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
meruelouse strength in so mych that he had not his pere wythin his realm of any man of noble byrthe In his tyme came into Brytayne a prynce oute of a countre called Mauritania the whyche countre at those dayes is assygned by Strabo y e wryter â–ª to be betwene the kyngdomes of Hungary and of Beame the whych prynce wyth his cruell fyers people wasted the laÌ„d of Britayne with iron and fyre wythout pytye wherof Morindus beynge warned in all haste gaderyd his people and hym mette and faught in such wyse that he chasyd the sayde prynce agayne to the see and toke many of his sowdyours as prysoners the whyche in satysfyeng of his cruelnesse and tyranny he caused to be put to deth in his syght by dyuerse maners of tormentes as by heedynge fleynge brennynge and other cruell execucyons Lastely as testyfyeth Guydo de Columpna and other this Morindus walkynge or rydynge vppon the see stronde espyed a woÌ„derfull monstre the whych of his corage and knyght hod he thought to sle And by a maÌ„ly corage and force assayled this monstre or beste fyghtyng wyth yt a certayne of tyme. But in conclusyon he was deuoured and swalowyd of the sayd monstre after he had reygned after moste wryters by the terme of viii yeres leuynge after hym as wytnessyth Gaufryde fyue sonnes wherof the fyrste was named GorbomaÌ„nus the secunde Archygallo the thyrde Elidurus the fourth Uigenius or Nigenius and the fyfte or yongest Peredurus THE XXXVIII CHAPITER GOrbamaÌ„nus the fyrste sonne of Morindê° was made king of Brytayne in the yere of the world foure thousande .viii. hundred .lxxx. and .xviii. This in the englyshe cronycle ys named Granbodyan the whyche as testifyeth Gaufryde was a iuste and ryghtwyse man to y e goddes and to his people and yelded to eyther partye that was his that ys to say to his goddes he yelded due reuerence sacrifyce and to the people iustyce equyte And he renewed and repayred all olde temples thorough his realme and buylded some newe And in his tyme was more welth and plente in his realme mych more theÌ„ was in any of his predecessours dayes But fynally to y e great sorow of all his Brytons he was taken wyth sykenesse and dyed wythout issue of his body when he hadde reygned after moste wryters by the terme of .xi. yeres THE XXXIX CHAPITER ARchigallo the seconde sonne of Morindus and broder vnto GorbomaÌ„nus was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of y e worlde foure thousande .ix. hundred and .x. This in the englyshe boke is named Artogayll the whyche folowed nothynge the workes of his brother but gaue hym selfe all to discencyon and stryfe and imagyned causes agayne his nobles to put them from theyr goodes and dygnytyes and in theyr places to sette and ordeyne vnnoble and of rude byrthe and maner and from the ryche by synystre and wrongfull meanes he plucked theyr ryches and goodes By whyche inordynate meanes he enryched hym self and impoueryshed his subiectes For whyche condycyons his lordes subiectes murmuryd agaynst hym and lastly of one assent toke him or more verely depryuyd hym of all honour and kyngly dygnyte when he hadde reygned after moste concordaunce of wryters fyue yeres THE XL. CHAPITER ELidâ—rus the thyrde sonne of Morindus and the brother of Archigallo was by one assent of the Brytons made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. M.ix hundred and .xv. This in y e englyshe cronycle is named Hisider or Esodyr The which became so myld and benygne to the Brytons that they gaue to hym a surname and called hym Elidure y e meke For he amoÌ„ge other dedys of mekenes as he was vpon a daye in his dysporte of huntynge in a wode nere vnto CaerbraÌ„k or yorke called Calater or after some wryters Caltras he fande his elder brother Archigallo late kynge maskelyng or wandrynge in the thykest of the woode whome louyngly and charytably he in secrete maner conueyed vnto his owne mancyoÌ„ into y e cytye then named Aldud or Acliut And as affermeth myn authour Gaufryde to th entent to brynge his brother to his former dygnytye as after foloweth the sayd Elidurus fayned hym selfe syke and in all haste sente his messagers aboute his realme to gather and assemble the Barons of his laÌ„de And when the daye of assemble was coÌ„myn and his lordes accordynge to his commaundement were present he called them one by one as they were of honour into his secrete cubycle or chamber there by his wyse dyscrete wordes as well in benygne and louynge maner as other wordes and countenaunce apperteynyng to his royall power and dygnyty he gat graunte of his sayd lordes that they shuld ayde streÌ„gth hym to theyr powers to brynge hys brother Archigallo to his former honour and regally After which grauÌ„t by the lordes made he assembled a counsayll of his Brytons at Caerbrank or yorke there caused suche meanes to be made to the coÌ„mons that in conclusion when the sayd Elidurus hadde ruled the lande .v. yeres as kynge he there resygned his crowne and all kyngly power vnto his sayde brother Archigallo THE XLI CHAPITER WHen Archigallo was thus restored to his kyngly dygnyte he remembred well the euyl lyfe that before tyme he had ladde and the punishement which he had suffred for y e same wherfore in eschewynge of lyke daunger He chaunged all hys olde condicyons and became a good and ryghtwyse man mynystryng to the people equyte and iustyce bare hym so nobly agayne his lordes and rulers vnder hym of his landes that he was belouyd dradde of all hys subiectes and so contynued duryng the terme of his naturall lyfe But fynally he payde the dette of nature when he hadde reygned nowe lastly after moste wryters .x. yeres was buryed as sayth the sayde olde cronycle at Caerbranke or yorke THE XLII CHAPITER ELidurus before named was agayne by one assent of y e Brytons made kynge in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .ix. hundred xxx But his two yonger bretherne Uigenius and Peredurus hauynge of hym indignacyon that he was for his vertue and good gouernauÌ„ce so well fauoured with the Brytons of malyce conspyryd agayne hym gatheryd an army of soudiours made a felde wyth hym And in the felde toke hym and commauÌ„ded hym vnto the towre of TroynouaÌ„t as sayth Gaufryde there as a prysoner to be sauely kepte After when he hadde reygned nowe laste by the space as wytnesseth the old cronycle .ii. yeres THE XLIII CHAPITER UIgenius and Peredurus y e yongest sonnes of Morindê° and bretherne of Elidurus before sayde were ioyntly made kynges of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde foure thousande .ix. hundred .xxxii. These two bretherne are named in y e engleshe cronycle Higanius and Petytur the whych as testyfyeth Gaufryde departed y e land betwene theÌ„ so y t all y e land from the water of HuÌ„ber westwarde fyll to Uigenius or Nigeniê° the other part of
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
thereby letted from many a vertuous purpose he lastely after many resystences by hym done to auoyde y e temtacyon therof besought god enterly that he wold sende to hym som contynuall sykenes in quenchyng of y e vyce that he were not vnprofytable to wordely besynesse serue god the better Then at goddes ordynauÌ„ce he had y e euyll called Fycê° wyth the whych sekenes he was greued many yeres and lastely cured of that holy virgyn saynt Modwenna then dwellyng in Irlande But after this cure by her done she came into Englande for so myche as her monastery or chyrch y t she there dwelled in was destroyed wherfore Adulfus father to Alured knowynge the vertue and holynesse of this mayden gaue to her ground to buylde vppon .ii. abbays of maydens That is to say one in Arderne at a place callyd Polliswortham another at Strenesalte in the Northe But this holy mayden dyed in the yland of Andrese besyde Burton after many yeres of the buyldynge of these sayd two abbays after .vii. yeres y t she had ben closyd within stone walles in the yle before named when Alurede was cured of this sekynes to him fyll an other the which contynued with hym from the .xx. yere of his age tyll the .xlv. yere of hys sayed age But y t not wythstaÌ„dynge he wedded a noble woman named Ethelwyda of the which he receyued two sonnes Edwarde surnamed the elder Egelwarde .iii. doughters Elphleda y t after was ladye of Mercia Ethelgota a meÌ„chon or nuÌ„ne y e thyrd was named Elfrida The whyche he caused all as well doughters as other â–ª to studye the arte or scyence of graÌ„mer to be noryshed wyth all vertue And when this Alurede was admyttyd to be kynge he well consyderyd the great daunger y t his lande was in wherfore he gaderyd to hym his lordes suche as he myghte not wyn wythout stryfe he wanne wyth great iustyce and fayre hostes So y t he shorlty assembled a stronge hoste and in the seconde moneth y t he was made kynge he mette wyth the Danys besyde wylton yelded to them batayll but not wythout great losse of men on both partyes Then he remeuyd his pleople and in sondry places faught wyth y e Danys in the fyrste yere .vi. tymes By meane wherof his peple were so sore mynyshed and wekyd that he was forsed to take peas wyth his enymyes vppon couenaunt that they shuld auoyde the countres prouynces y t he had domynyon of Uppon whych agremeÌ„t fermely concluded the Danis for a tyme voyded those couÌ„treys drew towarde London rested theym about y e coste the more parte of the yere folowynge from thens to Lyndesey in robbyng and spoylyng the townes villages as they wente holdynge y e coÌ„mon people vnder theyr seruage so contynued ouer the terme of two yeres But or the thyrde yere were endyd they yode vnto Repindon and there put down or slewe Burdredus then kyng of Mercia and betoke y e kyngdome vnto a seruaunt of his named Colwolphus vppon condicyon on that he shulde kepe it to theyr behofe And then they besegyd a town thereby called Hambourgth assauted yt right sharpely wherfore the people therof beynge in great drede and fere toke the body of that holy vyrgyne saynt werbourgth by vertue of whose body the enymyes were somwhat put a backe And after for a more suerty y e inhabytauntes of y e towne of Hamburgth wyth that holy treasure fled vnto westchester where at this daye she lyeth honorably shryned Then the kyng made oft peas with the Danys in truste wherof he rode with the fewer peple wherof they beyng ware layd bushemeÌ„tes for hym set so nere hym y t they slew a great parte of his coÌ„pany in a nyght as he rode towarde wynchester For this treason the hyng was sore amouyd agayne the Danys in as secrete maner as he myght he assembled a chosen coÌ„pany of knyghtes as wytnessyth Guydo fyll vpon theÌ„ sodeynly dystressed many of them and lefte them not tyll he had chased them to Chester or after an other authour to Exetour And there kynge Alurede kept the Danys so short y t he constrayned them to gyue to hym pledges to kepe the peace to dwell no lenger there then they myght puruey shyppynge at the next porte to sayle into Denmarke After which accorde thus fynyshed the kynge returned vnto Mercia or myddell England And for he harde y t Colwolphus was dede to whom the Danys had taken that lordshyp to kepe he therfore seasyd y t kyngedome and ioyned yt to his owne of west Saxons By whych reason the kyngedome of Mercia surseasyd y e had continued from theyr fyrst kyng named Penda as in the chapyter of this worke C.xxix precedynge is more at length declared Aboute the .v. yere of the reygne of Alurede the Danys as affermeth Policronica sayled fro warham towarde Exetour in the whyche iourney they loste .vi. score of theyr small shyppes by a tempeste in the see But some of them occupyed the towne of Chepynham and the countrey therunto adioynynge and chasyd y e Angles or made them as subiectes to y e Danys And so sore the power of theÌ„ augmentyd that the Angles loste dayly and they encresyd and y e more by reason of the landyng of a prynce of the Danys named Gutteron or Gowthram whyche ys named kyng of Denmarke THE CLXXII CHAPITER ALurede beynge thus ouerset in multytude of enymyes as affermeth Policronica other ladde an vncertayne lyfe and vneasy wyth few folkes aboute hym in the wode couÌ„trey of Somersetshyre and had ryght scante to lyue wyth but suche as he and hys peple myght purchase be huntyng and fyshynge In which mysery he thus by a certayn of tyme contynuynge he was by a vysyon to hym shewyd of saynte Cutbert comforted as folowyth Uppon a tyme when his coÌ„pany was from hym departed besyed in purchasyng of vytayle and he for a passetyme was redynge on a boke a pilgryme came to him and requyred his almes in goddes name The kynge lyfte vp hys handes towarde heuen and sayde I thanke god that of his grace he vysyteth hys poore man this day by an other poore man and that he woll wytsaue to aske of me y t he hath gyuen to me Then the kynge anon called his seruaunt that hadde but one lofe and a lytell what of wyne and badde hym gyue the halfe therof vnto the poore man The whyche receyued yt thankefully and sodaynly vanished from his syght so that no step of hym was sene in the nesshe fenne or more y t he passed thorough And also all that was gyuen to hym was lefte there by in such wyse as yt was to hym gyuen And shortely after his company returned to theyr maister and brought wyth theym great plenty of fyshe that they had then taken The nyght folowynge when the kynge was at his reste one apperyd to hym in
accepted the foresayde wyllyam to theyr lorde and souerayne Of thys wyllyams procreacyon yt is wytnessed of Uyncent hystory all and other that his father passynge by the cytye or towne of Faloys in Normandy he sawe a company of maydens daunsynge by the strete Amonges the whych was one of passynge beautye called Arlet and doughter to a skynner To y e which duke Robert caste vnlefull loue in suche wyse y t he caused her to be broughte to his bed the nyght folowyng and helde her to his concubyne a certayn of tyme after begat on her this wyllyam whē his moder was wyth him cōceyued she dremed that her bowel lys were sprad ouer all Normandye and Englande And when he was borne of his moders wombe he fyll to the groūde and closed his handes wyth powder of the flore or pauement Therfore the mydwyfe made and exclamacyon and sayd this chyld shall be a kynge Then yt foloweth when thys wyllyam was thus admitted duke some of his lordes by the meane of y e kyng of Fraūce began to wythdraw them from hym In so myche y e erle Gylbert to whome duke Robert had betaken hys ponge sonne to gyde was slayne and other that were especyall frendes to the chylde There was fyghtyng and manslaughter and the countrey fowle faren with by reason of the opynyons that were amonges them selfe wherof Guy a Burgoyn was one of the chefe causers For he with his adherentes sayde alwayes that they wolde haue no bastarde to be ruler of them This Guy as saith the frēche boke was nere kynnesman vnto y e yonge duke descendyd of the doughter of the seconde Rycharde and entended to haue ben duke hym selfe For the which he ensensed y e kyng of Fraūce agayn hym in all that he myght but at length duke wyllyam toke hym and put hym to deth Thus the Frenche kynge forgettynge y e kyndnesse shewyd to hym by duke Robert hys father toke partye agayne hym to the vttermoste and ordeyned hym .ii. hostes wherof one he delyueryd to his brother Almaryk and warned hym to eutre y e countrey of Caus and he hym selfe ladde that other and entred with it the coūtrey of Eurour But wyllyam not ferynge the kynges great power beynge growen wele towarde mannes stature lyke a luste yonge knyght made towarde the kynges brother gaue to hym batayll hym ouercame and chased the Frenchemen to theyr great bylany wherof heryng the Frenche kyng wyth his people spedde hym toward wyllyam to reuenge the shame done to his men But in cōclusyon he wan there no honoure Then peace was made betwene the kyng and y e duke and the Frenche prysoners were delyueryd But this peace enduryed not long for the Frēch kyng callynge to remēbraūce the losse of hys men at Mort mere or dede see wyth other dysauauntages by hym sustayned of the sayde duke wyllyam called to hys ayde Geoffrey erle of Aungiers And whan hys hoste was assembled they entred y e prouynce of Normādy cōtynued theyr iourney tyll they came to an arme of the see where the hoste shulde passe ouer Of thys new warre duke wyllyā beynge warned in all haste assembled hys Normans and sped hym y e next waye to mete the Frenchemen In thys meane whyle the Frenche kynge had passed the water wyth certayne of hys hoste trustyng that the remenauaūt shulde haue folowed But soone after the water flowed so faste that hys people myghte not passe And in thys whyle came the duke and set vpon the kynges hoste and bet theym downe cruelly so that at length the kynge was compelled to flee and loste a great nomber of his knyghtes to consyder them y e were slayne wyth the other that were taken prysoners whan kynge Henry had well dysgested in hys mynde the wrongfull trouble that he by enuyous persons hadde put the duke vnto and remēbred the yll expedycyon that he had in that warre he recōsyled hym selfe and made meanes that the duke and he myghte be agreed and accorded The whyche by dyscrete solycytours was shortely after brought to good effecte so that they contynued as frēdes durynge theyr lyues after Than Henry abstayned hym from all warre vsed the reste of hys lyfe in peas and quyetnesse Thys Henry had two wyues and of the laste whyche was doughter to the kynge of Russy he had .iii. sonnes that is to say Phylyp y ◠whych he made kyng of Fraunce by hys lyfe Robert that was after duke of Burgoyne and Hughe that was after named Hugh le graunde and was fader to Raufe erle of Uermendoyse And in thys kynges dayes Burgoyne that had ben vnder y e Frenche kynges obeysaunce ouer a hundred and .xxx. yeres refused the Frenche kynge aparte of them torned vnto Conradus the seconde of that name than emperour So that that parte whyche stretched to Champayne belonged to Fraunce and that other parte whyche stretched toward Basaynz belonged to the Almayns And that yere that the kynge had admytted hys sonne Phylyp to the gydynge of the realme he dyed and was buryed at saynt Denys leuyng after hym the issue forenamed whan he hadde reygned after moste wryters .xxxi. yeres Anglia THE CCVIII CHAPITER HArold the sonne of Canutus of Elgma y e erlys doughter of Hampton begā his reygne ouer Englande in y e yere of our lordes incarnacyon M. xxxix and the x. yere of Henry thā kyng of Fraūce Thys for his delyuernesse swyftenesse was surnamed Harefote In whose begynnynge stryfe was amonge the lordes for so myche as of hys byrthe shulde be doughte whyther he were the kynges son or not and specyally erle Goodwyne that dyd the vttermoste of hys power to sette hym by and put Hardykynitus his brother to that honour But Leo frycus that Canutus so mych loued and trusted wyth the ayde of the Danes wythstode so myghtely Goodwyne and hys sonnes that they fayled of theyr purpose Anone as thys Harold was crowned kynge he banysshed hys stepmoder Emma and toke from her suche goodes and iewelles as she had The whych Emma sayled than into Flaūders and there of Bawdewyne the erle was reuerently receyued there abode durynge the lyfe of thys Harolde The whyche contynued hys lyfe to lytell fruyte or profyte of the land nor yet of the subiectes so that of hym other for y e vyce that clerkes lyste nat to put in memory other for the rudenesse whyche is worthy no memory nothynge of hym is put in remembraunce but that he dyed at London or after some at Oxenford was buryed at westmynster when he had reygned as moste wryters agreen .iii. yeres and odde monethes leuynge after hym none heyre wherfore hys brother kyng of Denmarke was next kynge after hym THE CCIX. CHAPITER HArdikynytus the sonne of Canutus of Emma was made kyng of England in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon M.xli and the xii yere of Henry than kyng of Fraūce Thys of some wryters is named Hardykynytus and Hardyknough
Uincencius hystorialis Antoninus Iacobus Philippus and other wherfore it can not stande wyth reasoÌ„ y t they shulde slepe vpon y e other syde after y e tournyng .lxxiiii. yeres as is aboue sayd nor that they shulde sterue in y e tyme of thys holy kynge and confessoure For hys tyme of reygne was after y e tyme of Theodociê° aforesayd more than .vi. hundred yeres But yf it be ment by some other For there are vii other slepers spoken of in y e .xxvi. chapyter of the fyrste boke of Polycronycon that hath slepte in a nother caue many yeres wherfore I remytte thys vnto other and folowe the order of the story wherein it is founde that whan this blessed kyng Edwarde had receyued by dyuyne monycyon that he shulde chaunge thys transitory and bryckell lyfe for the lyfe euerlastynge he sykened in the Crystmasse weke In tyme of whych sykenesse was shewed to hym a vysyon that he after shewed vnto suche as were about hym and sayde two men of relygion came to me that I somtyme was famylyer wyth in Normandye and shewed that they were sent from god vnto me to gyue vnto me warynynge of such thynges as foloweth And fyrste they sayde that for the dukes bysshoppes and abbotes of Englande be not goddes seruauntes but the deuyllys god hath taken thys kyngdome into the handes of enemyes for a tyme and fendes shall walke and destroble the people Than I besought god that the people myghte haue warnynge and do penaunce and be delyuered as the people were of the cytye of Ninyue Nay sayde they for these men be so indurate of harte y e they shulde do no worthy penaunce nor to them god shall shewe hys mercy nor forgyuenesse Than I asked of them whaÌ„ myghte be hope of mercy and pardoÌ„ They answered whan a grene tree is hewen downe and a parte therof cut from the stocke and layde .iii. fourlonge from the stocke and wythout mannes helpe or hande shall retourne to his stocke or rote and take agayne hys shappe and than flouryshe and brynge forth fruyte whan thys is done than maye be hope of comforte and of remedy In the tyme that this blessyd man shewed thus thys vysyon was present there wyth other Stygandus archebysshoppe of Caunterbury The whyche sayde vnto the other that the kynge raued or ellys doted for age and sykenesse as olde men done and accompted these wordes for foly and vanyte But not longe after Englande felte and conceyued thys prophecye whan it was in subieccyon of straungers and alyauntes as after shall be shewed Than who that is desyrous to knowe the exposycion of the prophecye of the grene tree lette hym rede in the ende of the lyfe of thys gloryous kynge and confessoure translated by wyllyam Caxton in the boke called the Legende of sayntes and there he shall fynde it All be it that in other places I haue sene it otherwyse interpreted the whyche I remytte to them that haue experyence in suche facultye And to conclude thys storye trouth it is that this blessyd kynge dyed the .iiii. daye of Ianuary whan he hadde reygned .xxiii. yeres vii monethes and odde days and was buryed in the monastery of westmynster y â— whych he before had gretly augmeÌ„ted repayred but nat in that maner and fourme that it is nowe in For the chyrche that nowe there standeth was so reedyfyed and buylded newe of Henry the thyrde and sonne of kynge IohnÌ„ The whiche also after some wryters translated thys blessyd kynge Edwarde from the lower parte of y e chyrche and shryned hym there he now lyeth And this kynge Edwarde laft after hym no chylde for he was accompted for a vyrgyn whan he dyed Francia THE CCXV CHAPITER PHylyp the fyrst of that name son of Henry began his dominioÌ„ ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of our lorde M.lviii the .xvi. yere of Edwarde the confessour than kynge of Englande And of thys Phylyp it is radde that he maryed a wyfe named Berta the doughter of Baldewyne erle of Holland and of Fryce Of the whyche Berta this Philyp receyued a sonne and named hym Lewis and a doughter y e was called CunstauÌ„ce But in processe of tyme he haunted so myche the company of a woman named Bertande that he hated hys laufull wyfe and at length helde her in pryson and kept that other in her stede and gatte vppon the sayd Bertrande two sonnes named Phylyp Florys and a doughter which myne authour nameth not For thys aduoutry he was often monysshed of y e pope that he shulde leue the companye of that yll woman and take to hym hys lawfull wyfe y t he so longe had holden in pryson within hys castell of Monsfruell And for he wolde not be obedyent vnto the popes couÌ„sayll he was fynally accused of pope Urbane the seconde of that name By meane wherof he was reconcyled and restored agayne to his wyfe and refused hys concubyne And in the tyme of thys Phylyp Godfrey de BollioÌ„ with many other crysten prynces at the exortacyon of Peter the heremyte sayled into the holy lande and wanne the cytye of HierusaleÌ„ out of the Sarasyns handes whyche prynces lastly crowned the sayd Godfrey kynge of the sayde cytye And after it so contynued in possessyon of crysten men by y e terme of foure score and tenne yeres vnder ix crysten kinges and lenger myght haue endured hadde not discencyon fallen amonges them selfe And so by Antoninus Peter Disrey and other it is manyfestely shewed Thys vyage after moste accorde of wryters begaÌ„ in the yere of grace M.lxxxvi and the .xxvii. yere of thys Phylyp And the sayd Godfrey was crowned kynge of the sayde cytye of Hierusalem after the affyrmaunce of y e sayde wryters in the yere of grace a thousande and foure score and .xix. Of thys Phylyp lytell worthy memory is lefte in wrytynge For lyke as hys fader Henry made hym kyng by his lyfe and suffered hym to haue the rule of the lande ryght so thys Phylyp after a certayne of tyme coÌ„mytted the rule of the lande vnto Lewys his sonne And he sette hys mynde to huntynge and other dysportes and so ladde hys lyfe in all slowthe and idelnesse Than Lewys takynge vppon hym the charge of the realme subdued the erle of Mounte Merusy other that laboured to take from the chyrche of saynt Denys certayn preuyleges and also constrayned them to restore and satysfye all hurtes and harmes to the sayde chyrche by them done Thys Lewys as affermeth the Frenche cronycle maryed the doughter of Guy erle of Cotcheforde the whyche after for nerenesse of kynne was deforced from the sayde Lewys to the greate dyspleasour of the sayde erle Guy wherfore he moued warre agayne the sayd Lewys and toke from hym certayne holdes and castelles of the whyche the castell of Gurney was one But at length Lewys had y e better of that warre and recoueryd diuers of the sayd holdes And amonges other prysoners by hym and his knyghtes takeÌ„
of pope Benet the .v. of that name And the thyrde cause was for that he occupyed the sayd Paule wythout lycence lefull authoryte of y e courte of Rome Than Stigandê° proued that benyuolence of kynge wyllyam For where before he made to him louyng and frendly countenauÌ„ce dyd vnto hym greate reuerence than he chauÌ„ged all his myldenesse into sternesse and exceuted hym by y e popes authoryte so that in the ende Stigandus was depryued of hys dygnytye and kepte in wynchester as a prysoner y e terme of hys lyfe It is recorded of hym that he was so couetous and sparyng y t he wold take nothynge of hys owne vsed to swere by Alhalowes that he had not one peny But that othe was proued vntrewe after hys deth by a lytell keye that was founde fastened about hys necke For by that keye was founden greate treasour vnder the erth in mo places than one In thys counsayle also were put downe dyuers other bysshoppes abbotes and pryours by the meanes of kynge wyllyam and all to the entent that he myghte preferre Normans to the rule of the chyrch as he hadde preferred hys knyghtes to the rule of the teÌ„peraltye that he myght stande in the more suerty of the land In thys counsayle saynt wolstanÌ„ that than was bysshop of worceter axed besely of the kynge certayne possessyons fallen into hys handes by the deth of Aldredê° laste archbyshop of yorke that were wyth holden by y e sayd Aldredus But the kyng myght not here than of any suche maters for hurtyng of the lyberty of the chyrche of yorke Than vpon wytsonday after the kynge gaue the sayd archebysshopryche of yorke vnto Thomas a chanon of Bayon sent for Lamfrank an other Norman than abbot of Cadomonency and gaue vnto hym the archebysshopryche of Caunterbury Thys Lamfranke was an Italyan borne and was perfytely lerned in y e scyence of theologye or holy wrytte ryght apte in gouernynge of thynges bothe spyrytuall and temporall Upon our lady daye the AssumpcyoÌ„ the kynge made hym archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury Than Thomas that was chosen archebysshop of yorke came vnto Lamfranke for to be sacred as the vsage wolde Of whom Lamfranke axed an othe his professyon in wrytynge concernyng his obedyence Thomas answered and sayde that he wolde neuer do that but yf he myghte therof here suffycyent authoryte and skylfull reasons byndynge by the whyche it myght be knowen that he shulde so do with out any preiudyce of hys chyrche Than Lamfranke shewed and proued skylfully that hys askynge was reasonable and ryghtfull But yet Thomas wolde not assent but with sayde it and went for that tyme from Lamfrank vnsacred shewed vnto the kyng that Lamfranke entended to do wronge to hym and to his chyrche of yorke Than the kyng callyng Lamfrank before hym sayd than he trusted more in his cunnyng than he dyd in good fayth or reason But he answered so reasonably vnto y e kyng that in the ende Thomas by the coÌ„maundement of the kyng was fayne to come agayne to Lamfranke to be sacred and wrote hys professyoÌ„ with hys owne hande of hys obedyence and radde it in the whyche was conteyned that he shulde be obedyent in all that belongeth to the worshyp of god and all crysteÌ„ fayth â–ª which done he was sacred so deê‘ted And shortly after Lamfranke axed toke professyoÌ„ of all y e byshoppes of EnglaÌ„d THE CCXXI CHAPITER IN the .v. yere of wyllyam the conquerours reygne Edwyn and Marcharus erle of Mercia and of Northumberlande beynge in fere of daunger voyded y e kynges court secretly and were rebelles som what of tyme. But at length it turned to bothe theyr harmes For Edwyne was slayn as he went toward Scotlande and erle Marcharus wyth y e bysshop of Dorcham named Egelwynus toke the ile of Ely for theyr sauegarde But the kynge held them so shorte that in processe they were fayne to yelde them to the kynges grace and mercy Than he sent the bysshop to the abbey of Abyndon to be kept there as a prysoner where he was so dayntely fed that he dyed for hunger But some wryters testyfye that he was so hyghe herted that after he knewe he shuld remayne there as prysoner he wolde neuer ete mete after And erle Marcharus was had to the towre of London In the .vi. yere of hys reygne kyng wyllyam as before is touched went wyth a great army into Scotland and subdued Malcoâ—yne theyr kynge as before I haue shewed in the precedynge chapyter In the .vii. yere of kyng wyllyam Thomas archebysshop of yorke not beynge content to be vnder the rule and obedyence of Lamfranke appealed to the courte of Rome so that the sayde two archbysshoppes appered both in proper persone before the pope Alexaunder afore named In whose presence Lamfranke was so well fauoured that where Thomas aboue named and Remigius byshop of Dorchester were for skylfull causes depryued of theyr croyses and rynges he by hys fauour meanes restored them to theyr former dygnytees The cause of Thomas was for that he had holpen duke wyllyam to warde hys iourney into Englande For the whyche the sayd duke promysed hym a bysshopryche yf he opteyned vyctory And y e other was depriued for y t he was proued a prestes sonne Than Thomas moued the cause of the prymacy of Caunterbury of subieccyon that to hym shuld belonge and sayde that these two sees were farre asonder that is to meane Caunterbury and yorke and that nother of them by the constytucyons of Gregory shulde be subiecte vnto other but that the one is more worthy than the other for so myche as he is of elder tyme. To thys answered Lamfranke and sayd that y e constytucyons of Gregory made no mencyoÌ„ of CauÌ„terbury but of yorke London Than the pope remytted thys mater to be determyned before y e kyng the byshoppes of England and gaue y e palle vnto Lamfranke But for this terme or word palle is to many one vnknowen I shall therfore here shewe vnto you what thynge it is This palle is an indument y â— euery archbyshop must haue is not in full authoryte of an archbyshoppe tyll he haue receyued hys palle of the pope and is a thynge of white like to y e breded of a stole But it is of a nother fassyon For where y e stole is made in length and is worne about the prestes necke thys is ioyned togyder aboue so that it lyeth a parte therof vppon the shulders And that one ende hangeth streyght downe to the grounde before and that other behynde garnysshed in dyuers places therof wyth crosses And where the stole is worne nexte vnto the albe whan the preste is reuested to masse thys palle is worne vpon thys vestymente ouermoste of all whan an archebysshoppe syngeth hys masse whan Lamfranke had thus sped hys nedys at Rome he wyth y e other two bysshoppes retourned into Englande where thys mater hangyng in varyaunce bytwene
kepe the lande to hys vse tyll he were crowned And that othe by the sayd barons takē he called before hym hys sonne Edwarde and charged hym with dyuers poyntes vpon the charge of his blessynge Amonge the whyche one specyall was y t he shuld neuer after that daye suffre Pyers of Gaueston to retourne into Englande so lyke a good crysten prynce dyed shortly after vpon the day of the translaciō of saynt Thomas of Caunterbury or y e vii day of the moneth of Iulii whan he had reygned .xxxiiii. yeres vii moneths odde days after with great solēpnite cōueyed vnto westmynster there buryed in y e chapell of saīt Edwarde vpō the southsyde in a playne tombe of marble at the hed of hys father This noble mā had .ii. wyfes by the whych as before is shewed in the xx .xxvii. yeres of his reygne he had issue as in the sayd yeres appereth Of thys noble prīce a vercifyer made these .ii. verses folowynge Dū viuit rex valuit sua magna potestas Fraus latuit pax magna fuit regnauit honestas whych verses maye be englysshed in thys maner folowynge ¶ whyle lyued thys kyng By hys power all thynge was in good plyght For gyle was hydde Great peace was kydde And honeste had myghte An other vercifyer also of him made these verses folowynge and caused them to be hanged ouer the place of hys sepulture Mors est mesta nimis magnos quia iungit in imis Maxima mors minimis cōiungēs vltima primis Nullus in orbe fuit homo viuens ne valet esse Qui non morte ruit est hinc exit necesse Nobilis fortis tibi tu confidere noli Omnia sunt mortis sibi subdit singula soli De mundi medio magnum mors impia nouit Anglia pre tedio satis anxïa plangere nouit Corruit Edwardus vario veneratus honore Rex nuper nardus fragans virtutis odore Corde leopardus inuictus absque pauore Ad rixam tardus discretus eucharis ore Viribus armorum quasi gigas ardua gessit Colla superborum prudens per prelia pressit Inter Flandrenses fortuna sibi bene fauit Vt quoque Wallenses scotos subpeditauit Rex bonus absque pare strenue sua regna regebat Quod natura dare potuit bonitatis habebat Actio iusticiae pax regni sanctio legis Et fuga nequicie premunt preconia regis Gloria tota ruit regem capit haec modo fossa Rex quandoque fuit nunc nil nisi puluis ossa Pilius ipse dei quem corde colebat et ore Gaudia donet ei nullo permixto dolore The whych verses to the entent y t they shuld be had in mynde also y t the reder myght haue y e more desyre to ouer rede thē I haue therfore set them out in baladde royall after my rude makynge as foloweth This sorowfull deth whiche bryngeth great full lowe And mooste leest he ioyneth into one Thys man to whome hys pere was nat knowe Hath now subdued nat sparyng hym alone whyche of all other thys worlde to ouergone None was to be spared of so great equytie As he if any for noblesse spared shuld be Therfore thou noble or myghty truste none other grace But thou shalt pay to deth thy naturall dette And lyke as he from thys worlde dyd chace Thys myghty prynce from his frendes fette For whome all Englande loude mourned and grette So shalt thou other in dethes snare fall None shall escape to rekyn kyndes all Edwarde with many dyuers graces endowed And lyke as Nardus moost swetest of odoure In smellynge passeth and moost he is allowed Of all swete odours so dyd thys knyghtly floure By vertuous actes surmount in honoure All other princes whose herte was lybarde lyke And without fere were he hole or syke This prynce was slowe to all maner of stryfe Discrete wyse and trewe of hys worde In armys a geaunt terme of all hys lyfe Excellyng actes doyng by dynt of the sworde Subduyd the proude of prudence he bare the horde Of Flaunders by fate he had great amyte And Walshe and Scottes by strength subdued he Thys good kyng perelesse hys landes fermly gyded what nature myght gyue he fayled it nothynge No parte of bounte frō hys was discided He was iustice and peace of law stablysshynge And chaser of iniquyte by hys vertuous lyuyng In whome these graces with innumerable mo Fermly were roted that deth hath tane vs fro That whylom was a kyng now is but duste bone All glorie is fallen thys pytte kepeth the kynge But he that yeldeth all thyng by hys one The sonne of god to whome aboue all thynge with herte and mouth he dyd due worshyppyng That lorde of hys ioy perdurable to laste Graunt hym sorowlesse euermore to taste PHylyp the .iiii. of that name sonne of the thyrde Phylyp whyche was surnamed Philyple Beawe or Phylyp the fayre begā hys reygne ouer y e realme of Fraunce in the yere of grace M.CC.lxxxvi the .viii. yere of y e fyrste Edwarde thā kyng of Englād Thys for warre that he had with the duke of Gelderlande arreryd greate imposycyons thorugh hys lāde both of the spyrytualtye and also of the tēporaltye About the .iiii. yere of hys reygne the prynce of Salerne that long had ben holden in pryson by the kynge of Aragon was delyuered vpon a hard condycyon as foloweth fyrst that he shuld to the vttermoost of hys power labour a concorde and peas betwene the chyrch of Rome and the Aragōs that done to set a peas betwene the Frenche kyng hym And ouer that to paye in the ende of .xv. monethes nexte ensuynge an C.M. Floryns for hys raunsome A Floryn is in value after sterlyng money .ii. s. x. d so he shuld pay after y e value of englisshe money .xvii. M. .v. C. li. And y ◠after that day he shuld neuer bere armys agayne the kyng of Aragō And yf within the terme of .iii. yeres nexte ensuyng he myght nat conclude the foresayd peas she shuld then retourn and yelde hym selfe prysoner as he before was All whyche couenauntes fermely to be holden he fyrst made solempne o the after delyuered to the kynge certayne hostages and so departed But thys composycyon or agrement was thoughte so vnresonable vnto hys frendes that he was counsayled by them that he shuld sue vnto the pope for a dyspensacyon of hys othe y ◠had they wolde helpe hym to recouer hys foresayd hostages After whose coūsayl he y ◠yere folowyng made suche labour vnto Honorius y e iiii of y e name thā pope that he alonely opteyned nat soluciō of hys othe but also by hī he was declared kyng of Scicill of pope Nycholas y e .iiii successoure of the foresayd Honorius after confermyd Thys prynce of Salerne as ye before haue herde in y e storye of Phylyp the thyrde
of the Scottes by y e vntrouth treason of y e fornamed syr Andrew erle of Carleyl or Cardoyll sent a knyghte named syr Antony Lucy for to arest the sayd erle to brynge hym safely vnto y e kyngê preseÌ„ce The which syr Antony sped hym in suche wyse that vpon the daye of saynt Chadde or y e seconde daye of Marche the sayde erle was taken and so kepte in pryson loÌ„ge after tyl Octobre folowyng at whych seasoÌ„ as affermeth Geffrey of Monmouthe at Cardoyll in walys the sayd syr Andrew was arregned conuyete that he had takeÌ„ money of the Scottes to betray y e kyng hys naturall lorde For the whyche treason he was there or after other at westchester or at Shrowysbury drawen haÌ„ged and hys hede sente after to London and sette vpon the brydge In thys yere the warre begaÌ„ to Que kyn in Guyan betwene the Englissh men and the FreÌ„che wherof the occasyon was as sayth the Frenche boke for a bastyle or fortresse made by the lord of Mount Pesayne or Pesart a lord of Gascoyne vpon the Frenche kynges grounde as the Frenchemen sayd But the Gascoynes Englissh men iustyfyed it to be within the terrytorye of Guyan For thys fyrst began great wordes and after Maâ—asses But lastly mortall warre So y t the Gascoynes wyth ayde of y e kyngê stewarde of Englande slewe many Frenchemen that came to ouerturne the sayde bastyle whan Charles the v. or charles the fayre whych at that daye was kynge of Fraunce herde of the ouerthrow of the FrenchemeÌ„ and howe the Gascoynes fortyfyed the foresayd Bastyle within hys fygnory as he was enfourmed he sente in all spede wyth a stronge hoste hys vncle Charles de Ualoys the which made sharpe and cruell warre vpon the Gascoynys and wanne frome theym the townes of Angeou and Amyas wyth other and in processe came vnto the towne or cytye of Ryoll and laye hys syege vnto the same But the Englysshe wyth the Gascoynes issued out of the towne and gaue batayll vnto the Frenche men and put theym to the worse slewe vppon fourtene hundreth of theym Amonge the whyche a lord called the lorde of saynt Florentyne wyth other noble men of Fraunce were slayne the other constrayned to lye forther from the towne Nowe be it in conclusion the sayd towne by apoyntement was yelden to y e FreÌ„ch men vpon condycyon that all suche Englysshemen as were within that town shuld go frely with theyr good to Burdeaux or if they wold remayn there styll theÌ„ to be sworne to y e FreÌ„ch kyng and to dwell there as Frenche men After whych towne so yelden syr Edmunde of woodstoke y e kyngê brother than beyng at Burdeaux as the kynges deputye made suche resistens agayne the sayd Charles de Ualoys that a trewce was taken for y e yere Than about mydlent the kyng hauyng knowlege of thys warre in Guyan and how the Frenche kynge entended to sease all Gascoyne and Guyan for brekyng of certayn couenauntes before tyme betwene theym made nat by kynge Edwarde parfourmed sent ouer the quene hys wyfe the Frenche kynges syster to cutreate a concorde peace betwene theÌ„ And in the beginnyng of August folowynge syr Roger Mortymer of wygmore by meane of a slepynge poyson or drynke that he gaue vnto his kepers as the comon fame went escaped out of the toure of London and went to the quene into Fraunce And soone after were taken within y e castell of wallyngforde syr Iohan Goldyngton and syr Edmunde of y e Beche the which syr IohnÌ„ was sent vnto yorke there haÌ„ged and draweÌ„ for the barons quarell and hys hede sent vnto LondoÌ„ brydge And about the feast of y e natyuytie of our Lady the kyng sent ouer syr Edwarde hys sonne into FrauÌ„ce for to do homage vnto the Frenche kynge for y e duchie of Guyan whome the Frenche kyng Phylip le Beawe receyued ioyously caused hym to tary with the quene hys mother in the countre of PoÌ„tyen lenger than kynge Edwarde was pleased Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxiiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxv  Benet of Fulham  Hamon Chyckwell  Anno .xviii.  IohnÌ„ Canston  IN thys .xviii. yere kynge Edwarde beynge enfourmed that the Frenche kynge had gyuen vnto syr Edwarde his sonne the duchye of Guyan coÌ„trary hys mynde and pleasure that also the quene hys wyfe nor the sayde syr Edwarde made no spede into Englande nat wythstandyng hys often sendyng for theÌ„ was with hys sayd wyfe soÌ„ne greuously dyspleased in so moche that proclamacyons were made at London in y e moneth of Decembre y t yf the quene and her sonne entred nat the lande by the octauys of the Epyphany of our Lord next folowyng in peasyble wyse that they shuld be takeÌ„ for enemyes to the kyng hys realme of Englande But for the quene fered the trecherye of the SpeÌ„sers and other y t were nere vnto the kynge she abode styll in Fraunce wherfore kyng Edwarde after the expyracyon of y e foresayd day caused to be seased all such laÌ„des as to hys sayd wyfe and sonne belonged and the profyttes of them toke to hys owne vse when this rumour was knoweÌ„ through the more parte of Englande dyuerse men of name of the landes as syr wyllyam Trussell syr IohnÌ„ Cromewell wyth dyuerse other departed secretely out of Englande and saylled vnto the quene whan kynge Edwarde was ware of thys he sent vnto the FreÌ„ch kyng so sharpe and sore letters that he monysshed the quene out of hys lande and wolde nother ayde hys nor hyr company but as sayth IohnÌ„ Froyzarde y t made a compendyous werke in Frenche of the hole lyfe or story of the thyrde Edwarde and therwyth expressed many other storyes and cronycles as of Fraunce Flaunders other regions at thys tyme when y e quene was thus monisshed to auoyd out of FrauÌ„ce syr IohnÌ„ de Henawde brother to the erle of Henawde a maÌ„ of great fame was then in the FreÌ„che kynges court The whych hauynge coÌ„passyon of the quene of hyr yoÌ„ge sonne requyred her to go with hym vnto hys brothers court foresayde wherof the quene beyng fayne grauÌ„ted vnto hys request and spedde hyr thyther shortly after where she with hyr company was ioyously honorably receyued In the tyme season y t the quene with hyr sonne lay thus in the court or countrey of the erle of Henawde by meanes of suche as were about hyr a maryage was coÌ„cluded betwene syr Edwarde hyr sonne and Philip the sayd erles doughter vpoÌ„ certayne condyâ—â—oÌ„s wherof one was that the sayd erle shuld at his propre costes set ouer into Englande y e sayd syr Edward with a crew of CCCC men of armys For the whych prouysyon was made with all dylygence Of thys the fame sprange shortly in Englande wherfore the kynge in all haste made prouysyon to haue y e hauyns the portes of hys laÌ„de surely kept for to resyste the landyng of
Robert was capytayne and so contynued in doynge domage in dyuerse places aswell nere vnto Parys as elles where Durynge whyche warre thus made by the kynge of Nauerne and hys accessaries in the moneth of Septembre and begynnynge of the ix yere of kynge IohnÌ„ the foresayde syr IohnÌ„ de Piquegny layd his siege vnto the cytye of Amyas waÌ„ within the bulwerkes of the same so that the cytye was lyke to haue ben yeldeÌ„ vnto hym ne had ben the rescous of the erle of saynt Poule which draue the sayd IohnÌ„ hys people a backe But the sayd syr IohnÌ„ wyth ayde of the EnglysshemeÌ„ quytte hym so maÌ„fully that he had the domynyoÌ„ of all that couÌ„trey of beawuasyne so that wyne nor no marchaundyse myghte passe to Tournay nor other townes therabout without hys saufe coÌ„duyt or lyceÌ„ce And in lyke maner syr Robert knolles capytayne of the Englisshemen in Brytayne gatte there many holdes townes whyche I passe ouer Upon the .xxv. day of Octobre dyuers of the burgeysys rulers of the cytye of Parys as IohnÌ„ Guyffarde Nycholas Poret other to the nouÌ„bre of .xix. persones by the coÌ„maundement of the regeÌ„t were arested sent vnto pryson and so remayned by the space of .iiii. dayes wherfore the freÌ„des of the sayd prysoners yode vnto the prouoste of the marchauÌ„tes than named IohnÌ„ Culdoe and requyred hym to make labour with other vnto the regent than beyng at Louure for the delyuery of theyr freÌ„des or at the lest to knowe the cause of theyr inprysonement whyche requeste y e prouost and other executed It was answered to them by the regeÌ„t that vppon the morowe he wolde be at theyr commoÌ„ halle where before the comynaltye y t cause of theyr inprysonement shulde be shewed And yf than the cytezyns thoughte good to haue them sette at large he wolde therwyth holde hym contented At whyche houre apoynted the regente came vnto the sayde halle and there shewed that one named IohnÌ„ Damyens whyche hadde maryed the doughter of IohnÌ„ Restable one of the sayd prysoners hadde caused hys sayd father the other y t they had allyed theym with the kyng of Nauern coÌ„trary theyr allegeauÌ„ce wherfore he thought they had deserued to dye But for the fauoure that he owed vnto the cytye to them for they were of good substauÌ„ce he wold nat do any thynge to theym tyll they were enquered of by theyr neyghbours After the whyche declaracion thus made by the regeÌ„t euery man fered to speke any more for theym but suffered the lawe to haue hys course Howe be it in the ende they were acquyted of that treason and fynally delyuered by the ende of the nexte moneth UppoÌ„ the thyrde daye of DeceÌ„bre entred into Parys the cardinalles of Pierregort of Urgell to treate a coÌ„corde and peace betwene the regente the kyng of Nauerne But in coÌ„clusyon nothynge they sped of that they came for wherefore they retourned vnto Auynyon In whyche retourne they were robbed of great substauÌ„ce wherof Englyshmen bare the disclauÌ„der And thus thys grudge haÌ„gynge betwene the kyng the regeÌ„t many robberyes other harmes were done vnto dyuers townes in FrauÌ„ce to y e greate enpouerysshynge of the peple of that lande and to the greate enrychynge of suche EnglyshemeÌ„ as thaÌ„ were there abydynge in dayely warres bothe wyth the kynge of Nauerne also in Brytayne For shortely after thys the foresayde syr Roberte Knolles and other Englysshemen wanne the towne of Ancer and other lyke as in the thre and thyrty yere of kynge Edwarde is before more at lengthe declared In y e moneth of May .xix. day of the same y e regeÌ„t for tydynges which he had receyued from hys father out of England by the reporte of y e archebysshop of SeÌ„s other asseÌ„bled many of y e good townes at Paris But y e ways were so stopped by meÌ„ of warre he was fayne to tary tyll the .xxv. day of the sayd moneth folowynge At whyche season was shewed to y e people there assembled that the kyng of Englande to haue a fynall concorde with y e kyng of Fraunce wolde haue ouer and aboue hys raunsome y e duchy of Normandy y e duchy of GuyaÌ„ the duchy of Exanctes the cytye of Ageu the cytye of Carbe the cytye of Pierregort the cytye of Lymoges y e cytye of Caours with all the dyoces of the sayde cytyes beloÌ„gyng the erledomes of Bygorre of Poytyers of Aniowe and of Mayne of Thorayn of Bouloyne of Guynys of PouÌ„tesses or Pountyeu y e townes of MouÌ„struell of Calays of Marquet with all appertenauntes to the sayde duchys erledomes cytyes and townes belongynge them to enioye and holde wythout feawte or homage for them doynge with many other thynges to the kyng of Englandes great aduauntage whyche tydynges were ryght dyspleasaunt vnto all that coÌ„pany in so moch that they answered that the sayd treaty was neyther honorable nor profytable And rather thaÌ„ the kyng shuld bynde hym hys lande to suche inconuenience they wolde prepare to make sharpe warre agayne Englande wyth whyche answere the sayde assemble was dyssolued Upon the .xxviii. day of May the regent reassembled the sayde people where it was condyscended that the nobles of the realme with a certayne persones euery man after hys astate shuld serue the regent in hys warres by y e space of a moneth at theyr owne propre costes And the cytye of Parys grauÌ„ted to fynde to hym at theyr charge .vi. C. speres iiii C. archers a M. of other sowdyours And for so moche as y e other good townes wold nat grauÌ„t any subsydie tyll they had spokeÌ„ with theyr coÌ„mynaltyes therfore they were liceÌ„ced to deê‘te home and to brynge reporte agayn within xiiii dayes At whych season they shewed vnto y e regent y t theyr countreys were so pylled wasted by the kynge of Nauerne and Englyshemen y t the people myght nothyng ayde hym as they thought to haue done wherfore with moche payne they grauÌ„ted to hiÌ„ viii M. meÌ„ for .iii. monethes In the begynnyng of the moneth of Iuny y e regent with a stronge power sped hym towarde MeleoÌ„ where the kynge of Nauerne laye with hys people so that the kyng occupied the couÌ„trey toward Byeir and y e regent y â— couÌ„trey towarde Brye where both hostes thus lyenge withoute notary feate of warre a treatye of accorde was yet agayne moued at leÌ„gthe by agrement of y e Parysyens accorded moche lyke vnto the former accorde concluded at Parys So y t by mediacyoÌ„ of certayn teÌ„porall lordes of both hostes y t sayd princes agreed to mete at MeÌ„lane and there to coÌ„clude the sayd peace where about the .xx. daye of August wyth hostage delyuered vpon both partyes the sayd prynces mette after rode vnto Pountoyse where they were both lodged within the castell where bothe theyr couÌ„sayles were assygned to mete for the per fyghtyng of thys accorde But so it was y t for suche
whose requeste the sayd knyght ranne with hym in woodstoke parke certayne courses In the whyche were it wyth stroke or other myshap the sayd erle receyued there hys dethes wounde dyed shortly after In this yere also moneth of Iuny a bakers man berynge a basket full of horsebrede to serue hys maysters customers in Fletestrete whanne he came foreagayn the bysshop of Salysburyes place standynge in Salysbury aley a seruaunt of the bysshoppes starte vnto the basket and toke oute one of the louys And for the baker wolde agayne haue recouered hys horse lofe y e bysshoppes seruaūt wyth hys dagger brake the bakers hed Than came the inhabytauntes of the strete wolde haue broughte the yoman vnto warde for brekynge of the kynges peace But he was rescowed by hys felowes and so hadde vnto the bysshoppes palays whyche that daye stoode treasourer of Englande For this rescous the people beyng in a fury in greate multytude gathered aboute the palays and wolde haue entred parforce to haue set out the yoman Agayn whome the bysshoppes seruaūtes made resistēce so y t y e rumour grewe more and more And the peple of the cytye aswell suche as were of yll dysposycion as other encreased into a greate noumbre Fame of thys doyng thā sprāge to y e mayer which in all haste wyth dyuers aldermen the shyryues sped hym thyther to se the peace kepte dyd that he cowde to withdrawe the people But after y e mayer the offycers of the citie were comyn thyder the cōmons out of all partyes of the cytye drewe thyder in moche more multytude thanne they had before so that y e more they were in noumbre the worse they were to rule In so moche that they wold nat be satysfyed but they myghte haue y e yoman delyuered whose name was walter Romayne And for to brynge about theyr foly they made many assautes at the gates of y e sayd palays the bysshop hym selfe beynge than at wyndesore Lastly after many showtes lyftes at the gates made by dyscresciō of the mayre aldermen with other dyscrete comoners of the cytye the people was mynysshed and sente agayne euery mā to hys dwellynge all was set in quyet reste whan worde of this came vnto the bisshop in moch worse maner thā the thynge was in dede he gyuing light credēce without examinaciō made in the matter assocyat vnto hym mayster Arundell than archebisshop of yorke and chaūceler of Englāde so greuously enfourmed the kyng that he toke agayne the cytye ryght greuouse dyspleasure so that in all hast the mayre was sent for to the kynge At whose commyng was layd vnto his charge great heynous maters that he non otherwyse ruled the cytye but suffered the cytezyns to make suche assautes vppō the kynges hed offycers to the kynges great dyshonour ieopardy of suche great treasoure as he than had of the kynges ī his custody and kepynge And after broughte vnto the kynges presence of whome nat wythstādyng hys reasonable excuse before made he was of the kyng ryght sore blamed greuously sayde vnto Thā was the mayre the sheryues dyscharged of the rule of y e cytie the liberties of the same seased into the kynges hādes a knyghte of the court called syr Edward Dalīgryge a good man and fauourable to y e cytezeyns was made gouernoure of the cytye the .xxi. daye of Iune contynued in that offyce to the fyrste daye of Iuly next ensuyng At whych day beynge in the begynnynge of y e kynges .xvi. yere of hys reygne he was discharged syr Baldewyn Radyngton knyght putte in hys rome so cōtynued tyll the feest of Symōde Iude folowynge And for the more dyspleasure of the cytezyns all plees sutes kept before tyme in westmynster hall were than remoued holdē at yorke to the great noyaunce of all the lande whyche so contynued tyll Crystmas And in thys mayres yere also was a great trāslaciō of bisshoppes Thys dyspleasure thus hāgyng towarde the cytye the cytezyns made contynuall labour vnto the kynges grace by meanes of the quene and of doctour Grauysende than bysshope of London whych ought theyr especiall fauoures vnto the cytye By whose meanes the cytezeyns were restored vnto theyr lybertyes hadde licence to chose of them selfe a mayre two shyryues so that vppon saynt Mathewis daye folowynge they chose for shyryues Gylberte Manyfolde or Manfelde and Thomas Newyngton and vppon saynte Edwardes daye kynge and confessoure they chase for theyr mayre wyllyam Stondon Grocer whyche by the Lyeutenaunte of the towre were at that tyme admytted and sworne But yet the kynges dyspleasure was natte reconcyled nor the cytezeyns admytted vnto hys grace and fauoure Anno dn̄i M.CCC.xcii  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.xciii Grocer Gylbert Manfeylde  wyllyam Stondon  Anno. xvi  Thomas Newynghtyn  IN thys mayres yere and .xvi. yere of kynge Rycharde thys newe mayre wyth the worthyest men of the cytye made assyduat daylye meanes vnto the kynges grace for to haue hys moste bounteouse pardō hys especyall fauoure vnto y e cytye The whych at lengthe by meanes of such frēdes as they purchased about the kyng specyally by laboure of y e good quene Anne and the fornamed bysshop of London they were put in good cōforte vpō theyr demeanour submyssion at the kynges commyng to Londō Upon whyche cōforte the cytyzyns made royall and costyous purueyaūce to receyue the kynge in theyr best maner hauynge monyssyon that the kyng entended to come vnto hys palays of westmynster apparayled them in one lyuerey to y e noumbre of .iiii. C. horsemen well be seen mette wyth hym vpon the heth on thys halfe hys manour of shene where in moste lowlye wyse accordynge to theyr dutyes they submytted them vnto hys grace besechynge hym of hys specyall grace pardon in all suche thynges as they before tymes had offended agayne hys hyghnesse And to y e entent that hys grace myght se the cōformyte of all hys other subiectes the recorder made instaūce to hym that he wolde of hys great bounte take so great peyne vppon hym as to ryde thorough hys chaumber of London The whych request he graciously accepted so helde on hys iournay tyll he came at Londō brydge where he was presēted wyth .ii. fayre stedes trapped in ryche cloth of golde partyd of redde and whyte The whyche present he thākefull receyued after helde on hys way tyll he came at the standarde in chepe the cytezyns of y e cytye stādynge vpō eyther syde of the stretes in theyr lyuereys and cryeng kyng Rycharde kyng Rychard and at theyr backes y e wyndowys wallys hanged wyth all ryche tapettes clothes of arasse in moste goodlye shewyng wyse And at the sayd standarde in chepe was ordeyned a sumptuouse stage in the whych were sette diuers personages in ryche apparel Amonge y t whych an An̄gell was ordeyned whyche set a ryche crowne of
Bathe of Salysbury of Norwyche of Ely of Rochestre the whiche so conueyed hym into the churche and there made his oblacyons And that done he toke agayne his stede at the west dore of Paules and so rode forth vnto westmynker where agayne he was of the abbot couent receyued with procession and by them coÌ„ueyed vnto saynt Edwardes shryne and there taryed a whyle Te deum was songe in the Quyer And that finysshed he was of his lordes conueyed vnto his palays And than the mayre with his cytezyns returned ioyusly to London Than vpon the saterday folowynge beynge the .xxiii. day of Februarii the mayre and aldermen yode vnto the kyng and presented hym with an hamper of golde therin a thousande pouÌ„de of fayre nobles for the whiche the kynge yelded vnto them louynge thankes This yere also by reason of y e sowdyours of Calays a restraynte was made there of the wolles for they were not coÌ„teÌ„t of theyr wages wherfore the regent of FrauÌ„ce beynge thaÌ„ Capytayne of Calays came downe thyder in the easter weke At whiche tyme beynge the wednesdaye in the sayde weke many sowdyoures were arested and put in warde And whan he had so done he rode to Tyrewyn there by the meanes of the bysshop of Tyrewyn he maried y e erle of saint Paules doughter and shortly after returned to Calays and caused the sayde sowdyours to be enquyred of and fynally .iiii. of them were demed to dye whiche .iiii. y t is to say Iohan Maddely Iohan Lundaye Thomas Palmer and Thomas Talbot were beheded at Calays the .xi. day of Iuny And an hundreth and .x. sowdyours were banysshed the towne ouer syr score banysshed before that tyme. And vpon mydsomer euen folowynge the sayd lorde regent with his newe spouse came vnto London and so taryed in Englande tyll the later ende of August Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xxxii  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xxxiii  Iohan Olney  Iohan Parneys Fysshmonger  Anno .xi.  Iohan Paâ—dystey  IN this .xi. yere after some wryters was by the auctoryte of pope MartynÌ„ the .v. of that name y e couÌ„sayl of Basyle gadered Duryng the whiche the heretykes of Prage otherwyse called of Bohemy or Beme were somoned thyder The whiche vnder a suertye or saufe coÌ„duyte sent thyder for theÌ„ with other an Englysshe Clerke named mayster Peter a renegate The whiche defended so styfly theyr erronyous opynyons that they returned without reconsylyacyon Thus haÌ„gynge this couÌ„sayll pope Martyn dyed for hym wâ—schosen Eugeny the fourth The whiche beyng admytted demeaned hym so nycely in the begynnynge that he was put out of Rome dyuers prynces toke partye agayne hym in suche wyse that he was lykely to be deposed But after he bare hym so sadly y t he recouered such as he had loste contynued the see by the space of .xvi. yeres and ruled so that of some wryters he is called Eugeniê° gloriosus And that is of relygyous men for vnto theym he hadde a specyall zele and fauoure And vpon the eyhgte day of Iuly kynge Henry this yere beganne his parlyamet at westmynster and so contynued it tyll it was Lammas and than it was aiourned vnto saynt Edwardes daye And this yere in the southe weste appered a sterre whiche was lyke to a blasynge sterre and of some it is so named The erle of HuntyngdonÌ„ also this yere was sente into Fraunce with a warly company and dyd ther great feates as saythe the Englyssh cronycle But of y t is nothynge towched in the Frenche boke Anno dnÌ„i M.iii. C.xxxiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.iii. C.xxxiiii  Thomas ChaltonÌ„  Iohan Brokley draper  Anno .xii.  Iohan Lynge  IN this .xii. yere and .ix. daye of Nouembre the terment of the erle of saynt Pawle father vnto the duchesse of Bedforde was solemply holdeÌ„ in Pawles churche of LondoÌ„ where the more partye of astates of this realme were present And the .ix. day of Marche folowynge the lorde Talbot with a goodly company passed thoroughe the cytye of London towarde the see into Fraunce where he wrought moche wo vnto y e FreÌ„ch men wherof the partyculers be not towched Contynuynge the foresayd warre in FrauÌ„ce the towne of saynt Denys which is within .ii. Englyssh myles of Parys was goten by treason or practyse of one named Iohan Notyce a knyght of OrleauÌ„ce from Mathew Gougth and Thomas Kyryell capytayns and slewe there many Englysshemen and many they toke prysoners But soone after the sayde capytaynes with strengthe taken to theym of the Parysyens and other layde suche a stronge syege rounde aboute the sayde towne of saynt Denys that fynally they agreed to redelyuer y e towne yf they were not rescowed of the Frenche kynge within fyftene dayes so that y e sayde dayes expyred it was retourned to the EnglysshemeÌ„ But this not with standynge the Frenchemen wanne dayly vpon the Englysshe men both in those partyes and also in NormaÌ„dy AmoÌ„g whiche gaynes y e FreÌ„che Gaguyne bryngeth in a matyer of game as he reherseth to y e mockage of Englysshemen and saythe that in this yere and feest of Myghelmas at a place called Fewgeri in Guyan a stronge fyghte was foughten bytwene the Englysshmen and the FreÌ„chemen Durynge the whiche one named Boosaprest a FreÌ„ch Knyght for fere fledde frome that fyghte and hydde hym in a couerte of busshes and there stoode styll tyll the fyghte was ended and the Englysshemen scomfyted and scared Of the whiche two of aduenture to sauegarde them selfe fledde to the sayd thycke busshe where the cowarde Frenche knyghte stode The whiche whan he hadde espyed and lerned of theym that the Frenche partye hadde wonne the felde he became so coragyous that he forced the sayde two Englysshemen to become his prysoners and so with theym entredde the hoste of the FrenchemeÌ„ and bare a countenauÌ„ce as he hadde wonne theym in the foresayd fyght But at lengthe whan all his demeanoure was knowen he was for his feate hadde in great derysyon and by his chefe capytayne named GuyllaÌ„ de saynt Albyne pryued of his prysones And in this season also the erle of Arundell whiche in Normandy had manly borne hym herynge that one Hyrus a Frenche capytayne hadde fortyfyed a stroÌ„ge castell named Gerborym before distroyed of Englysshe men toke with hym a certayn of sow dyoures and gyrde the castell with a stronge syege and assawted it by sondry tymes maÌ„fully as sayth the FreÌ„che cronycle But Gagwyne in his cronycle sayth that or the syege were fully layde or the castell were fully repayred the sayd Hyrus with his company yssued out of the castell gaue vnto y e sayd erle a cruell skyrmysshe in the whiche the sayde erle receyued a deedly wounde and dyed shortly after And that vyctory so by y e FreÌ„che men optayned that castell was to y e hurte of the Englysshemen reedyfyed and a place called DyeppÌ„ with other also wonne from them Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.xxxiiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.
as witnesseth Gaufryde was a Pict that was myche loued and greatly fauouryd of Constantyne so that he myghte at all tymes come to the kynges presence The whyche beyng an erraunt traytoure and sechynge conuenyent tyme to execute his detestable treason by a secrete meane slewe the kynge in his chamber when he hadde ben kyng after moste wryters tenne yeres THE LXXXI CHAPITER COnstantius sonne of Constantyne by meane of Uortigernus was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of our lorde foure hundred and .xliii. This as before is touched for so myche as his fader thought he was not very apt to take so great a charge as to gouerne the lande after hym became a relygious man in the monastery before named Or as some wryters meane the sayd Constante of pure deuocyon that he hadde to god and saynt Amphiabyl made hym selfe a monke vnwyttynge the kynge his fader and other his frendes But how or in what maner so euer he became a monke trouth it is that Uortigerus or Uortigernus after y e deth of Constantyne founde suche meanes that he was taken out of the abbey and crowned kynge of Brytayne By meane wherof the sayde Uortiger had all the rule of the land so that Constante hadde but onely the name This Uortyger then consyderynge the innocencye and myldenes of the kyng cast in his mynde how he myght be kynge hym selfe And amonge other meanes founde to haue aboute y e kynges persone an hundred Pictes or after some Scottes y e whych he ordeyned for a garde for the kynges persone which done he bare hym in such wyse agayne the Pictes by meanes of great gyftes otherwyse that they at length had Uortyger in such fauoure that they feryd not to saye openly that Uortyger was more worthy to be kyng theÌ„ Constant. In this whyle Uortyger gatte into his possessyon the kynges treasour and what was of hym coÌ„maunded was done though other therat murmured and grudge And euer in ryght and wronge he fauoured the foresayd Pictes or Scottes The whyche at length perceyuynge his corrupte mynde when they sawe that they had conuenyent tyme fyll vpon the kynge and hym slewe or murderyd After whych cruell dede by theym done they presentyd the hed of Constante vnto Uortiger then beyng at London wherof when he was ware to the ende that the Brytons shulde thynke that dede to be done agayne his mynde and wyll wepte made semblaunt of all sorowe and heuenes and causyd the sayde hundred knyghtes to be taken in all haste after and theym by dome and lawe of y e laÌ„d to be be heddyd by reason wherof he was taken not culpable or innocent of the kynges deth when the kynges deth was knowen to suche persones as hadde the kepyng of the two yonger bretherne Aurelius and Uter they in all haste for the more sauegarde of them fledde into lytell Brytayne there kept theym tyll yt pleasyd god ortherwyse to purueye for theym And thus as ye haue herd was kynge Constante slayne when he hadde reygned after moste wryters fyue yere THE LXXXII CHAPITER UOrtigernus duke of y e Iuesses or Uortigerê° erle of Iewesses after called westsaxons was made kynge of Brytayne in the yere of our lorde .iiii. hundred and .xlviii. and the .xviii. yere of Clodio kyng of FrauÌ„ce whych after y e deth of Constant by strength and otherwise was made kynge and ruled the land not all wythout trouble For yt was not longe or the Pictes whych hauyng knowlege of the deth and iudgemeÌ„t of theyr knightes and kynsmen that they inuaded the north partes of the lande doynge therin great harme and domage And ouer that many dyuerse of the great of the Brytons perceyuyng that the kyng Constant was not murderyd all wythout consent of the sayde Uortyger rebelled agayne hym and dayly sent and say led ouer into lytell Brytayne to the ayde and assystence of the foresayde chyldern of Constant whyche putte the sayde Uortiger to great vnrestfulnesse and the more for that that he wyst not nor knewe not in whom he myght putte his truste and confydence in wyth these perturbauÌ„ces was medled plenty of corne frute y t the lyke therof had not ben sene many yeres passyd wherwyth was ioyned lechery pestylence with many other incoÌ„ueniences so y e vice was accoÌ„pted for small or none offence The which reygned not onely in the temporalty but also in the spiritualtie hedes of the same So y e euery maÌ„ turned the poynt of his spere agaynst the trewe innocent man the coÌ„mons gaue them all to dronkeÌ„nes and ydelnes where thorough ensued fyghtynge stryfe and mych enuy Of which foresayd myschyues ensued mych mortalyte and deth of men that the lyuyng scantly suffysed in some countres to bury the dede And ouer this y e kyng was so hard beset with y e forenamed enymyes that he was coÌ„strayned as affermyth Policronica to sende for paynems as the SaxoÌ„s to helpe to withstand his enemyes and defende his lande and also he dayly ferid the landyng of Aurely and Uther Uortyger thus beynge beset wyth many aduersytyes in vysytynge hys lande and then beynge for dyuerse causes hym mouyng at Dorobernia or Caunterbury tydynges came to hym of the arryuynge of thre longe shyppes full of armed men at the yle of Tenet wherof fyrst he made countenaunce as though he hadde ben in doute whether it had ben the two brethern of Constant or none But wheÌ„ the same was blowen aboute y t they were none enymyes anon he caused the leders of them to be brought vnto his presence freynynge of theym the cause of theyr landyng of theyr nacyon and countre The whych answered vnto the kynge and sayd they were of the couÌ„tre of Germany and put out of theyr countre by a maner sorte or lot at soÌ„dry tymes vsed with in the sayde lande the whyche was vsed for so myche as the people therin encreasyd so faste that wythoute such prouysyon had the couÌ„tre shuld not suffyce for the people the whych was suche as foloweth At sondry tymes when the sayd couÌ„tre was replenyshed of people the prynces and rulers therof wolde assemble at a certayne place and call before theym the lusty yonge folkes Of the whych they wold chose out a certayne nomber and appoynte to them certayne dukes or leders with all thyng necessary to the warre And them so garnyshed wold coÌ„maunde to serche theyr adueÌ„ture to wynne some lande by theyr knyghthode where they myght inhabyte theÌ„selfe By whych vse custome thus longe vsyd now was fallen to theyr lotte to do as theyr fore faders had done before theym wherfore syns fortune had brought them to this land they besought the kyng that he wold take them to his seruyce they wold be redy to fyght for y e defence of him and his countre And when the kyng hadde enquyred farther he fouÌ„de that they had two leders named Hengistê° and Horsus and they and theyr people were called Saxons The
Of whych meruayle all the housholde was greatly astonyed and yeldyd thankynge vnto almyghty god and to that holy byshoppe Uppon the morowe this holy bysshoppe toke wyth hym the herdman yode vnto the presence of y e kynge axed of hym in sharpe wyse why that ouer nyght he hadde denyed to hym lodgynge wherwyth the kyng was so abasâ—hed that he hadde no power to gyue vnto the holy man answere Then saynt Germayne sayde to hym I charge the in the name of my lorde god that thou and thyne departe from this paleys and resygne yt the rule of thy lande to hym that is more worthy this rome then thou arte The whyche all thyng by power diuyne was obserued done and the sayde herdman by the holy byshoppes authoryte was sette into y e same dygnyte Of whom after descendyd all the kynges of Brytayne THE LXXXIIII CHAPITER THys story is also confermed of Antoninê° archebysshoppe of Florence and at lengthe by hym shewyd in the .xvii. chapyter and .ix. day of the seconde part of hys worke called SomÌ„ Antonini But by whoÌ„ so euer thys story was fyrste wryten I thynke he was none that discended of the walshmen nor yet of theyr blode For they come all of Pryamys blode and not of an herdman excepte that they fetche theyr lyne from Dauyd the holy kynge prophete Thys storye semeth to be of more fame then of credence For other wryters tell thys story to be done in the region of Powys by Buly theyr kynge And also for so mych as the foresayd authour maketh no mencyon of the more Brytayne nor of the lesse it is doutefull whyther thys happe fyll in that one regyon or in that other All be yt in the lyfe of saynte Germayne it ys redde that the sayde saynte Germayne deposyd Uortiger enhaunced the herdman as before is declared as affermeth Polycronica Then it foloweth in y e story when saynte Germayne hadde restoryd some parte of Brytayne to the trewe fayth he retourned into Fraunce fro whens he was before comen But in thys sayde sayenge shuld appere dyscorde in Cronycles For as at this day was not the fayth of Cryste receyued in Fraunce as after more clerely shall appere wherfore no bysshoppe of Crystes fayth myghte then kepe any see in Fraunce And also as affermeth Iacobus Phylyppus and other holy Remigius was the fyrst y t tourned FrauÌ„ce to Crystes relygyon and that after moste concorde of wryters to be in the yere of our lorde .iiii. hundred lxxx and .xix. and the .xv. yere of the reygne of Clodoueus Lewys fyrste Crysten kyng of y e realme of FrauÌ„ce Then to furnysshe or perfourme the story of Uortiger nedefull it is or necessary to retourne to the mater where we before lefte And to shewe that for so moche as the Brytons wythdrewe them from Uortyger he was therfore constrayned to holde wyth hym the Saxons By whose counsayle he after sent for Octa the sonne of Hengyst y e whych brought wyth hym an other company of Saxons when the lordes of Britayne sawe and consyderyd the greate multytude of Saxons and theyr dayly repayre into thys lande they assembled them togyder and shewed to the kyng the inconuenience and ieopardy that myght ensue to hym and hys lande by reason of the greate power of these straungers and aduertysed hym in aduoydyng of greter daunger to expelle and put them out of hys realme or the more parte of them But all was in vayne for Uortyger bare suche a mynde to the Saxons by reason of hys wyfe that he preferred the loue of them before the loue of hys owne naturall kynnesmen and frendes wherfore the Brytons of one wyll and mynde crowned for theyr kynge Uortimerus the eldest sonne of Uortyger and depryued hym of all kyngly dygnyte wheÌ„ he hadde reygned after moste concorde of hystoryes .xvi. yeres THE LXXXV CHAPITER MEroneus next of allie vnto Clodio last kyng of FrauÌ„ce for so mych as of Clodeo remayned none issue was made kyng of FrauÌ„ce in y e yere of our lorde .iiii. hundred and .l and the seconde yere yere of Uortiger than kynge of Brytayne The whyche was stronge and marcyall in all hys dedes and there vnto ryght profytable for the realme And amonge other notable dedes by hym done he slewe in one day of Hunes the whyche by the commaundement of Attiâ—a inuadyd dystroyed dyuers countres as Italy Germany and other an hundreth and lxxx thousande as is wytnessyd of mayster Robert Gagwine compyler and gaderer of the actes and dedes of Frenshmen Thys forenamed Attila was kynge of Hunes and led in one hoost .ii. hundred thousand men of warre as testyfyeth Policronica And after dyuers baytayles by hym wonne he came into y e feldes called Catulyntes the whyche conteyned an hundred legys in length and .lxx. in brede wherof euery lege conteyneth .iii. Englysshe myles In the whyche feldes or playnes he was encountred wyth the power of the Romaynes in whose ayde was y e kyng of Fraunce Meroneus the kynge or duke of Burgoyne and other where after a longe fyghte was slayne on bothe sydes the foresayde hundred and .lxxx. thousand Of the whyche nomber the sayde kynge or duke of Burgoyne was one as is more playnly shewed in the .xxxiii. chapiter in the .iiii. boke of the sayd Polycronicon wyth other wonders whyche I ouerpasse Of thys Meroneus dyscendyd all the kynges of Frensshemen tyll the tyme of Pepyn the whyche was father vnto Charles the greate or emperour And fynally dyed thys Meroneus when he had reygned after moste wryters .x. yeres leuynge after hym a sonne named Chylderych or Hylderych THE LXXXVI CHAPITER CHyldericus or Hildericus the sonne of Meroneus was ordeyned kyng of Fraunce in the yere of oure lorde god .iiii. hundred .lx the .xii. yere of Uortiger than kyng of Brytayne The whiche ensued no thynge the warres of hys father but allyed hym wyth all vyce and cruelnesse in suche exterme wyse that he became odyble vnto hys subiectes wherfore the said Childerich perceyuyng the murmur grudge among the people and ferynge hys sodayne distruccyon couÌ„sayled wyth a frend and lorde of hys named Guynomadus or Guynemeus by whose counsayle in auoydynge greater paryll he auoyded secretely hys lande and yode vnto the kynge of Thurynges named Besygne of whom he was ioyously receyued But the at departynge of the kynge from y e sayd Guynemeus he toke a pece of golde and brake it in two peces wherof y e one pece he delyuered vnto the kynge that other pece he kepte to hym self sayenge to the kynge that whan so euer that he receyued from hym that pece of golde that he shulde be sure to be restored agayne to hys regally and dygnyte After the kynge was departed his lande the Frenshmen of one assent chase for theyr gouernour and hed a Romayne named Gylf whyche at that daye hadde a parte of Gallia or Fraunce in hys rule to the behofe of the Romaynes whyche 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
saynte Cutbert of Durham About the .ix. yere of this kynges reygne the holy vyrgyne saynt Fredeswide dyed Of her yt is sayde for vylanye that to her shulde haue ben done by a kynge in Oxynford that kynges of England at the seasons syns haue sparyd to entre that towne for drede of myshappe who so wyll knowe the cyrcuÌ„staunce of the mater and the holynesse of her lyfe lette hym serche the workes of holy Gyldas where he shall be suffycyently informed Soone after thys tyme and season Colwolphus kynge of NorthuÌ„berlande when he had reygned .viii. yeres he resygned his domynyon to his cosyn Egbertus and was shorne a monke in the abbay of Geruy or after some wryters in the abbay of Lyndesar or holy ylande Thus for as mych as lytle is shewyd of the dedis of Cutbert kynge of westsaxons therfore I haue made the more rehersayll of other chynges done in his tyme. For of hym is nothynge lefte in wrytynge worthy to be remembryd or mynded sauynge that he often and many tymes made warre vppon Ethelwalde kynge of Mercia and spedde therin diuersly lastely dyed when he had reygned after moste wryters .xvi. yeres Francia THE CXLIX CHAPITER HIldericê° or Childericus y e second of that name sonne of Theodoricus began his reygne ouer the Frenshemen in y e yere of our lordes incarnacyon .vii. huÌ„dred and xl and the .xi. yere of Cutbertus then kynge of westsaxons Of the whych for his dulnesse and hys other enormytes in hym exercysed lytle or no thynge of his actes or dedes are put in memorye ye haue before in the story of Theodoryche harde of the puyssaunt and stronge dedys of Charlis Martell the whyche styll durynge his lyfe coÌ„tynued in great honour to the great suertye of the realme of FrauÌ„ce and to the great terrour and fere of theyr enymyes wherof to reherse all the cyrcumstaunce yt wolde occupye a longe tyme. wherfore shortely to conclude lastely after hys manyfolde trauayllys susteyned for the weale of the realme of Fraunce he dyed leuynge after hym thre sonnes that is to wytte Charlemayne Pepyn and Gryffon to the whyche he bequethed his possessions and goodes But for the yongest named Gryffon helde hym not contentyd wyth suche bequest as hys father to hym gaue he therfore made warre vppon hys other two bretherne The whyche behaued theym so wysely that wythout notable batayll they toke theyr sayde brother and putte hym in a safe kepynge And that done the sayde two bretherne assemblyd theyr knyghtes and spedde theym agayn Hanualde duke of Guyan then rebellyng agayn the crown of FrauÌ„ce The whych duke with the countrey they brought vnder theyr fyrste obeysaunce After the whyche victorye of the sayde couÌ„trey obteyned the sayd two bretherne spedde them to the cytye of Poytyers where they by aduyse of the nobles of the lande consyderynge the vnablenesse of Hilderyche y e kynge that he was vnsuffycyent to rule so great a charge dyuyded the lande of Fraunce betwene theym So that eyther of them shuld vnder the kynge rule and gouerne suche porcyon as then there was to them appoynted After the whyche porcyon Charlmayne herynge of the dyuysyon and stryfe amonge the Almaynes as thynge belongynge to hys charge spedde hym thyther in all haste And after a parte of that countrey wastyd and spoylyd and dyuerse of theyr stronge holdys caste playne wyth the erthe he brought theym to due subieccyon And soone after he went agayne the Bauarys y e whyche by his knyghtely strength he appeased in lykewyse In all whyche tyme and season Pepyn hys brother was occupyed in defendynge of the other partyes of Fraunce Then this foresayde Charlmayne steryd by dyuyne inspyracyon or as some authours meane as he before tyme hadde auowyd sodeynely renouncyd and gaue ouer all worldely prosperyte and domynyon and with pure deuocyon yode to Rome where of the pope then named zacharias he wyth all honour and ioy was receyuyd and of hym shorne a munke and dwelled a season in an abbaye of hym selfe buylded in the mounte Sarapte But for he sawe that dayly drewe to hym many great lordes of Fraunce by meane wherof he was lette from hys dyuyne seruyce and contemplacyon he therfore yode thens to the mounte Cassyne there endyd his naturall lyfe After whose thus departynge or gyuynge ouer of the sayde Charlemayne Pepyn as onely ruler toke vppon hym the charge of the hole realme In thys passe tyme Gryffon the yonger brother was enlargyd from prysone and by fauoure of hys bretherne was assygned to suche possessyons as to hym was demed suffycyent to lede an honorable lyfe How be yt when he sawe that hys brother Pepyn hadde all the rule and he nothynge he dysdayned hys sayde brother and thoughte no lenger to contynue in that maner but to be partener of the rule of the lande as Charlemayne hys brother hadde ben And this to brynge to hys purpose he fledde vnto the Saxons whyche as after shall appere were named Normans And with the prynce of theym made alyaunce so that wyth theyr ayde he mouyd warre agayne his brother and assembled a stronge hoste wherof Pepyn beynge warnyd gaderyd hys people and passynge thorow came to the ryuer of Sunaha or after the latyne tonge Smussaha and Gryffon sped hym tyll he came to a ryuer called Onacre wheÌ„ these .ii. hostes were thus nere meanes of treatye were soughte on both partyes Durynge whych communycacyon Gryffon hauynge susspeccyon to the Saxons that were on his parte leste they wold betraye hym and yelde hym into the handes of his brother made for that tyme a sleyght agrement and shortly after departyd from the sayd SaxoÌ„s and fled to the Bauarys or into Bayon where he allyeng hym wyth dyuerse nobles and barons of Fraunce vexyd and distourbed sore the duke and lorde of that countrey called Tassylon and lastly dysceasyd hym of that lordshyppe wherof Pepyn beynge warned spedde hym thyther wyth great strength and so bare hym that he had the better of his brother and restoryd the sayd Tassylon vnto his right after retourned into FrauÌ„ce ledynge wyth hym his brother Gryffon as his prysoner But ye was not long after that by medyatours the sayde Gryffon was reconcilyd to his brother And for he shuld be coÌ„tent haue no more cause to vary with his broder there was assygned to hym as wytnessyth y e freÌ„ch cronicle and other xii erldomes with in the realme of Fraunce wyth the whyche bounteous gyfte he not beynge coÌ„tente the selfe same yere fled vnto y e duke of Guyan named Gayffer and wyth hym newly conspyred agayne his sayde brother But lastely he was there slayne as after shall appere Pepyn then consyderynge in hys mynde in what daunger and trouble hys father before hym had ruled the lande he now for his tyme in lyke agony and trouble and the kynge to whome belonged all the charge kepte hys paleys folowed all his delytes and pleasures wythoute takynge of any payne wherfore consyderynge
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
so into Italy towarde Rome But Lewys hys brother and kynge of Germanye beynge therof warnyd sent in all haste hys sonne Lewys wyth a stronge hoste to lette hys passage But how it was for fere or other meane the sayd Lewys yeldyd hym to hys vncle Charlys the Ballyd wherewith the father beyng greuously dyspleasyd sent hys seconde sonne namyd Charlō to withstande the passage of the sayd Charlys But thys for fere or other cause that he sawe that he myghte not preuayle agayne hys vncle retornyd hym agayne to hys father After whose retorne he for so mych as the sayd Lewys kyng of Germany well perceyued that hys brother Charlys was paste his daunger he than with a more nomber ioyned vnto his sonnes hoste entryd y e londe of Fraūce in domagynge it to the vttermoste of hys power In whyche season Charlys the Ballyd kepte on his iourney toward Rome wherof heryng the .viii. Iohn̄ than pope sent agayne hym certayn persones of honoure and welcomyd hym as Augustus or emperour And after hys comynge thyther the sayde pope receyued hym wyth greate reuerence and crowned hym wyth the imperyall dyademe and denouncyd hym as emperoure THE CLXV CHAPITER CHarlys y e Ballyd thus beyng authorysed for emperour exersyd hym for a tyme for the nedys of the chyrche of Rome after toke hys leue of the pope retorned vnto Papye a cytye of Italy where he callynge a generall counceyle of the lordes of the empire other he by theyr aduyses prouyded and ordered dyuerse thynges for the weale of y e sayd empyre And ouer that by theyr agrementes he ordeyned for hys lyeu tenaunt or debyte of the sayde empyre in hys absence a noble man brother to hys wyfe recent named Besonne or Beson and assygned to hym such people as was thought necessarye and conuenyent whan Charlys had sped hys nedys in Papye he hyed hym into Fraunce But or he came wythin the terrytory therof word was brought to hym that hys brother Lewys was retorned into hys owne countreye wythout greate domage done to the realme of Fraunce In processe the emperoure came to Parys where he was receyued of the cytesens wyth moste tryumphe ioye and kepte hys Eester tyde at saynte Denys It was not longe after that Charlys was thus returnyd into Fraūce but that he receyued messengers frō hys brother kynge of Germany the which in his name claymed his part of the empyre as hys ryghte and enherytaunce whiche answere for that tyme was deferryd with pleasaunte wordes so that at the nexte worde y t he hadde from his sayd brother was that he was dede and buryed in the chyrche of saynte Nazer in Frankeborught wherof whā Charlys was ascerteyned anone he yode vnto Foūtenays and sent hys messengers to the lordes of the countrey commaūdynge them that they shulde meete hym at the cytye of Mettes Thys foresayd Lewys lefte after hym two sonnes named Lewys and Charlon as before is towched the whych deuyded bytwene them theyr fathers patrymony so that Lewys had Germany and Charlon hadde Bayon Thys Lewys ferynge hys vncle Charlys gaderyd to hym a stronge power of Saxons and of Thorynges And in the tyme of theyr assemble he sent an ambassade of certeyne byshhoppes temporall lordes vnto hys vncle Charlys prayeng hym of hys loue and fauour wyth other requestes to hym made of the whyche they myghte purchase no graunte wherof whan they were retornyd he hauynge by them knowlege y e sayde Lewys incontinently wyth his hoste drewe nere vnto the Ryne But thys Lewys was not so couert ī his work and assemblynge of hys people but that hys vncle had therof wyttynge and purueyed hys people as faste vppon that other syde so that he wyth an hoste was redy to fyghte with the sayd Lewys whan Lewys was ware of y e great power that the emperour hadde assembled he made no haste to passe y e water but houed and caused his people to falle vnto prayer And Charlys also ferynge hys neuewe vnder a colour sent alegacyon of entreaty Durynge the whyche entreaty the emperour contrary to hys honoure led his peple by a secrete waye thynkyng to haue fallen vpon his neuew sodeynly and by that meane to haue dystressyd hym But Lewys beynge ware of hys vncles treason prouyded so for hys peple kepte them in suche araye that they receyued theyr foo men vpon theyr speres poyntes to theyr great damage For where the greate rayne and tedyousnesse of the harde and strayte wayes whych they hadde passyd hadde sore tyred and weryed them than the fresshe fyersnesse of theyr enemyes whyche they thoughte they shulde haue takē slepynge and vnpurueyed abasshed thē in such wyse that they were soone ouercomen and fled from the felde as shepe fle frō the wolfe By meane of the whych flyght great slaughter of them was made many nobles greate estates of Fraūce both slayne and taken prysoners and the emperoure hym selfe scapyd wyth greate daunger And of the prysoners that were takē they were so nere spoyled y t they were fayne to take vyne leues to couer wyth theyr secrete mēbres ye shall vnderstand y ◠thys warre bytwene the emperoure Charlys the Ballyd and hys brothers sonne Lewys was for the prouynce of Austracy or Lorayne the whyche somtyme belonged to the emperoure Lothayr and halfe brother to Charlys The whych countreye after thys batayle was by medyatours set in an order Than the emperoure wyth great trauayle came to a town called Tyguy And Lewys kepte hys waye to Dandonyquyke and from thens to Ayes the chapell In this whyle the Danes or Normans knowynge that Charlys was occupyed in the warre agayne hys neuewe apparayled them a stronge hoste and entred ofte the landes of Fraunce But for Charlys was at y e tyme letted wyth chargeable busynesse he therfore sent a noble man agayne them called Comarde vnto the ryuer of Sayne to wythstande the sayde enemyes And also to hym was gyuen counceyle to haue wyth them cōmunicacyon to make a peace yf he myghte And to thys trouble immedyatly was ioyned another For ī this tyme and season a cytye belongyng to the chyrch of Rome rebellyd wherfore to wythstand theyr malyce the pope than beynge Iohn̄ the .viii. of that name sent messengers to Charlys for the defence of the sayd lōdes and other And soone after the pope for to haste the sayd emperoure or ellys to quyckē his deputye before named to assemble the Italyans and other people there adioynaūt came downe to the cytye of Papye taryed there the emperours comynge Charlys thā beset with trowbles assembled hys knyghtes sped hym towarde Italy And whan he was passyd the mountaynes worde was brought to hym of the popes beynge in Papy wherfore he sped hym thyder with all dylygence In thys tyme season Charlone the brother of Lewys and sonne of Lewys kynge of Germany whyche Charlone as before is shewyd was duke of Bayon or Bayory gaderyd a stronge hoste and
cytye of yorke and helde yt a certayne of tyme. Then the people of Northumberland varyed with in them self had more leuer ayde the Danys then to reygne vnder the kyng of westsaxōs For here is to be notyd that all such kynges as reygned there after Egbert whyche as before is sayde subdued that prouynce and other reygned as trybutaryes to the kynge of of westsaxons or Anglys wherfore Etheldredus herynge of the auauntage that the Danys then had assembled his people and sped hym thytherwarde and sente vnto the foresayd two kynges commaundynge them also to prepare theyr peple agayne hys cōmynge But howe yt was or the kynge came wyth hys hoste the Danys so prouokyd the Northumbres to batayll that they met in playne feld foughte a longe batayll But finally the Danys wan the pryce and slew both the foresayd kynges wyth a great multytude of theyr people After whych vyctory they subdued myche of the sayde countrey and destroyed y e town of Aklynt or Aclynd the whyche as testyfyeth Beda was somtime one of the strongest townes of the Northe when Etheldrede hadde preparyd all thynge for the warre and was purposyd towarde the North for cōsyderacyon aforesayde worde was brought vnto the sayde kynge Etheldrede of the dyscomfyture of the Northumbres and also of dyuerse of the sayde Danys wyth other that were comen to Mercia and hadde wonne the towne of Snotyngham or Notyngham whyche tydynges lettyd hym of his forth spedde in that iourney But thys sayenge is dysagreable vnto Policronicon For he sayth that the Northumbres were yet of theyr kynge Osbrutus or Osritus after some authours and chase vnto thē a tyraunt named Ella by meane wherof great dissensyon grew amōg them to the great hurte of the countrey But when the Danys hadde passed the countre and wonne the cytye of yorke that then was febly wallyd then by constraynte and of fere for the defence of theyr coūtrey they were fayne to agree and to gather strengthe on all sydes so that bothe the foresayde kynges went agayne the foresayd Danis and both were slayn After whych scomfyture the people as desolate some fledde the countrey and some made peace wyth the Danys and lyued vnder theyr tuycyon And so the Danys kepte the possessyon of that coūtrey in suche wyse that no Angle hadde rule therof tyll the time of Adelstone or Ethelstone or after some wryters tyl the tyme of Edredus so that they helde the possessyon therof ouer the terme of .lx. yeres Then the Danys beynge thus possessyd of the Northe countrey manned the same fortyfyed the stronge holdes therof And the other of them came downe into Mercia or myddell Englande and wanne a parte therof wyth the forsayde towne of Nothyngam and dwellyd there y e more parte of the yere folowynge wherfore kynge Etheldrede wyth ayde of Burdredus then kynge of Mercia layde seage vnto the towne The whyche when the Danys perceyued shulde be wonne they refusyd the towne and toke the towre or castell and defendyd yt in so stronge maner that they helde yt tyll a peas or apoyntement was concludyd betwene the two kynges and theym whyche was that they shulde go free where they wolde and carye wyth theym theyr horse and harnesse wythout any pyllage And whē this peace was thus made eyther of the kinges departed to theyr owne and the Danys retourned vnto yorke dwelled there the yere folowynge And the yere folowynge that sayde yere a parte of the sayde Danys takynge shyppynge in the Northe entendynge to sayle towarde eest Englande mette in the see wyth a flote of Danys wherof the captaynes or ledars were named Hynguoar Hubba The whyche by exhortacyon of the other commynge oute of the North made all one course and lastly landed in eest Englande or Norffolk and in processe of time came vnto Therforde Therof herynge Edmundus then kyng of that prouynce assembled an hoste that gaue vnto them batayll But Edmūde and his hoste was forsed to forsake y e feld the kyng with a few persones fledde vnto the castel of Framilynghā or Framyngeham whome the Danys pursued But he in short whyle after yelded hym selfe vnto the persecucyon of the Danys And for this blessyd man Edmunde wolde not renye or deny Cryste and hys lawys they therfore moste cruelly bonde him vnto a tree and causyd hym to be shot to deth and lastely causyd his hedde to be smytten from the body caste amonge the thycke of the bushes But when his frendes came after to burye this holy treasoure and lacked the hed and made for yt busy serche the hedde beyng in the clawys of a wylde wolfe spake sayde thre tymes dystynctely here here here By reason of whyche speche they came vnto y e place where the hedde in the sayde bestys kepyng laye whyche sayde wolfe contrarye to his kynde anon as he sawe the people fledde from the hedde and suffred theym to take yt vp and folowyd theym after a certayn of tyme as he hadde ben rame Then they wyth great solempnyte caryed the body and hed vnto Eglydon or Eglysdon now callyd saynte Edmundes bury and there buryed hym aboute the yere of our lorde as wytnessen Policronica Guydo and other viii hūdred .lxix as before it is shewyd in y e chapyter of this worke foure score .xiv for whom dayly god shewyd there many miracles THE CLXX CHAPITER WHan this blessyd Edmūde was thus martyred for the loue that he bare towarde his mayster Criste and his lawes his brother named Edwoldus settynge a parte the lykynge and pleasure of the worlde all be yt that to hym belongyd the ryght of that kyngdome toke vpon hym the habyte of an heremyte and lyued onely by brede and water at the abbay of Cern̄ in the countye of Dorset by the clere welle that saynt Austyne by his prayers made to sprynge when he conuertyd fyrst the Saxons of that prouynce to y e fayth of Cryste Of this said abbay of Cerū Policronica sayth y t it was after these dayes ryche and ryght welthy But the gouernours therof mysspent the patrymony therof in excesse glotony not amonge the seruauntes of god wherfore he sayth farther that couetyse and pryde hadde so chaūged all thyng in England in these days that all thynges that before tyme were gyuē to abbays were then more wasted in glotony and outrage of the owners then in sustenaunce and ayde of nedy men and of gestes or nedy waygoers Albe yt he sayth the fyrst doers or gyuer lose not they re rewarde For theyr wyll and entent is full euenly paysed in a balaunce before hym that is the rewarder of all good But though Treuysa y t was the translatoure of this boke of Polycronycon out of laten into our vulgare tunge reporte this to be done or thys mysorder to be vsyd in thys dayes whyche lyued in the tyme of that honorable prynce Edwarde the thyrde yf he now lyued he wold not in no gouernours of munkes
kynges subieccyon Henry archbyshoppe of Huntyngdon that wrote myche of the cronycles of Englande in prayse of thys noble woman Elfleda made dyuers dytyes of the whyche some ben expressyd as foloweth Cesers tryuÌ„phes were not so myche to prayse As was of Elfleda that sheldes so ofte dyd rayse Agayne her enymyes this noble ven queresse Uirago and made whose vertue can I not expresse WHen Edwarde hadde reconciled these foresayde townes he then buylded a new towne for agayn the olde towne of Nothyngham on the south syde of the ryuer of Trent and made a brydge ouer the sayd ryuer betwene the sayd .ii. twones And as wytnessyth Policronica the yere folowynge in the sayde towne or cytye of Notyngham two kinges that is to saye of Scotlande and walys yeldyd them vnto kynge Edwarde The cause why nor of warre betwene theym to be contynued is not of hym expressyd How be yt dyuers bokes of writers of cronycles of Englande as of Marianê° the Scot wyllam of Malmesbury Henry of Huntyngdon other yt is shewyd that this Edwarde subdued the kynges of Scotlande and of CuÌ„brys aboute the .ix. yere of hys reygne And of the sayde authours yt is also testifyed that about the .xx. yere of the reygne of the sayde Edwarde these sayde kynges of Scottes and Cumbrys shulde chose this kynge Edwarde for theyr chefe lord and patrone whyche shuld be about this season before expressyd Then this noble prynce Edwarde after these thynges set by hym in an order he in the northe ende of Mercia by the ryuer of Merce buylded a cytye or towne and named yt Thylwall and strengthyd yt wyth knyghtes And after repayred the cytye of Maynchester that sore was defaced with warre of y e Danys After which notable dedis by y e puyssaunt prynce fynyshed wyth the maryage of hys chylder and many other whyche I omytte and passe ouer for length of tyme fynally this noble man dyed when he hadde reygned wyth great trauayle by the terme of .xxiiii. yeres at Faryngdon and from thens conueyed to wynchester and there enteryd in the monastery of saynt Swythyne leuyng after hym dyuers sonnes as before is shewed of the which Ethelstane was eldest Francia THE CLXXXI CHAPITER CHarlys surnamed the symple sonne of Lewys the .iiii. or Ryen Fayzand began hys reygne ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon as wytnessyth Iacobê° Philippus and other .ix. hundred .iiii and the thyrde yere of Edwarde the elder than kynge of Englande In tyme of whose reygne the Danys whyche contynuelly ouer the terme of .l. wynters that is to saye from y e x. yere of Charlys the Ballyd somtyme kynge of Fraunce vnto y e sayd dayes had wasted and spoyled the lande not wythstandyng y e agrementes made bytwene Charlys the emperour and them as before in y e story of the .iiii. Lewys is shewed yet they wyth greate hostes aryued in the couÌ„tre of Neustria or Normandy robbed and spoyled the countre before them and slewe the people thereof wythout pytye and from cytye to cytye kepte on theyr iourney tyll they came vnto the cytye of Roan wherof the bysshop beynge in greate drede of subuersyon of the cytye and destruccyon of the crysten people wyth in the same delyuered the cytye by appoyntment that he wyth y e people myghte departe thens wythout bodely harme whyche vnto the sayde Danys was a greate strength and hurte to the lande of Fraunce Of thys hoste of Danys was ruler and leder a myscreaunt named Rollo the whyche was a man of lowe byrthe but he was of greate strength The whyche whan he had a season rested hym and hys hoste refresshed them wythin the cytye of Roan he than set forth hys waye coÌ„mauÌ„dyng hys vawnewarde to kepe theyr iourney towarde Parys And for y e more spede to be made he shypped hys Danis ryght there and one parte he sent by the ryuer of Sean the seconde by the ryuer of Lyger or Leyr and the thyrde by the water Geronde Than the Danys that passyd by the ryuer of Leyr came at length to the cyte of Nauntes and wan that cytye by strength and slewe therin moche people And the byshop of the same named Guymerte beynge at masse they slewe at the aulter And whan they had spoyled that cytye the countre there about than yode they to the cytye of Angiers brent and robbyd it most cruelly And that done they yode vnto Towres and layde syege to that cytye The which by the presens of the holy body of saynt Martyne whych at that tyme was wythin y e cytye it was a whyle preserued But soone after the munkes feryng the sworde of the Danys fled the cytye secretly and toke the body wyth them And soone after the Danes had the towne at theyr wyll and brent the abbay before the town or staÌ„dynge without the towne and spoyled and robbed the cytye townes thorough the countre of Guyan whan the Danys had thus subdued the more parte of Neustria or Normandy They wyth theyr duke Rollo by y e ryuer of SeynÌ„ drewe towarde Parys And fyrst entred the landes of Burgoyne and Auerne in effecte to Senons wherof heryng the monkes of the monastery of Flory where the body of saynte Benet than rested they toke that holy treasoure and bare it vnto Orlyaunce layde it in the chyrche of saynt Anyan tyll the persecucyon were ouer passed Of thys monastery was at that dayes lyuynge a defensour by promyse before made whose name in latyne is called Sigillosus in FreÌ„ch Sigillophes an erle whych was taken for patrone of the same abbaye To whom in the nyght folowynge that the monkes were fled as before is sayd saynt Benet appered blamed hym y t he none other wyse had defended y e place of hys Sepulture wyth whych visyon the sayd erle beynge feryd gaderyd vnto hym vpon the daye folowyng such small power as he than myghte make set vpon the Danys and draue them backe slewe of them a great nomber And y e prayes that he there wan he offered to god and saynte Benet by whose prayers he knewe well that he opteyned that vyctory In tyme y t the Danys thus persecuted the countre of Fraunce and the kynge was not of power them to resyst for so mych as Charles knew well that the bysshop of Roan named Franke was in good fauour of Rollo he therfore sent hym in ambassade to the sayd Rollo to requyre a trewe or trewse for thre monethes the whych was grauÌ„ted The which trewse ended the sayd Rollo beseged the cytye of Chartrys Duryng whiche syege the duke of Burgoyne named Richarde wyth hys retynue assayled the Danys In tyme of which fyght Ebalde erle of Poytowe was present and draue backe y e Danys wherwyth the bysshop of the cytye beynge encoraged toke wyth hym y e smocke of our lady whyche at those dayes was kepte there wyth greate reuerence and wyth the cytesyns other issued out of
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
kynge after hym To the whyche questyon was answered by Peter the kyngedome of Englyshemen is the kyngedome of god wherfore the kynges therof shall stande at goddes puruyaunce And also a nother doctour called Henry of Huntyngdon shewyd that an holy man warned Englyshe men y â— a lorde whyche they thought nothynge vppon shulde come out of Fraunce brynge them ryght lowe In the tyme also of thys Canutê° by agrement of many wryters fyll one thynge worthy mynde and memory In a town of Saxony named Calbis in y e dyocesys of Magburgh and parysshe of saynt Magii xviii men and .xv. women vppon the euen of the Natyuyte of our lorde began a daunce about the chyrche yarde of saynt Magu afore sayd the person or other prestes beyng than at masse wythin y e same chyrche which beyng troubled wyth the noyse of the mynstrellys also the dynne of the sayde men and women sent vnto them in monysshynge them to seace of that doynge But all was in vayne for they wolde not seace of theyr dysport for any commauÌ„dement y t to theÌ„ was gyuen wherwyth the preste beynge dyscontented that they none other wyse reuerenced y e sacrament noryed that solempne season besought god and saynte Magii that they shulde contynue theyr daunce by the space of an hole yere The whyche prayer was harde in suche wyse that they contynued the same songe daunce tyll that daye twelue monethes and neuer eate nor dranke nor rested theÌ„ in all y e season And moreouer dewe nor rayne fyll vppon them in all that yere nor garment nor no thyng that was about them was impayred shoo nor other At the yeres ende Horobertus archbysshop of that dyocesys came vnto y e sayde place and lowsed them of that bonde whych the preste had bounde them in and before the awlter of the chyrche them reconsyled Of the whyche a prestes doughter and two other dyed forth wyth and the remenaunt yode to reste and slepte by the space of .iii. dayes and iii. nyghtes folowynge where after some of them dyed and suche as lyued fell lame of theyr lymmes And one of the same .xviii. men beyng named Ubertus or Hupertus wrote thys wonder wyth hys owne hande for a more recorde of the trowth Then let vs retorne to Canutus of whom it is redde that after hys coÌ„myng from Rome he beganne somdele to presume in pryde set more by hym selfe than good wysdome wolde In tyme of whyche exaltacyoÌ„ of hys mynde he went vnto the Tamys syde and behelde howe the water swelled or flowed And so standynge nere the water the water touched hys fete Than he charged the water that he shuld flowe no hygher and that in no wyse he shulde to wche hys lordes clothes But the water kepte his course and wette at length the kynges thyes wherewyth y e kyng abasshed sterte backe and sayde all erthly kynges may know that theyr powers be vayne and that none is worthy to haue the name of a kynge but he that hath all thynges subiecte to hys hestes as here is shewed by worchynge of hys treature by thys water And for thys as wytnesseth Polycronycon and other he offered hys crowne to y e rode of wynchester and neuer bare it vpon his hed after It is also wytnessed of the sayde authour that Canutus maryed hys doughter hadde by hys laste wyfe vnto Henry sonne of Conradus the emperour the seconde of that name as also it is testyfyed of the authour of Cronica cronicarum And he repayred many monasteryes and specyally suche as before tyme were hurte or throwne downe in the tyme of hys fathers persecucyon And began and ended the monastery of saynt Edmundes Bury endowed it wyth ryche possessyons as before is towched And dyed fynally at Shaftesbury and was buryed at wynchester whan he hadde reygned .xix. yeres leuyng after hym two sonnes of hys wyues the eldest was named Harolde and the yonger Hardykynytus the whyche lyuyng hys fader was made kynge of Denmarke Francia THE CCVII. CHAPITER HEnry the sonne of Robert begaÌ„ hys domynyon ouer the French men in the yere of our lord M.xxix and the .x. yere of Canutus than kynge of Englande To the whyche Henry CoÌ„stantyne the moder was so vnkynde that she by her meanes wolde haue preferred her yonger sonne Roberte duke of Burgoyne to the rule of the lande before thys Henry so that by her meanes bothe cytyes and castels were wyth holden from hym and was by her suche other as toke her parte so ouer lad that he was forced to resorte to Robert than duke of Normandy for to aske helpe of hym to wythstande hys enemyes ye shall vnderstande that this Robert was the .vi. duke of Normandy and sonne of Richarde the seconde and also father vnto wyllyaÌ„ bastard that conquered Englande Thys Roberte was lyberall and noble of condycyon but defamed of y e deth of hys elder brother Rychard the thyrde For the whyche murder as wytnessyth dyuers authours the vii yere of hys dowchery he went to Iherusalem and dyd in that pylgre mage many honourable and liberall actes the whyche in good order ben remembred in the .xix. chapyter of the vi boke of Polycronicon This Robert receyued kyng Henry wyth all honour and gaue vnto hym greate and ryche gyftes sent for hys frendes and knyghtes so y e the kynge had by hys ayde a greate myghty hoste And retorned agayn into Fraunce and in short whyle after recouered from hys sayde moder bothe cytyes townes and castelles that she and her fautours from hym wythhelde And fynally agreed so wyth her that he and she contynued frendes theyr lyfe tymes enduryng After whyche accorde about the .v. yere of hys reygne he made warre vppon Eudo erle of Champayne vppon Baldewine erle of FlauÌ„ders and in processe of tyme wan froÌ„ them certayne cytyes and castelles the whyche Constance his moder hadde before tymes gyuen to them in tyme of dyscencyon In thys warre was slayne Eudo erle of Champayne wherfore hys .ii. sonnes Stephen Thybaud maynteyned the warre agayne the kynge but to theyr bothe harmes in y e ende For Stephen loste therby the cytyes of Chartres and towers and Thybaude y e cytyes of Troyes Maulx wyth other whan Henry hadde ended thys warre set hys lande in some quyetnesse he thaÌ„ buylded a monastery of saynt Martyne called Des ChaÌ„ps besyde Parys and set therin seculer prestes In thys passetyme Robert duke of Normandy moued in conscyence to vysyte the holy sepulture of oure lorde called before hym hys lordes of hys lande wyllynge and coÌ„maundynge them to owe theyr trewe allegaunce vnto hys yonger sonne wyllyam and to take hym for theyr lord and duke yf he retorne not agayne And to thys he caused to swere Robert than archbysshop of Roan with the other of hys lordes and after departed vppon the sayd iourney and dyed in the cytye of Bethenia as he was coÌ„mynge homewarde wherof y e lordes of Normandy beynge assertayned
abbot and to haue the rule of so holy a charge and so he gaue vnto hym that benefyce wythout takynge any peny Thys kynge wyllyam vsed alway lemmans wherfore he dyed without yssue legyttymat when he had reyned as before is sayde fully .xii. yeres and odde dayes THE CCXXVI CHAPITER HEnry the .iii. son of wyllyam Cōquerour fyrste of y t name whyche for his connynge was surnamed beuclerk began hys reygne and domynyon as kynge of Englande the .v. daye of August in the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred one and the .xliii. yere of the fyrste Phylyppe then kynge of Fraunce was crowned at westmynster ryght shortly after of Thomas archebyshoppe of yorke and Morys byshoppe of London This Henry in his youth plyed him to such studye that he was instructe in the .vii. artes lyberall Anon he made holy chyrche free vsed saynt Edwardes lawes wyth the amendemēt of them He put out of his courte nyce and wāton men and closed Ranulphe byshoppe of Durham in the towre of Lōdon y e which as ye before haue harde was so great wyth wyllyam his brother and sent for Anselme archebyshoppe of Caunterburye whyche before was fledde fro the tyranny of wyllyam Rufus This Henry chastysed the olde vntrewe mesure and made a yerde of y e length of hys owne arme wyth dyuers other thynges reformyng that longe before his days had ben mysse vsed and abhorred excesse of metys and drynkes vsed to fyght more wyth coūsayll then wyth sworde In the seconde yere of his reygne Robert hys brother that by all thys season hadde ben occupyed in warres vppon Cristes enymyes hauyng worde of the deth of hys brother wyllyam and howe his brother Henry hadde taken vpon hym as kynge returned into Normandy and there made preparacyon for to come into Englande In this season also was brokē out of pryson Ranulfe byshoppe of Durham and comen to the sayde Robert into Normandy The whych excyted duke Robert in all that he myght to warre vppon hys brother Henry so that he assembled a stronge armye of knyghtes and toke shyppynge and landed in processe of tyme at Portysmouth But by medyacyon a peace was made and that in suche condycion that he shuld haue .iii. thousand markes yerely as before was promysed vnto hym by willyam Rufus his brother wyth other condycyons of successyon and other thynges the whyche I ouerpasse for length of tyme. Thus Robert beynge contented contrary to the myndes of his lordes after he a season hadde dysported hym in Englande retourned into Normandy where of his lordes he was for thys other dedes before done as after is shewed lytle or lesse and lesse setby For all be yt that by hys fathers lyfe he hadde vyctorye and vtterly dyspleased hym as some deale before ys touched yet by hys manhode and manfull dedes he fell into the fauoure of the people and dyd many and great notable actes and specyally at the wynnyng of the cytye of Acon vppon the myscreauntes and turkes For the whyche dedes yt apperyth by the sequele of the storye that he was also in the fauour of god For when the eleccyon shuld be made for the kynge of Hierusalem and certayne prynces and prynces peeres by ordynaunce made stode wyth theyr tapers abydynge the dyuyne purueyaunce that whose taper were fyrst wyth heuenly fyre lyghtened shulde be admytted for kynge the taper of thys duke Robert was fyrste onely wherfore by dyuyne purueyaunce he was then chosen kynge of Hierusalem The whyche he refused for the payne and trauayle that he shuld haue wyth all also for the couetyse of the crowne of Englande For as soone as he hadde knowlege of the deth of his brother willyam anon he parted the coūtrey and sped hym homewarde in all that he myght For the whych dede as affermeth myne authour he spedde the worse in all his dedes after Thys Robert was wyse in counsayll stronge in batayll and also ryght lyberall and in hys retourne from Hierusalem maryed the doughter of wyllyam de Auersana lorde of Apulia wyth whome he receyued grete sōmes of money for her dower the whych by meane of his liberalyte he spent shortly after Then fortune beganne to frowne vppon duke Robert and sette his owne lordes so agayn hym that they sent vnto kyng Henry hys brother wyllynge hym to come into Normandye and they wolde delyuer the coūtrey vnto him and holde hym for theyr chefe lorde and ruler wherunto as sayth the englyshe cronycle kynge Henry soone cōsented But or euer thys warre betwene the sayde duke Robert kyng Henry beganne thys Henry maryed Mawde or Molde the doughter of Malcolyne kyng of Scotlande and of Margarete hys wyfe doughter of Edwarde the outlawe as in the begynnyng of wyllyam Conqueroure is thouched Of the whyche Molde thys Henry receyuyd after some wryters two sonnes and .ii. doughters y t is to saye wyllyam and Rycharde Mawde Mary And also the sayd authour wyth other saye that Robert duke of Normandye came into Englande in the fourth yere of the reygne of kynge Henry and hadde good chere of his brother and syster For the which he at the request of his sayde syster released to his brother y e forenamed trybute of .iii. thousand markes But by yll tale tellers couetous of signory this broderly loue was after dissolued in such wise that the kynge with a strong army sayled into Normandy and held his broder Robert with so sharpe warre that he chased hym from one countrey to another and wanne from hym Roan Caan Faloys and all the good townes of Normandye and lastely constrayned hym to aske helpe of Phylyppe kyng of Fraunce after of the erle of Flaūdres but he fayled helpe of them both Then wyth such power as he could make he gaue batayll vnto his brother kynge Henry In the whyche he was taken and sent ouer into England and put into the castell of Cardyffe in walys where he remayned as prisoner whyle he lyued And when he was dede he was buryed at Glowcester In this tyme and season as it were in y e .iii. yere of kyng Henry y e chyrch of saynt Barthelmew in Smythfeld of London was begonne to be founded of a mynstrell of this kyng Henry named Rayer and after perfourmed and ended by good and well disposed cytezens of the citye of Lōdon This place of Smythfelde was at y e day a lay stowe of al ordure or fylth and the place where felons and other transgressours of the kynges lawes were put to execucyon THE CCXXVII CHAPITER SO as kynge Henry hadde fynyshed his warre in Normandye was returned into Englande Robert de Bolesyn which was the eldest sonne of Roger de mount Gomeryk erle of Shrewesburye arose agayne the kynge and manned his castellys of Shrewesbury of Brugg◠of Arundell and of Tekynhyll and incoraged the walshmen agayne the kyng But the kyng pursued so cruelly the sayd Robert y t wythin .xl. days he wan all thoses castellis
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
The fyrste yere of hys reygne he subdued Irlande And soone after Thomas Beketh whyche after was byshoppe of Caunterbury was made chaunceller of Englonde This kynge caste downe dyuers castellys that before in tyme of kynge Stephan were buylded other for dyspleasure of the owners or ellys for the fere they shulde be strengthed agayne hym And also he banyshed many of the lordes and gentylmen that kynge Stephan hadde in hys fauoure Aboute the thyrde yere of hys reygne in the moneth of October were sene in the fyrmament two sunnys and in the mone was sene a redde crosse But of thys wonder sheweth the authoure of Cronica cronicaruÌ„ and sayth that aboute thys tyme in Italy in the moneth of Nouember appered thre sunnys by the space of thre owres in the weste and the yere folowynge appered thre monys whereof the myddle mone hadde a redde crosse ouerthwarte the face whyche there ys noted for a prodygy or a token of the scysme that after fell amonges the cardinallys for eleccyon of the pope AlexaÌ„der the thyrd whyche scysme by meane of the fyrste Frederyke then emperoure endured almoste .xx. yeres Also aboute this tyme Adryan the fourthe of that name was pope an Englysheman borne in the towne of saynte Albon of whome is more declared in the begynnynge of the .xxii. chapyter of the .vii. boke of Polycronycon Also in thys yere the kynge wente wyth a stronge armye into walys and after he hadde sette that countrey in an order and quyet he buyldyd a stronge castell at Rutlande and founded the abbaye of Basyngewerke In the .vi yere of hys reygne thys Henry maryed hys seconde son Henry vnto the kynges doughter of FrauÌ„ce that is to meane Lewys the viii whyche the sayde Lewys receyued of hys seconde wyfe named Constaunce the doughter of the kyng of Spayne as before ye haue harde in the seconde chapyter of y e story of the sayd Lewys This mayden was named Margaret By reason of whych maryage was appeased the warre that was begonne betwene Fraunce and Englande for the landes of Poyâ—owe and other the whyche kynge Henry helde by reason of hys wyfe In y e whych warre mych harme was done and more wolde haue ensued yf yt hadde not by thys meane haue ben agreed In the .vii. yere of his reygn Theobalde archbyshoppe of Caunterbury dyed and Thomas Beket chaunceller of Englande was archebysshoppe â–ª after hym of whome more shall folowe In the same yere kyng Henry with a stronge hoste yode to Scotlande and made so cruell warre vppon willyam kynge of that lande that lastely he was taken and dyd to the sayd Henry recompensacyon in yeldynge vnto hym the cytye of Carlell the castell of Bamburghe the newe castell vpon Tyne wyth dyuers other holdes and a great parte of Northumberlande the whyche he hadde wonne from the borderers And after fewtye and homage done by the sayde wyllyam vnto the kynge and a certayne summe of money by hym promysed wythin .ix. monethes folowynge the kynge suffred hym to go at large But an other authour sayth that the kynge of Scottys was not taken but strongely besyeged in a towne or castell so that fynally he was forced to agree to the foresayde couenauntes In the .viii. yere the cytye of CauÌ„terburye was fyred by neglygence a great part therof brente And in that season the archbyshoppe Thomas beganne to replye agayne y e kynges mynde for thynges that the kynge dyd exercyse agayn the liberties of the chyrche THE CCXXXVII CHAPITER IN the .ix. yere of hys reygne the kynge for dyuerse causes coÌ„cernyng y e nedes of his realme called a parliament at hys towne of Northampton Durynge whyche parlyament dyssencyon fell betwen the kynge and Thomas archbyshop of Caunterburye for dyuerse actes and ordinaunces that the kyng there procured to passe agayne the lybertyes of holy chyrch the whych Thomas gaynstode and denyed wherfore the kynge toke a great dyspleasure with Thomas in so myche that shortely after he was fayne to flee the lande and in processe of tyme spedde hym to Rome where he complayned hym to Alexaunder the .iii. of that name then pope and there contynued and in Fraunce and in other places in poore estate by terme of .vi. yeres and more when kynge Henry hadde certayne vnderstandynge that Thomas was thus departed out of hys lande he seased his maners and temporall landes into hys hande so that hys mouable goodes were spoyled and rauenyd amonge the kynges offycers In the .xiiii. yere of his reygne the kynge crowned Henry hys eldest sonne then lyuynge kynge of Englande at westmynster whyche was done to the derogacyon or harme of the archbyshoppe Thomas as yt is wytnessyd in hys legende and for that doynge Roger archbyshoppe of yorke whyche crowned hym was accursed But an other authour sayth that the kynge crowned Henry hys sonne to the ende he myght haue ful power and authoryte to rule thys lande and the people of the same whyle hys father was occupyed in Normandye and other countreys where hys landes laye In myche of thys season that thys blessyd man Thomas was thus banyshed the lande the kynge sente ouer byshoppes and proctours to complayne vppon hym to the pope for well nere all the bishoppes of Englande were agayne hym And yf any toke hys parte they durste not speke for the displeasure of theyr temporall lorde so that this blessed man defended the quarell of the chyrche alone In the .xvi. yere of y e reygne of kyng Henry Lewys the kynge of FrauÌ„ce agreed kynge Henry and the archbysshoppe the kynge then beynge in Normandye Uppon whyche agrement thys blessyd man came to hys owne chyrche of Caunterbury and there so restynge hym sente for such persones as had spoyled and taken perforce the goodes of the chyrche aduertysynge theym by fayre meanes to restore the sayde goodes and to be reconcyled to the chyrche as trewe crysten men shulde But when he sawe that he myght not reconcyle theym by fayre meanes he then vsed compulsaryes and denounced them accursed but if they restored the goodes of the chyrche by a certayne day wherewyth the partyes beynge agreued sayled ouer to the kynge into Normandye and shewyd vnto hym greuous complayntes and more greuouse then the cause or mater requyred For the whych the kynge which hadde not yet quenched the bronde of malyce in hys harte the whyche he bare agayne thys holy man gaue lyght credence vnto those complayntes and was sore ferueÌ„tly amoued agayne the holy man Thomas in so myche that vppon a daye herynge the complayntes of this blessyd mannes aduersaryes he sayd in oppeÌ„ audyence of hys knyghtes that yf he had any good knyghtes about hym he had ben adueÌ„ged of that traytour longe or that tyme. At the tyme of whyche wordes vtterynge was present syr wyllyam Bryton syr Hugh Moruyle syr wyllyam Tracy and syr Regnolde fytz Urle whych foure knyghtes thynkyng that they shuld to theyr mayster do a synguler pleasure yf they slewe thys blessyd man hastely takynge aduyse
of .x. thousande pounde for the exployte of his voyage And farther more he sold to the olde byshoppe of Durham hys owne prouynce for a great summe of money and creatyd hym erle of the same wherfore the kynge sayde after in game I am a wonders crafty man for I haue made a new erle of an old byshop By suche meanes the kyng emptyed many byshoppes and ryche prestys bagges and fylled hys cofers And ouer that he graunted oute annuytyes and fees oute of the crowne as though he roughte nothynge of hys retournynge For this dede some of hys famylyers as they durste blamed hym But he sayde to thē y t in tyme of nede it was good polycy for a man to ayde hym wyth his owne And more ouer he ioyned ther to that yf London were hys at that tyme of nede he wolde sell yt yf he myght gete a conuenyent marchaūt that for yt were able to paye An other waye he hadde also to gather money for he hadde lycence of pope Innocent the thyrd of that name to dyspence wyth suche as hym lyked wythin his realme for takyng vppon theym the crosse Anno domini M.C.xci.  Anno domini M.C.xcii  Iohn̄ Herlyon  Balliui  Anno secundo  Roger duke  IN the seconde yere in the moneth of October kynge Rycharde betoke the guydynge of the lande vnto the byshoppe of Ely then chaunceller of Englande and sayled into Normandye where settynge the coūtrey vnder sadde guydyng shortly after mette with the Frenche kyng Phylyp the second the whych ioyntly yode to Turon and there ouer passyd the shortnesse of wynter In whyche passe tyme makynge eyther wyth other assuraunce for contynuaunce of so great a iourney at the sprynge of y e yere these two princes toke theyr voyage towarde the holy lande that is to meane kyng Rycharde by y e see and knnge Phylyppe by the lande and appoynted to mete agayn in the land of Scicilia or Scycyll In this meane tyme in England the Iewes in dyuers places of y e realme as Lyncolne Staunforde and Lynne were robbed and spoyled and at yorke to the nomber of foure hundred mo cutte theyr mayster veynes and bled to deth The two kynges accordynge to theyr appoyntemēt met in Scycyll where grudge beganne to kyndle betwene theym for correccyon of theyr souldyours Then the French kyng departyd agayne from kynge Rycharde the whyche there made certayne ordynaunces for warre as a towre or castell of tymber whyche he named Mategryffons and also prouyded for vytayll for both hostes In thys tyme also the kynge of Cyprys hadde taken two shyppes of kynge Rycharde and denyed the delyuery of theym wherfore the sayde Rycharde entryd the land of Cypris makynge therin sharpe warre chasyd so the kynge from cytye to cytye that lastely he yelded him vnto kyng Rycharde vppon condicyon that he shulde not be throwen in bondes of iron wherof kynge Rycharde in kepynge of hys promyse caste hym in bondes of syluer when kynge Rycharde hadde dwellyd there vppon two monethes and hadde taken his pleasure of that coūtrey and taken amendes at his own wyll for hys shyppes then he departed from the sayde yle of Cypris and sayled towarde Acon or Acris In whyche course so kepynge towarde Acris he encountred a great shyppe of the Soudans of Sury fraughte wyth great ryches and toke yt and so came at length to y e cytye of Acris where at that tyme lay before y e sayd towne the Frenche kynge wyth hys hoste and had lost a lytle before two thousande of hys men whyche were partyd from hys hoste to haue done an enterpryse vppon the Turkes but they were layde for dystressed Then as testyfyeth Peter Dysroy kynge Rycharde was ioyously receyued of the Frenche kynge After whose commynge yt was not longe that the sayd cytye was gyuen vp by appoyntement as foloweth and as affermeth the sayde Peter and also the cronycle of Fraunce Fyrste that the Sarasyns shulde departe out of the cytye leuynge behynde theym horse harneys vytayll and all other thynge belongynge to warre Also they shulde cause to be restoryd all such prysoners of crystē men as they had vnder theyr kepyng wyth other couenauntes whyche I passe ouer And thus was the cytye of Acris yelden into the crysten mennes handes in the moneth of Auguste the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred .lxxx. and xii But when yt came to the partyng of the praye of the cytye there beganne malyce to kyndle hys bronde whych was not lyghtly after quenchyd Of thys varyance betwene these two kynges of England of Fraūce dyuers maners are shewyd For Polycronica sayth that yt beganne by reason that kynge Rycharde denyed vnto kynge Phylyp halfe hys wynnynges in Cypris accordyng to the couenauntis betwene theym assured at Turon But kyng Rychard sayd that the cōuencyon there made stretched no forther then to suche goodes as was wonne wythin the lymytes or boundes of the holy lande Another grudge was by reason that the French kyng ayded not y e erle of Champeyne beynge in dystresse of nede wherfore the sayde erle beynge discontent sayde to the Frēche kyng Syr hytherto I haue done accordynge to my dutye but hereafter I shall do as I am compellyd be nede For your grace hath hytherto cherysshed me but for myn but now I shal go to hym y t is more redy to gyue thē to take and so departed to kyng Rycharde of the whyche he had all hys pleasure The thyrde cause was as sayth Ranulph for as mych as kyng Rycharde at hys begynnyng in Scycyll maryed the syster of the kynge of Nauerne where before he hadde promysed to mary the syster of the sayde kynge Phylyppe But of these artycles speketh nothyng the french cronycle all be it he layeth greate defaute vnto kynge Rycharde sayeng in sedycyous and vyle wordys that kyng Rycharde falsly brake hys appoyntmentes and kepte no promesse that by hym was made Moreouer the sayd cronycle sayth that he solde the ile of Cyprys vnto the Templers for .xxx. thousande marke and after toke it agayne frō them by strength and delyuered it vnto Guy de Lesygnan that was the laste crystened kynge of Hierusalem And ouer this the sayde frenche cronycle sayth that he toke from a knyght of the duke of Ostrych the sayd dukes banner and in despyte of the sayde duke trade it vnderfote and dyd vnto it all the despyte he myghte And ouer all thys where as Conradus Markes of Tyre was traytorously slayn by two of his owne seruauntes that kyng Rycharde shulde laye the charge therof vnto the frenche kynge For these grudges and sykenesse wyth also fere of treason to be wrought bytwene Saladyne the Soudā and kynge Rycharde as affermeth or allegeth the foresayde authoure kynge Phylyppe wyth a small company of shyppes departed from Acō or Acris sayled to Puyll or Poyll and there restynge hym a season cōtynued hys iourney vnto Rome and so lastely into hys owne prouynce of Fraunce
sharpnes of Baldwyne had somdeale greued theym And though thys Baldwyne were a good man holy in his lyuynge yet one thyng he dyd to the derogacyon of the munkes of Caunterburye for he purposyd to put the prerogatiue of the eleccyon of the archbishoppe from the munkes And because therof he beganne to buylde great houses nere vnto the munkes chyrche by fauour of the kynge Henry the seconde but not wythout shedynge of blood and there entendyd to haue set in secular chanons with prebendys and suffraganes of bysshoppes for to treate wyth the sayde chanons of the foresayde eleccyon to put by the mūkes clerely But the munkes when they sawe they myght no lenger resyst Baldwyn they then appealed to the pope Innocent the thyrde by whose cōmaundemēt that worke ceasyd and so stode vnfynysshed tyll the sayde Baldwyne was dede After whose deth the munkes made that worke playne wyth the grounde Treuisa translatoure of Policronycon sayth yt was wonder that Baldwyn wolde in that maner deale wyth the munkes consyderyng he was fyrst archdeacon then white munke and then abbot after byshop of worceter and last archbysshoppe to brynge men of more imperfyte lyfe into y e place of men more perfyte to chaunge religyous men for seculer men But yet the sayde Treuisa allowyth Baldwynes dede or entent for good For he sayth that Criste was the hedde of holy chyrch and callid and made his apostles bysshoppes but none of them was munke or yet frere wherfore Baldwyne dyd better to preferre the relygyon whyche Cryste made then the relygyon whyche was instytuted and ordeyned by man Anno domini M.C.xcvii  Anno domini M.C.xcviii  Gerarde de Antiloche  Balliui  Anno .viii.  Robert Duraunt  IN in the moneth of Ianuary and .viii. yere of the reygne of kynge Rycharde when the sayde Rycharde had sufferyd harde prysonement vppon the terme of a yere and thre monethes he was deliuered out of Pryson for the summe of an hundred thousande pounde of sterlynge money For pledge wherof he lefte in the kepynge of the emperoure the bysshoppes of Roan and of Bathe But not for all for a great parte was payed or the kynge were delyueryd For payment of whyche raunsom all the wolle of whyte munkes chanons was taken and solde rynges and crosses of prelates wyth vessels and chalyces of all chyrches thorough y e land ouer that .xxvii. shrynes were scraped or spoylyd of y e gold syluer that vppon theym before tyme was layd for no pryuylege of holy chyrch nor other persone at that season was sparyd Then kynge Rycharde came vnto Swyne in Flaūdres and taryed there two monethes other to abyde the wynde or ellys to make prouysyon for thynges whych he neded There the emperours men had almost taken him agayn So the emperour forthought y e deliuery of king Rychard as Pharao forthought the delyuery of the chyldren of Israel Then the kyng toke shippyng and lāded in y e ende of Marche at Sandwyche from thens came streyghte vnto Lōdon where he was receyued wyth all ioye and honour And when he had a season rested hym there he wyth a certayn nomber of knyghtes rode to Nothyngam wan y e castell and after the castell of Tykhyll by force of armes and set the wardeyns of theym in warde And that done he called a counsayll of hys lordes at wynchester where by authoryte of the sayd coūsayll he depryued Iohn̄ hys brother then beynge in Fraunce of all honour and toke from hym al suche landes as he before had gyuen to hym crowned hym soone after agayn kyng of England in the sayd cytye of wynchester After the whych coronacyon he called a parlyament by vertue wherof he resumyd all parētes and annuytees fees and other grauntes before hys voyage by hym solde and graunted and caused the partyes to be contentyd wyth such reuenous and profytes as they had receyued of the sayde offyces or landes in tyme of hys absence and sparyd not any persone for any sufficience of wrytyng y t to hym before was made when kynge Rycharde hadde by these foresayd meanes gaderyd some money he then in the moneth of Iuly sayled into Fraunce and besegyd a castell callyd Arques and spedde there as wytnessyth Polycronyca dyuersly whyche worde dyuersly may well here be spoken For who so redyth the frenche cronycle he shall fynde that the Frenche kynge was vyctor But and he rede the englyshe boke than shall he fynde kynge Rycharde vyctour wherfore me thynketh Ranulphe sayde well when he sayde they spedde dyuersely For yt is so dyuerse by the reporte of wryters that the certayntie to whom the honoure shulde be gyuen is harde to be knowen All be yt that in the countrey of Bloys as wytnessyth y e sayde frenche cronycle kynge Rycharde scaryd the Frenche hoste and toke the kynges somer horse wyth parte of hys treasour But in shorte whyle after a trewce was concludyd betwene these two kynges for a yere Then Iohn̄ whyche hadde tourned to the Frenche kyng agayne his owne brother seynge that the fame and honoure of hys brother feblenesse of his own power made meanes to Elyanoure hys mother by whose medyacyon he was recōcyled to hys brother the kynge after became hys trew knyght when the kynge and hys brother Iohn̄ were thus agreed they rode ouer the lande to vysyte y e countreys and se howe they were guyded by the offycers of the kynge Amonge other two there were whyche shewyd that they wolde do many thynges to the kynges profyte the one was abbot of Cadonence wythin Normandye and that other was named wyllyam wyth the longe berde The abbot warned the kynge of the fraude of hys offycers wherby he thought by the ponyshement of hys offycers he shulde wynne great fauoure of the people Then thys abbot gate a warrant of the kynge and at London callyd dyuerse offycers before hym for to yelde to hym theyr accompte But he dyed shortly so that hys purpose came to small effecte And wyllyam wyth the longe berde shewyd to the kynge the outrage of the ryche men whych as he sayd sparyd theyr owne and pyllyd the poore people It is sayd that this willyam was borne in London purchasyd that name by vse of hys berde He was sharpe of wytte and somedeale lettred a bold man of speche and sadde of countenaunce and toke vppon hym greatter dedes then he coulde welde and some he vsyd cruelly as apperyth in appechynge of hys own brother of treason the whyche was a Burges of London and to hym hadde shewed great kyndnesse in his youthe This willyam styred and excyted the cōmon peple to desyre loue fredom̄ and lybertye and blamed the excesse and outrage of ryche men By suche meanys he drew to hym many great companyes and wyth all hys power defended the poore mennys cause agayne the ryche and accused dyuers to the kynge shewyng that by theyr meanys the kynge loste
redounde vnto theyr dyshonour For the Frenche cronicle sayth that these two hostes thus as aboue is sayde lyenge to gyther wythout skyrmshe or assaute kynge Rycharde contrary the opinyon and mynde of hys lordes wyth a few accompanyed and vnharnaysed shuld come to y e Frēche kynges tente and there in presence of hys lordes shulde do homage to the Frenche kynge for the duchye of Normandye and coūteys of Angeou and of Poytyers and there swore to the kynge to kepe peace duryng his lyfe and after .viii. dayes met agayn and fynyshed the sayde peace wyth assuryd othe vppon eyther partye and after departed as frendes eyther resortyng into theyr owne countrey But yt semed a feynte peace For within foure monethes or lesse folowynge kynge Rycharde wyth hys hoste entred the prouynce of Berry and layd syege to the castell of wyersoune and gate yt by strength and after yode to the castell of Noryncourte the whyche was delyueryd to hym by appoyntement when kyng Phylyppe harde of the wynnynge and ouerthrowe of the castell of wyersoun he in damagynge of kynge Rychard layde syege to the castell of Aubeuyle and yt assayled egerly Buy yt was so stronge and so well defendyd by the Normannys that the Frenche kynge was holden of when kynge Rycharde had garnyshed and fortifyed the castell of Noryncourte wyth all thynge necessarye to the warre he drewe hym towarde Aubeuyle to remoue kynge Phylyppe from that syege and fell vppon the Frenche men vnwarely But the Frenchemen quyt theym so knyghtly that they chased kyng Rycharde and hys people and toke a Norman knyghte named Guy de Thonars a man of great hardynes And then kynge Phylyppe returned to the castel and towne of Aubeuyle and assauted it more sharpely so that in the ende y e souldyours of the town yeldyd yt wyth the castell for a certayne summe of money And when he hadde possessyon of the towne he threw downe the castell playne wyth the ground and after strengthed the towne wyth Frenche men and then yode to the castell of Gysours and from thēs resorted to the forenamed castell of Noryncourte and assayled yt in so cruell maner that shortely he wanne yt and toke therin .xv. knyghtes and .xxiiii. yemen wyth plente of vytayll and armour In thys tyme and season kynge Richarde gadered newe strength and allyed hym wyth Baldwyn erle of Flaūdres and with Renolde erle of Dampmartyn and of Boleyne By whose meanes as wytnessyth the frenche boke kynge Rychard wasted sore the countrey of Fraunce and brent therin some townes and vyllages and toke therein many ryche prayes Anno domini M.C.xcix  Anno domini M.CC.  Constantyne fyz Arnolde  Balliui  Anno .x.  Robert le Beawe  ABout the begynnynge of the moneth of October and .x. yere of Rycharde the sayde Rycharde entryd the countrey of Unequecyne wyth a stronge hoste and made therin cruell warre in destroyenge of the countrey and assauted the castell of Gysours and threwe to grounde a stronge holde called Courcellys and brent there about many vyllages wherwyth kynge Phylyppe was so greuousely amouyd y t wyth a small noumber of knyghtes he percyd the hoste of Englyshemen and entryd the castell or towne of Gysours But of his men were taken a certayn nōber as Alayne de Russy Mathewe de Melly Guyllyam de Mello and many other wyth the whyche prysoners and many riche prayes kyng Richarde then departed leuynge the Frenche kynge wythin Gysours It was not longe after that kynge Rycharde was thus departed but that kyng Phylyp callyng to mynde the great losse and dishonour that he had receyued by that warre of kynge Rycharde assembled a great army and entred the duchy of Normandy and wasted the coūtrey from Nuesbourth to Beawmōt le Rogyer And that done he returned into Fraunce and lycēcyd hys knyghtes to go eche man into hys owne countrey when kynge Phylyppe hadde thus fynyshed hys warre in Normandye kynge Rycharde then wyth hys armye entred the forenamed countrey of Unequecyn and also Beawuoysyn and toke wythin theym as he before had done ryche many prayes and with theym departed whom the byshop of Beawuays beyng a good knyghte and hardy of his handes wyth a companye of knyghtes and other folowyd to haue rescowyd the prysoners that kynge Rycharde had taken But they were taken and a certayne of hys company slayne Then the erle of Flaundres by the ayde of the Englyshe men toke the towne of saynt Omer from y e Frēche men In this season Innocent the Pope before named sente a legate into Fraunce named Peter de Capys to refourme the warre betwene the two prynces The whyche at that tyme was in such dysioynte that he coulde not brynge yt to any frame and specyally as sayth the Frenche boke because kynge Richarde wolde not delyuer hostages gagys as y e Frēche kynge wolde Then kynge Rycharde after Cristmas besyeged a castel nere vnto Lymogys Thys castell in y e Frēche cronycle is called Chalons in the englyshe boke yt is named Gayllarde The cause of this syege as saith most wryters was for certayne ryche treasour founden wythin the lordshyppe or sygnyory of kynge Rycharde the whyche one wydomer vycounte of Lemonke hadde founden and wyth helde from kynge Rycharde and for hys sauegarde fledde vnto the forenamed castell and defendyd yt manfully from the fyrste weke of lent tyll the .vi. daye of Apryll Uppon the whyche daye kynge Rycharde walkynge vnwysely about the castell to espye the feblenes therof one named Betrāde Guedon markyd the kynge and wounded him in the hedde or after some writers in y e arme with a venemous quarell After which woūde receyued by the kynge he commaunded sharpe assaute to be made in the whyche assaute the castell was won Then he made enquery who yt was that so had wounded him the which was brought vnto the kynges presence and named hym self as aboue is sayde or after some writers Peter Basyle Then the kynge demaūded of him why he shuld so lye in a wayte to hurte hym rather then any of his felowys For thou slew my father my bretherne sayde he wherfore I entendyd to auenge theyr deth what someuer became of me Then y e kyng forgaue hym his offence and sufferyd him to go at lyberte And the other of y e soudyours taken in that castell the kynge commaunded to be hanged But Polycronycon sayth that after kynge Rycharde was dede the duke of Braban whych then was present causyd the sayde Bartrande to be taken and flayne quycke and after hanged Then kynge Rycharde dyed the .iii. daye after that is to say the ix daye of Apryll and was buryed at Fount Eborard at the fete of hys father Howe be yt some wryters say that his harte was buryed at Roan his body as before is sayde and hys bowellys at Carleyll in Englande when he hadde reygned .ix. yeres .ix. monethes and odde dayes leuynge after hym none yssue Of thys Rycharde a metrycyan made these
the Borderers of Fraunce but of hys vyctoryes I fynde lytle wryten Anno domini M.CC.iiii  Anno domini M.CC.v.  water Browne  Balliui  Anno .v.  wyllyam Chaumberleyn  IN this yere that is to saye the .v. yere of kynge Iohn̄ by reason of the vnreasonable wederynge that in the last yere fell whete was solde for .xv. s. a quarter Kyng Iohn̄ in the somer folowyng maryed hys bastarde doughter vnto Lewelin prīce of walys gaue with her the castell and lorshippe of Elyngesmere beynge in the marches of South walys In Morgans land in walys soon after a knyght apered after his deth to one callid master Moris to whom by hys lyues tyme he hadde ben specyall louer and frende The whyche knyght by his dayes was well letteryd and vsyd for hys recreacyon to make versys wyth this mayster Morys so that the one shulde begynne the metyr and the other shulde ende yt At whyche tyme of his apperaūce the knyght sayde to mayster Moris mayster Morys I woll y t thou ende thys verse Destruet hee regnum rex regum Nay sayd mayster Moris ende thou yt for thou haste all moste made the hole thy selfe Then sayd the knyght for that I se now thou arte olde and slow I wyll ende yt my sefe Destruct hoc regnum rex regum dupliciplage The whyche verse maye be englysshed as foloweth The kynge of kynges that lorde that ruleth all And in whose power all thynges is conteyned Thys realme for synne he destroye shall wyth dowble plage be therof ascertayned Excepte the people here after be refrayned From synne and them to vertuous lyfe alye And vyce before vsyd utterly renye Thys yere the pope sente letters of recommendacyon vnto kynge Iohan shewynge that he hadde fauorablye harde hys proctours for all suche maters as they hadde layde agayne the archebyshoppe of Caunterburye and some of hys munkys that he shulde not of ryght be admyttyd to that see But for the sayde maters of obieccyon were by hym and hys courte thoughte insuffycyent he therefore exorted and wyllyd hym to accepte the sayde archebyshopppe to hys grace and suffre hym to enioye the frutes of hys benefyce and the munkes by hym exyled to retourne vnto theyr proper abbay But the more hys lordes and frendes aduysed hym to folowe the popes mynde the more was he mouyd to the contrarye in suche maner that the popes messengers returned wythoute spede of theyr message yet haue ye harde before how the Frenche kynge laye about the castell of Gayllarde and myght not wynne yt by the space of a moneth wherfore he after sente for newe ordynaunce and assayled yt so fyersly that wythin .xx. dayes after he wanne the sayd castell to the great losse of men on partyes and toke prysoners there wythin .xxxvi. knyghtes besyde the other nomber of yomen and arblasters and that done seasyd the countrey there about and strengthed the sayde castell wyth hys owne men and then wyth great pryde returned into Fraunce Anno domini M.CC.v.  Anno domini M.CC.vi.  Thomas Haueryll  Balliui  Anno .vi.  Hamonde Bronde  ABout that season after Mychelmas in the vi yere of the reygn of kyng Iohn̄ came downe a streyght commaundement from the pope that excepte the kynge wolde peasybly suffer the archbyshoppe of Caunterbury to occupy hys see and the munkes theyr abbay thay y e land shulde be enterdyted chargynge these foure bishoppes folowyng that is to saye wyllyam then byshoppe of London Eustace byshoppe of Ely walter byshoppe of wynchester and Gylys byshoppe of Herforde to denounce the kynge and his lande accursyd yf he y e cumaundement dysobeyed Then these foure byshops wyth other to thē assocyate made instaunte labour to the kynge for the obseruynge of the popes commaundement and to exchewe the sensours of the chyrche But all was in vayne wherefore the .iiii. sayed bysshoppes accordyng to the popes wrytynge to them sent the morow folowynge our ladye day annūcyacyon or the .xxvi. daye of Marche denouncyd kynge Iohn̄ wyth his realme of Englande accursyd and shyt faste the dores of the chyrches and other places where dyuyne seruyce before was vsyd fyrste in London and after in all placys as they wente thorough the lande The kyng for thys dede was so amouyd wyth the sayde foure byshoppes that he seased all the temporalties to them belongyng into hys handes and put theym in such fere that they forsoke this land and sayled to the archbyshop of Caūterburye In thys yere at Oxēforde in Suff. was taken a fyshe in y e see of forme lyke to a man and was kepte .vi. monethes after vpon lande wyth rawe fleshe and fyshe and after for they coude haue no speche of yt they caste yt into the see agayne Anno domini M.CC.vi.  Anno domini M.CC.vii  Iohn̄ walgraue  Balliui  Anno .vii.  Rycharde of wynchester  IN the moneth of nouēber and vii yere of the kynge one named Hugh Oysell for treason at Lon was drawen and hanged And thys yere in y e moneth of May the French kynge entryd into Normandy wyth a strōge power and wanne there the castellys of Faloys and Dafyount or Danffrount and after seasyd all the landes to the sayde castell belongynge and so tyll he came to a place called saynte Mychaell in the parell of the see when the Normannes sawe that kynge Phylyppe thus subdued the stronge holdes of Normandye and that kynge Iohn̄ to the countrarye made no defence y e capytayns of Cōstaunce of Bayoux or Bayon of Lyseux of Anreuches and Enroux yelded them all to the French kyng and became hys lyege men so that he was in possessyon of the substaūce of the duchye of Normandye excepte Roan and other few castellys Then kynge Phylyppe seynge these stronge holdes thus yeldyd vnto hym layed hys syege to the cyty of Roan where after he hadde lyen a season the capytayne of the towne desyred a respyte of .xxx. days gyuynge pledges and hostages that yf the cytye were not by kynge Iohn̄ or hys assygnes rescwyd wyth in the foresayde terme they wolde yelde the cytye vnto the French kynge And in lyke wyse was appoyntement taken for the castellys named Arquys and Uermeyll In whyche tyme for that no socoure came both cytye and castellys were delyueryd into the Frenche kynges handes And thus hadde thys seconde Phylyppe the possessyon of Normandye whyche no Frenche kynge hadde sen the tyme of Charlys the symple whyche gaue the same duchye to Rollo leder of the Normannys wyth Gylla hys doughter in maryge synne the whyche tyme hadde passed ouer iii. hundred yeres when the Frenche kynge had thus brought into his subiccyon y e duchye of Normandye he then about saynt Laurence tyde yode into the countye of Guyan and wanne there the cytye of Poytyers wyth all the castellys and townes to the sayde cytye belongynge and when he hadde sette that countrey in an order and rule he spedde hym into
into Englande named Gualo or Swalo the whyche after hys commynge commaunded Lewys to returne into Fraunce and laboryd to the vttermost of his power to appease the kynge and hys baronye But all hys laboure was in vayne Anno domini M.CC.xvi.  Anno domini M. CC.vxii  IohnÌ„ Trauers  wyllyam Hardell  Anno .xvii.  Andrewe Newlande  IN thys .xvii. yere of kynge Iohan the warre betwene hym and his lordes styll contynuynge he dyed of the flyxe as testyfyeth Polylycronycon at the towne of Newerke vppon the daye of saynte Calyxte the pope or the .xiiii. day of October How be yt the Englyshe boke or cronycle sayeth that he dyed at Sebynyshede an abbay aboute LyncolnÌ„ by the impoysonynge of a munke of the same house the daye after saynte Luke or the .xviii. daye of October and was buryed at the cytye of wynchester But the authour of Policronycon sayth he was bowelled at Crongthon abbaye and buryed at worceter in the myddle of the quyer of munkes when he hadde reygned xvi yeres .vi. monethis .iiii. dayes leuynge after hym two sonnes Henry and Rycharde wyth sondry doughters Of thys IohnÌ„ yt is redde that he founded the abbay of Belewe in the new forest in recompensacyon of the paâ—ysh chyrches which he there ouer turnyd to enlarge that forest and an abbay of blacke munkes in the cytye of wynchester where after y e sayeng of the englyshe cronycle he shulde be buryed This kynge IohnÌ„ also after some wryters maryed one of hys doughters vnto Otto the fourth of y e name emperour of Almayne and duke of Saxony the whyche helde warre agayne kynge Phylyppe of Fraunce as in the .v. chapyter of the storye of the sayde Phylyp before is declared whyche Otto for hys rapyne and extorcyon done to the chyrch of Rome was accursyd and the sayd Phylyp and also kynge IohnÌ„ for theyr dysobedyence to the chyrche were also accursyd the whyche warred eyther wyth other so that eyther of theÌ„ greuyd and vexid other to the great hynderauÌ„cis of them and eyther of them For the whyche consyderacyon a metrycyan made these balades of them as foloweth O quam mirabilia good lorde thy workes been In punyshement of synners by thy myght wondersly As by old storyes yt is playnely seen One synner the other hath correcte vtterly As Alexander wyth Iulius Pompey and Tholomy And many other whych as thy scourgys were To punyshe synners and theym self also dere In lyke wyse nowe reader yf thou lyste take hyde And well reuolue in mynde thys hystorye Of these thre prynces and loke well on theyr dede Thou shalte conceyue that they dyd wyckydly I meane kynge IohnÌ„ Phylyppe and Ottony whyche vnto synne made them selfe so thrall That of pope Innocent they were accursyd all wherfore god sufferyd that one the other to greue And warre chase wyth dedely hate and stryfe Glad that one the other to mischeue Manassynge eche other wyth spere sworde and knyfe wyth cruell batayll durynge theyr synfull lyfe wherfore I maye conclude in factis horum That multa sunt flagella peccatoruÌ„ HEnry the thyrde of y e name eldest son of kyng IohnÌ„ a chylde of the age of .ix. yeres beganne hys reygne ouer the realm of Englande the .xx. daye of the moneth of October in the yere of our lorde M. two hundred and .xvi and the .xxxvi. yere of the seconde Phylyp yet kyng of Fraunce ye haue before harde of the cruell warre whyche Lewys son vnto the Frenche kynge wyth the ayde of the baronys of Englande maynteynyd agayne kynge IohnÌ„ The whyche after the deth of the sayde IohnÌ„ contynued for as mych as then some of the lordes that before hadde maynteyned the quarell of Lewis now forsoke hym toke parte with this Henry as theyr naturall and souerayne lorde wherof the chefe were the erles of Penbroke of Chester the whych wyth theyr retynewe helde sharpe warre wyth the sayde Lewys his affynyte the whych enteÌ„dyd to haue ben kynge of Englande by reason of couenauÌ„tes made wyth certayne lordes of the lande when he was fyrste sent for by them wherfore the forsayd erles wyth the other of theyr partye to make theyr partye the stroÌ„ger proclaymed the sayde Henry kynge of Englande vppon the foresayde .xx. daye of Octobre thorough the cytye of London and in all possyble haste after made prouysyon for hys coronacyon so that vppon the daye of Symonde and Iude next ensuynge he was crowned at Glouceter of Peter then byshoppe of wynchester Lewys the Frenche kynges son beynge then at Lyncolne In which yere stode styll as gouernoure of the cytye of London tyll Mychelmas nexte folowynge Anno domini M.CC.xvii  Anno domini M.CC.xviii  IohnÌ„ Trauers  wyllyam Hardell  Anno .i.  Andrewe Newlande  SO soone as the kynge was crowned coÌ„myssyons where sent ouer in his name into all places of Englande to gather strength of men to wythstand the forenamed Lewys to put hym wyth his Frenche men and other allyaunces out of the land whych then hadde vnder theyr rule and custodye the castellys of Berkhamsted of Hertford dyuers other And for thys Lewys wold not sease of hys warre and retourne into Fraunce therfore the foresayd Gwalo or Swalo the popys legate accursyd hym fyrste by name and after all such as hym maynteyned or fauored in thys warre agayne kynge Henry Then the forenamed erlys accompanyed wyth wyllyam erle Marshall of Englande wyllyam le Bruyz erle of Ferrys wyth many other yode to Lyncolne and wanne that town vppon the strauÌ„gers where was slayne a French man called erle of Perches wyth many other souldyours And there was takeÌ„ of EnglyshmeÌ„ Serle erle of wynchester and HuÌ„â—ryde Bohum erle of Herforde wyth dyuerse other of name And in thys whyle Lewelyn prynce of walis for that he ayded the partye of Lewys was accursyd and his lande enterdyted After the towne of Lyncolne was thus woÌ„ne from the Frenchmen Lewys wyth other parte of his souldyours drewe towarde London for so myche as word was brought to hym that his fader had sent to hym a new company of souldyours the whyche shulde lande in Englande shortely Trouth yt was that such an ayde of souldyours was made by the FreÌ„che kyng coÌ„myttyd to a capytayn whyche in the cronycle is named Eustace the muÌ„ke the whych was encouÌ„tryd vpon the see with a capytayn or mayster of the .v. portis called Hubert at Burgh gaue to hym batayll and scomfyght hym at length sent the hed of y e sayd Eustace vnto y e kynge when Lewys harde of these tydyuges and consydered howe dayly his strength mynyshed he was more inclynable vnto peace so y e in coÌ„clusion he toke money as sayth Policronica yelded vp his castellis strengthis which he held after was assoyled so returned into FrauÌ„ce But of this money y e Lewis receyued ben diuers opinyons for the englyshe boke namyth yt a thousande marke
lytell regarded for so mych as our lordê other our trusty frendes whyche dayly byde wyth vs ye veryn and greue and theym pursue to the vttermost of your powers and yet dayly enteÌ„de as ye by the reporte of your letters haue vs ascertayned we the greue of them admyt take for our owne specyally when they for theyr fydelyte whyche they to vs dayly impende stande and abyde by vs to oppresse your ifidelyte and vntrouthe wherfore of your fauoure or assuraunce we sette lyttell store but you as our enymyes we vtterly defye wytnesse our selfe at our towne of Lewys the .xii. daye of this moneth of May. And ouer this the kyng of Romaynes syr Edwarde the kynges sonne and the other lordes beyng theÌ„ with the kynge sente vnto them a nother letter wherof the tenour ensuyth RIcharde by the grace of god kynge of Romaynes alwaye Augustus and Edwarde the noble fyrst begotten son of the kyng of England all other Barons fermely standynge and abydynge wyth our souerayne lorde the kynge to Symonde be MouÌ„tford Gylbert de Clare and all other theyr false felowes By the letters whych ye sent vnto the kynge our moste souerayne lorde we vnder stande that we are defyed of you Neuerthelesse this worde of dyffyaunce apperyd vnto vs suffycyently before by the depredacyon and brennyng of our manours and carienge away of our goodes wherfore we wyll that ye vnderstande that we defye you as our mortall publyke enmyes And when so euer we may come to reueÌ„gement of the iniuryes y t ye to vs haue done we shal acquit it to y e vttermost of our powers And where ye put vppon vs that nother trewe nor good counsayll to our souerayne lorde the kynge we gyue ye therin say falsely and vntrewly And yf y e saieng ye syr Symonde de Mountforde and syr Gylbert de Clare wyll iustifye in the courte of our souerayne lord we are redy to purchase to you suerty safe commynge that there we may proue our trew and faythfull innocencye your false and traytorouse lyenge wytnessyd wyth y e seales of Rychard kynge of Romaynes syr Edwarde forenamed Gyuen at Lewys the .xii. daye of May. WHen the Baronys had receyued these letters from the kyng and his lordes they perceyued well that there was none other mean but defeÌ„de theyr cause by dynt of sword wherfore they puttyng theyr trust in god spedde theym forth toward the kynge And vppon a wednysday beynge then the .xxiiii. daye of May erly in the mornynge both hostes met where after the LoÌ„doners had gyuen the fyrst assaute they were betyn backe so that they began to draw from the sharpe shot and strokes to the discomforte of the Barons hoste But y e Barons encoraged and comforted theyr men in suche wyse that not alonely the freshe and lusty knyghtes fought egerly but also suche as before were scomfyted recoueryd theyr vertue strength fought wythout fere in so myche that the kynges vaward lost theyr places Then was the felde coueryd wyth dede bodyes gaspynge gronyng was hard on euery syde For eyther was desyrous for to bryng the other out of life And the fader sparyd not the son nor the son y t fader AllyauÌ„ce at y e tyme was turned vnto dyffyaunce and crysten blood that daye was shad wythoute pytie Thus duryng the cruell fyght by the more parte of y e day lastely the victory fyll to the Barons so y t there was taken the kynge the kynge of Romayns syr Edwarde the kynges son wyth many other noble men to the nomber of .xxv. Barons and Banerettes people slayn a great multytude ouer .xx. thousande as sayth myne authours when the Barons had thus obteyned vyctorye prouysyon was made for y e saufe kepyng of the prysoners so that all were sent vnto dyuers castellys and prysons except the kyng his brother the kynge of Almayne syr Edwarde his son the whych the Barons helde wyth theym tyll they came to London Then a new graunte was made by the kynge that the foresayd statutes shuld stande in strength And yf any were thought vnreasonable they to be corrected and amendyd by foure noble men of the realme that is to meane .ii. of the spyrytualtye and .ii. of the temporaltye And yf those .iiii. myght not agree that then the erle of Angeou and duke of Burgoyn to be iudges of that mater And this to be fermely holden and obeyed by the kynge and hys brother the kynges graunted that theyr sonnes heyres shuld remayne wyth the Barons as prysoners tyll all thynge were fynysshed accordynge to the former agrement And vppon thys was a parlyament appoynted to be holden at London at Penthecoste folowynge but that came neuer to purpose TheÌ„ the tuesday before the Assencyon day peace was proclaimed in London betwene the kynge and hys Barons And vppon the daye folowynge the kynge the Barons came vnto London with the kynge of Romayns syr Edwarde the kynge sonne Then syr Edward as pledge for the kyng and syr Henry sonne vnto the kynge of Almayn were sent vnto the toure and there lodged and from theÌ„s vnto Douer castell And the kyng was lodged in the byshoppes palays by Paules and the kynge of Almayne with dyuers other within the towre Then yt was agreed by the kynge that for his more suertye and for the weale of the lande that the erle of Leyceter shuld be ressyauÌ„t in the kynges courte Uppon the whyche agrement other many of the prysoners were set at large In this passe tyme before the felde of Lewys y e quene the kyng of Romayns had sent ouer y e see for souldy ours to ayde the kynge agayne the Barons whych now were comen in great nomber vnto Douer there houed in y e see to haue laÌ„ded wherof herynge the Barons sent the kyng of Romayns to the castell of Berkham stede as prisoner tyll the sayde allyauntes were retourned and caused kynge Henry wyth a great power to ryde thyder and force the sayde hoste of straungers to retourne into theyr owne countreys And when the kynge had returned the sayde straungers he shortly after wyth agrement of the barons sayled ouer into Fraunce and retourned agayne wythin short terme Anno domini M.CC.lxiii  Anno domini M.CC.lxiiii  Osbert wynter  Thomas fyz Thomas  Anno .xlviii.  Phylyppe Taylour  IN this .xlviii. yere the lordes of the marches about the feast of Crystmasse assembled theym in those costes and dyd myche harme vppon the lordeshyppes and manours of the erlys of Leyceter and of Glouceter standynge in the marches of walys wherfore the kynge rode shortely after to Glouceter and called there a counsayl of his lordes By authoryte of whych counsayll yt was enacted that as many of y e sayd lordes as came not in by the octauis of saynte Hyllary nexte folowynge yelded them vnto the kynges grace shuld be exyled And by the sayd couÌ„sayll was also agreed
that in y e sayd octaues shulde a parlyament be holdyn at westmynster At whyche daye the kyng wyth his lordes spyrytuall and temporall and commons of hys lande beganne his forsayde parlyament Durynge the whyche yt was there shewed the kynge beynge present that he nor syr Edward his son nor none of theym shulde after that daye greue or cause to be greuyd the erles of Leyceter and of Glouceter y e Barons Banerettes or knyghtes the citesyns of London and Barons of the .v. portes nor none other ê‘sons or persones of hyghe or low degree that was vpon the partye of the sayd erles for any mater of dyspleasure done agayne the kynge and the sayd syr Edwarde his sonne at any tyme before that day And that to vphold the kynge before hys lordes was sworne And after that was shewed and rad a charter of pardon concernynge the sayde cause and a confyrmacyon of the statutes of the foreste wyth many other actes and statutes before graunted of the kynge Then in the feaste of saynt Gregory folowynge or the .xii. daye of Marche syr Edwarde the kynges son y t beforne was also sworn to performe such promyses as the kyng had made before in the parliament was delyueryd at lyberte also syr Henry the kynges son of Almayne the whych had ben kept as pledge as ye before haue harde vppon the terme of .ix. monethes odde dayes vpon assurauÌ„ce made that y e sayd syr Edwarde shuld dwel and abyde in the kynges courte and not to departe from thens wythoute lycence of the kyng and of a certayne of the Barons After this many instrumentes bandes were made by the kynge and syr Edwarde his son for the performaunce of couenaunts paccyons made betwene the kynge and the Barons whyche shortly after came to small effecte In the season betwene Easter and Penthecoste for orderynge of the aforesaid statutes made at Oxenford fell deffencyon betwene the erles of Leyceter of Glouceter so that wordes of dyspleasure was vtteryd betweene them the kynge and they also beynge then at Glouceter Then the kynge and his Barons had laboure to set theym at vnyte and reste And vppon the see the Barons of the .v. portes robbed and spoyled all men that they myght take sparynge nother Englyshe marchauntes nor other Of whych prayes as y e coÌ„mon fame then went some of the Barons of the lande hadde good parte In the whytson weke folowynge y e kynge wyth the erle of Leyceter and syr Edwarde hys sonne wyth many other lordes beynge at Herforde in y e edge of walys the sayd syr Edward secretly and wythout lycence departed from the courte and yode vnto Chester where he accoÌ„panyed to him the erle of Glouceter and y e lordes of the Marches the erle of wareÌ„ne syr Roger Mortymer and other from thens went vnto Glouceter breking the brydges as he went to the entent that he were not folowed tyll he had assembled his power when knowlege of thys came vnto the erle of Leyceter he in al hast sent vnto syr SymoÌ„de his son y t he shuld gather his knyghtes vnto hym The which accordyng to y e coÌ„maundemeÌ„t assembled vnto hym myche people with them drew toward wynchester so that he came before the cytye vppon the euyn of the translacyon of saynte Swythyn or the .xiiii. daye of the moneth of Iulye where he was shyt out for so mych as the cytesyns knewe not whyther he came as the kynges frende or not And also lytell before they hadde receyued a letter from syr Edwarde wyllynge theym to holde theym out of the cytye For these causes the citesyns closed theyr gates agayn the sayd syr Symonde and hys companye But yt was not longe or the cytye was yelden Then they spoyled the town and slewe the more partye of the Iewes that dwellyd wythin the same And that done layd syege vnto the castell and assauted it But for tydynges were fayned of the coÌ„mynge of syr Edwarde with hys power they departyd shortely thens and so yode vnto Kenelworth Uppon the laste daye of Iuly syr Edwarde wyth hys hoste came vnto Kenelworth foresaid and fyll sodaynly vppon the hoste of the forenamed syr Symonde and wyth shedynge of lytell blood toke there prysoners the erle of Oxenforde wyllyam de mount Canyse Adam de Newmarket syr Balwyne wake and Hughe Neuyle wyth dyuers other and syr Symonde fledde into the castell and so escaped Then these forenamed prysoners were all sent vnto Glouceter and there putte in suer kepynge In this meane whyle syr Symonde erle of Leyceter toke leue of the kynge whyche then from Herforde passed the ryuer of Seuerne and so yode vnto worceter And y e erle with great payne passed the brydges before by syr Edwarde broken and passed the couÌ„treys in gaderynge of people as he went so y t in processe he had wyth hym stronge power wherof herynge syr Edwarde costed towarde hym and the .vi. daye of August met wyth hym at Euysham in worceter shyre where betwene theym was foughten a cruell fyght In y t whych at length was slayn the sayd syr Symonde and syr Henry his sonne and heyre syr Hughele Spenser syr Peter de Mountforde and many other noble men that helde vppon the Barons partye After whych scomfyture some malycyous dysposed persons in despyte of the erle cut of his hode his dimyssaryes and fastyned them vppon eyther syde of hys nose and after made a present therof vnto the wyfe of syr Roger Mortymer Hys fete also and his handes were cut from the body and sente to sondry places and the trunke of hys bodye buryed wythin the chyrch of Euysham Of this erle speketh Ranulphe muÌ„ke of Chester in his boke of Policronycon and calleth hym Symon the ryght wise sayynge that god wrought for hym myracles after his deth the whyche forfere of the kynge and syr Edwarde his sonne were kept close and secret so that no man durste speke of them Soone after this victory thus obteyned by syr Edward y e kyng he met by whose authorytyes all prysoners theÌ„ which were in hold in dyuers places by y â— coÌ„maundemeÌ„t of y e sayd syr Edward were set at lybertie many other dayly accused set in for them And about the natyuyte of our lady a parliameÌ„t was holdeÌ„ at winchester where by authoryte of y e same all statutes ordinauÌ„ces before made by y e Barons at Oxenforde in the .xli. yere of y e kyng were vtterly fordone set at nought and all bondes wrytynges made by the kyng or any other for the obseruynge of the same were cancellyd and broken Also at thys couÌ„sayll was ordeyned that all such as had fauoured the Barons were they in pryson or at large shulde be disherited And then y e kyng resumed into his hande all grauntes before made and gyuen to any person And for syr Symounde de Mountforde myght not agree wyth the kynge at the parlyament he was restored to the castel of Kenelworth as he
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
sore warreyd of the Frenche kynge in somoche that he hadde wonne the towne of Margquet and the countre theraboute And for to put the sayde Guy vnto the more trouble the sayd Frenche kynge caused Robert erle of Artoys to inuade the couÌ„tre of FlauÌ„dres toward Pycardy encountred with y e sayd Guy nere vnto a towne called Furnes wher atwene y e said .ii. erles was foughteÌ„ a sharpe bataâ—l so that many men were slayne vpon bothe partyes After whiche fyght the Erle of Flaunders spedde hym towarde Gaunt where as kynde Edwarde than soiourned the erle of Artoys drewe hym towarde y e FreÌ„che kynge the whiche shortly after was receyued into the towne of Bruges In whiche tyme and season whyle y e sayd .ii. kynges laye thus at eyther towne a meane of peas was there treated of so that fynally a peas was coÌ„cluded atwene the .ii. kynges and atwene the Frenche kynge and Guy erle of FlauÌ„ders vnto the feest of all sayntes than next ensuenge And froÌ„ that day vnto the feast of all sayntes thaÌ„ .ii. yeres folowyng After whiche peas so stablysshed kynge Edwarde departed from the towne of Gaunte yode to Burdeaux And y e Frenche kynge retourned into Fraunce And prysoners were delyuered on bothe partyes In this tyme and season whyle kynge Edwarde was thus occupyed in FlauÌ„ders the Scottes by the entysement of the Frenche kynge to the entent to cause kynge Edwarde to kepe his countre that he shulde nat ayde the erle of Flaunders beganne to make warre vpon the kynges soudyours whiche y e kynge had lafte there in dyuers holdes And also entred vpon y e borders of NorthuÌ„berlande made sharpe warre vpon the inhabytauntes of that countre And for that syr IohnÌ„ Bayloll theyr kynge after some wryters was at y â— tyme prysoner in the towre of London or els voyded the couÌ„tre for fere of the kynge of Englande therfore the sayde Scottes made them a capytayne the whiche was named wyllyam waleys a man of vnknowen or lowe byrth to whom they obeyed as vnto theyr kynge Anone as y e kynge herde of the rebellyon of the Scottes which to hym was no great wonder consyderynge theyr greate vnstedfastnesse he wrote his letters vnto syr HeÌ„ry Persy erle of NorthuÌ„berlande to syr wyllyam Latymer and to syr Hugh Cressyngham than tresourer of Englande and to other that they in all goodly haste shulde make prouysyon to withstande the Scottes The whiche persones after receyte of the kynges letters spedde them all in spedy maner so that they entred Scotlande shortly after and coÌ„pelled y e Scottes to returne backe vnto a towne named Streuelyn where iÌ„ a skyrmyssh foughteÌ„ atwene the Englysshe and the Scottes syr Hugh Cressyngham forenamed with dyuers Englysshemen was slayne But yet the Scottes were holden so strayte of the Englysshe hoost that after that skyrmysshe they wolde nat of a certayne tyme come in playne felde but kepte theym within theyr castelles and stroÌ„ge holdes And this yere atwene Easter and wytsontyde certayne ê‘sones of LondoÌ„ brake vp the tunne in the warde of Cornhyll and toke out certayne persones that thyder were commytted by syr IohnÌ„ Bryton then custos or gardeyn of the cytie for nyght walkynge For y â— whiche ryot the sayde persones that is to meane Thomas Romayne and viii other were afterwarde greuously punysshed as fyrst by prysonmeÌ„t and after by fynes And this yere the kynge in y e moneth of October came into EnglaÌ„de and so to wynchester where the cytezyns of London made suche laboure vnto his grace that shortly after they opteyned graunte of theyr lyberties and fraunchyses that had in some parte be kepte from them by y e terme of .xii. yeres more So that vpon the daye of the translacyon of saynt Edwarde kynge and confessour next folowyng they chase them a mayre of them selfe where by all the foresayd tyme theyr custos or gardeyn was appoynted by y e kyng or by suche as y e kyng wold assygne But ye shall vnderstande that this was not redemed without great summes of money For after some wryters the cytezyns payde for it to the kynge .iii M. marke Also this yere kyng Edwarde put out of his proteccyon certayne Alyauntes whiche were rychely benefyced in England The cause was for the sayd alyauntes wolde nat ayde y e kynge with theyr goodes as y e other of his lande dyd but purchased an inibicyon of pope Boniface the .viii that they and theyr goodes shulde be fre from all the kynges dymes or taskys Therfore y e kyng ceased theyr temporaltyes and suffered theÌ„ with theyr spyritualtes tyl they were agreed with the kynge Anno domini M.CC.xcviii  Anno domini M.CC.xcix  Richarde Reffham  Henry waleys  Anno .xxvii.  Thomas Sely.  IN this .xxvi. yere after Chrystmasse certayne persones made a dyggyng and a serche in y e churche of saynt Martynes le grauÌ„de in LoÌ„don for certayne tresoure that there shulde be hydde as it was reported of a gardiner But theyr labour was in vayne for nothynge was there founde For the whiche dede y e deane of Poules the seconde sonday of lent folowynge denounced all theÌ„ accursed that were at that dede doynge or consentynge to the same In this yere aboute y e begynnyng of Aprell the kynge rode towarde Scotlande and appoynted his lordes with theyr companyes to mete with hym at yorke where with hym met a great hoost y t whiche he ladde into Scotlande and brent and spoyled the countre as he went and taryed a season at Barwyke And from thens he spedde hym in wynnynge of the townes and castelles as he went tyll he came nere to a towne named Fawkyrk or Fankyrk where vpon y e day of mary Magdaleyne or y e .xxii. day of Iulii met with hym y e power of Scotlande and gaue vnto hym a sore fyght But in the ende the vyctory fyll vnto the EnglysshmeÌ„ so that of the Scottes were slayne in y e felde as affyrme dyuers wryters ouer the nombre of .xxxii. M. and of Englysshmen but barely .xxviii. persones After whiche scomfyture the Scottes yelded to the kynge the more partye of the stronge holdes castelles that they tofore had holden agayne hym and made vnto hym newe othe and promysse and yelded them selfe vnto his grace and mercy And whan he had set that countre in an ordre and rule he thaÌ„ retourned into EnglaÌ„de and so to LoÌ„don where by y e aduyce of some of his counsayll he sodeynly daÌ„pned certayn coynes of money called pollardes crocardes rosaries caused theÌ„ to be broughte to newe coynage to his great aduauÌ„tage ye haue before herde in that other yere how that a truce or a peas was stablysshed at wene the kynge and y e kynge of Fraunce for the space of .ii. yeres and more the whiche fynally was concluded this yere that kynge Edwarde for a peas to be had bytwene both regyons shulde take vnto wyfe Margarete the suster of Philip
Cambrees erle of Atles and syr IohnÌ„ Comyn with other the whyce voluntarylye were sworne in presence of the kynge and hys lordes that they shuld be trewe vnto the kynge of Englande kepe the lande of Scotlande to hys vse agayne all other persones And yf any rebell or other malycyous persone distourbed the laÌ„de or breke y e kynges peas they shulde cause hym to be taken and sent vnto the kynge wyth many other articles coÌ„cernyng theyr allegeaunce the whyche full falsely they brake and contraryed shortely after Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.v.  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.vi  Raynold Doderell  IohnÌ„ Blount  Anno .xxxiiii.  wyllyam Cansyn  IN thys .xxxiiii. yere Robert le Bruze contrary hys othe to kynge Edwarde before made assembled the lordes of Scotlande and by the couÌ„sayll of thabbot of Stone and other that fauoured hys vntrouthe he sent vnto the pope than Clement the .v for a dyspensacyoÌ„ of hys othe before made vnto kynge Edwarde and surmysed to hym that kyng Edwarde vexed and greuyd the realme of Scotlande wrongfully whereupoÌ„ the pope wrote vnto kyng Edwarde to leue of suche doynges And whyle thys matter was thus complayned on vnto the pope y e sayd Robert le Bruze made all the labour he myght vnto y e lordes of ScotlaÌ„de that he were admytted for kyng of y e regyon so that vpon the daye of the concepcyon of our Lady or the .viii. day of Decembre a great assemble of the lordes was made at the abbey of Stone And vpoÌ„ the day folowyng by the meanes of the abbot of y t place many of the sayd lordes assented to y e wyl of the sayd Robert except syr Iohan Comyn onely The whych in defence of hys trouthe and othe before sworne vnto kyng Edwarde many reasons excuses made and fynally sayd that he wolde nat false hys othe for no man For thys the sayd syr Iohan Comyn had great maugre of syr Robert le Bruze many of y e nobles of Scotlande But he helde hys oppynyon so fermely that other began to take hys parte that in that counsayll rose suche contrariete of opynyons and reasons that the sayd couÌ„sayll was dyssolued and a newe sette at the graye freers of Dunfrize after Candelmas next ensuyng At whych daye of assemble whenne the cause of theyr meting was by Robert le Bruze denouÌ„ced and shewed many of the great lordes of the land had grauÌ„ted to hym theyr aydes assistence the forenamed syr IohnÌ„ Comyn other sat styll and sayd no worde whyche Robert le Bruze marked well and to hym sayd And you syr IohnÌ„ I trust for defence and weale of thys realme ye wyll nat be behynde wherunto he answered syr I wolde that ye and al my lordes here present knowe well that for the weale and defence in the ryght of thys lande I wolde stande with it to the vttermost of my power But for I se that ye enteÌ„de rather the subuercyon than the weale therof I wyll therfore ye know I shal nother ayde you with counsayll nor yet with strength Some other also there were whose names the auctoure myndeth nat whyche allowed the sayenge of the sayde syr IohnÌ„ and in some wordes admytted hys sadde and trewe answere For the whyche Roberte le Bruze was so amoued that when syr IohnÌ„ Comyn with syr Rogyer hys brother was departed from the counsayll and was comyn into the chyrch of the freers Robert le Bruze hym folowyd and wounded to the deth with his swerde and after slew syr Rogier hys brother whyche wolde haue defended the foresayde syr IohnÌ„ After whose deth lytell or no resysteÌ„ce was made agayne the vntrewe meane dedes of the sayd Robert le Bruze so that he at saynte IohnÌ„s towne was crowned kynge shortly after It was nat longe after that kyng Edwarde was monysshed of all this vntrouth of the scottes wherfore he prepared hym to wende thyder And at Penthecoste he helde a great feaste of hys barony at westmyster durynge that feast made a greate noÌ„bre of knyghtes ouer CC. after mooste wryters And that feast ended he seÌ„t with a fayre company of knyghtes syr Aymer de Ualaunce erle of Penbroke and syr Henry Percy erle of Northumberlande into ScotlaÌ„de sped hym selfe wyth hys hoost soone after Than about the feast of the assuÌ„pcyon of our Lady the kyng faughte with the sayd Robert le Bruze and al the power of Scotlande in a playne nere vnto saynt IohnÌ„s towne And after loÌ„ge fyght and great slaughter of the scottes to y e nombre of .vii. M he chased the scottes In whyche chase syr Symon de Fryseyll erle of DuÌ„barre was takeÌ„ with also the bishoppes of saint Adrews and of Bastoon the abbot of Stoon or Scoon syr IohnÌ„ Chambres erle of Atles which bysshoppes and abbot kyng Edward sent after vnto innoceÌ„t the .v. thaÌ„ pope with reporte of theyr ê‘iury how they were taken armed in the felde to shede the blode of cristeÌ„ men And y e teÌ„porall lordes he sent into EnglaÌ„de so vnto the towre of LondoÌ„ And Robert le Bruze after thys scomfyture losse of hys chyef freÌ„des feryng lest y e scottes with suche Englysshmen as kyng Edward laft there wolde aryse agayne hym all comfortles fledde vnto the kynge of Norwaye there abode duryng whyle kyng Edwarde lyued whan thys noble prynce Edward had thus subdued y e scottes he yelded thankes to god of hys vyctorye And wheÌ„ he was ascertayned of the auoydyng of Robert le Bruze had set y e laÌ„de in a quiet ordre he retourned into Englande In thys passetyme were y e forenamed lordes of ScotlaÌ„de areygned at LondoÌ„ vpoÌ„ the euyn of the Natyuyte of our Lady put to deth theyr heddes after set vpoÌ„ LondoÌ„ brydge And shortly after was IohnÌ„ waleys brother vnto wyllyaÌ„ waleys whych for lyke treason was put to deth in y e preceding yere taken haÌ„ged quarteryd And some scottes that were taken as prysoners remayned loÌ„ge in EnglaÌ„de or they myght acquite theyr fynaunce Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.vi  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.vii.  Symon Bolet  IohnÌ„ Blount  Anno .xxxv.  Godfrey de la Conduyt  IN thys .xxxv. yere y e kynge for certayne causes hym mouyng retourned agayne into Scotlande Or after some wryters he taryed at Berwyke helde hys Crystmasse Easter in those partyes came nat into EnglaÌ„de after he had scoÌ„fyted y e scottes In the season of somer as he was retournyng into EnglaÌ„de a sykenes toke hym so ferueÌ„tly y e he knew wele he shuld dye wherfore he beyng at Burgthe vpoÌ„ the sande beyonde Carleyll called to hym syr Aymer de Ualance erle of PeÌ„broke syr Henry Percy erle of NorthuÌ„berlande syr HeÌ„ry Lacy erle of LyncolnÌ„ syr Robert Clyfforde baroÌ„ caused them to besworne before hym y t they shuld crowne hys sonne Edwarde in as conuenyent tyme after hys dethe as they myght and
that conclusyon so there taken by the sayde counseyle the kynge sent his letters vnto the sayde barones commaundynge theym to come vnto the sayde parlyament The whiche at the day aboue sayde with a great hoste of men of armes came to London in a sute of iakettes of cotes of demy partye of yelowe and grene with a baÌ„de of whyte cast ouerthwarte For this skyll that parlyamente loÌ„ge after of the comune people was called the parlyament of whyte bandes Than for to se the kynges pease were substancyally kepte within the cytye of London the mayre caused dayly a thousande men well harnessed to watche in dyuers wardes and at dyuerse gates of y e cytye y e whiche began at foure of the clocke in the mornynge and so contynued tyll .vi. at nyghte At whiche season as many were ordeyned too take thanne the charge of the nyght watche and so to contynue tyll the houre of .v. in the mornynge And for thys nyghte watche shuld be surely kept two aldremeÌ„ nyghtly were assygned to ryde about the cytie with certayne officers of the towne to see the watchemen we le and dyscretly guyded And the gates were shyt at .ix. of the clocke opened agayne at .vii. on the morow euery cytezyn warned to haue hys harneys by hym that he myghte be redy with shorte warnynge when so euer he were called Thus in y e cytye the sayd watche coÌ„tynuyng the foresayde parlyamente was holden at westmynster where amonge other thynges for the weale of the lande as that counceyll than coulde thynke determyned one was that syr Hugh Spenser the father syr Hughe the sonne shuld be banysshed out of y t realme of England for terme of lyfe And soone after that banysshement was put in execucion so that they bothe were broughte vnto Douer there to take shyppynge where syr Hugh the father made woÌ„derfull great moone when he shulde take hys shyp and cursed hys sonne in presence of suche as had the Guydynge of theÌ„ sayng that by hys meanes he was banysshed from the flour of all landes cristened Than y e kyng dyssolued the parlyament and euery man retourned to hys owne But yt was nat longe after that worde was broughte vnto the kyng y t syr Hugh Spenser the sonne houyd vpon the cooste of Englande and toke prayes of all marchauÌ„tes that passed by hys course But the kyng let as he had knoweÌ„ of no suche thyng and suffered that wyth many mo euyl dedes to go vnpunysshed the whyche at lengthe he repented full soore and toke thereof great remors in conscyence as it appereth in the ende of hys reygne Anno domini M.CCC.xix  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xx  Symon Abyngdon  Hamonde Chykwell  Anno .xiii.  IohnÌ„ Preston  IN thys .xiii. yere the kynge reuoked the actes or withstoode them whyche were made at London in the laste parliament and called agayne into Englande the Spensers bothe the father sonne contrary the wyll of the barons and set theym in lyke auctoryte as they before had beÌ„ to the great dystourbaunce of all the realme And soon after vnder colour of a tytle made by the quene vnto the castell of Ledys in Kent whych than belonged vnto syr Barthen de Bladysmore knyght than beynge on the baronys partye the kynge besyeged the sayd castel and by helpe of the cytezyns of London lastly wanne it by strength and spoyled the mouables therof whych was to a greate value after the sayeng of some wryters In thys passetyme that the kyng hadde thus called agayne the Spensers ruled many thynges after hys sensuall apetyte and pleasure nothyng regardynge the comon weale of the realme the barons coÌ„syderyng well that the Spencers shuld in processe bryng the lande in great ruyne the kyng to great dyshonoure enteÌ„dyng to refourme the myschyef that therof myght ensu gadered vnto theÌ„ great power And whyle syr Thomas erle of Lancastre was gatheryng of hys people y e .ii. Mortymers y t is to say syr Roger Mortymer of werke syr Roger of wigmoore with other yode into the marche of walys toke by strengthe certayne cytyes townes belongynge to the Spencers pursuyd also some of the kynges seruauÌ„tes wherfore the kyng herynge of y t rebellyon of hys lordes made hasty spede and with a greate hoste came about by Shroysbury and was nere vnto them or they were ware so that for fere the sayd Mortymers yelded them vnto the kynges grace mercy the whiche forthwith were conueyed as prysoners vnto the towre of LoÌ„don Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xx  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxi  Reynolde at Conduyt  Hamonde Chykwell  Anno .xiiii.  wyllyam Prodham  IN thys .xiiii. yere whaÌ„ y e kyng had ordered the countre of the marchys foresayd after hys mynde had to hym gathered more strength about saynt Chaddys day or begynnynge of Marche the kyng with hys people came downe to Glowceter where with hym mette the SpeÌ„sers with theyr people And from thense he yode vnto Lychefeelde at whyche season the erles of Lancaster and of Herforde were at and the remenaunt of theyr hoste at BurtoÌ„ vppon Trent fortyfyed the brydge y t the kyng myght nat wynne ouer the sayde ryuer Than the kynge was brought vnto a foorde beganne to set ouer his knyghtes wherof heâ—â—ng the sayde erles forsooke the sayde towne of and yode toward the towne or cytye of But or they myght passe farre vppon theyr iournay they were encouÌ„tred of syr Aymer de Ualance erle of Penbroke with the Spensers and other of the kynges hoste vppon the .xii. daye of Marche and of them ouerset and coÌ„strayned to fle and so yode in proces of tyme to PouÌ„tfret In thys meane season the erle Thomas had sente a knyght of hys named Robert HolaÌ„d into Lancasshyre for to arere hys tenauntes But when the sayde syr Robert herde of that skyrmysshe and howe hys mayster was fled he than drewe hym to the kynge and presented hym with suche companye as he had thaÌ„ gathered And thus y e kyngê power dayly encreased and y e batons dyscreased ThaÌ„ the baronys heryng of the goyng of syr Robert Holande vnto the kynges pattye were with it sumdeale abasshed and tooke theyr counsayll in the freers of Pountfreâ— where after many opynyons reasons amonge them debated argued yt was fynally by them concluded y t they shuld goo vnto the castel of DuÌ„stanborough there to holde theÌ„ tyll they myght purchase the kynges grace And so spedyng theyr iournay thy derwarde with suche people as they than had they came in processe of tyme to a towne called Burgh brydge where they were encountred of syr Andrewe of Harkeley knyght wyth other that were come out of y e North with a stronge company The which there nere vnto the sayde towne sette vppon the barones and in the ende sconfited theÌ„ and chased theyr peple In the whyche fyght was slayne the erle of Herforde syr Roger Benefeld and syr wyllyam SullaÌ„de and
be socoured kyng Edwarde for the same entent wyth a stronge power persed the realme of Scotlande after layde hys syege vnto the towne of Berwyke Uppon the .xix. daye of the foresayd moneth of Iuly the Scottes wyth a greate power purposyng to remoue y e sayde syege came towarde the sayd towne wherof kyng Edward beyng enfourmed made towarde theÌ„ ar a place called Halydone hyll gaue to y e sayd Scottes batayll of them had triuÌ„phaunte vyctorye in so moche that he slewe of them as testifyen dyuerse wryters viii erles ix huÌ„dreth knyghtes banerettes iiii C. esquyres and vpon .xxxii. M. of the comon people of Englysshe men were slayne but onely .xv. persones After whych victory thus by the kynge opteyned the capitayne of Berwyke vpoÌ„ y e morew folowynge beyng saynt Margarettes day yelded to the kyng the sayde towne with the castel And that done kyng Edward betoke the guydyng therof with all other castelles townes within that lande vnto the forenamed syr Edward Baylol as kyng of Scottes shortly after retourned into Englande Than Dauyd the sonne of Robert le Bruze beynge as before is sayd kyng of Scottes was constrayned with hys wyfe secretely to sayle into Fraunce thyder was brought by a Flemyng named Marcuell as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle where of Phylyppe de Ualoyes than Frenche kyng the sayd Dauyd with Iane of the towre his wyfe was receyued And for theyr comforte the sayde Frenche kyng gaue vnto them the castell of Gaylarde tyll fortune to them wolde be more frendelye Thys yere also as wytnesseth y e sayd frenche cronycle the Frenche kynge sente vnto the kynge of Englande y e bysshop of Beauuays and the hyghe constable of FrauÌ„ce whych shewed vnto kynge Edwarde that theyr soueraygne lorde entendyd a voyage into the holy laÌ„de and requyred hym of hys ayde and coÌ„pany for perfourmaunce of the sayd iournay whereunto the kynge gaue answere vnto that request than whan the Frenche kynge had perfourmed all suche condycions as he before tymes had promysed to do than he sayd he shuld be conteÌ„ted to gyue suche answere vnto y t request by theÌ„ in hys name made as theruÌ„to shulde be coÌ„uenient And more he added to the same y t he maruayled greatly that the sayd Frenche kynge entended any suche voyage tyll he had clerelye acquyted hym of the sayd promysse couenaunt with whyche answere the Frenche kynge was nothynge contented so that malyce and murmour grewe and encreased betwene them dayly after And an occasyon of thys sharpe answere was for so moche as kynge Edward was credyble enfourmed that the Frenche kynge had vytayll and manned .x. greate shyppes to haue saylled into Scotlande and there to haue warred the whyche by tempest were wedyr dryuen into Flaunders so sore betyn with the see that after they had sold moch of theyr stuffe at y e hauyn of Sluce they were coÌ„pelled of necessyte to retorne without worship into Fraunce Thys with other kyndelyd suche a dedely hate betwene these .ii. crysten prynces y â— moche crysten blode in ê“cesse of tyme folowing was for theyr quarelles shadde Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxxi  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxxii  Nycholas Pyke  IohnÌ„ Preston  Anno .vii.  IohnÌ„ Husbande  IN thys .vii. yere in the wynter season and as sayeth Guydo in the moneth of NoueÌ„bre the kynge yode agayne towarde ScotlaÌ„de and helde hys Crystmas at yorke And after the solempnytie of that hyghe feast ended he sped hym into ScotlaÌ„de where her layde siege vnto y e castel of Kylbrydge lastely wan it by strengthe set the countrey in some quyetnesse And after retourned vnto Newe castel vpon Tyne and taryed there a certayne of tyme and helde there hys feaste of Pentecoste wyth great royalte whyther within shorte space after came syr Edward Baylol kyng of Scottes and vpon the day of saint Geruasi Prothasi or y â— .xix. day of Iune made his homage vnto kynge Edwarde and in presence of many other noble meÌ„ of bothe laÌ„des sware vnto hym feawty or fydelyte And y e done he retourned into Scotlande kyng Edward vnto yorke so vnto wyndesore TheÌ„ were al such lordes of Englande as before tyme were in Edward the secondes dayes disseased of suche landes as they had in ScotlaÌ„d restored agayne to theyr sayd possessions for theym made theyr homage vnto y e kyng of Scottes sauynge theyr allegeaunce vnto theyr naturall soueraygne lorde Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxiii  IohnÌ„ Hamonde  Iohan Ponteney  Anno .viii.  wyllyam Hansarde  IN thys eyghte yere certayne ambassadours were sent from Philip de Ualoyes kyng of FrauÌ„ce as the bysshop of Thuroyn and the lorde of Ferry and Peynguy for to coÌ„clude certayn artycles of variauÌ„ce betwene theyr lord the kyng of England But theyr purpose toke none effecte except that the kyng grauÌ„ted to sende vnto the FreÌ„ch kyng shortly after a certayn of hys lordes to haue forther comunycacion with hym towchyng the sayd artycles The whych promyse he fulfylled as appereth in he next yere ensuyng Anno domini M.CCC.xxxiii  Anno domini M.CCC.xxxiiii  Iohan. Hynkstone  Reynolde at Cunduyte  Anno .ix.  walter Turke  IN thys .ix. yere fell excedynge plente of rayne therupoÌ„ ensuyed great moreyne of beestes And in the moneth of Decembre the kyng entred agayne into Scotlande and helde hys Crystmas at the castell of Rokkysborough the whyche he caused to be newly repayred And after thynges there ordered to hys pleasure he retourned into Englande And soone after he sent the archebysshoppe of Cauntorbury syr Phylip de MouÌ„tague syr Geffrey Scrope vnto the Frenche kynge to the entent to haue concluded an amyte betwene hym and the sayd french kyng whych before was moued by y e freÌ„ch ambassade as before is shewed in the eyghte yere of hys reygne But whaÌ„ these sayde lordes were landed in Fraunce they were longe delayed or they myghte come to the kynges presence in so moche that they sayd playnly vnto suche lordes of FrauÌ„ce as were assygned by y e Frenche kyng to passe the tyme wyth theym that they supposed that it was nat the kynges pleasure to speke with them By meane of whyche wordes they were shortly after broughte vnto the kynges presence of whome they were receyued wyth ioyous countenaunce and so contynued by a certayne of tyme in furtheryng of theyr ambassade so y t in processe of tyme a conclusyoÌ„ of peas to be had betwene Englande and Fraunce was accorded and so ferfourth spedde that proclamacioÌ„ therof shuld haue beÌ„ made in Parys and the countrey there aboute vppon the morowe folowynge But how it came in y e kynges mynde the Englysshe ambassadoures were scantlye retourned to theyr lodgynges whan they were agayne sente fore and farther enfourmed thanne that the kynges pleasure and mynde was to haue Dauyd late kynge of Scottes to be included wythin the same peace
aboute Lammesse sayled into Braban and there helde hys couÌ„sayl with hys frendes and by theyr aduyces made clayme to y e hole crowne of Fraunce as hys ryghtefull enherytaunce for more auctorytye of the same entermedeled the armes of England with y e armys of FrauÌ„ce as ye se them at this daye Then kynge Phylyp beyng of these thynges warned gathered an howge hoste came with them to a towne called Uermendoys And kyng Edwarde with hys people entred y e couÌ„trey called Theresse breÌ„t wasted y e couÌ„trey before hym ThaÌ„ kyng Philip drew toward the Englisshe hoste and came vnto a place or towne called in freÌ„ch BuyroÌ„ Fosse where he entended as sayth y â— frenche boke to haue set vpon y e Englysshemen But by counsayl of hys lordes for dyuerse causes he was let to hys dyspleasure For after y e daye he myght fynde no conuenyent tyme for to assayle hys enemyes so that in conclusyon eyther hoste departed froÌ„ other without batayll or fyght and kynge Edwarde toke hys wey towarde Gaunt kyng Phylip retourned into Fraunce Than kynge Edwarde by meanes of hys frende Iaques de Artyuele had all hys pleasure of the towne of Gaunt receyued of them othe and homage And after dyuerse conclusioÌ„s with them and other takeÌ„ he leuyng there the quene after the testymony of some wryters retourned agayne into EnlaÌ„de left with the quene which thaÌ„ was great with chylde y e erles of Salysbury of Oxynforde whyche in y e kynges absence ayded well y e Flemynges agayne the FreÌ„ch kyng dyd dyuerse marcyall actes whyche I here passe ouer But iÌ„ ê“ces y e erle of Salysbury was takeÌ„ prysoner diuers englyssh men slayne at y e assaut of a towne called y e I le in FlauÌ„ders or of flauÌ„ders Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxxix  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xl  Adam Lucas  Andrewe Awbry  Anno .xv.  Bartholomewe Marres  IN thys .xv. yere whyle y e kyng was busyed in Englande to make prouysyoÌ„ for mete money to withstande the FreÌ„che kyng aswell for the warre that the sayde Frenche kyng made vpoÌ„ the Flemynges other beyng y e kynges frendes as for hys owne particuler causes y e quene as before is sayd beyng at the towne of Gaunt was deliuered of a sonne which after was named IohnÌ„ about Crystmas in the begynnynge of thys mayres yere ende of this .xiiii. yere This chyld whaÌ„ he came to mannes astate was surnamed IohnÌ„ of GauÌ„t was fyrst erle of RychemouÌ„t after duke of LaÌ„caster also fast as kyng Edwarde ê“uyded for abylemeÌ„tes of warre in EnglaÌ„de so fast hasty prouysyoÌ„ made the FreÌ„ch kyng to withstande kyng Edward both by laÌ„de by water so y t he had a great stroÌ„ge nauy vpoÌ„ see Kyng Edward thaÌ„ in y e moneth of Iunii with .ii. C. sayles tooke shyppynge sayled towarde FlauÌ„ders vpoÌ„ the see met or came vnto hym syr Robert Morley with y e north nauye of EnglaÌ„de so y t he had in al aboue .iii. C. sayles And at myd somer vppon saynte IohnÌ„s euyn he fought with the freÌ„ch kynges nauy whyche lay in a wayte for hym nere to the towne called the Sluse Of thys nauy whyche were in noumber by the reporte of the freÌ„che boke vpoÌ„ iiii C. sayles wherof were chyefe admyralles syr Hugh Queret syr Nycholas Buchet one named Barbe Noyre or in Englysh Blacke berde the whych capytayns or admyralles anone as they espied y e englyssh flote they made towarde theÌ„ to begyn the fyght .iiii. galeys set vpoÌ„ a shyppe of auauÌ„tage which sayled before y e other named y e ryche Oliuer the which .iiii galeys the fore named Barbe Noyre had the cunduyt of assayled thys sayd shyppe on euery parte bet her with gunneshot her men with hayl shot excedyngely so that of the men within her were many slayn and mo wouÌ„ded lykely to haue ben shortly won ne had beÌ„ the rescous of her coÌ„pany thaÌ„ were the sayd foure galeys soone becleped with y e English nauy so cruelly assayled that they were borded or they myghte be rescowed Then approched the hole flote vpon bothe sydes with hydous ferefull dynne noyse of gunnes with terryble flamynge of wylde fyre other with thycke shot of quarelles arowes and crusshynge of shyppes y e hydous woÌ„derfull it was to beholde so that many a soule was there expelled from theyr bodies iÌ„ shorte whyle This mortall and cruell fyght coÌ„tynued as sayth the Frenche story by y e space of .viii. howres or more iÌ„ suche wyse y e harde it was to knowe whether parte had the better so many deed and wounded men were cast into the see that the water whiche was in cyrcuyte aboute them was coloured or dyed as reed But in y e ende by grace great maÌ„hode of y e kynge whiche there was sore wouÌ„ded And by his great conforte y e Frenchemen were chased and many of theyr shyppes bowged taken with many prysoners in them Amonge the whiche the forenamed admyralles or capytaynes syr Nycholas Buchet syr Hugh Queret were .ii the whiche in despyte of the Frenchemen were hanged vpon y e sayles of theyr shyppes which they were takeÌ„ in And amoÌ„ge the shyppes that were at this season taken were recouered the .ii. foresayd shyppes named the Edwarde and y e Crystofer the whiche before were taken by the Frenchemen as it before is shewed in y e .iii. yere of this kynge In this batayle also as is testyfyed of many and dyuerse wryters were slayne vpon the noumber of .xxx. M. Frenchemen al be it y e Frenche boke nameth so many to be slayne vpon bothe partyes excuse this mysfortune by the neglygence of syr Nycholas Buchet whiche kepte the FreÌ„che nauy so longe within the hauen that they were so closed in with the Englysh nauy y t a great nouÌ„bre of them myght neuer stryke stroke nor shote theyr ordenaunce but to the hurte of theyr owne company whaÌ„ kynge Edwarde had optayned this tryumphaunt vyctory of his enmyes he yelded great thaÌ„kes vnto god How be it he was fayne to tary a season with in his shyppe by reason of a wouÌ„de y e which he had receyued in his thyghe In whiche season y e quene his wyfe came to vysyte hym and retourned agayne vnto GauÌ„t And after a fewe dayes passed y e kynge departed from Swynne rode vnto our lady of Ardenbourghe sent his nauy in the nexte hauen to Brugys moche of his people vnto the towne of GauÌ„t And whaÌ„ he had accoÌ„plished his pylgrymage he rode vnto Brugys and from thense vnto GauÌ„t where of the dwellers he was ioyously receyued Than kynge Edwarde there called a great counsayle by the whiche it was determyned that he shulde prepare .ii. hostes wherof y t one shuld be of y e meÌ„ of GauÌ„t of y e townes there aboute of y e
Anno domini M.CCC.xlv  Edmunde Hempnale  Rychard Lacer  Anno .xx.  Iohn̄ Glouceter  IN thys .xx. yere or later ende of the .xix. yere y t is to wyt aboute saynt Nycholas tyde in the begynnynge of thys mayers yere the foresayd erles of Derby Northampton had won the towne castel of Bergarat in Gascoyne slewe there the erle of Ualētynoys chefe capytayne therof toke there a noble man called y e erle of the Ilys wyth many other ryche prysoners And about Apryll y e sayd erles wanne a strōge towne called the Ryall wherof heryng Philip de Ualoys in all haste sent hys sonn̄ Iohn̄ duke of Normandy to wythstande to gyue batayll vnto y e sayd erles But whan the sayd duke was nere vnto the Englysshemen he had suche tydinges of theyr strength that he retourned vnto hys father agayn For the whych dede hys father wyth hym was greuously discontented in so moche y t by y e occasiō to auoyd his fathers displeasure he retourned īto Gascoyne layed siege vnto y e castel of Aguyllon there remayned tyll y e moneth of August folowing without gettynge of it any aduauntage at whych season he retourned agayn to his father After whose departure the erle of Northāpton with hys cōpany gatte a strōge towne called in french la Roche Darien which is to meane the Roche or Rocke of Aryen In the tyme of whyche warre thus cōtinued in Brytayne Guyan the Frenche kyng made purueyaunce to defende hys lande agayne kyng Edward for whome he awayted dayly And kyng Edwarde as faste gathered money made hys dayly purueyaunce to prepare hym thyderwarde Anno dn̄i xiii C.xlv  Anno dn̄i xiii C.xlvi  Iohn̄ Croydon  Geffrey wychyngham  Anno .xxi.  wyllyam Clopton  IN this .xxi. yere kyng Edward helde hys parlyament at westmynster about the tyme of lent And in the moneth of Iuly folowynge he toke shyppynge and sayled into Normandy landed as wytnesseth the Frēche cronicle at a place in that prouynce named in Frenche la Hougne sent Uast with .xi. C. sayles greate small y e .xii. day of y e foresayd moneth of Iuly And anone as he was lāded he cōmaunded hys people to waste y e countrey before them And by the ledyng of a knyght called syr Godfrey Harcourte he was broughte vnto a towne called Melly and from thens vnto Mountboure where the kynge wythe all hys people rested hym a season In the whyche tyme the sayde syr Godfrey brent spoyled the coūtrey of Cōstantyne there nere adioynyng Than kyng Edward departed frō y e foresayd towne went vnto a strōge towne called Karenten or Karenton the whyche he gate wyth the castell to the same belongynge And so continued his iourney y t vpō the .xx. day of y e sayde moneth of Iule he layed hys syege before the cytye or towne of Caen. wherin were at y e daye chyef capytaynes the bysshop of Bayen y e erle of Ewe the lorde of Turnebu wyth other dyuerse knyghtes men of name Than kyng Edwarde commaunded that the sayd towne shulde be assayled y e whych was done with so great force specyally with suche stronge and cōtynuall shot that the Frenchmē forsoke the wallys drew them towarde the castell And in processe after longe cruell fyght y e Englysshemen entred the towne there toke prysoners Amonge the whyche there was taken y e cōstable of Fraūce the kynges chaūberleyne Than the Englysshemen spoyled and pylled the towne of Caen and bare the pyllage vnto theyr shyppes whyche after was conueyed by them into Englande whan kynge Edwarde had thus spoyled and brent a parte of the towne of Caen forced the bysshope of Bayen the other capytaynes to take the castell for theyr refuge considerynge the strength of the same he departed thens and so sped hym towarde the cytye of Roan chefe princypall cytye of Normandye But the Frenche kynge with a greate power was in thys whyle comē vnto Roan̄ had broken the brydges and stopped the passages in suche wyse that kynge Edwarde was fayne to leue y e way so that he costed toward Parys and came to a stronge towne called Uernon from thens to a towne named Amyrlene at whych townes he was resysted loste some of hys soudyours And the .xii. daye of Auguste he came to a towne named Poysy taryed there .vi. dayes and from thēs yode vnto saynt Germayn And euer syr Godfrey de Harcourt byeng in y e vawarde brent the townes spoyled the coūtrey as he went And lyke as kyng Edwarde with hys hoste thus passed the coūtrey towarde Parys so in lyke maner the Frenche kynge with hys power passed or helde hys way towarde y e sayd cytye beynge so nere sundry tymes that eyther hoste had syght of other But the ryuer of Seyne was euer betwene them so that for it they myght nat ioyne in batayll whan kyng Edwarde was comyn to a towne called saynt Clowe he set fyre therin which was sene vnto Parys whyche put y e cytezeyns in great fere in so moch as wytnesseth the Frēch cronycle that if the Frēch kyng had nat ben there present the cytye shulde haue be yelden vnto kyng Edwarde Thā kyng Edward seynge he myght nat passe the ryuer of Seyn towarde y e citie of Parys occupyed all y e chefe palaysys royall Manours where the Frenche kynges were accustomed for to soiourne and lye at dranke the wyne occupyed suche stuffe necessaryes as he there fande And at hys departyng set fyre vpō them cōsumed the more parte of them As at poyzy one at saynt Germayne an other and at Mount Ioy the thyrde brente the towne of Poyzy reseruyng an house of nunnes whyche was founded by Phylyp le Beawe father vnto kyng Edwardes wyfe Here ye shal vnder stāde that the auctours or wryters fauoureth theyr owne nacyon For the Englysshe wryters say that y e Frēch kyng fledde brake the brydges as he went to the ende that the Englysh hoste shuld nat wynne to the French men to gyue vnto thē batayll And y e Frenche boke sayeth that kynge Edwarde fled wolde nat abyde batayl with the Frenche men wherefore the Frēch kyng brake the brydges to the entent that y e Englyssh mē shuld nat escape hys daūger But howe it was as sayth an other wryter called Iohn̄ Froysarde the commons of Fraūce thought it a greate dyshonoure vnto all the lande that the Englyssh hoste shuld so passe thorough the harte or myddell of Fraunce and to occupye the kynges chief lodgynges nat to be foughten with of all that season whych myght nat be after the opiniō of the sayd common people wythout great treason of suche as were nere about the kyng Thā kyng Edward was so closed by reason of brekynge of brydges y t he was forced to drawe backe and to reedyfye the brydge of Poyzy The
appeled the prynce of walys in the Frenche kynges courte that he hadde broken the peace and wronged theym contrary the peace stablysshed betwene Englande FrauÌ„ce requyred the FreÌ„ch kyng y t the sayd appeale myght haue due processe agayne the sayd prynce The whyche as sayth the French cronicle kynge Charles deferred for certayne causes there towched whyche were to longe to reherce Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lxvii  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lxviii  Adam wymbynghmÌ„  Symon MordonÌ„  Anno .xlii.  Robert Gyrdeler  IN thys .xliii. yere or more certaynly in the ende of the precedynge yere one walter Bernes mercer was vpon the day of y e traÌ„slation of saynt Edwarde kyng and confessoure or the .xiii. daye of Octobre chosen by the mayre aldermen mayre of the cytye of London But howe it was for lacke of substaunce or by other impedymente which is nat noted the sayd walter vpon the daye of Symonde Iude folowynge whaÌ„ he shulde haue taken hys othe at Guylde halle apered nat wherfore in hys rome by eleccyon of the foresayde mayre and aldermen was admytted for that yere folowynge Symonde MordonÌ„ fysshmonger mayre of that cytye And in thys yere and moneth of Marche Peter kynge of Castyle whyche by the ayde of the Sarazyns dwellyng in the borders of Spayn hadde wonne and recouered somme parte of the lande of Castyle encountrede wyth hys bastarde brother Henry beforesayde and gaue vnto hym batayll nere to a towne called Sybylle where after longe fyght the sayde Peter was scomfyted and moche of hys people slayne and hym dryuen vnto a castell oute of the whyche he was shortly after by treason gotteÌ„ presented vnto hys brother forenamed by whose senteÌ„ce he was iÌ„medyatly byheded After whose deth the sayd Henry enioyed the hole lande of Castyle whych infortunytie myschauÌ„ce fylle to thys Peter after dyuers wryters for so moche as he cruelly slew hys owne wyfe y e doughter of the duke of BurbonÌ„ And in thys yere and moneth of Maye the kynge of Fraunce in hys hyghe court of parlyamente holdeÌ„ at Parys proceded in iugemente vpon the appellacyons before made by the erle of Armenak the lorde of Bret and erle of Perogort agayne prynce Edward as before is towched in the precedynge yere wherupon dyscorde and varyaunce began to take place betwene the .ii. kynges in so moche y t by meane of the sayd .iii. lordes natwythstandyng that they were before sworne to be to the kyng of EnglaÌ„de trewe lyege men dyuers townes of the countre of Poyteaw yelded them to the Frenche kynge as Albeuyle Rue the more partye of the sayde townes of the sayd countre wherupoÌ„ ambassades were sente vppon bothe partyes dyuers meanes of treaty were comoned whyche conteyneth a longe werke wyth resonynge made vpon the same But in conclusyoÌ„ all came to none effecte So that breche of the peace whych before betwene y e ii kynges was so substaÌ„cially concluded was brokeÌ„ eyther kyng for his partye made prouysioÌ„ for the warre In so moch y e kynge Charles spedde hym to Roan in Normandy there in y e moneth of Iuly rigged his nauy to set theym forewarde for to warre vpon Englande In whyche tyme season y e kyng Charles was thus occupyed in NormaÌ„dy the duke of LaÌ„castre laÌ„ded at Caleys with a stroÌ„ge company of archers other warryours froÌ„ thens passed to ThoroueÌ„ne so to Ayre in wastyng the countre with irne fyre as he went wherfore y e French kyng in defence of those partyes sente the duke of Burgoyne with a puyssaunt armye to withstaÌ„de the sayde duke of LaÌ„castre The whych duke of Burgoyne sped hym iÌ„ such wyse y t about y e .xxiiii. day of August he lodged hys hoste vpon the mouÌ„tayne of Turnehan nere vnto Arde. And the English hoste was lodged betwene Gygowne Arde so that y e frountes of both hostes were within a myle Betwene whome were dayly skyrmysshes and small bykerynges without any notarye batayll And whaÌ„ the sayd duke of BurgoynÌ„ had thus kept the sayde mount froÌ„ the .xxiiii. day of Auguste vnto the .xii. day of SepteÌ„bre he remoued hys hoste yode vnto HesdeÌ„ For the whych dede he was after blamed of kyng Charles hys brother After whych departure of the FreÌ„chemen the duke of Lancastre with hys hoste tooke y e waye towarde Caus or Caux passed the ryuer of SuÌ„me so rode toward Harflew entendynge as sayth the FreÌ„che boke to haue fyred the Frenche kynges nauy But at theyr coÌ„myng thyder y e towne was so stroÌ„gly maÌ„ned y t they dyd there lytell scathe wherfore the sayd duke departed shortly thens and spedde hym into the countrye of Poyteau and so came vnto the towne of Albeuyle where wythout the Frenchemen encountred hym and gaue vnto hym batayll In the whych was taken syr Hugh ChastelonÌ„ knyght with other knyghtes esquyres burgeyses of the towne and vpoÌ„ .xvi. score FreÌ„chmen slayne whyche sayde prysoners to the nombre of fyue fourty were sent vnto Caleys y e duke with hys company yode vnto Burdeaux in spoylyng of the FreÌ„chmeÌ„ as he went Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xlviii  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lix  IohnÌ„ Pyell  IohnÌ„ Chychester  Anno .xliiii.  Hugh Holdyche  IN thys .xliiii. yere and moneth of Ianuary dyed the erle of warwyke at Caleys after he was retourned from the duke of Lancastre whyche was a man of great fame And in y e moneth of August dyed that noble woman quene Phylype wyfe vnto Edwarde the thyrde The whyche was a greate benefactoure vnto the chanoÌ„s of saynt Stephans chapell at westmynster And soon after dyed dame BlauÌ„ch somtyme the wyfe of Henry duke of Lancastre was buryed at Poules vpon the noâ—thsyde of the hyghe aulter by her husbande where she ordeyned for hym and her .iiii. chauÌ„tres for euer an annyuersarye yerely to be kept At the whych ouer great thynges be set vnto the deane chanons of the churche she ordeyned that the mayre beynge presente at the masse shuld offre .i. d. and take vp .xx. s the shyryffes eyther of them a peny and to receyue eyther of them a marke y e chaÌ„berlayn of the cytie .x. s the sword berer .vi. s. .viii. d and euery officer of the mayres there present .xxii. d and to euery offycer to the nombre of .viii eyther of theym .viii. d. admytted for the shyreffes The whyche obyte at thys daye is holden But by reason that the lande is decayed these forenamed summes ben greately mynysshed so that the mayre at thys daye hath but .vi. s. viii.d bothe the shyreffes syxe s. eyghte d and other after that rate In thys yere also the kynge helde hys parlyament at westmynster In the whych was graunted vnto hym iii. fyftenes to be payde in .iii. yeres folowynge And by a conuocacyon of the clergye was also grauted vnto hym .iii. dysmes to be payde in lyke maner And in thys yere
protectoure of the realme of FrauÌ„ce in the begynnynge of the moneth of February And vpoÌ„ Trynite sonday next ensuyng he with hys wyfe were crowned at Raynes in y e yere of our lord god a M.iii. C.xxviii the .ii. yere of kyng Edward the .iii. thaÌ„ beynge in possessioÌ„ of the crowne of Englande Betwene thys Philip the sayd Edward kyng of Englande as some deale before in the story .iiii. yere of Charles the .v. is towched great disputacions argumentes arose betwene theyr couÌ„sayles for the right tytle to the crowne of FrauÌ„ce For it was thought by the couÌ„sayl of EnglaÌ„de for so moche as Edwarde was cosyn to Philip le Beaw sonnÌ„ of y e sayd Philippes doughter which had no mo chylder but Edwardes mother that he shuld rather be kyng of FrauÌ„ce than Philip de Ualoys that was but cosyn germayn to Philip le Beaw sonne of hys brother Charles Of whych dispucioÌ„s argumentes the fynall coÌ„clusion was y â— for an olde decre law by auctoritye of parlyament loÌ„ge before made was enacted that no womaÌ„ shuld enheryte the crowne of FrauÌ„ce therfore y e tytle of Edward by myght of the FreÌ„chemen was put by thys Philip admytted to the gouernauÌ„ce of the same After whych direccioÌ„ thus takeÌ„ specially by y e meanes of syr Robert erle of Artoys thys Philip anone was proclamed regeÌ„t of FrauÌ„ce vnto such tyme as the quene wyfe of Charles the .v. whych thaÌ„ was wyth chylde were delyuered so receyued the rule of the lande as regeÌ„t In tyme wherof Peter Remy principall tresorer of kyng Charles last dede whyche Peter lyuyng the sayd Charles was accused of myspeÌ„dyng of y e kynges tresoure enrychyng of hym selfe coÌ„trary to ryght reason so y t his goodes shuld be estemed at .iiii. C.M. li. after Parys money wherof y e value is set out in diuers places before in this werke was takeÌ„ out of pryson areygned at Parys there conuict adiuged vpoÌ„ the .xxiiii. day of Marche draweÌ„ thorugh the cytie hanged vpon the comoÌ„ gybet at Parys And vpoÌ„ the fyrst day of Apryll folowyng the old quene wyfe of Charles laste kyng was lighted of chyld brought forth a doughter at Boys in UinceÌ„t which after was named Blanche wherfore where before the sayd Philip de Ualoys ruled before but as regeÌ„t nowe he was allowed takeÌ„ for kyng and crowned as before is sayd at the citie of Raynes with y e quene his wyfe vp on Trinite sonday And whaÌ„ y e soleÌ„pnyte of hys coronacioÌ„ was ended he then assembled before hym hys couÌ„sayll Lowys the erle of FlauÌ„dres receyued of hym homage for the sayd erledom And that done he besought the kyng of ayde to oppresse certayn townes of hys couÌ„tre whych rebelled agayne hym wherunto y e kyng grauÌ„ted by counsayll exortacion of syr Gautyer or walter de Crecy than coÌ„stable of Fraunce the kyng sent oute hys commyssioners chargynge hys lordes with theyr assygnes sowdyours to mete with hym in dyffeÌ„syble arraye at the cytie of Arras by mary Magdaleyne day next ensuyng At whyche day the kyng with his lordes and people there meting toke forewarde vpon hys iourney sped hym toward Cassyle a town of FlauÌ„dres where within lytell space of the towne he pyght hys pauylyons and teÌ„tes wasted and pylled the couÌ„tre thereabout But the Flemynges kepynge within the sayd towne fered nothyng the French kyng but in dyrision of hym and of hys lordes they caused a red cok to be paynted vpoÌ„ a whyte cloth wrote in greate letters in y e sayd clothe thys tyme folowynge haÌ„ged it out ouer the walles Quant ce quoc iâ—y chantera â—e roy troue ca entrera ¶ whych is thus to meane in our vulgare speche whan that thys cok lo here doth synge than shall thys founde kynge hys hoste in brynge WHaÌ„ thys was redde of the FreÌ„ch men and report made therof vnto the kynge he was therwyth sore amoued and specyally for that y t they named hym the foundeÌ„ kyng Therfore they assayled them stroÌ„gly vppon all partyes But they of the towne defended theym manfully so that theyr enemyes had of them none aduauntage Than the kynge sente syr Robert de Flaundres a knyghte of the erles with a certayne sowdyours commaundyng hym to assayle the Flemynges toward saint Omers And the erle he monysshed y t he with hys people shuld assayle theÌ„ towarde the yle Than the comoÌ„s of Bruges Ipre of Tourney of Fourneys and of all Cassyle assembled theym and prouyded that a certayne of theÌ„ shuld kepe the mount of Cassyle and another company shulde kepe the couÌ„tre towarde Tourney and the thyrde hoste shulde fortyfye the countre towarde the yle The whiche people ordered euery hoste hys lymit to hym assigned and dayly skyrmysshed wyth the Frenche men so that betwene them men were slayne vpon bothe partyes whan the kyng had thus lyen before the towne a certayn season the Flemynges nat feryng theyr enemyes issued oute of the towne and pyght theyr teÌ„tes vppon the mounte of Cassyle shewed them boldly vnto theyr enemyes thaÌ„ kyng Phylyp seynge the boldnesse of the Flemynges and howe lytell they fered hym toke couÌ„sayll of hys lordê how he myght cause them to dysceÌ„de the hylle for so longe as they kepte y e hyll it was iuperdous perylous to stye towarde theym Lastly it was agreed by the kynge and hys lordes that syr Robert de Flaundres wyth other shuld assayle an holde or town thereby called Terroner de Bergner by meane wherof the kyng thoughte that they wolde discende the mount to rescue the sayd towne which accordyng to y e kynges mynde was done and a bulwerke set vppon a fyre But the kynge had neuer the rather hys entent For they kepte them and theyr gates in so sure wyse that the French kyng for al hys great power myghte to theym do no scathe In so moche that the kynge consyderynge theyr strength was condyscended to famysshe them by hunger that they myght nat wynly streÌ„gth for that toke y e lesse watche or regarde to hys people but suffered them to play and dysport them out of theyr harneys eche of theÌ„ in others tente thynkyng hym sure of hys enemyes for any assaute or warre by theym to be procured or attempted agayne hym or hys lordes But whether it were that hys enemyes of this were warned or that of theyr owne courage and pryde they wolde assayle the frenche hoste vpon the .xxiiii. daye of Auguste towarde y e nyght the sayde hoste of Flemynges aualed the mount in as secrete wyse as men of watre myght drewe theÌ„ towarde the French men whych thaÌ„ were vnarmed and in theyr disportes of dysynge and playeng at the chesse other games Uppon whome the Flemynges came so sodaynly y t they slewe many of theyr enemyes and forced many to fle toward saynt Omers for theyr sauegarde And so the
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
conueyed theÌ„ vnto the gate of saynt Honoure and so sent theym vnto theyr other felysshyp than beyng at saynt Denys Of whome they were ioyously receyued and welcomed specyally of the kynge of Nauerne at whose requeste as the comoÌ„ fame went y t prouost wyth the other rulers of y e town them delyuered Thus more more cyuyle dyscorde began to encreace wythin the cytie so that the rulers of y e cytye were now in as great dought and fere of theyr neyghbours as before tyme they were of the regeÌ„t his knyghtes So that vpoÌ„ the tuysdaye folowynge beynge the last daye of Iuly y e prouost wyth other of hys company beyng in harnesse as dayly they were vsed went to dyner vnto the bastyle of saynt Denys And there beyng at dyner the prouost coÌ„mauÌ„ded to such as thaÌ„ kept the keyes of that bastyle that they shuld delyuer theym vnto Geffrey de MastoÌ„ than tresourer of the warres of the kyng of Nauerne But the porters denayed y e commauÌ„demeÌ„t sayde presysely y t they wolde nat delyuer the keyes to hym nor yet to any strauÌ„ger For the whyche answere many hawte wordes were blowen on eyther partye so that people gadered about them wherof heryng one named IohnÌ„ Maylart to whom beloÌ„ged the watche of a quarter of y e cytye wherein in whyche quarter the sayde bastyle stode drewe nere gaue ere vnto the wordes shortly after in bolde maner sayd vnto y e prouost that the keyes shulde remayne styll with the sayd kepers nat to be takeÌ„ out of theyr possessioÌ„ By meane of whych wordes the prouoste wyth hys company were encensed wyth more malyce vttered many hyghe and dysdaynous wordes to fere the sayd IohnÌ„ Maylart and the other wherfore the sayde IohnÌ„ Maylart feryng the prouost lest he shuld shortly call hys streÌ„gthe to hym by meane thereof put hym and other to an afterdele sodenlye gate hym on horsebacke berynge a baner of y e French kynges in hys hande cryed wyth alowde voyce Mon ioye saynte Denys au Roy et a duke whaÌ„ the people sawe hym thus ryde aboute and cryed ioye to the kynge the duke anone moche people folowed hym cryed in the same wyse And in lykewyse dyd the prouost his company whyche toke the waye towarde the bastyle of saynte Anthony And the sayde Maylarte rode towarde the market place there houed wyth his company In whyche tyme season one called Pepyn de Essars nat knowynge of the feat of IohnÌ„ Maylart in lyke maner gathym on horsbacke and berynge a baner of the armes of FrauÌ„ce rode about cryeng y e forsayd crye so lastly came vnto the other whyle the commoÌ„s were thus assembled in the market place the prouost came vnto the forsayd bastyle of saiÌ„t Anthony where it was reported to y t kepers of that bastyle that the prouost hadde lately receyued letters froÌ„ the kynge of Nauerne whyche they desyred to se wherof the prouoste denayed the syghte specyally one named Guyffarde wherefore after som wordes of dyspleasure one strake at the sayd Guyffarde throughe hys harnesse wouÌ„ded hym where with y e prouost beyng amoued made resysteÌ„ce agayn the sayd kepers so y t eyther ranne at other wyth theyr wepyns In whych stryfe the sayd Guyffarde was fyrst slayne after the prouoste wyth one of hys coÌ„peres named SymoÌ„de Palmeyr wherof heryng y e fore sayd IohnÌ„ Maylart hys coÌ„pany in all haste sped theÌ„ thyder pursued vpoÌ„ other y t thaÌ„ were fled for fere so streightly serched y t they foÌ„de one called IohnÌ„ of y e Ile Giles Marcell vnder the prouoste of marchauntes whych they also slewe without pytie And after at y e bastyle of saynt Martyne they fouÌ„de one called IohnÌ„ Paret the yoÌ„ger whome they slew also And soone were they spoyled of all y t they had and layd naked in the open strete for all men to loke vpon And whan they .vi. corpsys had so lyen by a certayne tyme they were than put in a carte drawen vnto a house of saynt Katheryne and there buryed vnreuerently And vpon the morowe folowyng were taken Charles Cusake Iosseron or Geffrey Maston and put into the chastelet and there kept in strayte pryson And thus seased thys ryot wythin the cytye of Parys that had contynued for the more partye by y e space of a yere .ix. monethes as from the begynnynge of the moneth of Nouember in the .vii. yere of kyng IohnÌ„ vnto th ende of y e moneth of Iuly in the .viii. yere of thys sayd kyng or from the takyng of the duke in hys chauÌ„bre to the deth of y e prouost by the space of .vi. monethes After whyche persones thus slayen the sayd IohnÌ„ Maylart sent vnto y e regent requyrynge hym y t he wolde spede hym vnto y e citie in y e meane whyle to sende some noble man to haue the rule of the same And in that whyle the comoÌ„s made serche toke many of the former rulers as Petyr Gylle grocer which as before is said was capytayne vnto theÌ„ y t were sent vnto Meaus And wyth hym was taken syr Pyers Caylart knyghte and wardeyne of the castell of Louure Also one called IohnÌ„ Prenost wyth Petyr Blount Also a vocate named mayster Peter Puyssour a felowe of hys named mayster Iohan Godarde All which ê‘sones were shortly after put to deth by sundry tymes theyr bodyes cast in to a ryuer called Bone Uoycyne And vppon the .xii. daye of August the regent was receyued into Parys with all honour and gladnesse whereof heryng the kynge of Nauerne of the puttyng to deth of Iossâ—ran hys tresourer sente vnto the regeÌ„t wordes of defyauÌ„ce letting hym to vnderstande that he wolde be reuenged of that wronge and other UPon the .xiiii. day of August the regent caused to he assembled within the commoÌ„ hall of Paris the cytezyns to whom he made a loÌ„g declaracion of the treasons ryottes done by these persones put to deth by the bysshop of Laon other yet leuyng whych enteÌ„ded as he sayde to haue made y e kyng of Nauerne kyng of FrauÌ„ce to haue yelden the cytye of Parys into the power of Englysshemen ThaÌ„ the kynge of Nauerne with the Englyshmen yode vnto Meloon where they by fauour streÌ„gth occupyed y e yle all y t couÌ„trey whych stretched toward Byer warred vppon the countrey toward Gastenoys dyd therin moche harme aswell by fyre as otherwyse And shortly after syr IohnÌ„ Pyquegny syr Robert his brother whych were capytaynes vnder the kyng of NauernÌ„ made warre vpoÌ„ the towne of Turnay and other townes of Pycardy and slewe many of the common people and toke prysoners of the gentylmen of that countrey to the noumbre of an hundreth aboue Amonge the whyche the bysshope of Noyen was takeÌ„ and wyth the other ladde vnto a castell or towne called Creeyll wherof the foresayde syr
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 Symonde Burley knyghte syr Iames Bernes and syr Robert Belknappe knyghtes and a sergeaunt of armes called IohnÌ„ Uske the whyche by auctoryte of the sayde parlyamente were conuycte of treason and for the same put to execucyon at Tybourne and at the Towre hyll And IohnÌ„ Holt IohnÌ„ Locton Richarde Gray willyam Burgth and Roberte Fulthorpe iustyce with the other foresayd lordes whiche as before is said voyded the lande were by auctoryte of the sayd court of parlyamente banysshed exyled the lande for euer Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxviii  Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxix Goldesmythe Thomas Austeyne  Syr Nycholas Twyfforde  Anno. xii  Adam Cathyll  IN the .xii. yere and moneth of Nouembre yet durynge the ê‘lyament was executed in Smythefylde of London a marcyall Iustes and tournement where as all suche persones as came in vpon y e kynges partye theyr armour and apparayle was garnysshed with whyte hertes crownes of golde about their neckes And of that shorte were .xxiiii. with .xxiiii. ladyes also apparayled as aboue is sayd ladde with .xxiiii. cheynes of golde the horses of them and so conueyed them thoroughe the cytie vnto Smythefelde frome the Towre of London where the king the quene and many other great estates beynge present after proclamacions by the herroddes made many goodly and marcyall actes of warre were there put in vre to the great recreacion and comforte of the kynge and quene and all other beholders of the same To this dysporte came many straungers Amonge the whiche the erle of saynt Poule the lorde Ostreuaunt sonne and heyre vnto y â— duke of HolaÌ„de and a yonger sonne of the erle of Ostryche were greatly commended And whan this Iustes had contynued by sondrye tymes by the space of .xxiiii. dayes to the great comforte and recreacyon of many yonge and lusty bachellers desyrous to wynne worshyppe and to the kinges great honoure that by all that season kepte open housholde for all honeste comers it was fynysshed the strauÌ„gers retourned to their couÌ„treys with many ryche gyftes Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxix  Anno domini M. CCC.lxxxx Grocer IohnÌ„ walcot  wyllyam Uenour  Anno. xiii  IohnÌ„ Loueneâ— Â IN thys .xiii. yere of kynge Rychard an esquier of y e prouince of Nauerne by Fraunce accused an Englysh esquyer called IohnÌ„ welshe of certayne poyntes of treason For the tryall wherof a day of fyght was betwene them taken to be foughten in the kynges palays at westmynster where eyther of theym kept hys daye fought there a stronge fyght But in the ende IohnÌ„ welshe was vyctoure and constrayned that other to yelde hym where after he was dyspoyled of hys armoure and drawen to tyburne and there haÌ„ged for hys vntrouthe Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xc  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xci  IohnÌ„ Fraunces  Adam Bamme  Anno. xiiii  Thomas vyuent  IN thys .xiiii. yere of kyng Rychard syr IohnÌ„ of GauÌ„t duke of Lancastre wyth a goodly coÌ„pany of men of armes sayled into Spayn to clayme suche landes as he there shulde haue in the ryght of dame CoÌ„staunce hys wyfe whyche was the doughter of Peter ryghtfull kynge of Spayne as in the .xl. yere of kyng Edward the thyrde is more playnly declared whan the sayde duke was vpon that other syde of the see there came vnto hym the kynge of Portyngale wyth a stronge army and so entred the terrytory of Spayne But whether it were of the Englishe men longe or of the Portyngaleys moche harme was done to the Spanyardes in robbynge and pyllyng of the countrey whyche was cause of grudge betwene the kyng of Portyngale and the duke and caused many Spanyardes whyche oughte to theÌ„ good wyll to wythdrawe and depart from them In reformacyoÌ„ of which ille certayn persones aswel English as Portyngaleys that were founde gyltye of suche robbery were putte vnto deth by meane whereof the other fered so that where by that meane the kynge and the duke were before put to great afterdeale by reasoÌ„ of reformacyon of that ille they gat dayly vppon theyr enemyes so that in processe of tyme folowyng y e kyng of Spayne was dryuen of necessyte to treate wyth the duke of a peace concorde Of the whyche peace as wytnesseth Polycronycon in hys last boke and .vii. chapyter the condycioÌ„ was that fyrste for a fynall concorde the kynge of Spayne shuld marye y e duke eldest doughter name CoÌ„stauÌ„ce and that done he shulde gyue vnto y e duke in recoÌ„pensacyon of hys costes so many wedges of golde as shulde charge or lade .viii. charettes and ouer that yerely durynge the lyues of the sayde duke and hys wyfe he shuld at hys propre coste and charge delyuer to the dukes assygneys .x. M. marke of golde wythin y e towne of Bayon And after thys peace was stablysshed and suertyes taken for the perfourmaunce of the same the duke departed wyth the kynge of Portyngale To whome shortelye after he maryed hys second doughter named dame Anne In thys yere also for cruel warre whyche the Turkes made agayne the Ianueys or men of Ieane they requyred ayde of the kynges of Englande and Fraunce For whyche cause oute of Englande was sente a noble warryour called erle of Alby wyth two thousande of archers and out of Fraunce the duke of Burbon and the erle of Ewe wyth .xv. C. speres The whych kept theyr iournay tyll they came vnto a cytye in Barbary named Thunys somtyme belongynge to the sayde Ianuays where the sayd Englyshe Frenchemen bare them so manfully wyth the ayde of y e Ianuayes that in proces of tyme they wanne y e sayde cytye froÌ„ the Turkes and put y e Ianuayes agayne in possessyon therof toke of theym many prysoners the whyche were exchaunged for chrysten prysoners before taken and ouer that forsed the sayd Sarazyns to yelde vnto the Ianuayes .x. M. ducates of gold for confyrmacyon of a peace for a certayne tyme. But the French cronycle sayth that for so moche as the duke of Burbon hadde vnderstandynge y t the duke of Lancaster made warre vpon kyng IohnÌ„ of Spayn he therfore lefte thys iournay and ayded hiÌ„ agayne the sayde duke of Lancaster to hys lytle honour But howe so euer it was many of the EnglyshmeÌ„ were loste in those countreys by reason of the flyxe and other sykenesses Also Antoninus sayeth that the Sarazyns at thys iourney were nat dyspossessed of the cytye of Thunys but for a trewes to be hadde for two yeres they graunted vnto the chrysten men a certayne summe of money and restytucyon of many chrysten prysoners Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xci  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xcii  IohnÌ„ Chadworth  Draper   IohnÌ„ Heende  Anno. xv  Henry Uamere  IN thys .xv. yere of kynge Rycharde he kepynge hys Crystmas at hys manour of woodstocke the erle of Penbrooke beynge yonge of age was desirouse to lern to iuste and requyred a knyghte named syr IohnÌ„ saynte Iohan to renne wyth hym certayne courses At
admytted it were nedefull vnto the realme in auoydyng of all suspeccyon and surmyses of ylle dysposed persones to haue in wrytynge and regestred the manyfolde crymes and â—efautes before done by the sayd Rycharde late kynge of Englande to the ende that they myghte fyrste be openly shewed vnto the people and after to remayne of recorde amonge the kynges recordes The whyche were drawen and compyled as before is sayde in .xxxviii. artycles and there shewed redy to be radde But for other causes than more nedefull to be preferred the redynge of the said artycles at that season were diffâ—ered and put of whyche artycles for that that they wolde aske longe tyme to wryte also wolde to some reders â—e but small pleasure to rede I haue therfore lefte theym out here of thys worke which at lengthe are sette ouâ— in the boke of the Mayres and yere of Drewe Barentyne than mayre of London Than for so moche as the lordes of the parlyament hadde well consydered this voluntary renouncement of kynge Rycharde and that it was behouefull necessary for the weale of the realme to procede vnto the sentence of his deposayll they there appoynted by auctorytie of the states of the sayde parlyament the bisshop of saynte Asse the abbotte of Glastenburye the erle of Gloucester the lorde of Barkeley wyllyam Thyrnynge iustyce Thomas Erpyngham and Thomas Graye knightes that they shulde gyue and â—ere open sentence to the kynges deposicyon whervpon the sayde commyssyoners leynge there their hedes together by good delyberacion good couÌ„sell and auysement and of one assent agreed amonge them that the bishop of saint Asse shulde publisshe the sentence for theym and in their names as foloweth In the name of god Amen we IohnÌ„ bysshope of saynt Asse or Assenence IohnÌ„ abbot of Glastynbury Rycharde the erle of Glocester Thomas lorde of Berkeley wyllyam Thyrnynge Iustyce Thomas Erpyngham and Thomas Graye knyghtes chosen and deputed specyall commyssaryes by the thre estates of thys present parlyament representynge the hole bodye of the realme for all suche maters by the sayd astates to vs committed we vnderstandynge and considerynge the manyfolde crymes hurtes and harmes done by Rycharde king of EnglaÌ„de and mysgouernaunce of the same by a longe tyme to the great decaye of the sayde lande and vtter ruyne of the same shortly to haue ben ne had the especiall grace of our lorde god therevnto put y e soner remedy also furthermore auertysinge y t the sayde kinge Rycharde knowyng his owne insufficiencie hath of his owne mere volunte and fre wyll renounced and gyuen vp the rule and gouernaunce of this lande with all ryghtes and honoures vnto y e same belongynge and vtterly for his merytes hath iuged hym selfe nat vnworthy to be deposed of all kyngely mageste astate royall we the premysses well consyderynge by good and dilygente delyberacyon by the power name and auctoryte to vs as aboue is sayd coÌ„mytted pronounce discerne and declare the same kynge Rycharde before thys to haue be to be vnprofytable vnable vnsufficyent and vnworthy to the rule and gouernauÌ„ce of the foresayde realmes and lordeshyppes all other thappurtenaunces to the same belongynge And for the same causes we pryue him of all kyngely dygnyte and worshyppe of any kynglye worshyppe in him lefte And we depose him by our sentence â—ifynityfe forbyddynge expressely to all archebysshoppes bysshoppes all other prelates dukes marqueses erles barons and knyghtes to all other men of the foresayd kyngdome and lordeshyppes or of other places belongynge to the same realmes and lordeshippes subiectes and lyeges what so euer they be y t none of them from this tyme forthwarde to the foresaid Rycharde as kynge lorde of y e foresayde realmes lordeshyppes be neyther obedyeÌ„te nor attendaunt After whiche sentence thus openlye declared the said astates admytted forthwith the same persones for theyr procuratours to resygne and yelde vp vnto kynge Rycharde all theyr homage fealtie whyche they had made oughte vnto hym before tymes and for to shewe vnto hym if nede were all thynges before done that concernyd his deposynge The whych resygnacyon at that tyme was spared and put in respite tyll the morowe nexte folowynge And anone as thys sentence was in thys wyse passyd and that by reason therof the realme stode voyde without hede or gouernoure for the tyme the said duke of Lancaster rysing froÌ„ y e place where he before sate standing where all myght beholde hym he mekely makynge the sygne of the crosse vppon his forhede and vpon hys breste after sylence by an officer was commaunded sayd vnto the people there beyng these wordes folowyng In the name of the father sonne and holy ghoste I Henry of Lancastre clayme the realme of Englande and the crowne with all the appurtenaunces as I that am dyscended by ryght lyne of the bloode commynge from that good lorde kynge Henry the thyrde through y e ryght that god of hys grace hath sente to me wyth helpe of my kynne of my frendes to recouer the same y t which was in point to be vndone for defaut of good gouernaunce due iustyce After whyche wordes thus by hym vttered he retourned set him down in the place where he before had sytten Than the lordes apperceyuynge and herynge thys clayme thus made by thys noble man eyther of theym frayned of other what he thoughte And after a dystaunce or pauâ—e of tyme the archebysshope of Cauntorbury hauyng notycyon of the lordes myndes stode vp asked of the commons yf they wolde assente to the lordes whych in theyr myndes thoughte the clayme by the duke made to he ryghtefull and necessary for the welthe of the realme of them all wherunto with one voyce they cried ye ye ye After whyche answere the sayde archebysshop goynge vnto the duke settynge hym vpon hys kne had vnto hym a fewe wordes The whyche ended he rose takynge the duke by the ryght hande â–ª ladde hym vnto the kynges sete wyth greate reuerence sette hym therein after a certayne knelynge and orison made by the sayde duke or he were therein sette And whan the kynge was thus set in hys trone to the greate reioysynge of the people the archebysshoppe of Cauntorbury beganne there an oracion or colacyon in maner as after foloweth Uâ—â— dominabitur in populo primo ReguÌ„ capitulo .ix. These ben the wordes of the hygh and mooste myghty kynge spekynge to Samuel hys prophete techyng hym how he shuld chose and ordeyne a gouernoure of hys people of Israel whan the sayde people asked of hym a kynge to rule theym And nat wythout cause maye these wordes be sayde here of oure lorde the kynge that is For yf they be inwardely conceyued they shall gyue to vs mater of consolacion and comforte whan it is sayde that a maÌ„ shall haue lordeshyp and rule of the people nat a chylde For god threteneth nat vs as he sometyme thret the people by I saye sayenge
pytye that he suffered hym to be at hys lybertye whyche after the opynyon of wyllyam de regibus was done more of pryde than of compassyon THE CCXXV. CHAPITER IN the .xi. yere of the reygne of thys wyllyam the rede at a towne called Fynchanster in the couÌ„trey of Barke shyre a welle caste out blode as before it hadde done water And after by the space of .xv. dayes great flames of fyre were sene in the elemeÌ„t in sundry places and tymes Thys yere also y e two erles of Shrewesbury and of Chester eyther named Hugh by the kynges commauÌ„dement entred wyth theyr knyghtes the I le of Man or Anglesaye slewe therin many welshemen and gelded many moo Amonge the whyche a preste named Kynredus was draweÌ„ out of a chyrch and serued of y e same wyse and also cut hys tunge out of hys hed and put out hys one eye But this preste was of such vertue that by myracle he was restored to helthe within .iii. dayes ensuynge In the whyche season and tyme the kynge of Northganys or Norwaye wan the iles called than Orcades and now Orkeys after came wyth hys strength into the foresayd ile of Man where at the same season were the sayde two erles Than bytwene them was mortall fyght in y e whyche Hugh erle of Shrewesbury was stryken with an arowe in y e eye and dyed wythin .viii. dayes after But as sayth Guydo the Danys were chased and the Englysshemen hadde the vyctory Kyng wylliam was mych in Normandye for so myche as Robert his brother was all thys season in the holy land of whose actes shall some deale be towched in y e story of Henry the fyrste And wyllyam had myche payne to rule the Normans for they rebelled often agayne hym In the .xii. yere of hys reygne he came out of Normandye and when he saw the hall of westmynster y t he had caused to be buylded he was therwyth dyscontented that it was so lytell wherfore as it is rehersed of some wryters he entended yf he had lyued to haue made a larger and y t to haue serued for a chaumber Robert Losaunge that somtyme had ben abbot of Ramsey and than bysshop of Thetforde by gyfte of a thousand pounde to the kyng repented hym after and bewept that vnskylfull dede and toke hys waye to Rome and dyd for it hys enioyned penaunce and after retorned into Englande and turned hys see from Thetforde to Norwyche founded there a fayre monastery of hys owne goodes not of the patrymony of crystes chyrch But therin is a dowt to consyder For he was fyrste an abbot and after a bysshop About thys tyme by the meanes of one Stephen Hardynge a munke of Sherbourne an Englyshman of y e order of Sisteaux or whyte muÌ„kes had hys begynnynge in the wyldernesse of Cystery within the prouynce of Burgoyne as wytnesseth Ranulf munke of Chester But other wryters as Jacobus Phylyppus the authour of Cronica cronicaruÌ„ Matheolus wyth other sayen that this Stephen was the second abbot of y e place y t it was fyrste fouÌ„ded by the meanes of one Robert abbot of MolyneÌ„se in the yere of grace M.xcviii whyche to folow theyr sayeng shuld be in the .ix. yere of the reygne of this kyng This order was after brought into Englande by one called walter Espeke that fouÌ„ded the fyrste abbay of that relygyon at Ryuall about y e yere of grace .xi. C.xxxi The whyche shulde be about the .xxxi. yere of the fyrste Henry than kyng of England Somwhat of theyr relygyon is towched in the .x. chapyter of the .viii. boke of Polycronycon After that kynge wyllyam as before is sayde was retourned out of Normandy many wonderfull prodygyes and tokyns were shewed in England as the swellyng or rysyng of y e water of Thamys in suche wyse that it drowned dyuers townes and dyd mych harme by out passyng his boundys in dyuers places about LoÌ„don and ellys where Also the deuyll was sene walke in mannes lykenesse wyth dyuers other thynges whyche I ouerpasse The kyng was warned of this and tolde by his famylyers y t god was not coÌ„tent with his lyuing But he set all at nought and made of it a scoffe or a iape In the .xiii. yere of his reygne and begynnynge thereof as the thyrde daye of Auguste after the sayenge of Ranulfe thys kyng wyllyam beyng at hys dysporte of huntynge wythin the newe forest by glaunsynge of an arowe shot of a knyght named walter Tyrell was wounded to the deth in the .xliiii. yere of hys age After whyche dede the sayde walter escaped and saued hym self for few there were that hym pursued And so the kynge thus wounded was layde vppon an horse lytter and so conueyed to wynchester where shortly after he dyed and was buryed Of this man myghte be made a myche lenger story yf all hys dedes shulde be towched The whych toke vpon hym great thynges and mych gretter enteÌ„ded yf he myght haue lyued The daye before he was slayne one axed of hym where he wold kepe hys Crystmasse At Poytiers sayde the kynge for the erle entendeth to go towarde Hierusalem and I woll assaye to haue hys erledome in morgage for well I knowe he must cheuyche for money to perfourme that iourney The day that wyllyaÌ„ dyed he helde in his haÌ„des the .iii. bysshopryches of CauÌ„terbury of winchester and of Salysbury and dyuers abbayes of the whyche he let some to terme Also he refrayned y â— money y â— of olde tyme was payed to Rome called Rome scotte Of this wyllyaÌ„ reportyth Henry of HuÌ„tyngdoÌ„ sayth y t though this maÌ„ were lyght of som thynges yet he was stedfast stable of his promyse so y t what he ê“mysed good or euyll shuld be ê‘formed And though he were named couetous yet it shuld seme y t he was liberall as sheweth by this narracyoÌ„ folowyng Upon a season when the abbot of a place in Englande was dede two munkes of the same place the which before hadde gatheryd money made theyr frendes to kynge willyam and offered large offers eyther of them to be promoted to that dygnyte There was also a thyrde munke the which of mekenesse of humylyte folowed the other two to the entent that vppon hym that the kynge had admytted for abbot he wolde haue gyuen attendaunce and as his chapelayn to haue wyth hym returned The kynge called before hym the .ii. munkys seuerally and eyther out profered other And as he caste hys eye asyde he espyed the thyrd the whych he demed hadde comen also for the same cause Then the kynge called hym and asked yf he wold geue any more then his bretherne had offered to be abbot But he answered to the kynge and sayde that he wolde nother offer nor yet gyue for yt one peny nor wold haue so great a charge by any meane wrongefull when the kynge had well vnderstanden thys thyrde munkes answere he sayde that he was best worthy to be
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
assygne begynnynge at Gaunt so to Bruges other places more ouer they shulde yelde vnto Robert theyr erle y e castell of Courtray with all abylemeÌ„tes of warre other necessaries theruÌ„to belongyng Al whych coÌ„dicions to obserue they shuld deliuer vnto y e kyng of FrauÌ„ce good hostages But al this came to small effect as after shal appere IN the .xxvii. yere of thys Phylyp Iacob the mayster of y e teÌ„plers with an other greate ruler of y e sayd ordre whych was named Uisytour of the same after longe prysonment were brent at Parys And in the same yere kynge Phylyp arrered a taxe thorugh Fraunce whyche before that dayes was neuer herde nor spoken of Thys was so greuous that al NormaÌ„dy Picardy Champeygne allied them togyder vtterly denayde the paymeÌ„t therof wherof heryng other countrees toke the same opynyon so that a greate rumour murmour was reysed thorugh out y e realme of FrauÌ„ce in such wyse that the kyng for pacyfyeng of the people was fayne to repeale the sayd taxe In the .xxviii. yere of the reygne of kyng Philip in y e weke of Easter the iii. wyfes of the .iii. sonnes of kynge Philip that is to say Margarete the wyfe of Lowys hys eldest sonne and kyng of Nauerne Iohanne or Ione the wyf of hys seconde sonne Philip erle of Poytyers and Blaunche the wyfe of hys thyrde sonne Charles erle of Marches were accused of spouse brekyng and sent froÌ„ a place of nunnes where they lay and conueyed vnto more streyghter kepyng y e whych .iii. wyfes were al .iii. doughters vnto the duke of Burgoyn ThaÌ„ vppon strayte examynacyon made Margaret and Iohanne were gyltye of that cryme fouÌ„d wherfore they were sent vnto the castell of Gaylard in NormaÌ„dy there to be kept as prysoners terme of theyr lyues And the forenamed Blanche for so moche as she was foundeÌ„ gyltles was agayn restored vnto her lorde Charles erle of the Marches And in shorte tyme after the two paramours of the sayd Margaret Iohanne that is to saye Philip DaÌ„noy and Gautyer DaÌ„noy or waltier Dannoy knyghtes men of fame and goodly personage bretherne at the kynges commaundement were fyrst brent in the vysage with hote ireÌ„s after draweÌ„ to the gybet at PoÌ„toyse there hanged whyche mysfortune the kynge toke so greuously that he reioysed neuer after About the feast of saynte Peter or the begynnyng of August the kynge herynge of the rebellyon of the Flemynges by Engwerram hys mooste secrete couÌ„saylour made an assemble of the cytezyns of Parys and by the mouth of the saynd Enguerram desyted a subsydye of the sayd cytezeyns to mayntayne hys warre agayne the Flemynges the whyche by StephaÌ„ Barbet in the name of the hole cytye was graunted By precideÌ„ce wherof all the great cyties good townes of FrauÌ„ce were charged in lyke maner whyche caused greate vnkyndnes grudge of the people towarde y e sayd Enguerram Than prouysyon was made for a newe iourney into Flaunders so that the kynge sent hys twoo sonnes and many other nobles of his lande in the moneth of Septembre folowynge into the sayd countre of FlauÌ„ders The whyche made good spede layde fyrste theyr siege to the castel of the I le and wanne it after that entred towarde other stroÌ„ge holdes But the flemynges put them of and gaue vnto the Frenche hoost so sharpe assautes that in processe they were constrayned to retourne into Fraunce wyth smal honoure wherof the great defaute was layde vpoÌ„ Enguerram and vpoÌ„ one of the sonnes of the erle of Flaundres whych lytel tofore by meanes of y e sayd EnguerraÌ„ was made erle of Neuers In the moneth of Nouembre folowyng kynge Phylyp beyng at fouÌ„tayne Beliaunt in the prouynce of Gastenoys was taken with suche sykenesse and dyed shortly after when he had reygned .xxviii. yeres and more and hys body after caryed vnto saynt Dionise and there buryed leuing after hym y e thre forenamed sonnes Lowys Philyp Charlys a doughter named Isabell whych before tyme was maryed vnto the seconde Edwarde thaÌ„ kyng of Englande Anglia EDwarde the seconde of y t name soÌ„ne of Edwarde the fyrst born at Carnaruan in a towne of walys beganne his reygne ouer Englande in the moneth of Iulii .viii. day of the sayd moneth in the yere of our lord .xiii. C. .vii the .xxi. yere of the .iiii. Phylip than kyng of Frauce The whych was crowned at westmynster the .xiiii. daye of Decembre after the oppinioÌ„ of dyuers wryters But Ranulph moÌ„ke of Chester in his boke of Policronicon sayth y t he was crowned in the forsayd monastery of the bisshop of wynchester the sonday in quinquagesima whych is the .xiiii. day after the closyng of Alleluya of the bisshoppe of wynchester for so moche as Robert than archebisshope of CauÌ„terbury was than out of Englande Thys Edwarde was fayre of body great of strengthe but vnsted faste of maners vyle in coÌ„dicions For he wolde refuse the company of lordes men of honour hauÌ„te hym with vylayns vyle ê‘sones He also gaue hym to great drynkyng lightly he wolde dyscouer thiÌ„ges of great couÌ„sayl with these many other disalowable condicions he was exercysed whych tourned hym to great dishonour hys lordes to great vnrest as by the sequele of thys hys story shall appere Anone as hys father was buryed and hys exequy scantly fynysshed he forgettynge the hyghe chargeable commauÌ„dement of hys sayd father sent in all haste for hys olde compere Pyers of Gauâ—stone The whych he receyued wyth all ioy gladnesse auaunced hym to moche honour And thus passed the season of y e olde mayre and shyreffes of London so y t at the feastes of Myghelmas Symon Iude folowyng y e olde mayre and shyreffes that is to meane syr Iohan Blount Symon Bolet Godfrey at the conduyt were dyscharged and the newe as vnder foloweth admytted Iuno domini M.CCC.vii  Anno domini M.CCC.viii  Nycholas Pygotte  Syr IohnÌ„ Blount  Anno primo  Myghell Drury  IN thys begynnynge of thys mayres yere and fyrst yere of y e kynge the sayd kynge Edwarde in the moneth of Decembre sayled into FrauÌ„ce and the .xv. day of Ianuarii folowynge at Boleyn in Pycardy maryed Isabell the doughter of Philyp le Beaw than kyng of Fraunce soon after retourned with her into Englande so vnto London where of the cytezeyns they were ioyously receyued and so conueyed vnto west mynster where as before is shewed vpon the sonday in quinquagesima they were bothe solemply crowned At whyche coronacyon was so excedynge prease that a knyghte called syr IohnÌ„ Bakwell was thrested to deth Than the kynge gaue shortely after vnto Pyers of Gauestone the erledome of Cornewayl and the lord shyp of wallyngford was ruled all by hys wanton counsayll folowed the appetite and pleasure of his body nothynge orderynge by sadnesse nor yet
towarde the ryuer of Ancherre and so vnto Burdeaux In all whyche iourney they passed wythout fyghte or batayll natwithstādyng the great hurte domage they dyd vnto y e townes coūtres as they passed Excepte at a place or towne called Orchye a knyght of Fraūce called syr Iohn̄ de Uyenne encountred .l. speres and .xx. archers that were strayed from theyr hoste and set vppon theym and slew some parte of theym and toke the resydue of theym prysoners So that the Frenche boke sayth for so moche as for lacke of meate for theyr horses and other paynfull thynges that in that iourney to theym happened that though that iournay were vnto the Englysshemen honorable to ryde so ferre in the kynges lāde vnfoughten wyth yet it was to theym very paynfull cōsyderyng the manyfolde chaunces fallynge to theym as losse of horses and other thynges duryng that passage Anno dn̄i M.CCC.lxxii  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.lxxiii  Iohn̄ Awbry  Adam of Bury  Anno .xlviii.  Iohn̄ Fysshyde  IN thys .xlviii. yere were sente fro the pope than beyng the .xi. Gregory the archebysshop of Rauenne and the bysshop of Carentras for to treate of the peace betwene the .ii. kynges of Englande and of Fraūce The whyche assembled them at Bruges in Flaundres whyther also for kynge Edwardes partye came the duke of Lancastre and the bysshope of Londō wyth other And for Charles the Frenche kynge appered there the duke of Burgoyne the bisshop of Amyens and other The whyche cōmyssioners after they had spente a greate parte of the lente in disputacions of thys matter the partyes for the Frenche kynge desyred a lycence of the legates that they myghte ryde vnto Parys and shewe vnto y e kyng the offycers of the englysshe partye and so to retourne with hys pleasur wherupon it was agreed that a certayne shulde ryde to shew vnto the Frenche kynge y t the Englysshemen abode styffely vpon the souerayntye that the kynge of Englande and hys heyres kynges shal enioy all the former landes comprysed in the peace made betwene hym and Iohn̄ than kyng of Fraūce as before is shewed in the .xxxiiii. yere of thys kyng wyth out homage or other duyte for them doynge For thys matter as sayth y e Frenche cronycle kyng Charlys assembled at Parys a great parte of y e nobles of hys realme wyth many other wyse mē doctours of dyuynite to haue that case suffyciently argued and debated In the whyche coūsayl it was plenerly determyned that the kyng myght nat gyue ouer the sayd souerayntye without great peryll of hys soule as there was shewed by diuers resons whan thys reporte was brought vnto Bruges y e sayd treaty was dissolued wythoute any conclusyon takynge excepte the peace was contynued tyll the feast of all sayntes next ensuynge Anno domini M.CCC.lxxiii  Anno domini M.CCC.lxxiiii  Rycharde Lyons  wyllyam walworth  Anno .xlix.  wyllyam wodhowce  IN thys yere that is to vnderstande in the begynnynge of thys mayres yere and ende of the xlviii yere of kyng Edwarde a new wyse cōplayned vpon to the kyng y t he was throwen into pryson where he lay many yeres after Than kyng Edwarde created Rychard sonn̄ of prynce Edward prynce of walys gaue vnto hym y e erledomes of Chester and Cornewayll And also for the kyng waxed feble sykely he than betoke the rule of the lande vnto syr Iohn̄ of Gaunt duke of Lancastre and ordeyned hym as gouernour of the lande whyche so contynued durynge hys fathers lyfe In thys yere also the tenaūtes or menyall seruaūtes of the erle of warwyk made a ryot vpon the monkes of Euyshm̄ and slewe hurte many of the abbottes tenauntes spoyled and brake hys closures and warynnes and sewed theyr pondes and waters and dyd vnto them many displesures to the vtter ruyne of that monastery ne had the kyng y ◠soner haue sente downe to the erle hys letters chargynge hym to sease withdraw hys men from that ryot whych afterwarde was pacified without any notary punysshement of suche persons as were begynners or executours of that ryot Anno domini M.CCC.xcvi  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.xcvii  Androwe Pykman  Nycholas Bembre  Anno .lii.  Nycholas Twyforde  IN thys .lii. yere and .xii. daye of the moneth of Apryl syr Iohn̄ Mynster worth knyght for certayne tresons of the whych he was conuict before the mayre and other iustyces of the kyng in the Guyld halle was thys foresayd daye at tyborne put in execucion that is to meane hanged heded and quartered hys hed sette after vpō Lōdon brydge The cause of whose dethe was for so moche as he beynge put in trust by the kyng receyued greate summes of money to paye wyth the kynges sowdyours the whyche he kepte vnto hys owne vse and deceyued the kynge and hys sowdiours And whan therof he was to the kyng accused he feryng punysshement fledde into Fraunce there conspyred newly agayne his natural prynce so lastly was taken and receyued hys meryte In thys yere also began a wōderfull cysme in the churche of Rome For after the deth of the pope the .xi. Gregory was chosen .ii. popes wherof the fyrst was named the .vi. Urbā and that other the seuenth Clement the fyrste an Italy on borne and that other a Frencheman Of the whyche ensued suche dyscorde in eleccyon of the pope that by the terme of .xxxix. yeres after there was euer .ii. popes in suche auctorytye that harde and doughtefull it was to knowe whether was indubitat pope And vpon the .xxii. daye of the moneth of Iuny dyed at hys manour of Shene now called Rychmoūt kyng Edward y e thyrde of that name whā he had reygned .li. yeres and .v. monethes and odde dayes leuyng after hym .iiii. sonnes that is to saye Leonell duke of Clarence Iohn̄ of Gaūt duke of Lancastre Edmund of Lāgley duke of yorke and Thomas of woodstok erle of Cambrydge Of the whyche sonnes wyth other nobles of hys realme he was honourably cōueyed frō his sayd manour of Shene vnto the monastery of westmynster and there solempnely wythin the chapell of saynt Edwarde vppon the south syde of the shryne wyth thys Epytaphyor superscrypcion in a table hangyng vpon hys tombe ¶ Hic decus Anglorum flos regum preteritorū Forma futurorum rex clemens pax populorum Tercius Edwardus regni complens iubileum Inuictus pardus pollens bellis Machabeus The whych is thus to be vnderstāde in our mother tūge as folowynge Of Englyshe kynges here lieth the beauteuous floure Of all before passed myrrour to them shall sue A mercifull kynge of peace conseruatour The .iij. Edwarde The deth of whome maye 〈◊〉 All Englysshmē for he by knyghtehode due was lyberde inuict and by feate Marciall To worthy Machabe in vertu peregall PHylyp de Ualoys erle of Ualoys sonne of Charles de Ualoys brother vnto y e .iiii. Philip was admitted for