchynge the dedyfyenge of the sayde chyrche For thys myracle great concurse of people yerely in the .vi. kalendis of Marche coÌ„myth wyth great deuocyon vnto y e sayd monastery there makyng theyr oblacions fermly beleuyng that the sayde chyrch was halowed with Crystes own hand when Dagobert had this besynesse wyth other ê‘fyted endyd he then called a great counsayll of his lordes spyrytuall and teÌ„porall at hys cytye of Biguage where he beyng set betwene his .ii. sonnes Sigebert Clodoueus he made a long preposycyon oracyon concernynge the allegyaunce whyche he exhorted hys lordes to owe and bere to hym for the terme of his lyfe and after to hys two sonnes there beynge prensent And then he exhorted his .ii. sonnes charitably to loue and that they shulde in moste fraternall wyse contynue theyr lyues The whyche preposycyon fynyshed he there in that presence made his testament that before he hadde causyd to be wryten in iiii sondry skynnes endentyd to be rad and then sealyd wyth certayn of theyr sealys wherof that one he wyllyd to be kept in the treasory of saynt Denys the .ii. in the treasorye of the cytye of Lyons the .iii. in the tresory of Mees in Austracy whyche howe is named Lorayne and the .iiii. in the kynges tresorye And when the kynge had orderyd hys matiers som deale to hys purpose he dyssoluyd thys counsayll and coÌ„maundyd eueryche estate vnto hys owne countre and after was somwhat besyed wyth the rebellyon of the forenamed BrytoÌ„s and Gascoynes such other maters the whyche I passe ouer for length of tyme. Then the kynge lastely was syke of the flyx and was brought by hys desyre vnto the monastery of saynte Denys where after he had commytted hys wyse Nantyld
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
hys ayde amonge other prynces the duke of Gascoyne and there fought a sore cruell batayle wherof lastly was vyctor the sayde Charlys and constrayned the kyng wyth the sayde duke to fle vnto Orleaunce where they takynge wyth them suche treasoure as belonged to the kynge fled from thens vnto the Duchye of Gascoyne whan Charlys conceyued that the kynge was escapyd hys daunger knewe that Raganfrede was in the cyty of AungieÌ„s he sped him thether in all haste and compassyd the citye wyth so stronge a syege that fynally he obteyned the cytye wyth all that was therin But it was not longe after that Charlys shewed vnto RagaÌ„frede suche benyuolence that he was set at hys lyberte and fredome The next yere folowyng the duke of Gascoyn before mynded hauyng parfyte informacyon by ambassade or otherwyse that Charlys enteÌ„dyd to make sharpe cruell warre vpon the Gascoynes for that that they fauouryd and kepte wyth them Danyell or Chilperych he in auoydyng the sayde dauÌ„ger of warre in shorte tyme after sent vnto Charlys vnder certayne condycyons bytwene them agreed the sayd Chylperyche wyth al such treasour iewellys as to him or the crowne of Fraunce belongyd In thys passetyme season dyed the forenamed Clothayre that Charles before had made kyng wherfore to the more restfulnesse of y e realme he allowed the forenamed Chylperyche for kyng and he as mayster of the kynges paleys as other his predecessours ruled the land of FrauÌ„ce Than Charlys hauynge thus the rule and gouernaunce ruled it well and substancyally and defended yt from all enemyes durynge the lyfe of the sayd Chylperyche And after the whych Chylperych whan he had contynued as kynge by the terme of v. yeres dyed and was buryed as sayth the Frenche cronycle in y e citye of Noen or Noyen wythout issue of hys body Anglia THE CXLVI CHAPITER EThelardus the neuew of Iue began hys reygne ouer the westsaxons in the yere of grace .vii. hundred and .xxiiii the thyrde yere of Danyell otherwyse called Chylperyche than kynge of Fraunce Thys after some wryters is named Etheldredus In the tyme of hys reygne Ofricê° as kynge reygned in Northumberlande to whom holy Beda wrote the story called historia Anglicana or more verely to hys successoure Colwoifus Of the whyche Beda and of hys workes Ranulphe muÌ„ke of Chester sheweth a compedyous processe in the .xxiii. chapyter of hys .v. boke called Policronycon The forsayd Ofricus is named in the Englyshe cronycle Osbryght of the whyche in the sayde cronycle is rehersed a longe worke But for I se no authour of authoryte afferme the same I therfore in thys worke passe it ouer It shulde appere also by the meanynge of Polycronycon that about thys tyme dyed Etheldredus before touchyd kyng of Mercia the which whan he had longe tyme ruled that countrey he lastlye renouncyd the pompe of thys worlde was shorne a munke at Bardony Of y e soresayd Ethelarde kyng of westsaxon is lefte no memory of any actes or dedes by hym done But as agree many wryters he dyed whan he hadde reygned .v. yeres wythout issue of hys body And in Northumberlande after y e forenamed Ofricus reygned Colwolphus after whom Egbertus after whom Oswolph and after Oswolphe reygned Ethelbald or Ethelwalde All be it that dyuers authours of these names of kynges contynuaunce of theyr reygnes so dyuersly sundryly report wryte Francia THE CXLVII CHAPITER THeodoricus the whyche of mayster Robert Gagwyne is alowed to be the sonne of y e seconde Dagobert began hys reygne ouer y e Frenchmen in the yere of grace .vii. hundred and .xxvi and the seconde yere of Ethelardus than kyng of westsaxoÌ„s The which was from hys yonge and tender age fosteryd and norysshed in a house of nonnys in womans clothynge and lastly espyed and by coÌ„sent of Charlys mayster of the paleys admytted for kynge After the whych solempnyte fynysshed Charlys herynge of the rebellyon of a people called the Sweuys or Swetesers assembled an hoste lastly them subdued whyche done he turned hym toward an other part of the Almaynes and in lyke wyse ouercame them and after retourned into Fraunce wyth greate tryumphe and ryches that he hadde wonne at those two iourneyes It was not longe afterward that Charlys had thus subdued the foresayde people of Almayne wyth also a greate parte of Germany but that tydyng came to hym y t Endo duke of Gascoyne rebelled agayne y e kyng of FrauÌ„ce wherfore he in all goodly haste preparyd hys armye and sped hym into Gascoyne where he made so cruell warre that he in short tyme damagyd greatly the countrey and held the duke Endo so streyte that he was compellyd to hyde hym in secrete places of the countreye where after greate serche he myghte not be founde wherfore he settynge the couÌ„trey in some restfulnesse retourned hym into Fraunce whan Endo was sure of the retourne of Charlys into Fraunce for so mych as he had prouyd the marcyall knyghthode of hym and knew well he myghte not hym selfe wythstand hys knyghtly power he therefore allyed hym wyth the kynge of Spayne than beyng a pagan or myscreaunt and named Abyderamus and excyted and styred hym to make warre vppon the lande of Fraunce promysynge to hym not all onely vyctory but also that londe to hym and to hys heyres for euer Uppon comforte of whyche promyse and also ayde of the sayde Endo thys forenamed Arbyderamus thrystyng crysten mannys blode and entendynge vtter desolacyon and destruccyon of the realme of Fraunce assemblyd an excedynge hooste of people and wyth theyr wyues chyldren and catayle entryd the londe of Fraunce And what they wan they enioyed it as theyr owne And so in processe came vnto the cytye of Burdeaux the whych after a certayne tyme of y e cytesens defendyd the sayde myscreauÌ„tes wan into theyr possessyon and dystroyed the people thereof with all theyr chyrches and temples of the same And from thens passyng the countreye in wastynge it wyth iron and wyth fyre lastly came vnto Poytiers whyche cytye as before ye haue harde in the story of the fyrste Dagoberte in the C. and .xxxii. chapyter was by hym subuertyd and at thys daye newely reedyfyed Thys cytye also of them possessyd they in lyke maner as they had dalte wyth Burdeaux so dyd they wyth thys not sparynge that holy place of saynt Hyllary but dyd vnto yt greate shame vylany And from thens they yode vnto Towers wastynge and sleynge the people wythout mercy by all the waye that they passyd and wasted that cytye as they had done the other In the whyche passetyme Charlys herynge of the cruelte of this Arbideramus assembled hys power and shortly met with hym nere vnto Towers where he bare hym so knyghtely that he slewe of the Paganys to excedynge a nomber to be accordaunt wyth reason But for I se it testyfyed of so many wryters yt boldeth me to expresse the nomber whyche was .iii. hundred .iiii. score and
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
obedyence Lastly Kenulph was supprysed wyth the loue of a womaÌ„ that he kept at Merton and hauntyd her more secretly then stode wyth his honour wherof hauynge knowlege a kynnesman of Sygebert late kyng entendynge to reueÌ„ge the deposynge of his kynnesmaÌ„ awayted the tyme and beset the house where Kenulphe his paramour was smally accoÌ„panyed But so soone as Kenulph had espyed his enymyes he serte vppon them whych as sayth Policronicon were .lxxx. in noÌ„ber and fought with them a longe whyle But in the ende he was slayn of Clyto or Clyton his enymye It was not longe after or worde sprang of the kynges deth wherfore Offricê° then beynge mayster of the kynges knyghtes toke wyth hym a certayn of the sayde chyualry pursued vpon the sayd murderers lastly encountred wyth them and slewe the sayde Clyto theyr captayne with the more parte of his companye And that done he retourned to Merton and there toke the corps of Kenulphe and with great solemnyte coÌ„ueyed yt vnto wynchester where yt was with all reuereÌ„ce enterryd wheÌ„ he hadde ruled the westsaxons all be yt that of hym the englyshe cronycle maketh no mencyon .xxxi. yeres Francia THE CLII. CHAPITER PIpinus the secoÌ„d sonne of Charlis Martell began his reygne ouer y e Frenchemen in y e yere of grace .vii. hundred and .l the seconde yere of Kenulphus then kyng of westsaxons This as before ye haue harde was elected to that honoure by assent of Pope zachary the consent of the nobles of FrauÌ„ce and after he was confermyd of the seconde Stephan when he satte after as Pope The fyrste yere of his reygne the Saxons otherwyse called Danys or Normannys beganne to warre vppon hym The whyche he encountred at the ryuer of Isayr and them knyghtly ouercame and chased and brought them fynally vnder his subieccyon And in his returnynge into the countrey of Fraunce word was brought to him of the deth of his brother Gryffon the whych as before is sayde fledde vnto Gayferus duke of Guyan and there helde hym to the ende for to haue caused the people of Guyan to haue rebellid and to make warre agayne his brother Pepyn wherof when some of them consyderyd the malycyous and vnstable condycyons of hym in auoydyng more daunger that to theyr countrey by his meanes myght ensue they fell sodeynly vppon hym and slew hym when Pepyn was retourned into Fraunce he by the aduyse of Remigius then byshoppe of Roan amendyd the state of the chyrche and causyd goddes seruyce to be songe that before tyme hadde ben wyth lytle deuocyon and reuerence done and vtteryd And other spyrytuall thynges that before were mysorderyd he caused them to be sette in a better forme And shortly after StephaÌ„ aboue named confyrmed this Pepyn and his heyres for kynges of Fraunce and of hym axyd ayde and assystence to wythstaÌ„de the power of Aystulphus then kyng of Longobardes y e which then warryd vppon certayne landes belongyng vnto the chirch of Rome The whyche kenge Pepyn to hym with good wyll grauÌ„tid the begynnynge of the nexte yere folowynge wyth a great hoste enteryd the boundes of Italy and in the same made sharpe and cruell warre In defence wherof the sayde Aystulphus made his beste prouysyon and defendyd y e straytes and mouÌ„taynes by y e which the Frenche men shuld haue further entre into hys lande and there gaue vnto his enymyes a stronge fyghte All be yt he wyth his people was forcyd to gyue backe for hys refuge toke y e citie of Papye wherof Pepyn hauynge informacyon beclyppyd y e sayd cytye wyth a strong syege when Aystulphê° had a season defended hys cytye saw by experieÌ„ce dayly his enimyes encreace his power mynyshe and feble in auoydynge of extreme daunger he sought meanes of peace and in suche wyse pursued the same that he finally hadde peace to hym graunted vppon condycyon that he by a daye lymytted shuld restore to y e pope all ryght to his chirch belongynge that he or any for hym helde or before tyme hadde wytholden wyth other thynges concernynge the sayde peace And for the perfourmaunce of the sayde condycyoÌ„s he deliueryd immediatly good hostages and pledgys After whyche peace thus substancially confermed Pepyn wyth his hoste wyth great tryumphe retourned into Fraunce But not wythstandyng this assuryd peace by the confyrmacyon of othe and other cyrcumstaunce before shewyd the nexte yere folowynge he trustynge vppon better fortune of warre denyed and reuokyd all his former grauntes and refused to do as before he hadde fyrmyly promysed For this vnstablenes and vntrouth to remedy the pope of newe made requeste vnto Pepyn The which wythout longe taryeng resembled his knightes made good sped towarde Italy not wythout dauÌ„ger passyd the mountaynes and fynally besyeged Aystulphus wythin y e foresayd cytye of Papy By meane wherof he lastly was constrayned to restore certayne cyties and other possessyons that before tyme he had taken from the pope After the whych agrement endyd and perfyted wythin a shorte terme the sayde Aistulphus beynge in hys dysporte of huntynge fell from hys horse or with his horse By vyolence wherof he was so brosyd that he dyed shortly after whan he had ruled the Longobardes Lumbardys or Italyans .viii. yeres After this vyctory thus obteyned by Pepyn the lordes and prynces that dwellyd aboute hym feryd and drad hym and sought to hym for allyaunce amyte Amonge the whych Tassylon duke of Bayon before spoken of that newly hadde conspyred agayn hym yelded hym to the kyng and became hys trewe lyege man and swore to hym and to hys two sonnes feawte But the Saxons whyche in the Frenche boke are named Soysons coude neuer hold them coÌ„tent without dystorbynge of the Frenchemen wherfore kynge Pepyn assembled a greate hoste and made towarde theÌ„ and had wyth them dyuerse conflyctes and batayles So that at length they were dryuen to aske peace vpoÌ„ condicyoÌ„ that yerely after they shuld yelde vnto the kynge of Fraunce iii. hundred good horses in waye of trybute And that done he retourned into FrauÌ„ce and immedyatly after ordeyned by the aduyse of hys counceyle a courte or counceyle y e whiche at this day is called y e parlyameÌ„t of FrauÌ„ce and is lyke vnto the courte of requestes now at this day holden in England How be it y t of mych greater resort of people and therwyth veray delayous in so mych that as I haue herde credyble persons say some one mater hath hanged there in dysputacyon ouer .xx. yeres The whych parlyament at this daye is kepte at Parys at Roan and other two places of the lande And for iudges of thys counceyll or parlyament is deputyd of the kynges coste in euery place where it is kepte an huÌ„dred persons what of one and what of an other Than it foloweth Gayfer duke of Guyan before mynded of wyll more than of reason set a trybute or imposycyon vppon the spyrytuall landes wythin hys lande wythout agrement of the
sayd Policronica sayth And for this Lewys was mylde he was often troubled of hys own men and of other tyll he delte wyth them more sharpely and wysely and ruled the people more straytly It is there also shewyd that when this Lewys had promotyd a yonge man named Frederyke to the see of Utryke and to hym hadde gyuen sadde and good exhortacyon that he shuld folowe the stablenes of hys antecessours and that he shulde purpose the sothe and trouth wythoute excepcyon of persones and punyshe mysdoers as well the ryche as the poore the sayde byshoppe shulde answere to hym and saye I beseche thy magestye syr emperour to take in pacyence that I maye dysclose to the that thynge that hath long walowed turned in my mynde Say thy plesure sayd the emperour I praye thy syr emperour shewe me thy mynde whyther is more accordynge to attame thys fyshe here presente fyrste at the hedde or at the tayle The emperour answered shortely and sayd at the hedde the fyshe shall be fyrste attamyd So yt is lorde emperoure sayd the byshoppe that crysten fayth maye cause the to cease of thyne erroure that thy subiectes be not boldyd to folowe thy mysdoynge wherfore fyrste forsake thou thy vnlawefull wedloke that thou haste made wyth Indyth thy nere kynnes woman By meane of those wordes the kyng was reconcylyd and lefte the company of his wyfe tyll he hadde purchasyd a lycence of the pope And the emperour forgaue the sayde byshop all trespassys but the woman hyred two knyghtes that slewe hym in his vestymentes when he hadde ended hys masse After thys the empresse was falsely accused of wronge cryme and made a menchon But the same yere the emperoure delyueryd her from that habyte when he hadde suffycyently prouyd the sayde cryme to be false Then to retorne where I lefte whā this Lewys had longe lyen in thys agonyous sykenes and knewe well that he amendyd nothynge but feblyd more and more he commaundyd his iewellys to be broughte before hym wherof by hys owne hand he haue a parte vnto the chyrche of Rome and to Lotharius his sonne there presente he gaue his crowne his sworde commaundynge hym straytly vppon his blessynge that he shuld haue in honour hys moder Indith that to Charlis his brother he shulde owe true loue amyte that he shuld hym his lādes deffende to the vttermoste of his power Then the lordes spirituall and temporall and specyally the archebysshoppe of Meaws made a lamentable requeste to the emperoure for his sonne Lewys that he wolde accepte hym to his grace and mercye and to forgyue hym hys insolente and wanton wylde dedys wherof when the emperour harde he fell in suche wepynge that he myghte not speke of a good whyle after And when he hadde refrayned hym therof he remembryd to y e lordes the many and great benefytes y t he had done to hym and the innaturall vnkyndnes that the sayd Lewys had agayn shewyd vnto hym how often tymes he had perdoned his vnkynd sonnes trespasse And finally all this not wythstandyng he was at y e oure in perfyte charite wyth hym and forgaue hym as he trusted to be forgyuen prayenge the lordes there present and specyally chargynge y e sayd byshop that he wold shew vnto hys sayd son that great daunger that he was in agaynst god for the dyspleasures done to him and specially that he was a cause of the abrygement or shortynge of hys dayes Then to brynge this story to effect wherof yf I shuld declare the special tyes therof wolde aske a longe tyme for ye shall vnderstand that these .ii. storyes of the great Charlis and of this Lewys occupye in Frenche of leuys of great scantelyn ouer .lxiiii wherfore I conclude y t he dyed lyke a good crysten prynce when he had ben emperour of Rome and kynge of Fraunce by the terme of .xxvi. yeres and was buryed wyth great solemnyte at Meaws or at Mettis by hys mother Hyldegarde as sayth mayster Robert Gaguyne in the yere of hys age .lxiiii leuynge after hym the foresayde thre sonnes Lothayre Lewys and Charlys the Ballyd Anglia THE CLXII CHAPITER ADeulpus or Ethelwolphus the son of Egbertus beganne hys reygne ouer the westesaxons or Anglys in the yere of oure lordes incarnacyon .viii. hundred and .xxxii and the xvii yere of Lewys the mylde then kynge of Fraunce Thys in his youth was wyllynge to be a preste and was enteryd the order of subdeacon But there after by dyspensacyon of Pascall the fyrst of that name pope he was maryed to Osburga a woman of lowe byrthe By whome he hadde foure sonnes that is to meane Ethelwalde Ethelbert Etheldrede and Alurede the whyche after theyr father reygned as kynges of Englād that one after that other as after shall appere This Adeulphus after he hadde a certayne tyme ben kyng he went to Rome and toke wyth hym his yongest sonne Alurede or Alphrede and taryed there by the space of a yere In the whyche season he repayred the Saxon scole the whyche before tyme was there founden by Offa kynge of Mercia as Guydo sayeth and other but more veryly of Iue kynge of westsaxons as sayth the authoure of the Floure of historyes And for that he graunted of euery house of his kyngdome a peny as in his storye is before shewyd But thys scole was sore decayed and the house therof lately brent the whyche thys Adeulphus newely repayred and sette yt in better order then yt before was vsyd Thys kynge also to refourme the greuouse correccyons that he sawe there executyd to Englyshe men for spyrytuall offensys as in werynge of irons and guyues he graunted of euery fyre house of hys lande .i. d as Iue foresayde hadde done By the whyche sayenge yt shulde seme that by these two kynges shuld be grauntyd vnto Rome .ii. d. of euery fyre house thorough theyr lande But that maye not be so vnderstande for thys Rome scot ys gaderyd of euery house a peny wythout more wherfore yt muste folowe that yt is mysse taken of wryters that allege this dede to that one kynge for that other How be yt yt maye stande by reason that Iue made the fyrste graunte and this kynge after confermyd the same But the authoure of Cronica cronycarum sayth that thys Adeulphus graunted to saynte Peter these sayde Peter pens and spekyth no word of Iue nor of none other It is also shewyd of this kynge by Policronica that he shulde for the acquytynge of the chyrches of Englād of all maner of kynges trybute payed yerely to Rome thre hundred markes That ys to meane to saynte Peters chyrche a hundred markes to the lyghte of saynt Paule a hundred marke and to the popys treasorye a hundred marke And ouer all thys of hys pure deuocyon he offred to god to saynte Peter the .x. parte of hys moueable goodes And also one cronycler sayth that thys kynge founded fyrste the vnyuersytye of Oxynforde whyche was lykely to be
blacke or yet whyte laye no suche outrage For nowe at these dayes pryde and glotony is clerely banyshed froÌ„ theyr monasteryes and cellys and in the rome of pryde wyth hys frende dysobedyence haue they now lodgyd humylyte with his suffer obedyence And in the stede of glotonye and vncleÌ„nesse of lyuynge haue they nowe newely professyd them vnto all chastyte temperaunce abstynence auoydynge all slowth and idelnesse and exercyse theym in gostely studye and preachynge of the worde of god wyth all dylygence So that nowe the holy rulys ordynaunces made by that holy father and abbote saynt Benet which by ignorauÌ„ce haue loÌ„g tyme slepte nowe by grace of good gouernaunce are newely renyued and quyckened And here and ende lest I be accused of dyssymulacyon Then to retourn vnto the Danys from whome I haue made a longe dygressyon trouth yt is that when they hadde as before is sayde martyred the blessed man Edmunde and robbed and spoyled that countrey and they toke agayne theyr shyppes and landed agayne in Southerye and there contynued theyr iourney tyll they came to the towne of Redynge and wanne the towne wyth the castell Policronyca sayth y t the thyrd day of theyr thyther coÌ„ming Hingwar Hubba as they wente in purchasyng of prayes were slayne at a place called Engelfelde whyche prynces of Danys thus slayne the other dele of theym kepte hole to gyther in suche wyse that the weste Saxons myght take of theym none auauntage But yet wythin few dayes after the Danys were holden so shorte that they were forced to yssue out of the castell and to defende theym in playne batayll In y t whych by coÌ„forte of kyng Etheldrede and of Alurede his brother the Danys were dyscomfyted and many of theym slayne wherof the other beynge ware fled agayne to the castell and kepte theym wyth in the same a certayne of tyme. Then the kynge coÌ„maunded Etelwold then duke of Baroke or Barkshyre to attende wyth hys peple vppon that castell to se that the Danys breke not oute at large while he went in other costes of that countrey to subdue other of the sayde Danys But when the Danys knewe of the kynges departure they brake out so daynly anon of theyr hold and toke the duke vnpuruayed slewe hym and myche of hys people and caused the other to with drawe them farther from that towne or castell Then these Danys drewe them to other that were theyr lordes in that couÌ„trey and enbatelled them in such wyse that of theym was gatheryd a stronge hoste It was not long after duke Ethel wolde was slayne but the kyng was ascertayned therof The whyche renewed his heuenesse and made hym full heuy to consyder the losse of his frende and the encreace and multyplyenge of his enymyes For y e daye before reporte of these tydynges as affermeth an olde cronycle worde was brought to hym of the landyng of a Dane named Osryk whyche of Policronyca is named kyng of Denmarke The whyche in shorte tyme after with assystence of the other Danys hadde gaderyd a great hoste and were enbatellyd vppon ashe downe To his batayll Alured was forced by great nede to come before his brother the kynge that then was herynge of a masse wyth great deuocyon not knowynge of that hasty spede of his brother where y e kynge thus beynge in hys medytacyons y e hostes of Anglys and Danys strake to gyders wyth houge vyoleÌ„ce And how be yt the Danys hadde won the hyllande y e crysten men were in the valley yet by grace and vertue of y e kynges holy prayers and manhode of theym selfe they at length wanne the hyll of the Danis and slew theyr duke or kynge called Osryke or after the englyshe cronycle Oseg and fyue of theyr dukes wyth myche of theyr people and chased y e other dele vnto Redynge towne wherfore the Danys resembled theyr people and gathered a newe hoste so that wythin .xv. dayes they mette at a towne called Basynge Stoke and there gaue batayll vnto the kynge and hadde the better Then the kynge gatheryd his people the whych at that felde were chachyd dysparklyd and wyth freshe soldyours to theym accompanyed mette the Danys within two monethes after at a towne called Merton and gaue to theym a sharpe batayll so that myche people were slayn as well of the crysten as of the Danys But in the ende the Danys hadde the honour of the felde and the kynge of Anglys was wounded and fayne to sauegarde hym selfe by polycy when myght fayled After these two feldes thus won by the Danys they obteyned great cyrcuyte of grounde and destroyed man and chyld that to them were inobedyeÌ„t And chyrches and temples they tourned to vse of stables and other vyle occupacyons And to this sorowe was added an other For where the kyng hoped well to recouer his losses by ayde of his subiectes as wel of other ê‘tes of his land as of hys owne of westsaxon when he hadde sent his commyssyons into Northumberland into Mercia and éest Anglia He had of them small or lytell comforte so that the couÌ„tre of west Saxon was brought in great desolacyon For the kyng was beset wyth enymyes vpon euery syde and ouer that his knyghtes and soldyours were tyred palled wyth ouer watche and laboure whyche manyfolde aduersytyes and troubles synkynge in the kynges mynde wyth brose or hurte ensuyng of the wouÌ„de before takeÌ„ at y e batayll besyde Merton shortened his dayes so that he dyed when he had reygned in great persecucion of the Danys after most wryters .viii. yeres wythout yssue of his body By reason wherof the rule of the lande fyll vnto hys brother Alurede It is wytnessyd of some cronycles that not wythstandynge the great trouble and vexacion that this kyng Etheldrede hadde wyth the Danys he founded the house or college of chanons at Exeter and was buryed at the abbaye of wynbourne or wobourne THE CLXXI. CHAPITER ALuredus the .iiii. sonne of Adolfus brother to Etheldredus laste kynge beganne his reygne ouer the westsaxons and other prouynces of Englande in the yere of our lorde .viii. hundred .lxxii and the .xxxi. yere of Charlis forenamed then kyng in Fraunce This Alured or after some wryters Alphred was xii yere of age or he were set to scole But for all that he spedde so well his tyme that he passed his brother and other that were long set forth before hym And by the counsayll of Neotê° or Notê° he ordeyned the fyrst grammer scole at Oxenford other free scoles and fraunchaysyd that towne wyth many great lybertyes translated many lawes Marcyan lawe and other out of Bretyshe speche vnto Saxon tunge He was also a subtyll mayster in buyldyng and deuysynge therof and excellent connyng in all huntynge Fayre he was of stature and moste beloued of his father of all his chyldren Longe tyme it wold aske to reherse all his vertue But for he was in his youth dysposed to y e syn of the fleshe and
a byshoppes wede chargyd hym that he shuld loue god and kepe iustyce and be mercyable to the poore men and worshyppe prestes And sayd more ouer Alurede Criste knowyth thy coÌ„science and thy wyll and nowe wyll put an ende of thy sorowe and care For to morow strong helpers shall come to the by whose helpe thou shalte subdue thyne enymyes who arte thou sayd the kyng I am Cutbert sayd he y e pylgryme y t yester day was here with y t to whom thou gauest both brede and wyne I am besy for the and thyne wherfore haue thou mynde hereof when yt is wel with the. But how he had his pilgryme in mynde after by the fredam that he gaue with the possessyons vnto Durham chyrche yt is well and euydently sene Then Alurede after this vysyon was wel comforted and shewed hym more at large so that dayly resortyd to hym men of wylshyre Somersetshyre Hamshyre tyll that he was strongly companied Then the kyng put hym in a great ieoê‘dye as sayth wyllyam de regibus For he dyd on hym the habite of a mynstrell with his instrument of musyke he entred the tentes and pauylyons of the Danys and in shewynge there his enterlude songes he espyed all theyr slouth and idelnesse and harde mych of theyr counsayll and after retourned vnto his company and tolde to theym all the maner of the Danys Then the kynge wyth a chosen coÌ„pany fyll vpon y e Danys by nyght and dystressyd and slewe of theym a great multytude and chasyd theym from that coste And when the kyng had thus chasyd the Danys by couÌ„sayll of his knyghtes he buylded there a toure and named it Edelyng whyche is to meane in oure speche a toure of noble men Oute of whych toure he and his soldyers made many assautes vppon theyr enymyes dyd to them myche harme scath and clerely voyded the countrey of them betwene that and Selwood This Edelynge or Ethelyngyssey standeth in a great marys or more so that men may not wyn to yt withoute shyppe or bote and conteynyth no great grounde but yet therin is venyson and other wyld bestes and fowle and fyshe great plenty Thus kynge Alurede dayly pursuyd his enymyes by helpe of god his subiectes whyche heryng of his vyctoryes and manfull dedes drewe to hym dayly out of all costes By whose powers and assistens he helde the Danys so shorte that he wanne from them wynchester many other good townes and forced them lastly to seche for peace the whych was coÌ„cludyd vppon certayn couenauntis wherof one and principall was that theyr kynge named as before is sayd Guttrun or Gothram or after y e Englyshe cronycle Gurmunde shuld be crystyned and a certayne of his dukes wyth hym And for y e kyng wold haue the Danys banyshed out of the west partyes of Englande he graunted to hym eest Anglia to abyde and dwell in Then this prynce of Danys accordynge to the couenauntes was crystyned at wynchester and .xx. of the grettest of his dukes And to this sayde Danys prynce Alurede was godfather at the funte stone and named hym Athelstane And after he hadde a season feasted the sayde Daues he accordynge to his promysâ— gaue vnto theyr kynge the countrey of eest Anglia whyche then conteyned Norffolk and Suffolk parte of Cambrydshyre And also as wytnessyth Policronica he grauÌ„ted to y e Danys that were crystened the countrey of Northumberlande And the other that wold not be crystyned departed the land failed into FrauÌ„ce where they restyd theym wyth theyr cosyns and Kynnesmen that at those dayes wasted the lande of Fraunce as in the frenche storys is somwhat apparent when this Danys kynge Athelstane hadde the possessyon of these countreys ye shall vnderstand y t all suche Angles as dwelled there and wythin the precyncte of theym were vnder his obedyence And all be yt that he helde the sayd prouynce as in fee of y e kyng and promysed to dwell there as his lyege maÌ„ yet that promyse not wythstandynge he contynued lyke a tyraunte by the terme of .xi. yeres full and dyed in the .xii. In the whyche tyme kynge Alurede amended the cytye of SeptonÌ„ that nowe is called Shaftesburye and other townes and stronge holdes y t by the Danys were sore abatyd and enpayred And as wytnessyth Guydo and other he buylded y e house of nonnes at Shaftesbury or was fyrste founder therof He also founded an house of relygyon in the aboue named place of Ethelyngesey and a nother in wynchester that was named the new monastery In the whiche he was after buryed And ouer this he endowed the churche of saynte Cuthberte in Doreham as before is touched Aboute the .xv. yere of the reygne of Alurede y e Danys whiche before as ye haue hard sayled into FrauÌ„ce retorned into Englande and landed in Kent and so lastly came vnto Rochester and beseged that cytye and lay there so longe that they buylded a towre of tymber and not of stone agayne the gates of the cytye But by strength of y e cytesyns that towre was destroyed and the cytye defended tyll kyng Alurede restowed theÌ„ The whyche hadde made suche purueyaunce for the dystressyng of them by water and lande that they were so nere trapped that for fere they left theyr horses behynde them and fled to theyr shyppes by nyght But whaÌ„ the kynge was therof ware he sent after them toke .xvi. of theyr shyppes and slewe many of the sayd Danys After thys iourney the kynge retorned to London and repayred certayne placys therof that before had ben hurte or febled wyth the Danys and betoke the guydyng therof vnto Etheldredus than erle or duke of Mercia to whom as wyfe he had gyuen hys doughter Elfleda About thys tyme dyed Dunbertus than bysshop of wynchester and the kyng made Dunwolfus bysshop after hym The whyche as sayth Polycronycon the kynge fande in the wodde kepyng of bestes in the tyme whan he hym selfe kepte the woddes for fere of the Danys About the .xxi. yere of the reygne of thys kynge Alurede the Danys landed in .iiii. places of thys lande that is to wytte in the Eest England and the North and in the west in .ii. places But for y e kynge before theyr landynge had warnynge of the deth of AthelstanÌ„ kyng of Danys of Eest England and of other complayntes of y e Danys he therfore yode thyder in whyche tyme of hys there beynge these tydynges came vnto hym THE CLXXIII CHAPITER WHan kynge Alurede was acertayned of these tydynges for so mych as some of the sayde Danes were landed in that coste and knewe well that y e ferther they drewe vnto these partyes the more they shulde be ayded and strengthed he therfore sent messengers in all haste vnto Etheldred erle or duke of Mercia chargynge hym to assemble an hoste of the men of Mercia and the border there about and to make resystens agayne the Danes whyche landed in the west And
so sharpely that he was constrayned to leue the countrey and sayled into Fraunce and lefte the nuÌ„ne behynde hym the whych the kynge caused to be restoryd agayn to the house y t she was taken fro The nexte yere folowyng the sayd Clito wyth his coÌ„pany landed in eest Englande gaderyd to hym y e Danys of that countrey and with theyr ayde destroyed and pylled the countrey about Crekynforde Criklade And then passed y e ryuer of Thamis spoyled the land to Bradenestoke and so froÌ„ thens retourned into eest Anglia y t is Norffolke Suffolke The kynge folowed his enymyes and spoyled of theyr landes whyche they helde by composycyon from the ryuer of Owse to the bordure of saynte Edmundus lande commaundynge hys knyghtes of hys hoste that none shulde dragge or tarye after hys hoste for fere that they were not beclyppyd of theyr enmyes But the Kentyshe men whych trusted to myche in theyr owne strength dysobeyed that commaundement wherfore the Danys awaytynge theyr praye fyll vppon them by bushementes and slewe the more partye of theym wherwyth the kyng was sore dyscontentyd Soone after bothe hostes mette where after longe fyght Clyto wyth many of the Danys was slayne and the remenaunt constrayned to seche peace the whyche was graunted vppon certayne condycyons that they shulde holde theym wythin the boundes to theym lymytted and ouer that paye yerely a certayne money in waye of trybute After whyche peace wyth them stablyshed he repayred cytyes townes and castellys that by the sayde Danys were shatered and broken And about the .viii. yere of his reygne kynge Edwarde repayred the wallys and also the cytye of Kaerlyon that now is called Chester To the whych were great helpers Etheldredê° duke of Mercia Elfleda his wyfe doughter of Alurede as before is shewyd suster of this kynge Edwarde And that done the kynge buylded a stronge castell at Herforde in y e egge of walys And he enlarged so greatly y e walles of Chester y t the castell whych before tyme was wyth out the wall is now wythin And the .ix. yere of his reygn Etheldredê° duke of Mercia by couÌ„sayll of his wyfe traÌ„slated y e bones of y e holy kyng Oswald froÌ„ Bradony to Gloucestre there buylded a fayre monastery in the worshyp of saynt Peter In the .xii. yere of kyng Edwardes reygne the Danes repentynge them of theyr couenauntes before made myndyng enteÌ„dyng y e breche of the same asseÌ„bled an hoste met with y e kynge in Staffordeshyre at a place called Toten halle and soone after at wodenesseylde At whyche .ii. places the kynge slew two kynges two erlys and many thousandes of the Danys that then occupyed the countrey of Northumberlande And soon after dyed the noble man Etheldredus duke or erle of Mercia or myddell Englande After whose deth the kynge for so myche as he hadde often prouyd her wysedome he toke the rule of that countrey to hys wyfe Elfleda London alonely exceptyd the whyche he toke vnder his onwe rule THE CLXXX CHAPITER OF this noble woman Elfleda yf I shulde shewe all the vertues yt shuld aske a long tyme and leasure But amonges other of her noble dedes she buylded and newly repayred many townes cytyes and castellys as Tomworth besyde Lychefeld Stafforde warwyke Shrowesbury watrysbury Eldysbury in the forest besyde Chester that nowe is ouer tourned and destroyed Also she buylded a cytye wyth a castell in the Northe ende of Mercia vpon y t ryuer Merce that in those dayes was named RuncofanÌ„ but now yt is called RuncornÌ„ And she also buylded a brydge ouer the ryuer of SeuernÌ„ whyche is or was named Brymmysburye brydge This stronge virago fauour of cytezeyns and fere of enymyes halpe myche the kyng her brother in gyuynge of counsayll buyldynge of cytyes Of her is told that when she hadde ones assayed the wo and sorowe that women fele and suffer in berynge of a chylde she hated the enbrasynge of her husband euer and toke wytnesse of god and sayde that yt was not coÌ„uenyent or semely to a kinges doughter to vse such flesshely lykynge wherof suche sorowe shuld ensue or folowe In the .xiii. yere of the reygne of this Edwarde a great nauy of Danys whych in tyme of Alurede were driuen into Fraunce now retourned agayn and sayled about the west couÌ„trey and landed in dyuers places toke prayes and went to theyr shyppes agayn And at one time amoÌ„ges other they robbed and spoyled at a place called Irchynfeylde and toke a Brytyshe byshop and caryed hym to theyr shyppes and fynally raunsomed hym at .xl. pounde But as soone as kynge Edwarde had knowlege of theyr beyng he assembled his knyghtes and sped hym westwarde by lande and sent a nother hoste by shyppe to encounter the Danys vppon the see wherof heryng the sayd Danys fledde into Irlande and by that course voyded the land and handes of the kynge Then the kynge for strengthynge of the countrey made a castell at the mouth of the water of Auene and a nother castell at Bokyngham and the thyrd faste therby y t is to meane vpon eyther syde of y e ryuer of Owseone And after retourned into Northamtonshyre and Bedfordshyre faughte there wyth the Danys of these couÌ„tres and at length subdued theâ— wyth theyr leder or duke called Turketyllus About the .xvii. yere of this kynges reygned Elfleda lady of Mercia before mynded gaderyd her knightes And where the Brytons or walshe men brake into the lande about Brekenoke she wyth her people wythstode theym and amonge other prysoners prayes toke there the quene of walshemen And the yere folowynge kynge Edwarde buylded or newly reedyfyed the townes of Towsetour and wygmore and destroyed the castell that the Danys hadde made at Temesforde And that yere the noble Elfleda wanne the towne of Derby from the power of the Danys where they put her in such adueÌ„ture that foure knyghtes whyche were called Gardeyns of her corps were slayne faste by her And y e .xviii. yere of his reygne dyed that noble pryncesse Elfleda in the moneth of Iune and was buryed in the monastery of saynt Peter which her lorde and she before tyme hadde buylded wythin the towne of Gloucetour as aboue is touched ouer the bones of that holy kynge saynte Oswalde whyche monastery was after throwen to grounde by the Danys But Aldredus byshop both of yorke of worcetour made there an other whyche is now chefe house or abbay of that towne or cytye when Elfleda was deed her doughter named Elswyna helde the lordeshyppe of Mercia a season But for the kynge coÌ„sydered yt to be to great a thynge for her to rule he therfore dyscharged her therof and ioyned it to his kyngedome but not all wythout stryfe For dyuers townes kepte of the kyng for a tyme as Snotyngham or Nothyngam Tomworth Derbye and other supposynge the doughter wold haue defended them as the mother by her lyfe had done But finally they came to the
and fette there his aimes hys sayde wyfe then lyenge at the castell of warwyke not knowynge of any man what he was tyll lastely he was visited with so sore sykenes that he knew well that he shuld dye wherefore he sente hys weddynge rynge vnto hys wyfe requyrynge her in all haste to come and speke wyth hym whych she obeyed in humble wyse and sped her vnto the sayd Heremytage wyth all womanly dylygence and fande hym deed at her commynge whom she besprent with many a salt tere And as she was enfourmed of the messenger as he dyed she buryed hym ryghte there And more ouer as saith my sayd authour he monyshed her by the sayd messenger that she shulde prouyde for her selfe for she shuld also alter her mortall lyfe the .xv. day folowyng which also she obeyed and made suche prouisyon that she was in that place buryed by hym All whyche mater the sayde Dane Iohn̄ Lydgate affyrmeth that he toke out of the boke of Gerarde Cambres̄ whyche wrote mych of the dedes and storyes of the prynces of Englande as Policronica and other authour testyfyen and as the sayde Lydgate in the ende of his sayde treatyse wytnessyth as by the mater folowynge appereth For more authorite as of this mater This translacyon such as in sentēce Out of laten made by the cronycler Called of old Gerardus Cambrēce whyche wrote the dedes wyth great dylygence Of them that were in weste Saxon crowned kynges Greatly cōmendyd for theyr knyghtly excellence Guy of warwyke in hys famouse wrytynges AL whyche sayde treatyse is shewyd at length in meter of viii stauys after the maner of the precedentes by the dylygent labour of the sayde Dane Iohn̄ Lydgate The whyche I haue here sette in for so mych as yt concernyth mater that was done in the tyme of the reygne of thys Ethylstane The whyche after the accorde of moste wryters ▪ broughte thys lande agayne to one monarchye and reygned as kynge therof by the full terme of .xvi. yeres and was buryed at the monastery of Malmysbury leuynge after hym no chylde wherfore the rule of the land fyll vnto Edmunde his brother Francia THE CLXXXVI CHAPITER LEwys the sonne of Charlis y e symple beganne hys reygne ouer the Frenchmen in y e yere of our lorde ix hundred and xxxiiii and the .ix yere of Ethelstane then kynge of Englande ye haue harde before in the ende of the storye of Charlys y e symple how Elgina the quene wyth Lewys her yonger sonne was fledde into England to her father Edward the elder wherfore y e lordes of Fraūce not knowynge where she with the Chylde was gone chose the forenamed Rauf for theyr kynge After whose deth the said lordes of Fraūce beynge ascertayned of the beynge of the sayd Lewys in England sent vnto hym the archbyshop of Senys Hughe surnamed le graunde desyrynge hym to restore into Fraunce and take therof possessyon Then Elgina herynge the message of the lordes and trustyng vnto thē by counsayll of her frendes made her redy wyth her son sayled shortly after into Fraunce where she was receyued wyth myche honour shortly after crowned her sonne Lewys kynge at the cytye of Laon̄ This Lewys is named y e .v. Lewys In the thyrde yere of whose reygne fyll a scarcytye of corne vytayll by reason wherof ensued a great famyn in so myche that people voyded the realme many dyed for defaut For as wytnesseth the frenche cronycle a quarter of whete was then worth .xx. poūde of y e money which is of value after sterlynge money .l. s. or there about This kyng beryng in mynd the murder and treason done agayn his father by Hebert as before in the storye of Charlis the symple is declared cast and ymagined in his mynde how he myght wythout shedynge of blood reuenge the deth of his fader and after many ymagynacyons and thought is reuolued in his mynde he lastely dyuysed a letter the whych he charged a seruaunt of his to brynge to hys presence when he was sette amonge his lordes in counsayll when kynge Lewys hadde compassed this in hys mynde he for nedes of hys realme called a great coūsayll of his barony at Laon̄ whyther amonges the other the sayde Heberte erle of Uermendoys was warned to come And when the kynge was ascertayned of theyr commynges he apoynted a secrete cōpanye in harnes to be in a secrete chamber nere vnto the place of the sayde counsayll and at conuenient tyme after yode vnto the same and all his lordes wyth hym And when he hadde a season commoned wyth hys lordes of suche maters as hym lyked sodeynly came one to hym and sayd that a man was cōmen wyth a letter dyrected to hys grace oute of Englande the whych he commaunded to be broughte vnto hys syghte when the kyng hadde vnfolde the letter and radde a parte therof he smyled whereof the lordes beynge ware purposed the kynge to haue receyued some iewyllys or ioyous nouellys oute of Englande whyle the kynge was aboute to delyuer this letter to his scribe or secretory one of hys lordes sayde vnto hym Syr we truste ye haue some iocande mery tydynges oute of Englāde that ye haue cause of smilyng I shall shewe the cause to you sayde the kyng There is dwellyngin England a kynnesman of myne named Harman the whych is a man of gret myghte and myne especyall frende He shewyth me by this letter that an husbandeman or a vyleyne badde or requyred hys lorde vnto his howse to dyner and vnder the coloure therof he slewe hys sayde lorde And for the sayde Harman thynketh the law of that lande to fauourable for such an haynous dede hetherfore writeth to me to haue myne aduyse in thys mater wherfore sens ye be all present I praye you shewe to me your opynyons in this mater whych with one voyce sayde y t the murderer was worthy to suffer the moste shamefull and cruell deth to be hanged and strangled in a rope But for y e kynge wolde be certaynely enfourmed of the consentes of theym all he began at the hygest and so pursued theym tyll he came to Hebert erle of Uermēdoys the whych alowed the sentēce as the other hadde done Then the kynge made a token to y e walshemen betwene hym them before appoynted so y e anon they were present sette sure hold vppon the sayde Hebert To whom the kynge sayd Hebert thou art the husbondman or vilayne y t I haue spoken of whych slew his lord vnder colour of byddynge or gestynge hym in hys house For traytoursly thou dydeste requyre my lorde and father vnder thyne house or castell of Peron̄ and there not remembrynge the kyndnes to the by hym before dayes shewyd nor thyne allegyauntes and trouthe that toward hym thou shuldest haue borne kept hym lyke a prysoner and lastely murderyd hym to the greate daunger agayne god to the world shame wherfore accordynge to thy desert and after thyne own sentence and iudgemēt take now
of the age of .xvi. yere when he was admytted for kynge and that he was not crowned kynge tyll he hadde reygned the full terme of .xii. yeres whych terme ended and expyred he was enoynted and crowned kynge in the cytye of Bathe vppon a whytsondaye fallyng then vpon the .xv. day in May of Dunstane and Oswolde byshoppes that one of Caunterburye and that other of yorke In the begynnynge of his reygn he called home holy Dunstane that before was exyled of kyng Edwyne whych Dunstane harde aungellys synge peace be to the lande of Englyshemen Then he made DuÌ„stane that was abbot of Glastenburye byshoppe of worceter and vnyed and knyt into one the prouynce and lorshyppes of Englande and made of theym one monarchye and kyngedome In many places he putte away clerkes and prestes that lyued vycyously and sette there for theym munkes And as wytnessyth Guydo Policronica and other he buylded and repayred to the nomber of .xl. houses of relygyon wherof Abyndon Peterburgh Thorney Ramesey and wyltonÌ„ were parcell of theym And at wynchester in the newe abbay he putte in munkes where before dayes were seculer prestes The cause wherof was for so myche as the prestes fled or neglygently slowthed the dyuyne seruyce of god and sette vykers in theyr places whyle they lyued at theyr pleasure in other places and spente the patrymonye of that chyrche after theyr sensuall wyll Then kynge Edgar gaue to the vykers the lande that before belonged to the prebendaryes trustynge therby that they wolde do theyr duetyes But yt was not longe to or the sayd vycares were as neglygent as the other wherfore fynally the kyng by authoryte of pope IohnÌ„ the .xiii. of that name voyded clerely the prestes ordeyned there moÌ„kes though some of hys prelates where not therwyth contented This Edgar kepte suche iustyce and dyd so sharpe execucyon that neuer before his days was vsyd lesse felony or robberyes And for he wold haue the rauenous bestes destroyed thorough hys lande he caused Ludwallus prynce or kynge of walys to yelde to hym yerely by way of trybute thre hundred woluys By meane wherof wythin the space of .iiii. yeres after in Englande and walys myght scantely be founden one wolf a lyue It is wytnessyd of dyuers authours that Kynadus kynge of Scotlande dispysed Edgar for that that he was lytell of stature wherof Edgar beynge warned desyred the sayd Kynadus to dyner and made to him good countenaunce After whych dyner ended he toke the sayd Kynadus by y e arme and so wyth hym helde company tyll they came into y e feldes where beynge dysseuered from bothe theyr seruauntes Edgar drew from vnder his garment two swordes desyred Kynadus to take the chose of theym sayd to hym nowe thou hast good laysure to a saye thy strength wyth myne that before tyme thou haste so myche dyspysed And lette vs nowe proue whyche is more worthy to be subiecte to other It is not syttynge for a knyghte to make great boste at the borde and to do lytell in felde when the Scottyshe kynge hard the kyng thus challenge hym he knew well his wordes before spoken were disclosyd to y e kynge wherof he was not a litle abashed But for apeace y e kynge he behaued hym so lowely and gaue to hym suche plesaunte wordes that the kynge forgaue the trespace This Edgar amonge other of hys polytyke dedes vsed in the somer tyme to scowre the see wyth certayne shyppes of warre And agayn y e wynter he prouyded to laye the sayd shyppes in sure hauens and had redy in his owne seruyce and in hys lordes houses a certayne nomber of soâ—dyours that were alway redy when the kyng had nede of them And his shyp maysters were in wages wyth hym thorough the yere that euer atteÌ„dyd vpon the shippes to se that nothyng fayled that vnto theym was necessary By meane wherof he kepte hys land in great quyete fro outward enmyes And in the wynter he vsed to ryde ouer the land and to se how hys offycers entreated the people And yf any were accused of extorcyon or other crymes and agayne them suffycyently proued he dyd vppon all suche sharpe correccyon And for so mych as in his days grete multytude of Danys dwelled in dyuers places of England which vsed many vyces specyally great drynkynge wherof ensued dronkenesse and many other vices to the euyll examples and hurte of hys commons and subiectes he therfore ordeyned certayne cuppes with pynnes or nayles set in them and ordeyned made a law that what person dranke past that marke at one drought shuld for fayte a certayn peny wherof the one half shuld fall to the accusour that other half to the ruler of y e brough or towne that the offence was done in It is told of this Edgar by dyuers authours y t he vpon a season beyng at Chester entred y e ryuer of Dee there syttynge in a bote toke the rule of the helme and caused .viii. kynges whyche of Guydo are called regulâ— whyche is to meane small or lytell kynges or vnder kinges y e whyche he commaunded to rowe hym vp and downe the ryuer vnto saynte IohnÌ„s chyrche and from thens to hys owne paleys in token y t he was lorde kynge of so many prouynces This noble Edgar had two wyues By the fyrste y t was called Egelfleda the whyte he hadde a son that was named Edwarde He was after kynge and slayne by reason of hys stepmoder Alfrita called in the englyshe cronycle Estrylde And vpon his seconde wyfe Alfrida or Estrylde he gat a son named Egelredus or after the englyshe boke Eldrede which was kynge after Edwarde the martyr as after shall be shewyd And of saynte wylfryth whych of some wryters is accoÌ„pted for a meÌ„chon he had a doughter named saynte Edyth in ê“cesse of ryme But this was of bast and not in wedloke For as Guydo and Policronicon testyfyen this virgyne wylfryth knowynge that the kyng caste to her vnlawfull loue put vppon her the habyte of a nuÌ„ne thynkyng thereby to wythdrawe the kynges loue But that not wythstandynge she was at length brought to the kynges bedde For whych dede he was greatly blamed of the holy byshop Dunstane and dyd therfore vii yere penauÌ„ce by the heste or byddynge of the sayde Dunstane And the forenamed wylfrith after y e chyld borne lyued so relygyousely y t she is now coÌ„pted for a saynt in heuen Of her doughter Edyth yt is radde that at lawefull age she was at wyltonÌ„ shorne a nunne where she vsyd more gayer apparell then was thought coÌ„uenyent to her religyon For y e which she beynge blamed of the holy bysshop Ethelwolde answered Goddes dome that maye not fayle is pleasyd onely wyth conscyence wherfore I truste that vnder these clothes maye be as clene a soule as vnder other y e ben of lasse shewynge Many vertues ben rehersed of this holy virgyn Edyth in the .ix. chapyter of the .vi. boke of
Policronycon The which I passe ouer for length of the mater THE CXCIII CHAPITER EDgar thus rulynge the lande after the deth of his fyrst wyfe Egelfleda worde was broughte to hym of y e beaute of Alfrida or Estrild doughter of Orgarus erle of Deuenshire wherfore he sent a knight of his court named Ethelwold to espy whether the mayde were of such beautye as she was reported of or not chargynge hym yf she were so beautyous that then he shulde aske her to wyfe for the kynge But this knyght hauyng syght of this mayden was so wounded wyth the darte of the blynde god Cupyde that he forgate his trouth and allegiaunce y t he shuld owe to his mayster and souerayne and retourned shewynge to the kynge that she was nothynge of the beaute that she was reported of but of meane fayrenesse as other women were wherfore he besought the kynge consyderyng she was her fathers heyre a good maryage that he wolde be so good lord to hym as to wryte vnto her fader y t he myght haue her to wyfe The why the grace he obteyned and at length was maryed vnto her In processe of tyme the fame of the beaute of thys woman sprange so wyde that lastly yt came to the erys of Edgar wherwyth the kynge in mynde beynge sore dyscontentyd wyth Ethilwolde whyche hym had dysceyued yet kepte good countenaunce and made semblaunte as though he hadde nothynge forced y t mater And vpon a tyme as yt were in game warned this Ethilwolde y t then was an erle by reason of hys wyfe or otherwyse that he wold lodge one nyght in his house appoynted the daye when yt shulde be wyth thys monyssyon the erle beynge nothynge contented ranne home nygh deed for fere and prayed his wyfe of helpe in that tyme of nede and y t she wold in all that she myght make her self as fowle and as vnsemely as she coude and shewed to her all the resydue of y e mater Then y e woman cast in her mynde the great dyspleasure y t might ensue toward her agayn god to make that fowle whych he hadde made goodly and fayre and also to her lorde and husbande agayne the kynge thynkyng that he shuld cause her thus to do to the ende to mocke and dysceyue hym wherfore in consyderacyon of the premysses she enourned her in moste costly and shewynge aparayll And ouer y t yf dame nature hadde had any thynge forgoten or mysprinted in her she left not that by womaÌ„s helpe might be amended or refourmed and at the kynges coÌ„mynge receyued hym wyth all ioy and gladnesse By whyche meanes this yonge amorous kyng was soon caught in the dyuylles snare so that he sette reason a parte and folowed his own sensualyte And for to bryng his purpose the better about he kept forth a countenaunce as he had ben well contentyd wyth all thynge and desyred the erle that he wolde wyth hym ryde on huntyng into the wood of welwerley that now is called hore wood where he awaytynge his season tyme strake the erle thorough the bodye wyth his shafte so that he dyed soon after And then he maryed this Elfryda or Estrylde shortely hadde by her Egelredus as before I haue shewyd For the whyche dede sayth Ranulf this Elfrida buylded an house of nunnes at warwell But other authours saye yt was for the slayeng of her stepson Edwarde Also the englyshe cronycle sheweth that this Ethilwolde was slayne by an other meane and not by the kyng About this tyme dyed Oddo archbyshoppe af Caunterbury that was of the nacyon of Danys Of hym is tolde a longe processe in the .x. chapyter of the .vi. boke of Polycronycon And after hym Bryglinus that then was byshoppe of wynchester was made hys successour But for he was not suffycyent for so great a charge he went agayne to wynchester And holy Dunstane byshop of London of worceter was sacryd archbysshoppe of Caunterbury and went to Rome and receyued the palle of pope IohnÌ„ the .xiii. of that name This Dunstane was fyrste abbot of Glastynbury and byshoppe of London worceter and lastely archbyshoppe of Caunterbury In his dayes the order of munkes was religyous and Full of vertues For it hadde relygyous rulers clere of scyence and of clergy so that then men were lad as mych wyth other dedes and good examples of vertuous lyuynge as by theyr famous vertuous prechyng Than Edgare as before ys sayde was crowned kynge at the cytye of Bathe of Dunstane archbysshop of Caunterbury and Oswolde archbysshop of yorke whan he hadde ruled thys lande .xii. yeres The cause why it was so longe or this Edgar were enoynted was as testyfyeth Guydo for hys vnlefull Lechery and specyally for the offence done wyth wylfryde For the whyche dede he was of Dunstane ioyned to .vii. yeres penaunce The whyche penaunce durynge he was kept from the sayd enoyntement as affermeth the sayde Guydo But for what cause so euer it was by agrement of dyuers wryters he was not crowned tyll he had reygned .xii. yeres It is also tolde of thys Edgare that he beynge vpon a season at the towne of Andâ—uyr he was enamoured vpon a noble mannes doughter whyche was of passynge beautye made suche meanes by force or other wyse that the parentes were agreed that the kynge shulde haue hys pleasure But the moder subtyll of wytte bethoughte her of a whyle and sent a seruaunt of hers whych was both comely and fayre to the kynges bed In the mornynge whan the daye began to waxe clere the woman began to styrre and wolde haue departed from the kynge But the kynge refrayned her and asked the cause of her so hasty departyng For I muste be at my worke wyth my felowes sayde the woman at myne houre to kepe my taske And whan the kynge had questyoned wyth her further he lerned that she was a bonde woman and asked of the kynge fredome for y â— nyghtis seruyce The kyng at this had good game and cherysshed that damosell so after that he made her lady of Lordes For these insolent wanton dedes it is sayde that by the counsayle of the holy Dunstane he buylded repayred so many abbeys and houses of relygyon as aboue is rehersed Thus thys noble Edgare passyng his tyme in vertue medled with vyce lastly had wyttynge of the rebellyon of y e Brytaynes or walshmen wherfore he assembled hys knyghtes and entred the lande and dyd them grete harme and waste And among other prayes spoyled the countre of GlamorganÌ„ and also toke or spoyled the countre of Ono and toke the bell of saynt Eltutus which serued for hys chyrche that was taken by vyolence wyth other stuffe hanged it about an horse necke In puttynge it to teÌ„porall seruyce to the dyspleasure of that saynte But for the vyolent takynge therof as Ranulf expresseth in an vndertyde whan kyng Edgar was layde to take hys reste the sayd Eltutus apered and smote the kyng
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
encreased waxed passynge ryche and the Enlyshemen nedy bare poore Thus contynuynge this mysery Swanus or after the englyshe Swayne then beyng in Denmarke and heryng of the encreace of his people within Englande repented hym of his former couenauntes and thought y t the hole domynyon of EnglaÌ„d shulde belong to hym of ryght For the whyche he prepared his armye nauy in moste defensyble wyse and sped hym into England to the ryuer of Humber and landed in Northumberlande where the erle or ruler of that countrey wyth all the rulers of the same sware feaute vnto the sayde Swanus and promysed to kepe that countrey vnto hys vse And when he had done hys wyll in that coste he entred agayne the water and by the ryuer of Trent he passed to Gaynysburghe and so by North watlyngstrete and subdued the inhabytauntes of that couÌ„trey and forced theym to gyue vnto hym pledges whyche pledges wyth also his nauy he betoke vnto Canutus his sonne whyle he wente farther into the lande And that done he wyth his â–ª people kepte on his iourney tyl he â–ª came into Mercia kyllynge and slayeng the men of that prouynce And reserued the women to vnclene lyuynge as well the relygyous as other and toke by strength wynchester and Oxenford and dyd in them what he lyked And after he hadde thus passed the lande he drewe the nexte waye towarde London But in passynge the ryuer of Thames he loste some parte of hys people other for lacke of a brydge or for ieopardynge theyr passage vnauysely And so in processe he came vnto London where at that tyme kynge Egelredus was wherfore Swanus lefte the cytye and drewe into Kente and so towarde Caunterbury wythoute lette weldynge the countrey at hys wyll and lastely beseged that cytye The whyche manfully defended theyr enymyes by the space of .xx. dayes whyche syege beganne vpon the day of saynte Mathewe in the moneth of September and endured as is aboue sayde and then taken by the treason of a deken named Almaricus the whyche beforetyme blessed Elphegus then archebyshop of that see hadde preserued from deth Then the Danys fyred the cytye when they before had spoyled it and toke the archebyshop and put him in strayte pryson And the monkes of saynt Augustynes abbey they tythed that is to meane they slew .ix. by cruel torment and the tenth they kepte a lyue the whych after was solde and sette to all seruyle laboure And as wytnessyth Antoninus or Uyncent hystoryall they slewe and broughte in seruage ouer the summe of .ix. hundred persones of relygyon they slew of men women chyldren beyonde the noÌ„ber of .viii. thousand As with myche more cruelty yt is shewyd in the .vii. chapyter of the .xvi. tytle of the worke of the sayde Antoninus And fynally for this blessed man Elphegus wolde not condescende to gyue vnto them as sayth Policronica .iii. thousande pounde after they had kept hym in harde pryson by the space of .vii. monethes vppon an Ester eueÌ„ they after many vylanyes to hym done at Grenewyche wythin thre myles of London they stoned hym to deth where he lay in the feld vnburyed a certayne of tyme and after caryed to London and buryed reuereÌ„tly in the chyrch of saynt Paule But afterward in tyme of Canutus he was taken vp agayne and caryed to his owne chyrche Of this blyssed Elphegus Antoninus and also Policronicon shewen many vertues and myracles the whyche I passe ouer for lengthynge of the tyme. THE CC. CHAPITER IN this pastyme kynge Egelredus ferynge the ende of thys persecucyon sent Emma the quene wyth her two sonnes Alphrede and Edwarde vnto Rycharde the second of y e name then fourth duke of Normandy whych was brother vnto the sayde Emma wyth whome also he sent the byshoppe of London About the .xxxiiii. yere of the reygne of Egelredus the Danis when they hadde wonne a great part of the couÌ„trey of westsaxon retorned agayn towarde London wherof herynge the Londoners sent vnto theym certayn gyftes and pledges In all thys season myne authoure maketh no mynde that euer the king gaue vnto the Denys any notable batayll but kepte hym in holdes or places for his owne sauegarde and lytell fruyte or profyte to his lande At the laste he was chaced vnto the yle of wyghte where wyth a secrete companye he helde a great parte of the wynter and fynally wythout catall or comforte sayled ouer to hys wyfe into NormaÌ„dy and there held hym a certayne of tyme. whan Swanus was ascertayned of the departynge of Egelredus out of the lande he was enflamed wyth excedynge pryde so that he arrered excedynge imposycyons of the people and greued them wonderfully And amonges other of his tyraÌ„nyes he asked a great summe of money of saynt Edmundes landes whych the rulers denayed for so myche as they claymed to be free of all kynges trybute For thys he entred the terytory of saynte Edmunde and wasted and spoyled the countrey and ouer that despysed that holy martyr wyth manassyng of the place of his sepulture wherfore the men of that countrey ferynge this tyraunt gaue them to fastynge and prayer so that shortly after he was stycked in an euenynge amonges his knyghtes with y e sword of saynte Edmunde in the towne of Shetforde as sayth Guydo but after Policronicon other in the town of Gaynesborugh where he dyed wyth yellynge and cryenge the thyrd daye after In fere wherof Canutus hys son after that he was kynge closed in y e land of that holy martyr with a depe dyche and graunted to the inhabytauntes therof great fredam quyt them of all kyngly taske or trybute And after buylded a chyrch ouer the place of his sepulture and ordeyned there an house of munkes endued them wyth fayre possessyons And after yt was vsed that kynges of England when they were crowned sent for an offerynge theyr crownes vnto saynte Edmundes shryne and redemed them aftewardes wyth a condygne pryce when Egelredus hadde wrytynge of the deth of Swanus by procurement of his frendes he made meanes to retourne to hys owne By whose meanes he was sent for wyth condycyon that he shulde refourme his olde condycyons Ad for perfourmauÌ„ce of the same he sent his son Edwarde into Englande before hym And in the lent folowynge the kyng came hym selfe and wyth his people sped hym towarde Lyndesey where Canutus was at that tyme resseauÌ„t not prouyded of the kynges so hasty commynge wherfore he beynge not purueyed to wythstande the kynge fledde into Sandewyche in Kente And for he there proued suche persones as before tyme his fader and he hadde taken pledges of fande them not perseueraunt in theyr ê“misses he made to be cutte of all the noses and haÌ„des of the sayd Englyshe people and sayled into Denmarke when he had do and retourned the nexte yere wyth a great nauy and sayled about y e land and toke prayes in the South countrey wherof the kynges eldest sonne named Edmunde
made prouysyon wyth y e ayde of Edricus to go agayn hym But when he shulde haue met with Edricê° at a place assigned his host he was of hym dysceyued wherfore he was compelled to gyue place to his enymyes And as yt was after knowen the sayde Edricus had promysed his fauour and ayde vnto the sayde Canutus By reason wherof Canutus entred the countre of west Saxon and forsed them to swere to him feauty and to gyue vnto him pledges and other countreys adioynyng dyd the same In this seasan Egelredus beyng at London was taken wyth a greuous sykenes dyed and was there buryed in the chyrch of saynt Paule where at this day in y e North yle behynde the quere apperyth in the wal a token of hys sepulture whyche reygned or as say Policronicon other beseged Englande by the terme of xxxvi yeres full leuynge after hym a sonne named Edmunde Iron syde ouer Alphrede and Edwarde sonnes of Emma Francia THE CCI. CHAPITER LEwys the .vi. of that name son of Lothayre began hys reygne ouer Fraunce in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon ix hundred and lxxxvi and the .v. yere of Egelredus than kyng of England Of y â— whiche other for hys youth or for the shortnesse of hys reygne lytell of hys dedes is laft in memory excepte that y e Frenche boke wytnessyth that for he hadde none issue and Hugh Capet before in the story of Lothayre mynded was hys famylyer and chyefe couÌ„sayler he shuld therfore ordeyne and admytte the sayd Hugh for hys heyre But more verely as before is touched in the aboue named story in the ende therof thys Hugh was stronge and myghty and in the later dayes of Lothayre coueted the rule of the lande wherfore after the deth of this Lewys for so mych as he laft no chyld after hym he than hauyng y e chyefe rule of Fraunce by strength and power made hym selfe kynge But for I promysed in the story of Egelredus somwhat to shewe of Rycharde the fyrst of that name and thyrde duke of Normandye I shall somdele length thys story wyth the story of the sayd Rycharde Thys Rycharde as afferme all wryters was named Rychard wythout fere And for thys cause that foloweth as testyfyeth the Frenche boke He vsed mych to byd hys bedys for all crysteÌ„ soules And vpon a nyght whan he had longe watched he entred a chyrche where stode a corps vnburyed no man watchynge it And whyle he sayd hys orysons for that soule and other he layed hys gloues vppon a deske by hym And whan he had ended hys deuocyons he went out of y e chyrche for gettynge hys gloues behynde But shortly after he remembred hym of them and retorned towarde the chyrche for to fetche hys sayd glouys whan he came at the chyrch dore he founde y e corps there standynge wyth hys armes spradde abrode and makynge greate noyse and crye wherfore the duke made y e sygne of y e crosse in hys forehed and coniured the corps that he shulde reste but all was in vayne wherof the duke drewe hys sword and stroke at the corps and to hys thynkyng parted hym in two peces And that done entred the chyrche fet hys glouys so departed And for this chaunce he ordeyned after thorough hys realme that a corps shulde be watched the fyrste nyght or lenger as men hadde deuocyon which gyse was somtyme vsed in Englande and begon of the Normans as men may coniecture after they had fyrste conquered thys lande Polycronycon sheweth in the .vii. chapyter of hys .vi. boke that thys duke Rycharde dremed on a nyght that a monke of the house of saynte Audoenus in Roan as he went towarde hys lemman by nyght fyll besyde a brydge and was drowned whose soule after was in stryfe bytwene an angell and a fende The whyche after a longe stryfe condescended to put the iudgement in duke Rycharde Than the duke gaue sentence that the soule shuld be restored agayne to the body and then y e body to be set vppon y e brydge that before he was fallen fro And yf he than went to hys lemman he shuld be the fendes and yf nat he shulde than be saued And whan thys sentence was put in execucyon the monke fledde vnto the chyrche therby Uppon the morne whan the duke awoke called thys vysyon to hys memory to knowe the certaynte therof he went vnto the sayd chyrche and fande the monke there hys clothes yet wete after went to the abbot of that place and tolde to hym all thys dede aduertysynge hym to take better ouersyght of hys flocke To these narracyons the herers may gyue credence as them lyketh For they be nother in the pystle nor yet in the gospell All be it Antoninê° archbysshop of Florence whan he reherseth any lyke narracyons whych he thynketh somwhat doutefull he ioyneth these wordes and sayth piuÌ„est credere The thyrde narracyon is tolde of thys duke whych by all presumpcyon was regestred of some women scrybe Thys duke wyth Gunnore hys wyfe lyued longe whyle a dyshonest lyfe and contrary to the lawes of the chyrch wherof his people murmured sore so that at length by the holsome doctryne of some of hys clerkes or spyrytuall men he maryed her to hys lawfull wyfe The fyrste nyght after y e weddynge were it in game or otherwyse the duchesse torned her buttocke in y e dukes lappe as she before tyme hadde neuer done whan the duke frayned the cause of her so doyng for now sayd she may I do what me lyketh where before I myghte do but what you lyked Upon thys Gunnore he gate besyde other chylder Emma that was the wyfe of Egelredê° as before ye haue harde and dyed whan he had ruled Normandy by the terme of .lii. yeres Than to retourne to the .vi. Lewys kyng of Fraunce from whome we haue made a longe dygressyon as wytnesseth mayster Gagwyne he dyed in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred .lxxxix wheÌ„ he had reygned iii. yeres and was buryed at CoÌ„payne ye shall vnderstande that this Lewys was the last kynge of the blode of Pepyn And for I promysed before to shewe the dyscent of the sayde Pepyn to the ende that ye maye the better know thys story and also to knowe the kynges of Fraunce from the kynges of Germany which both discended of thys Pepyn hereafter I shall more clerely set it out in brauÌ„ches But fyrste I woll expresse the kynges of Fraunce as they reygned lynially and ioyne to eyther of them the terme that he reygned that there by it maye appere howe longe thys blode continued in y e house of Fraunce or it were empeched by Hugh Capet as after appereth The yeres Pepyn xviii Charlys xlvii Lewys the fyrste xxvi Charlys the Ballyd xxxvii Lewys balbus ii Lewys and Charlys v. Lewys the fourth viii Eudo. ix Charlys the symple xvii Radulphus xii Lewys vnus xxi Lotharius xxx Lewys the syxte iii. OF the whyche kynges .ii.
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
neuew vnto Edward the confessour as before is shewed beganne hys domynyon ouer thys realme of Englande the .xv. daye of October in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon a thousand .lxvii and y e ix yere of the fyrste Phylyppe then kyng of Fraunce and was crowned kynge of the same vppon Crystmas daye nexte folowynge of Aldredus archbyshoppe of yorke for so myche as at that tyme Stigandus archbysshoppe of Caunterbury was then absent or durste not come in the pÌ„sence of the kynge to whome he ought no great fauour as in the sequele shall appere when wyllyam had sette in quyet a great parte of thys lande he betoke the gydyng therof to his brother the byshop of Bayon and in lent folowynge sayled into Normandye and led wyth hym the chefe rulers of England for doute of sturryng in tyme of his absence Amonge the whyche the two erles Marcarê° and Edwyne rulers of Northumberlande Mercia were two wyth also Stigandus and Edgare Ethelynge To the why the Stigandus wyllyam shewed great reuerence and couÌ„tenaunce of fauoure But all proued to great dissymulacyon after as was shewed by the depryuynge of the sayd Stigandus and prysonment of hym in wynchester towne by a longe terme and season In the next wynter whan wyllyam had sped hys besynesse in Normandy he retourned into England wyth greate pompe and sette a greuous trybute vpon the Englyshmen By reason wherof some partyes of the lande rebelled agayne hym and specyally the cytye of Excetour the whyche defended hym for a certayne of tyme. But lastly by force he wanne the sayde cytye and punysshed the cytesyns greuously For thys and other sterne dedes of wyllyam Marcharus erle of Northumberlande wyth Edgare Athelynge and dyuers other as hys moder and two systers Margarete and Crystyan sayled into Scotlande But another cronycle telleth y t Edgare entendynge wyth Agatha hys moder and hys two systers to haue sayled into Almayne where he was borne was by tempest of the see dryuen into Scotlande where of Malcolyne than kynge of Scottes they were ioyously receyued And in processe of tyme the sayde Malcolyne caste suche loue vnto the sayd Margaret that he toke her to wyfe as before is touched in the fyrste chapyter of the story of Canutê° Of the which Margaret the sayde Malcolyne receyued .ii. doughters and .vi. sonnes wherof thre named Edgare AlexauÌ„der Dauyd were kynges of Scotlande nexte folowynge theyr fader And Molde one of y e foresayd doughters was after maryed vnto the fyrst Henry kynge of Englande And the other doughter Mary was maryed to Eustace erle of Bolongii Of Molde the fyrste doughter Henry receyued .ii. sonnes named wyllyam and Rychard the whych bothe dyed before theyr fader as after in y e story of the sayd Henry shall appere And he receyued also two doughters named Molde and Mary whych Molde or Mawde was maryed to y e fyfte Henry emperour of Almayne After whose deth she was agayne maryed to Godfrey of Geoffrey PlaÌ„tagenet erle of Aungeowe Of whom descended Henry surnamed shorte mantell and kynge of Englande called Henry the seconde And the other doughter Mary was maryed vnto the erle of Blaynes of whoÌ„ descended Molde or Mawde that was wyfe vnto kynge Stephen Than it foloweth that thys wyllyam after thys foresayd trybute so leuyed of the Englysshemen and knowynge of the depertynge of the lordes foresayde kepte the other the streyter But it was not longe after that Marcharus was reconsyled to the kynges grace and fayled agayn as folowynge shall be shewed For thys and other causes whyche were tedyous to shewe wyllyam exalted the Normans and gaue vnto them the chyefe possessyons of the lande so that they dayly encreased in great honour and welth and the Englysh men as faste decayed Kynge wyllyaÌ„ also made .iiii. stronge castels where of two be sette at yorke the thyrde at Lyndetyngham or Notynghm and manned them wyth Normans and the .iiii. at Lyncolne About the thyrde yere of his reygne Harolde Canutus sonnes of Swanus kynge of Denmarke came on lande in the North of Humber wyth a stronge nauy and in all haste drew them towarde yorke Than the Normans whyche hadde the rule of the towne and castelles feryng that the Englysshemen wolde ayde the Danys and wyth the houses of the suburbes of the towne haue fylled the towne dyches sette the suburbes on fyre wherof y e flame was so bygge and wyth the wynde so stronge that it toke into the cytye brent a parte therof wyth the mynster of saynt Peter In tyme wherof the Danys by fauour of some of the citesyns entred the cytye and slewe more than thre thousande of the Normans But it was not longe or kynge wyllyam chased the Danys to theyr shyppes and toke so greate dyspleasure wyth the inhabytauntes of that prouynce that he destroyed the land lyenge bytwene yorke and Durham in suche wyse that .ix. yeres after or there about the lande laye vnlabored vntylled onely out taken saynt IohnÌ„s lande of Beuerley the which was for borne by reason of a wreche done by dyuyne power vpon one of kynge wyllyams knyghtes The whych as he was besyed in wastyng and spoylynge of the sayde countre fyll sodeynly wyth hys horse so that hys horse brake hys necke and the knyghtes face was turned to his backe And of the famyne that the people of that countre susteyned wonders are reported that they shuld eate all maner of vermyn as cattes rattes dogges other so harde they were kepte by the warre of the kyng And in that yere also Molde or Mawde the wyfe of kynge wyllyaÌ„ was crowned quene of England of Aldredus archebysshop of yorke In the .iiii. yere of the reygne of thys kynge the Scottes with Malcolyne theyr kynge entred Northumberlande and wasted and destroyed sore that countre and slewe there in myche people and many they toke prysoners helde theÌ„ as bonde men But in the .vi. yere of hys kyngdome wyllyam made such warre vppon the Scottes that he lastely forced the sayde Malcolyne to swere to hym bothe homage and feauty as it is wytnessed of wyllyam of Malmesbery and other wryters THE CCXX CHAPITER Kynge willyam by counsayle of the erle of Hortford and other caused the abbeyes of Englande to be serched And what money in them at that season was founde he caused it to be brought to hys treasour For the whyche dede after the exposycyoÌ„ of some authours the sayd erle was punysshed as after shall be shewed Soone vpon thys in the tyme by twene Easter and wytsontyde was holden a solempne counsayle at wynchester of the clergy of Englande At the whyche counsayle were presente two cardynalles sent from y e second Alexaunder than pope In thys couÌ„sayle Stygandus archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury was depryued from his dygnytye and that for thre skylles The fyrste was for that he had holden wrongfully that bysshopryche whyle Robert the archebysshop was lyuynge The seconde cause was for that he hadde receyued the Paule
subtyle meanes to be agreable vnto theyr vntrouth whyche erle had to name walref But at length when thys erle walref hadde knowen the fyne of theyr entent he went vnto Lamfranke and shewed to hym the hole mater By whose counsayll he shortely after sayled vnto the kyng then beynge in Normandye and dysclosed the mater to hym and putte hym holy in hys grace and mercye when the kynge had harde of these tydynges he made good semblaunt vnto this erle walref and sped hym the faster into Englande But howe so yt was the forenamed two erles were warned of dysclosynge of this mater in such wyse y t they gaderyd to theym suche strength that y e kyng coude not haue them at his pleasure but as he was fayne by stronge haÌ„de to chase and outlawe theym And for he fayled of his purpose of them he emprysoned erle walref at wynchester and lastely caused hym to be hedded more of tyranny then of iustyce as affermeth myne authoure whose corps was buryed at the abbay of Crowlande In the .xi. yere was holden a great counsayll or synode of the clergye of the lande in saynt Paules chyrche of London where amoÌ„ges many thynges ordeyned for the rule of y e chyrch of England dyuers byshoppes sees were transported from one place to another as Selwey to Chychester KyrtonÌ„ to Exeter welles to Bathe Shyrbourne to Salysbury Dorchester to Lyncolne and the see of Lychefelde to Chester whyche thynges thus ordered wyth many other for the chyrche the sayde counsayll was dyssolued In the .xiii. yere of hys reygne after the deth of Herman byshoppe of Salysbury succeded OsmuÌ„de y e kynges chaunceller The whyche buylded there a new chyrch and brought thyther clerkes that were garnyshed wyth vertue and connynge And he hym self wrote bounde bokes that were occupyed in the dyuyne seruyce of the chyrche as the ordynall or consuetudynary the whyche at this daye is occupyed in the more partye of Englande wyth walys and Irlande and is nowe named Salysbury vse or the ordynary after Salysbury vse In the .xv. yere of his reygne Robert the eldest sonne of kynge wyllyam the whyche was surnamed Curthose or Shorthose and shorte bote also for he myght not haue the duchy of Normandy whych his father hadde somtyme assygned and gyuen vnto hym and after for hys wyldenesse hadde agayne resumed yt he wyth fauoure and ayde of y e French kynge Phylyppe and of Lewys hys sonne toke prays in that duchy and put hys father to myche trouble in so myche that at length the father the sonne met in playne felde with .ii. great hostes and eyther wyth other faught a cruell batayll It is radde that durynge thys batayll wyllyam was throweÌ„ from his horse and in great ieopardy of hys lyfe wherof hys sonne Robert beyng ware was so moued wyth pytye y t he rescowed his father and delyuered hym free from all daunger of his enymyes But howe so yt betyde of the kynge trouth yt is that many of his men were slayn his second son wyllyam the rede sore hurte so that in the ende kynge wylliam was fayn to refuse the felde and gatte at that tyme none aduauntage of his sayde sonne For the whiche dede and rebellyon thus made by the sonne y e fader accursed hym after the opynyon of some wryters whyle kyng wyllyam was thus occupyed in Normandy the Northumbers waxte sterne rebell and slewe in theyr rage walkerus the bishop of Durham but for what cause myne authour expressyth not Aboute thys tyme warynge erle of Shrewesbury made two abbayes in the worshyp of god and saynte Mylborgh wherof one was set in the suburbes of Shrewesbury and y e other at wenioke In the .xvii. yere of kyng wyllyam a cursed stryfe was arered betwene Thurstone abbot of Glastenbury a Norman and his munkes wherof a part of the cause was that the abbot despysed wold haue set a part such songe and offices as by pope Gregory and Augustyn his dyscyple of old tyme to them was assygned wolde haue compelled them to haue folowed the vse of one wyllyaÌ„ of FescampÌ„ And ouer that this Thurstone wasted and speÌ„ded the goodes of y e place inordynatly in lechery and by other insolent meanes and wythdrew froÌ„ the munkes theyr olde accustomed dyet For the whyche causes fyrst beganne great wordes wyth chydyng and after strokes and fyghtes so y t the abbot gat vnto hym armed men and fyll vppon hys munkes slewe two of them at y e hygh alter and wouÌ„ded of theym .xviii. And the munkes wyth fourmes and candelstyckes defended theym in suche wyse that they hurte many of the armed men Then the complaynte was brought before the kyng by whose iudgemeÌ„t Thurstone was agayne returned vnto Cadony froÌ„ wheÌ„s he was brought and the muÌ„kes were spredde abrode into dyuers houses thorough Englande But yt is sayde that in the tyme of wyllyaÌ„ the Rede this ThurstonÌ„ obteyned the rule of that abbay agayne for the pryce of .v. hundred pounde In the .xix. yere of his reygne kyng willyam then raysed a new maner of trybute For he caused to be gadered thorough England of euery hyde of lande .vi. sÌ„ An hyde of lande conteyneth .v. yerdes and euery yerde conteyneth foure acres And so an hyde of lande conteyneth .xx. acres an acre conteyneth .xl. perches in length and .iiii. in brede .iiii. acres make a yerde and .v. yerdes make an hyde and .viii. hydes make a knightes fee. By the whyche reason a knyghtes fee shuld welde a hundred .lx. acres and that is demed for a plough tyll a yere And not longe after he caused to be serchyd howe myche lande eche of hys barons helde how many knyghtes fees how many townes what nombre of men and of bestes were wyth in this lande wherof he commaunded a boke to be made whyche all was done For the whyche dede this lande was after greued wyth many sondry plages as after shall appere In the .xx. yere of the reygne of kynge wyllyam Canutus kynge of Denmarke wyth helpe of the Flemmynges to whome he was called wyth a great armye came towarde Englande But by the prouysyon of the kynge they were so fered that they were let of theyr iourney Then kyng wyllyam gaue vnto .iii. of his champyons .iii. byshopryches To Moryce he gaue London to willyam he gaue Thetforde and to Robert he gaue Chester whych Robert was after remoued to Couentre Of this Robert reporteth Ranulfe that he scraped froÌ„ one beme of his chirch in Couentre .v. huÌ„dred marke to fyll wyth y e hande of kyng wyllyam For erle Leofricus y t was duke of Mercia in the tyme of Edwarde the coÌ„fâ—ssour had adourned that chyrch with great ryches of golde syluer other precyous iewelles In thys yere Edgare Ethelynge whych was reconcyled vnto the kynges fauoure by lycence of the kynge sayled into Apulia Then beganne the forsayde plages to sprynge For greate morayne fell vppon the brute bestes and brennyng
in lawe wyllyam son of kynge Henry whyche hadde maryed hys doughter About the .xx. yere of the reygne of kyng Henry quene Molde or Mawde hys wyfe dyed in Normandy the whyche in her youthe was set by her father kyng of Scottes into a nunry and there ware vsed the vayle and habyte of a nunne For the whiche cause when kynge Henry was agreable to take her vnto wyfe thys mater fell in great despucyon Anselme then archebyshop of Caunterbury was sore agayne that maryage a season of tyme. But at length yt was suffycyeÌ„tly proued that she was there as a fygure a woman worynge that habyte wythoute professyon of order And this was thus ordered by her father to the ende to put by vnworthy wowers Thys of wryters was reputed for a blessyd and holy woman after the lyuynge of a worldly woman when kynge Henry had contynued in Normandy vppon the season and terme of .iii. yeres he toke shyppyng at Haterflete in Normandy and sayled happely into Englande the same day that is to meane y e .xxiiii. day of Nouember as sayth some wryters And shortly after willyaÌ„ duke of Normandy wyth Rycharde his brother Notha the countesse of Persye Rycharde erle of Chester with his wyfe the kynges nyce and the archdekyn of Herforde and other to the nomber of a hundred .lx. persones toke shyppynge at the sayde porte were all drowned a bocher onely excepte whyche mysfortune fell by the ouersyght of the maister and other which fell at a dyssencyon in the nyghte amonge them selfe by reason wherof they ranne vppon a rocke as shewed the foresayde bocher From this dauÌ„ger wyllyam duke of NormaÌ„dy was escaped and was in the shyppe bote nere vnto the lande But when he harde the lameÌ„table crye of the CouÌ„tesse Notha he commaunded the rowers to returne and saue the sayd Countesse whych done by what mysfortune I can not saye after she was receyued into the bote were it by tempeste or ouer chargynge of the bote or otherwise they were all swalowid of the see so that none of them was after fouÌ„de but ê‘te of theyr goodes Of this duke wyllyaÌ„ some desclaunderous wordes are lefte in memory both in the englyshe cronycle and also of other wryters the whyche I ouerpasse THE CCXXIX CHAPITER IN the .xxi. yere of hys reygne kynge Henry made y e parke of wodestoke be syde Oxenforde with other plesures to the same And Fouques erle of Angiers returned out of the holy land and maryed the syster of her that before he had maryed vnto wyllam duke of Normandye vnto the son of Robert Curthose and gaue wyth her the erledome of Conomanna And stryfe began to kyndell betwene kynge Henry the sayd Fouques for the wytholdyng of the dowre or ioynture of hys fyrste doughter maryed wnto wyllyam the kynges sonne In the .xxiii. yere of kynge Henry dyed Raufe archbyshoppe of Caunterbury and one named wyllyaÌ„ was set in y e see after hym And the kynge in thys yere beganne the foundacyon of y e abbay of Redyng And IohnÌ„ a cardynall of Rome was sente from Calyxte the seconde of that name theÌ„ beynge pope for certayne maters coÌ„cernynge the pope In the tyme of whyche hys so beynge here the cardynall made sharpe processe agayne prestes that norysshed Crysten moyles and rebuked them by open publyshement and otherwyse so that he wan hym here but small lytle fauoure But this dyssymuled doctour toke so great feruence in the correccyon of the iudgement of prestes of Englande that he forgate the lore and couÌ„sayll of his famous pope Caton whyche in the boke of his counsayll or of wysedome thus sayth Quae cuspare soses ea tu ne feceris ipse Turpe est doctori cum cuspa redarguit ipsum The whyche two verses maye be englyshed as foloweth Auyse y e well let reason be thy guyde when other folke thou arte aboute to blame That suche defaute in the be not espyed For yf there be then shalt thou haue the shame A mannes honoure suche thynges woll reclayme It ys full foule when that a man woll chese If that hys dede agayne hys wordes preche This couÌ„sayll was not remembred of the sayd Cardynall For in the euenynge after he had lewdely blowen his horne and sayde it was a detestable synne to aryse from the syde of a strumpet sacre the body of Cryste he was taken wyth a strumpet to his open shame and rebuke In the .xxv. yere of kynge Henry was called a counsayll at London where the spyrytualty condescended that the kynges offycers shulde punyshe prestes that cheryshed the foresayde mulys But the sayd offycers toke money and sufferyd the prestes to spurre theyr mulys at theyr pleasure whyche offyce at this daye is so clerely renouÌ„ced of al spyritual men y t neyther kyng nor bishop taketh for yt any synes nor yet correccyon necessarye to be done for the same In the .xxvii. yere of his reygne as reporteth an olde Cronycle the gray freres by procuryng of y e kyng came fyrste into Englande and had theyr fyrst house buylded at Caunterbury And aboute this tyme by moste accorde of writers dyed Henry the .iiii. emperour of that name whyche as before is touched maryed Molde the doughter of kyng Henry After whose deth the sayde empresse came vnto her father into Normandye when kyng Henry was ascertaynted of the deth of Henry the emperour for so myche as he hadde none heyre male he caused soone after the more party of hys lordes of England as well spirytuall as temporall to swere in his presence that they shuld kepe y e land of Englande to the vse of Mawde y e empresse yf he dyed wythoute yssue male and she then suruyued In the .xxviii. yere of kyng Henry Geffrey PlaÌ„tagenet erle of Angeou maryed Molde the empresse Of the whyche two descended Henry the second that after Stephan was kyng of Englande In this yere also the kynge had dyuers monycyons and vysyons For amonge other ferefull dremys he saw a great company of clerkys with dyuerse wepons whyche manassed hym for dette that he shuld owe vnto them And when they were passed he thought y t he was manassed to deth of his own knyghtes And lastely apperyd to hym a great company of byshoppes whych thretened hym and wolde haue smytten hym wyth theyr crosses By this monicyon he toke remorce in his conscyence and dyd great dedes of charyte in Normandye where he hadde sene these visyons And after his coÌ„myng then into Englande in satysfaccyon of wronges done to the chyrche as affermeth Guydo he then founded the abbay of Redynge before spoken of And ouer that he releasyd vnto Englyshe men the Dane gelt that was by his father his brother renewed In the .xxx. yere of this kyng Henry dyed the erle of Flaundres and kynge Henry as sayth Ranulfe was by agrement of Lewys the Frenche kyng made erle as next heyr enherytour to the sayde erledome But it is not there expressed by
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
towne toke ê‘tye wyth the duke brake out vppon the nyght and fyred the town and brent a great parte therof In this while dyed and was drowned Eustace the sonne of kynge Stephan and was buried at Feuersham in Kent in the abbay that his father before had buylded Thybaude archbyshop of Caunterbury left not to labour conclude y e peace betwene y e kyng the duke endeuored hym selfe therin so dylygently wyth the assystence of other that in the yere folowynge the peace was coÌ„cluded vppon dyurese condycyons wherof one was that y e kyng shulde contynue as kynge durynge his lyfe and immedyatly after y e conclusion of this peace the sayd Henry shuld be proclaymed in all the chefe cytyes and townes of Englande for heyr apparant be kynge after the deth of the sayde Stephan and that the kynge shulde take hym for hys son of adopcyon and ryghtefull heyr vnto the crowne To the whyche couenauÌ„tes iustly to be holden y e kyng was fyrste sworne and after his lordes spyrytuall and temporall and so yode bothe to London where they were royally receyued And when y e kyng had fested the duke and gyuen to hym ryche gyftes he toke leue of the kynge and so returned into Normandye as affyrmeth the sayde authour the Floure of historyes Howe be yt the cronycle of England sayth that the accorde was made vpon dyuysyon of the lande betwene theym that is to meane that both shuld reygne to gyther and eyther of them to enioye halfe the lande But how that dyuysyon was made or whych parte of the lande eueryche of them shulde hold no meÌ„cion therof is made And the former accorde shuld be as abue is sayde concluded .viii. days folowynge the Epyphanye of our lorde in the towne of Oxenford And y e kyng dyed in the moneth of October folowyng when he had reygned .xviii. yeres full and odde monethes and was enterred in theforsayde abbay of Feuyrsham Of dyuers authours as Ranulfe and other yt is recorded that thys Stephan lyued in great vexacyon and trouble all the terme of hys reygne It is sayde also that thys Stephan maryed Molde or Mawde the doughter of Mary the whyche was the doughter of Henry the fyrst and countesse of Boloyne by whome he claymed the tytle to be crowned as by the yonger doughter of Henry the fyrst and Henry shorte mantell claymed by the elder But after most certenty of wryters this Stephan was sonne of Eustace erle of Boloyne and of Mary syster vnto Molde that was maryed vnto Henry the fyrste whych Molde and Mary were doughters of Margarete wife of Malcolyn kyng of Scottes whyche Margaret was syster to Edgare Ethelynge and doughter of Edwarde the outlawe that was the sonne of Edmunde Ironsyde Then the eldest syster Molde bare Molde the empresse by Henry the fyrste And Molde y e empresse doughter of Henry the fyrst hadde by her second husbande Geffrey Plantagenet Henry the seconde And so by Henry shorte mantell or Henry the seconde returneth the bloode of the Saxons to the crowne of Englande and so it dyd by Stephan but moste conuenyently by Henry the fyrst as by the dyssent of his mother By whych reason yt foloweth that the blood of willyam conquerour continued but .lxx. yeres yf it be accompted from y e fyrst yere of wyllyam Conquerour vnto the laste yere of Henry the fyrste Thys kynge Stephan at the request of Molde hys wyfe buylded in the yere of grace .xi. hundred .xl y e abbey of Coggeshale in Essex and set therin whyte muÌ„kes Also about the same tyme he founded the abbay of Feuersham in Kent where he nowe corporally resteth And the thyrde he founded in Furneys in Lancashyre and all he garnyshed wyth munkys of Cysteaux order dyed as before is sayde wythout yssue of his body Francia THE CCXXXIIII CHAPITER LEwys the .viii. of that name son of Lewys y e great began his reygn ouer the Frenche men in y e yere of our lord .xi. hundred .xxxvi y e fyrst yere of Stephan then kyng of Englande This also is called the yonger Lewys in whose begynnynge Iohannes de teÌ„poribus dyed Thys IohnÌ„ was somtyme a squyer in the house of Charlys the conquerour the whyche lyued ouer .iii. hundred yeres for whyche cause he was named IohnÌ„ of tyme as he y t myght remeÌ„ber thinges done of longe tyme passed This Lewys at y e tyme of his fathers deth was in the countrey of Guyan for to receyue the dower of his wyfe Elyanour as before in the storye and seconde chapyter of kyng Stephan is touched But when he harde of y e deth of his father he sped hym into FrauÌ„ce where after the necessaryes for the weale of his realme ordeyned he maryed his wyues syster named Alys vnto Arnolde erle of Uermendoze After whyche maryage solempnysed tydynges were broughte vnto hym that the crysten people beynge in the holy lande as warryours vppon the Turkes and Sarasyns were dystressed and ouerthrowen and dyuerse stronge holdes from them taken and wonne wherfore by the exhortacyon of that holy muÌ„ke Bernarde whych at this day is called saynt Bernard y e sayd Lewys wyth also Conradus the .iii. of that name then emperour of Almayne wyth Alphon then kynge of Spayne wyth dyuerse other nobles of Fraunce other prouynces toke vpon them the crosse and prouyded for the expedycyon of that iourney in the .iiii. yere of hys reygne after some wryters But of the takyng of hys iourney dyuers writers holde diuers oppinyons so that the doute resteth betwene the yere of our lord .xi. hundred .xl and the yere of .xi. hundred and .l. when all thynges were redy for that iourney the kynge the quene wyth the floure of the chyualry of FrauÌ„ce set forthwarde vppon that iourney and came in processe of tyme vnto Constantyn the noble where he met wyth Conradus the emperour and Alphons kynge of Spayne whom the prynce Emanuell then emperour of Constantyne the noble receyued ioyusly and made to theym by his outwarde contenaunce louynge and frendely chere and promised vnto theym ayde in that iourney bothe of vitayll and also for guydes for the nexte and surest waye But he contrary to his promyse dyd dysapoynte theym and nothynge ayded theym For he delyueryd vnto theym meale myngeled wyth lyme wherof grewe myche harme to the crysten hoste after And also he assygned vnto them suche guydes as brought them into places and couÌ„treys of sterylyte and other daunger so that hastely the Frenche kyng wyth great dyffyculte and losse of his men came vnto the citye of Danas and becleped yt with a stronge syege the whych he assauted and enpayred very sore and was lykely to haue wonne yt yf he had assauted y e place styll where he began But by counsayll of some false crysten men the whyche as wytnesseth Peter Dysroye and other had taken mede of the Turkes the kynge by theyr counsayll remoued the ordynaunce from the weker place vnto y
eche of them of other of one wyll and mynde toke shyppyng and sayled to Douer and in all haste spedde theym vnto Caunterburye where the .v. daye of Cristmasse they executed theyr tyrannye and martyred that blessyd archebysshoppe at that aulter of sayne Benet wythin hys owne chyrche in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon a thousande a hundred and .lxx as yt ys wytnessyd by these versys folowyng Anno milleno centeno septuageno Anglorum primas corruit ense Thomas The whych is to vnderstande in our vulgare as thus ¶ The yere to reken from Crystes incarnacyon A thousande an hundred and seuentye therunto The prymate of Englande wyth great abomynacyon was slayne wyth sworde Thomas that wolde not do The kynges hest whyche erred the ryghte fro Of the chyrche and lybertyes of the same wherby of honoure he wanne perpetuall fame After this cruell dede thus by the foure knyghtes done wherwyth the kynge after some wryters was not contented the kynges fortune beganne to decreace and fall so that he hadde after thys many aduersyteys where before he knewe not of lyke trouble In the .xvii. yere of his reygne the kynge made a iourney into Irland where wyth great trauayle he subdued the Iryshe And after wyth helpe of the prymate and byshoppe of Arnache he refourmed the maner of the dwellers and people of that countrey and that in thre thynges specyally Fyrste in rulynge and orderynge of the chyrche by the curates how they shuld order theyr dy uyne seruyce and mynyster the sacramente of matrymonye as yt was in Englande and other crysten regyons The seconde was how that the laye people shuld behaue theym to theyr curates and what wyse they shulde paye and offer to god theyr tythes The thyrde was for makyng of theyr testamentes Thys was ordeyned that euery man shulde make hys laste wyll in p̄sence of his neyghbours or at leste cause yt to be rede in theyr presence And fyrste he shuld reken what he ought and to sette so myche of hys goodes And yf he had a wyfe and chyldren then the resydue of hys goodes hys dettys beyng payde to be deuyded in thre partes one to the wyfe the seconde for the chyldren and the thyrde to be spente for the weale of the soule And yf he hadde no chyldren then the halfe to hys soule and that other halfe to his wyfe And yf he hadde no wyfe nor chyldren then to dyspose hys goodes at hys pleasure In the returne of the kynge oute of Irlande was a wonder thynge shewed vnto hym vppon whytesondaye whyche in the calender is called dominica in Albys whē the kyng shuld take his horse sodeynly appered vnto hym a man of pale wanne colour barefote and in a whyte kyrtell the whyche bodely spake vnto the kynge in the langage of duche and sayde syr kynge Criste greetyth the we le and hys mylde moder mary with also Iohn̄ Baptyst and Peter and commaunde the streyghtly that no Markettes nor seruyle workes be holden vppon the sondaye in the landes of thy lordeshyppe oute take that longeth to dressynge of mete And yf thou do after thys byddynge I assure the that all thynge that thou begynnest to good entent or of good purpose thou shalt bryng yt to good ende The kynge lyked nothynge thys speche and sayd to the knyghte that helde hys brydell Aske of thys chorle whether he haue dremed all thys that he telleth wherunto thys man answered whyther I haue mette thys tale in my dreme or not take thou hede well of my saynge For and thou do not as I haue aduertysed the amende thy lyfe thou shalte shortely here suche thynges that thou shalte be heuy fore to thy lyues ende The kyng toke all in game and the man vanyshed sodeynly that the kyng his knyghtes wonderyd of hys departynge wherof when the kynge was warned both of hys fyrste sodeynly apperynge and of hys departynge the kynge sette yt nere hys mynde and entendyd to do some thynges after that mannys counsayll But how yt was yt had no forwarde After that the blessed man Thomas was martyred the munkes by assent of the kynge chase Rycharde pryour of Douer the whyche was a man of euyll lyuynge and wasted the goodes of y e chyrch inordynatly THE CCXXXVIII CHAPITER ABoute the .xx. yere of the kynges reygne he purchased a dyspensacyon for the vyage that before he hadde solempnely auowed before .ii. cardynallys to go into the holy lande and to ieoperde hys proper persone agaynst Crystes enymyes The whyche dyspensacyon was grauntyd vppon one condycyon that he shulde buylde thre abbays in Englande In fulfyllynge wherof the kynge put oute of the howse of waltham seculer chanons and set there in theyr stede chanons reguler And for the seconde he auoyded the munkes oute of the house of Aumbrysbury and sette there menchons that he hadde brought from beyonde the see And for the thyrde he renewed coursely the charter house of wytham besyde Salysburye By whyche thre dedes he thought hym selfe excused of hys former promyse Then beganne his sonnes to make warre vppon hym the whyche were ayded by the Scottyshe kynge and the two erles of Chester and of Lyncolne The cause of whyche warre was after the declaracyon of some wryters for so myche as the kynge hadde emprysoned Elyanoure hys wyfe and kepte that wenche Rosamounde agayne all good order But other say yt was for certayne landes in Normandye whyche by ayde of the Frenche kynge Rycharde the .iii. sonne of byrthe and seconde then lyuynge wolde haue taken from hys father Of thys warre speketh nothynge the frenche cronycle Then as testyfyeth Ranulfe this innaturall warre endured by the terme of two yeres to the great dysturbaunce of the kynge and of hys realme tyll the kynge wyth great deuocyon vysyted the graue of the holy martyr saynte Thomas After whyche pylgrymage was by hym fynysshed in shorte processe after wyllyam kynge of Scottes and the two forenamed erlys of Chester and Lyncolne were taken at the castell of Anwyke But yet he lefte not the company of the forenamed Rosamunde to the whych wenche he hadde made an house of wonder workyng so that no creature man or woman myghte wynne to her but yf he were instructe by the kynge or suche as were ryght secrete with hym touchynge that mater Thys house after some wryters was named Labyrinthus or Dedalus worke or house whyche ys to meane after moste exposytours an howse wroughte lyke vnto a knot in a garden called a mase But the common fame telleth that lastely the quene wan to her by a clew of threde or sylke and delte wyth her in suche maner that she lyued not longe after Of the maner of her deth spekyth nothynge myne authoure but when she was dede she was buryed at the howse or monasterye of Goddestow besyde Oxenforde with these versys vppon her toumbe Hic iacet in tūba Rosa mūdi sed nō rosa mūda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere
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
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
wretched nygh all the lande But so faste as thys innaturall or euyll dysposyd man besyed hym to vex and greue the crysten men in England so fast besyed this good kyng Rycharde to vexe dere the infydels of Sury So y t dayly he wanne of theym or at the leste putte theym from the wynnynge of suche townes and holdes as they by theyr great strength entendyd to haue wonne Anno domini M.C.xciiii  Anno domini M.C.xcv.  Roger Duke  Balliui  Anno quinto  Rycharde fyz Aleyn  IN the ende of September and begynnynge of the fyfte yere of kynge Rycharde Guy de Lesyngeman laste crysten kynge of Hierusalem dyed Choras a noble Crysten man captayne of a towne called Sur was shortly after slayne by the Turkes whose wyfe for as mych as she was ryghtfull enherytour of the crowne of HierusaleÌ„ the kyng gaue her in maryage vnto y e erle of Champayne And for kynge Rycharde perceyued well yÌ„e cristen hoste mynyshed dayly as well by infyrmytyes as lacke of vytayll and otherwyse he sought meanes of a peace or trewce for a tyme and had yt graunted for thre yeres The whyche peace stablyshed and proclaymed in the hoste and countrey nere about kynge Rycharde betoke the rule and guydyng of the Cristen vnto the erle of Champayne promysynge hym or y e trewce were endyd to come wyth a stronger hoste and wyth goddes myght to set hym in possessyon of the cytye of Hierusalem as the ryght of his wyfe Then Hubert byshop of Salysbury yode forth hym selfe from y e kyng to the holy citye and offeryd there an hoste and retourned agayne to the kynge After whose returne y e kynge takynge leue of the erle of Champayne and other toke his shyppyng at Acrys or Acon whyche ys named Tholomayda also and so returned to the yle of Cypre or Cyprys Thens the kynge sent the quene hys wyfe and her syster wyth y e more parte of hys people vnto Scycyll and he wyth a small company for he myghte not endure the softenesse of the see toke his shyppynge in the moneth of September and sayled wyth a stronge wynde towarde a couÌ„trey callyd Histria But he was dryuen by force of wederynge betwene Uenyse and Aquinilia or Aquilegia and houyd there a season and costed hyther and thyther so that lastely he was espyed and taken of the duke of Ostrychys men Anno domini M.C.xcv.  Anno domini M.C.xcvi  wyllyam fyz Isabell.  Balliui  Anno sexto  wyllyam fyz Arnolde  ABout the moneth of October .vi. yere of hys reygne thys good kynge Rycharde was taken in fourme folowynge As he lay thus as before is sayde betwene Uenyce and Aquilegia a ê“uynce of the duke of Ostrych one Meynart of Gorezeyn ruler of that countrey vnder the foresayde duke made out certayne souldyours for to haue taken hym But he by hys prouydence and manhode escapyd y e sayd Maynarde or Maynart how be yt that some of hys knyghtes were there takyn Then kynge Rycharde passed y e couÌ„trey secretly tyll he came to a towne named Frysake In thys towne was then prouoste or ruler a knyght called Frederyk de saynt Soom y e whyche also dyd hys deuoure to take the kynge and toke .vi. of his knyghtes prysoners but hym selfe wyth the remenaunt of hys company escaped Then the kynge seynge that he was in daunger of hys enymyes drewe more into the way towarde Almayn But thys was soone knowen of hys enymyes so that by the meanes of one called Duke of Lymple and cosyn to the emperoure all the wayes were closyd in suche wyse that in the ende kynge Rycharde was taken by the seruauntes of the sayd duke nere vnto a citye or towne called Menne or Meune wythin the lande or terrytory of the emperoure and after brought vnto the sayde duke Lymple or after some to the duke of Ostriche y e which spoyled hym of all y t he hadde and after caste hym in prison and there streyghtely kepte hym by the space of a moneth and at the monethes ende sente hym vnto Henry the .vi. of that name or after some wryters the .v. sonne of the fyrst Frederyke then emperour of Almayne the whyche helde hym in more vyle pryson from that tyme tyll lent after and couenauntyd wyth the duke of Ostryche to haue the thyrde parte of the profyte that came of kynge Rycharde About the sonday of Palmys the emperour brought forth the kynge before the lordes of Almayne there to gyue answere vnto suche thynges as shuld be layde vnto hym where he came forth wyth so good a couÌ„tenaunce also answered so dyscretely and dyrectely to all maters layde vnto hys charge that the emperoure was not alonely bende to shewe to hym mercy but also he dyd to hym honour and worshyppe and helde hym at more libertye after that daye It is redde of thys Rycharde that durynge the tyme of hys imprysonement he shuld sle a lyon and tere the harte oute of hys bodye where thorough he shulde deserue the name of Rycharde Cure de Lyon and y t he shuld wyth a stroke of his fyst sle the emperours sonne and also deflorysh the emperours doughter But these are fablys ymagined by englysh tale tellers to auaunce theyr kynge Rycharde as the Brytons by theyr fayned talys auaunced theyr kynge Arture In this passetyme wyllyam Longeshamp byshop of Ely contynuynge his crudelyte and tyrannye wythin Englande was lastely by strength of the lordes put oute of the lande Then he came to the kynge beynge prysoner shewyd for hym self the beste he coude But when he saw he myght not begyle the kynge wyth his sugryd wordes he hadde small truste of the kynges fauour returned into Fraunce to tarye there the kynges commynge Thys yere IohnÌ„ the kynges brother by excityng of the French kyng when he harde of the takyng and imprisonynge of hys brother began to make warre within y e lande toke by strength y e castelles of wyndesour and of Notyngham other And the frenche kyng vpon his partye made strong warre in NormaÌ„dy as it is before shewed in the story of the second Phylyppe than kynge of Fraunce Anno domini M.Cxcvi  Anno domini M.C.xcvii  Robert Besaunt  Balliui  Anno .vii.  Iokell Iosne  IN the .vii. yere of kynge Rycharde Hubert byshoppe of Salysbury the whych hadde accompanyed the kynge in that voyage and was sente wyth the quene into Scycyll retourned or came to the kyng where he was prysoner whom the kynge sente soone after into Englande to haue the guydynge therof and also to treate wyth the lordes and commons of hys realme howe he myghte be sette at lybertye It was not long after the coÌ„myng home of this Hubert but the muÌ„kes of the house of Cristes chyrch of CauÌ„terburye chase hym to the archebysshoppes see and hadde the palle and was stallyd soone after This was easy to the muÌ„kes how well y e
chase of them self a capitayn of low byrth called Dauid so wyth wyues and chyldren passed the next countreys wyth robbynge and spoylyng and grew shortly in great strength and after subdued the partes many other vycyne countreys and grewe lastely vnto great domynyon and lordshyppe in the eest partes of the worlde so that lately theyr prynce or souerayne ys called the great Cahan In this yere as wytnessyth Polycronycon the kynge of Scottys dyd homage to kynge IohnÌ„ at LyncolnÌ„ and sware vpon the crosse of Hubert archbishoppe of Caunterbury in the presence of a legate of Rome .xiii. byshoppes to be trew lyege man to hym and to hys heyres kynges And in this yere one Estate called abbot of Flay came into Englande and amonge other myracles by hym shewyd he blessed a well besyde the towne of wye in kent so y e men and women drynkyng of that water were curyd of dyuerse maladyes But lastly he dyspleasyd so the byshoppes of England y t he was glade to leue the lande after sayled into Normandy Anno domini M.CC.ii  Anno domini M.CC.iii  Arnolde  Balliui  Anno .iii.  Rycharde  About the moneth of December in y e thyrd yere of IohnÌ„s reygn in the prouynce of yorke were sene .v. moonys One in the Eest the seconde in the weste the thyrd in the North y e fourth in the South and the fyfte as it were set in the myddes of the other and yode .vi. tymes in compassynge the other as yt were by the space of an howre and vanyshed away soone after Thys yere in the moneth of February kynge Phylyp callyd a parliameÌ„t at Uerdon where yt was amonge other maters concluded that kynge IohnÌ„ as hys lyege man shulde appere at his parlyameÌ„t holdeÌ„ at Paris wythin .xv. dayes of Eester next folowynge But for so myche as kynge IohnÌ„ nor none for hym apperyd to shewe some lawfull impedymeÌ„t the Frenche kynge therfore entryd the duchy of Normandy and toke the castellys of Bounte of Gentelyne and Gurnay and seased into hys handes all suche landes as Hugh de Gurnay held gaue them vnto Arture foresayde duke of Brytayne And more ouer he gaue to the said Arture y e couÌ„tye of Angeou with two hundred prysoners and a certayne of money to defende the sayde countrey agayn kynge IohnÌ„ when kynge IohnÌ„ had vnderstandynge of all the cruell dealynge of kynge Phylyppe he callyd a counsayll and there asked ayde and was graunted a new ayde to wythstande the Frenche kynges malyce And about Lammasse after the kyng with a fayre coÌ„pany sayled into Normandye and so spedde hym into the countrey of Angeou for so myche as he was enfourmed that Arture hys neuew and duke of Brytayne warryd wythin the same and toke hym prysoner with certayne other knyghtes as syr Hugh le Bruns syr Godfrey de Losyngham wyth dyuerse other At whych tyme kynge Phylyppe lay at the syege of the castell of Arques and herynge of thys dyscomfyture brake vp hys syege to the entent to haue rescowyd the sayde duke But when he was warned that he shulde come to shorte he then chaunged his purpose and went vnto the cytye of Towrys and wanne yt by strength And after for that wynter drew nere he returned into Fraunce In which season also kynge IohnÌ„ retourned wyth his prysoners into Englande In this yere by counsayâ—l of the burgeysys of the cytye of London were chosen .xxxv. of the moste substancyall and wyseste myn whyche after some were called the counsayll of the cytye Of the whych yerely the bailyuys were chosen and after the mayre and shryues were taken of the same nomber Anno domini M.CC.iii  Anno domini M.CC.iiii Balliui Normand Blondell Anno .iiii.  IohnÌ„ of Ely  IN thys fourthe yere of kynge IohnÌ„ were sene many wonderfull tokens For ouer the wynter the whyche passyd in length and hardenesse many yeres before gone wonderfull wederynge as of excedynge lyghtenynges thunders and other stormes of wynde and rayne appetyd and therwyth hayle of the bygnesse of hennes egges the whyche perished frute and corne besydes other hurtes and harmes done vppon houses and yong catell goynge a brode Also spyrites were sene in the ayer in lykenesse of foulys berynge fyre in theyr bylles the whych sette on fyre dyuerse houses And soone there after dyed Hubert archbyshop of Caunterbury In whose place was chosen coÌ„trarye to the mynde of y e kynge by the more partye of the couent of CauÌ„terburye mayster Stephan Langton All be yt some there were that accordynge to the kynges pleasure named the byshoppe of Norwyche and some other For thys eleccyon the kynge was greuousely amouyd agayne the munkes and wolde in no wyse alowe or admyt theyr eleccyon wherfore they sent theyr eleccyon vnto pope Innocynt the thyrde y e whyche admytted the sayde mayster Stephan and refused the other and sacryd hym at Uyterb a citye of Italy and sent hym after with letters of comendacyon vnto kyng IohnÌ„ to take the possessyon and frutes of his benefyce Kynge IohnÌ„ wyth thys was sore amouyd in so myche y t he warned hym his lande and dyuers of the munkes of Caunterbury that fauored hys cause Aboute Ester kynge IohnÌ„ sayled into Normandye for the Frenche kynge had recommencyd his warre in the countye of Guyan and wanne therin dayly dyuerse stronge holdes and castellys and alleyd wyth hym the erle of Alenson and hadde great ayd of the Portuyns and Brytons And when he had brought that countrey vnder his subieccyon he then retourned by Normandye and wanne Conket the vale of Ruell and the yle of Audeley In this season the forenamed pope sente the abbot of Casmer into Fraunce to refourme these two prynces with whome was also accompanyed the abbot of Cressons the whyche endeuored theym so that they were nere agreed of a peace But for they wolde that the Frenche kynge shulde repayre and ameÌ„de suche houses of relygyon as he had hurte ouerthrowen in Guyan and other places belongynge to the crowne of Englande therfore he forsoke the peace not withstandyng that kynge IohnÌ„ in lyke wyse shuld haue repayred all lyke houses apperteynynge vnto y e crowne of Fraunce Then the Frenche kynge in the ende of Auguste layde syege to the castell of Raydepount assauted yt by the terme of .xv. dayes contynually But the soundyours wythin defendyd yt so manfully that they slewe many of theyr enymyes so y e kynge Phylyppe was fayne to gyue backe tyll he hadde deuysed newe engynes after the warre fassyon By reason wherof he lastely wanne the sayde castell and toke there .xx. knyghtes and an hundred and .vii. yomen and other and .xxi. arblasters And when he hadde fortefyed that castell wyth Frenche men he then yode to the castell of Gaylarde and layde hys ordynaunce to that as he hadde done to that other But he laye there a moneth or he myghte do to yt any hurte or harme In all whych season kyng IohnÌ„ warryd vppon
Fraunce wyth great pompe and glory It ys affermed of some authours that the Frenche kynge made thys warre vppon kynge IohnÌ„ by excytynge of the pope for hys contumacye agane the chyrche In thys yere also was a communycacyon of a peace to be hadde betwene kynge IohnÌ„ and the archebyshope of Caunterbury and was dryuen to a nere poynte of accorde except restitucyon that kynge IohnÌ„ shulde haue made to the archebysshop and other bishoppes the which his offycers hadde taken in the tyme of theyr absence To the whych restytucyon kynge IohnÌ„ in no wyse wold be agreable wherfore the sayd communycacyon toke none affecte After thys communycacyon kynge IohnÌ„ was so frette wyth malyce that in a fury he let proclayme in sondry placys of hys realme that all suche personys as hadde landes and possessyons wythin Englande spyrytuall or temporall that they shulde returne into Englande by Mychelmas next folowynge or ellys to be clerely excludyd from all suche landes And ouer that streyght commaundement was gyuen to eueryche officer in his countrey to make besye serche yf any wrytynges were broughte from the courte of Rome to any prelate of thys realme and yf any suche were founden to brynge hym and his wrytynges to the kynges presence And more ouer that they shuld sease to the kynges vse all suche landes as to any person were gyuen by the sayde archbyshoppe or by the pryour of Caunterbury syn the tyme of eleccyon of the sayd archebyshoppe and the woodes of the same to be fellyd and solde in all haste Anno domini M.CC.vii  Anno domini M.CC.viii  Roger wynchester  Balliui  Anno .viii.  Edmunde hardell  UPpon the fyrste daye of the moneth of October and .viii. yere of y e reygne of the kyng his fyrst sonne Henry by name was borne of dame Isabell his second wyfe in the cytye of wynchester And thys yere rebellyd the IryshemeÌ„ and dyd myche harme in that countrey whych rebellyon after some wryters was for so myche as the kynge wolde haue leuyed of theÌ„ greuous taskys to haue made warre wyth vppon the French kynge But at lengthe they greuyd or dyspleasyd the kyng in such wyse that he was fayne to sette a taske thorough hys land to oppresse theyr malyce And ouer that he asked of the whyte munkes of England .vi. thousande marke But they excused them by theyr generall hedde so that the kynge toke wyth theym great dyspleasure By reason wherof after his retourne oute of Irlande he vexyd theym sore and gatheryd of theym more then before he hadde desyred and caused some abbottys to forsake theyr houses Then he wyth a puyssaunte armye wente into Irelande and shortely subdued theym and after he hadde sette the countrey in a rule he retourned into Englande Anno domini M.CC.viii  Anno domini M.CC.ix.  Serle the mercer  Balliui  Anno .ix.  Hugh of saynt Albon  IN this .ix. yere the kyng consyderynge the great losse whych he had susteyned by the FreÌ„che kyng in Normandy also in Angeou and Poyteau made ê“uysyon of all thynges belongynge to the warre and after about mydsomer sayled ouer the see and landed at Rochell in Poyteau wyth a myghty hoste At whyche season the Frenche kynge was at Thymon and fortyfyed yt wyth also the castellys of London and Myrable and y e town of Poytyers whyche lytle before he had wonne and after wythoute taryenge returned into Fraunce Then kynge IohnÌ„ herynge of the Frenche kynges departynge sped him to Angiers wanne that towne wyth lytle payne and destroyed y e sayd towne Thyther came to hym the vycouÌ„t of Thonars whyche before was for drede become the Frenche kynges man by his ayde kynge IohnÌ„ then recoueryd some parte of that countrey In thys meane whyle kynge Phylyppe gatheryd a new hoste and herynge of the vnstedfastnes of the vycouÌ„t of Thonars entryd y e landes of the sayde vycounte and wasted and spoyled the countrey withoute pyty Then kynge IohnÌ„ spedde hym towarde the Frenche kynge so that in shorte processe of tyme the two hostys were wythin lytle dystaunce But by what meane of fortune I can not saye for the meane therof ys not expressyd the two kynges there toke peace for two yeres folowynge and after eyther of theym retourned into his owne countrey In this yere the pope beyng ascerteyned of y e cruelnesse of kyng IohnÌ„ executed agayne the whyte munkes of hys lande and also of his obstynacye that he perseuered in agayne holy chyrche sent done a new commyssyon by vertue wherof the curse of enterdytynge was newly denouÌ„cyd and manyfestyd in sondry places of England And ouer that the pope by authoryte of the sayde bulle assoyled or acquyted all the lordes of EnglaÌ„d as well spyrytuall as temporall of all homage and feauty that they of ryght owyd to the kynge to the entent that they shulde aryse agayne hym and depryue hym of all kyngly honour But all this myght not moue the kynge from hys errour ABout the feast of saynt Medard in the moneth of Iuny and later ende of this foresayd .ix. yere the forenamed bayllyues were admytted to y e offyce and the olde that is to meane Roger wynchester and Edmunde Hardell were dischargyd for so myche as they wythstode the kinges purueyour of whete wold not suffer him to conuey certayn mesures of whete oute of the cytye tyll the cytye were storyd For thys the kynge toke such dyspleasure that he sent downe streyght coÌ„maundement vnto the .xxxv. heddes or rulers of the cytye that they shulde dyscharge the sayde two bayllyuys and to put theym in pryson tyll they knewe the kynges further pleasure wherfore the sayd .xxv. persons toke aduyse appoynted a certayne of theym selfe wyth other and rode to the kynge then beynge at Langley to empeter grace for the sayde bayllyues shewynge forther that at that season such dystresse of where was in y e cyty that the common people were lyke to haue made an insurreccyon for the same By whyche meanes and frendeshyppe whyche they had in the court the kynge was so satysfyed that he releasyd theym from pryson And in short tyme after the cytesyns of London made such sute to the kyng that they had graunted to them by y e kynges letters patentes that they shuld yerely chose to them self a mayre and two shryues After whyche graunte to theym confermyd they amonge them self ordeyned that the two shryues shulde be chosen yerely vppon saynte Mathewes daye .ix. dayes before Mychelmas and vppon Michelmas daye to take theyr charge and the mayre to be chosen vppon the same daye and chargyd wyth the other vppon the sayde daye of Mychelmas all be yt that now yt is otherwyse orderyd Anno domini M.CC.ix.  Anno domini M.CC.x. Primus maior    Peter Duke  Henry fyz Alwyn  Anno .x.  Thomas Neell  IN the daye of saynte Mychael the archauÌ„gell and .x. yere of kynge IohnÌ„
pryson at the kynges commauÌ„dement But after by labour of the blessyd byshop Edmunde of Pountenay he was recoÌ„cylyd to the kynges fauour when he had ben prysoned vppon .iiii. monethes and exyled vppon .xiii. monethis And this yere was done grete harme in London by fyre the whych beganne in an house of a widowe named dame Iane Lambert Anno domini M.CC.xxxii  Anno domini M.CC.xxxiii  Henry Eldementon  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xvi.  Gerarde Batte  IN this .xvi. yere kynge Henry vppon complaynt brought before hym by the frendes of Lewelyn prynce of walys y e willyam le Bruce or Brunze shuld coÌ„spyre agayne the kynge or after some for he kepte vnlawfully the wyfe of the forenamyd Hauylyn he was after longe prysonement hanged And this yere dyed Ranulphe erle of Chester Lyncolne HuÌ„tyngedon And his systers son named IohnÌ„ sonne vnto the erle of Angwyshe as before in y e .vii. yere of this kyng is declared was his heyre and helde that lordshyp after hym This IohnÌ„ of moste wryters is called IohnÌ„ Scot for so myche as his father was a Scotte This foresayd Ranulphe hadde no chylde all be yt he hadde .iiii. systers The eldeste hyght Molde or Mawde and was maryed to Dauid erle of Angwyshe and was moder to y e foresayde IohnÌ„ Scot. The seconde was named Hawys and was maryed vnto the erle of Arundell The thyrd Agnes was ioyned to the erle of Derbye And the fourth named Mabely was maryed vnto the erle of wynchester called Robert Quynacye Thys Ranulphe dyed at walyngforde and was buryed in the chapter house of the munkys at Chester and ordeyned the forenamed IohnÌ„ Scotte to be hys heyre for that he wolde not haue so noble a lordshyppe runne amonge or to be dyuyded betwene so many dystanys And thys yere dyed mayster Rycharde wethyrshed archbyshoppe of Caunterburye whose successour was blessyd Edmunde of Pountenay Anno domini M.CC.xxxiii  Anno domini M.CC.xxxiiii  Symonde fyz Marre  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xvii.  Roger Blounte  IN this .xvii. yere of the reygne of kyng Henry the forenamed Edmunde of Pountenay or of Abyndon was sacred archebyshop of CauÌ„terburye He was named of Pountenay for so myche as he was buryed at Pountnay in Burgoyne And he was named Edmunde of Abyndon by reason he was borne iÌ„ Albyndon Thys blessyd man as before in the xv yere is shewyd reconcylyd Hubert of Burgth to the kinges grace and causyd hym to be restored to his former offyce as chefe iustyce of this lande In thys yere also the kyng beganne the foundacyon of the hospytayll of saynte IohnÌ„ wythout the Eestgate of Oxenforde In whyche yere also fyll wonderfull wether as thunder and lyghtenynge vnlyke vnto other And theruppon folowed an erthquake to the great fere of the inhabytauntys of Huntyngdon and nere there aboute Anno domini M.CC.xxxiiii  Anno domini M.CC.xxxv  Rafe Aschewy  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xviii.  IohnÌ„ Norman  IN thys .xviii. yere of kynge Henry the Iewys dwellynge at Norwyche were broughte to fore the kyng at westmynster to answere to a complaynte made agayne them by one callyd IohnÌ„ Toly of the sayd towne of Norwyche that they shuld stele a chylde and yt cyrcumcysyd of the age of a yere and after kepte the same chyld secret to the entent to crucyfye yt in despyte of Crystes relygyon But howe the mater was folowed or howe so the Iewys acquytyd theym selfe by theyr answere trouthe yt is that they retourned vnpunyshed And in thys yere Frederyke the second of that name and emperour of Almayne maryed the syster of kynge Henry named Isabell as testyfyeth Policronica Anno domini M.CC.xxxv  Anno domini M.CC.xxxvi  Gerarde Batte  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xix.  Robert Ardell  IN thys .xix yere the morow after saynte Hyllary or the .xiiii. daye of Ianuary Edmunde archbysshoppe of Caunterburye spowsyd the kynge and Eleanoure the doughter of the erle of Prouynce in his cytye of Caunterburye And in the vtas of the sayde Hyllary she was crowned at westmynster as quene of Englande where in the felde by westmynster lyenge at the weste ende of the chyrche was kepte royall solempnite and goodly iustes by the space of .viii. dayes And the same yere the statute of Merton was enacted whych is to meane certayn actes made by acte of parlyament holden by the kynge his lordes coÌ„mons at y e towne of Merton where among other actys was ordeynyd a remedy for wydowes that were defrauded of theyr dowers also how heires with in age shuld be intreated remedies for such as were stolen or with holdeÌ„ coÌ„trary y e gardeyns willis But more certaynly yt was ordeyned at a ê‘lyameÌ„t at Merton foresayd which was holdeÌ„ the .xxx. yere of this kyng in y e morowe folowyng the daye of saynt Martyn or the .xii. day of NoueÌ„ber Anno domini M.CC.xxxvi  Anno domini M.CC.xxxvii  Henry Cobham  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xx.  Iurden Couentre  IN this .xx. yere of kynge Henry IohnÌ„ Scot before named erle of Chester dyed wythoute yssue male whefore the kynge coÌ„syderyng the great prerogatyues belongynge to that erledome gaue vnto his doughters other possessyons toke the erledome into hys own hand Thys IohnÌ„ dyed at Dorondale and was buryed amonge hys antecessours at Chester as affyrmeth Policronycon And also he sayth that he dyed wythout any chylde and that the foresayd exchaunge was made wyth the forenamed systers of Ranulphe before expressyd in y e .xvi. yere of this kyng Anno domini M.CC.xxxvii  Anno domini M.CC.xxxviii  IohnÌ„ Thesalan  Andrew Bukerell  Anno .xxi.  Gerarde Cordwaner  IN this .xxi. yere Octoboon a legate of the .ix. Gregory and pope came into Englande and ordeyned many good ordynauncys for the chyrche But not all to the pleasure of the yonge clergy of England wherfore as he one daye passed thorough Oxenford the scolars sought occasyon agayn his seruauntes and fought wyth them slew one of the same and put the legate in suche fere that he for his sauegarde toke y e belfray of Osney and there helde hym tyll the kynges mynysters coÌ„mynge from Abyndon wyth strength medelyd with fayre wordes deliueryd him and conueyed hym after wyth a competente companye vnto walyngford where he accursyd the misdoers and punyshed theym in suche wyse that the regentes maysters of that vnyuersyte were lastely compellyd to go barefote thorough Chepe to Paulys at London and there to aske of hym forgyues and hadde that trespace wyth great dyffyculte forgyuen Anno domini M.CC.xxxviii  Anno domini M.CC.xxxix  IohnÌ„ whylhale  Rycharde Renger  Anno .xxii.  IohnÌ„ Goundresse  IN thys .xxii. yere a false clerke of the foresayde vnyuersyte of Oxenforde whyche feyned hym selfe madde and beforetyme had espyed the secret places of the kinges court came by a wyndowe towarde the kinges
heyres kynges of Englande and that the gates of the cytye were kepte wyth armyd men as before by the kynge of Romaynes was dyuysyd This yere also at a fayre kept at Northampton varyaunce fell betwene the Lōdoners and men of the towne so that betwene the cytesyns and them contynued longe sute and plee for a mā of Northampton that then was slayne to the great vexacyon trouble of both partyes But in the ende the cytye had the better This yere also aboute Eester the Barons of the lande wyth the consente of the Perys dyschargyd syr Hugh le spencer and admyttyd for hym syr Phylyp Basset in his rome of chefe iustyce vnwittyng the kyng For whych cause and other grudge and dyspleasure beganne of newe to kyndle betwene the kynge and hys lordes whyche encreasyd more and more But by polycy of the kynge of Almayne and some prelatys of the land yt was set in quyet for a whyle hardely to the ende of that yere Anno domini M.CC.lx.  Anno domini M.CC.lxi  Iohn̄ Northampton  wyllyam fyz Rycharde  Anno .xlv.  Rycharde Pycarde  IN this .xlv. yere shortely after Alhalowyn daye the Barons admyttyd and made shryues of dyuerse shyres of Englande and dyschargyd suche as the kynge before had admyttyd and named them Gardayns and kepers of the countyes shyres And ouer that the Barons wolde not suffer the iustyce that the kynge hadde admyttyd to kepe the plees lawes callyd Itinerarii but suche as were of theyr admyssyon wherwith the kynge was greuously dyscontented in so mych y e after that season he laboured that he myght do dysanull the former ordynaunces statutes and to cause them to be broken in so myche that vppon the seconde sondaye of lent folowynge the kynge commaundyd to be redde at Paules crosse a bull of the graunte of pope Urban the .iiii. of that name as a confyrmacyō of an other bull before purchased of hys predecessoure Alexander the .iiii for to assoyle the kynge and all other that before had sworne to the mayntenaunce of the foresayde artycles made at Oxenforde and after causyd the sayde absolucyon to be shewyd thorough the realme of Englande walys and Irlande gyuynge streyghte charge to all his subiectys that none be so hardy to wythstāde nor dysobey the sayd absolucyon And yf any were foūden dysobedyent to his commaundemēt that he were streyght put in pryson and not to be raunsomyd nor delyueryd tyll y e kynges pleasure were forther knowen About the feast of saynt Albon in the moneth of Iuny the kynge of Almayne toke shyppyng and sayled into Almayne And the kynge at a folkmoot holden vppon the sonday after saynt Peters daye in y e moneth of Iuly hadde lycence to sayle into Fraunce And the morowe after he departyd from London towarde the sees syde wyth the quene and other lordes hys two sonnes syr Edward and syr Edmunde beynge at that season in Guyan when the kyng hadde ben a season in Fraunce he returnyd vnto Burdeaux where he fell syke by occasyon wherof he taryed in those partyes tyll saynte Nycholas tyde nexte folowynge And in thys yere dyed Rycharde Clare erle of Glowceter and syr Gylbert de Clare hys sonne was erle after hym To whom the father gaue great charge that he shulde vpholde the forenamed ordynaunces Anno domini M.CC.lxi  Anno domini M.CC.lxii  Phylyppe walbroke  Thomas fyz Thomas  Anno .xlvi.  Rycharde Tayloure  IN thys .xlvi. yere in the feaste of saynte Martyne or the .xi. day of Nouēber a Iew fell at varyaunce wyth a crysten man in Colchyrch in the warde of Chepe woūdyd the crysten man within the same chyrche wherfore the people of the citye in a fury pursued the sayd Iew to hys house and there slew hym after fell vpon the other Iewes and robbyd and slew many of them And the euen of saynte Thomas the apostle folowynge the kyng landed in Englande at Douer came to Lōdon the wednysdaye before .xii. day This yere y e froste began about saynt Nycholas daye and so contynued by y e space of a moneth more so feruently that Thamys was ouer froren that men passed ouer on horsbacke And in the same wynter y e kynges lytell halle at westmynster with other houses adioynyng to the same were peryshed wyth fyre by the neglygence of a seruaūt of the kynges In this yere also vnkyndnesse beganne to growe betwene the Londoners and the Constable of the towre for that he cōtrary the lybertye of the cytye toke certayne shyppes passyng by the towre wyth whete and other vytayll and toke yt into the sayde towre makynge the price at his pleasure wherfore great harme had ensued had not ben the polycy of wyse men whyche was shewyd vnto the kynges counsayll by whose dyreccy on the matter was cōmytyd vnto syr Phyllyppe Basset then chefe iustyce and other to set an order and rule betwene the sayde partyes Then before hym were brought all euydēces and pryuyleges for the aduauntage of both partyes where fynally after longe plee argument yt was fyrmely demyd and adiudgyd that yf the constable or any other offycer of the towre wold at any tyme take any whete or other vytayll to the vse of the kyng or of y e towre that he shuld come vnto the market holden wyth in the cytye and there to haue yt .ii. d in a quarter wythin y e mayres pryce and other vitayll after the same rate And if he or any of his offycers wold do contrarye to that ordynaūce that then the shryues shulde make report vnto the kynges counsayll and to wythstāde hym in all that he myght so that the kynges peace were kepte In this yere also many murmures and grudgis were tolde in many places of the land supposynge y e warre shulde in shorte processe haue ensued betwene the kyng and his lordes for the bull of dyspensacyon before in that other yere shewyd But by help and mediacyon of good wyse men these murmures grudges were so appeasyd that the kynge agreed agayn to the mayntenaūce of the sayd statutes sent hys wryttes wherin the sayde artycles were comprysed into all shyres of England gyuynge streyght commaūdement to all men to obserue and kepe the same and suche other as were to theym ioyned by the dyscrecyon of the erle marshall the erle of Leyceter syr Phylyp Basset syr Hugh Bygot and other the whyche shortely after was reuoked and denyed wheruppon the archbysshoppe of Caunterbury feryng that after myght ensue made hym an errande to Rome and so by lycence of the kyng and of the lordes departed the lande and so kepte hym out tyll the trouble was appeased and seased Then vppon mydlent sondaye the mayre and the commons beynge present at a folkemote holden at Paulys crosse before syr Philyppe Basset and other of the kynges counsayll the mayre was sworne to be trewe to the kynge and to his heyres kynges And
Guyldhall or other places symple and vndyscret persons shuld haue the voyce and the worshypfull meÌ„ lytell or nothyng regarded wherof ensuyd dayly myche vnhappynes and sorow as after shall appere The Barons then to obteyne the more fauour of y e cytye wyllyd them to shewe yf they hadde any of theyr libertyes wythdraweÌ„ that they myght agayne to theym be restored and also to dyuyse some new to theyr weale and profyte and they wolde laboure to the kynge that they myghte haue theym graunted For the whych comforte of the lordes the mayre called the commons to the Guyldhall and shewed to them the beneuoleÌ„ce of the sayd lordes willed them that euery ofâ—ycer for hys offyce to deuyse such thynges as myght be benefycyall for the cytye wheruppon they counsaylled to gyther and made a note in paper of dyuers statutes prouysyons and ordynaunces to be graunted whyche myght more properly be named abhomynacyons For they were deuysed to theyr synguler profyte to y e great hurt of all other marchauÌ„tes commynge to the citye and to all other fayres and markettes of Englande and also preiudycyall to the vnyuersall weale of the realme The whyche when they were ouersene by the heddes of the cytye yt was shewyd vnto the sayd coÌ„mons that theyr ordynaunces were not lefull nor charytable orderyd and therfore they knewe well they shulde not be admytted wyllyng theÌ„ to deuyse other But all was in vayne By meane wherof both those other that were ryght necessary for the coÌ„mon weale of the cytye were reiected put of Then y e Barons vpon the morowe folowynge saynt Iamys daye departed from London towarde wyndesore to se the gydynge of the castell where at theyr commynge they putte out the foresayde allyauntes before set in by syr Edward the kinges son the whyche assocyat wyth other yode vnto Fulham where the kynge then lay and shewyd to hym that the Barons had spoyled them of suche goodes as they hadde and that wythout cause But the kynge put them of for that season and warned them to sue to hym agayne about Mychelmasse when more of his couÌ„sayll was with hym then they shuld haue iustyce Uppon the second daye folowyng the feaste of saynte Mathew or the xxiii daye of september the kynge the quene with his sonnes and other nobles of thys land toke shyppyng and sayled into Fraunce to be present at the Frenche kynges parlyaament then holden at Bonony And the morow after the octabis of saynt Mychaell he landed agayne at Douer And the frydaye folowynge he came vnto London And vppon the tuesday folowyng passed a queste of .xii. knyghtes of Mydd sworne vpon a iury betwene the abbot of westmynster and the cytye for certayne pryuyleges that the cytesyns of London claymed wythin westmynster where by the sayde iurye it was founden before Gylbert of Prestone then chefe Baron of the kynges excheker that the sâ—ryues of London at those days myght lawfully enter into the town of westmynster and all other tenemeÌ„tes that the abbot then hadde wythin Myddelsex vnto the gate of the sayd abbay and there to make summons and dystrayne for lacke of apparaunce all and eueryche tenaunte of the sayde abbot About the quindena of saynt Mychaell the fourmer complaynt of the allyauntes and other whyche as aboue ye haue harde was shewed before the kyng and y e lordes in the parlyament holden at westmynster where lastely yt was sentencyd that the Barons shulde restore all suche goodes as they and theyr companye hadde taken from all suche persons before that daye as well to allyauntes as other both spyrytuall and temporall and also that suche menyall seruauntes as shulde be dayly in the kynges house and about his person shulde be suche as the kynge wolde chose and admyt hym selfe the whyche ii artycles the Barons vtterly denyed wherfore the olde rancoure toke place and dyssencyon kyndled his fyre of malyce agayn betwen the kynge and his lordes feruently Anno domini M.CC.lxii  Anno domini M.CC.lxiii  Robert Moumplere  Thomas fyz Thomas  Anno .xlvii.  Robert de Suff.  IN thys .xlvii. yere by procurement and styrynge of the Barons the commons of the cytye of London chase vnto theyr mayre for that yere Thomas fyz Thomas and wythout counsayll of the aldermen sware at Guyldehall vppon the day of Symon and Iude and made no presentement of hym vppon the morowe folowynge nother to the kyng nor yet to the Barons of the kynges excheker as they of ryght ought to haue done For the whych presumpcyon the kynge was greuously dyscontentyd agayne the cytye Soone after the kynge aduertysynge well y t the citye wolde take the Barons partye and causyd syr Edwarde his son to take the castell of wyndesore by a trayne wherof when he knewe that he was in possessyon the kynge erly in a mornynge a lytell to fore Crystemas departed from westmynster rode vnto the sayde castell whyther shortely after came also many of the lordes that were vppon the kynges partye And as faste the lordes and knyghtes whych helde wyth the erle of Leyceter drew them toward Lonlon so y t on eyther partye was mych people assembled In the whyche passe tyme some well dysposyd laboryd a concorde betwene the kynge hys lordes By whose meanes fynally yt was agreed by bothe partyes that all maters concernynge the fore sayde artycles of statutes and ordynauÌ„ces made at Oxenford and after by the .xii. Perys that the Frenche kynge shuld deme and iudge whych shulde be holden and whyche not And as he demyd both partyes promysed assuredly to abyde Upon whiche agrement copyes were made of the sayde statutes and wyth letters shewynge the effecte of the fourmer agrement sent vnto the sayde kynge of Fraunce then beynge saynt Lewys And in the Crystmas weke folowynge the kyng toke shyppynge with syr Edward his son and other of his counsayll and sayled into Fraunce for the foresayde cause And for the partye of the sayd Barons was sent ouer syr Peter de Mountforde and other Then before Lewys kynge of Fraunce those statutes were sore argued vppon both parties How be yt in the ende the Frenche kynge callynge before hym both parties vpon the day before y e conuersyon of saynt Paule or the .xxiiii. daye of Ianuary syttynge in iudgement gaue expresse sentence that all and eueryche of the sayde statutes and ordynaunces shulde be from y e daye foreward vtterly foredone and set at noughte and all suche bandes and promyses that the kyng or any other had made for the mayntenaunce of the same shulde be adnulled cancellyd and the kynge and all other for any mater concernynge those statutes set at lybertye After whyche sentence thus gyuen the kynge retourned into Englande so that he came to London the .xv. daye of Februarye But the Barons beynge sore amoued wyth this sentence notynge greate parcyaltye vnto the Frenche kynge departed from London westwarde so into the marchys of walys
where they drew to them great power and warred vppon the landes and castellys of syr Roger Mortymer threw some of them vnto the grounde and spoyled of hys what they myghte fynde and ouer that brent of hys manours and houses In whose ayde syr Edwarde the kynges sonne commynge hys people were dystressyd and he almoste taken For redresse of whyche maters a newe parlyameÌ„t was appoynted to be holdeÌ„ at Oxenforde in the quindena of Eester nexte folowynge whyche came neuer to effecte All be yt an other cronicle sayth that from this parlyament then holden at Oxenforde the kynge and his lordes parted all dyscorded Then the barons drewe towarde London the kynge remayned at woodstok And then newe assuraunce by wrytynge endentyd was made betwene the comynaltye of the cytye and the Barons wythoute consent of many of the rulers of the sayde cytye wherfore the commons as men enraged made of theym self two capytaynes whych they named constables of the cytye y t is to say Thomas de Pyweldon Stephan Bukerel At whose commaundement by tollynge of the great belle of Paules all the cytye shulde be redy shortely in harnes to gyue attendaunce vppon theyr sayd capytaynes About the begynnynge of lent the constable of the towre syr Hughe le Spenser came wyth a fayre company of men of armys before hym into the cytye and desyred assystence of the forenamed constables The whyche commaunded the sayd belle to be â—olled By meane wherof the people shyt theyr shoppes and came out in harneys in great multytude The whyche after proclamacyon made that they shulde â—olowe theyr capytaynes wythout knowlege what to do or whyther to go folowed theyr sayde capytaynes and so yode vnto Thystelworth vppon two myles beyonde westmynster there spoyled the manour of the kynge of Romaynes and sette yt after vppon a fyre And that done hys water mylles other commodities that he there had put theym to vtter ruyne And after wyth great noyse and crye returned vnto London This dede as sayth myne authour was cause of the mortall warre folowynge For where before tyme the sayde kynge of Romaynes hadde ben for allyaunce that was betwene hym and the erle of Glouceter a treatye of peace to be hadde betwene the kynge and his Barons after that dede done he was enymy vnto them to the vttermoste of his power The kynge herynge of thys ryâ—â—gaderyd vnto him great power And for he harde that syr Peter de MouÌ„t forde was at Northampton gatherynge of people to strength the Barons partye he spedde hym thyder and wanne the towne vppon hym by force and slewe many of hys men and fynally toke hym syr Symon the son of the erle of Leyceter wyth dyuers other on lyue the which with many burgeyses of that towne that hadde take theyr partyes the kynge sent vnto dyuers prysons and some he closyd wythin the castell of y e same towne In thys passe tyme on Palmesondaye weke all the Iewes in London were spoyled and robbed the nomber of .v. huÌ„dred of them were slayn and dyuers of theyr mansyons brent and destroyed and suche as of them were saued were conueyed for great mede vnto the towre and there kept from the fury of the commons wherof the occasyon was for so myche as a Iewe wolde haue forced a crysten man to haue gyueÌ„ to hym more then ii d. for the vsure of .xx. s. for a weke For ye shall vnderstand that at those dayes by lycence graunted vnto the Iewes of the kynge they myght take by vsury of euery man y t of theym wolde borowe money .ii. d. of a pouÌ„d for a weke lendyng and so of greter of smaller summes after that rate And soon after the Iewes were thus punyshed many houses of relygyon wythin y e citye and nere there about were serched for goodes of alliauÌ„tis and myche founde wherof a parte was brought vnto the lordis but the more parte was stolen and brybed In whyche season the kynge passed by diuers couÌ„treys and lastely came into Southsex with a strong power wherof herynge the lordes made preparacyon to go towardes hym In all whyche tyme the wardeyns of the v. portes kepte the see wyth shyppes that no straungers shulde entre the lande to ayde the kynge agayne the Barons Then in the ende of Apryll the Barons wyth a multytude of the cytye whyche they put in vawarde departed from London takyng theyr iourney towarde the kynge And when they were well onwarde vpon they re way worde was brought vnto them that the kynge wyth an huge power was at Lewys wherfore they by an hole assent dyuysed a letter and sent yt in y e name of all the Barons vnto the kynge whose names here vnder folowe but not all Syr Symonde de Mounforde erle of Leyceter and hyghe stewarde of Englande Syr Gylbert de Clare erle of Glouceter Syr Robert Ferres erle of Derby Syr Hugh le Spenser chefe iustice and syr Henry de Mountford son and heyre to the erle of Leyceter Syr Rycharde Gray Syr Henry Hastynges Syr IohnÌ„ fyz IohnÌ„ Syr Robert de Uenpount Syr IohnÌ„ Gyuyle Syr Robert Roos Syr wyllyam Marmyon Baldwyne wake Syr Gylbert Gyfforde Syr Nycholas de Megraue Syr Godfrey de Lucy Syr IohnÌ„ de Ueysy Syr wyllyam de Mounthdesey whyche letter sealed wyth the seales of the sayde erle of Leycester and of Glouceter conteyned as foloweth TO the most excellent lord the kynge Henry by the grace of god kynge of Englande lorde of Irlande and duke of Gwyan the Barons other faythfull your seruauntes theyr fydelyte and othe to god and to you coueytynge to kepe sendyng to you due salutyng with all reuerence and honour vnder due obeysaunce Lyketh yt youre hyghnes to vnderstaÌ„de that many beyng about you haue before tymes shewyd vnto your lordshyppe of vs many euyll vntrewe reportes and haue founde suggestyons not alonely of vs but also of your selfe to brynge this your realme vnto subuersyon Know your excellency that we entende nothyng but helth and suerty to your person to the vttermoste of our powers and not onely to our enmyes but also to yours and of all this youre realme we entende vtter greuaunce and correccyon Besechynge your grace her after to gyue vnto theym lytell credeÌ„ce for ye shall fynde vs your trew and faythfull subiectes to the vtter moste of our powers And we erle of Leyceter and erle of Glouceter at the request of other and for our selfe haue put to our seales the .x. day of the moneth of May. The answere vnto this foresayde letter HEnry by y e grace of god kyng of Englande lorde of Irland and duke of Guyan to Symonde de Mountforde Gylbert de Clare theyr coÌ„plyces where as by warre generall ê‘turbauÌ„ce in this our realme by you begon contynued wyth also brennynges and other hurtes and enormytyes that euydently apperyth that your fydelyte to vs due ye haue not kept nor y e suerty of our person ye haue
before was assured the whyche he wyth syr Henry de Hastynges and other kept longe after when the parlyament was ended the kyng came vnto wyndesore with a great power entendynge as the fame then went to destroye the cytye of London for the great ire and dyspleasure that he hadde vnto yt wherof heryng the mayre and aldermen were striken in a wonderfull fere all be yt many of the rabbysh and wylde cōmoners were in full purpose to haue defended the cytye agayne the kynge And thus amonge them were dyuers and many opinyons And no wonder for at those dayes the cytye was inhabyted with many maner of nacyons whyche then were admytted for cytesyns LAstely by grace and sad counsayll of the beste of the cytye they condescended to make a supplycacyon to y e kynge send yt by some religyous person Of the which they made dyuers and sent them by sondry persones but all auayled ryght nought For the kynge was so greuously encensyd by some of his counsayll agayne the cytesyns y t he wold not loke vppon none of theyr supplycacyons And yf any man spake for theym he soone wold make such coūtenaunce that men whyche were in his fauoure feryd to speke for them Then the cytesyns were counsayled by theyr frēdes y t they shuld make a writyng and seale yt with theyr common seale by vertue whereof they shulde offer theym selfe to put theym holly in the kynges grace and mercy touchynge theyr lyues goodes Accordynge to the whyche counsayll they deuysed a wrytynge and sealed yt wyth theyr cōmon seale and that done chose .viii. persons of the cytye such as had frēdes in the courte and sent them toward wyndesore the .vi. daye of October Uppon whych day they encountered beyonde Colbroke a knyght of the kinges callyd syr Roger Leyborne the whych turned the sayde .viii. persones vnto the cytye and he also rode wyth theym tyll he came nere vnto the cytye and there departed from them and rode vppon the backe syde of the towne vnto the toure But at his departynge he wyl led them to warne the mayre wyth a certayne of the cytye to mete wyth hym vppon the morow at Berkynge chyrche whyche standeth nere vnto the towre Uppon the morow when the mayre and the sayde syr Roger were met he after a longe processe made shewed to them of the kynges greuous displeasure whyche he bare towarde the cytye and the meanes that hadde be vsed by theyr frendes and louers to obteyne grace for the cytye Lastely he expressed y t no grace for them myght be had excepte they wolde by theyr common seale bynde theym selfe fully and holly to stande at y e kynges grace and to put in his mercy theyr lyues and goodes wherunto in the ende the cytesyns graunted and delyueryd the forsayde wrytynge vnto the foresayd Roger prayenge hym to be good meane for them to y e kynge The whych departyd towarde y e kyng vpon the morow and returned agayne the .vi. daye after and wylled the mayre and aldermen to mete wyth hym agayne at the foresayd chirch where he shewyd to them that the kynge by great instaunce of theyr frendes hadde receyued theyr wyrtynge and wold fyrste for the begynnynge of cōtentacion of his mynde that all the chaynes whych stode in euery strete and lanes ende wythin the cytye shuld be lousyd frō theyr postes and the post also drawen out of the erthe and all to be brought vnto the towre and that done that the mayre wyth a certayne of y e cytesyns to the nomber of .xl. persones shuld the daye folowynge be at wyndesore to comferme the graunt of theyr wrytyng And y t they shuld go come in safe suer wise he delyuered to them the kynges letter seale for y e terme of foure dayes whyche all was done accordynge to theyr former deuyse and the mayre wyth the foresayd persones was redy at wyndesore vppon the morow beynge sondaye by one of the clocke and there taryed tyll .iiii. of the same daye At whyche season the kynge commynge from his dysporte entred the castell wythout contenaunce or castyng his eyen vppon the Londoners And when the kyng and his peole was entred the castell the Londoners wolde haue folowed But they were warned to abide with out Then short tyme after the kyng causyd a proclamacyon to be made that no man of hygh or low degre to the Londoners shulde make any sayynges of dyspleasure or make to thē any quarell And in the euenynge came vnto them the foresayd syr Roger syr Robert waleys knyghtes and brought theym into the castell and sayde the kynges pleasure was not to speke wyth them that nyght And after the sayde knyghtes delyueryd them vnto the cōstable of y e castell which closyd them all in a large toure where that nyght they hadde small chere and worse lodgynge Then vppon the morowe beynge mondaye towarde nyght they were taken oute of that toure and delyueryd vnto y e baylly of the sayd castell and lodged by his assygnement except .v. persons that is to mene Thomas fyz Thomas then mayre Mychaell Tony Stephan Bukkerell Thomas Pywellyson and Iohn̄ de Flete The whyche .v. persones the kynge hadde gyuen to syr Edwarde his sonne at whose commaundemēt they remayned styll in the saide toure longe after not wythstandynge the kynges saue conduyte to theym as before is shewed made when tydynges hereof came vnto the cyte of London all be yt that for fere many before were auoyded then there auoyded many mo conueyed theyr goodes in secrete wyse into dyuers countreys of Englande so that many of them neuer returned after Anno domini M.CC.lxiiii  Anno domini M.CC.lxv  Thomas de la Fourdeous  Thomas fyz Thomas  Anno .xlix.  Gregory Rokkylse  IN thys .xlix. yere vppon the daye of saynt Leonarde or the vi daye of Nouember y e kyng came vnto westmynster And shortly after he gaue vnto diuers of his houshold seruaūtes vpon thre score houses housholdes wythin the citye so y t the owners were compellyd to agre and redeme theyr houses and housholde wyth all goodes as in them were or ellys to auoyde and suffer such persons to enter as y e sayd houses were gyuē vnto not alonely that but also all suche landes and tenementes goodes catalles as the sayde cytezeyns had in any other places of Englande And than he made custos or gardeyn of the cytye syr Othon constable of the toure whych syr Othon chase to be bayllyues vnder hym and to be to hym accomptable to the vse of the kyng Iohn̄ Adrian walter Heruy cytezeyns of the same cytye And after thys the kynge toke pledges of the best mēnes sonnes of the cytye that hys peas shulde be surely kepte within the same The whiche were put in the toure of Londō and there kepte at the coste of theyr parentes And shortly after by great laboure suyte made all the forsayd persones which were in the kepynge
that done he caused to be caste vnto the erthe .iii. C. of y e fayrest houses of the cytye And after certayne suÌ„mes of money by hym receyued towarde hys charge he departed thens towarde Tholowse there by aduyce of hys barony for so moche as wynter was towarde he retourned into Fraunce so sped hym on hys iourney that vppoÌ„ the euyn of all Saintes he came to a place called MouÌ„te Pauncer in the prouynce of Aluerne where he was takeÌ„ with stronge sykenesse and dyed within .iiii. dayes after whose corps with grete honour was conueyed vnto saynt Denys there buryed by hys father when he had reygned .iii. yeres leuynge after hym a sonne the whych is nowe named saint Lowys and was than of y e age of .xii. yeres or nere thereaboute LOwys the .x. of that name surnamed saint Lowys and son of the .ix. Lowys laste kynge began hys reygne ouer the lande of FrauÌ„ce in the moneth of Nouember and yere of grace .xii. C. .xxvi. and y e .x. yere of Henry the .iii. then kynge of Englande The whyche for hys tendernesse of youthe was thought insufficyent to take so greate a charge and specyally of y e duke of Brytayne thaÌ„ named Peter Mancler the whyche encensed and styred many noble men agayne the sayde Lowys But at length by prouysyon of quene Blanche hys mother and other lordes he subdued hys enemyes at Raynes was crowned in the moneth of DeceÌ„ber folowyng of the bysshop of Soy sons for so moche as at that tyme y e see of Raynes was voyde The .iiii. yere of hys reygne and of hys age .xvii. he buylded the house of relygyon called Royan mount settherin monkes of Cysteauxe ordre whyte monkes and endewed theym with ryche possessyons It was nat longe after that great varyaunce fyll betwene the vnyuersytye or studientes of Parys and the cytezeyns of the same in suche wyse that the studyentes were in purpose to haue lafte y e cytye to haue kepte theyr study ellys where Of y e whych stryfe the frenche boke expresseth nat the cause but saythe that the kynge made good spede to agree theym for so moche as kyng HeÌ„ry of Englande had made laboure to the sayde studyentes to come into hys countre to enhabyte theym there with many great pryueleges But in coÌ„clusion y e frenche kynge so entreated theÌ„ that they agreed to reste there styll And that of a congrueÌ„ce for they myghte dwell in no lande where they shulde more surely be defended For y e kyng of Fraunce bereth the floure de Lyce for one of that causes that is to saye for to defende the clergy And the fayth of Chryste betokeneth the myddle leef And the thyrde betokeneth Chyualry So that by the chyualry the clergy is defended whych mayâ—teyne the faythe of the holy chyrche Aboute thys season kynge Lowys maryed to hys fere Margarete the doughter of the erle of Prouynce Soone after y e matrymony was solepnysed Frederyk the secoÌ„de before in y e story of HeÌ„ry the .iii. mynded Emperour of Almayne set vnto Lowis requyrynge hi y e he wolde mete hym at a place called Ualcolour to y e ende that he myght commoÌ„ with hym whyche request kynge Lowys accepted with a goodly company kepte there hys daye of metynge But whan the Emperour was ware that he was commen thyder wyth suche a company he fayned hym syke and broke hys appoyntement wherfore the frenshmen construyed that yf the kynge had comen thyder with a small or weke company he wolde haue conueyed hym into hyghe Almayn and there to haue kepte hym tyll he had of hym hys pleasure concernynge the warre betwene kynge Henry and hym or in other thynges But when kynge Lowys espyed the delucyon of the Emperour he then retourned into Fraunce It was nat longe after that y e kynge was enfourmed of the obstynacy of the Albygensis the whyche of longe tyme had beÌ„ effected with dyuers poyntes of herysy and many tymes recoÌ„cyled by the kynges of Fraunce and other yet fallen agayne to the sayde errour wherfore the kynge sent vnto syr Iohan Beawmount the whych ioyned vnto theym chargynge hym to enuade that countre and to waste and distroy it tyll he had forced theym to restore to the chyrch suche goodes as they before had taken frome it and ouer that to cause theym to make amendes to the good chrysten people whyche they had harmed by meanes of theyr rapynes and exorcyoÌ„s UpoÌ„ whyche commaundement thus froÌ„ y e kynge receyued the sayde Iohan with a competent nombre of knyghtes entred the sayd couÌ„tre and layde syege to a stroÌ„g castell named MouÌ„t Royall And after many forte assautes wanne the sayd castell manned it with Frenchemen And than yode to an other stronge holde than named Saygos and there lykewyse ordered the same And after wastyng the countre wanÌ„e from theym many townes holdes so that in the ende he forced the chyefrules of that prouynce to obey theym to all hys hestê and delyuered to hym suertyes or hostagys for the perfourmaunce of the same So y t he retourned into FraÌ„ce with greate pompe and honour and receyued of the kyng at hys home coÌ„mynge great thanke with many ryche gyftes Aboute the .xv. yere of kynge Lowys the warre was quyckened betwene thys Lowys HeÌ„ry the .iii. than kynge of Englande for causes before shewed in the .xxvi. yere of the sayde Henry And after that warre as there is shewed ended the kynge whyche was towarde the cytye of Lyon to haue vysyted the pope Innocent the .iiii. whyche thyder was fled for fere of Frederik the fore named Emperour was taken with a sykenesse named dyssenterya of the flux wherwith he was so greuously vexed that he laye longe at a towne called Poyntoyse and was in great ieopardy of lyfe where lastly after many pylgrymages for hym done with prayers and other obseruaunces longe to accompt lastly it came to hys mynde that yf it pleased god to restore hym to hys helth he wolde make a vyage into the holy lande there warre vpon Chrystes enemyes After whyche promyse solemply auowed he mended dayly and was sone after restored vnto hys helthe whan the kynge was recouered and retorned vnto Parys he called a couÌ„sayll of spyrytuall and temporall there shewed vnto theym of the promesse whyche he had made requyryng theÌ„ of theyr assystence and ayde wherin he fonde hys lordes were agreable And in the tyme and season y t prouysyon was made for that iourney the kynge wyth a goodly company rode vnto the abbey of Cluny to vysyte the foresayd pope and he taryed with hym .xv. dayes And after hys matter with hym sped wyth playne remyssyon to hym graunted and all other that kept with hym that vyage he retourned into Fraunce And vpoÌ„ wytsondaye folowynge he kepte a great courte of hys landes at MeleoÌ„ where in presence of them he called before hym Beatryce doughter vnto the erle of Prouince and syster to
the more parte of theyr cōpany where thorugh that symple feleshyp whyche named them selfe Shepherdes was dysseuered sparkelyd whan thys blessed kyng Lowys was delyuered from the daūger of hys enemyes was broughte out of Egypte into Syrye he there executed many dedes of charyte and of mekenes and repayred the cytye of Ioppen and other standyng vpon the see syde and from thens went on pylgrymage vnto Nazareth and to the mount of Thabor And when he was retourned vnto Ioppen he receyued there tydynges of the deth of dame Blāch his mother where after dyuers obseruan̄ces prayers done for the soule of hys mother he toke there shyppynge and sayled towarde Fraunce And nat withoute trauayle and trouble of the see at the ende of xii wekes he landed in the Hauen of Marcyll or Martyll and so sped his iournay that he came to Parys in y e yere of our lorde .xii. C. and .liiii. and the .vi yere after that he toke vppon hym the voyage where of the cytezeyns he was receyued wyth mooste honoure and gladnes And there callynge a coūsayl he refourmed many thynges for the weale of hys realme made one lawe whych is specyally remēbred that is that no man beyng in auctorytye of any hygh offyce as Prouost Pretour or any lyke office shuld bye any landes or rētes within that lordshype y t he had rule of And for that cause that he shuld nat extort or wronge or bye suche landes y e better chepe by reason of hys myghte or power At thys day the Prouosty or chyef rule or offyce was in the handes of y e cytezeyns of Parys by reason of a seale therof made to theym by the kynges progenytours By meane wherof many iniuryes and wronges were done vnto the common people and many theuys and other transgressours by fauoure and money passed vnpunysshed wherof thys blessed kynge Lowys beyng enfourmed vpon suffycyent profe made dyscharged the cytezeyns therof and assygned a man named Stephan Boyle in that offyce assygnynge to hym yerely a certayne stipend for executyng of that office and ordeyned that euer after the Prouost of Parys shuld be named by the kynge and hys heyres kynges He also made ordenaunces to auoyde strumpettes out of the cytye and punysshement for all accustomable great swerers wyth many other good ordenaunces and lawes the whyche I passe ouer for lengthynge of the tyme. In this tyme and season were abydynge in Fraunce in a place called saynt Nicholas de Boys .iii. chyldrē borne in Flaundres the whych were sent thyder to lern y e maner of fraūce also to teche y e chyldrē of a knyghte named syr Guyllm̄ de Brunz to shot These chyldrē vpon a season passed the boūdes of the abbey groūde entred the warrayn of a lord of Fraūce called Enguerran lorde of Coucy there chased and shote at Conyes for theyr disport The whych were there takē of the seruaūtes of the sayd Enguerran presented to theyr lorde y e whych of hasty cruelnesse caused the iii. chyldrē with out pyte to be hāged wherof heryng y e Abbot of saint Nycholas cōplayned hym with the assystēce of y e fornamed syr Guillm̄ vnto the kyng The whych incōtynētly sēt to the sayd Enguerrā charging hym to apere before hys barony to answere to such matters as there shuld be layd vnto his charge wher in y e ende after many reasōs for hym layde he by great instāce of hys frendes was pardoned of y t greuous offence wyth cōdicion folowyng that is to meane fyrst he shuld pay vnto the kynge .x. M. li. of Parys money whych is to meane .xii. C. .l. li. sterling And ouer that he shuld warre vpō goddes enemyes in Syria by the space of .iii. yeres contynually vpon hys owne cost and charge And thyrdely he shulde buylde a chapel wherin two preestes shuld synge for euer for the soules of the sayd infauntes Or after mayster Gagwyne with the forsayd .x. M. li. other ayde of the kynge the hospytall in Parys named y e house of god in Pontoyse with the frayter of the freer minors or gray freers in Paris were made and repayred Than after many dedes of charite done by this vertuous prince as makynge of dyuers houses of relygyon seruyng of the poore people with his owne handes with fastinges other infynyte dedes of pytye he lastly in the .xxxiii. yere of hys reygne honourably receyued Hēry the .iii. thā kyng of Englande and stablyshed with hym a peas as before in the .xliiii. yere of the reygne of the sayd Henry is declared And that done he in the .xxxvi. yere of hys reygne maryed hys eldest son Phylyp vnto Isabell the doughter of Iamys kyng of Aragon By reason of whyche maryage the frenshe kyng gaue ouer to the sayd Iamys all suche ryght as he had in the lordshyppes of Besac Dampierre Rousselion and Barsellon And the sayde Iamys acquyted gaue ouer to Lowys all suche ryghte and tytle as he had in the lordshypes of Carcasson of Bygorre and of Anilly And soone after he sente Charles hys brother at the request of the .iiii. Alexaundre than pope into Cicilia with a great power to withstande y e vyolence of Manfrede sonne of Frederyke the second than Emperoure the whych agayne ryghte withhelde that kyngdome frome the chyrche of Rome whome Charles after longe fyght at a place named Boneuente slewe in batayll and after was made kyng of the sayd countre by auctorytye of the sayde pope Alexaunder payenge yerely vnto the chyrche of Rome .xl. M. ducates which is moch lyke after the rate of sterlyng money viii M.vi C.lxvi li. xiii s. iiii d. euery ducat accōpted at .iiii. s. iiii d. IT fyll so after that in the .xlii. yere of kynge Lowys Pope Clement the .iiii. of that name sent a legate vnto Lowys requyryng hym to ayde the crysten whyche in Siria were greuously warred with y e Turkes and Sarazyns At whose request the kyng called a counsayll wherin it was agreed y t socour shuld be made wherfore the kynge with hys .iii. sonnes Phylyp Iohn Peter toke on them the crosse And in the fyrste day of May the yere of hys reygne .xliii he with hys sayde sonnes and many other lordes of Fraunce as well spirytuall as temporall departed from Parys and frome thens rode vnto Cluny where he rested hym .iiii. days And from thēs sped hys iourney tyll he came to the forenamed porte of y t deed see where mette with hym a cardynall and legate of Rome with dyuers other bysshoppes of Fraunce the kyng of Nauarne the dukes son of Brytayn Alphōs erle of Poytiers the erles of Artoys and of Flaūdres with many other And whyle the kynge wyth hys hoost laye at the sayde porte taryeng a conuenable wynde a dyssencyon fyll betwene the Catholeynes and the men of Prouynce so that amonge theym was foughten suche a skyrmysshe that betwene theym was slayne vpon a hondreth men and many mo wounded or the stryfe myght
lyceÌ„ce yode vnto the sayd kyng of Spayn as to his nere kynnesmaÌ„ there disported him a certayn of tyme to his great coÌ„solacioÌ„ In which season diuers letters came out of FrauÌ„ce froÌ„ some of y e kinges couÌ„sall By reason wherof y e kynge of Spayne was informed of mych of the FreÌ„che kinges couÌ„sayll which letters he shewed vnto y e erle of Artoys sayeÌ„g y t he was not without freÌ„des in FrauÌ„ce But he wold not disclose what ê‘sons they were wheÌ„ the erle had taryed in Spayn a coÌ„petent seasoÌ„ he toke leue of y e king deê‘ted with great giftes so sped hym y e in ê“cesse of tyme he cam vnto y e king of FrauÌ„ce at coÌ„uenient leyser shewed vnto hym of the letters shewed vnto him by y e kyng of Spayn wherof the king was not a litle ameruayled It was not loÌ„ge after y t a currour or messanger which vsed to bere letters froÌ„ Pet de Brosh vnto y e king of Spayn fyll syke at an abbay where when he knew he shuld die were it by exortacion of his gostly fader or otherwyse he called to hym y e abbot or hed of y e house chargyng him y t he wold delyuer such letters as he there had vnto y e FreÌ„che kyngê own ê‘son after dyed After whose deth y e said religyous man in coÌ„uenyet hast sped hym vnto y e kinges court presented him with the said letters shewyng vnto him y e mynde of y e sayd messanger which letters when the kyng had vnclosyd he anon knew y t his chaÌ„berlayne Peter de Broshe was the discloser of all his couÌ„saylles wherfore forthwith he coÌ„mauÌ„ded y e said Peter to be had vnder saufe kepyng wherof heryng the bysshop of Bayon fled streyght y e lande so yode vnto Rome The kynge theÌ„ yode vnto Paris where he called a couÌ„sayl of his lordes to examyne y e sayd Peter where finally he was iudged to be haÌ„ged After which iudgemeÌ„t he was coÌ„mytted vnto ward tyll y e morow folowyng At which season long before the son rysyng y o duke of Burgoyn the duke of Braban the erle of Artoys with y e prouost of Paris came vnto the gayole there receyued the said Peter saw him hanged or the sonne were vp IT was not long after y e Peter was thus put to deth but meanes were made betwene these .ii. kynges so that a day of metyng was appoynted y t the said kyng shuld mete to haue coÌ„munycacion for the mater coÌ„cernyng the wroÌ„ges done to dame Blanche her .ii. chyldren beforenamed wherfore y e king of Spayn cam vnto y e citie of Bayon king Philip to a town in yÌ„ prouynce of Tholouse named MouÌ„t marchauÌ„t where these two princes beyng in coÌ„municacyon of y e foresayd mater certayn messangers cam to theÌ„ froÌ„ y e pope then Mantyne y e .iiii chargyng them vpoÌ„ payn of fallyng into y e ceÌ„sures of y t chirch that they agree fall vnto accorde that warre betwen theym be not exercysed By reason wherof kyng Phylyp remitted the mater to y e pope returned vnto Tholouse where mette him the kyng of Aragon named Peter The which after he had there taryed with kyng Philip a tyme at his pleasure he toke his leue of y e kynge after went into Catholoyne where he met with CoÌ„stance his wife doughter of Manfred somtyme kyng of Scycyll y â— which was pryued of his lyfe kyngdome by Charles broder of saint Lewis as before in y e .iiii. chapyter of the storye of saynt Lewys is shortly touched This CoÌ„stance in all y t she might exorted her husbaÌ„d togader his people to enter y e land of Scicill ascertainyng him y t y e Scicillyens wolde take his patye agayne Charles for so myche as they well knew that she was rightfull heyre to that kyngdome In thys tyme and season whyche was the .x. yere of kynge Phylyppe the ryuer of Sayne rose of suche an hyght that yt compassed the cytye of Parys in suche wyse that no man myght come thyther wythoute bote or barge And the water passed wyth suche vyolence that yt brake vi arches of the great brydge of Parys and one of the small brydges Then let vs turne to y e kyng of Aragon whych by incensyng of his wyfe gadered his peple and vnder colour that he wold haue gone agaynste the Turkes hadde graunte of the pope to receyue y e dymes of his owne land for certayne yeres whyle this was in doynge he sent certayne persones into Scycyle to see the state of that countrey The whyche made confederacyes wyth dyuers great men of Scycylyens and ouer that brought wyth theym dyuers of the rulers to the presence of y e kynge wyth whom the sayd Peter made certayn appoyntementes and after retourned them into Scycyle where after theyr returne they cousayled so wyth theyr rulers of Palermo and Messene of other cytyes that in one nyght all the Frenche men in Scycylle were slayne and after in most cruell wyse slewe the women as wel those y t were wyth chylde as other and lefte few or none of the Frenche men in all the chefe cytyes or townes of Scicyll on lyue wheÌ„ tydynges of this myschyef was brought vnto Charles beynge then in the countrey of Angeou he sent messangers vnto the pope Martyne the .iiii requyrynge his ayde to defende his enymyes The whych in all hast sent vnto Palermo y e byshop of saynte Sabyne to charge the cytesyns vppon payne of cursynge to obey vnto Charles for theyr kyng to none other But the rulers of Palermo and also of Messene wold not suffer the sayd byshoppe to passe any farther And also sayde that Peter was entred the countrey of whome they wolde holde and on none other wyth whyche answere he was fayne to retourne In this whyle Charles hadde sent vnto his neuew Phylyppe kynge of FrauÌ„ce the whyche wyth his power to reuoke Peter from Scycyll enteryd the lande of Aragon by Purpunyan and toke the cytye of Ieane In whyche passe tyme Charles entred Scycyl and besyeged Messene But the towne was so strongely fortyfyed that he loste there his labour wherfore he left that syege and yode into the playnes of saynt Martyne and there taryed the coÌ„mynge of hys son then prynce of Salerne The pope theÌ„ accursed Peter for as much as certayne worde was broughte to hym that he hadde proclaymed hym selfe kynge of Scycyll And to the entent to styre the more people agayne hym he gaue his lande of Aragon vnto Charlys erle of Ualoys son of kynge Phylyp of Fraunce when Phylyppe as before is sayde kynge of FrauÌ„ce had won Ieane for as myche as the ways towarde Aragon were harde to passe as well for prouysyons made by the enmyes as otherwyse the kyng therfore sought great aduyse how he myght with lest daunger wyn to his enymyes And after many meanes sought a Russylyan was broughte vnto
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
god as he before had vsed hym ī ledyng of an ankers lyfe thoughte howe he myght bryng hym in mynde to resigne hys hyghe office to him And it to bring about he fyrst made hym frendes secretely after hyred one of the cubyclers of y e pope that he in the dede nyght shuld speke in a rede and saye Celestyne yf thou wylt be sauyd be partyner of blysse renounce thys pōpe of the worlde serue me as thou before dyd Or after the latyn storye yf Celestynus wyl be sauyd let hym clerely the papall dygnyte resygne whych voyce this ghostly mā sundry tymes heryng thought veryly it had ben a deuyne mocyon wherfore in all that he myghte he laboured to be dyscharged so that at y e ende of .v. monethes he resigned And shortly after was the foresayd Bonyface admytted The whyche nat beynge contented with hys synystre opteynyng of thys hygh dygnyte but y e he for fere lest y e sayd Celestyne shuld repent hym of hys insolent dede and by strengthe of some prynces be restored agayne to hys former dygnite he therfore wolde nat suffre the sayd Celestine to retourne to wildernes there to contynewe hys olde accustomed lyfe but helde hym in a castell as prysoner where for sorowe and euyll kepynge he dyed shortly after For the whyche thys Bonyface was nat vnpunysshed For over the sorow trouble that he durynge the terme of hys papacy suffred whyche was nat a lytell in the ende of .viii. yeres he was taken by strēgth and put in pryson where so miserably cruelly he was entreated that or he dyed what for madnesse or for hunger he ete hys owne handes so in mysery ended hys lyfe within .xxiiii. dayes of hys inprysonement Than to retourne where I laft to shewe you ferther of the warre atwene Fraūce Flaundres trouth it is that the Frēche men with y e ayde of the Henaudours made sondry many tymes assautes vpon the Flemynges In the whiche dyuers chaūces of y e warre fyll so that yf that one had the better at one tyme that other had as moche aduauntage the nexte tyme. For reformacyon of whiche warre syr Guy with his son̄e before-named erle of Flaundres that by all this season had cōtynued in y e Frēche kynges pryson were suffred to go in to Flaunders vpon condycyon that yf they myght pacyfye the countre to the kynges pleasure that then they shulde styll enioye theyr lyberte and go at large or els to retourne againe as prysoners The whiche erle with his sayd sonne dyd what they cowde to reconcyle the sayde Flemynges But al theyr trauayle was in vayne so that by y ◠day to them appoynted they retourned to theyr former pryson wherfore the kynge in the .xviii. yere of his reygne assembled a mesurable hoste of people In the whiche were accompted for noble capytaynes vnder the kynge syr Charles de Ualoys brother to the kyng Lewys erle of Euroux that othe brother to y e kyng Guy erle of saint Paule Iohn̄ erle of Dampmartyn whiche noble men with many other mette with the kyng at a towne called Mount And whē they had a season rested there by meane of messangers goyng atwene kynge Phylyp and the Flemynges a day of batayll was atwene theym appoynted to be foughten vppon the .xvi. daye of Auguste in y e aboue sayd .xviii. yere At whiche day y e Flemynges of Brugys and y e other townes set forthe theyr ordenaunce and made them a stronge felde and enbatayled them in suche wyse that the Frenchemen made daūgerous to set vpon them Then meanes of treatye were offered so that the daye passed without stroke strykynge But in the euenynge the Flemynges thynkynge to take auauntage vpon theyr enemyes came so sodenly vpon the Frenchmen that hardly the kynge myght be armed or they had slayne two men within his tent wherfore hasty spede was made so that the kynge was goten to horsbacke and forthwith by his marcyall power made waye thorough his enemyes and slewe theym without mercy And by the knyghtly example of hym the remenaunt of his lordes quytte theym so honorably that the poore Flemynges were layde in the feld bathynge in theyr owne blode to a great nombre and lastly cōstrayned to flee shamefully and to leue theyr ordenaūce behynde them And yf nyght hadde nat fallen on it is to deme that many mo of theym shulde haue ben slayne consyderynge the great fyersnesse of theyr enemyes and the excedyng rancour of malyce that the Frenchmen to theym bare But yet the Frenchemen escaped not without losse of some noble men For in that batayll was slayne the erle of Ancerre and dyuers other knyghtes and men of fame After whiche scomfyture and chasynge of the Flemynges the kynge for darknesse was set vnto his tentes with torche lyghte where after he hadde buried the dede bodyes slayne in that felde and also garnysshedde some stronge castelles with his knyghtes to the ende that the Flemynges shulde nat breke toferre abrode knowynge that with his enemyes he shulde that yere haue no mo playne batayles he retourned agayne into Fraunce IN y e .xix. yere of kyng Phylyp by meanes of Enguerrā a mā in especyall fauoure with the kynge a peas betwene Fraunce and Flaundres was concluded the whych as ye shal after here dured but short whyle Nat withstandynge by the reason of thys peas Robert de Bethune and wyllyam hys brother whyche by all thys seasō with theyr father syr Guy erle of Flaundres had contynued in pleasaunt or esy pryson were now delyuered But the father was dede in the moneth of February before the cōclusyon of thys peas passed by licēce of the French kyng caryed to Marquet a town in Flaundres and there buryed In the .xx. yere of thys kyng Phillip a great dyssencyon stryfe fylle betwene the ryche mē or gouernours of Parys y e comynaltie of the same for heythyng of y e rent of dyuers houses aparteynyg to y e sayd cominaltie wherfore the sayd comons secretely accōpanyed them in greate nombre and yode vnto the house of Stephan Barbet that was accused to be occasyoner of that dede spoyled it And after that they yode to a maner of his in the counntre named Courtile Barbet and it in lykemaner spoyled and that done set it in fyre and brent it And the orcharde of the same whych was passynge commodious and pleasaunt they defaced and vtterly dystroyed And nat yet with thys beyng content they retourned agayne vnto the house of the sayde Stephan and all such wynes as were within hys sellers dranke of them tyll they were wood drunkē And what they myght nat in that wyse deuoure they bette out the heddes and let the wyne rōne in the strete And all formys stolys other vtensillis in the house by them foundyn all to brake in peces and of federbeddes rypped y e tykys helde theym in the wynde that the fethers myght be blowyn a way and
lost foreuer and vnrypped the house in dyuers places that the rayne and other wederyng myghte entre as than fyll about y e tyme soone after Crystmas And thus contynuyng in theyr fury and rage after the dyspoylynge and defasyng of these foresayd houses as men nat knowynge what they than dyd yode streyght in greate nombre vnto the place of the templers there nere where at that season kyng Philyp with a certayn of hys barōs was than lodged there kept the entrees of that place in suche wyse that no man myghte yssue nor entre but at theyr pleasures and suche metes as were brought thyder to the kynges vse and hys housholde they cast it in the myre and fylth of the strete The kyng and his lordes seynge the rage of thys rude and vnresonable people sent vnto them the prouost of y e cytie with some of hys lordes the whyche gaue vnto them so pleasaunt comfortable wordes that at length he retourned theym in peasyble maner to theyr houses But vpon the morowe folowynge the kyng nat forgettyng thys rage and ryot of the people cōmaunded many of the sayde comons to be attached and to be sent vnto dyuers prysons And vpon Candelmasse euyn folowyng for the same ryot .xxviii. of thē were hanged at .iiii. entrees of y e cytie of Parys y e is to say .vii. at Louure vii towarde the partyes of saynt Antoyne .vii. at a place toward the roule other .vii. in a place towarde nostre Dame or notyr Dame whych execucyon caused the cominaltye of y e cytie to lyue longe after in great fere In the .xxi. yere of the reygne of kyng Philip whyche maketh the yere of our lorde .xiii. C. and .vii. all be it that other wryters affyrmeth it to be in the yere of grace .xiii. C. and .xi. all the templers in Fraunce were destroyed theyr goodes possessions thorugh crystendom gyuē by auctoryte of a synode kept by Clement the v. than pope at the cytye of Narbon in Fraunce vnto y e relygyō of knyghtes of saynte Iohn̄ Baptyst Thys ordre of templers was destroyed for theyr detestable heresy whereof they were cōuyct in .x. artycles expressed in the frenche cronycle at length which here I passe ouer for lengthe of the matter also for the rehersall therof is nat fruytefull to all herers or reders In the .xxiii. yere of his reygn this kyng Philippe for asmoche as he by some of the electours of the Empyre was chosen Emperoure he therfore with a great army sped hym toward Rome and passed thorugh Almayne tyll he came vnto the duchye of Qua rantayne Of whyche duchye the people receyued hym with all honoure And after he passed the mountaynes and so came vnto Padua where also he was ioyously receyued where he tarienge a season receyued from My layne ambassadours the whyche offered to hym that cytye with all couenable seruyce And after hys people was to hym more plenarli assembled be than departed from Padua yode vnto Mylayne whome the lordes of the cytye met vpon the waye conueyed hym vnto the mayster paleys of the cytye and there lodged hym within fewe days after brought hym with great solempnyte vnto the cathedrall churche and there crowned hym kyng of Lōbardy called hym Augustus Thā he departed from Mylayn and spedde hym to the cytye of Cremoyne layd siege to the same But it was to hym shortly yolde Frō thēs he passed to y e cyte of Bresse where he was holdē out a lōge whyle Thyder to hys ayde came many soudyours of y e towne of Pyze made there many sharpe assautes In whych assautes Guyde Namoure y t was marshal of the kynges hoost dyed of hurtes y t he there toke In pcesse of tyme shortly folowing y e rulers of Bres offered meanes of treaty But y e kyng was so amoued with y e dethe of hys marshall y t he wolde graūt to thē no cōdycional peas but to stāde at his grace mercy wherefore they fynally seyng no better meane offered vnto hym y e keys of the cytye Thā kyng Philip for othe before made or for some other excellēcy caused anone y e part of the towne dyche fore agayn hys pauiliō to be fylled the walle of y e cytye with as many houses as stode betwene the walle the mayster palays of the cytye to be throwyn downe y t he with hys hoost myght entre y e streyght waye so to go or ryde vnto the sayd palays And whē all thyng was ordered to hys deuyse he entred by y e way the cytye of Cremō therin taryed a certayn season toke hys counsayll with y e Gebellynys how he myghte the cytye of Rome wynne And whā he had fynys shed y e coūsayl he toke certayn hostages of thys cytye of Cremō y e whych he set vnto Pyze to be kept so sped hym towarde Rome gettyng many cyties other holdes by y e way lastly he came vnto y e cytie named Bowlon la Grasse whyther cam vnto hi a car dynall or legate sent frō pope Clemēt the .v to treate of y e state of y e empyre But how it was the cōtynuaūce or fyne of thys iournay tourned nat to the honour pleasure of the Frēchmē For after the metyng of the kynge thys legate y e matter is no more touched For the Frēch kyng was agayn in Fraūce or the legate myght bryng vnto hym any answere frō the pope Also it is the more suspect for of this matter speketh nothyng mayster Robert Gagwyne whyche leueth nothynge out of hys boke y e may soūde to the auauncemēt of the French nacyon In the .xxiiii. yere of the reygne of kyng Philip was brent in dyuers places of Fraunce vpon .lx. templers for the heresy before rehersed And in the yere folowynge a new rebellyon began in Flaunders Of the whyche Robert erle of Flaūders was accused but he acquyt hym self after Guy hys sonne was attached for the same and sent to pryson Fro the whych he after escaped for fere of profe to haue ben iustyfyed agayne hym retourned vnto Gaunt where he was defēded fro hys aduersaries so that the Holanders Brabāders helde theyr partye agaynst the Frēch kyng also agayne theyr owne erle whych so contynued without any notary batayll tyll the .xxvi. yere of the reygne of kyng Philip. In the which yere vpon the euyn of mary Magdaleyn at the towne of Courtray in Brabande was by the bysshops and other spyrituall men of Fraunce and Flaundres a peace cōcluded wherof the condycyons were y t the Flemynges shuld haue pardō forgyuenesse of all theyr former rebellyon aswell agayne the kynge as theyr naturall duke And for thys they shuld paye a certayne summe of syluer wherof the summe is nat expressed ouer that they shulde at theyr proper costes expenses bete downe certayne strēgthes holdes as the Frēche kynges depute wolde to them
by ordre of lawe or iustyce In thys yere also floured y e holy man called Robert a chanon of the house of Brydlyngtone the whyche of some wrytters is accompted for a prophete for verses that he made of thynges to come after in Englande whyche I passe ouer at thys tyme. Anno domini M.CCC.viii  Anno domini M.CCC.ix  wyllyam Basynge  Nycholas Faryngdone  Anno .ii.  Iohn̄ Butler  IN thys .ii. yere kyng Edward callynge to mynde the dyspleasure done vnto hym and to hys famulyer Pyers of Gauestone by the bysshoppe of Chester mayster walter Lanton as before is towched in the xxviii yere of the reygne of Edwarde hys father commaunded hym vnto the toure of London where he was streyghtely kepte many dayes after Than the lordes of the lande and specyally syr Henre Lacy syr Guy syr Aymer de Ualance erle of Lyncolne of warwyke of Penbroke to whome y e noble prince Edwarde y e .i. had gyuē so great charge y t Pyers of Gauestone shuld no more come into Englande sawe the rule of the lāde and howe the kynges treafoure by meane of the sayd pyers was wasted assembled them in counsayll of one assent with ayde of other lordes of y e realme spake so with the kynge that contrary hys pleasure he was auoyded the lande and banisshed into Irelande for that yere But the kynge sent vnto hym oftentymes secret messangers and comforted hym wyth many ryche gyftes or made hym hys chyef ruler of the countre Anno domini M.CCC.ix  Anno domini M.CCC.x.  Iamys of saynt Edmunde  Thomas Romayne  Anno .iii.  Roger Palmer  IN thys .iii. yere dyuers grudges began to moue sprynge betwene the kyng and his lordes for the exilynge of Pyers of Gauestone wherfore to contente amyte betwene hym them the sayd Pyers about y e feast of the natiuite of our Lady was fette home agayne and so contynued to the more myschyef of y e realme About thys tyme as testifyeth Cronica Cronicarum other the knyghtes of the ordre of saynte Iohn̄ Baptyste called saynt Iohn̄ of Hierusalē by theyr knyghtly manhode put out of the I le of Rodes or Rodhis y e Turkys and infidelis that to that day occupyed the sayd I le after that wanne vpon the sayd Turkys dayly and yerely so that at thys day they haue in theyr domynyon moche of the landes whyche at that day and longe after was in the power of the sayd Turkes Thys relygyō also was greatly preferryd by the fall of the templers whose possessyons and lādes were to them gyuen as it is before expressed in the thyrde chapytre and .xxi. yere of Phylyp the fayre Thys yere also after some wryters the crowched freres came fyrste into Englande Anno domini M.CCC.x.  Anno domini M.CCC.xi  Symon Croppe  Rycharde Roffham  Anno .iiii.  Petyr Blacnay  IN thys fourthe yere the rule and power of Pyers of Gaue stone more and more encreasynge in so moche that he hauynge the guydynge of all the kynges iewellys and treasoure yode vpon a day vnto west mynster and there out of the kynges iewell house toke a table a payre oftrestyllys of golde and conueyed them wyth other iewellys oute of the lande to the greate inpouerysshyng of the same and ouer that broughte the kynge by meane of hys wanton condycyons to manyfolde vyces as auoutry and other wherfore the foresayde lordes seynge the myschyefe that dayly encreased by occasyon of thys vnhappy man toke theyr counsayll togyther at Lyncolne and there concluded to voyde hym agayne out of Englande so that shortly after he was exyled into Flaunders to the kynges great dyspleasure Anno dn̄i M.CC.xi  Anno dn̄i M.CC.xii.  Symon Merwode  Iohn̄ Gysours  Anno .v.  Rycharde wylforde  IN thys .v. yere vpon the day of saynt Bryce or the .xiii. daye of Nouembre was borne at wyndesore the fyrst or eldest sonne of kyng Edwarde y t after hys father was kynge of Englande and named Edwarde the thyrde And this yere was agayn reuoked by the kynge Pyers of Gaueston out of Flaunders the whych after hys agayne commyng demeaned hym worse than he before dyd In so moche that he dysdayned the lordes of Englande and of them had many dyspytous and sclaunderouse wordes wherfore the lordes of one mynde assented to put this Pyers to deth soone after assembled theyr powers and besyeged hym in the castell of Scarburgh in proces wan that castell toke hym and brought hym vnto Gauersede besyde warwycke and there the .xix. daye of Iunu smote of hys hede wherof whan the kynge hadde knowlege he was greuously dyspleased agayne the sayd lordes and made hys auowe y e hys deth shuld be reuenged By meane of thys the rancoure that before betwene the kynge and hys lordes was kendeled now began further to sprede so that after thys day the kyng sought occasyō agayn hys lordes howe he myght put theym to greuaunce and dyspleasure In thys whyle dyed syr Henry Lacy erle of Lyncolne the whych lyeng vpon his dethe bedde requyred syr Thomas erle of Lācastre that had maryed hys doughter that he wolde stande with the other lordes in theyr defence for the weale of Englande The whyche request the sayd erle graunted and so fermely kepte or obserued it that at length he wyth many other loste theyr lyues as after in the story shall be shewed Anno dn̄i xiii C.xii.  Anno dn̄i xiii C.xiii.  Iohn̄ Lambyn  Iohn̄ Pontenay  Anno .vi.  Adam Lutekyn  IN thys .vi. yere the kyng held hys great court or counceyl of parlyamēt with the lordes spirituall temporall at London where by the aduyces of theym many good ordenaunces and statutes were made to oppresse the ryottouse and other myscheues that at those days were vsed Than the kyng was sworne to kepe those ordenaunces and after all his lordes to theyr powers After the whyche othe so takyn Robert archebysshope of Caunterbury blessed all theym that vphelde the sayde statutes and accursed all such as attēpted to breke any of the same It was nat longe after that worde was broughte vnto the kynge howe Robert le Bruze was retourned into Scotlande and hadde caused the Scottes to rebell of newe ye haue before harde in the .xxxiiii. yere of Edwarde the fyrste howe the sayd Edward chased the forenamed Roberte le Bruze oute of Scotland into Normandy But whenne he had harde of the mysguydynge of the realme of Englande and specially of the dyuysyon betwene the kynge and hys lordes he anone wyth a small ayde of the Norgans or Norwayes retourned into Scotlande where he demeaned hym in suche wyse to the lordes of Scotlāde that he in shorte processe was agayne made kynge of that realme and warred strongely vppon the kynges frēdes and wanne from theym castelles and strōge holdes and wrought vnto Englysshe men moche sorowe and
which certayne lordes of Almayne shuld haue y e rule y e other hoste shulde be of mē of Brugys of Englyssh archers of y e host was ordeyned syr Robert of Artoys to be leder capitayne whā y e sayd .ii. hostes were all garnysshed with all thynge for thē nedeful y e fyrst of them was sent vnto y e town of Turney and the other vnto y e towne of saynt Omers The which .ii. townes at y e day were lyke strēgth vnto Fraūce as Calays is now vnto England wherfore the Frēch kynge for the more suretye of them sent vnto Tournay the erle of Foys syr Barthā than marshall of Fraūce with .iiii. M. men of armis vnto saynt Omers he sent y e duke of Burgoyn with a great cōpany of lordes other whā sir Robert of Artois had lyen a certeyn tyme before saynt Omers many sharpe assautys by hym and his people had ben gyuen to it in the whiche dyuerse fortunes fell chaunces of warre which were tedyous and longe to wryte fynally vpon the morowe after saynt Iames day or the .xxvi. day of Iulii y e duke of Burgoyne with his retynue yssued out of the towne foughte with y e sayd syr Robert his people a lōge season In y e which fyght was slayne of the dukes partye the lorde of Hamelcourte syr Froysard de Beaford the lorde of saynt Uran a lorde of Spayne a Burgonyon lorde called the lorde of Branges with other dyuerse knyghtes and gentylmen to the noūber of .liiii. as sayth y e Frēche cronycle and of the comune people vpon .iii. M. But in short tyme after the power of the duke encreased in suche wyse that syr Robert with his cōpany was fayne to departe thense and so yode into Ipre there helde hym Then as aboue is sayde when kynge Edwarde had sent forth y e fore named .ii. hostes he with the rest of his people yode vnto a place within .ii. Englysshe myles of Tournaye called in Frēche le Pount de Pree and there lodged hym his people And Phylyp de Ualoys y e Frēche kynge came with his people vnto an house of relegyon whiche then was called y e priory of saynt Andrewe At which two places these two sayde prynces thus lyenge with great strengthes vpon eyther syde kyng Edwarde by counsceyll of his lordes sent vnto y e Frenche kynge a letter conteynynge as foloweth EDwarde by the grace of god kyng of Englāde of Fraūce and lorde of Irelande Syr Phylyp de Ualoys by longe tyme we haue exhorted by messangers and other manyfolde maner of wayes to y e ende y t ye shulde restore vnto vs do to vs reason of oure ryghtfull enherytaūce of the realme of Fraunce the whiche ye haue longe occupyed with great wronge And for that we se well that ye entende to perseuer in youre iniuryous witholdynge without to do vnto vs reason for our ryght to demaūde we are entred into our lāde of Flaundres as souerayne lorde of the same and passe by that countre doynge you ferther to vnderstande that we haue taken with the helpe of our lorde Iesu chryst the ryght with the power of the sayd countrey and with our people them allyed beholdynge the ryght which we haue in y e herytage that ye wythholde frome vs with great wronge and drawe vs towarde you to make a short ende vppon our ryghtfull demaunde and chalenge yf ye wyll towarde vs approche And for so moch that so great power of mē of Armes that came vpon our partyes may not longe holde thē togythers without great destruccyon of y e people whiche euery good crysten man ought to eschewe specyally a prynce or other that haue the gouernaunce of people we therfore moche desyre y t in shorte dayes they may mete And for to eschewe y e more mortalyte of the people so that the quarell apparent atwene vs to the destruccyon of oure chalenge maye stāde in tryal atwene vs two whiche thynge we offre vnto you for the causes aboue sayd How be it that we remembre well the noblenesse of your persone and your great wysedome aduysement And in case that ye wyll not therof that then in our chalenge be set to afferme the batayll of youre selfe with an hundreth persones of your party of the moste suffycyent we in lyke wyse with as many And yfye wyl that one wey nor the other that then ye wyll assygne a certayne day before the cytye of Tournay to fyght with strength agaynst strēgth within .x. dayes after y e syght of these letters And we wolde that all the worlde knewe that these thynges aboue sayd in thys oure desyre is nat for pryde nor for great presumpcion but for that that oure Lorde myghte set the more reste and peace amonge the crysten and for that that the enemyes of god myght be resysted and crystendome enhaunced And y e way y t ye wyll chose of these offers abouesayd wryte agayne to vs by the bringer of these letters to hym makynge hastye delyueraunce Gyuen vnder our great seale at Eschine sur le scaut nere vnto the cytye of Tourney the xv day of the moneth of Iule Upon receyt of whych letters the Frenche kynge by the aduice of hys counsayl wrote agayne vnto kynge Edwarde in maner and fourme as foloweth The Frenche kynges letter PHilip by y e grace of god kyng of Fraunce to Edward kyng of Englād we haue sene a letter sent to Philip de Ualoys brought to our court in y e which letter were certayn requestes And for so moche as the sayd letter came nat to vs the sayde requestes were nat made to vs lyke as it apereth by the tenoure of y e sayd letter we therfore to you make none answer Neuerthelesse for that that we vnderstonde by the sayde letter otherwyse that ye are enbatelled in our realme of Fraunce doyng great domage to vs and our sayd realme to the people moued of wyll without reason nat regardynge y t which a lyege man ought to regarde to hys lyege and soueraygne lorde for ye are entred into our homage in youre selfe a knowelegyng as reason is to the kynge of Fraunce and promised obeysaunce suche as a lyege man oughte vnto hys soueraygne lorde lyke as it appereth by youre letters patētes sealed with your great seale the whyche we haue by vs and for that shulde you be obedyente vnto vs. Our entente is suche that whā we shal thynke it good we shal chase you out of our realme to our honour and mageste royall and to the profet of our people And in thys doynge we haue faythfull hope in oure lorde Iesu Chryste from whome all good to vs commyth For by your enterpryse whyche is of wyll nat reasonable hathe ben lette the holy voyage ouer the see and greate quantyte of cristen people put to deth and y e holy seruyce of god lefte and holy chyrch vnworshypped vnhonoured
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
cytye And in the same moneth syr Godfrey de Harcourte whych as before is sayde alyed hym with kynge Edwarde and wolde nat apere after certayne sommons was now opeÌ„ly banysshed as traytour enemy to y e crowne of Fraunce And in the same moneth was syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„tforte delyuered out of pryson vppon such condicions as before is rehersed in y e xiii yere of this kyng And soon after were put vnto deth at Parys syr Iohan de Malestreet syr Godfrey de Malestreet the father the sonne syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„talbone syr wyllyam de Bruys syr IohnÌ„ de Cablat syr IohnÌ„ de Plessys knyghtes esquyres IohnÌ„ de Malestrete neuew to y e forsayd knyghtê GuyllmÌ„ de Bruze Robert de Bruys IohnÌ„ de Senne and Dauy de Senne And shortely after at Parys were put in execucion thre Norman knyghtes for affynyte or fauour whych they had borne towarde syr Godfrey de Harecourt and theyr heddes sent vnto saynte Loup in Constantyne a cytye of NormaÌ„dy whych sayd knyghtes were called sir wyllyam Bacon syr Roulande de la Roche tessone and syr Rycharde de Percy IN the .xvii. yere of thys Philip one mayster Henry de Malestrete clerke deakeÌ„ brother to the aboue named syr Godfrey before put in execucion whych sayd mayster HeÌ„ry was mayster of the requestes with kyng Philip for so moch as he after y e deth of hys sayd brother yode vnto kyng Edward and couÌ„sayled hym agayne kyng Philip after by assygnemeÌ„t of kynge Edwarde was set in great auctorite wythin the towne of Uannys in Brytayne whych towne was after goten by the FrenchmeÌ„ he therin as one of the chefe capytaynes of the same taken was imprysoned within the castell of Parys Out of the whyche at thys season he was taken thens and set in a tumbrell thereunto fastened wyth chaynes of yren and so coÌ„ueyed bareheded with dynne and crye thorugh y e hygh stretes of Parys tyll he came vnto y e bysshoppes palays of Parys and there deliuered vnto the bisshop And soon after by vertue of a commissyoÌ„ purchased by kynge Philip of the pope to haue the sayd mayster Henry dysgraded he was depryued of all degrees and ordres of the churche and thaÌ„ deliuered vnto the execucioners The whyche by .iii. days coÌ„tynuall a certayn season of y e day set hym vpoÌ„ a ladder in y e syght of all people to y e enteÌ„t that euery man chyld might throwe at hym all fylth ordour of y e strete the whiche was done without all compassion and pyte in so cruell wyse that by the thyrd dayes ende he was dede and after buryed vnreuerently In the sayde .xvii. yere of kynge Philippe also as before is shewed in the .xix. yere of kynge Edwarde the thyrde Iaques de Artyuele whych was especiall promoter of the sayde kyng Edwardes causes came vnto y e towne of Gaunt and shewed vnto theym dyuers apoyntmentes to be holde betwene theym and other townes of FlauÌ„dres where vpon the .xv. day of Iuly by diuers coÌ„spiratours of the sayd towne of Gaunte he was pursued from one house to an other and lastly slayne murdred by them to the kynges of Englande great displeasure hurt wherefore the sayde kyng Edwarde was fayne to retourne into Englande wythoute spede of hys purpose lyke as before in y e sayd xix yere of his reygne is declared In thys yere also and the moneth of Decembre dyed syr IohnÌ„ erle of MouÌ„tfort which as before is sayd claymed the duchy of Brytayn and lefte after hym a sonne named also syr IohnÌ„ erle of MouÌ„tfort the whyche in lykewyse claymed the sayd duchy of Brytayn maynteyned the warre agayn syr Charles de Bloys as hys father before had done In the .xviii. yere of kyng Phylyp fyrste daye of Iuly at Parys was than putte to deth by cruel execucioÌ„ a cytezyn of CompeynÌ„ named Symonde Poylet a man of greate ryches The whych for he had sayd in open audience that the ryght of the crowne of Fraunce belonged more ryghtfully vnto kyng Edward than to kynge Philip he was fyrste hanged vpon a tree lyke as an oxe is haÌ„ged in the bochery there dismembred as fyrst the armys and after y e legges cut from hys body and lastly hys hede stryken of and the trunke of hys body hanged by chaynes vpoÌ„ the commoÌ„ gybet of Parys And vppon a saterdaye beynge the .xxvi. day of August in the foresayde .xviii. yere of kynge Philippe was foughten at Cressy the batayll before expressed in the .xxi. yere of kynge Edwarde the thyrd where the floure of the chyualry of FrauÌ„ce was slayne taken prysoners Than soone after kyng Philippe for the defence of the charge of hys warres asked a subsidie of the monkes of saynt Denys And amoÌ„g certayne iewelles of that place to be had he demauÌ„ded the greate crucyfyx of golde standynge ouer y e hyghe aulter of that monastery wherunto the monkes answered y t they mighte nat departe with that crucifyxe for Eugenius the thyrde of that name pope accursed al them that layd any hande vpon that crucifyxe to the entent to remoue it from that place as it appereth by wrytynge set vnder y e fote of the sayd crosse by whyche answere the kyng was pacifyed And in the moneth of DeceÌ„bre syr Godfrey de Harecourte wyth a towell double folden about hys necke came vnto y e presence of kyng Philip and yelded hym holy to hys mercy and grace the whyche graunted vnto hym hys pardon And in shorte whyle after all the Lumbardes vsurers wythin y e realm of Fraunce were taken and sente to dyuers prysons And all suche persones as stode bouÌ„den vnto them for any bargeyn or lone of money by way of vsury it was ordeyned that y e sayd persones beyng dettours to the sayd vsurers shulde paye the pryncypall dette vnto the kynge at theyr dayes of payment the resydue whyche remayneth to the vsurer for hys lucre of gayne for the lone of hys money shulde be pardoned to the dettour And after the sayd Lumbardes vsurers were delyuered from pryson by payenge of greate and greuous fynaunce In the .xix. yere of thys Philippe for so moche as wytnesseth the FreÌ„ch cronycle that y e Flemynges by great manacis and perforce had constrayned theyr erle to be assured by bonde of assuraunce vnto the doughter of kyng Edward contrary hys voluÌ„te and wyll the sayde erle nat wyllyng to accomplysshe that maryage in the Easter weke by a cautele deê‘ted out of FlauÌ„dres and came to y e Frenche kyng to Parys of whome he was honourably and ioyously receyued And in the same yere one named Gawyn de Belemount an aduocate of the spirituall lawe entendynge to betray y e cytye of LaonÌ„ acqueynted hym with a poore maÌ„ than dwellyng in that citie of Meaus named Colyn Tomelyn y e whych before tyme was fled the cytye of Laon was thaÌ„ for lacke of substauÌ„ce comyn to Meaus there mayntened
shortly thens and sped hym towarde Auynyon It was nat longe after that the kyng of Nauerne was departed out of NormaÌ„dy but that kyng IohnÌ„ sped hym thider seased all the landes that the kyng of Nauerne had wythin that duchy and putte offycers and rulers in hys castelles townes suche as hym lyked and dyscharged the other excepte .vi. castelles that is to saye Euroux le PouÌ„t Audemer Chirebourt Ganeray Auranches Martaygn the whych were holden by the seruauÌ„tes of the kynge of Nauerne men of Nauerne borne In the moneth of Ianuary folowynge syr Robert de Loryze abouenamed vnder safe conduyte came vnto kyng IohnÌ„ to Parys and there was to hym in proces reconsyled And in thys yere were the artycles of peace betwene the kynges of EnglaÌ„de of FrauÌ„ce prolonged tyll the feaste of saynt IohnÌ„ Baptyst next ensuynge as before in y e ende of the .xxviii. yere of kyng Edwarde is more at length declared In thys .v. yere of kyng Iohan moneth of Apryl he sent syr Charles hys sonne dolphyne of Uyenne into Normandy to aske ayde of the Normannes agayne the kynge of Nauerne The whyche graunted vnto hym iii. M. men at theyr charge for .iii. monethes And in the moneth of August folowynge the kynge of Nauerne accompanyed with .ii. M. sowdiours came vnto the castell of ConstaÌ„tyne there taryed with the sayd people wyth whose coÌ„mynge the sowdiours of the forenamed .vi. castelles were so well comforted that they robbed and pylled al y e couÌ„tre about theÌ„ And som of the sayde sowdiours came vnto a castell of y e FreÌ„ch kynges named CoÌ„ket waÌ„ it by streÌ„gth after vytayled maÌ„ned it in moste warly wyse dyd many other thynges to y e FreÌ„che kyngs great displeasure The which warre thus coÌ„tynuyng by medyacioÌ„ of freÌ„des the kynge of NauarnÌ„ rode vnto y e dolphyn to a towne called the Uale de Rueyll where they metyng and eyther to other shewyng louyng couÌ„tenaunce vpoÌ„ y e .xviii. day of SepteÌ„bre they togyder toke theyr way toward Parys where the kyng of Nauarne was brought vnto the French kynges presence where he excused hym of all trespasses done agayn the kyng syne y e tyme of y e last accord besechyng y e kyng to be good and gracius lorde vnto hym and he shulde be to hym as a sonne oughte to be vnto the fader as a trew man vnto hys soueraygne lorde And after the kyng by y e meanes of y e duke of Athenesse forgaue vnto hym hys offeÌ„ces and promysed to staÌ„de hys good and gracyous lord and so eyther deê‘ted from other in louyng maner And soone after kyng IohnÌ„ gaue vnto y e dolphyn of Uyen syr Charles hys eldest sonnÌ„ y e duchy of NormaÌ„dy for y e whyche he dyd vnto hys father homage in y e house of mayster Martyn ChanoÌ„ of Parys in y e cloyster of the mynster called Noterdame And by auctoryte of a parlyameÌ„t holdeÌ„ in the citie of Parys was grauÌ„ted vnto kyng IohnÌ„ of the thre astates of hys realme y t is to meane the spiritualte the lordê and nobles and y e hedes or rulers of cytyes and good townes of hys realme that he shulde haue .xxx. M. meÌ„ waged for a yere for to defeÌ„de hys auncyent enemye the kynge of England For puruyauÌ„ce wherof certayne persones of the sayd .iii. astates asseÌ„bled shortly after to prouide for y e leuieng of that great suÌ„me of money After whyche prouysion or sessing agreed or concluded by the sayde persones and commyssyoners sente out to dyuers coostes and good townes for the leuyeng of the sayde money in the towne of Arras fyll a dissencyoÌ„ betwene the ryche the poore of that towne the poore sayeng that the ryche men had layde all the burthen vpon the poore men them self bare lytell charge or none For thys fyrst began great altercacion of wordes after enâ—uyed strokes stripes so that of the hâ—des and chyef burgeses of the towne were .xvii. men slayne And the day folowynge they slewe .iiii. mo banysshed dyuers y t at that tyme were absent out of the towne And so the towne of Arras rested as than in the gydynge of the poore artyfycers of that towne IN the .vi. yere of the reygne of kynge Iohan and moneth of Marche â–ª he beynge accoÌ„panyed with a secret meny before y e daye departed from the towne of Manuyle rode streyghte he hys lordes beyng armed vnto the castell of Rouan entred sodaynly into the same where he fande in the chyefe hall of the castell syr Charles hys eldest sonne duke of Normandy Charles kynge of Nauerne syr IohnÌ„ erle of Harecourt y e lordes of Preaux and of Grauyle the lorde of CleremouÌ„t syr Lowys syr Guylliam de Harecourt brethern of the foresayd erle syr Fryquet de Fryquante the lorde of Tournebu syr Manbuc de Mamesmares with Colinet Doubliec and IohnÌ„ de PouÌ„talu esquyres The whych lordes and knyghtes the kyng toke at dyner within y e sayd halle them toke sodaynly diuers of them put vnder sure kepyng And as soone as the kyng had there takeÌ„ a small and short repaste he with his sonnes other nobles in hys coÌ„pany toke theyr horse rode into a felde vppon a baksyde of the castell whether shortly after were brought in bandes the foresayde erle of Harecourt the lorde of Grauyle y e foresayd syr MaÌ„bue and Colinet Doubliet whyche iiii were there beheded and after the bodyes of them drawen to the gybet of Roan there hanged and theyr heddes set ouer them vpon the same gybet At the whyche tyme of the execucion of hedyng of the sayd .iiii. persones the Frenche kyng as before is sayde was present in proper person After the whyche execucion y e kynge vpon the morowe folowynge delyuered many of the other prysoners so y t there remayned no mo as prysoners but .iii that is the kyng of Nauerne syr Fryquet de Fryquant IohnÌ„ de Pountalu the whych were sent vnto Parys where the kynge was kepte in the castel of Louure and the other ii in the chastelet In whiche tyme of hys inprysonemeÌ„t syr Phylype brother to the kynge wyth syr Godfrey de Harecourt vncle to the erle lately heded helde certayn castelles in Normandy and came with theyr powers into the countre of Constantyne and helde it maugre the Frenche kynges wyll and pleasure In the moneth of Apryll syr Arnolde de Denham than Marshall of FrauÌ„ce rode by y e kynges sond vnto Arras there without great distourbaunce of the towne toke vpoÌ„ an huÌ„dreth of suche as before had made y e former rebellion within the same And vpon the day folowyng he caused to be heded in the market place vpon .lx. of the same the remenauÌ„t he sent vnto pryson there to abyde y e kynges pleasure In thys tyme and season was the noble prynce Edwarde at Burdeaux warred vpon the Frenche kynges landes lyke as it is before to you
with a company of .viii. C. men in harnesse rode vnto the cytye of Meaux wherof y e mayre of that cytie they were ioyfully receyued contrary hys promesse before made vnto the regent where with assystence of the sayde mayer other of that cytye they entended to haue taken the wyfe of the sayd regent with other noble women thaÌ„ there soiournyng wyth hyr and so to haue conueyd them vnto Parys there to haue kepte them tyll the cytezyns myghte purchase the fauour grace of the regent But whaÌ„ the erle of Foyse whych thanne hadde the rule of the sayde gentylwomen knewe theyr entente anone he gathered vnto hym hys coÌ„pany and wyth assysteÌ„ce also of som of the sayd cytye he made vppon .vi. or .vii. C. men in harnesse and yssued boldly agayne the foresayde persons and skyrmysshed wyth theym In which skyrmysshe in the ende the meÌ„ of Parys were sconfited and chased the mayre of Meaus named IohnÌ„ Soulas taken with other which after for theyr rebellyoÌ„ were put in execucion And after thys victory thus opteyned in reueÌ„gemeÌ„t of the deth of a knyghte called syr Lewys de Chambly there slayn with other gentylmen for the vntrouth of y e cytie the foresayd erle set fyre vpon a syde of the cytye breÌ„t a great parte therof as well churches as other which fyre was scaÌ„tly stenched in .viii. days after In thys whyle the kynge of Nauerne herynge of the greate harme distruccioÌ„ that the company of Guyllyam Calley made of gentylmen in MouÌ„tmereÌ„cy other places lyke as before is shewed yode agayne hym nere vnto a place called CleremouÌ„t encountred hym and his people and gaue vnto theym batayll and slewe moch of his people and toke hym on lyue caused hys hede to be stryken of And soone after the cytezyns of Parys sente vnto hym requyrynge hym to drawe towarde theÌ„ At whose requeste he sped hym thytherwarde and entred the cytye vpoÌ„ the .xv. daye of Iuny and was coÌ„ueyed vnto sait Germayne in Pree there lodged And vpoÌ„ the morne he weÌ„te vnto the comon halle of the citie where the comoÌ„s beyng assembled he made vnto them a loÌ„ge plesaunt oracioÌ„ of the great kyndenesse that he had founde in many of y e good townes of FrauÌ„ce specially in the cytye of Parys For the whych they had bounde hym to take theyr partye agayne all other makyng none excepcyoÌ„ After which tale by hym ended Charles Cusake stode vp shewed vnto the people what ruynous poynt the laÌ„de stode in for lacke of a wyse hedde gouernoure wherfore he exhorted y e people to chose y e kyng for theyr gouernour whyche than was so done he there toke vpon hym the rule promysed with them to lyue and dye Upon the xxii day of the sayd moneth of Iuny y e kyng of Nauerne with a coÌ„pany of vi M. speres of the citye other departed from Parys and rode vnto a towne called Gonnesse where an other company of the cytye taryed for hym from thens rode towarde SeÌ„lys But whaÌ„ the gentylmen of hys hoste vnderstode that he had takeÌ„ vppon hym to be capytayne of the cominaltye where agayn the more partie of the nobles of Fraunce were of the contrary partye they left hym many of them specially suche as were of the duchye of Burgoyne and wyth congy of hym taken resorted into theyr couÌ„treys whaÌ„ the regent had vysyted dyuers countreys wonne vnto hym the beniuolence of y e same had also gathered vnto hym greate strength he spedde hym towarde Parys lodged hym in the ende of the moneth of Iuny in a place called in Frenche le Pount de Charenton fast by Boyes in Uyncent In whose coÌ„pany were noumbred vpon .xxx. M. horsemen so that the countre there about was pylled wasted with that hoste wherof herynge the kynge of Nauerne retourned backe agayne and came wyth hys hoste vnto saynt Denys wythin .ii. myles of Parys And the cytye of Parys was kepte daye nyght that no man myghte entre or go out wythout lyceÌ„ce of y e prouoste other rulers therof In this meane whyle that the sayde two prynces lay thus with theyr two hostes about the cytye quene Iohan syster vnto the kynge made an instauÌ„t labour vnto the regent for grace for the cytezyns By whose meanes a comucacioÌ„ was appoynted to be holdeÌ„ betwene the kynge the regente the eyght day of Iuly at a place called y e wynde mylle faste by the house of saynt Anthony At whyche metynge it was lastly accorded betwene y e sayd prynces that the kyng of Nauerne shulde do hys best to brynge the cytezyns of Parys vnto due obedyence And yf he sawe in theym suche obstynacy that they wolde nat do theyr dutye to gyue for theyr rebellyon suche summes of money as by hym the regent shuld be thought accordynge that than the kynge shuld vtterly refuse theyr partye and turne vnto the regeÌ„t with all hys power And ouer that the kyng for all demaundes that he coude aske of the regent for any cause ouer the agremeÌ„t betwene them laste made shuld haue iii. C.M. floryns of gold wherof an C.M. to be payed that daye .xii. monethes and yerely after .l. M. tyll the fulle were payed And farther it was accorded that the kynge after y t daye shulde take partye with the regente agayne all persones excepte onely y e kynge of Fraunce And to the ende y t thys accorde shulde be fermely holdeÌ„ vppon bothe sydes the bysshoppe of Lyseux there beynge presente wyth many other lordes saÌ„ge there masse within the tente where thys accorde was concluded and after agnus dei sware the two prynces vpon the sacrament that withoute collusyon or fraude they shulde obserue and kepe eueryche artycle of the sayde accord After whyche conclusyon thus takeÌ„ the regent repayred vnto hys hoste the kynge vnto saynt Denys Than vppon the morowe the kynge entred Parys and conueyed thyther wyth hym but a certayne so taryed there all that daye wythoute any reporte sendyâ—ge vnto the regent And the seconde daye for y e more streÌ„gthynge of the towne he sent for certayne Englysshe sowdyours as archers and other and sette them in the towne wagys nother sente nor retourned vnto the regente with any answere Than towarde the nyght how it was assaut was made by som of the regentes people vppoÌ„ a parte of the town so that dyuers men were slayne vpon bothe sydes but the mo vppon the partye of the cytye Than the kynge of Nauerne vpoÌ„ the morowe retourned vnto sait Denys leuynge within the cytye y e foresayde streÌ„gthe of Englyshmen wyth other whan the regente was ware of the kynges beynge at saynt Denys he sent vnto hym and hym requyred of perfourmauÌ„ce of suche accorde as lately betwene theym was condissended syns by hys meanes he myght nat enduce the cytezyns to due obedyence that he wolde accordynge to
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 syr
standyng vpon hys fete sayd vnto the lordes commons present Syrs I thanke you my lordes spyrytuall temporal and all the states of thys lande and do you to vnderstaÌ„de that it is nat my wyll that any man thynke that by the waye of conqueste I wolde dysheryte any man of hys herytage fraunchyse or other ryghtes that hym oughte to haue of ryghte nor for to putte hym oute of that whyche he nowe enioyeth and hath hadde before tyme by custome of good lawe of thys realme excepte suche pryuate persones as haue ben agayne the good purpose and the coÌ„mon profyte of the realme And thys speche thus fynysshed all sheryfes and other offycers were put in theyr auctorytyes whiche seased for the tyme that the kynges see was voyde and after euery man departed And at after noone were proclamacions made in accustumat places of the cytye in the name of kynge Henry the fourthe And vppon the morowe folowynge beynge wennysdaye and the fyrste daye of October the procuratours aboue named yode vnto the towre of London there certified hym of the admissioÌ„ of kyng Henry And the foresayd iustyce wyllyam Thirnynge in y e name of the other for all the states of the lande gaue vppe vnto Rychard late kyng all homage fealte to hym before time due i lyke maner fourme as before I haue shewed to you in y e xix yere of kynge Edwarde the .ii. And thus was the noble prynce pryued of all kyngly dygnyte honour by reason of hys euyll counsayll and suche vnlafull wayes meanes as he by hys insolency in his realme suffered to be vsed whan he had reygned .cxii. yeres thre monethes .viii. dayes ¶ Charles the .vii. Francia CArolus or Charles the .vii of y e name or the .vi. after thaccompte of y e FreÌ„che hystory a chylde of xiii yeres of age sonne vnto Charles the .vi began hys reygne ouer the Frenchemen in the moneth of Septembre yere of our lorde M.CCC .lxxx and the thyrde yere of the seconde Rycharde than kyng of Englande Thys Charles was crowned kynge wythin the age of .xiiii. yeres contrary a lawe made in the .xi. yere of hys father And where by hym he was commytted vnto the rule of Lewys his vncle duke of Angeou to the tyme of the ful of .xiiii. yeres yet after the deth of the father suche vnkyndenesse begaÌ„ to spryng betwene the lordes of the realme that for the comon welthe of the same it was agreed by the more partye that thys Charles shulde be crowned at Raynes i all hasty spede The whyche was done in short seasoÌ„ after so contynued nat wythoute dysturbaunce of malyce whych kyndeled betwene hys two vncles and other inconueniences by the space of iii. yeres ensuyng The .iiii. yere of hys reygne the cytesyns of Parys murmurynge and grudgynge for dyuerse imposycyons taskes of them leuyed sodeynly arose in greate multytude entendynge to haue dystressed some of the kynges housholde seruauÌ„tes such as were men of ê‘son But by medyacyon of one dyscrete parsone named Iohn Marsyle with assystence of the prouost of the marchauntes the rumoure was somdele appeased in so mych that the greate multytude was wythdrawen and retourned to theyr occupacyons But some euyll dysposed whyche in suspycyous congregacyon euer vse to exyte and styrre the people vnto robbynge and other vnlefull acres reassocyate them sayde and cryed that they wolde haue the Iewys banysshed the cytye To whom it was answered that the kynge shuld be enformed of theyr desyre and that vppon it they shulde haue knowlege of the kynges pleasure wherupoÌ„ in a rage they ranne vnto the houses of the Iewes and entryd them by force in robbynge and spoylynge them and bare awaye what they myght cary in sleynge suche of the Iewes as any resysteÌ„ce and defence made agayn them neuer after restored y e sayd goodes not wythstandynge that the kyng in that byhalfe gaue sore and strayte coÌ„maundementes It was not longe after that suche as were of y e kynges secrete counsayle consyderynge the great charges and nedes of y e kyng and the weykenesse of his treasoure by authoryte of the kynges coÌ„myssyons called before them the rulers of Parys of Roan and other good cytyes The whyche beynge assembled to them was shewed the many and importune charges whyche y e kynge dayly had for the defeÌ„se of hys realm and subiectes wherfore by all wyse polytyke meanes that they myghte vse they exorted the sayde commons to grauÌ„te vnto the kynge in waye of subsydye xii.vi of the pouÌ„de of all wares at that dayes currauÌ„t To the whyche requeste in conclusyoÌ„ after aduyse taken of theyr neyghbours it was answered that the peple were so sore charged in tymes passed that they myght nat susteyne or bere any more charges tyll theyr necessytie were otherwyse releuyd so that in coÌ„clusyoÌ„ at thys season the kynge and hys couÌ„sayll were dyspoynted In the .vi. yere of thys Charles y e Flemynges whych by a certayne season had rested theym frome batayll were it for necessyte or synguler couetyze of Lewys theyr duke he asked of them a greate ayde or taske And for he knewe well that yf he myghte wynne the fauoure and grauÌ„t of the towne of Gaunt he shulde the soner haue hys pleasure of the resydue therefore he fyrste began by meanes of fayrenesse And after whaÌ„ thereby he sawe he myght take none aduauÌ„tage he added therunto manasses thretenynges the whyche nat wythstandynge the Flemynges bode stedfast in one opynyon denayed styfly theyr dukes request whereuppon he lastly departyng from Gaunt wyth great displeasure sayd I shall shewe my selfe to be lorde soueraygne of thys towne of the obstynat people of the same And shortly after y e duke made sharpe warre vpoÌ„ theÌ„ of GauÌ„t they in lykewise defeÌ„ded them vigurously so that theyr enemyes waÌ„ of them lytle auauÌ„tage And after thys warre hadde beÌ„ a season contynued nat wythoute losse of many men vppon bothe partyes the Gaunteners remembrynge the obedyence and fydelyte whyche they shulde bere to theyr souerayne lorde duke made meanes that they myghte be harde After graunte whereof they sente vnto hym certayne oratours whyche hadde vnto hym the wordes in sentence folowynge Mooste souerayne nexte god we deny nat but we accept the for our prynce and leder to the as thyne it becommeth vs to obey wyth all reason And thou agayne arte bounde to defende vs. If we any thyng by our ouersyght neclygence haue agayn the trespassed we mekely beseche the of forgyuenesse And furthermore besechynge the that suche fraunchyses lybertyes to vs by thy noble progenytours before grauÌ„ted thou wyll nat from vs withdraw nor abrydge by reason wherof thy people of GauÌ„t maye nat to any taxe contrary theyr volunte be coÌ„strayned But to thy nede of warres thou haue necessytye of ayde of thy commons they of free wyll all coÌ„straynte sette a parte are redy to ayde and helpe
swerde holdyng vp ryght the erle of NorthhumberlaÌ„de newely made constable stode vpoÌ„ the left haÌ„de wyth a sharpe swerd holdeÌ„ vp ryght And by eyther of those swerdes stode .ii. other lordes holding .ii. scepters And before y e kyng stode all the dynerwhyle the dukes of Amnarle of Surrey of Exceter wyth other .ii. lordes And y e erle of westmerlaÌ„de thaÌ„ newly made Marshal rode about the halle with many typped staues aboute hym to se the roume of y e halle kepte that offycers myghte wyth ease serue the tables Of the whych tables the chyefe vpoÌ„ the ryghte syde of the halle was begunne wyth the Barons of the fyue portes at the table nexte the cupborde vppoÌ„ the lefte hande sate the mayre and hys bretherne the aldemeÌ„ of LondoÌ„ whych mayre than beynge Drewe Barentyne goldsmyth for seruice there by hym that daye done as other mayres at euery kynges quenes coronacion vse for to do had there a staÌ„dyng cuppe of golde ThaÌ„ after the seconde course was serued syr Thomas Dymmoke knyght beynge armed at all peaces syttynge vpoÌ„ a good stede rode to the hygher parte of the halle there before the kynge caused an herowde to make proclamacyon that what maÌ„ wolde saye that kynge HeÌ„ry was nat ryght full enherytoure of the crowne of England ryghtfully crowned he was there redy to wage wyth hym batayl than or suche tyme as it shuld please the kynge to assygne whyche proclamacyon he caused to be made after in iii. sundry places of the halle in Englyshe in Frenche wyth many mo obseruaunces at hys solemnyte exercysed done whyche were longe to reherse Than thys feest wyth all honour ended vpon the morne beyng tuysday the parliameÌ„t was agayne begunne And vpon wednysdaye syr Iohanne Cheyny that before that tyme had occupyed as speker of that parlyameÌ„t by hys owne labour for cause of such infyrmytyes as he than hadde was dyscharged and a squyer named wyllyam Durwarde was electe to that roume for hym And thanne was the parlyament and the actes thereof laste called by kynge Rycharde adnulled and sette at noughte and the parlyamente holden in the .xi. yere of hys reygne holden for ferme and stable And the same daye Henry the kynges eldeste sonne was chosen admytted prynce of walys and duke of Cornewalle and erle of Chester and heyre apparaunte to the crowne Uppon the thursdaye folowynge was putte into the comon house a byll deuysed by syr IohnÌ„ Bagot than prysonere in the Towre whereof the effecte was that the said sir IohnÌ„ confessed that he harde kynge Rycharde saye dyuers tymes and at sondry parlyamentes in hys tyme holden that he wolde haue hys entente and pleasure concernynge hys owne maters what so euer betyde of the resydue And yf any withstode hys wyll or mynde he wolde by one meane or other brynge hym out of lyfe Also he shewed farther that king Rycharde shulde shewe and saye to hym at Lychefelde in the .xxi. yere of hys reygne that he desyred no lenger to lyue than to see hys lordes commons to haue hym in as great awe and drede as euer they had of any of hys progenytours so that it myghte be cronycled of hym y t none passed hym of honour and dygnite with condycyon that he were deposed and put from his sayde dygnytie the morowe after And yf euer it came so to that he shulde resygne hys kyngelye magestye he sayde his mynde was to resygne to the duke of Herforde as to hym that was moste ableste to occupye that honoure But one thynge he feared leste he wolde do tyrannye agayne the churche More ouer he shewed by y e said byll that as the sayde syr IohnÌ„ Bagot rode behynde the duke of Norfolke towarde westmynster the sayd duke layed to hys charge that he with other of y e kynges counsell had murdred y e duke of Glocetyr y â— which at y e tyme to the said duke he denyed sayd at y e day he was on lyue But within .iii. wekes after the sayde syr IohnÌ„ by y e kynges coÌ„maundemente was sent with other ê‘sones vnto Calays where for fere of his owne lyfe he sawe y e said murdre put in execucion And farthermore he shewed y t there was no man of honour at that dayes more in fauour with king Rycharde thaÌ„ was y e duke of Amnarle that by his couÌ„sell he toke y e lordes wrought many other thinges after y e said dukes aduyce Also he shewed y t he harde the kynge beynge than at Chyltrynlangley swere many great othes y t the duke of Herforde nowe kyng shulde neuer returne into Englande and rather than he shulde agayne enheryte hys fathers landes he wolde gyue them vnto the heyres of the duke of Glocetyr and of the erles of Arundell and of warwyke at the laste parliament adiuged And farther he shewed that of all these matters he sent the said duke knowlege into Fraunce by one named Roger Smerte admonastynge hym to prouyde by his wysedome to wythstande the kynges malyce whyche shewed hym to be hys mortall enemye And lastelye he shewed in the sayde byll that he harde the duke of Amnarle say vnto sir IohnÌ„ Busshey and to syr Henry Grene I had leuer than xâ— thousande pound that thys man were dede And whan they had axed of him whyche man he said the duke of Herforde nat for drede that I haue of hys persone but for sorowe and rumours that he is lykely to make within this realme whiche bylt was than borne vnto the kynges parlyamente chaumbre there â—adde After redynge whereof the sayd duke of Amnarle stode vp and sayd as touchynge suche artycles as in that byll were putte agayne hym they were false and vntrewe that he wolde proue vpon hys body or otherwyse as the kynge wolde commaunde hym Upon fryday the said syr IohnÌ„ Bagot was brought into the sayd parlyament Chambre and examyned vpon euery artycle of his byll all the whych he there affermed Than it was axed of hym what he coulde saye y e duke of Exceter where unto he answered and sayed that he coulde laye nothyng to hys charge But there is he sayd a yomaÌ„ in Newgate called Halle y t can say somwhat of you Than sayd the duke what so euer he or ye can or lyste to say of me thys is trouthe that I shall here expresse Trouth it is that the last tyme that the kyng was at woodstoke the duke of Northfolke ye haue hadde me to you into the chapel and closed the dore vpon vs. And there ye made me to swere vpoÌ„ the sacrament there present to kepe suche counsayll as there ye shuld than shewe vnto me where after ye shewed to me that ye coulde neuer brynge your purpose about whyle syr IohnÌ„ of Gaunt late duke of LaÌ„castre lyued wherfore ye were aduysed for to haue shortely after a couÌ„sayll at Lychefelde by the whyche ye coÌ„discended y t the sayd syr IohnÌ„ shuld be arested in
batayl was many a noble man slayne vpoÌ„ eyther partye And it was the more to be noted vengeable for there the father was slayn of the sonne the son of the father and brother of brother neuewe of neuewe And in the moneth of August folowynge the duchesse of Brytayne landed at Fulmouth in the prouince of Cornwayll from theÌ„s was conueyed to wynchester where in shorte tyme after kyng HeÌ„ry maryed her in the cathedrall churche of the sayde cytye And soone vpoÌ„ was the eldest doughter of kyng HeÌ„ry named dame BlaÌ„che maryed at Coleyn to the dukes sonne of Bayer Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.ii  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.iii  Rycharde Merlewe  IohnÌ„ walcot Draper  Anno .iii.  Robert Chichele  IN this yere and .xiiii. day of the moneth of Septembre was y e foresayd duchesse of Brytayne and wyfe of y e kyng receyued wyth great honour into the cytye of London so by the mayre and the cytezyns conueyed vnto westmynster where vpoÌ„ the morowe folowyng she was crowned quene of Englande wyth greate honoure and solempnite the cyrcumstaunce wherof I passe ouer In this yere also Rupertus which after the deposynge of wessenselans was by the electours of the empyre and by auctoryte of Bonyface theâ—â—r â–ª than pope admytted for Emperoure of Rome and came into Englande wyth a goodly companye onely to se the countre and commodytyes of the same The whyche of the kynge was honourably receyued and fested and lastely conueyed by the kynge towarde the see syde where eyther departed from other wyth exchaunge of ryche and precious gyft For thys Rurpartus was named of wryters a man of excellente bounte and largesse And he gaue more lyberally for so moche as all the tyme of hys beynge in EnglaÌ„de he laye here at the kynges costes And whyle he was at LondoÌ„ he was lodged at the house of saynte Iohannâ—s in smythfelde Thys yere also vpoÌ„ saiÌ„t LaureÌ„ce euyn or the .ix. day of August a lorde of Brytayne named the lorde of Castyle in Frenche laÌ„ded within a myle of Plymmouth wyth a great coÌ„pany of NormaÌ„s and Brytons and came vnto the sayd town and lodged there all night and spoyled and robbed the sayd towne And vpon the day folowynge whan they had done what they wolde they retourned agayne to theyr shyppes with plente of pyllage and prysoners suche as they fande Anno domini M. CCCC.iii  Anno domini M. CCCC.iiii  Thomas Fawconer  wyllyam Askam  Anno .v.  Thomas Pooll  IN thys yere soone after CaÌ„delmasse the foresayd lorde of Castyle trustynge to wynne a lâ—ke enterpryse as in the yere passed he hadde done he beynge accompanyed wyth a stronge nauy of FreÌ„che men Brytons was encountred wyth the Englyshe floot within .ii. myles of Deermouth at a place called Blakâ—pooll â–ª where after loÌ„ge and cruell fyghte y e sayd lord was slayne wyth the more partye of the people and dyuers of hys shyppes takeÌ„ as wytnesseth the Englysshe cronycle wyth dyuers other Englysshe auctours But the FreÌ„che boke excuseth thys scomfyture of FreÌ„chmen and sayeth that by treason oâ— a Gascoyne named Peâ—yâ— or Perot de Languyle whyche shewed vnto the sayd lorde Castyle that he had espyed certayne Englysshe shyppes in a Greke lyghtly wythout resystence to be takeÌ„ caused the sayd lorde to make sayle towarde the sayd towne of Dartmouthe where after he had contynued a certayne tyme hys course he espyed the hotefloâ—e of Englyshe men whyche made toward hym and so at the sayde Blake pool encountâ—â—d and faughte and lastely escaped the daunger of hys enemyes as testyfyeth the sayde French cronycle â–ª but â—atte unhurt for he was so wouÌ„ded in that fyght that he dyed shortly after And the moneth of Apryll folowynge the duke of Clarence wyth the erle of KeÌ„t many other lordes toke shyppynge at Meregate so sayled vnto Scluce in FlauÌ„ders And after the sayde duke had there refresshed hym hys company he toke shyppynge agayne and holdynge hys course towarde SwynÌ„e he was encouÌ„tred wyth .iii. greate carykes of Ieane the whyche he assayled and after longe bekerynge them toke beynge laden wyth marchauÌ„dyse so wyth that pray retourned to Cambre before wynchelsee in the whyche hauen the sayd goodes were caÌ„ted and shared But how it was by varyauÌ„ce amonge them selfe or otherwyse one of the sayde carykes was sodeynly fyred so coÌ„sumed For restytucyon of whyche goodes shyppes y e marchauÌ„tes IanueÌ„ce made after great longe sute to the kyng his couÌ„sayl in whyche passetyme they borowed cloth wolle other marchaundyses amountyng vnto great and notable sommes of dyuers marchauntes of Englande And whanne they sawe that they myghte haue none hope of recouery of theyr loste they sodeynly auoyded the laÌ„de and lafte y e foresayde notable summes vnpayde to the great hynderaunce and vtter vndoynge of many Englysshe marchauntes In thys yere a yoman named wyllyam Serle somtyme yomaÌ„ of kyng Rychardes Robys was takeÌ„ in the marches of ScotlaÌ„de and broughte vnto LondoÌ„ there in the guildhall areygned for the murder of the duke of Glouceter at Calays UpoÌ„ which murder he was attaynt conuyct vppoÌ„ the .xx. daye of Octobre he was draweÌ„ from the towre vnto tyborne and there haÌ„ged and quartred hys hed was after set vpoÌ„ LondoÌ„ brydg hys .iiii. quarters were sent to .iiii. sondry good townes Anno domini M. CCCC.iiii  Anno domini M. CCCC.v  wyllyam Lowfte  IohnÌ„ Hyende Draper  Anno .vi.  Stephen Spylman  IN thys yere and moneth of Ianuary were certayne courses of warre ron in smythfelde betwene syr EdmuÌ„de erle of Kent the lorde Moryfa BaroÌ„ of ScotlaÌ„de vppoÌ„ y e chaleÌ„ge of the sayd scottysshe lorde But the erle of KeÌ„t bare hym so valy auntly that to hym was gyueÌ„ y e price of that iourney to hys great honour And in the same yere syr Rycharde Scrope than archebisshop of yorke and y e lorde Moubraye thaÌ„ marshal of EnglaÌ„d with other to them allied for grudge that they bare agayn the kynge gadered vnto theym greate streÌ„gth enteÌ„dyng to haue put downe the kynge as the â—ame than wente wherof the kyng beyng enfourmed in all haste sped towarde theym and met wyth them on thys syde yorke where after askyrmysshe by the sayd lordes made they were thaÌ„ takeÌ„ and after presented vnto y e king at yorke where they were bothe demed to suffre deth for theyr rebellyoÌ„ Than whan the bysshoppe came vnto the place of execucion he prayed y e bowcher to gyue to hym .v. strokes in the worshyp of christes fyue woundes for hys more penauÌ„ce At eueryche of whyche .v. strokes kynge Henry beynge in hys lodgyng had a stroke in hys necke in so moch that he demed that some persone there beynge with hym present hadde stryken him And forthwyth he was stryken wyth the plage of lepyr so that than he knewe it was the hande of god and
whyle a great multytude of horse men were layd vpon the grounde And after theyr shotte spent they layde aboute them with theyr glaynes and axes that by the greate grace of god and comfortable ayde of the kynge the vyctory fell that daye to the Englysshemen and with lytell losse of theyr cōpany For after the opynyon of sondry wryters were slayne y t daye of Englishemen the dukes of yorke and of Suffolke not ouer .xxvi. parsons moo But of Frenchmen were slayne that daye after Englysshe wryters ouer the nomber of .x. thousande Albeit y e French Gaguinus sayth that of the Englyshe hoste were slayne the duke of yorke and with hym .iiii. hundreth men and of the French hoste .iiii. M. men of name besyde other whiche he numbreth not Also he affermeth to be horsmen at that felde vppon the Frenche partye .x. thousande ouer and besyde the fotemen and that the Englyshemen were nombred at .xv. C. spere men xviii M. of yomen and archers At thys sayde batayle was taken prysoners the duke of Orleaūce the duke of Burbon̄ y e erle of Uēdosme of Ewe of Rychemount and Bursigaunt thanne marshall of Fraunce wyth many other knyghtes esquyres whych were tedyous to name to the nōber of .xxiiii. hūdreth aboue as wytnesseth the boke of mayres And in thys batayle were slayne of the nobles of Fraunce the dukes of Barre of Alanson and of Brabā viii erles and barons aboue .lxxx. wyth other gentylmen in cote armours to the nomber of .iii. thousāde and aboue By reason of whyche pyllage the Englysshemen were greatly auaunced For the Frenchmen were so assuryd of vyctory by reason of theyr great nōber that they brought the more plenty of rychesse wyth thē to the ende to bye prysoners eyther of other and also after the victory by them opteyned to shewe vnto Englysshemen theyr pryde pompous araye But god whyche knewe the presumpcion and pompe tourned all thynge contrary to theyr myndes ententes whan the kynge by grace and power of god more thā by force of man hadde thus gotten this tryumphaūt vyctorye and retourned hys people frome the chase of theyr enemyes tydynges were brought vnto hym that a newe hoste of Frēchmen were comynge towarde hym wherfore he anone commaunded his people to be enbatayled and that done made proclamacions thorough the hoste that euery man shulde slee hys prysoner By reason of whych proclamacyon the duke of Orleaunce and the other lordes of Fraunce were in such fere that they anone by lycence of y e kyng sent such worde vnto the sayd hoste that they wythdrewe them And the kynge wyth hys prysoners vpon the morow folowyng toke hys waye toward his towne of Caleys where he rested hī duryng this mayres tyme. Anno dn̄i M. CCCC.v  Anno dn̄i M. CCCC.vi  wyllyam Cambrydge  Nycholas wotton Draper  Anno .iii.  Aleyn Euerarde  THys yere and .xxix. daye of Nouember as the mayre rode towarde westmynster for to take hys charge a pursyuaūt of y e kynges came wyth letters vnto the mayre gyuyng to hym knowlege of the kynges good spede wherfore the byshop of wynchester than chaūceller of England hauynge lyke wyttynge came that daye to Poulys and there caused Te deum to be songē wyth great solempnyte And in lyke wyse was lyke obseruaunce done in y e parysshe chyrches and other relygyous houses thorough the cytye of London And at Poulys by the sayd chaūceller standyng vpon the steppes at the quyerdore were the sayd tydynges denounced vnto the people And vpon the morow folowynge y e sayd chaunceller wych other bysshoppes and tēporall lordes wyth a generall procession of the mayre and comynaltye of the cytye yode from Poulys to westmynster on fote and offered at saynt Edwardes shryne so retourned to theyr owne houses Thanne kyng Hēry wyth hys prysoners shypped at Calays and so landed at Douer And after he had ben at Caunterbury and there made hys offerynge vnto saynt Thomas he than spedde hym on hys iournay tyll he came vnto Eltham where he rested hym a season Upon the .xxiii. day of Nouembre he was met with the mayre hys bretherne vpō the Blak heth so conueyed wyth all honour thorugh the cytye vnto westmynster wherein dyuers places of the sayd cytye as the brydge crosse in chepe were ordeyned certayn pagentes to the kynges great comforte The maner wherof with all processyons and other seremonies I passe ouer for letthyng of the tyme. In thys yere also Sigismunde Emperour of Almayn came into England And in the moneth of May by the kynges cōmaundement .vii. daye of the sayd moneth the mayre and bretherne mette hym vpō Blakheth And at saynt Georges met hym the kyng and hys lordes in great nōbre and so conueyed hym vnto westmynster with great honour lodged hym in hys own palays And shortly after was the feast of saynte George holden at wyndesore whyche before was deferred for hys cōmyng In tyme of whyche solempnyte durynge y e dyuyne seruyce the kynge kepte the astate But in syttyng at the feest ▪ the Emperour kept y e astate The seruice sotyltees of whiche feeste with syttynge of y e lordes after theyr degrees I passe ouer And shortly after came the duke of Holande into this lande for certayne causes concernynge the Emperour whome the kynge honourably receyued and lodged hym in the bisshoppes palays of Ely in Holbourne And so the kynge entreated and chered these straungers that for the season that they taryed in Englande they laye here at the kynges coste and charge And y e emperoure and he were made knyghtes of the garter and also a greate duke of y e emperours named duke of Bryga And whan the emperour hadde taryed vpō .vii. wekes and odde dayes in Englande which after some wryters was to th entent to set an vnyte and reste bytwene the Frenche kynge and kynge Henry he after toke mynde to retourne into Almayne ▪ whom the kynge for hys comforte and nedes that he had to do at Caleys accompanyed hym thyder where eyther wyth gyftes thankes departed from other And the duke of Hollande went wyth the emperour into Hollande and other countrees whyle the kynge was thus at Calys to hym came thyder vnder saufe conduyt the duke of Burgoyne and hadde wyth the kynge dyuers communycacyons and after retourned to hys owne And soone after y e kyng retourned into Englande and came to westmynster vpon saynte Lukes euyn or the .xvii. daye of October Thys yere and season whyle the kynge was at Calayes y t is to mene vppon the daye of Assumpcyon of our blessed lady the duke of Bedforde accompanyed wyth the erle of Marche and other lordes hadde a greate conflycte and batayle wyth dyuers carikkes of Ieane and other shyppes where after longe and sore fyght y e honour fyll to hym and hys Englysshemen to the greate losse of the straungers bothe of theyr men and also of theyr shyppes
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
prynce Humfrey duke of Glouceter Than of thys grudge ensued rebellyon of the coÌ„mons in so moche that they assembled theym in sondry places made of them selfe capytaynes and named them Blewe berde and other counter fayte names and so enteÌ„ded to haue gadered more company But anone as the kynges counsayll was thereof warnyd they were layde for and taken and putte to dethe Thanne the foresayde parlyamente was adiourned vnto Leyceter whether came the kynge and wyth hym the duke of Suffolke Than the commons of the common hous made requeste to the kyng that all suche persones as were consentynge and laboured for the gyuynge ouer the duchye of Angeou and erledome of MaynÌ„ myght be punisshed Of whiche offeÌ„ce to be gyltie they accused the foresayd duke of Suffolke the lorde Sey the bysshop of Salysbury and one Danyell a gentylman with Treuylyan other Than to appease the coÌ„mon hous the duke was exyled for .v. yeres and the lord Sey as tresorer of Englande and y e other were put a parte for a whyle were promysed to be sent vnto the kynges gayoll or warde Than the duke in obeynge y e sentence foresayde sped hym towarde y e sees syde in the moneth of Apryl and toke his shyppynge in Northfolke enteÌ„ding to haue sayled into FrauÌ„ce In kepyng of whiche course he was mette with a shyppe of warre named Nicholas of the Tower the whiche toke his shyp And whaÌ„ y e capytayne was ware of the duke anone he toke hym into his owne shyp and so kept his course towarde Douer And whaÌ„ he was comen vnto the rode anone he caused hym to be confessed of his owne chaplayne and that done shypmeÌ„ put hym in a shypbote and there vpon the syde of the bote one strake of his hed whiche hed with the body was soone after conueyed to the laÌ„de of Douer and there lefte vpon y e sandes and the sayd shypmen returned to the see agayne And thus one myschefe ensued vpon an other to the dystruccyon of the nobles of this laÌ„de And so vpon the fyrst daye of May was this deed corps fouÌ„de vpon Douer sandes and after conueyed to his restynge place to This yere also beynge the yere of our lordes in carnacyon .xiiii. C. and .l. was the Iubile or the plenary pardon at Rome whiche of Englysshmen is called the yere of grace And this yere a towne in NormaÌ„dy named Uernoyll was taken by y e treason of a Frenche baker the maner wherof were loÌ„ge to wryte But fynally it came to y e possession of Floquet before rehersed to the great dystruccyon of Englysshmen For now was y e trewes ended mortal warre was executed vpon both ê‘tyes the EnglysshmeÌ„ vnto y e FreÌ„che wrought moche myschyef dyuers wayes whiche were loÌ„ge to wryte But as to fore I haue shewed to you sondry tymes the most losse turned euer last warde vpon y e Englyssh ê‘tie For this seasoÌ„ also were y e townes of NogeÌ„t pouÌ„t Andenere wonne by the erle of saynt Paule other And in y e moneth of Iuny this yere y e coÌ„mons of Kent asseÌ„bled theÌ„ in great multitude chase to them a capitayee and named hym Mortymer and cosyn of the duke of york but of most he was named Iak Cade This kept y e people wonderously togyder made suche ordenauÌ„ces amonge theÌ„ y t he brought a great noÌ„bre of people of theÌ„ vnto y e Blak hethe where he deuysed a byll of peticioÌ„s to y e kyng y e couÌ„sayll shewed them what iniuryes oppressioÌ„s the poore coÌ„moÌ„s suffred by suche as were aboute y e kynge a fewe ê‘sones in noÌ„bre all vnder coloure to come to his aboue The kynges couÌ„sayll seynge this byll dysalowed it couÌ„sayled the kynge whiche by the .vii. day of Iuny had gathered to hiÌ„ a stroÌ„ge hoste of people to go agayne his rebelles to gyue vnto them batayll Than the kynge after the sayd rebelles had holdeÌ„ theyr felde vpon blak hethe .vii. dayes made towarde theÌ„ wherof heryng the capytayne drewe backe with his people to a vyllage called Seuenok there enbatayled â–ª theÌ„ ThaÌ„ it was agreed by y e kynges counsayll that syr Humfrey Stafforde knyght with wyllyam his brother and other certayne gentylmen shulde folowe the chase and the kyng with his lordes shuld retourne vnto Grenewyche wenynge to them that the rebelles were fledde gone But as before I have shewed whan syr Humfray with his coÌ„pany drewe nere vnto Seuenok he was wared of y e capytayne that there abode with his people And whan he had counsayledde with the other gentylmen lyke a manfull knyghte set vpon the rebelles and fought with them loÌ„ge But in the ende the capytayne slewe hym his brother with many other and caused the rest to gyue backe Al whiche season the kynges hoste laye styll vpon Blakhethe beyng amoÌ„ge them sondry opinions so that some and many fauoured the capytayne But fynally whan worde came of y e ouerthrowe of the Staffordes they sayd playnly and boldly that excepte the lorde Saye and other before rehersed were coÌ„mytted to warde they wolde take the capytaynes partye For the appeasynge of the whiche rumour the lorde Saye was put into y e tower but that other as thaÌ„ were not at hande Thanne the kynge hauynge knowlege of the scomfyture of his men and also of the rumour of his ostynge people remoued frome Grenewyche to London and there with his hoste rested hym a whyle And so soone as Iak Cade hadde thus ouercomen the Stafforde he anone apparayled hi with y e knyghtes apparayll and dyd on hym his bryganders set with gylte nayle and his salet and gylte spores And after he had refresshed his people he returned agayne to Blakhethe and there pyght agayne his feld as here tofore he had done and laye there from the nyne twenty daye of Iuny beynge saynte Peters daye tyll the fyrste day of Iuly In whiche season came vnto hym the archebysshop of Cantorbury and the duke of Bukkyngham with whome they had longe coÌ„munycacyon and fonde hym ryghte dyscrete in his answeres How be it they coude not cause hi to lay downe his people and to submyt hym vnto the kynges grace In this whyle the kynge and the quene herynge of the encreasynge of his rebelles and also the lordes ferynge theyr owne seruauÌ„tes lest they wolde take the capytaynes partie remoued frome London to Kyllyngworth leuynge y e cyte without ayde excepte onely the lorde Scales whiche was lefte to kepe the tower and with hym a manly warly man named Mathewe Fowth Than the capytayne of Kente thus houynge at Blakhethe to the ende to blynde the more the people and so brynge hym in fame that he kepte good iustyce be heded there a pety capytayne of his named Parys for so moch as he had offended agayne suche ordynauÌ„ce as he had stablysshed in his hoste herynge y t the kynge and all his lordes were thus departed drewe hym
erle aregned at westmynster in the whyte hall and there endyted of treason and vpon the mōdaye folowyng adiuged that he shulde go frome the same place vnto the towre hylle and there to haue hys hede smytten of But as he was commynge from the sayde place of iugemente toward his execucyon the people presyd so inportunatly vpon hym for to se beholde hym that the sheryfes were fayne to tourne into the Flete and there to borowe gayoll for hym for that nyght And vpon the morowe after at afternoone beynge saynt Lukys day and xviii daye of Octobre he was ladde to the towre hylle where he toke his deth full paciently whose corps was after borne wyth the hedde vnto the blacke freres and there honourably buryed in a chapell standynge in the body of the churche whych he before tyme had founded And than was dayly awaytynge vpon the see syde for the landyng of quene Margaret and prynce Edwarde her sonne and also prouysyon made for the defence of landynge of kynge Edwarde and hys company Anno domini M.iiii C.lxx.  Anno domini M.iiii C.lxxi  Iohn̄ Crosby Anno Henrici .vi. primo Iohn̄ Stokton̄ mercer    Iohn̄ warde Anno Edwardi iiii.x IN thys yere whyche was in y e ende of the .x. yere of kyng Edwarde and beginnyng of the readopcion of kyng Henry that is to meane the thyrde daye of Nouembre quene Elizabeth beynge as before is sayde in westmynster seyntwary was lyghted of a fayre prynce And wythin the sayd place the sayd chylde wythout pōpe was after crystened whose godfathers were the abbot pryour of the sayd place the lady Scrope godmother And the .xxvi. daye of the sayd moneth folowyng began a parlyament frome thens proroged to Paulys where it cōtynued tyll Cristmas In the parlyamente syr Thomas Cooke before trowbeled as I haue shewed in the .vii. yere of kynge Edwarde put in a byll into the common house to be restored of the lorde Ryuers landes other occasyoners of hys trowble to the summe of .xxii. M. marke Of the whyche he hadde good comforte to haue ben allowed of kynge Henry if he had prospered and the rather for that that he was of the commō house and therwyth a man of great boldnesse in speche and well spoken syngulerly wytted well reasoned Than durynge thys parlyament kyng Edward was proclaymed vsurper of the crowne and the duke of Glouceter hys yonger brother traytour both attaynted by auctorytie of the sayd parlyament And vppon the .xiiii. daye of February came the duke of Exceter to London And the .xxvii. daye of y e sayde moneth rode the erle of warwyke thorugh y e citie toward Douer for to haue receyued quene Margarete but he was dyspoynted For the wynde was to her contrary that she laye at the see syde taryeng for a conuenyent wynde from Nouember tyl Apryll And so the sayde erle after he had longe taryed for her at the see syde was fayne to retourne without spede of hys purpose Thus duryng thys queysy seasō the mayre ferynge the retourne of kynge Edwarde fayned hym syke so kepte hys house a great season All whych tyme syr Thomas Cooke whyche than was admytted to hys former rome was sette in his place and allowed for hys deputye whych tourned after to hys greate trowble and sorowe Than fynally in the begynnynge of the moneth of Apryll kynge Edwarde landed in the north at a place called Rauynspore wyth a small cōpany of Flemynges and other so y t all hys company exceded nat the nōber of M. persones so drewe hym towarde yorke makyng hys proclamacyons as he wente in the name of kyng Henry and shewed to the people that he came for none entent but onely to clayme hys enherytaunce y ◠dukedome of yorke so passed the countres tyll he came to the cytye of yorke where the cytezyns helde hym oute tyll they knew hys entent And whan he had shewed vnto theym as he before had done vnto other confermed it by an othe he was there receyued and refresshed for a certayne tyme so departed helde his waye towarde London and passed by fauoure fayer wordes the daūger of the lorde Marquys Mountagu whyche in that costes laye than in awayte for hym purposely to stoppe hys way had people dowble of nōbre that kyng Edwarde had of fyghtynge men whā kyng Edwarde was thus passed the sayd Marquys and sawe that hys strength was greatly amended that also dayly the peple drewe to hym he than made proclamacyons in hys owne name as king of Englande so helde on hys iournay tyll he came vnto London In whyche passetyme that is to meane vpon sherethursdaye the archebysshoppe of yorke beynge than at Londō wyth kyng Henry to the entent to moue the peoples hertes towarde y e kyng rode about the towne wyth hī and shewed hym to the people the whyche rather withdrewe mēnes hertes than other wyse And in thys season also syr Thomas Cooke before-named auoyded the lande entēdyng to haue sayled into Fraunce But he was taken of a shyp of Flaunders hys sonne heyre wyth hym and so sette there in pryson many dayes lastly was delyuered vnto kyng Edwarde Than vpon sherethursdaye at after noone kynge Edwarde was receyued into the cytye and so rode to Poulys and there offered at y e roode of the north dore and that done yode incontynently into the bysshoppes palays where he fande kynge Henry almoste alone For all such lordes and other as in the mornynge were about hym whan they harde of king Edwardes commynge anone they fledde and euery man was fayne gladde to saue hym selfe Than king Edwarde lodged hym where kynge Henry laye put hym vnder safe kepynge and soo rested hym there tyll Easter euyn Upon the whyche euyn heryng of hys brothers cōmynge y e other lordes wyth hym wyth a strōg hoste vnto saynt Albonis sped hym thyderward lay that nyght at Barnet In whyche season the duke of Clarence contrary hys othe and promyse made vnto the Frenche kynge refused the tytle of kyng Henry and sodaynly wyth the strengthe that he hadde rode streyghte vnto hys brother kynge Edwarde wherwith the other lordes were somdeale abasshed The whyche not wythstandynge the sayd lordes by the specyall comforte and exortacyon of the erle of Oxenforde as it was sayde helde on theyr iournay toward Bernet the sayd erle of Oxenford beyng in the vawarde and so came vnto y e playne without Bernet and there pyght theyr felde Then vpon y e morowe beynge Easter daye the .xiiii. daye of Apryll very erly both hostes mette wherupō that one party were two knyges present as Hēry the .vi. whych kynge Edward had brought thyder with hym and kyng Edward the .iiii. And vpon that other partye was the duke of Exceter the lorde Marquys Mountagu and the two erlys of warwyke and of Oxenford wyth many other men of name There the sayd erle of Oxenforde
and there buryed by the tombe of kyng Edwarde After whyche cruelte thus done he shortely after set in sure kepynge suche persones as he suspected to be agayne hym wherof the bysshoppes of yorke of Ely were .ii. as it is said And the erle of Derby for fere of hys sonne the lord Strange lest he shuld haue arered Chesshyre Lancastershyre agayne hym was set at large Than began the loÌ„ge couert dyssymulacion whyche of the lord Protectour had ben so craftly shadowed to breke out at large in so moche that vppoÌ„ the sondaye folowyng at Poules crosse hym selfe wyth the duke of Bukkyngham other lordes beyng present by the mouth of doctor Rafe Shaa in the tyme of hys sermon was there shewed openly that y e chylderne of kynge Edward the .iiii. were nat legytymat nor ryghtfull enheritours of the crowne wyth many dyslaunderous wordes in preferryng of the tytle of the sayd lord Protectour and in dysanullynge of the other to the greate abucion of all the audieÌ„ce excepte suche as fauoured the mater whyche were fewe in noumbre yf the trouth or playnesse myghte haue ben shewed Of the whyche declaracyon as the fame wente after the sayde doctour Shaa toke suche repentaunce that he lyued in lyttell prosperytie after And the more he was wondered of that he wolde take vppon hym suche a besynesse consyderynge that he was so famous a man bothe of hys lernynge and also of naturall wytte Than vppon the tuysdaye folowynge an assemble of the coÌ„mons of the cytye was appoynted at the Guyldhalle where beynge present the duke of BuckynghaÌ„ wyth other lordes sente downe frome the sayde lorde protectour and there in the presence of the mayre and comynaltye rehersed the ryght and tytle that the lorde Protectour hadde to be preferred before hys of hys brother kynge Edwarde to the ryght of the crowne of Englande The whyche processe was in so eloquent wyse shewed and vttred wythout any impedyment of spyttynge or other countenaunce and that of a longe whyle wyth so great sugred wordes of exhortacyon and accordynge sentence that many a wyse man that day merueyled and commended hym for the good orderynge of hys wordes but not for the entent and purpose the whyche theruppon ensued Uppon the Thursdaye than next ensuynge beynge the .xx. daye of Iuny the sayde Protectoure takynge then vppon hym as kynge and gouernour of the realme went wyth great pompe vnto westmynster and there toke possessyon of the same where he beynge sette in the greate halle in the See royall wyth y e duke of Norffolke before called the lorde Hawarde vppon the ryght hande the duke of Suffolke vppon the left hande after the royall othe there taken called before hym the iudges of the lawe gyuynge vnto them a long exhortacyon and streyght coÌ„maundemeÌ„t for y e mynystryng of hys lawes and to execute iustyce and that with out delaye After whyche possessyon takynge and other ceremonies there done he was conueyed vnto the kynges palays wythin westmynster and there lodgyd In whyche passe tyme the prynce or of ryght kynge Edwarde the .v. wyth hys brother the duke of yorke were put vnder suer kepynge wythin the towre in suche wyse that they neuer came abrode after And thus ended the reygne of Edwarde the .v when he had borne the name of a kynge by the space of two monethes and .xi. dayes And vppon the Frydaye beynge the .xxii. daye of Iuny was the sayd lord Protectour proclaymed thorough the cyty kyng of England by the name of Rychard the thyrde Then soone after for fere of the quenes blode and other whyche he had in ielousy he sent for a strength of men out of the North. The which came shortely to London a lytell before hys coronacyon and mustred in the More feldes well vppon .iiii. M. men in theyr beste iackes and rusty salattes wyth a fewe in whyte harneys not burnysshed to the sale and shortely after hys coronacyon were countermaunded home wyth suffycyent rewardes for theyr trauayll In whyche foresayd passe tyme y e Marquys of Dorset brother vnto quene Elysabeth y t before was fled escaped many wonderfull daungers bothe about London Ely and other places wherof â–ª to wryte the maner cyrcumstaunce wolde aske a longe and great leysour Rycharde the thyrde RIcharde y e thyrde of that name son to Rycharde late duke of yorke yongeste brother vnto Edwarde y e iiii late kynge began his domynyoÌ„ ouer the realme of Englande the .xx. day of mydsomer moneth in the yere of our lorde god M. CCCC.lxxxiii the .xxv. yere of the .xi. Lewys than kynge of FrauÌ„ce Of whom tedyous it is to me to wryte the tragedyous hystory excepte that I remeÌ„ber that good it is to wryte and put in remeÌ„brauÌ„ce the punyshement of synners to the ende that other may exchew to fall in lyke daunger Than it foloweth anone as thys man had taken vpon hym he fyll in great hatred of the more party of the nobles of hys realm in so mych that suche as before loued and praysed hym and wolde haue ieoparted lyfe and good wyth hym yf he hadde remayned styll as ê“tectour now murmured and grudged agayne hym in suche wyse that fewe or none fauoured his partye except it were for drede or for the great gyftes that they receyued of hym By meane wherof he wanne dyuers to folow hys mynde the whiche after deceyued hym And after his coronacyon soleÌ„pnysed whyche was holden at westmynster the .vi. daye of Iuly where also y e same daye was crowned dame Anne hys wyfe he then in shorte processe folowynge rode Northward to pacyfye that countre and to redresse certayne ryottes there lately done In the passe tyme of which iournay he beynge at yorke created hys legyttymat sonne prynce of walys ouer that made hys bastarde sonne capytayne of Caleys whyche encreaced more grudge to hymwarde as after shall appere Anno. dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lxxxiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lxxxiiii  Thomas Norland  Rober Byllysdon Haberdassher  Anno .ii.  wyllyam Martyn  IN this yere y e foresayd grudge encreasynge and the more for as myche as the comon fame wente that kynge Rycharde hadde within the towre put vnto secret deth y e two sonnes of hys brother Edwarde the iiii For the whych and other causes hadde within the breste of the duke of Buckyngham the sayde duke in secrete maner conspyred agayn hym and allyed hym with dyuers gentylmen to the ende to brynge hys purpose about But how it was his entente was espyed and shewed vnto the kynge and the kynge in all haste sent for to take hym he then beynge small accoÌ„panyed at hys manour of Brekenok in the Marche of walys wherof the sayd duke beynge ware in all hast he fled froÌ„ hys sayd manour of Brekenok vnto the house of a seruaunt of hys owne called Banaster and that in so secret maner that fewe or none of his housholde seruauntes knewe where he was become In the whyche passe tyme kynge Rycharde
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
done wyth fyre in the paryshe of faynt Peters the pore And in the forenamed parlyameÌ„t was ordeyned a new coyne of syluer as grotes half grotes shyllynges with half faces And in the forsayde parlyameÌ„te was graunted to the kynge an ayde of xxxvi thousand .li. And a correccyon was dyuysed for clipped grotes Anno domini M.v. C.iiii.  Anno domini M.v. C.v. Grocer Roger Achylley  IohnÌ„ wyngar  Anno .xx.  wyllyam Browne  IN thys yere the cytezyns of LoÌ„don grauÌ„ted to the kyng .v. M marke for confermacioÌ„ of theyr lybertyes wherof a M. marke was payde in haÌ„de .iiii. M. mark in .iiii. yeres next ensuyng UpoÌ„ sat Georges day y e kyng went in procession in Poules church where was shewed a legge of saynt George closed in syluer whych was newly sent to the kyng And vppoÌ„ the .xxv. day of Apryll was a money maker one of the coyners of the towre draweÌ„ to tyborne there hanged And in y e later ende of thys yere came the thyrde cappe of mayntenaunce from the pope Anno domini M.v. C.v.  Anno domini M.v. C.vi Fysshemonger Rycharde Shore  Thomas Kneysworth  Anno .xxi.  Roger Groue  THys yere vppoÌ„ .xii. euyn the kinges chaÌ„ber at RychemouÌ„t was breÌ„t And vpoÌ„ the euyn of saynt Maury begaÌ„ an hidious wid which endured vppoÌ„ .xi. dayes folowynge more or lasse in coÌ„tynuall blowyng by meane whereof the wedercok of Poules was bloweÌ„ downe moche other harme done And by force of thys tempest the archeduke of Burgoyne was dryueÌ„ to laÌ„de in the west couÌ„tre And vpoÌ„ the second sonday of leÌ„t stood at Poules crosse the pryour of saynt Osyes .v. other heretykes And in y e ende of y e moneth of March syr EdmoÌ„d de la pool was conueyed through the citie vnto the towre and there left as prysoner And in Maye moneth was the lord of Burgeueny coÌ„mytteth to the towre for a certayn displeasure whych coÌ„cerned no treason Thys yere a new bylded galerey fyll in the nyght at RychemouÌ„t And thys yere in the ende of Iuly was a gracyous myracle shewed by oure Lady image of Barkyng by a mayden chylde that a carte laden wyth stone yode ouer Anno domini M.v. C.vi  Anno domini M.v. C.vii. mercer wyllyam Copynger  Syr Rychard Haddon Thomas IohnÌ„son Anno .xxii.  wyllyam Fytz wyllyam  IN thys yere about Crystmas was the bakers house in warwyke lane breÌ„t And thys yere was a wonderfull easy softe wynter with out stormys or frostes And this yere the kyng of hys goodnesse delyuered out of all prysons in LoÌ„doÌ„ as many prysoners as laye for .xl. s. vnder And this yere was Thomas Kneysworth late mayer hys .ii. shyreffes condeÌ„pned to the kyng in great sommes of money ouer paynfull prysonement by theym in the marshalsy susteyned Anno domini M.v. C.vii.  Anno domini M.v. C.viii. mercer wyllyam Butler  wyllyam Browne  Anno .xxiii.  IohnÌ„ Kyrkby  THys yere in the ende of April dyed the sayd wyllyam Browne and for hym was immedyatly chosen syr Laurence Aylemer for the resydue of that yere Anno supradicto  Anno supradicto Draper wyllyam Butler  Syr Laurence Aylemer  Anno predicto  IohnÌ„ Kyrkby  IN thys yere vpon the last daye of Iuny was an house in Southwarke nere vnto the brydge consumed wyth fyre And thys yere was syr wyllyam Capell agayne put in vexacyon by sute of the kynge for thynges done by hym in the tyme of hys mayralte Anno. dnÌ„i M.v. C.viii.  Anno dnÌ„i M.v. C.ix. Tayllour Thomas Exmew  Stephyn Ienyns  Anno .xxiiii.  Rychard Smyth  IN the begynnyng of the mayres tyme syr wyllyam Capell after his prysonement in the couÌ„tour shyreffes house was by the kynges counsayll commauÌ„ded to the towre where he remayned tyll the kynge dyed shortly after was delyuered wyth many other And in lykewyse was syr LaureÌ„ce Aylemer dalt with coÌ„mytted to the warde or house of Rychard Smyth shryfe there remayned as prisoner by y e space aboue sayd Thys yere vppoÌ„ the saterdaye next before saynt Georges day in the nyght whych saterdaye was the .xxi. daye of Apryll dyed the kynge oure soueraygne lorde at hys manour of Rychemount vpon whose soule and all chrysten Iesu haue mercy Amen And so thys foresayd noble prince reygned .xxiii. yeres and .vii. monethes and one daye therof lakkynge THys magnyfycent excellent prynce HeÌ„ry the .vii. thus payed to deth his dette of nature as before is sayd Of whome suffycient laude prayse can nat be put in wrytyng coÌ„syderyng y e coÌ„tynuall peace traÌ„quylete whyche he kept thys his lande comons in wyth also the subduynge of hys outwarde enymyes of the realmes of Fraunce Scotland by hys greate polycy wysedome more thaÌ„ by shedyng of cristeÌ„ bloode or cruell warre And euer ruled so myghtly hys subgectes mynystred to them suche iustyce y t nat allonely they loued and drad hym but all crysten prynces heryng of hys gloryous fame were desyrous to haue wyth hym amyte allyaunce And for that he in all teÌ„porall polycies prouisions exceded all prynces by hys tyme reygnynge dyuers popes as Alexander the syxte Pius the .iii Iulius the .ii. nowe beynge pope by theyr tymes eyther of theÌ„ sunderly wyth auctorytie coÌ„sent of theyr spyrytuall deuyne couÌ„sayll elected chase thys excellente prynce and admytted hym for chyefe defensour of Chrystes church before all other crysten prynces And for a confermacioÌ„ of the same sente vnto thys inuyncibyll prince by .iii. sundry famous ambassades thre swerdes with .iii. cappes of mayntenaunce what myght I wryte of the stedfaste contyneÌ„cy great iustyce mercyfull dealyng of thys prynce what myght I report of hys excelleÌ„te wysedome moste sugred eloquence or of hys inmouable pacience wonderfull dyscressyon Or what shuld I tell of his most beautyfull byldynges or excedyng charges of manifest reperacioÌ„s and ouer all thys of hys excedynge treasoure rychesse innumerabyll But as who wolde saye to consider in order all his notabyll actes which wolde aske a loÌ„ge tract of tyme with also the lyberall somptuous endowemeÌ„t of the monastery of westmynster other to wryte I myghte conclude y t hys actes passed all the noble actes of hys noble ê“genytours syne the conquest and may moste coÌ„gruly aboue all erthly prynces belykened vnto SalamoÌ„ kyng of y e Israelytes and be called the seconde Salomon for hys great sapience actes by him done hys lyuys tyme executed All whyche premysses tenderly considered euery naturall EnglysshmaÌ„ now lyuyng hath cause ought deuoutly to pray for the soule of this moste excellent prynce Henry the .vii that he maye atteyne that celestyall mansioÌ„ whych he and all trew crysten soules are enheritours vnto the which god hym graunt Amen And the rather because of the exelleÌ„t vertuous bryngyng and leuynge vnto vs by goddes ayde and prouysyon
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
his marchauÌ„tes myght vse theyr entercourse into FlauÌ„dres as they before tymes had done such lossis as before was by theym susteyned shulde be recompensyd And so soone after an amytye betwene the kynge and her was concluded In this yere about y e ende of Marche dyed Rychard kynge of Almayn and erle of Cornewayle brother to the kynge and was buryed at Haylys an abbaye of whyte monkes by hym before tymes buylded after he hadde ben kynge of Almayne by the terme of .xv. yeres But after the rehersall made before in the .xxx. yere of this kyng Henry he shuld reygne xvi yeres In the moneth of Iuny y e monastery of y e Trinite in y e citie of Norwiche was consumed wyth fyre by reason of a fraye made betwene seruauntes of the abbaye and some of the cytezeyns of the cytye whyche grewe to a great skyrmysshe For the pryour of the same and other of the monkes purueyed sowdyours and helde y e belfray and the chyrch by force of armys and threwe out stones dartes and shotte many arrowes by reason wherof many of y e towne were bothe wounded slayne whyche broughte the comons and yonge men in suche a furye and madnesse that they fyrid the gates and after forced the fyre with rede and drye woode that the chyrche wyth the bookes all other ornamentes of the same and all houses of offyce belongynge to the same abbey were clene brent and throwen downe so that nothynge was preserued excepte a lytell Chapell whaÌ„ tydynges of thys ryot came to y e kyngê knowlege he was therwith greuously dyspleased so that he rode thyder soone after and there commaunded questes to be charged of knyghtes esquyres that dwelled in the countre aboute and to endyte all suche persones as were occasyoners and executours of that dede By reason of whyche enquery fynally were caste and iuged vppon the nombre of .xxx. yonge men of the towne the whyche were after drawen to the place of execucyon and there hanged and brent to the great dyscomfyture sorowe of the cytezeyns For they thought y e pryour of the place was the occasyoner of all that myschyef whych was borne out defended by the bysshop of Norwyche than beyng named Roger And this yere were diuers prodygies strauÌ„ge tokens sene in dyuers places of Englande amoÌ„ge y e whych at Grenewyche besyde London a laÌ„be was yenyd hauynge .ii. perfyte bodyes wyth all membres and but one heed Anno domini M.C.lxxii  Anno domini M.CC.lxxiii  Rycharde Parys  Syr walter Henry  Anno .lvii.  IohnÌ„ Bedyll  IN thys .lvii. yere of kynge HeÌ„ry and begynnynge of the same the kynge sykened so that he was forcyd to kepe his bed at westminster where he called before hym syr Gylberte de Clare erle of Glouceter and caused hym to be newly sworne to kepe the peas of the lande to the behofe of Edwarde hys sonne and than dyed vppon the daye of saynte Edmunde the bysshoppe or the .xvi. day of Nouembre and was buryed vppon the southesyde of saynte Edwarde in westmynster whenne he had reygned .lvi. yeres .xxviii. days leuynge after hym syr Edwarde beforenamed for hys heyre EdmuÌ„de Crowchbak In a table haÌ„gyng vpoÌ„ the tombe of the sayd Henry are written these verses folowynge Tercius Henricus iacet hic pietatis amicus Ecclesiam strauit istam quam post renouauit Reddat ei munus qui regnat trinus vnus The whyche may be Englysshed as foloweth The frende of pyte and of almesse dede Henry the thyrde whylome of Englande kynge who thys chyrch brake after hys mede Agayn renewed into this fayre buyldynge Nowe resteth in here whyche dyd so great a thynge He yelde hys mede that lorde in deyite That as one god reygneth in persones thre Francia LOwys the .ix. of y e name and sonne vnto the seconde Phylyp begaÌ„ his reygne ouer the realme of FrauÌ„ce in the yere of our lorde .xii. C.xxiii and the .vii. yere of the thyrde HeÌ„ry then kynge of Englande Thys Lowys was crowned at Raynes vpon the daye of saynt Sixtus the pope or the .vi. day of August By the meane of thys Lowys as testifieth the freÌ„she cronycle retourned the blode of Pepyn to the enherytaunce of the crowne of Fraunce whose name was Isabell doughter of Bawdewyn erle of Henaut whych Bawdewyn was discendyd of Ermengaunte somtyme countesse of Namoure whyche was doughter to Charles duke of Lorayne the whyche Charles was lynyally dyscended of Charles the CoÌ„querour that was sonne of Charles Martellus the sonne of Pepyn whan thys Lowys had passed the solempnytye of hys coronacyon he made a vyage into y e countre of Poytiers and there wanne from the Englysshe men certayne castelles townes as before in the .x. yere of Henry the thyrde is touched The whyche vyage by hym fynysshed he at y e contemplacyon and prayer of kyng Iohan kynge of Hierusalem toke vpoÌ„ hym the crosse to warre vpoÌ„ the Turkes and after all thynges for that vyage made redy passed with hys hoost by Burgys Neuers and so to Lyon and from Lyon to Auygnd the whyche for dysobedyence to the chyrche of Rome had stande accursed vppon the terme of .vii. yeres But where as kynge Lowys supposed he shulde haue passed with hys people as he had passed the other cytyes y e cytezeyns closed the gates agayne hym wolde nat suffre hym nor hys to come within the cytye wherfore the kynge commaunded assaute to be made and so continued there hys siege tyll the myddell of August the whyche was begon aboute the ende of NoueÌ„bre and loste there many of hys men amoÌ„ge the whych Guy erle of saynte Paule a man of great fame was one with y e bysshop of Lemeryk and other to the noÌ„bre of .ii. M. or theraboute wherewith thys Lowys was so amoued that he made a solempne othe that he wolde nat departe thens tyll he had wonne the towne when that the rulers of the towne had knowlege of the kynges aâ—owe and promesse that he had made they toke aduysemente and shortly after sent vnto the kynge .ii. noble men of the cytye to entreate and common of peas But peas was to them vtterly denyed except they wolde submytte theym hooly to the correccyon of the pope For the offence done to god hys chyrch of Rome after to staÌ„de to the kynges dome for dyspleasure done agayne hym In the ende thoughe thys condycyon were greatly agayne theyr mynde it was lastly agreed vnto and the kynge with his people was receyued into the cytye And after he had restyd hym there a season that the cytezens had agreed theym with the popes legate and receyued of hym absolucioÌ„ with a new bysshop named Peter Corbio of the popes eleccyon than Gregory the .ix. with other thynges done accordinge to the sayd popes commaundement Then kynge Lowys commaunded fyrste the dyches of the towne to be fylled playne with the grounde And