townes and stronge holdes in Brytayne Anno domini M.CCC.lviii  Anno domini M.CCC.lix  Symonde wymondham  Symonde Doffelde  Anno .xxxiiii.  Iohn̄ Chychester  IN thys .xxxiiii. yere or more veryly in the moneth of Nouembre ende of the .xxxiii. yere of kynge Edwardes reygne he wyth prynce Edward and the duke of Lancastre wyth a puyssant army landed at Caleys and from thens passed by lande vnto Artoys by Uermendoys to y e cytye of Reynes and layde hys siege about that cytye and beclypped it in suche wyse that no man might entre or go out of the cytye without lycēce of the Englysshemen whan kynge Edwarde had lyen xl dayes at the siege of reynes without great dere or hurt vnto it doyng he remoued hys syege passed by the countre of Champayne tyll he came to a towne called Guyllone where y e kynge rested hym a season In which tyme came vnto hym certayne mē of the duchye of Burgoyne as lordes of dyuers holdes and townes within that duchery gaue vnto hym to y e entent he shuld nat molest or hurte y e countre ii C.M. floryns of golde whyche is to the value of sterlynge money of .xxxv. M. li. And ouer that the sayd Burgonyons couenaunted wyth hym that they wolde mynystre to hym and his hoste all such vytayles as was in y e countre plentuously for hys money And that done he departed frome thens yode vnto Neuers and passed there the ryuer of Dyon or Ion̄ and yode to Colāges vpon Ion̄ And from thens in the moneth of Marche and begynnynge of hys .xxxiiii. yere of his reygn he yode by the countre of Gastenoys toward the cytye of Parys And prynce Edwarde with hys company passed by Moret tyll he came to an hold which Englysshmē than kept called Tournelles or Cournelles before y e which towne or holde lay at that season certayne Frenchmen in a stronge bastyle assayled the Englyshmen dayly and remoued nat thens all be it they were monysshed of the prynces commynge They trusted so moche in the strength of theyr bastyle whyche thē disceyued for wythin .v. dayes of the princes commyng theyr bastyle was goten and many of them slayne and to the nombre of .xlvii. persones of y e company taken prysoners Amonge the whyche were .iiii. men of name y e is to saye the lorde of Bouyle or Bonile the lorde of Daygreuyle or of Aygreuyle syr Iohn̄ de Barres and syr wyllyam de Plassyes Thus kynge Edwarde wyth hys people spedyng hys iourney toward Parys vppon the tuysdaye beynge the laste daye of Marche in the weke before Easter came vnto a place called the hostell of Chastelon betwene Moūtlehery and Chastes lodged hym wyth a certayne of hys people there And y e prince with other lordes of hys hoste were lodged in the townes thereabout from thens vnto the towne of Corueyll an other towne called longe Iumell Thanne Charles eldest sonne of kynge Iohn̄ and that day regent of Fraunce made meanes of treaty whyche was laboured by a freer called Symonde de Langres prouyncyal of the freers Iacobynes legat of the pope By whose meanes a day of treaty was appoynted to be holdē vppon good fryday in the maledery of le longe Iumel where at the same daye and place apered for kynge Edwardes partye the duke of Lācastre the erles of warwyke of Northāpton wyth syr Iohan de Chande syr waltyer de Manuy and syr wyllyam Cheyny knyghtes And for the regēt apered there the lorde of Fewe than constable of Fraunce the lorde Bocy quant than marshall of Fraunce the lord of Sarancyers the lord of Uyg nay of the coūtre of Uyenne syr Symond Bucy syr Guychard of Auglye knyghtes whyche treaty came to none effecte wherfore kynge Edwarde vpon the tuysdaye folowynge Easter daye remoued frome the sayd hostell and lodged hym nere vnto Parys at a place named Chastellone nere vnto Mountrouge And the residue of his hoste was lodged at Uauuys at Uaugerart at Gētylly and other townes there about Thā vpō frydaye folowynge beynge the .x. daye of Apryl by meanes of y e abbot of Clugny which newly was sent from the pope Innocēt the .vi the forsayd lordes knyghtes agayne assembled at a place called the Bālyē to treate of an accorde betwene the kynge the regent But theyr labour was spent in vayne as it before had ben Uppon the sondaye nexte folowynge a parte of y e kynges hoste came before the towne of Parys and enbataylled theym in a felde faste by saint Marcelles and taryed there frome the mornynge tyll thre of the clocke at after noone to abyde batayle of the Frenchemen The whyche made none yssue oute of cytye natwithstandynge that as testifyeth the Frenche boke within Parys at that daye were greate plentye of Sowdyours ouer and besyde the greate foyson of the enhabytauntes of the same whanne the Englysshemen perceyued that they shulde haue no batayll of the Parysyens they aboute thre at after noone departed the feld and toke theyr waye towarde Chartres and so vnto Bōneuale nere vnto Chaceadon Than kynge Edwarde was lodged at a place calle Dones To the whych place came vnto hym out of Parys the byshoppe of Beauuayes than chauncellour of Normādye with other and so behaued them vnto the kynge that a new daye of treaty was appoynted to be holden at Bretynguy within a myle or lytell more of Chartres fore sayde vppon the fyrste day of May next ensuyng AT whyche daye of apoyntemente the foresayd duke of Lancaster wyth the sayde erles of warwyke and Northampton and other at the sayde place apperyd for kynge Edwarde And for the regent appered there the forenamed byshop wyth many other lordes and knyghtes and spyrytuall men to the nomber of .xxii. persons whose names I ouer passe for lengthynge of tyme. The whyche so dylygently behaued hym that in the space of .viii. dayes they agreed vpon an vnyte peace the whyche was comprysed in .xli. artycles as at length is rehersed in the Frenche cronycle wherof the effecte is thys Fyrste the kynge of England and hys heyres kynges wyth all the landes as he than hadde in Gascoyne Guyan shulde haue to hym and hys heyres for euer the cytye and castell of Poytyers wyth all the appertenaūces to that lordshyp belongyng Also the cytye of Lymoges wyth all the lādes of Lymosyne and all other theyr appertenaūces The cytye and castell of Perygorte wyth all the landes and reuenues to that lordshyppe belongynge The erledome of Bygorre wyth all thynges to that lordshyppe belongyng The erledome of Poytyau wyth all the appertenaunces The sygnorye of Beleuyle The lordshyp of Exanctys Exaucdoure and Exancon̄ The cytye of Agen the cytye of Agenoys the cyty of Caours and lordshyppe of Caoursyn The cytye of Tarbe the cytye and countre of Gaure Angoulesme of Rodes and of Rouern̄ The lordshyppe of Mostruell wyth all reuenues therunto belongynge The sygnorye of Caleys of Marquell of
from thens to Uerdune or Uerdoune Theodoberte hauynge knowlege of hys malycyouse brothers purpose gaderyd in Austracy a greate hoste and so sped hym tyll he came to the cytye of Toull where bothe hostes shortely after met and in the feldes or playnes nere to the cytye foughte a stronge batayle In the which was slayne greate people vppon bothe sydes but the more parte vppon the syde of Theodobert wherfore he fynally was compelled to forsake the felde and fled vnto Coleyne where he gaderyng a newe powar fought agayne wyth hys brother In the whyche fyght he had lyke fortune was agayn chasyd to hys grete shame and losse whom Theodoricus as hys mortall enemye folowed fyrynge and wastynge the countreys as he went in so myche that the inhabytauntes of the couÌ„treys fell before hym besechynge his grace that for the offence of one man he wolde not destroye so many innocentes assurynge hym forthermore that they wolde become hys lyegemen and holde theyr lande of hym for euer At whyche request he sayde gladly he wolde to them graunte theyr petycyon yf that they wolde presente to hym the hedde of hys brother After the whych answere by them of Theodorych receyued they amonge them selfe appoynted out a certayne of persones moste apte to theyr purpose and wyllyd theym to go vnto Theodobert to execute theyr entent The whyche sped theyr iourney tyll they came to the presence of Theodobert shewyd vnto hym that yf he wolde be agreable to departe wyth suche stuffe and iewellys as he had of hys faders so that Theodoryche myghte be partener therof he shulde haue perfyght amyte and rest wyth hym To the whyche wordes he gyuynge confydence and truste called wyth hym the sayde persones and brought them into y e howses where the sayd stuffe and iewellys lay And whyle he was busyed to deuyde out and appoynte y e porcyon of hys one of the sayde persons slewe hym sodeynly and after of one agrement strake of hys hed and in secrete wyse caused yt to be conueyed vnto hys brother whan Theodoryche hadde receyued the hed of hys brother he sped hym to Coleyne where this treason was wrought and receyued the cytye into hys possessyon wyth all y e kyngdome of Austracy to hys brother belongynge And when he had there ordred hys nedes after hys mynde wyth two sonnes and an excedynge fayre doughter of Theodobert he spedde hym vnto Mees the chefe cytye of Austracy where wyth hym met hys graundmoder Brunechyelde The whyche perseuerynge in all malyce and myschefe caused y e sayd two sonnes to be shortly slayn Theodorych then restoryd or delyuered vnto Clothayre all such laÌ„des as to hym he had before promysed Theodoryche thus endynge hys warre the whyche by a longe season spent hys tyme in kepynge of concubynes was nowe rauyshed wyth the beaute of his brothers doughter the whyche he hadde brought from Coleyne But that doyng Brunechyeld wythstode wyth all her power because the mayde was so â—eâ—e of hys kynne For the whych he beyng with herfore dyscoÌ„tent sayde o thou most wycked false woman dyd not thou make me to beleue that Theodobert was not the sonne of my father but that he was the sonne of a gardyner For what cause hast thou caused me to ê‘secute my brother and lastely to â—lee hym After the whyche wordes he wolde haue slayne her yf he of his lordes hadde not ben letted whyche dede not forgotten of this vngoodly woman euer after imagyned howe she myght brynge Theodoryche out of lyfe And lastely she hyryd such as were about hym to consent to her iniquyte so that vpon a season when he came out of his stew or bayn he axyd drynke by y e force wherof he was poysoned â—yed soone after wheÌ„ he had reygned .xviii. yeres Howe be yt Antoninus in the .vi. chapyter .xii. tytle of the seconde parte of hys worke sayth that he was brent wyth fyre by the dyuyne power THE CXXVI CHAPITER NOw that I haue shewed vnto you the fyne ende of these two bretherne by reason of whose deth the hole pryncypate of Fraunce fell vnto the abouenamed Clothayr I shall now expresse vnto you the dedys by hym done after he hadde all the rule onely So yt was that y e forenamed Brunechyelde malygned euer agayn Lothayr And to the fortherauÌ„ce of her malyce â–ª she behauyd her in such wise wyth some of the rulers lordes of Austracy that she caused them to admytte owne named Sygebert to be ryghtfull enherytoure of that lande â–ª But for that some of them had good experyence of theyll dysposycyon of this woman they therfore sent two noblemen of that lande name Pepyn and Arnold vnto Clothayre willynge hym to sende hastely into that prouynce After the whyche message by these two lordes reported Clotharius shortely after spedde hym into Austracy and at a castell called Cathomat he lodgyd hym with hys people whereof herynge Brunechielde sent vnto hym gaue vnto hym monicyon that he shuld voyde the land for so myche as Sygebert the eldest sonne of Theodoryche was therof ryghtefull enherytour ye haue harde before that Theodoryche vsyd lemmans of the whyche he receyued foure sonnes y t is to say Sygebert Corbe Chyldebert and Merone wherfore y e foresayde Brunechyelde entendynge to dystourbe Lothayre and all the lande fortyfyed the sayd Sygebert to clayme the lande of Austracye And when Clothayre hadde receyued knowlege of this maundemeÌ„t from Brunechielde or Bruncheuste he sent to her answere that he wolde assemble the lordes of Austracy and be demed by theym whyther thys land belonged to hym or Sygebert And she ferynge that sentence excyted people of the prouynce of Germanye to strength her partye wyth all the people that she myght make of the sayde countre of Austracy And that to bryng about she sente one Garnery an other Albon Of this Garnery she hadde suspeccyon that he shuld fauour y e partye of Lothayre wherfore to Albone hys felowe she sente letters that he shulde put the sayde Garnery away wheÌ„ Albone had ouer rad the letter he brake yt in peces threwe theym from hym And afterwarde a frende of Garneryes gaderyd the peces and so ioyned theym that he conceyuyd the sentence of the letter and forthwyth shewyd yt vnto Garnery when Garnery perceyued the malycyous entent of Brunechielde he kepte yt secrete to hym selfe all be it that he by his secrete meanes caused the Germanyes that they shuld take no partye wyth Brunechyelde And that done he retourned into Burgoyne where wyth her and in her coÌ„panye he solycyted so the lordes of Burgoyne that some of them abhorred the crudelite of that woman And when Garnery hadde in thys wyse compassed hys maters he sent vnto Lothayr shewyd that yf he myght haue hys grace and safecondute he wolde come to hym and shew to hym thynges concernynge hys aduauntage All the whyche was graunted Then Clothayre by counsayle of y e sayd Garnery assembled his power shortly sente a
.v. thousande and odde And of the Frenchemen were slayne but .xv. hundred onely For the whyche vyctoryous acte the sayde Charlys obteyned a surname and was called after that day Carolus Martellus the whyche is to meane Charles the hamer For lyke as the hamer maketh all metallys plyable so Charlys made hys foes or enemies pliable to his hestis And as the hamer cutteth breketh or dysseueryth iron and other harde metallys so dyd thys Charlys dysmeÌ„ber cut or breke the enemyes of FrauÌ„ce thorough his high prowesse It is shewyd in the bokes called Cronica cronicarum Supplementum cronicarum Policronica and other that this vyctory was obteyned by Charlis of the Sarasins but not as inhabytauns or incolers of Spayne but that they were yssuyd out of Africa and then warryd and hadde wonne great countreys in Spayne The whyche is more accordaunt wyth hystoryes For in the plegys or rehersayllys of the names of kynges of Spayne I fynde no kynge of that name Then yt foloweth in the story when Charlis Martell hadde thus obteyned vyctory he coÌ„mauÌ„ded all y e pillage to be brought to one place That done he deuyded it amonge hys knyghtes And shortly after Endo knowlegynge hys offence and sekyng meanes of mercy was agayne restoryd to the lande of Gascoyne THE CXLVIII CHAPITER CHarles Martell hauynge the duke of Gascoyne thus recouÌ„cylyd sent hym wyth a certayne of knyghtes agayn the reste of the sayd Sarazyns the whyche by hys man hode he oppressyd and subdued and clerely voydyd the lande of theym Then soone vpon this beganne the Burgonyons to rebelle and made sharpe warre vpon the Frenchemen nexte adioynaunte to them and dyd vnto the countrey and inhabitauÌ„tes of the same great harme The which warre the sayde Martell that therin toke great payne not without great payne lastely yt appeasyd and them subduyd In tyme of the whyche warre so contynuynge Endo before rehersyd duke of Gascoyne dyed wherfore Charlis to sette that prouynce in an order and due obeysaunce yode thether where he beynge busyed about the nedes of the same tydynges to hym were broughte that the wandalys which ben of the kynde or lynage of the Hunys before touched hadde entred the land wyth an houge power and in wastynge the countrey approchyd y e citye of SenoÌ„s or Sens and yt enuyroned or beclypped wyth a stronge syege But by the vertue and strength of the archbyshop of y e cytye named Ebe Ebbe or Obbo wyth the assystence of the cytezyns of the same the sayde cytye was defendyd and delyueryd from the power of the fayde wandalys the power of them abbatyd and subduyd For these manyfolde incurcyons and assautys of enymyes and rebellyon of the countrees that were subiecte to the crowne of Fraunce the treasour of Fraunce specyally of y e temporall people was sore minyshed and wastyd wherfore in defence of all the lande Charlis Martell made requeste to the spirituall men with great dyffyculte hadde yt graunted that he myght leuy certayne dymys to wage therwith soudyours prepayre other necessaryes for y e warre Thys after the opinyon of some writers was the fyrste tyme that euery spirytuall mannes money wythin y e realme was occupyed to temporall vse wherfore as yt is reported of dyuerse cronyclars the sayde Charlis when he was ded was sene by the byshoppe of Orleaunce named Ethereus to be in great payne and tourment Then Charlis moued his hoste towarde the Burgonyons that agayn were of newe styred and exhortyd by dyuerse persones to newe rebellyon And after his comynge thyther dyd execucyon vppon suche persons as he founde culpable and not without batayll sette the country agayne in quyet then retourned into FrauÌ„ce But he rested not longe there or he harde worde that the Almaynes whyche dwellyd ouer or beyonde the ryuer called the Ryne brake ouer in to Fraunce These people are named in y e Frenche boke Sesues y e which dyd great domage vpon the countreys adioynynge to the sayde ryuer But yt was not long after or he had theym chasyd and subduyd wyth al so an nother people called the Hunis or Gothys that he before hadde also vaynquyshed The whych after this seconde scoÌ„fyture they assocyat vnto theym the kinge of Longobardes namyd Luytprandus By whose assystens and power the forsayde Gothis wan the citye of Auygnon and other stronge holdes to the great hurte of the Frenche men And for at this season Charlis was greued wyth sykenesse he therfore sent his brother named Chyldebert to wythstande the sayde enymyes y e whyche bare hym so manfully that he chasyd the sayde enymyes But thys saynge dyscordyth wyth other authours whyche shewen that betwene this Charlis and Luytprandus was contynuall amyte frendshyppe in so myche that Luytprandus ayded assysted the sayde Charlis to auoyde y e Sarasins that were entryd a countrey of Fraunce called then Gallia cisalpina In this tyme that Fraunce was thus wrapped in these harde happes and batayllys dyed the kyng Theodoricus when he hadde occupied the name onely of a kynge .xiiii. yeres Anglia THE CXLIX CHAPITER CUtbertus the neuew of Ethelardê° began his reygne ouer y e westsaxoÌ„s in the yere of grace .vii. huÌ„dred .xxix and the thyrde yere of the seconde Theodoricus then kyng of Fraunce In tyme of whose reygn Colwolphus reygned in Northumberland to whome as before in the story of Ethelarde is touched holy Beda wrote the story called Historia Anglicana About the .ii. yere of the reygne of this Cutberte apperyd in the fyrmament .ii. blasynge starrys or .ii. starris wyth crestes caste as yt were brennynge brondes towarde the Northe And about the .vi. yere of the reygn of Cutbert dyed the foresayde holy Beda the which in his tyme made wrote .lxxviii. bokes ouer and besyde his manyfold workes of vertue that he vsyd by all his lyfe tyme. It ys told of hym that in his later dayes when he was blynd he was brought by y e frawde of his leder vnto a great hepe of stonys the whych his leder shewyd to hym was an assemble of men and women that were thether comyn to here hym preache the word of god Then he thynkynge hys reporte to be true anon wyth great deuocyon beganne there a collacyon And therof when he came to the ende the stonys by dyuyne power in lykenesse of a great multytude of people sayd Amen or after the sayng of Antoninus Deo gratias He was so noble of lernynge and excellent in connynge that the fyrste Sergius pope of Rome sent for him to assoyle qÌ„styons there made in the popes vniuersyte Also his connyng is apparent in the bokes whyche he wrote super Genesim super Thobiam super Esdriam suê‘ Neemiam wyth other whyche wolde aske a longe tracte of tyme to reherse wyth also the omelies made vppon the gospellys but I passe ouer â–ª when he was dede he was buryed at y e abbay of Gyruy all be yt the comynyng is that he restyth now wyth
the sayde Danys they as tyrauntes and cruell enymyes to Crystes fayth hadde spoyled many chyrches and temples and a monasterye of saynt Peter in Corby and throwen yt downe to the ground After which vyle and cruell dede by theym done Lewys gaue vnto them batayll and slew of them great nomber and chased the remanaunt But after this vyctorye ensuyd a great wonder For when the crysten hadde as before is sayde chasyd the pagans or Danys they retourned as confusyd and dysparkled lyke as all the hoste of Danys hadde theym pursued so that well was hym that myghte ronne fastest and hyde hym selfe from the daunger of his enymy For yt was thought to them and apparent to theyr syght that theyr enymyes folowed at theyr backes wyth all kynde of wepyn and yet folowed thē no man The whych fere flyght of Frenche men as sayth myne authour was sent to theym by dyuyne purueaunce for so myche as they so often before tyme had won the pryce of theyr enymyes and had not therfore gyuen due thanke vnto god but referred yt to theyr owne strenghtes and vertue Then the Danys herynge of this dysparklyng of the crysten hoste reassembled theyr power and ppayred them to new fyght wherfore y e kyng called to gyther his knyghtes so as before is sayd dysparkled and mette wyth theym nere vnto the aboue named ryuer of Lyger But when both hostes were wythin a days iourney the kynge was aduysed by some of his coūsayll y t he shulde not as then fyght wyth thē For the whych cause he yode vnto Compeynge and there kept the feast of Crystemasse And whyle the kynge was lodged in Cōpeynge he delyueryd his hoste vnto a noble man of his land named Theodorych wyllynge hym to go agayne the Danys Of whose exployt or spede myne authoure maketh no mencyon but sayeth that soone after the foresayde feast the kynge spedde him to Turon̄ where he sent to rayse the Brytōs of lytell Britayn to with stande the foresayde enymyes In the whyche passetyme he was there taken wyth a maladye from thens in a lytter caryed vnto saynte Denis where he dyed was buried Or as sayth maister Gaguyn he dyed at Turon̄ and was after cōueyed vnto saynt Denys and there buried But for all wryters ioyne the reygn of these two bretherne in one therfore I wyll now shewe vnto you the fyne or conclusyon of the other brother called Charlys or Charlemayn the whyche all thys whyle mayntened the syege aboute Uyenne where his brother as before is touchyd left hym To whom the lordes of Fraūce sente in all haste gyuynge to hym knowlege of the deth of his brother and also of the great daunger that the land was in by reason of the Danys wherof when the sayd Charlys hadde thus wyttynge he lefte a parte of hys people at the sayde syege and wyth the other deale he sped hym towarde Champayne for so mych as he was enfourmed that the Danys were drawen towarde that coste And as he was in hys iourney worde was broughte vnto hym that Uyenne was delyueryd vnto suche persones as he hadde there left to maynteyne the syege And after thys came a nother messenger whyche shewyd to hym that the Danys hadde destroyed dyuers chyrches in Champayne and other places and howe the byshoppe of Meaws that agayne theym hadde ladde an host of people was of them slayne and hys people chasyd and ouer thys at the foresayde ryuer of Lyger an other hoste of Danis with theyr leder called Hastynges was assembled The whych in that partyes wasted the countrey as the other in other places dyd whyche somdeale apasled the herte of the kynge Charlys How beyt by the comforte that he hadde dayly receyued from the lordes of Fraunce he kepte on hys iourney and made towarde the next of his enymyes But when he drew nere vnto them were yt for his own cowardyse or of the counsayll of his lordes he fell to a communycacyon of peace And fynally concluded that Godfrey the prynce of Danys to cōfesse the fayth of Cryste and to be crystened shulde enioye the hole prouynce of Fryse And wyth in the same he wyth hys Danys to inhabyte theym The whyche condycyon of peace was the begynnynge of greate sorowe and losse vnto Fraunce as after shall appere For all be yt that the sayd Godfrey to deceyue the Frenchmen shewed outwarde countenaūce to be crysten man for a whyle he shortely after wyth an hoste of .xl. thousande Danys entred the land wastynge the countrey tyll he came to Parys and layde there hys syege about the same citye But by the arch byshoppe of Parys then named Iosselen̄ and the inhabytaunces of the same the cytye was manfully defended so that he with his Danys was fayne to breke hys syege and from thens yode to the cytye of Laon̄ and wan yt by strength and after yt spoyled and robbed and after brent And fro thens to Soysons in pyllynge and destroyeng the countrey as they went in so cruell wyse that the bysshoppes and prestys fled from theyr chyrches wyth relyques and anournamentes or ornamētes belongyng to the same as the bodyes of saynte Germanye saynte Remigius and dyuers other In y e tyme of this persecucyō lyke as the lande of Englande was in great daunger so also was the land of Fraunce by meane of these pagans or myscreauntes Danys The whyche resortyd from that one realme to that other and releued theym selfe in that one land whē they were chased oute of that other But one myshappe amonges other befell in Fraunce at these dayes For Charlys theyr kynge was taken from theym in suche wyse that no wryter leueth of hym any mencyon how he dyed nor when he dyed nor no mencyon is made in the frenche cronycle nor of myne auhoure howe longe whyle he and hys brother Lewys reygned All by Uyncent historyall and Antoninus whych groūded hym vppon the sayde Uyncent and Iacobus Philippus saye that these two foresayde bretherne regned togyder and alone by the terme of .v. yeres wythoute more And the frenche cronycle and also myne authour sayen that Lewys dyed wythoute heyre and that Charlys lefte after hym a sonne whyche was named Lewys and after for his symple dedes surnamed in laten Nihil faciens or in frēche Ryen fezant whyche is to meane in our speche nought doynge But who that lysteth wele to aduertyse remēber the order of thys cronycle he shall fynde in this latter sayenge some dyscorde For where yt is sayde that thys Charlis shulde leue a sonne after hym to my yt semeth that consyderynge hys youth he shulde not be of any lawfull age to gette a chylde For by all lyklyhode of conuenyence of the storye yf all be veryfyed as yt is before declared he coude not passe y e age of .viii. yeres at the moste wherfore yt muste folowe of a congruence that other they reygned lenger tyme or ellys thys chylde or heyre Lewys aboue named was the sonne of some other man
neuew vnto Edward the confessour as before is shewed beganne hys domynyon ouer thys realme of Englande the .xv. daye of October in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon a thousand .lxvii and y e ix yere of the fyrste Phylyppe then kyng of Fraunce and was crowned kynge of the same vppon Crystmas daye nexte folowynge of Aldredus archbyshoppe of yorke for so myche as at that tyme Stigandus archbysshoppe of Caunterbury was then absent or durste not come in the pÌ„sence of the kynge to whome he ought no great fauour as in the sequele shall appere when wyllyam had sette in quyet a great parte of thys lande he betoke the gydyng therof to his brother the byshop of Bayon and in lent folowynge sayled into Normandye and led wyth hym the chefe rulers of England for doute of sturryng in tyme of his absence Amonge the whyche the two erles Marcarê° and Edwyne rulers of Northumberlande Mercia were two wyth also Stigandus and Edgare Ethelynge To the why the Stigandus wyllyam shewed great reuerence and couÌ„tenaunce of fauoure But all proued to great dissymulacyon after as was shewed by the depryuynge of the sayd Stigandus and prysonment of hym in wynchester towne by a longe terme and season In the next wynter whan wyllyam had sped hys besynesse in Normandy he retourned into England wyth greate pompe and sette a greuous trybute vpon the Englyshmen By reason wherof some partyes of the lande rebelled agayne hym and specyally the cytye of Excetour the whyche defended hym for a certayne of tyme. But lastly by force he wanne the sayde cytye and punysshed the cytesyns greuously For thys and other sterne dedes of wyllyam Marcharus erle of Northumberlande wyth Edgare Athelynge and dyuers other as hys moder and two systers Margarete and Crystyan sayled into Scotlande But another cronycle telleth y t Edgare entendynge wyth Agatha hys moder and hys two systers to haue sayled into Almayne where he was borne was by tempest of the see dryuen into Scotlande where of Malcolyne than kynge of Scottes they were ioyously receyued And in processe of tyme the sayde Malcolyne caste suche loue vnto the sayd Margaret that he toke her to wyfe as before is touched in the fyrste chapyter of the story of Canutê° Of the which Margaret the sayde Malcolyne receyued .ii. doughters and .vi. sonnes wherof thre named Edgare AlexauÌ„der Dauyd were kynges of Scotlande nexte folowynge theyr fader And Molde one of y e foresayd doughters was after maryed vnto the fyrst Henry kynge of Englande And the other doughter Mary was maryed to Eustace erle of Bolongii Of Molde the fyrste doughter Henry receyued .ii. sonnes named wyllyam and Rychard the whych bothe dyed before theyr fader as after in y e story of the sayd Henry shall appere And he receyued also two doughters named Molde and Mary whych Molde or Mawde was maryed to y e fyfte Henry emperour of Almayne After whose deth she was agayne maryed to Godfrey of Geoffrey PlaÌ„tagenet erle of Aungeowe Of whom descended Henry surnamed shorte mantell and kynge of Englande called Henry the seconde And the other doughter Mary was maryed vnto the erle of Blaynes of whoÌ„ descended Molde or Mawde that was wyfe vnto kynge Stephen Than it foloweth that thys wyllyam after thys foresayd trybute so leuyed of the Englysshemen and knowynge of the depertynge of the lordes foresayde kepte the other the streyter But it was not longe after that Marcharus was reconsyled to the kynges grace and fayled agayn as folowynge shall be shewed For thys and other causes whyche were tedyous to shewe wyllyam exalted the Normans and gaue vnto them the chyefe possessyons of the lande so that they dayly encreased in great honour and welth and the Englysh men as faste decayed Kynge wyllyaÌ„ also made .iiii. stronge castels where of two be sette at yorke the thyrde at Lyndetyngham or Notynghm and manned them wyth Normans and the .iiii. at Lyncolne About the thyrde yere of his reygne Harolde Canutus sonnes of Swanus kynge of Denmarke came on lande in the North of Humber wyth a stronge nauy and in all haste drew them towarde yorke Than the Normans whyche hadde the rule of the towne and castelles feryng that the Englysshemen wolde ayde the Danys and wyth the houses of the suburbes of the towne haue fylled the towne dyches sette the suburbes on fyre wherof y e flame was so bygge and wyth the wynde so stronge that it toke into the cytye brent a parte therof wyth the mynster of saynt Peter In tyme wherof the Danys by fauour of some of the citesyns entred the cytye and slewe more than thre thousande of the Normans But it was not longe or kynge wyllyam chased the Danys to theyr shyppes and toke so greate dyspleasure wyth the inhabytauntes of that prouynce that he destroyed the land lyenge bytwene yorke and Durham in suche wyse that .ix. yeres after or there about the lande laye vnlabored vntylled onely out taken saynt IohnÌ„s lande of Beuerley the which was for borne by reason of a wreche done by dyuyne power vpon one of kynge wyllyams knyghtes The whych as he was besyed in wastyng and spoylynge of the sayde countre fyll sodeynly wyth hys horse so that hys horse brake hys necke and the knyghtes face was turned to his backe And of the famyne that the people of that countre susteyned wonders are reported that they shuld eate all maner of vermyn as cattes rattes dogges other so harde they were kepte by the warre of the kyng And in that yere also Molde or Mawde the wyfe of kynge wyllyaÌ„ was crowned quene of England of Aldredus archebysshop of yorke In the .iiii. yere of the reygne of thys kynge the Scottes with Malcolyne theyr kynge entred Northumberlande and wasted and destroyed sore that countre and slewe there in myche people and many they toke prysoners helde theÌ„ as bonde men But in the .vi. yere of hys kyngdome wyllyam made such warre vppon the Scottes that he lastely forced the sayde Malcolyne to swere to hym bothe homage and feauty as it is wytnessed of wyllyam of Malmesbery and other wryters THE CCXX CHAPITER Kynge willyam by counsayle of the erle of Hortford and other caused the abbeyes of Englande to be serched And what money in them at that season was founde he caused it to be brought to hys treasour For the whyche dede after the exposycyoÌ„ of some authours the sayd erle was punysshed as after shall be shewed Soone vpon thys in the tyme by twene Easter and wytsontyde was holden a solempne counsayle at wynchester of the clergy of Englande At the whyche counsayle were presente two cardynalles sent from y e second Alexaunder than pope In thys couÌ„sayle Stygandus archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury was depryued from his dygnytye and that for thre skylles The fyrste was for that he had holden wrongfully that bysshopryche whyle Robert the archebysshop was lyuynge The seconde cause was for that he hadde receyued the Paule
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
necessyte was compelled to come to the cytye of Burdeaux for to haue aske ayde of prynce Edward Thys Peter was ryghtefull heyre vnto the crowne of of Castyle and Henry hys brother after moste wryters was bastarde But thys Peter was so vyle of condycyons that hys subgectes had to hym but lytell fauoure And so the warre contynued a season betwene hys brother and hym as after shall appere in the whych prynce Edward wyth hys archers toke partye wyth thys Peter and the Frenche kynge wyth hys speres tooke partye wyth Henry And in thys yere at the kynges coÌ„maundement Adam Bury thanne mayre of London was dyscharged y e xxviii daye of Ianuary and for hym electe and chosen mayre IohnÌ„ Loue kyn grocer And as wytnesseth Polycronicon other thys yere was coÌ„maunded by the kynge that Peter pens shulde no more be gadered in Englande nor payde vnto Rome as they of longe tyme had ben vsed and grauÌ„ted in the tyme of Iuo or Iewe somtyme kynge of west Saxons as before in hys story is shewed But howe so at that dayes it was than by the kynge forbodeÌ„ yet neuer thelesse at thys present tyme and season they be gadered in sondry shyres of Englande Anno domini M.CCC.lxv  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxvi  IohnÌ„ warde  IohnÌ„ Louekyn  Anno .xli.  wyllyam Dykman  IN thys .xli. yere was borne the secoÌ„de sonnÌ„ of prynce Edward at Burdeaux named Rychard in the moneth of Apryll and the thyrd daye of the sayd moneth The sayd prynce Edward wyth the kyng of Nauerne and the foresayd Peter kynge of Castyle mette wyth Henry Bastarde vsurper of the sayde kyngdome nere vnto a towne called Domyng wher betwene them was a cruell and long fyght Howe be it in the ende the victorye fyll vnto the Englysshemen Henry and hys men were chased In thys bataylle was taken syr Barthram de Glaycon syr Arnold Dodenhamme thanne Marshall of Fraunce wyth other aswell French as Brytaynes and slayne vppon fyue thousande men vpon the partie of the sayde Henry and vppon .xvi. hondreth vppon prynce Edwardes partye After whyche vyctory the prynce wyth the sayde Peter spedde theym vnto the cytye of Burgys whyche was yolden to theÌ„ shortly after theyr commynge and after holpe the sayd Peter to wynne other cytyes and holdes so that he taryed there tyll the moneth of August folowynge At whych season as sayth the cronicle of Fraunce he retourned vnto Burdeaux wythout paymente of wages for hys sowdyours that before was to hym by the sayde Peter promysed In thys season that prynce Edwarde was thus in Spayne Henry Bastarde fledde wyth hys wyfe into Fraunce abode in a place or couÌ„tre called Carcasson But so soone as he was warned that prynce Edwarde was retourned vnto Burdeaux he gadered to hym a new coÌ„pany passed by the mouÌ„taynes of the forestes so entred the sayd lande of Castile the .xxvii. daye of the moneth of Septembre folowynge had the citie called Calahore yolded vnto hym whervnto hym drewe moche people of the countre so that hys strengthe encreased hougely Than froÌ„ thens he yode vnto the cytye of Burgys where he was ioyously receyued behaued hym in suche wyse y t in short whyle after he had the hole rule of the laÌ„de of Castyle hys brother was fayne to auoyde the laÌ„de and to seche ayde of the Sarazyns as affermeth y e foresayde cronycle And in thys yere aboute the monethe of Iuny the company before mynded in the .xxxvi. yere of thys kynge entred the duchy of Guyan and there helde them in doyng moch harme to that countre lyke as they before hadde done in dyuers places of Fraunce by all that season of iiii yeres passed And in the moneth of Decembre they departed from thens and yode into the couÌ„trees of Auerne and Berry And in the moneth of February they passed the ryuer of Loyre and toke the waye towarde Marcyll and after entred the countre of Burgoyne And euer as they passed the countrees they raunsomed men and spoyled many townes as they wente And all be it that the French kyng appoynted dyuers of hys lordes and knyghtes to go agayne them yet at suche seasoÌ„s as they drewe nere vnto them they wolde suffre theym to departe wythout batayl For they were so many that they were nombred at lx M. But of theyr capytaynes is none named Howe be it there were Englyshmen Gascoynes Pycardes Frenchemen men of Nauerne and of many other nacyons whych the cronycle reherseth nat contynued in theyr force and strengthe longe after to the greate dammage of the countrees whyche they passed thorough as Normandy Gascoygne Guyan Burgoyne and all the chyef countrees of Fraunce and lyued by rauen and pyllage to the great enpoueryssynge of the sayde countrees and townes which they passed by or lodged in Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lxvi  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.lxvii  IohnÌ„ Torgolde  Iames Andrewe  Anno .xlii.  wyllyam Dykman  IN thys .xlii. yere and moneth of Marche apered Stella cometa that is a blasynge sterre And in the moneth of Apryll next ensuynge that is to saye the syxt day of the sayde moneth Leonell y e sonne of thys kynge Edwarde entred the cytye of Parys where he was of the dukes of Berry and Burgoyne honourably receyued and so by theym coÌ„ueyed vnto theyr brother the kyng of Fraunce vnto Louure where he at that seasoÌ„ was lodged Of whome he was also ioyously receyued logged wythin the kynges palays dyned souped wyth the kynge at hys owne table And vppon the morowe folowynge he dyned wyth the quene at a place of the kynges nere to saint Poule where the quene thaÌ„ was lodged And whan after dyuer he had a whyle daunsed and passed the tyme wyth other dysportes he than wyth the sayd .ii. dukes was agayne conueyed vnto the kynge souped with hym agayne that nyght And vppon the mornynge beynge tuysdaye the sayd dukes fested the sayde syr Leonell at a place of theyrs in Parys named Artoys And vpoÌ„ the wednesdaye he dyned souped agayne wyth the quene And vpon the thursday morowe folowynge the sayde syr Leonell toke hys leue of the kyng quene the whyche gaue vnto hym gyftes to suche as were in hys coÌ„pany to y e value of .xx. M. floryns aboue was coÌ„ueyed wyth noble men as the erle of Cancaruyle other tyll he was comen to Sens wyth knyghtê tyll he came to the borders of FrauÌ„ce where he gaue vnto theym ryche gyftes wyth great thankes And after he contynued hys iourney tyll he came vnto y e cytie of Mylayne where shortly after he maryed the doughter of Galyace duke of the sayde cytye and couÌ„tre had by her greate possessyons by reason that her sayde father dyed shortely after And in the ende of thys yere the erles of Armenak of Bret and of Perygort wyth dyuers other nobles of the duchye of Guyan
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
done wyth fyre in the paryshe of faynt Peters the pore And in the forenamed parlyameÌ„t was ordeyned a new coyne of syluer as grotes half grotes shyllynges with half faces And in the forsayde parlyameÌ„te was graunted to the kynge an ayde of xxxvi thousand .li. And a correccyon was dyuysed for clipped grotes Anno domini M.v. C.iiii.  Anno domini M.v. C.v. Grocer Roger Achylley  IohnÌ„ wyngar  Anno .xx.  wyllyam Browne  IN thys yere the cytezyns of LoÌ„don grauÌ„ted to the kyng .v. M marke for confermacioÌ„ of theyr lybertyes wherof a M. marke was payde in haÌ„de .iiii. M. mark in .iiii. yeres next ensuyng UpoÌ„ sat Georges day y e kyng went in procession in Poules church where was shewed a legge of saynt George closed in syluer whych was newly sent to the kyng And vppoÌ„ the .xxv. day of Apryll was a money maker one of the coyners of the towre draweÌ„ to tyborne there hanged And in y e later ende of thys yere came the thyrde cappe of mayntenaunce from the pope Anno domini M.v. C.v.  Anno domini M.v. C.vi Fysshemonger Rycharde Shore  Thomas Kneysworth  Anno .xxi.  Roger Groue  THys yere vppoÌ„ .xii. euyn the kinges chaÌ„ber at RychemouÌ„t was breÌ„t And vpoÌ„ the euyn of saynt Maury begaÌ„ an hidious wid which endured vppoÌ„ .xi. dayes folowynge more or lasse in coÌ„tynuall blowyng by meane whereof the wedercok of Poules was bloweÌ„ downe moche other harme done And by force of thys tempest the archeduke of Burgoyne was dryueÌ„ to laÌ„de in the west couÌ„tre And vpoÌ„ the second sonday of leÌ„t stood at Poules crosse the pryour of saynt Osyes .v. other heretykes And in y e ende of y e moneth of March syr EdmoÌ„d de la pool was conueyed through the citie vnto the towre and there left as prysoner And in Maye moneth was the lord of Burgeueny coÌ„mytteth to the towre for a certayn displeasure whych coÌ„cerned no treason Thys yere a new bylded galerey fyll in the nyght at RychemouÌ„t And thys yere in the ende of Iuly was a gracyous myracle shewed by oure Lady image of Barkyng by a mayden chylde that a carte laden wyth stone yode ouer Anno domini M.v. C.vi  Anno domini M.v. C.vii. mercer wyllyam Copynger  Syr Rychard Haddon Thomas IohnÌ„son Anno .xxii.  wyllyam Fytz wyllyam  IN thys yere about Crystmas was the bakers house in warwyke lane breÌ„t And thys yere was a wonderfull easy softe wynter with out stormys or frostes And this yere the kyng of hys goodnesse delyuered out of all prysons in LoÌ„doÌ„ as many prysoners as laye for .xl. s. vnder And this yere was Thomas Kneysworth late mayer hys .ii. shyreffes condeÌ„pned to the kyng in great sommes of money ouer paynfull prysonement by theym in the marshalsy susteyned Anno domini M.v. C.vii.  Anno domini M.v. C.viii. mercer wyllyam Butler  wyllyam Browne  Anno .xxiii.  IohnÌ„ Kyrkby  THys yere in the ende of April dyed the sayd wyllyam Browne and for hym was immedyatly chosen syr Laurence Aylemer for the resydue of that yere Anno supradicto  Anno supradicto Draper wyllyam Butler  Syr Laurence Aylemer  Anno predicto  IohnÌ„ Kyrkby  IN thys yere vpon the last daye of Iuny was an house in Southwarke nere vnto the brydge consumed wyth fyre And thys yere was syr wyllyam Capell agayne put in vexacyon by sute of the kynge for thynges done by hym in the tyme of hys mayralte Anno. dnÌ„i M.v. C.viii.  Anno dnÌ„i M.v. C.ix. Tayllour Thomas Exmew  Stephyn Ienyns  Anno .xxiiii.  Rychard Smyth  IN the begynnyng of the mayres tyme syr wyllyam Capell after his prysonement in the couÌ„tour shyreffes house was by the kynges counsayll commauÌ„ded to the towre where he remayned tyll the kynge dyed shortly after was delyuered wyth many other And in lykewyse was syr LaureÌ„ce Aylemer dalt with coÌ„mytted to the warde or house of Rychard Smyth shryfe there remayned as prisoner by y e space aboue sayd Thys yere vppoÌ„ the saterdaye next before saynt Georges day in the nyght whych saterdaye was the .xxi. daye of Apryll dyed the kynge oure soueraygne lorde at hys manour of Rychemount vpon whose soule and all chrysten Iesu haue mercy Amen And so thys foresayd noble prince reygned .xxiii. yeres and .vii. monethes and one daye therof lakkynge THys magnyfycent excellent prynce HeÌ„ry the .vii. thus payed to deth his dette of nature as before is sayd Of whome suffycient laude prayse can nat be put in wrytyng coÌ„syderyng y e coÌ„tynuall peace traÌ„quylete whyche he kept thys his lande comons in wyth also the subduynge of hys outwarde enymyes of the realmes of Fraunce Scotland by hys greate polycy wysedome more thaÌ„ by shedyng of cristeÌ„ bloode or cruell warre And euer ruled so myghtly hys subgectes mynystred to them suche iustyce y t nat allonely they loued and drad hym but all crysten prynces heryng of hys gloryous fame were desyrous to haue wyth hym amyte allyaunce And for that he in all teÌ„porall polycies prouisions exceded all prynces by hys tyme reygnynge dyuers popes as Alexander the syxte Pius the .iii Iulius the .ii. nowe beynge pope by theyr tymes eyther of theÌ„ sunderly wyth auctorytie coÌ„sent of theyr spyrytuall deuyne couÌ„sayll elected chase thys excellente prynce and admytted hym for chyefe defensour of Chrystes church before all other crysten prynces And for a confermacioÌ„ of the same sente vnto thys inuyncibyll prince by .iii. sundry famous ambassades thre swerdes with .iii. cappes of mayntenaunce what myght I wryte of the stedfaste contyneÌ„cy great iustyce mercyfull dealyng of thys prynce what myght I report of hys excelleÌ„te wysedome moste sugred eloquence or of hys inmouable pacience wonderfull dyscressyon Or what shuld I tell of his most beautyfull byldynges or excedyng charges of manifest reperacioÌ„s and ouer all thys of hys excedynge treasoure rychesse innumerabyll But as who wolde saye to consider in order all his notabyll actes which wolde aske a loÌ„ge tract of tyme with also the lyberall somptuous endowemeÌ„t of the monastery of westmynster other to wryte I myghte conclude y t hys actes passed all the noble actes of hys noble ê“genytours syne the conquest and may moste coÌ„gruly aboue all erthly prynces belykened vnto SalamoÌ„ kyng of y e Israelytes and be called the seconde Salomon for hys great sapience actes by him done hys lyuys tyme executed All whyche premysses tenderly considered euery naturall EnglysshmaÌ„ now lyuyng hath cause ought deuoutly to pray for the soule of this moste excellent prynce Henry the .vii that he maye atteyne that celestyall mansioÌ„ whych he and all trew crysten soules are enheritours vnto the which god hym graunt Amen And the rather because of the exelleÌ„t vertuous bryngyng and leuynge vnto vs by goddes ayde and prouysyon
Dioclecyan kyng of Sirye as in the englyshe cronycle is affermyd For in all olde storyes or cronycles is not founde that any suche kynge of that name reygned ouer the Syriens or yet Assyriens nor yet any suche storye that his .xxx. doughters shuld slee theyr .xxx. husbandes as there is surmysed was put in writynge whyche yf eny such wonder hadde ben there wrought shulde not haue ben vnremembred of the wryters auctours of that partyes consyderynge that many lesse wonders are put in writynge by the sayde wryters wherfore it ys more apparant y t yt toke that fyrst name of Albyon as aboue is sayde then of Albyne doughter of the sayde Dioclecyon And as to the GeauÌ„tes that Brute founde in this yle at his arryuayll they myght be brought into this laÌ„de by some meane of shyppes or other wyse rather then to be borne of those women as there also is imagyned Of this yle the auctours Alpherd and Beda tell many wonders which in the fyrst boke of Policronycon are suffycieÌ„tly towched where it is sayd y t this yle is called an other worlde For as sayth Solinus the edge of the Frenche cliffe shuld be the ende of the world yf this yland ne were not Many other thynges ben there specyfyed the whyche I passe ouer Thys yle is closyd on all sydes with y e see stretcheth in length out of the sowth into the north hauynge in the sowthest syde Fraunce in the south y e land of Spayne in the north y e couÌ„tre of Norway in y e weste the couÌ„tre of Irland And hath in length from Totnesse to Catenessey .xv. myles beyonde Mychell Stowe in Cornewayle vpon .viii. hundred myles And to reken the brede from saynte Dauyds lande in walys called Menema to Douer clyffes it coÌ„teyneth after moste wryters .iii. hundred myles And yf yt be rekened from y e sayd place in walys vnto parmouthe in Norfolk not so much but lesse by .lx. myles after some wryters And Beda saith it coÌ„teineth ouer CC. miles And this I le was fyrste as aboue ys sayde named Albyon and secundaryly Britayne after Brute thyrde 〈…〉 of Anglis by coÌ„mauÌ„dmeÌ„t of Egberte kynge of Anglys and of westsaxons all be yt that after some wryters yt was called Anglia after the name of the quene of this lande name Anglia albe it that therof is founde lytell authoryte This ile was fyrst coÌ„queryd by y e Romayns and so contynued vnto them as trybutary and vnder theyr rule as after in the ende of the story of Gracianus shall appere ouer .iiii. huÌ„dred yeres secondely by the SaxoÌ„s thyrdely by y e Danys fourthly by the Normans and was deuyded fyrst by Brute in thre partes as in the storie shall appere folowynge THE II. CHAPITER BRute of the auncyent and noble blode of Troyans dyscendyd of Eneas a Troyan and of the doughter of Pryame kynge of the Troyans whyche Eneas receyued of his sayde wyfe a sonne named Ascanius the whych was kynge of the countre of Italye nexte after hys father Eneas For so yt was that after the foresayde cytye of Troy was as before is sayde by the Grekes subuertyd Eneas whyche entendyd to haue sauyd from dethe the fayre Polixena doughter of kynge Pryam was for that dede by Agamemnon duke or chyefe leder of the Grekes exyled froÌ„ Troy the whyche accoÌ„panyed wyth a great nomber of Troyans wythin iii. yeres after his departynge from Troye landed in y e couÌ„tre of Italye And there after dyuerse conflyctys and bataylles hadde wyth Latynus then kynge of Italye he maryed by the agrement of the sayde Latinus hys doughter named Lauina Uppon y e which he gatte a sonne and named hym Syluius Posthumus of the whych after some wryters descendyd Brutus fyrste kynge of Albyon But for a more concordaunce of this worke and conuenyencye of yeres As testyfyeth Policronia Guydo de ColuÌ„na wryter of storyes other Ascanius the fyrste sonne of Eneas gotten vppon hys fyrste wyfe hadde a sonne named Siluius whyche after some wryters is named Siluius Eneas this Siluius Eneas was father to Brute Of this is dyuers opinyons whereof some are manyfestly shewed in the .xxvii. chapyter of the seconde boke of Polycronycon Then yt foloweth in y e story this Brute beyng of the age of .xv. yeres slewe his father in shotyng at a wyld beste And as some authours haue he slewe also hys moder in tyme of his byrth But for the laste dede by agrement of all wryters he was banyshed the countre and after by fortune landed wyth his conpanye in a prouynce of Grece where at y e tyme reygned a kyng named Pandrasus or after some wryters Pandarus y e whyche kynge as affermyth Geffrey of Monmouth was lynyally descendyd of the blode of Achylles In this prouynce Brute founde many Troyans as captiuys thrall to the Grekes wyth the whyche he conspyred faughte wyth y e Grekes sondry tymes lastely for a fynall concorde toke to wyfe the doughter of the sayd Pandrasus name Ignogen After whyche maryage solemnysyd the sayde Brute by couÌ„sayle of y e Troyans with a certayne of shyppes well vytaylled departed out of Grece and soughte his aduenture whyche after many daungers of the passed he landed wyth his company in a parte or yle of Affrica named as sayth Guydo and other Lergesia wythin whyche yle at those dayes stode an old temple dedycate in y e honoure of Diua or Diana a goddesse of mysbyleued people The whyche temple when Brute had apê‘ceyuyd anon he yode into yt where knelyng before the aulter wyth great deuocyon sayde these versys folowynge Diua potens nemorum terror syluestribus apris Cui licet amfractus ire per aethereos Infernasque domos terestria iura resolue Et dic quas terras nos habitare velis Dic certam sedem qua te venerabor in aemon Qua tibi virgineis templa dicabo choris The whyche versys are to be vnderstanden in our moder tonge as after is expowned Celestyall goddesse that weldest fryth a woode The wylde bore bestes thou feryst by thy myght Guyder of shypmen passynge the ragyone flode The infernall howses for and the erth of ryght Beholde and serche and shewe where I shall fyght Tell the certayne place where euerlastyngly A temple of virgyne to the Iâ—Balledyfpe After whyche prayer obseruaunces after y e pagan ryte with great deuocyon done and exercysed aboute y e auter of y e sayd goddesse or idolle in those days vsed Brute fill in a slepe In tyme of whyche slepe apperyd to hym the sayd goddesse and sayd to hym in maner forme as foloweth Brute sub occasum solis trans Gallica regna Insula in oceano est vndeque clausa mari Insula in oceano est habitata gigantibus olins Nunc deserta quidem gentibus apta tuit Hic de prose tua reges nascentur ipsis Totius terrae subditus orbis erit Hanc pete nanque tibi sedes erit in illa
perhennis Hic fiet natis altera Troia tuis The whyche versys may be englysshed as here after foloweth Brute farre by wefâ—e ouer the lâ—nde of Fraunce An yle in occean there is all closed wyth the see This yle with gyauÌ„tes whilom inhabyt by chauÌ„ce Now beynge defeâ—â—e 〈◊〉 apte for thy people the. In this of thâ— body kynges borne shal be And of this yle thou shall be lorde and kynge Serche this for here a perpetuall see to the And here to thy childern a new City shal spryng THE III. CHAPITER WHen Brute awoke and remeÌ„bred hym of this vysyon anoÌ„ he called to hym such as he most trusted and shewed to them what he had seen harde wherof they all beynge greatly reioysed caused great fares to be made in the whyche they cast wyne mylke and other lycours wyth dyuerse aromate and spyces of moste swettest odour as in the olde pagan lawes and rytes were vsed whyche obseruaunce wyth other done wyth great ioye and myrthe they entryd into theyr shyppes and pulled vp theyr sayles toke theyr course westwarde And so sayled by the space of .xxx. dayes passynge by many auentures and daungers as of Philenes y e lake called Lacus salinarum or salte lake or the place where salte is made the ryuer called Malea Hercules pyllers came lastly to the see Tyrrhen or Turon where he encouÌ„tred wyth a small nauy of shyppes of the whyche a Troyane and neuew to Brute called Corineus was captayne wheÌ„ eyther of them had saluted other reioysed of theyr metynge they to gyder made towarde land and landyd in the prouynce of Gallia now called Guyan of whyche prouynce at that daye a prynce named Groffariê° was ruler The whyche hauyng knowlege of y e landynge of these straunges wyth his power made towarde them to them gaue batayll But the TroyaÌ„s were victours and ouercame Groffarius wyth all his knyghtes In this batayll was slayne a noble Troyane neuewe to Brute named Turonus and there buryed wherfore in remembraunce of y e sayd Turonus Brute buylded there a cytye and named yt Turon as some authours testyfye But it shuld seme by the sayenge of Polycronyca that thylke cytye Turon was buylded afore all be yt that y e authour of Cronica cronicarum affermyth it to be buylded by Brute in remembrauÌ„ce of his sayd cosyn Turonus whych citye at this daye is yet great fame wyth in the realme of Fraunce This done the sayde Brutes Coâ—ineus wyth theyr Troyans toke agayne shyppynge the whyche after iii. dayes or fewe dayes saylyng landyd at an hauen or porte in Cornewayll named at this day Totnesse from thens yode serchyng the land and couÌ„tre the yere as before is sayd iiii thousande .lxiii before the buyldynge of Rome folowynge the foresayde accompte .iiii. hundred and .xx. before the incarnacyon of Cryste .xi. hundred .xxxvi and before Alexander the great conquered the worlde eyght hundred and .xi also before any kynge reygned ouer the Frenshe men or that they were clere quyte of theyr trewage agayne y e Romayns xv hundred and .lvi. THE IIII. CHAPITER REtourne we then to Brute whyche after his landyng in this I le of Albyon circuyd serchyd y e land ouer all and fouÌ„de yt full fertyle plenteous of wode and of grasse and garnysshed with many fayre ryuers and stremes And in his trauaylynge the lande he was encountred wyth many great and myghty gyauntes the whych he destroyed Among y e which as reherseth that Englyshe cronicle was one of passyng strength named Gogmagog the whyche he caused to wrestle wyth Cormeus or Coryne his neuewe besyde Douer in which wrestlinge that gyauÌ„t brake a rybbe in the syde of Cormeus where thorough Corineê° beyng sore amoued wyth great strength supprysed that gyaunt cast hym downe the rocke of Douer By reason wherof as affermyth y e said englyshe cronicle y e place was named the fall of Gogmagog But after that y e name was chauÌ„ged called the fall of Douer which to this daye enduryth For this dede and other Brute gaue vnto his sayd neuewe Corineus or Coryn the hole countre of Cornewayll And wheÌ„ Brute had thus destroyed the gyauntes serchyd the sayde yle of AlbyoÌ„ thoroughly he coÌ„myng by y e ryuer of Thamis for pleasure y e he had in that ryuer with also the coÌ„modytyes therunto adioynynge began there to buylde a cytye in y e remeÌ„braunce of the cytye of Troye lately subuerted named it Troynouant whyche is as myche to saye as newe Troy whych name endured tyll the coÌ„mynge of Lud after kynge of Brytayne vpon the tyme of a thousande lxviii yere But y e sayd kyng coÌ„maundyd yt to be called Luddys towne which by shortnesse of speche is now called London Then wheÌ„ Brute had thus buylded his cytye saw y t he was stablysshed in his realme quyetly he theÌ„ by thaduise of his lordes coÌ„maunded y e sayd ile couÌ„tre to be called Britayn and his people Brytons and so contynued his reygne prosperousely In the whyche tyme he stablysshed and ordred his people to lyue in tyllynge of theyr lande and otherwyse This Brute had receyued of his wyfe thre sonnes wherof the fyrste was named Locrinus or Locryne y e seconde Cambrius or Cambre and y e third Albanactus or Albanakt To the fyrst and eldest he besette this yle of Brytayne the whyche after was named myddell Englande whych is to meane Troynouant wyth all y e couÌ„tres there about lyenge coÌ„teynynge est west sowth And for this cause and for yt shuld sounde towarde the name of the sayd Locryne this parte of Brytayne was longe after called Loegria or Logiers To the seconde sonne Cambre he beset or appoynted to hym the couÌ„tre of walys the whyche was fyrste named after hym Cambria This in the eest syde was somtyme departed from Englande by the ryuer of Seuerne But now in the north syde the ryuer named d ee at Chester departeth England and walys and in the sowth the ryuer that is called Uaga at the castell of Strynglyng parteth Englande and walys To the thyrde sonne Albanakt he besette the north parte of this yle and named yt Albyon or more veryly the sayd countre toke after y e name of the sayd thirde sonne and was called Albania This couÌ„tre was after named Scotlande and is deuyded from Loegria or Logiers as saythe holy Beda by two armys of y e see but they mete not The eest arme of these two begynneth about ii myles from the mynster of Eburcurynge in the west syde of PenultonÌ„ The weste arme of those twayne hath in y e ryght syde or somtyme hadde a stronge cytye named Acliud whych in y e Brettysshe tunge was called Clyntâ—ton staÌ„deth vppon the ryuer called Clynt Thus wheÌ„ Brute had diuided this yle of Brytayne as before is shewed in thre partes and hadde holden the pryncypate therof nobly by the terme of .xxiiii. yeres after most coÌ„cordauÌ„ce of writers
he dyed and was enteryd or buryed at TroynouaÌ„t or London THE V. CHAPITER LOcrinus or Locryne y e fyrst or eldest son of Brute was made kynge of Brytayne of y e countre of Logiers the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .lxxx. and .vii. The whych helde to his parte as sayth Policronicon and also Guydo de Columna the countre that stretcheth from the south see vnto the ryuer of Humbre as before is expressyd whyle this Locrinus thus reygned in Logiers his brother Albanactus beynge ruler as before is sayd of Albania or Scotlande was warreyd by a duke whome the cronycle of EngaÌ„ld nameth Humbre y e which slewe Albanakt in playne batayll ye shall vnderstande y t this Humber at the daye of his commynge into Albania was not named Humber but after olde wryters he was called kynge of Hunnys or kyng of Sithia without other addicyon This kyng as before is sayde after he thus subduyd Albanactus held the lande of Albania tyll after y e Locrinus wyth his brother Cambre gathered a gret power of men of armys and yode agaynst the sayde kynge of Hunnys and by strength of theyr Britons chasyd and subduyd the sayde HuÌ„nys so sharpely that many of theÌ„ with theyr kyng were drowned in a ryuer which departyth England and Scotland And for so myche as to the wryter of the storye of Brytons his name was declared to be Humber therfore the sayde auctor affermyth that the sayd Humber y e ryuer toke the fyrste name of hym whyche yet contynueth to this daye Furthermore testyfyeth the sayde auctour that after this victory thus obteyned by these two forsayde brotherne this Locrinus enamowred hym selfe vppon a fayre wenche named Estrylde and doughter of the forenamed Humber and her kept vnlefully by a certayne of tyme. where wyth his wyfe named Guendoloena beynge sore dyscontent excyted her fader and freÌ„des to make warre vppon the sayde Locryne her husbande In the whyche warre lastly he was slayne when he hadde reygned or ruled Loegria or Logiers after the concordaunce of moste writers .xx. yeres and was buryed by his fader in the cytye of Troynouaunt leuyng after hym a yonge sonne gotteÌ„ vppon his wyfe named Madan THE VI. CHAPITER GUeÌ„doloena or GueÌ„doleyne the wyfe of Locrinus doughter of Corineê° duke of Cornewayle for so myche as Madan her sonne was yonge to gouerne the lande was by coÌ„mune assent of all y e BrytoÌ„s made ruler of the yle of Brytayne the yere of the world .iiii. thousande a huÌ„dred and .vii. And so hauyng possession of the sayde yle we le and dyscretly she ruled yt to the comfort of her subiectes tyll the tyme her sonne Madan came vnto hys lawfull age At the whiche season she gaue ouer the rule and domynyon to hym after she had ruled as before ys sayde thys yle xv yeres THE VII CHAPITER MAdan the sonne of Locryne of GueÌ„dolyne before named was made ruler of Britayne in the yere of y e world iiii thousande C. and .xxii. Of thys is lytell or no memory made by any wryters excepte that some wryte of hym that he vsed great tyranny amonge his Brytons Neuerthelesse all or the more ê‘te of writers agreen that he ruled this I le of Britayn by y e terme of .xl. yeres At y e ende of which terme he beynge at his dysporte or huntyng was of wyld bestes or woluys slayne or deuouryd and left after him two sonnes as sayth Policronica named Menprecius Manliê° THE VIII CHAPITER MEnprecius the eldest sonne of Madan was made ruler of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii thousande C.lxii. But he reygned not loÌ„ge in peace For his yonger broder Manlius of a malycyous and couetyse mynde entendynge to be kynge and to expell or subdue his brother excyted the Britons in such wyse to rebell agayne Menprecius y e great and dedly warre contynued longe amonge them Howe be yt lastely by mediacyons of frendes a daye of communycacyon in louynge maner ner attwene these two bretherne was appoynted At whyche daye of assemble Menpriciê° by treason slewe his brother Manlius after whose deth he lyued in more tranquylite and rest where through he fyll into slowth and by meane of slowth into vnlefull lykynge and lechery and by that vyce into hatered of his subiectes by takynge of they re wyues and chylder and fynally became so vnhappy y t he forsoke his lefull wyfe and concudynes and fyll into the synne of Sodomye Thus from one vice he grew into a nother so that he became odyble to god and man and lastely goyng on huntynge and lost of his people was distroyed of wyld bestes when he had reygned .xx. yeres leuyng after hym a goodly yonlynge begoten of his lefull wyfe named Ebranke THE IX CHAPITER EBranke the sonne of Menprecius was made ruler of this lande of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde foure thousande a hundred lxxx and .ii and had as testyfyeth Policronica Gaufryde other wryters .xxi. wyues of the whych he receyued .xx. sonnes and .xxx. doughters wherof the fayrest was named Gwales or after some Gualea He sent these doughters to Albia Siluius whych was the .xi. kynge of Italye or the .vii kynge of Latynes to the ende to haue them maryed to the blood of Troyans This Ebranke was also a man of fayre statute of great strengthe by his power and myght he enlarged his domynyon in so myche that he wanne and occupyed a great parte of Germania by y e ayde and helpe of the Latynes and retourned theÌ„s wyth great pray ryches After whych retourne he buylded the cytye of Caerbrank now called yorke whych shulde be as sayth the authour named Flos historiaruÌ„ or the Floure of historyes wryten in frenche in the .xxiii. yere of y e reygne of the sayd Ebranke which accompt to folow yt shuld seme that Troynouant or LoÌ„don was buylded before the sayd cytye of yorke about an hundred and .xl. yeres supposyng the cytye of London to be begonne in the seconde yere of Brutes reygne Also he buylded iÌ„ Albania or Scotlande the castell of Maydens the whych is called Edynborgh After which edyfyces ended and made he wyth a great armye sayled into Gallia nowe Fraunce and subdued the Gallis and retourned wyth great triumphe and rychesse And when he had guyded this lande of Brytayne nobly by the terme of .lx. yeres after moste concordaunce of wryters he dyed and was buryed at Caerbrank or yorke leuynge after hym for hys heyre his eldest sonne as sayth Gaufryde named Brute Greneshyelde THE X. CHAPITER BRute Greneshyelde the sonne of Ebranke was made gouernour of this lande of Brytayne the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .ii. huÌ„dred and xlii Of this Brute is no memory made touchynge any fame excepte y e Gaufryde sayth that he ruled this lande of Brytayne his fader lyuynge a certayne tyme after his fader by the terme of .xii. yeres The whyche yeres expyred or endyd he dyed and lyeth buryed
Gaufryde and beraft hym the gouernaunce of the land vppon certayne coÌ„dycyons to be contynued for terme of lyfe the whyche in processe of tyme more and more were minyshyd as well by Maglaunus as by HeÌ„ninus husbaÌ„des of the forenamed Gonorild Ragan But moste dyspleased Leyr the vnkyndnesse of his two doughters consyderynge theyr wordes to hym before spoken and sworne and now founde prouyd them all contrarye For the whyche he beyng of necessyte constrayned fledde his lande sayled into Gallia for to be comforted of his doughter Cordeilla wherof she hauyng knowlege of naturall kyndnesse coÌ„forted hiÌ„ after shewynge all the maner to her husbande by his agrement receyuyd hym his to her lordes courte where he was cherished after her beste maner Longe yt were to shew vnto you y e circumstaunce of y e vtterans of the vnkyndnesse of his two doughters and of the wordes of comfort gyuen to hym by Aganippus and Cordeilla or of the couÌ„saile and purueyauÌ„ce made by the sayde Aganippus his lordes for restorynge of Leyr agayn to his dominyoÌ„ But fynally he was by the helpe of the sayde Aganippus restored agayne to his lordshyp and so possessed lyued as ruler gouernour therof by the space of .iii. yeres after In whych season dyed Aganippus And when this Leyr had ruled this lande by the terme of .xl. yeres as affermeth dyuerse cronycles he dyed and was buryed at his towne of Caerleir or Leycestre leuynge after hym for to inheryte the lande his doughter Cordeilla THE XVI CHAPITER COrdeilla the yongeste doughter of Leyr was by assente of the Brytons made lady of Brytayn in the yere of y e world .iiii. thousande iii. hundred lxxxxviii the whyche guyded the lande full wysely by the tyme or space of .v. yeres complete The whyche tyme expyred and roÌ„ne her .ii. neuewes called Margan and Cunedagiê° sonnes of her .ii. susters came vpon her land and made therin great waste and destruccyon and at the laste toke her and cast her into a stronge pryson where she beynge dyspayred of y e recouery of her estate as testyfyeth Gaufryde slewe her selfe whenne she hadde reygned as before is declared by the terme of fyue yeres THE XVII CHAPITER CUnedagius and Marganus neuewes as before is sayde of Cordeilla departyd this lande of Brytayne betwene them in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousand .iiii. hundred and .iii. That is to wyt the couÌ„trey ouer and beyond Humber fyll to Margan towarde Catenessey and the other parte of the lande towarde weste as reherseth Gaufride fyll to Cunedagius After two yeres were ronne ended some euyll dysposyd came vnto Margan and sayde that to hym yt was great reproche and dyshonour consyderynge that he was comen of Gonorilla the elder suster of Maglaunus her husbande Cunedag was descended of Ragan the yonger and Hemnius her husbande that he had not y e rule of all y e land to which sedycyous ê‘sons Margan gyuynge credence was supprysed with pryde and couetyse and anon by theyr couÌ„sayle assembled a great hoste made warre vpon his sayde brother brennynge and destroyeng his land with out mercy wherof Cunedag beynge ware in all hast gaderyd his people after certayne message sent to hym of the reconcylyacyon seynge there was no peace to be made but by the iudgement of batayll he mette wyth his brother in playne felde where y e goddes were to hym so fauourable that he slewe myche of the people of his brother and coÌ„pellyd hym to fle After whyche vyctory thus had he pursued Margan from couÌ„tre to couÌ„tre tyll he came wythin the countre or prouynce of Cambria or walys in the whyche couÌ„tre the sayde Margan gaue one other batayll vnto his brother Cunedag but for he was farre the weker he there was ouercomen and slayne in the felde whyche felde or couÌ„tre where the sayd Margan fought was slayne is to thys daye called Glaumargan whych is to meane in our vulgare tung Margan lande And thus was Margan slayne whan he hadde regned wyth his brother two yeres THE XVIII CHAPITER CUnedagius before named the sonne of Hemnius and Ragan yoÌ„ger doughter or myddell doughter of Leyr was made ruler and lorde of all Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .iiii. hundred .v. Of the whyche is nothyng worthy memorye lefte in wrytyng but that he guyded y e lande after the deth of his brother well and honorably by the terme of .xxxiii. yeres After which terme ended he dyed and was buryed at Troynouant or London leuynge for his heyre a sonne as testyfyeth Gaufryde named Riuallo or Rinallo or after some wryters Reyngnolde THE XIX CHAPITER BIuallus the sonne of Cunedagius was made gouernoure of the Brytons in the yere of the world .iiii. thousand .iiii. hundred and .xxxviii the whyche of wryters is called fortunat and restfull This Riuallus ruled y e BrytoÌ„s with great sobernesse kepte the lande in great welthe and prosperyte all be yt that of hym is lefte no specyall memorye of acte done in his tyme except myn authour sayth that in y e tyme of his reygne yt reyned blood by the space of .iii. days contynually wythin the lande of Brytayne After the whych reyne ensued so great excedynge noÌ„ber of multitude of flyes the which were to the people so noyous and coÌ„tagyous that they slewe myche people And after that as sayth an olde authour whose name is vnknoweÌ„ ensued great sykenesse and mortallytie to the great desolacyon of thys sayde lande Then yt foloweth in the story wheÌ„ this Riuallus hadde reygned after moste coÌ„cordaunce of writers by the terme of .xlvi. yeres he dyed was buryed as testyfyeth the sayde olde authour at Caerbrank or yorke leuynge after hym a sonne as wytnessyth Gaufride named Gurgustius In the tyme of the reygne of thys kynge after moste concorde of wryters y e famous cytye of Rome shuld be buylded as is shewed more playnly in the treatyse in the begynnyng of this warke THE XX. CHAPITER GUrgustius the sonne of y e fore named Riuallus was made ruler of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousane .iiii. hundred lxxxiii This in y e cronicle of EnglaÌ„d is named Gorbodiam sonne of Reygnold Of the which is lytell memory made other of his regne or of his dedes by any authours or wryters of y e hystorye of Brytayne excepte the aboue named olde authoure and the authoure called the floure of hystoryes wytnessyth that he reygned xxxviii yeres leuynge after hym none heyre of his bodye begotten and lastely dyed and was buryed by his fader at Caerbrank or yorke Rome as aboue ys towched was fyrst buylded edyfyed in the tyme of Riuallus and after moste writers In the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .iiii. hundred .lxx after the buyldyng of TroynouaÌ„t or London .iiii. huÌ„dred .vii. yeres whych folowyng that accompte shulde be in the .xxxii. yere of the forsayde Riuallus THE XXI CHAPITER SIsillius or after
Moste virgynall floure of all moste excellent Persynge of angelles the hyest Hierarchy Ioye and be glad for god omnipotent Hath the lyft vp and sette moste worthily Aboue the nomber and gloryous company Of his blessyd sayntes wyth moste hye dignite Nexte after hym moste honoured to be This fyrst parte to be accompted from the fyrste yere of Brute vnto the laste yere of the foresayde dyscorde or vnto the fyrste yere of Mulmutius includyth of yeres .vii. hundred and foure ¶ Thus endeth the fyrste parte THE SECONDE PARTE THE XXVIII CHAPITER MUlmutius Dunuallo or as some haue Dunuallo Mulmutius the sonne of ClotenÌ„ as testyfyeth the englyshe boke also Gaufride was venquesshour of y e other dukes or rulers and began his reygn ouer the hole monarchy of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousand vii hundred .xlviii. This is named in the englyshe cronycle Donebant the whyche was a noble man causyd to be made wythin the cytye of Troynouant a temple and named it the temple of peace The whyche after some opynyons is that place or feld where y e market of wollen cloth is holden called or named Blakwelhall He also made many good laws the which were long after vsed called Mulmutiê° lawes These lawes holy Gyldas wrote wyth great dylygence out of the brettishe speche into latyne And longe tyme here after y e Aluredus kynge of England turned those lawes oute of latyne into englyshe He also gaue pryuylege to temples to plowghes cytyes and to the wayes ledynge to y e same And as some authours wytnesse he beganne the foure hye wayes of Brytayne the whych were fynyshed and perfyted of Belinus his sonne as after at length shall be declared The olde cronycle testyfyeth y t this Mulmutius whyche he in his boke nameth Molle made the two townes of Malmesbury and Uyes And all other writers afferme that this Mulmutius after he hadde stablyshyd his lande and sette his Brytons in good and conuenyent order by the aduyce of his lordes he ordeyned hym a crowne or dyademe of gold caused hym selfe to be crowned wyth great solempnyte after the vsaunce of pagane lawe then vsed And for this cause after the opynyon of some wryters he is named the fyrste kyng of Britayn And all y e other before rehersyd are named rulers dukes or gouernours Then yt foloweth in the storye when Mulmutiê° had guyded y e land well and honorably by the terme of xl yeres he dyed and was buryed in the foresayde temple of peace within Troynouant or LoÌ„don leuynge after hym two sonnes named Belinus and Brennus THE XXIX CHAPITER BElinus and Brennê° the two sonnes of Mulmutius beganne to raygne ioyntly as kynges of Brytayne in the yere of the world iiii thousande .viii. C. viii so that Belinus held to hym Loegria or Logiers walys and Cornewayll and Brennus held to his parte all y e land ouer beyonde Humber with which partycyon eyther of them was coÌ„tentyd pleasyd as testyfyeth Polycronica by the terme of .v. yeres After the whyche terme endyd and expired Brennus entendynge to haue more lande or all arose agaynste his brother Belyne and made vppon hym mortall warre In the whych warre Brennus was ouersette and was coÌ„pelled to flye the land and sayle vnto Armorica now named lytell Britayn or as sayth Gaufryde into a countre called Allebrog as after shal be more playnely declared and there allyed hym after the foresayde terme as before is sayd of .v. yeres was expyryd as affermeth Policronica For Gaufryde sayeth in his boke made of the hystory of Brytons y t after y e terme of .v. yeres afore sayde were expyred and runne Brennus by sterynge of yonge and euyll counsayll enteÌ„dyng as before is sayde sayled vnwetyng his brother into Norway and there maryed the doughter of Elfunge or Elfynge then ruler or duke of Norwaye when this was shewed vnto Belyn consyderynge the sodayne departyng in all haste he seasyd Albania and all the other lande apperteynyng to Brenne into his owne hand and strengthed the cytyes and other stronge places wyth his owne sowdyours wherof when Brenne was warned he in all possyble haste assembled a great people of the Norwayes and toke hys shyppynge to sayle into Brytayne And as he was kepynge his course vpon the see he was encountred wyth Guilthdacus kynge of Denmarke the whych had lyen in awayte for hym for loue of y e wenche y t Brennus had maryed for before tyme he had requyred her of Elfungeher fader wheÌ„ those .ii. flotê were mette strong shotte and fyght was vppon both partyes But fynally the Danes ouercame the Norwayes or Norganys and toke the shyppe by strength whych the weÌ„che was in y t whych anone was brought vnto the shyppe of Guilthdake and Brenne wyth a fewe of his shyppes lefte was fayne to sauegarde hym selfe by flyght when Guilthdake hadde thus obteyned y e vyctorye entendynge to haue sayled towarde Denmarke in shorte whyle after y e tempestes came so hydous vppon the see that hys nauye was deuyded and scatered that one frome the other in suche wyse that he was in fere to haue ben drowned And at the ende of fyue dayes not wetynge where he was wyth fewe shyppes landed in the couÌ„tre of Northumberlande where at that tyme was Belyn prouydyng defence agayne his brothers coÌ„myng wherof when word was brought vnto Belyn of the landynge of the fore sayde Danoys prynce wyth a small company he reioysed yt and coÌ„mauÌ„ded hym wyth his shyppes company to be put in sure holde kepynge It was not long after but BreÌ„ne hadde reculyd and gaderyd to gyder the more parte of hys nauye before as ye haue harde chased And when he hadde theym newely ryggyd and vytayled he herynge of the aryuayll of Guilthdacus in NorththuÌ„berlaÌ„d with his wife sent wordê of manace vnto his brother Belyn wyllyng hym to sende vnto hym his wyfe wroÌ„gfully rauyshed by Guilthdacus also to restore vnto him his land patrymony or ellys he wold shorthely inuade his lande yt for to waste his enymy to destroye The whych desyre or request of Belynus was playnely and shortely denyed whych knowlege had Brennê° shortly after landed in a parte of Albania and made towarde his brother and his brother towarde hym so y t theyr hostes met nere vnto a wood named at that day Calater or Calaterium where betwene them was a mortall batayll in so myche that mych people fyll vpon both partyes But lastly the Brytons wanne the felde and chasyd the Norganys or Norways vnto theyr shyppes chasynge sleyenge them without pyty And as affermeth myne authour y e fyght was so cruell and sharpe that there was slayne to the nomber of .xl. M. men After this dyscumfyture Brenne was constrayned to flee and wyth fewe in nomber recoueryd the lande of Gallia Belinus hauyng thus victorye of his enemyes after thankes and oblacyons made vnto his goddes after the pagane law he then assembled his lordes
at Caerbrank or yorke to haue theyr aduyse what he shuld do wyth the prynce of Denmark In y e whych counsayle yt was concludyd that the foresayd Guylthdacê° shulde holde and do homage to the kynge of Britayn for the land of DeÌ„mark and yerely bere to hym a certayne tribute whyche done wyth suerty and hostages taken the sayde Guylthdacus wyth his loue was sette at lybertye and leue to retourne into his owne countre whych yerely tribute as testyfyeth the englyshe cronycle was a thousande pounde THE XXX CHAPITER Then yt foloweth in y e hystory when Belyn hadde thus vyctory of this enemyes and was alone possessoure of this realme of Brytayne the lawes before made by his father he coÌ„fermed and ordeyned iustyce to be mynystred thorough the lande And for so myche as the .iiii. wayes begon by his fader were not perfyghtyd and endyd he therfore causyd workmen to be called and set theym to paue wyth stone the sayde wayes that they myght suffycyently be knowen of all waygoers or traueyllers of the countres as hereafter ensuyth The fyrst of these .iiii. wayes was named Fosse the whyche stretchyd oute of the southe into the north and begynneth or at that dayes beganne at the corner of Totnesse in Cornewayle and passed forth by Deuynshyre Somersetshyre so forth by Tutbury vpon Cotteswolde besyde CoueÌ„tre vnto Leycestre from thennes by wylde playnes towarde Newerke and endyth at the cytye of LyncolnÌ„ The second waye was named watlyngstrete the which stretcheth ouer thwarte y e wayes of Fosse out of the southest into the northest This beganne at Douer and passeth by the myddell of Kente ouer Thamys besyde London by weste of westmynster and so forth by saynte Albanys in the weste syde of Dunstable of Stratford of Towceter and of we don by south Kyllyngburne of KyllebournÌ„ by AthicstonÌ„ vnto Gylbertes hyll that now is named wrekyn and so forth by SeuarnÌ„ passynge besyde wrokceter forth vnto StrattonÌ„ to the myddell of walys vnto a place called Cardycan at y e Irysh se. The thyrde waye was named Ermyngstrete The whyche stretcheth out of the weste northweste vnto the eest southeest bygynneth at Menema the whych is in saynt Dauies lande in weste walys and so stretcheth forth vnto south HamptonÌ„ The fourth and last waye is called or was called Kykenyldis strete The which stretcheth forth by worceter by wycombe by Birmyngham by Lychefyld by Derby by Chesterfyeld by yorke And so forth vnto Tymmouth y e whych was suffycyeÌ„tly made He grauÌ„ted confermed theÌ„ all suche priuyleges as before were grauÌ„ted by DuÌ„uallo his fader The whych priuyleges with other lawes by hym made who y t is desyrous to know let hym rede ouer y e traÌ„slacyon y e holy Gildas made of Mulmutius lawes out of Brytyshe speche in to latyne and there he shall se the circumstaunce of euery thynge In this whyle that Belyn was thus occupyed aboute the nedes of his land his brother Brenne beyng as before is sayde in a prouynce of Gallia takynge sore to mynde hys expulsyon from his naturall couÌ„tre not hauynge any comforte how he myght attayn to his former dignite lastely resorted wyth .xii. persones onely accompanyed vnto the duke or ruler of that prouynce or countre For ye shall vnderstande that at those dayes as testyfyeth Eutropiê° and other wryters the Gallis occupyed dyuers countres And therfore Titus Liuius whych wrote y e actes and dedes of the Romayns made disstynccyon of the Gallis and nameth them that BreÌ„ne ladde when he beseigyd the cytye of Rome and after y e capitoyll Cenonenses Galli which is to name the Gallis of that couÌ„tre where the cytye of Cena than stode yet doth as testyfyeth the authour of cronica cronicaruÌ„ and other in a countre of Italy named at this day Etruria The whiche cytye as affermen the sayde authours was fyrste buylded of the foresayde Gallis in y e tyme of Brenne beyng theyr duke or leder before the commynge or incarnacyon of Cryste .iii. hundred .lxxx. vi yeres whyche maketh the yere of the worlde folowynge the accompte of this worke .iiii. thousand .viii. hundred and .xiii. yeres Then yt foloweth in y e story when Brenne was comen to the presence of the duke named by myne authour Gaufride Seginê° duke of Alebrog the whyche is to vnderstande duke of Armorica now named lytell Brytayne as by Policronica and the englyshe cronycle is suffycyently declared and shewed vnto hym his aduersyte trouble y e sayd duke receyued hym into his courte And for he was personable well maneryd hauyng great experyence in hawkynge and huntynge and other propertyes apperteynynge to a gentylman he had hym in shorte whyle in especyall fauour before any noble man of hys courte By meane wherof he lastly maryed his doughter vpon condycyon that yf he dyed wythout Issue-male that he then shuld be ruler of y e countre And yf yt happened hym to haue an heyre male that then yt not withstaÌ„dyng to ayde and helpe hym to recouer his lande before loste The whych condycyons well and suerly vpon the dukes partye by the assent of y e nobles of his laÌ„de assured the said duke within coÌ„pas of y e same yere dyed After whose deth when by a conuenyent terme yt was knowen that the duchesse his wyfe was not wyth chyld all the lordes to BreÌ„ne dyd homage became his men To the whych lordes the more to wynne theyr loues he departed mych of his tresour and shortly after with theyr assente gadered a great armye and so in all hast sayled into Britayne to make new warre vppon his brother Belyne after a certayn tyme there landed Of whose landyng when Belyne was enfourmed he in all haste gaderyd his Brytons in great nomber made towarde hym as to hys mortall enemye But the moder of the two brethern named CoÌ„nuueÌ„na or after the englysh boke Cornewey consyderynge y e mortall hateryd attwene her two chylder and in partye of theyr both persones of a moderly and naturall pyty went attwene her two sonnes and vsyd her in such dyscrete maner and moderly coÌ„passyon as shewyng her brestes and other demeanures that at length she accorded them After whych accorde both bretherne with theyr lordes and frendes sped them vnto Troynouant or London and there after many thynges orderyd and made for the weale of y e land they coÌ„descended agreed to lede theyr both hostes into Gallia for to subdue to them the sayde countre And in as goodly haste as they might pÌ„pare for y e iourney they toke shyppyng so sayled into a parte of Gallia brennyng wastynge y e conntre without pyty And as wytnessyth myn authour Gaufryde in a shorte whyle they subdued a great parte of Gallia Italy and Germania But here I entend to leue the farther ê“cesse of myn authour Gaufrid for so myche as here he varieth from other writers of authority as Eutropius Titus Liuiê° other that dyd great dilygence in writynge
LoÌ„dricus or after some Rodicê° was slayne and a great parte of his people were slayne In remembraunce of whyche vyctorye kynge Marius lette arrere a great stone and in this he commaunded to be grauen Marii victoria whych is to meane the victorye of Marius wyllyam of Malmesburye sayth that this stone was arered in mynde of Marius the consull of Rome The englyshe cronycle sayth that this batayll was foughteÌ„ in a place the whyche now is called Stanysmore But where so this stone is set the countre there aboute was longe after called westmaria and nowe westmerlande Then yt foloweth in the story that when the resydue of the people of Lodricus whyche were fledde from the felde vnderstode that theyr hedde captayne was slayne they made huÌ„ble request vnto y e kynge y t he wolde accepte theÌ„ vnto his grace and that he wold graunt to theym some lande and countre to dwell in whych grauÌ„ted vnto theÌ„ a place in the ferre ende of Scotlande whyche is named of myne authoure Cathenesia where the sayd Scythis or Pictes fyrst inhabyted them And for so myche as the Brytons dysdayned to gyue vnto theÌ„ theyr doughters in maryage therfore they acqueynted them wyth the Iryshe men and maryed theyr doughters and grewe in proces into a great people And for this allyaunce attwene the Iryshe and them theyr countre as wytnessyth Policronycon y e .xxxvii. chapyter of hys fyrste boke was called Irlande and after Pictauia lastely Scotlande And when Marius had thus subdued his enemyes he attendyd and sette his mynde to the common wele of this lande and subiectes and contynued y e resydue of his lyfe in great tranquillite and reste And so lastely payde his naturall tribute was buryed at Caerleyll leuyng after hym a sonne named Coillê° or Coyll wheÌ„ he hadde reygned after moste wryters .lii. yeres THE LVIII CHAPITER COyllus the sonne of Marius was after the deth of his father made kynge of Brytons in the yere of oure lordes incarnacyon a huÌ„dred and .xxvi. This was from hys infancy noryshed and brought vppe amonge the Romaynes in Italia or Rome by reason wherof he was to theym louynge and kynde and they vnto hym And he for so myche as he knewe the power of the Romayns great in auoydyng of warre other daunger payde vnto them the foresayde trybute duryng his lyfe This Coillus also as wytnessyth Gaufryde was a lyberall man of gyftes by reason wherof he obteyned great loue of his nobles and also of his coÌ„mons And as some authours haue this Coyll made the towne of Colchester whych at this daye is a fayre town in the shyre of Essex But other ascrybe yt to Coell or Coill that was kynge nexte after Asclepeodotus But when this Coillus hadde reygned in soueraygne peace by y e terme of .liiii. yeres he dyed and was buryed at Caerbrank or yorke lefte after hym a sonne the whyche was named Lucius or Lucy THE LIX CHAPITER LUcius or Lucy the sonne of Coillus was made kynge of Brytons in the yere of oure lorde a hundred and .lxxx. The whych in all actes and dedes of goodnes folowed his forefaders in suche wyse that he of all men was beloued and drad Of this is litell or none acte notable put in memorye excepte that all wryters agree that this Lucius sent to Eleutherius then pope of Rome certayne pystles or letters prayeng hym that he his Britons myght be receyued to the fayth of Crystes chyrche wherof the pope beynge very ioyous and gladde sente into Brytayne two noble clerkes named Faganus and Dunianus or after some Fugacius and Dimianus These two good and vertuous clerkes were honourably receyued of Lucius the whych by theyr good doctryne and vertuous examples gyuynge coÌ„uertyd the kynge and a great parte of the Brytons But for so myche authours wryters wryte dyuersly of y e tyme of this receyuynge of the fayth by Lucius so that the one varyeth greatly from the other therfore I haue shewed in the forenamed table that yt shall vnder correccyon appere y t the fayth was receyued by Lucius as affermeth Petrus Pictauiens the .viii. yere of the reygne of the sayde Lucius And y t yere after Cristes incarnacion a hundred .lxxxviii. The whych Lucye after the fayth thus by hym receyued by the aduyce of the foresayde clerkes and wyth the instruccyons sent to theym by the foresayde pope Eleuthery instituted and ordeyned that all or the more partye of Archeflamynys and flamynys whyche is to meane archbysshoppes and bysshoppes of the pagan lawe whyche at that daye were in nomber as wytnessyth Gaufryde and other .iii. of the archeflamynys and .xxviii. of the flamynys were made and ordeyned archebyshoppes byshoppes of y e chyrch of Criste as after foloweth Archeflamynys byshoppes constytuted THE LX. CHAPITER THe fyrste of the archeflamynys see rule or iurysdyccyoÌ„ was as wytnessyth Gaufride Policronica at London the seconde at yorke and the thyrde at Caerurst or KaerglonÌ„ or Glouceter To these .iii. archbyshopes were subiecte the foresayd .xxviii. flamynys or byshoppes To the archebyshoppes see of London was subiecte Cornewayll and all myddel England vnto Humber To the archebyshoppes see of yorke was subiecte all Northumberlande from the bowe of Humber wyth all Scotlande And to the thyrde archbyshoppes see whych was at Glowceter was subiecte all walys In whych prouynce of walys were .vii. byshoppes where as now ben but iiii And at y e daye SeuaruÌ„ departed Brytayne and Cambria or walys But in the tyme of Saxons after they had the rule of the lande of Brytayne as testyfyeth wylhelmus de Pontific all be yt that saynt Gregory had graunted vnto London pryuylege of that archbishoppes see neuerthelesse saynt Austayn the which wyth other was sent into Englande by the foresayde Gregorye tourned the archebyshoppes see out of London into Caunterbury after the deth of saint Gregory by meanes of prayer of kyng Egbert or Ethelbert and other cytyzeyns burgesys of Caunterbury where yt hath contynued to this daye except that for the tyme of Offa kynge of Mercia or Mercheryk for dyspleasure that he hadde to the cytezeyns of Caunterburye bynaÌ„me and toke from theym that dygnyte and worshypped Adulphe bysshop of Lychefelde wyth the pall of Caunterbury by the assent of Adryan the fyrste of that name then pope Neuerthelesse in the tyme of Kenulphus whyche not longe after was kynge of the sayde Mercia or Mercheryk yt was agayne restoryd to Caunterbury The worshyp of y e see of yorke hath endured there alwaye and yet dothe though Scotland be withdraweÌ„ froÌ„ his subieccyon The archbyshoppes see of CaerglonÌ„ or Glowceter was tourned froÌ„ theÌ„s to Menenia whych is in y e west syde of Demecia vppon the Iryshe see whiche now is called saynt Dauids lande In this prouynce from the dayes of saynt Dauid vnto the dayes of Sampson bysshop sat .xxiii. byshoppes But in the sayde Sampsons dayes then archebyshop fyll such mortalyte thorowe walys of the yelowe euyll
or from the ende of the lordshyp of Deira vnto the sayde Scottyshe see or after some wryters from Durham to the see beforesayde Then yt foloweth the Pictes with theyr leder Fulgenius issued from Albany or Scotlande into the lande of Brytayne and destroyed myche of y e couÌ„tre beyonde Durham wherfore this Seuerus with and hoste of Brytons and of Romaynes mette wyth the sayde Fulgenius in a place nere vnto yorke where after sore fyght the sayd Seuerus was slayn when he hadde ruled this lande after moste concordaunce of wryters by y e terme of .v. yeres and was after buryed at yorke leuynge behynde hym two sonnes that one named Geta and that other Bassianus THE LXII CHAPITER BAssianus the sonne of Seuerus and of the moders syde a Bryton beganne to rule this lande of Britayne in the yere of Cirstes incarnacyon two hundred and .xii. Of this man spekyth nothynge the englyshe cronycle But trouth yt is as wytnessyth Gaufride and other that after y e deth of Seuerê° stryfe arose betwene the Brytons the Romaynes then beynge wythin the land of Brytayne For the commons helde for theyr kynge Bassianus for so myche as he was borne of a Bryton woman And vpon that other party in lyke maner the Romayns alowed Geta for theyr kyng because he was descended of a Romayne And as far ther affermeth the forenamed Gaufryde for this dyscencyon a batayll was hadde betwene the sayd two bretherne in y e whych Geta was slayn and Bassianus remayned for kynge of all the lande But froÌ„ this sayeng varyeth greatly Eutropius and other that wryte of the cronycles of Rome For by theÌ„ yt is witnessed that Geta was slayn at a cytye named Edessa when he faught agayne the Parthiens and Bassianus succedyd his fader in the dignyte of emperoure which as in y e sayde cronycle of Rome is testyfyed was also called Marcus Aurelius Antonnius and Caracalla a man of ryght euyll condycyon and vnreasonable of lechery so y t he laye by his stepdame named Iuliana and weddyd her and dyd other many cruell dedys and lastely he was slayne at the forenamed cytye of Edessa when he had ben emperour vpoÌ„ .vii. yeres In the tyme that Bassianus was thus kynge of Brytayne one named Carassius a Bryton of lowe byrthe but valyant and hardy in mercyall dedys purchaced of the senate of Rome the kepynge of y e costes of Brytayne and to wythstaÌ„de the malyce of straungers as Pictes and other By meane of this Carassius drewe vnto hym many knyghtes specyally of the Brytons promysynge to them y t if they wold make hym kyng he wolde clerely delyuer them from all seruytude of y e Romaynes where thorough y e Britons as wytnessyth Gaufryde rebelled agayne Bassianus and wyth theyr duke and leder Carassius arreryd agayne hym dedely warre By meane wherof Bassianus was slayne when he hadde ruled this land by moste concordaunce vi yeres THE LXIII CHAPITER CArassius a Briton of vnknowen byrth was of the BrytoÌ„s made ruler in the yere of our lord .ii. hundred and .xviii. the whych as before is touched was by the senate of Rome deputed for a substytute or a ruler vnder the Romaynes as yt is shewed in theyr cronycles in the absence or whyle Bassianus then emperour of Rome and kynge of Brytayne was occupyed aboute the nedes of the empyre This Carassius for that he was not of power to withstande the Pictes or for the fauoure that he bare towarde theÌ„ for aydyng hym agayne the Romayns he gaue to them the countre of Albania that now is called Scotlande But ye shall vnderstande y t here is not ment all Scotlande For as wytnessyth Policronica this parte y t was gyueÌ„ thus to the Pictes was the south parte of Albania and beganne at Twede and enduryd to the Scottysh see Of the kynde of those Pictes is somwhat shewed before in the story of Marius but more after shall be shewed of them in conuenieÌ„t place bothe of theyr ofsprynge and maners Then yt foloweth in the story wheÌ„ the Romaynes hadde knolege of the deth of Bassianus anon they sent a duke froÌ„ Rome named Alectus with iii. legyons of knyghtes for to slee Carassius and to subdue the Brytons to the empyre To the whyche Alectus fortune was so fauourable that he chased Carassius and lastely slew hym when he hadde ruled the Brytons by most accorde of wryters viii yeres But Iacobus Philippê° authour of a boke named SupplementuÌ„ cronicarum sayth that in the tyme that Maximianus or Maxymyan surnamed Herculeus and Dioclecyan Dalmatheus were emperoures of Rome they harde that this Carassiê° had taken vpon hym to were y e purpure that onely was reserued to emperours also y t he ruled the realm of Brytayne as to his synguler vse and furthermore were credybly enfourmed that Narsetê° an other substytute hadde or occupyed the eest laÌ„des wyth cruell batayll and other prynces the great couÌ„tre of Affrica and many other also by the instygacyon and leuyng of one named Achilleus hadde subdued the countre of Grece For whych sayde nouellys tydynges these two emperours to the ende to refourme all these sayde rebellyons chase vnto them two noble men of the whyche that one was named Galerius and that other CoÌ„stancius as cesars or felowes to rule the empyre And y t done the sayd .ii. cesars were sent with great powers that one iÌ„to Affrica and y e other into Egypte This forenamed Maximyan came wyth great power of people into Britayne and ouercame the sayde Carassius more by gyle then by strength when the sayde Carassius had ruled the Brytons as sayth the forenamed authour Iacobê° Philippus by the terme of .x. yeres In the whyche sayeng appereth errour for dyuersytie of tyme and yeres For after moste accorde of wryters and also by the affyrmacyon of the sayde Iacobus Philippus the sayde emperoures Dioclesian Maxymyan ruled the empyre of Rome aboute the yere of Crystes incarnacyon two hundred and lxxxx And this Carassiê° was ruler in Britayne long before as in the tyme of Bassianus emperour of Rome y e reygned aboute the yere of our lorde two hundred .xiii. as testyfyeth Polycrocon and other Also a boke in frenche called la Mere de hystoryes whyche maye be englyshed y e Moder of hystoryes sayth that this Carassius was fyrste a treasourer or such a hygh offycer amoÌ„ge the Romayns By reason wherof he sought great abundaunce of ryches and fyll by reason therof in fauoure of the senatours of Rome so that fynally he was made senatour and became a man of great authorytye in so myche that Bassianus then emperoure made hym protector of the cytye and countre of Alexandrye But then he was supprysyd wyth suche pryde that he exercysed tyranny and other vnlefull meanes in so excedynge maner that the countre waxed wery of him and conspired his deth wherfore after punyshemeÌ„t done vpon some of his enymyes he feryng the sequell and reuengement of the same left that countre
the stepdoughter of Herculeus Maximianê° and had by her syx sonnes So that this Heleyn was his secoÌ„de wyfe whyche was fayrest of all maydens and therewyth lerned and suffycyenly lettred She is also noted of many writers to be a captyue or a prysoner to the Romaynes Of this Constantius lytell memorye is lefte in the bretyshe or englishe cronycles excepte that he receyued of the foresayde Heleyn a sonne named Constantinus the whyche after for his knyghtly marcyall dedys was called Constantyne the great But for the noble dedys of so vyctoryous a duke shuld not be hydde as was this CoÌ„stantius therfore I shall now folowe the story of Rome whych sayth that for so myche as in the tyme of Dioclesianus and Maximianus beynge emperours many couÌ„tres rebellyd agayne the empyre therfore the sayde emperoures admyttyd this Constantius and one Galerius as cesars whych was a dignyte next of authoryte to the emperours And so y e empyre was at those dayes guyded by two emperours by two cesars This ConstaÌ„tius as wytnessyth Policronica made subiecte to the empyre the Almaynes slewe of theym in one daye .lx. thousande And after other many vyctoryous dedys when the sayde .ii. emperours had of theyr free wylles resygned and gyuen ouer all imperiall dygnyte thys sayde Constantius with his forenamed felowe Galeriê° were made emperours y t is to wytte Galerius was emperour of all Iliricum whyche now is named Grecia or Grece wyth all the eest laÌ„des and CoÌ„stantiê° hadde to hym all the west landes But he helde hym contente wyth Gallia or Fraunce Spayne with Britayn graunted Italia vnto Galerius afore sayd Then he subdued the countre of Spayne as before is touched in the storye of Coelus and a parte of Gallia and after soiourned and abode in this lande of Brytayne in guydynge rulynge the same wyth great sobernesse and ordeyned his sonne gotten vpon Helayne to rule Gallia and Spayne But for to make this story more apparant open to y e readers and also to y e herers it is here to be noted that Dioclesianus or Dioclesian beganne his empyre ouer the Romaynes after moste wryters in the yere of our lorde two hundred .lxxx. and .vii. and he was emperour .xx. yeres And this CoÌ„stantius was sent into Brytayne from the senate as before is sayde in the seconde yere of y e sayde Dioclesian or the yere of oure lorde two hundred .lxxx. and .ix. whyche Constancius after he had in due maner spedde the nedes of the empyre as in subduynge this land of Brytayne as before is sayde he retourned agayn to Rome where he was shortely after made cesar and so contynued his lyfe as before ys touchyd And in the tyme of his beyng thus cesar and ruleâ— of Brytayne vnder y e emperour the blessyd and holy prothomartyr of Brytayn saynt Alboon at Uerolan was martyred in the .x. persecucyon of the chyrche as wytnessyth Policronicon whyche persecucyon beganne as testyfye Eusebiê° and Beda the .xviii. yere of the forenamed emperours Dioclesian Maximyan and endured .x. yeres that is to say in y e eest vnder Dioclesian and in the weste vnder Maâ—â—â—yan The whyche was so sharpe and feruent that wythin y e space of one moneth in dyuers places of the worlde were .xvii. thousande holy men and women martyred for Crystes fayth And when the sayde emperours left or resygned theyr imperyall dygnytye and â—adde a pryuate lyfe this sayde Constancius wyth his felowe Galerius departyd the empyre betwene them as before is touched so that he reygned as ruler of Brytayn by the terme of .xvii. yeres and more or he were emperoure And after as emperour of the weste partye of the empyre â–ª and kynge of Brytayn .xii. yeres and more And so in all y e sayd CoÌ„stantius reygned ouer Brytayne xxx yeres And lastely dyed and was buryed at yorke leuyng after hym y e foresayd son called CoÌ„stantinê° without mo that any meÌ„cyon is made of THE LXVIII CHAPITER COnstantinus the sonne of CoÌ„stancius and of Heleyne doughter of kynge Coelus in the yere of our lord .iii. huÌ„dred .xix. was made kynge of Brytayne Antoninus archbyshop of Florence wryter of hystoryes sheweth in the fyrst chapiter of the .ix. tytle of his worke called Sâ—â— Antonini that this CoÌ„stantine was made emperour or beganne to rule the empyre in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon .iii. hundred and .ix. which sayeng also affermeth UynceÌ„t historyall and other authours wherof the cause is y t the sayde authours accoÌ„pt not the yeres of the reygne of Constancius but folow the accoÌ„pte of Galerius felowe of Constancius whych reygned as emperour but .iii. yeres After the which rule yt muste nedis folowe that this Constantyne began his empyre as the sayd Antoninus wytnessyth and folowynge y e other accompt yt shulde varye Then to pursue or contynue y e storye of this Constantyne yt foloweth y t at the tyme of the decease of Constancius his fader he was occupyed in warres in Gallia those ê‘ties After whose deth he by a certayn terme ruled Brytayne the other landes the whyche his fader before helde in due maner And all be yt y t at y e daye he was a mysereant pagan yet he vsed no tyrannyes nor compelled not the Brytons to refuse the lawe and to worshyppe idollys as other tyrauntes at those dayes vsed In this whyle that Constantyne ruled thus the weste parte of this empyre one Maxentius whych was the son of Herculeus Maximianê° somtyme felowe in the empyre with Dioclesian as before is shewed was of the knyghtes of the pretory declared emperour This Maxentius was there worste of all men And as testyfyeth Eusebius other he fyrst began mekely to wynne therby loue fauour But when he was stablysshed in authorite he exercysed all tyraÌ„ny pursued all crystyens wyth all kynde of torment Also he expulsed and putte out from Rome all honour hys fader Herculeê° Maximianê° y t enteÌ„dyd agayne to haue ben emperour Of y e tyranny of this MaxeÌ„tius when CoÌ„stantyne had wyttyng he assembled a great hoste of Brytons and Gallis for to oppresse the malyce of the sayde Maxentius And for to rule and guyde this laÌ„d of Brytane in his absence he deputed and ordeyned a maÌ„ of myght called Octauius the whych Polycronica nameth duke of Iewessis that after were named west Saxons And when the sayde Constantyne had all peparyd for his voyage he betoke the lande of Brytayne vnto the sayd Octauius and after spedde hym vppon his iourney And as he was towarde his sayde iourney he sawe in his slepe the sygne of the crosse shynynge in the fyrmament as yt hadde ben a brennyng lyght of fyre and an aungell standynge therby and sayenge Constantyne toicanata which is to meane Constantyne by this token thou shalte wynne vyctorye when he awoke he called this vysyon to mynde and tolde vnto his secretes by whose counsayll he commaunded the sygne of the crosse to
e pope and he shulde be by hym restoryd to perfytte helthe whyche was done and he heled as the legende of sayntes bereth wytnesse Thus haue I shewed to you a part of the dedys of Constantyne whych yf I shulde coÌ„tynue the hole processe of his reygne that endured as emperoure by the space of .xxx. yeres I shulde therof make a large volume But it concernyth nothynge of th entent of this worke as touchynge the lande of Brytayne therfore I woll retourne my style to Octauius from whom I haue made a loÌ„g digressyoÌ„ THE LXX CHAPITER IN this passetyme whyle Constantyne occupyed hym in nedes of th empyre as aboue is shewed Octauius beynge lieutenant in the lande of Brytayne vnder Constantyne ruled the lande to the pleasure of the Brytons a certayne of tyme. But when he perceyued that he was in fauoure of them and that Constantyne was farre from hym castynge also in his mynde that y e sayd Constantyne beyng then emperour wold or myght not lyghtly retourne into Britayn he therfore with helpe of his affynyte and freÌ„des withstode the Romaynes lefte in Brytayne of Constantyne and vsurpyd the rule domynyon of y e lande wherof wheÌ„ certayntie came to y e knowlege of CoÌ„stantyne he in all hast sent into Brytayne a duke named TrahernÌ„ the whyche was vncle vnto Heleyne moder of Constantyne when this TrahernÌ„ was arryued in Brytayne with iii. legions of knyghtes anon Octauius made towarde hym wyth hys Brytons and wyth hym mette nere the citye then called Kaerperis now called Porte chestre or Porchestre but more verely in a felde nere vnto the cytye of Kaerguent that now ys called wynchester whych felde then was named Maesurian The .ii. hostes mette wyth great ire and fough ten longe whyle But in y e ende TrahernÌ„ was compelled to forsake the felde and after drewe wyth his Romaynes towarde Albania or Scotlande wherof Octauius beyng warned folowed hym and in the countre of westmerlande gaue vnto hym the seconde batayll where then Octauius was chasyd TrahernÌ„ was vyctour the whych pursued Octauius so egerly that he coÌ„pelled hym to forsake the lande of Britayne and to sayle into the countre of Norway for his sauegarde But yt was not longe after that the sayde Octauius gaderyd a newe people of Brytons Norways and was redy to retourne agayn into Britayne In whych tyme as testyfyeth myne authour Gaufryde an erle of Brytayne that entyerly loued Octauius by treason slewe the sayd TrahernÌ„ a lytell before the landynge of the sayde Octauius whyche shortly subdued the Romaynes and y e lande to his owne vse This shuld be after moste concordaunce of wryters wheÌ„ Constantyne wyth also the ayde of TrahernÌ„ hadde ruled this lande of Brytayne by the terme of .x. yeres THE LXXI CHAPITER OCtauiê° duke of y e Iessis otherwyse westsaxons beganne his reygne ouer the Brytons in the yere of our lorde .iii. hundred .xxix. This in the englyshe boke is called Octauian the whych as testyfyeth Gaufryde gaderyd in shorte whyle after so great plentye of treasoure and rychesse that he feryd no man and ruled this lande in peasyble wyse So that of hym or of his actes is left lytell memorye excepte that when he was fallen into age by the counsayll of Brytons he sent vnto Rome for a noble yonge man of the aliy of Heleyne moder vnto Constantyne called Maximianê° as after more playnly shal be shewed all be yt that some aduysed hym to make one Conan Meryadok his cosyne kynge after hym But by the instaÌ„t labour of Caradok then duke of Cornewayll Octauius lastly sent vnto Rome Mauryce the sonne of the forenamed Caradok to brynge or conuey the sayd Maximianus into Brytayne for to mary the onely doughter of Octauius and by reason therof to enioy y e realme of Brytayne This Maximianê° is of some auctour named Maximius the whych as wytnessyth Gaufride was the sonne of Leonyne brother to Heleyne and vncle vnto CoÌ„stantyne the great whych saynge affermeth also Iacobus Philippê° authour of a boke called Supplementum cronicarum wherin he nameth the sayde Maximianus a knyght of the Bryton blood Then it foloweth when the forenamed Maurice had spedde his nedes so y t he came to the presence of Maximianê° shewed theffecte of his Message the sayd Maximianus to hym graunted in all haste prepared for his voyage into Brytayne shortly after with coÌ„uenient cuÌ„pany landed at Southampton wherof beynge warned Conan Meryadok he wyth a certayne of knyghtes of his affinytye was purposed to haue frayed with the sayd Maximianê° to haue destressed hym for so mych as he wel knewe that by hym he shuld be puâ— from the rule of the lande But thys purpose was let by the commaundement of the kynge or otherwyse so y t the sayd Maximianus was coÌ„ueyed safely to the kynges presence shortly after wyth consent of the more partye of his lordes gaue his doughter vnto the sayde Maximianus wyth possessyon of this yle of Brytayne The whyche mariage solemnysed endyd the sayde Octauiê° dyed shortly after But howe long he reygned none of the foresayde authours testystye excepte dyuers of them agre y t he contynued his reygne tyll y e tyme that Gracyan and Ualentinyan ruled the empyre the whyche beganne to reygne the yere of our lorde .iii. huÌ„dred .lxxx. and .ii. By whyche reason yt muste folowe that the sayd Octauius reygned at the leest .liiii. yeres THE LXXII CHAPITER MAximianê° or Maximiê° y e son of Leonine cosyn Germayn of Constantyne the great was made kynge of Bryton in the yere of oure lorde .iii. hundred .lxxx. and .ii. Thys in the englyshe boke is named Maximian the whych as testyfyeth Gaufryde and other was stalworth and myghty of his handes But for he was cruell and pursued somdele the cristen he therfore of all wryters is called Maximianê° the tyrant Attwene this Conan before named was stryfe and debate and dyuers conflyctes attwene theÌ„ was foughten in the whyche eyther of them spedde dyuersly all be yt that lastely they were made frendes So that Maximianê° reygned a season in quyete and gaderyd rychesse treasour not all wyth out grudge Lastely he was moued exyted to warre vpon the Galles thorow whych couÌ„cell he wyth a great hoste of BrytoÌ„s sayled into Armorica that now is called lytell Brytayne and bare hym so knyghtly that he subdued that countre vnto his lordshyp after gaue the sayde countre to Conan Meryadok to hold of hym and of the kyngeê of great Brytayn for euer And then commaunded the sayde lande to be called lytell Brytayne For this vyctory his knyghtes proclamed hym emperour where thorough he beynge the more exaltyd in pryde passed farther in the landes of the emprye vyctoryously subdued a great parte of Gallia or Fraunce and all Germania For thys dede dyuers authours accompt hym false and periuryd wherfore yt shulde seme that before his departynge froÌ„ Rome he was sworne vnto Gracian and Ualentynyane emperours
exortacyon thus gyuen to the Brytons by the mouth of the archebysshop of London wyth other instruccyons apperteynynge to the feytes of warre the sayde Romaynes toke leue of y e Brytons as though they shulde after y e tyme no more retourne iÌ„to Britayne But it was not longe after that the Romayns were thus departyd that the Pictes and Scottes beganne to breke out of theyr deÌ„nes and caues These two nacyons after some authours shulde seme to be one But by the declaracion of Ranulphe in his .lviii. chapyter of his fyrste boke they shulde appere to be two maner of peoples or at the last dwellyd in twoo sondry countres As the Pictes in the northsyde of ScotlaÌ„d or after Beda in y e southsyde whiche conteyneth Galeway and Lodeway And the Scottes by ledyng of theyr duke Renda shulde possede Irland all be yt after an arme of the northe parte of the see passynge by Deyra shuld departe the Pictes But in the tyme that y e SaxoÌ„s ruled the lande y e Scottes by maner of treason slew the mighty men and rulers of the Pictes and so after kepte that countre for theyr owne These two nacyons dyscorde in maners but not in clothynge in fayth and in couetyse of the shedynge of mannes blood they be one Then as before is sayde these Pictes and Scottes entred the lande and brake y e walle before made and slewe the wardeyns therof and after spoyled and robbed the couÌ„tres and chased so cruelly the commons and other that they were comfortlesse By meane wherof the Britons were brought in suche daunger and myserye that eyther of them robbed and slewe other And ouer this y e grouÌ„de was vntylled and vnsowen wherof ensued great scarcytye and hunger and after hunger ensued deth Thus after one mychyef came an other as deth vpon deth and sorow vpon sorow whych fyll vpoÌ„ them by stryfe medlyd wyth the great huÌ„ger The whych mysery in this wyse coÌ„tynuynge the chyef of them toke aduyse amonge them selfe and fynally concludyd that for remedye of this myschyef they wolde sende vnto Aecius then beynge kynge in Fraunce whyche Aecius was mayster of the chyualry of Honoriê° then emperour and occupyed in warres in a parte of Gallia To this Aecius was sent writyng wherof theffecte was this To thy manhode Aecius be it vnderstanden the mysery of the Brytons the whyche straunge nacyons chase vnto the see and the see dryueth vs agayne to straunge nacyons Of the which ensew two maner of carayns y e one by violeÌ„ce of y e enemyes swerd and that other by wilfull drownyng But all theyr wrytynge was but in vayne so that from the sayd Aecius nor yet from the Romaynes hadde they no refuge nor comfort In this whyle the hunger encreased and the people were so ouerset with theyr enymyes that many of theÌ„ were as yolden toke partye agayne theyr own neyghbours And y e other that were of more power and dwelled farther wythin the lande defendyd them in theyr beste maner Lastely the noble and wysest of them and specyally y e archbyshop of London wyth other of the lande kepte a counsayll at LoÌ„don By the whyche yt was concludyd y t an embassade shulde be made vnto the kynge of lytell Brytayne to impetre and aske of hym ayde and comforte in theyr great necessyte Of whyche ambassade the sayde archebyshop was appoynted for the chyef and pryncypall the whych is named of Gaufryde Guethelinus and of y e englyshe cronycle Gosseleyne which sayde byshoppe wyth the other vnto hym assygned so spedde them that in shorte and conuenyent tyme they came vnto the presence of Aldroenê° then kynge of lytell Brytayn and to hym declaryd the effecte of theyr message The whyche hauynge compassyon of the lamentable request made vnto hym by the sayde ambassade after aduyse taken of hys lordes he grauÌ„ted vnto the bysshop vppon condycyon that yf god sent to them victory of theyr enemyes that they shulde crowne hys brother kynge of great Brytayne the whyche he entendyd to sende thyder wyth a conuenyent armye whyche condycyon the sayde bysshoppe wyth the other gladly acceptyd fermely grauÌ„ted So that thus it is apparant vnto you that this lande was longe without hedde or gouernoure whyche length of tyme is of some authours determyned to be longe and of some but shorte so that lytell certentye is therof lefte wherfore I haue shewed and dryuen certayne reasons after myne opynyon and dull mynde in the table before expressed wherin it shall appere vnder correccyon that the sayd season and tyme of this land beynge without kynge to rekyn from the laste yere of Gracian vnto the fyrste yere of Constantyne no we next ensuynge was fully .xxxix. yere FINIT TRIBVYVM YE shall also forthermore vnderstande that here endeth fynally y e trybute and domynyon of the Romaynes For after thys daye they had no trybute to them payed nor no Romayn prynce after this dayes ruled thys lande of Brytayne The whyche trybute and domynyon endured from the .ix. yere of Cassybellan vnto the tyme of Seuerus by the terme of two houndred and .lv. yeres And from the tyme of Seuerus vnto the fyrste yere of Gracyan a houndred .lxxx. and .iii. yeres And from the fyrst yere of Gracyan vnto the laste yere of thys mysery .xliii. yeres So that from the yere that Iulius Cesar made fyrste thys Ile of Brytayne trybutary vnto the empyre vnto the last yere or ende of thys foresayd misery flowyd .iiii. houndred .xxxi. yeres But Polycronyca sayth that the Romaynes ruled and had trybute of this lande about .iiii. houndred .lxx. yeres whyche sayeng is full lyke to be true yf the ende of theyr dominyon be determyned at y e laste departyng of the Romayns out of thys lande ANd thus here an ende of the iiii parte of thys worke for so myche as the fornamed Gracianê° was the laste of Romayne kynges y t reygned in myche Brytayne or that no trybute was after this day payed vnto the Romaynes wherfore in gyuynge thankes to that moste blessyd vyrgyne our lady saynte Mary for the good exployte and spede had to thys tyme and to opteyne her moste habundauÌ„t grace for the perfourmaunce of the reste or other dele of the same I here with all humblenesse salute her wyth the iiii ioye of the forenamed vii ioyes the which begynneth Gaude nexu voluntatis c. O excellent pryncesse and quene celestyall Be ioyous and glad for thou eternally By knot of charyte and dygnyte pryncypall Art to the hyghest ioyned celestyally That thou may impetre what is necessary For thy seruauntes thou virgyn moste pure Of thy swetteste Ihesu and optayne it sure Thys .iiii. parte to be accompted from y e fyrste yere of Seuerus vnto the last ende or yere of thys misery includeth of yeres CC. and .xxvi. Thus endeth the fourth parte THE FYFT PARTE THE LXXVI CHAPITER HEre accordynge to the promyse made by me in y e begynnynge of thys worke I shall brynge in shewe
vnto you the begynnynge of the reygne of y e kinges of FrauÌ„ce and set them in suche a direct order that it shal be apparant to the reder that it shal be certaynly knoweÌ„ what kyng reygned in FrauÌ„ce whan such a kyng reygned in Englande And also I shall somdele touche the actes and dedys of the sayde kynges of Fraunce so y t the cronycles of bothe realmes shall in this worke appere and the names of the prynces which at ones reygned in Englande and in Fraunce Then for the perfourmauÌ„ce of the same fyrste is to be noted that after the subuercyon of Troye by the Grekes as in y e begynnyng of this work is shewyd dyuers Troyans beyng vnder the rule of nobles of the same lygnage as Helenus sonne of Pryamus Eneas Anthenorus other serchyd y e worlde landyd in dyuers couÌ„trees As Helenê° in Grece or Grecia Eneas in Italia or Italy so of other amoÌ„g The whych nobles one named Turchus an other named Franco cosyn Germayns as Turchus the sonne of Troylus FraÌ„co or Francio the sonne of Ector which sayd two cosyns serchyng theyr aduenture after many dyuers daungers ieopardyes passyd by the see lastly landed in a couÌ„tre called Tracea or Tracia in Grece And there wyth theyr coÌ„pany enhabyted them nere vnto a ryuer called Dion And after they hadde contynued there a season of tyme Turchus departed wyth a certayne of Troyans froÌ„ hys sayd cosyn Francio and sayled after into a countre called Faso the lesse where he wyth hys people dwelled longe tyme. whyche Faso shulde be in the countre of Sithia Of thys Turchus dyscendyd as sayth y e FreÌ„che cronycle .iiii. maner of people That is to saye Austrogothis Ipogothis wandalis and Normans And FraÌ„cio or FraÌ„co remoued after wyth hys company into a countree named Pannoma whyche countree now shuld seme to be a parte of Hungery or ioynynge nere to it There nere vnto a ryuer called Thanais they buylded them a cytye and named it Sicambria by reason wherof they were longe after called Sicambri They were also named Franci as sayth the Frenche cronycle after thys man Francio Turpinus that wrote the gestes of the greate Charles sayth that whan Charles hadde made the countre of Spayne subiecte and was retourned into Fraunce he made all the bonde meÌ„ dwellynge aboute or nere vnto Paris or in all Gallia fre in the wourshyppe of saynte Denis and of saynt Iamys of Galis vppon condycyon that they shulde yerely offre foure pence to thys worke of saynt Denis churche By reason wherof they were named Franci as men freed that to fore were bond Policronica saith they were named Franci of Ualentynyan the emperour as it were for fyersnes But how so euer they came by that name they were called Franci as Frenschemen This sayd peple were also named long tyme Galli were trybutaries to Rome vnder theyr rule tyll the tyme of Ualentinyan emperour aboute the yere of Cryste .iii. houÌ„dreth .lxvi. Thys Ualentinyan hauynge the rule of the west parte of y e world made warre vppon a people called Aleynys that dwelled nere vnto the forenamed Gallis These Aleynys were egre of fyghte and ouer y t they were so closyd wyth fennys marrys that the Romaynes myghte not wynne to them by force wherof they often rebellyd agayne the empyre wherfore in the ende Ualentinyan consyderynge the fyersnes of y e Gallis wyth theyr nere dwellynge vnto the sayd Aleynys couenauÌ„ted with them yf they wolde subdue the sayde people they shulde haue releace of .x. yeres trybute whyche couenauÌ„t well and suffycyently confermed to the Gallis they in shorte whyle after by theyr knyghthode and polycy subdued or vtterly chased the sayd Aleynys For the whyche dede they contynued the foresayde .x. yeres wythout payenge of any trybute whyche .x. yeres ronne and expyred y e Romaynes agayn claymed the former accustomed trybute To whom it was answered y t they had redemed the sayd tribute with the price of theyr blood and ought not any more to be charged with any suche trybute wyth whych answere the Romaynes beynge sore dyscontentyd made newe warre vpon y e sayd SicaÌ„bris Of whyche warre the Sicambris or Gallis had the worse and were chasyd from theyr citye of Sicambria Then as wytnessyth Polycronica other they drewe nere vnto the water of Ryne and grewe in shorte processe to suche a multytude of suche strength that they in shorte whyle after by ledynge of theyr .iii. dukes named Marcomirus Somomê° or Symon and Genebaur warred vppon the landes of the empyre such as were subiecte vnto y e same wherof Theodosius surnamed the yonger then emperour beynge warned he anone sente .ii. of his dukes wyth a greate hoste for to subdue the sayde Gallis or Sicambris But they defendyd them so knyghtly y t the sayde dukes were chasyd and as wytnessyth mayster Robert Gagwyne a greate nomber of the Romaynes were slayne THE LXXVII CHAPITER AFter this victory thus opteyned by the Sicambris they waxed so stronge that they wan from the Almaynes dyuers townes and stronge holdes wythin Germania And after that they opteyned the famous cytye named Treueris which as wytnessyth the aucthour of Cronica cronicarum was fyrst foundyd in the tyme of the patryarche Abraham before the incarnacyoÌ„ of Cryst a thousande .ix. houndred .lxv. yeres And so dayly wan vpon the nacyoÌ„s adioynynge to them tyll they came to the ryuer of Seyn where they restyd them and buylded the countre all there about In so mych that they than named them selfe Franci as men freed and out of all daunger of the empyre of Rome and theyr land after them they named Fraunce whyche syns that tyme is greatly encreasyd So that at this daye it is a countre of great welth honoure and conteyneth many prouynces lordshyppes as after the affyrmauÌ„s of Policronica is touchyd in y e .xxvii. chapyter of hys fyrste boke where it is shewed that Gallia which now is Fraunce had that name Gallia of whytenesse of people Thys Gallia or Fraunce hath in the North syde Germania in the Eest the ryuer of Ryne in the Southest the Alpis or the hyghe mountaynes and in the west the see Occean whyche is called both Brytannicum and GallicuÌ„ whyche is to meane Englyshe see Frenche see For yt departyth Englande and Fraunce in the south see of myddell eerth y t wassheth about by the the prouynce of Narbon In the tyme of Iulius Cesar Gallia was departed in thre but for diuers happes that befell after in that land the countre and land that stretcheth from the Ryne to SeynÌ„ is now called Gallia Belgica whyche is very Fraunce And that countre that stretcheth from SeynÌ„ to y e ryuer of Leyr is called Gallia Lugdunensis wherof the ouer parte hyght or is named Burgundia that is Burgoyne and the nether parte is Nestria or Normandye And the countre that stretcheth froÌ„ the ryuer of Leyr to the ryuer of
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
kynge thus beyng asserteyned of the maner of these strauÌ„gers and that they were of the gentyle of pagan law sayde he was very heuy sory that they were myscreantes But he was ioyous glad of theyr commynge for so myche as he had nede of suche sowdyours to defende hym and his lande agayne his enymyes And so receyued them to hys wages and seruyce as is wytnessed of Gaufryde and other mo wryters THE LXXXIII CHAPITER BEda the holy man sayth that Uortyger sent for the SaxoÌ„s stronge men of armes that hadde no lande to dwelle in The whych came in thre longe shyppes called Obylas and receyued a place of hym to dwell in in the Eest syde of Brytayne called the yle of Tenet besyde Kent Guillelmus de regibus a writer of hystoryes â—ayth that the Saxons came oute of Germany by wyll to wynne worshyppe lande and not by lotte or compulsyon And also that they worshypped at that dayes a god named woden and a goddesse named Frya In the worshyppe of the whyche god the thyrde feryall daye in the weke they named wodnesd aye whyche at this daye we call wednysdaye And in worshyppe of the sayde goddes they called the fyfth daye friys daye the whyche we call now frydaye Of these foresayde people came thre maner of people or thre maner of names that is to say SaxoÌ„s Anglys and Iewetes Of the Saxons came the eest Saxons westsaxons the south Saxons Of y e Anglys came the eest Anglys the myddell Anglâ—s or Merceys whyche helde myddell England that stretcheth westwarde toward the ryuer of Dee besyde Chestre and to SeuernÌ„ besyde Shroysbury and so forth to Brystowe and eestwarde toward the see and southwarde to Thamys and so forth to London and northwarde to Humber and tourned downewarde and westward to the ryuer Mercea and so forth to the weste see And of the Iewetys come the Kentyshmen men of the yle of weyght Of the fyrst coÌ„myng of these SaxoÌ„s into great Britayn authours in party varrey wherfore in the table before named it shall appere vnder correccyon that the forenamed Hengistus and Horsus wyth theyr company fyrst landed in the foresayde yle of great Brytayne in the yere of our lorde .iiii. hundred and .l the thyrd yere of Uortiger Then yt foloweth these Saxons wyth the kynges power bete downe the enymyes before sayde and defendyd the land in most knyghtly wyse so that the kyng hadde the Saxons in great loue and fauour whyche fauour Hengistus wel apperceyuyng vpon a season when he sawe conuenyent tyme he axed of the kynge so myche grounde as the hyde of a bull or other beste wolde compare which the kynge to hym graunted After whyche graunt the sayde Hengyste to the ende to winne a large grouÌ„de causyd the sayd bestes skyn to be cut into a small and slender thonge And with the same mette out a large and great circuyte of grounde vpon the whyche he shortly after buylded and sette a large and stronge castell By reason of whych thonge the sayd castell was loÌ„g afternamed Thonge castell whyche was sette by the agrement of all wryters in the countre of Lyndesey After thyse tydynges sprange into Germania of the plentye and fatnes of the lande of Brytayne wyth other commodytyes perteynyng to the same By meane wherof the Saxons dayely drewe to the sayde lande and conuenauÌ„ted with the Brytons that the Britons shuld entende theyr worldlynes and other necessaryes and y e Saxons as theyr sowdiours shulde defende the land from incursyon of all enymyes For the whych the Brytons shulde gyue to them competent mete and wages Then by the sonde of Hengiste came wyth .xvi. sayles Ronowen the doughter of the sayd Hengist which was a mayden of excelleÌ„t beaute After whose commyng Hengiste vpon a daye besought the kyng y t he wold se his castell whyche he had newely edyfyed To whose request the kyng was agreable at the day assygned came to y e sayd castell where he was ioyously receyued And there amoÌ„ge other passetymes the sayde RonoweÌ„ wyth a cuppe of golde full of wyne presentyd the kynge salutynge and sayeng wassayle The kynge whych before that tyme had herd no lyke salutacyon nor yet vnderstode what she ment axed of her fader what she mente by that worde wassayle To whom yt was answered by Hengistê° that yt was a salutacyon of good gladnesse and that the kynge shuld drynke after her ioynynge there vnto this answere drynke haylâ— wherfore the kyng as he was enfourmed toke the cuppe of the maydens hand and drank after beheld the weÌ„che in suche maner that he was wounded with the darte of the blynde god Cupide that neuer after he coude wythdrawe his loue from y e wenche but lastely by instygacyon of the deuyll axed her in maryage of her fader And by force therof as wytnessyth Policronica he put from hym his laufull wyfe of the whyche he had before tyme receyued .iii. noble sonnes called Uortimerus Caâ—agrinus and Pascentius Then the kyng gaue vnto Hengistus the lord shyppe of Kent though Garangonus then erle therof therat grudged wyth many of his Brytons For this and for that that y e kynge had maryed a woman of vncought beleue well nere all the Brytons forsoke hym and his workes Neuerthelesse some there were as well nobles other that coÌ„forted the kynge in his euyll doyng By whych meane and other vnlefull dedys then dayly vsyd the fayth of Cryste began sore to apalle And ouer that an heresye called Arianes heresy began then to sprynge in Brytayn For the which two holy byshoppes named Germanus and Lupus as of Gaufryde is wytnessyd came into Brytayne to refourme the kynge and all other y t erred from the waye of trouth Of this holy man saynt Germayn Uincent historyall sayth that vpon an euenynge when the weder was passynge cold and the snowe fyll very faste he axed lodgyng of the kyng of Brytayne for hym and his comperys whych was denyed Then he after syttyng vnder a bushe in the feld the kynges herdmen passyd by and seynge this byshop wyth his company sittyng in the weder desyred hym to his house to take there such poore lodgynge as he had â–ª wherof the bysshoppe beynge glad and fayne â—yode vnto the house of the sayd herdman the whyche receyued hym wyth glad chere And for hym and his company wysled his wyfe to kyll his onely calfe and to dresse yt for his gestes souper y e which was also done when the holy man had souped he called to hym his hostes wyllynge and desyrynge her that she shulde dylygently gader to gyder all the bones of the deed calfe and them so gaderyd to wrappe to gyder wythin the skynne of the sayde calfe then it lay in the stall before the racke nere vnto the dame whych done accordyng to the commaundement of the holy man I shortly after the calfe was restoryd to lyfe and forth wyth eâ—e haye wyth the dame at y e racke
nere vnto a moore called Cole moore The whych was long and sore foughten by the Saxons by reason that the sayde moore closyd a parte of theyr hoste so strongly that the Brytons myght not winne vnto them for dauÌ„ger of theyr shot All be yt that fynally they were chasyd and many of theÌ„ of coÌ„straynt drowned and swalowed in the sayde moore And ouer and besyde these foure pryncypall bataylles Uortimerus had wyth the Saxons dyuers other conflictes as in Kent at Thetfoord in Northfolke and in Essex nere vnto Colchestre lefte not tyll he had byrafte from them the more parte of such possessyons as before tyme they had wonne and kepte them onely to the yle of Thanet the whych Uortymer ofteÌ„ greuyd by such nauy as he then hadde when that Ronowen doughter of Hengiste apperceyued the great myschyâ—f that her fader and the SaxoÌ„s were in by the mraciall knyghthode of Uortymer she sought suche meanes that shortly after as testyfyeth Gaufryde and other Uortimer was poysoned when he had ruled the Britons after moste concorde of wryters seuen yeres THE LXXXIX CHAPITER UOrtigernus fader of Uortymerus last dede was agayn restoryd to the kyngdome of myche Brytayne in the yere of oure lordes incarnacyon foure huÌ„dred .lxxi and the .xi. yere of Childericus then kyng of Fraunce the whyche all the tyme of the reygne of his sonne Uortimer had restyd hym in the couÌ„tre of Cambria or walys where in this passe tyme after some writers he buyldyd a stroÌ„ge castel in a place called GeneronÌ„ or Gwayneren in the west syde of walys nere vnto the riuer of Gwana in an hyll or vpon an hyll called Cloarcius But the olde cronycle before spoken of sayth y â— this Uortiger was kept somwhat vnder rule of certayne tutours to hym assygned in y e towne of Caerlegion or Chester and demeaned hym so well towarde hys sonne in aydynge of hym wyth hys counsayll and otherwyse that the Brytons for it cast to hym such a fauoure that they after the deth of Uortimer made hym agayne kynge It was not longe after that Uortiger was thus set in authoryte but that Hengistê° percyd this land with a great multytude of Saxons wherof herynge Uortyger in all haste assembled his Brytons and made towarde them And when Hengistus hadde experyence of the great hoste of Brytons he then ordeyned meanes of treaty and peas where lastly yt was concluded that a certayne noÌ„ber of Brytons and as many of Saxons shuld vpon a Maye day assemble vppon the playne of Ambrii now called Salesbury whyche daye certaynly prefyxyd Hengistus vsynge a new maner of treason chargyd all his Saxons by him appoynted that eche of them shulde putte secretely a longe knyfe in theyr hose at suche season as he gaue to theÌ„ this watche or by worde Nempnyth your sexis that eueryche of them shulde drawe hys knyfe and slee a Bryton not sparynge any one except Uortiger y e kyng And at y e day before appointed the kynge wyth a certayne of Brytons not ware of this purposed treason came in peasyble wyse to y e place before assygned where he fande redy Hengistus wyth hys Saxons The whyche after due obeysaunce made vnto the kynge receyued hym with a couÌ„tenauÌ„ce of all loue where after a tyme of coÌ„munycacyon had Hengiste beynge mynded to execute his former purposed treason shewed his watche word By reason wherof anon the Brytons were slayne as shepe amonge woluys hauynge no maner of wepyn to defeÌ„de them self excepte y t any of them myght by his manhode and strength get the knyfe of his enymye Amonge the nomber of these Brytons was an Erle called Edoll or Edolf erle of Caerlegion or Chestre y e whych seynge his felowes and frendes thus murdered as affermeth myne authoure Gaufryde and other he by his manhode wanne a stake in the hedge or ellys where wyth the whyche he knyghtly sauyd his owne lyfe and slewe of the Saxons .xvii and fledde to the cytye or towne of Ambry nowe named Salysburye After whyche treason thus executyd the kynge remayned wyth Hengistus as prysoner Of the takynge of Uortyger and sleynge of the lordes of Brytayne an authoure called Guillelmus de regibus sayth that Hengistê° agreed wyth Uortyger and hys Brytons and that he shulde enioye the castell by hym before made wyth a certayn of lande therunto adioynynge for hym and his SaxoÌ„s to dwell vpon And when the sayde agrement was suerly stablyshed this Hengiste entendynge treason desyred the kynge wyth a certayn nomber of his lordes to come to hym to dyner wythin his sayde castell The whych of y e kynge was graunted And at the daye assygned the kyng with his lordes came to the sayde Thongcastell to dyner where he wyth his was well and honourably receyued and also deyntely serued But when the kynge his lordes were in theyr moste myrth this Hengiste had commaunded before y t his owne knyghtes shuld falle at varyauÌ„ce among theÌ„ selfe whych so done the remenaunt of his Saxons as yt were in partynge of frayes shulde fall vppon the Britons slee theym all oute take onely the kynge The whyche was done lyke as ye haue before harde deuysed and the kynge was holden as prysoner THE XC CHAPITER HEngistus then hauynge the kynge as prysoner a great parte of the rulers of Britayne thus as before is sayd subdued was some deale exalted in pryde and compellyd the kynge to gyue vnto hym as wytnessyth Policronica thre prouynces in the eest parte of Brytayne whych thre prouynces shuld be KeÌ„t Southsaxon or Sussex and Eestanglys whych is to meane Norff. and Suff. as affermeth the authoure of the floure of hystoryes But Guydo de columna sayth that the foresayde thre prouynces was Kent Eestsaxon or Essex and Eestanglys which is Norff. and Suff. Of the whyche sayde prouynces when Hengist was possessyd he suffred the kynge to go at his lybertye And then Hengiste beganne his lordshyppe ouer the prouynce of Kent and sent other of his SaxoÌ„s to beweld the other two prouynces that is to saye Eestanglys and Eestsaxons tyll he hadde sente for other of his kynnesmen y t he enteÌ„dyd to gyue the sayd ê“uynces vnto The kyngdome of Kent here begynnyth THE XCI CHAPITER THus Hengistus beynge in the possessyon of this prouynce of Kent comaunded hys Saxons to call yt Hengistus lande wherof as some authours meane the hole lande of Brytayn toke his fyrst name of Englande But that sayeng shall appere coÌ„trary as shal be shewed hereafter in the storye of Egbert kynge of westsaxons The whych after he had subdued y e more parte of the kyngedomes of SaxoÌ„s made of all but one monarchye he then coÌ„maundyd this lande to be called Anglia his Saxons Anglys whych after by corrupcyon of speche was called Englande and the people Englyshemen This lordshyppe or kyngedome of Kent had his begynnyng vnder Hengiste in the yere of oure lorde after moste concordaunce of wryters and by reason of y e time
folowynge y e accompte shuld be in the yere of our lorde .iiii. hundred .lxxxii and in the seconde yere of Aurely then kynge of Brytayne This kyngdome or lordshippe had in the eestsyde Kent in the south the see and the yle of wyght in the west Hampsyre and in the northe Southrey and conteyned as wytnessyth Guydo Southampton Somersetshyre Deuenshyre and Cornewayl Of whyche sayde kyngdome Ethelbaldus or Ethelwaldê° was the .iiii. kynge and the fyrste crysten kynge Thys kyngdome endured shorteste season of all the other kyngdomes and passyd soonest into the other For yt endured not aboue an hundred and .xii. yeres vnder .v. or .vii. kynges at moste THE XCV CHAPITER THen to returne where we left Aurely whyche as before ye haue harde helde and occupyed the myddell parte of Brytayne wyth CaÌ„bria or walys dyd hys dylygence to repayre ruynous places as well temples as other and caused y e seruyce of god to be sayde and done whyche by meane of the Saxons was greatly decayde thorough all Brytayne And after this Aureliê° beseged y â— Saxons in y e hyll of Badon or Badowe where he slewe many of theym But dayly the Saxons encreasyd landed in myche Brytayn as after shall appere For shortely after a Saxon named Porth landed wyth his two soÌ„nes at an haueÌ„ in Southsex After whome as some authours meane y e haueÌ„ was after called Portismouth whyche kepeth the name at this day And in lykewyse they came to lande in dyuers places of Britayne so that Aurelius had wyth them many conflyctys and bataylles in the whych he spedde dyuersly for he was somtyme vyctour and some season ouer set It is wryteÌ„ of hym in y e englyshe cronicle and other that he by y e helpe of Merlyn shuld fetche the great stones now standynge vpon the playne of Salysburye and called the stone henge oute of Irlande and caused theym to be sette there as they nowe stande in remembraunce of the Brytons that there were slayne and buryed in the tyme of the communycacyon had with Hengiste and his Saxons as before in the storye of Uortiger is touchyd But Polycronica alledgyth y t honour vnto Uter Pendragon his brother In the tyme of this Aurelius as wytnessyth also y e sayde Policronica dyed Hengist in his bed when he had reygned ouer y e Kentysh Saxons .xxiiii. yeres After whose deth Octa or Osca his sonne ruled y e sayd kyngdome other .xxiiii. yeres All be yt that the brytyshe bokes and also the cronycles of Enlande sheweth that after that Aurelius had in batayll slayne Hengiste he toke vnto his grace Octa his son gaue vnto hym a dwellynge place in the countre of Galewey for hym his SaxoÌ„s then lefte on lyue which semeth not to be true for mater that shall after ensue and also for y â— that before is touchyd of the Pictes and Scottes in the tyme of the myserye of the Brytons Then yt foloweth this Octa nother augmented nor mynyshed his lordshyp but helde hym therwyth contented as his fader had to hym lefte yt Lastely in the ende of the reygne of Aurely Pascentius the yongest son of Uortiger whiche after y e deth of his fader was fledde into Irland for fere of Aurely purchasyd ayde of Guilamour kyng of IrlaÌ„de And wyth a great armye inuadyd thys lande of Brytayne by the countre of walys in takynge the cytye of Menenia and in wastynge the sayd couÌ„tre wyth iron and fyre In the which season and tyme Aureliê° laye syke in his cytye of Kaerguent or wynchester For whych cause he desyred hys brother Uter to gather an hoste of BritoÌ„s to appease y e malice of Pascencius his adhereÌ„tis The whych accordyngly preparyd his hoste at length ouercame the hoste of PasceÌ„cius and slewe hym and the forenamed Guillamour in the same fyght In this whyle and season that Uter was thus gone agayne Pascentius a Saxon or other strauÌ„ger feynynge hym a Bryton a connyng man in physyke by the intycemet of Pascencius came vnto Aurely where he lay syke by his subtyle false meanes purchasyd such fauour wyth those y t were nyghe vnto the prynce that he was put in truste to mynystre medycines vnto the kyng This is named of writers Coppa or of some Eoppa The whyche when he had espyed his tyme coÌ„uenyent to brynge about his false purpose he gaue to Aureliê° a pocyon enpoysoned by vyolence wherof he shortely after was dede when he hadde reygned after moste wryters vppon .xix. yeres The thyrde or fyfte THE XCVI CHAPITER IN the tyme of y e reygne of this Aurelius as wytnesseth the authour of Policronica other y e kyngdome of Eestanglis began vnder a Saxon named Uffa about the yere of our lorde .iiii. hundred .lxxx. and xii and the .xi. yere of Aurelius The whych kyngdome conteyned Norlf and Suff. nowe called This hadde in this eest and north sydes the see in the northweste Cambryge shyre and in the weste saynte Edmundes dytche and Hertfordshyre and in the southe Essex This lordshyppe was called fyrste Uffynys lordshyp and the kynges therof were named Uffynys or after some authoures the people But fynally they were named eest Anglys The fyrst cristen kyng of this pryncypate was Redwaldus the thyrde kynge but he was not so stedfaste as belonged to his relygyon His sonne named Corpwaldus was more stedfaste whyche after was slayne of a mysbyleuynge man and for Crystes fayth as some wryte But Guydo sayth that Sebertus was fyrste cristen kynge of this lordshyppe that he made saynt Poulys chyrch of LoÌ„don This vnder .xii. kynges endured tyll the martyrdome of blessyd saynte Edmunde laste kynge therof the whych was martyred nere about the yere of our lord .viii. huÌ„dred and lxix By the whyche reason yt shuld folowe that this kyngdome shulde endure by the terme of .iii. C.lxxvii yeres And of this lordshyp at that dayes was Elman or Thetforde the chyfe towne But after Guydo this lordeshyppe shulde begynne the yere of Grace .v. hundred .lxx then shuld yt endure but .ii. hundred .iiii. score and .xix. yeres Francia THE XCVII CHAPITER CLodoueus the sonne of Childericus or Hildericus before named was after the deth of his fader ordeyned kynge of Fraunce in y e yere of oure lorde .iiii. hundred .lxxx. and .iiii and the thyrde yere of Aurelius then kyng of Brytayne This of some wryters is named Clodoueê° Lowys The whyche shortely after that he of this realme was authorysyd for kynge heryng reporte of the beaute and grete vertue of Clotildis neuewe to Cundebald kynge or ruler of Burgoyne sente vnto hym a knyght named Aurelius to treat a maryage betwene the kynge and Clotyld or Crotild The which Cundebald more for fere then for loue assentyd The cause wherof as myn authour sayth was for y t thys Crotyld was enherytour vnto the sayde lande of Burgoyne and that she be reason of y t maryage shuld recouer her ryghte and put hym from the
vnto a dragoÌ„ vnder a sterre apperynge in the firmament wherof there is made a long processe and by Gaufryde in his Brytyshe boke also affermed the whych to me semeth of lytell credeÌ„ce But trought it is that after Uter was as before is sayde made kynge he was enamowryd vppon the dukes wyfe of Cornewayll named Igwarne or Igorne for to optayn his vnlefull lust sought many dyuers meanes So y e lastly he made warre vpoÌ„ her husbaÌ„de named Garolê° or Gorleis at leÌ„gth slew y e sayde duke at his castell called Tyntagell standynge in Cornewayle after maryed his wyfe and receyued of her the noble knyght Arthur and a doughter named Amye as sayth the englyshe cronycle More is not lefte of any wryter of authoryte in remembraunce of thys Uter all be it that some testifye that he by the helpe of Merlyne shulde fetche Coria gigantum otherwyse called the stone henge out of IrlaÌ„d as before I haue shewed in the story of Aurelius And of Gaufryde ys shewed that Uter also shulde wynne the forsayde ladye by the enchauntement of Merlyn whych is not comely to any chrysten relygyon to gyue to any suche fantastycall illusyons any mynde or credence wherfore I passe ouer leuynge all the other mater whych also ys there rehersyd of the warre betwene Uter and Osca sonne of Hengyste for so mych as it is dyscordaunt vnto other wryters and fynally conclude that thys Uter Pendragon dyed by force of venym when he hadde ruled thys yle of Brytayne by the full terme of .xvi yeres and after was buryed by his brother Aurely in Coria gigantum or stone henge leuynge after hym the forenamed sonne the puyssaunt Arthur Francia THE CI. CHAPITER LOtharius or Clotharius the yongest sonne of Clodoueê° was made kynge of a parte of Fraunce called Soisons in y e yere of our lorde .v. hundred and .xiiii and the .xiiii. yere of Uter then kynge of myche Brytayne ye shall vnderstande that after the deth of Clodoueus laste kyng of Fraunce the lande by hym was dyuyded to hys foure sonnes That is to say to the eldest sonne Clodomirus was appoynted the lordshyppe of Orlyaunce to Theodoricus the seconde sonne Austracye to Childebertus y e thyrd son myddell FrauÌ„ce or the countre lyenge about Paris and to this Lothayr the aboue sayd lordshyppe of Soisons Of whyche sayd lordshyppes eyther of them possessyd they were of theyr subiettes called kynges and so contynued in good reste a certayne of tyme. In the whyche season Clotyld theyr moder berynge in mynde the vnnaturall deth of her parentes wylled her sonnes to venge theyr deth whych deth as testyfyeth Uincent historyall and also Antoninus was in this forme folowynge Gundenchus the grauÌ„d father of Clotildis had .iiii. sonnes that is to saye Cundebaldus Gondigisillus Hilpericus and Godomarus To these .iiii. sonnes Gundenchus besette the lande of Burgoyne Gondigisillê° and Godomarê° dyed wherfore the land of Burgoyne fyll to Cundebaldus and Hilpericus Then Cundebaldus for couetyse of the hole lordeshyp slew his brother Hilpericus fastened a great stone to the necke of his wyfe and cast her into a depe water And of hys .ii. doughters wherof the eldest hyght Trona he exyled in poore wede or clothynge And the yonger he kepte in seruage wythin his owne courte The whyche after as before is shewed was maryed agayne hys wyll vnto Clodoueê° fader to this Lothariê° Then yt foloweth this Lotharius sonne of Clotild made sharpe warre vpon Sigismonde sonne of Cundebaldus whyche then was dede In the whyche warre the eldest sonne Clodomyrus was slayne leuyng after hym .iii. sonnes named Theobaldus Guntherus or Guntharre and Clodoaldus whych .iii. sonnes toke to her tuycyon and guydynge But the other brother maynteyned the warre agayn y t BurgoynioÌ„s in such wyse y e finally they obteyned y e ryght porcyon of theyr moder Clotilde After thys warre was fynyshed in Burgoyne Childebertus the thyrd sonne herynge that Almarcus kyng of Spayne mysse entreated his suster made warre vppon hym lastly hym subdued and sette his suster in her former estate But whyle the said Childebert was thus in Spayne occupyed Theodorus his brother toke from hym a cytye to hym belongyng called MouÌ„tclere and slewe the knyghtes which Childebertus had lefte there to kepe the sayd cytye For this myscheuous dede arose gret debate betwene these two bretherne but by medyacyon of frendes they were at leÌ„gth accordyd Then Theodorus sought new meanes of dyspleasure agayne his sayde brother as well treason as other wyse the whyche Childebert by his polycye and wysedome wyth good fortune escapyd Childebertus than castynge in his mynde how he myght wynne to hym the patrymony or the lordeshyp that lately beloÌ„ged vnto his eldest broder Clodomyrus toke counsayle of his brother Clotharius In such wyse y t they to gyder or of one assent sent vnto theyr moder Clotyld for theyr neuewes childern of theyr brother And she nothynge mystrustynge theym sent the sayde childern vnto the sayd ii brethern But wythin shorte tyme of theyr commyng vnto theyr sayde vncles as testifyeth mayster Robert Gagwyne and also the freÌ„che cronicle Lotharius tyraÌ„nously wyth his sworde slew two of y e sayde childern And then the thyrde fledde for his sauegarde vnto suche as hym fauouryd He was after agayne taken and compelled to make a solemne othe y t he shulde become a relygyous man neuer clayme any part of his ryght or enherytaunce By which vnlefull meane the .ii. brothern obteyned the hole lordshyppe of Orleaunce and partyd the reuennues thereof betwene them but that enduryd but a whyle And here I passe ouer the sorowe that Clotylde made for the childern of her sonne Clodomyrus and also the orderyng of the yongest son called Clodoaldus whyche escaped the daunger of his vncles as before is shewed the whyche wolde aske a longe season THE CII CHAPITER IT was not long after but that the seconde brother kynge or duke of Austracy dyed of goddes visytacyon leuynge after hym a sonne named Theodobertus The whyche of his two foresayde vncles was greuously warred by loÌ„ge tract of tyme the whyche he defendyd thorough his marciall knighthode And when he by dyuers meanes hadde sought peace and myght not purchase it he then founde suche meanes by ryche gyftes and otherwyse that he waÌ„ne the fauoure of his vncle Childebert and cherysshyd hym as his frende Then fyll vnkyndnes betwene Childebert and Lotharius in so myche that eyther of theÌ„ assembled a great hoste to subdue that one the other But the forenamed Theodobertus made all y e power he myght to ayde and assyste Chyldebert So that vppon bothe partyes was a great multytude of knyghtes armed redy to fyght Clotilde then herynge of this mortall warre betwene her two sonnes and also consyderynge the lykelyhode of the great effusyon of mannes blood that myghte ensue by the reason of the ioynynge of these foresayd two hostes in all hast yode vnto the sepulture or shryne of
that tyme reygned in kent or soone after Ethelbert or Athelbert whyche myghte be taken of some for Adelbryght And that other whyche he named Edylf myght be taken for Ella kynge of Southsaxons But this Ella shulde not by concorde of wryters be lyuynge at this tyme. It myght wyth more conuenyency accorde that yt shulde be a kynge of Deira or of NorthuÌ„berlande named Ella the whyche reygned more aboute this tyme and season Of these two kynges the sayde englyshe cronycle telleth a longe processe the whych for I fynde none authour of authoryte that wryteth or speketh of the same I passe yt ouer ye shall also furthermore vnderstande that after this daye the Brytons dayly dyscreasyd of lordshyppe and rule wythin Brytayne drewe them towarde Cambyr or walys so that the countre about Chestre was the chyefe of theyr lordshyp wythin Brytayne For dayly the Saxons landed wyth companyes and occupyed y e princypall partes of y e same as shortely here after shall appere The fyfthe kyngdome of the Saxons THE CIX CHAPITER IN the tyme of the reygne of this fore named Aurelius Conanus as wytnessyth Polycronica Guido other beganne the kyngdome or lordshyp of Brenicia vnder a Saxon named Ida the yere of our lorde .v. hundred and .xlvii and the seconde or laste yere of the sayd Conanus Thys lordshyp was in the north parte of Brytayne and grewe in short whyle more more so that fynally it was named the kyngdome of Northumberlande But ye shall vnderstande that this lordshyp was fyrste deuyded in two kyngdomes wherof the fyrste as aboue is sayde was called Brenicia and that other Deyra The meris or markis of this kyngdome of NorthuÌ„berlande were by Easte and by west the occean see by south the ryuer of Humber and so downwarde towarde the weste by the endys of y e shyres of Notynghm and Derby vnto the ryuer of Merse or Mercia and by north the Scottysshe see whyche is called forth in Scottysh in Brettyshe the werde The southsyde of thys lordshyppe was called Deyra whyche is nowe called the bysshopryke of Durham and the north syde was called Brenicia whyche were than departyd or seuered by the ryuer of Tyne Deyra conteyned the lande from Humber to the ryuer of Tyne and Brenicia included the countree from Tyne to the Scottysshe see In Brenicia regned fyrste as is aboue sayd Ida or Idas in Deyra regned fyrste Ella whych lordshyppes began bothe within .iii. yeres But in processe of tyme bothe in one were named the kyngdome of Northumberlande whych so contynued somwhyle vnder one kynge somewhyle vnder two by the terme of .iii. hundred and .xxi. yeres as sayth Ranulphe munke of Chester And after furth contynued y e name vnder Saxons and Danes tyll the comynge of Edredus brother of Ethelstane son of Edwarde y e elder The whiche Edredus in the .ix. or last yere of hys reygne ioyned thys to hys owne kyngdome By which reasoÌ„ it shulde seme that thys kyngdome endured vnder that name vpon .iiii. hundred and .ix. yeres The fyrste crysten prynce of thys kyngdome was named Edwynus that receyued the fayth of saynt Paulyne as testyfyeth Guydo In thys lordshyppe also were included these shyres and countrees nowe called yorke Notyngham shyre or Snothyngham shyre Derby shyre y e bysshopryke of Durham Copelande and other Amonge the many kynges y t reygned in thys lordshyppe whych after some wryters were to the nomber of xxiii reygned one accoÌ„pted the .viii. kynge by Guydo named Ethelfridê° sonne of Ethelricus whych Ethelfridus destroyed mo Brytons than all y e other kynges of SaxoÌ„s This was fader to saint Oswold Oswi He slewe also many of the BrytoÌ„s at a batayle that he had agayn them besyde Kaerlegyon or Chester and two thousande and a huÌ„dred of monkes of the house of Bangor as it ys testyfyed of Polycronicon in the .x. chapyter of hys .v. boke the whyche monkes were comen thyder to praye for the good spede of the Brytons And ouer thys forsayde nomber of monkes .l. fled whereby they wyth theyr leder named Brucyuall were sauyd Of suche a nomber of monkes of one house myghte be demyd a wonder But the sayd Policronica wyth Guydo and other wryters affermyn that in that house of Bangor were at those dayes for the more party thre tymes vii hundred monkes the whych lyued by the trauayle of theyr handes onely The forenamed Oswye was after Oswolde kynge of thys prouynce whych gaue wyth hys doughter Elfleda a nonne .xii. lordshyppes into y e chyrche to buylde wyth .xii. monasteryes whereof .vi. of the sayde lordshyppes were in Brenicia and .vi. in Deyra as sayth Guydo And also Ranulphe in hys .v. boke of Polycronyca and .xvi. chapyter affermyth the same THE CX CHAPITER UOrtiporiê° sonne of Aureliê° Conanus after the opynyon before sayd was ordeyned kynge of Brytayne in the yere of our lorde .v. hundred and .xlviii. and the .xxxiiii. yere of Clotharius thenne kynge of Fraunce Of the whych is lytell memory lefte in any cronycler or wryter excepte y t Guydo testyfyeth hym to be a vyctoryous knyght shewyng breefly that he in sondry batayles scomfyted the Saxons and defendyd hys lande and Brytons from y e daunger of them and other that the Saxons alyed them wyth In the tyme of the reygne of thys kynge a Saxon named Ella the son of Iffus began to reygne in y e south syde of the kyngdome of Northumberlande called Deyra as before is touchyd in the chapyter of the sayde kyngdome Then yt foloweth whan this Uortiporius hadde ruled the Brytons knyghtly by the terme of .iiii. yeres he dyed and was put to hys fader leuynge none heyre of hys body For as myche as all wryters agreen that the kynges of westsaxon at length subdued all the other kyngdomes and made of the hole land of mych Brytayne but one kyngdome or monarchye and all other as well of Brytons as of Saxons fayled or lefte of that all onely excepted therfore I entende to brynge in the name of euerych kyng of westsaxon froÌ„ the fyrst Cerdycus or Chyldricus ioyne them wyth the kynges of Brytons for so long as hereafter y e sayd Brytons contynued theyr reygne wythin any parte of Brytayne THE CXI CHAPITER MAlgo a duke of the Brytons and neuewe of Aureliê° Conanus as sayth the authour of the Floure of hystories begaÌ„ his reigne ouer the Brytons in the yere of oure lorde .v. hundred .lii and the .xxxviii. yere of Clotharius then styll kynge of Fraunce and also the .xv. yere of Kenricus the sonne of Cerdicus and seconde kyng of westsaxoÌ„ aforesayd accomptyng .xv. yeres of the reygne of hys fader as Guydo allowyth Thys Malgo after y e accorde of all wryters that make mencyon was y e comlyest and moost personable man of all Brytons than lyuyng therewyth endowed with knyghtly manhode The whyche wythstode y e Saxons and kepte them of that they damaged not the lande the whyche he
of hys treasoure went vnto y e cyty of Tourney enteÌ„dyng to kepe that for theyr and hys sauegarde But when Sygebert knew therof he was nothyng in the pursuynge of hym fouÌ„de slow but foloweth streyght after and closyd hym wythin the sayde cytye with a stronge syege where Chilpericus was in a maner dyspayred of y e welfare of hym hys Fredegunde But she that was replenyshed of all iniquyte called to her two wycked persones and promysed vnto theym great gyftes yf they wolde by venym or otherwyse slee her brother Sigebert The whyche two felowes dysceyued wyth the fayre speche and great gyftes of the sayde Fredegunda toke vppon theym that vnlefull charge and by theyr subtell false imagynacyon brought theyr cursed purpose to an ende but to theyr owne confusyon For after they had wounded the kynge Sygebert to deth and wolde then haue escapyd the kynges knyghtes espyeng theyr treason fell soone vppon them and all to hewed them And when y e deth of the kynge was knowen a great noyse and crye was areryd in the hoste By meane wherof the kynges deth was blowen in to the cytye and after to the ceres of Chilpericus wherof he was not a lytell ameruayled nor wolde to yt geue ferme credence tyll he was enfourmed of hys wyfe Fredegunde of all hyr subtyle workynge It was not longe after or the knyghtes or some of the captaynes of the hoste of Sygebert presentyd theÌ„ vnto Chylpericus besegynge hym of hys grace and pardon the whych he gladly accepted And when he hadde sette hys charges in order he then commaunded prouysyon to be made for the beryenge of hys sayd brother wythin the monasterye of saynte Medarde of Soysons And when all that besynesse after a kyngely maner where fynyshed and endyd he then exylyd Brunechyeldys and Childebert the wyfe and sonne of hys brother Sygebert vnto the cytye of Roane takynge from theym great treasour that they were possessyd of But shortly after the sonne of Sygebert by helpe of Gun debolde or Gundealde duke of Poy towe here before named was delyueryd from the daunger of the sayde Chilperycus and sent into his owne lordeshyppe of Austracye whych his father Sygebert was lorde of In thys passetyme he hadde sent hys sonne Meroneus into a couÌ„trey called Buturynges to appeace certayne rebellyons there areysyd But when he hard of the deth of his vncle Sygebert and of the beynge of hys wyfe Bruncchyelde at the cytye of Roane he sette a parte all the charge of his father and sped hym streyght thyder kepynge companye wyth her In whome he toke suche consolacoin and pleasure that lastely he maryed her and kepte her as hys wyfe And when hys father was therof warned he feryd leste by the counsayle of hys sayde wyfe he wolde arryse agayne hym wherfore he in all haste assembled hys people and spedde hym towarde Roane when tydynges came to Meroneus of the conunynge of hys father wyth so great araye and he as then vupurucyed of strength of knightes to resyste hys father for hys moste suertye fled wyth hys vnlefull wyfe to the temple or chyrche of saynte Martyne takynge the pryuylege therof for theyr defence And when Chilpericus hadde temptyd by many sondry meanes to haue them out of the sayde pryuylege and myghte not wythout brekynge of the same he to brynge aboute hys cautelouse purpose made to theym assuryd promyse that yf they wyllfully wolde renounce the sayde place and putte theym in hys grace he wolde vtterlye pardon theyr trespace and suffer theym from that tyme for to contynue theyr lyfe to gether as man and wyfe Uppon whyche promyse the sayd Meroneê wyth his wyfe renouÌ„ced the sayde pryuylege and putte theym hole in the kynges mercy the whyche them receyuyd wyth all contenaunce of loue and fauoure and theym festyd and cherysshyd louyngly by the space of two dayes onely But the thyrde daye the feaste was fynyshed for then he sent his sonne vnto Parys vnder sure guydes and there causyd hym to be professyd in a house of relygyon But by the meanes of hys vncle Gunthranus he was after taken thens and so restoryd to hys former knyghthode For the whych his father hym newly pursued and coÌ„strayned hym to take for hys sauegarde y e chyrche of saynt Martyne in Turon And when he was warned that his fader perforce wold take hym thens he then fledde vnto a cytye of Champayne accompanyed wyth .vi. seruauntes onely where he was in so great fere to be taken and in suche despayre to obteyne grace of hys father that he causyd one of the sayde vi persones to slee hym wyth hys sworde the foresayd Bruncchyeldis hys wyfe put in sure kepynge THE CXV CHAPITER CHilpericê° then beynge asserteyned of the doth of hys sonne Meroneus the sure kepyng of Brunechieldis he thoughte hymselfe somdele assuryd for y e mystruste y t he had in them many tymes inquieted hym But yet he was not iÌ„ quiete or reste For shortly after y e peple of Turon rebellyd agayne him Agayn whom he sent his son Clodoueus a noble man of his courte named Desideriê° y e which he sent as a gyde a counsayloure of his sayd son And vpon the party of his enymyes was a captayne of the kynge Gunthranus for so mych as the said Gunthranus claymed parte of those landes about Turon This captayne named Momelues heryng of the coÌ„mynge of the foresayd hoste wyth a chosen coÌ„pany made taward them and gaue vnto Clodoueus a great sharpe fyght and not without great losse of his men wanne of hym the felde and compellyd hym to forsake that countre Thus Chilperyche was wrapped in warre and troubles of the worlde sometyme wyth ryght some whyle wyth wronge so that he some tyme wanne worshyppe and other whyle he loste wherof to tell all the cyrcumstaunce I thynke yt shulde be tedyouse bothe to the reders and also to y e herers wherfore I passe ouer in abrydgynge and shortynge somedele of this storye Then foloweth within y e storye after Chylpericus had by intycemeÌ„t of Fredegunde wrongfully tormentyd the archebyshoppe of Roan named Breteste hym after the sufferaunce of many vylanyes exyled for the whych and other god sent vnto hym some correccyom in takynge awaye by sodeyne deth the chyldern that he had by Fredegunde he then began to knowe god and toke great repentaunce in promysynge to god amendement of his lyfe And to th entent that he might haue the more prayers of the comyn people to stand in state of grace he fyrst releasyd a greuous trybute or imposicyon that he hadde lately sette vpon all vynes thorough his regyon And that done he reedyfyed olde chyrches and some he made newe and endowed them with great possessyons And ouer thys he releuyd greatly y e poore people by enlargynge of his lyberall almes and became very humble and meke where before tyme he was ryght sterne and cruell But lyke as ofteÌ„ it happeneth that
wyth her son Clodoueê° vnto the guydyng tuycyon of a noble man of FrauÌ„ce theÌ„ mayster of hys Paleys named Agaynus he dyed when he had reygned xiiii yeres was buryed with great pompe in the forenamed monastery Of this Dagobert is reported by myne authour also the frenche cronycle besyde other wryters that an holy ancre or heremyte of Fraunce beynge in his medytacyons shuld se a company of fendes whyche beyng in the see shuld haue amonge theym in a bote the soule of Dagobert and were conueyenge yt towarde payne But thys spiryte ceasyd not to crye to call to saynt Denis and his felowes for helpe the whyche lastely came clad in whyte vestymentes delyuered that soule from the paynes of his enymyes and conueyed it vnto euerlastynge ioy as more at length and wyth more cyrcuÌ„staunce yt ys declared in the bokys beforesayde Anglia THE CXXXIII CHAPITER CAdwallus or Cadwalyne the sonne of Cadwan lastely spoken of in y e cronycle of mych Britayn as testyfyeth Guydo Gaufryde and other beganne hys reygne ouer the Brytons in the yere of Crystes incarnacyon .vi. hundred .xxxv y e fyrst yere of the fyrst Dagobert then kyng of Fraunce and also the .xii. yere of Kyngilsus Quichillinus then kynges of westsaxon This Cadwallus was stronge and myghty warryd strongly vpon the SaxoÌ„s nere vnto hym and wanne from them both castels and townes and droue theym backe into the lande towarde London wherof herynge Penda kynge of Mercia he assembled his SaxoÌ„s and made towarde Cadwall But he was in the ende dystressyd and fayn to seche and purchace the fauoure of Cadwal and lyue vnder his tribute This Penda after this was in great fauour with Cadwall in so myche y t he toke parte wyth Cadwall agayne his other Saxon kynges as after shall appere About thys tyme Kyngylsus one of the kynges of westsaxons was by the doctryne of y e blessyd man Berinê° coÌ„uertyd to y e ryght beleue and cristyned of hym at the citye of Dortyke or Dorchester And Oswald kynge of Northumberland was hys godfather and weddyd his doughter afterwarde And then that cytye was geuen to the byshop to the ende that he shuld there ordeyne hys see where the sayde Berinê° sat .xiiii. yeres after there was buryed tyll Beda bishop of wynchester traÌ„slatyd his body to y e citye of wynchester all be it y t the chanoÌ„s of Dorchester sayeÌ„ that the sayd bodye of holy Beryne was not taken thens but a nother in the stede of hym And yet in tokeÌ„ therof a beers of wonder worke staÌ„dyth at this day ouer that graue where y e holy man was fyrst buryed It shuld seme that this cytye of Dorchester is now called Dorset Thys see was in the tyme of wyllyam conqueroure chaunged to Lyncolne About thys tyme Sigebertus or after some Segebertus kynge of Eestenglande or Norfolke whyche reygned there next his brother Corpwaldus ordeyned letters to be lernyd and set scolys in dyuerse places of his kyngdome and ordeyned ouer theÌ„ schole maysters pedagoges as he somtyme hadde seen in Fraunce The whyche Sygebert was conuertyd to Crystes fayth by the doctryne of an holy man named Felix y e which he was fyrste acqueynted wyth in FrauÌ„ce or in Burgoyne The whych Felix came soone after that acqueyntaunce into Eestanglia or Norfolke where the kynge made hym byshop of DuÌ„wyche nowe called Thetford Lastelye the kynge betoke hys kyngdome vnto hys neuew Egritus and became a munke in an abbay whych he hym selfe buyldyd But when Penda kynge of Mercia warryd after in that couÌ„trey the sayde Sygebert was agayne hys wyll pulled oute of the sayde monastery and went in armes or as some testyfye vnarmyd wyth a whyte rod in hys hande nycely so was slayne and well nere all his hoste of knyghtes that came wyth hym to that feld By this rehersayll apperyth here dyscorde of wryters of the begynnyng of this sayd kyngdome of Eestanglis For yf yt were true that this beganne as wytnessyth Policronycon in the .iiii. chapyter of hys fyfte boke in the yere of grace .iiii. huÌ„dred lxxx and .xii as before also I haue shewed in the .lxxx. and .xvi. chapyter of this worke then myght yt not agree wyth conuenyency of tyme that this Sygebert or Sebert shulde reygne as kynge at those dayes nowe mynded wherfore y e sayenge of Guydo is more concordaunte whyche shewyth this kyngdome to haue his begynnynge in the yere of grace .v. C. .lxx as in the ende of the forsayd chapyter yt is there shortly touched Then yt foloweth in the story after the deth of this Sigebert Anna was made kyng of Eestanglis And durynge the reygne of Sigebertus befell the woÌ„der y t is tolde of that holy man Furceê° as is shewed at leÌ„gth in the .xiii. chapiter of the .v. boke of Policronicon aforesayd and in the .xiii. tytle of the .vi. chapyter of the .ii. parte of y e famous worke called Summa Antonini And about this season reygned or began to reygne the cursyd secte of y e detestable false prophete Machomet y e which syns y e tyme hath so enfected y t it hath enfectyd .ii. priÌ„cipall ê‘tes of y e world as Asia Affrica the more part of y e third named Europa dayly wynneth vpon the crysten peple great laÌ„des possessions Aboute the .vii. yere of thys forenamed Cadwall kynge of Britons reygned in Kent a Saxon kyng named Ercombertus the whyche had that pryncypate .xx. yeres nobly And amonge other of hys famous dedys he reuyued and quyckened agayne the fayth of Cryste that in some places of hys kyngedome was sore appallyd For he destroyed the temples of false goddes thorough all that countrey and ordeyned by the aduyse of his clergye the tyme of lente to be fasted He wedded the doughter of Anna kynge of Eestanglis named Sexburga of whom he receyuyd a doughter and named her Eukengoda y e whyche after was a menchon or nunne in the abbey of Brydgence in Fraunce before mynded where Ethelburga y e wyfe somtyme of Edwyn kynge of Northoumberlande serued god as in the hundred and .xxx. chapyter precedynge yt ys shewed and eyther of them was abbesse of the same place And though at those dayes there were many abbeys in thys yle of myche Brytayne yet many both of men and of women sayled into other landes as FrauÌ„ce and Burgoyne and other places because the conuersacyon and lyuynge of those countres were of more fame and perfeccyon then was then vsyd in thys yle of Brytayne About thys tyme as yt were about the .viii. yere of Cadwall dyed kyngylsus kyng of westsaxons when he had reygned with his brother and alone .xxxi. yeres And Kenwalcus his sonne was kynge after hym y e which in y e begynnyng of his reygne wolde not be crystyned forsoke hys wyfe the doughter of PeÌ„da toke to hym a nother wherfore Penda in aduengynge hys doughter gatheryd hys
clergy wherfore the byshoppes for a redresse and remedy coÌ„playned them vnto kynge Pepyn Then Pepyn sent vnto hym monestynge hym in fayre and goodly maner that he shuld exchew and forbere such doyng And for the duke wolde not abstayne for the kynges coÌ„mauÌ„dement he in shorte whyle assembled hys army and entred the territory of Guyan in wastynge and spoylynge the countrey And in so shorte whyle after put the duke in suche fere that he was fayne to aplye hym to y e kynges mynde and pleasure and bound hym to restore to the clergy all that he had before taken by extort power But whan the sayde duke was assuryd of y e kinges retorne into FrauÌ„ce he gathered a strength of knyghtes and sent theym to the cytye of Chalours in Burgoyne and dyd that he cowde or myghte to the domage of that towne and countrey In whych season the kynge was at the towne or cytye called Dury whyther and to the whyche towne tydynges were brought to hym of the vntrew dealynge of thys foresayd duke where wyth he beynge sore dyscontent retournyd wyth his people into GuyaÌ„ and therein bete downe many strong holdys castlellys and toke or woÌ„ne at length burbon Cancaruyle and CleremouÌ„t and from thens wasting the couÌ„trey wyth iron and fyre yode tyll he came to Lymoges And for y e wynter came on hande the kyng for the ease and sauegard of his people strengthyd these foresayde cytyes townes and holdes that he before had wonne and than yode to a place called Cause or Caus there kepte hys crystmasse and ester And whan the new season was come not forgettynge hys former purpose reentryd the foresayd duchy of Guyan in wastynge the londe as he before hadde done and after toke by strength the cytyes of Burgies and Towrs In whyche season and tyme the duke wolde neuer apere in playne felde but kepte hym in strong holdes as one was wone he fled into another Thys warre thus contynuynge the countreye and people were sore empouerysshed wherfore they lastly consyderynge the obstynacy of theyr duke wyth also the greate daunger which they stode in murderyd theyr sayde duke and after yelded them the couÌ„trey to the kynges obeysauÌ„ce wyth all suche treasure and iewelles as to the sayd duke belonged where of Pepyn offerd a great parte of theÌ„ vnto saynte Denys Thys warre thus ended wyth many other notable workes whereof the rehersall in order wolde aske a longe tracte of tyme thys vyctoryous prynce Pepyn was vexed wyth greuous sykenesse wherfore in all haste he sped hym vnto saynt Martynes where he made certayne oblacyons and prayers and thens hys sykenesse encreasyng was conueyed vnto Parys where he shortly after dyed when he had reygned as kynge by the terme of .xviii. yeres leuynge after him .ii. sonnes that is for to say Charle mayne and Charlys THE CLIIII CHAPITER CArolomanus and Charlys sonnes of Pepyn begaÌ„ theyr reygne ioyntly ouer the Frenchmen in the yere of our lorde .vii. hundred lxviii and the .xx. yere of Kenulphe than kynge of westesaxons so that Charlemayne had to his parte myddell Fraunce and Charlys had Austracy wyth y e other deale of FrauÌ„ce Of y e elder brother Charlemayne lytell is lefte in memory for he dyed whan he had reygned lytell ouer .ii. yeres wherfore to Charlys fell the hole realme of Fraunce the whyche of all the nobles was ioyously admytted It was not longe after Hunyldys whom Pepyn by hys lyfe hadde ordeyned ruler of Guyan rebellyd agayne the kynge wherfore Charlys preparyd anone hys armye and sped hym thyder and in processe of tyme constrayned the sayd Hunyldê° to forsake the countrey and for hys tuycyon to flee vnto Lupus than duke of Gascoyne wherfore Charlys beynge aduertysed sent hys message to the sayd Lupus wyllynge commaundyng hym that he in spedy maner shulde sende to hym hys rebell Hunyldus or els he wolde with hys army inuade spoyle his people and couÌ„trey Uppon resceyt of which message Lupus by couÌ„ceyll condescendyd to the kynges pleasure so y t he causyd Hunyldus to submyt hym vnto the kynges grace and mercy wherewyth the kynge was so well contentyd that vppon assuraunce taken of the sayd Hunyldus y t there after he shulde be of good aberynge toward the kyng he clerely forgaue vnto hym all hys former offence And after he had set that countrey in a rule and order he retornyd into Fraunce where to hym soone after came an embassade from the fyrste Adryan than pope requyrynge hym of ayde agayne Desyderiê° thaÌ„ kyng of Longobardys the whyche than had taken from the chyrche of Rome many cytyes and other possessyons Than Charlys acceptyng the popes request or he began any warre agayne the sayde Desyderius sente vnto hym an embassade wyllynge and requyrynge hym in all honorable wyse to restore vnto the chyrche of Rome all suche possessyons as he from the same chyrche before tyme hadde taken and yet withhelde and also to refrayne hym from all suche warre as he dayly made vppon the londys of the sayd chyrche But for he sawe no frute ensue of y e message he made prouysyon for all thyng nedefull to such a iourney And shortly after passed the mountaynes not all wythout batayle and in processe coÌ„strayned Desyderiê° to take the cytye of Uercyle where after he hadde refresshed hys Italyans he gaue vnto the Frenchemen a sharpe and cruell batayle But in the ende Desyderius was compellyd to forsake the felde and fled after to the forenamed cytye of Papy where he kepte hym as after shall appere a longe whyle And for to shewe you somewhat of the foresayde batayle ye shall vnderstande that for the greate occysyoÌ„ of men y t there was slayne the place was called longe after Mortaria that is to meane in our vulgare or mother tonge the place of deth In this fyghte were slayne amonge other two knyghtes greately famyd Amys and Amylyon of whom some fables are reportyd bycause they were so lyke of semblaunt These two knyghtes as wytnessyth the Frenche story and also Antoninus were brought vppe in the court of the foresayde Charles and wyth hym well cherysshed and fynally here slayne and buryed after some wryters in the two chappellys whyche in the foresayde place were buylded to praye for the greate multytude of the soules of these knyghtes that there were slayne But who that is desyrous to knowe the hole lyfe of those two foresayd knyghtes let hym ouerse the thyrde chapyter of the .xiiii. tytle of Antoninus and he shall there fynde a compendyous and goodly story the whyche for length I ouerpasse and retorne my style agayne to Charlys The which whan he was ware that Desyderius had taken thys cytye of Papy and it greatly strengthyd both with men and vytell in such wyse that he well vnderstode y t it myghte not be shortly wonne he therfore layde about it a stronge syege wyth the ouersyght of sure and wyse capytayns and after yode to Rome to vysyte the holy
apostles Peter and Poule and also to speke wyth the pope for dyuers maters where he taryed a greate parte of the wynter folowynge and after retorned vnto Papy whych as yet was not delyueryd nor gyuē vp But it was not longe after his retorne that the cytye was wonne wherein was takyn as prysoner the sayde Desyderius wyth hys wyfe and chyldren The whyche to make shorte processe he at length forcyd hym to restore vnto the pope all such possessyons as he before tyme hadde taken from hys chyrche and addyd more there vnto the two cytyes of Spoletys and Beneuent And fynally depryued hym of all kyngely honoure and ladde hym as prysoner into Fraunce and as a prysoner or exyle from hys naturall countreye kepte hym at the cytye of Lyons as wytnessyth Cronica cronicarum Iacobus Philippus and other And after by agremēt the pope gaue that kyngdome vnto Pypynus hys son the whych cōtynued so in the French mens rule and possessyon ouer the terme of two hundred yeres For thys vyctoryous dede thus obteyned by Charlis the forenamed pope graūted vnto hym many great pryuyleges Amonge the nomber whereof one was that no pope durynge the lyfe of Charlys shulde be in no wyse electid or chosyn tyll there came from hym a commaundement to go to that eleccyon And also he graunted vnto hym inuestyture of benefyces spyrytuall whyche grauntes and pryuyleges were confermed and authorysed in a Synode of an hundreth and .liii. bysshoppes kepte in Fraunce by cōmaundement of the foresayd Adryan Of thys Charlys longe and tedyous it were to tell the hole of hys actes and dedes wherfore I entende to towche but a parte of theym and for the other deale I remitte to them y t haue further desyre of knowlege vnto the bokes of Turpyn and Egyueaux chaplayne to the sayde Charlys or ellys to the sayd bysshop Turpyn whyche wrote a longe worke of hys vertuous dedes THE CLV CHAPITER THis Charlys marcyall after his retorne into Fraūce without there lōge taryeng sped hym agayne to the forenamed people called Soysons or Saxons whyche newly rebellyd and warryd sharpely vppon them and fought wyth them sondry batayles Amonge the whyche two ben specyally noted whereof that one was foughten at a place called Onacre and that other at the ryuer of Esam or Hesayre By whyche two batayls the Saxons loste moch of theyr people and were so sore feblysshed that they were fayne shortely after to put them in the mercy of Charlys By reason wherof he bonde them vnto certayne lawes and ordynaunces wherof specyally one as pryncypall of them was that they frō that daye forth shulde renounce and forsake theyr worshyppynge of idollys and fals goddes and beleue in the fayth of Crystes chyrch wyth many other For the performynge of the whyche couenauntes the kyng toke of them good pledgys hostages And more ouer to the ende to mynysshe make lesse theyr strengthe he chase out of them .x. thousande of the moste apte men for the warrys and conueyed them wyth hym into Fraunce And after he hadde clothed them with the mantell of baptyme takynge of thē assuryd othe to be trewe to hym and to hys heyres he after inhabyted them in dyuers places of his realme Of the whyche people as affermeth myne authoure descendyd the Flemmynges and Brabāders And thus endyd the warre of the Saxons or Soysons that hadde contynued by the terme of many yeres passyd And forthwyth by assent and aduyse of hys counceyle he preparyd all abilymentes and ordynaunce of warre to go agayne y e Hunys y t then had wonne great groūd in Spayne And for to bryng this war to y e more effectuall ende he chase .xii. perys which after some wryters are called dozeperys or kynges Of the whiche vi were byshoppes .vi. temporall lordes Of the whyche byshoppes thre were named dukes whych were archbyshops .iii. erlys which were byshoppes Of the temporall lordes thre were dukes and thre erlys that is to saye the duke of Burgoyne the duke of Neustria or Normandy and the duke of Guyan for .iii. erlys the erle of Palantyne y e erle of Tholons and the erle of Champayn Of y t whyche also some writers afferme that y e famouse knyghtes Rowland and Olyuer were .ii as Roulād erle of Palātyne Olyuer erle of Tholous when Charlis had prepared all thynges necessary to this gret iourney he fyrste made his pylgrymage vnto saynte Denys and there offerd ryche great gyftes and after procedyd towarde his iourney and fyrste besyegyd the citye called Pāpilona the whych after .iii. monethes he subdued to his obeysaunce This cytye stode in the entre of Spayne in the montaynes callyd montes Pyreni After the obteynynge of whyche cytye and by myracle of saynt Iamys as sayth Antoninus Charlis commaūded all such as to Crystes fayth wolde be conuertyd shuld be sauyd the other to passe by sentence of the sworde And after he hadde wonne y e fyrste cytye he wanne all the coūtrey adioynynge to the same by reason wherof he caste great fere vnto the myscreantis and wan by his strēgth and by appoyntemēt so that they became his trybutaryes these coūtres and prouynces hereafter ensuynge that is to saye as wytnessyth Uyncēt historyall Antoninus and other y e land of Laudeluffe the land of Pardis the lande of Castyll the lande of Maurys the prouynce of Nauerne the countrey of Portyngall the lāde of Byscaye the lande of Palarge and destroyed in them all idollis and buyldyd in them chyrches and monasteryes and brought the more partye of them to Crystes relygyon And moste specyally the chyrche of saynt Iamys he buylded in Cōpostella wyth sumptuous coste gaue there vnto great possessyons to the maynteynyng of the diuyne seruyce of god and the mynysters of y e same And ouer that with the treasour that he gate in these foresayd countreys he buyldyd many dyuerse chyrches as well in other places as there Longe yt were to tell all the cyrcūstaunce of this vyage and vyctoryes of the same wherfore I passe ouer And when Charlys hadde sped hys nedys he had good wyll to retourne into Fraunce In the whych retorne Carlis castynge no dought nor parell by the treason of Gauelon a knyght or ruler of Gascoyn y e which Gauelon hadde receyuyd of a Paynym kynge named Marsyll great ryche gyftes for to betraye the hoste of Charlis was dysceyuyd as after shewyth Thys Gauelon the better to compasse and brynge to effecte his purpose aduised Charlis wyth a certayne of his people to passe the porte of Cesayre and to leue behynde hym in the rerewarde Rouland Olyuer wyth .xx. thousande of the resydue of his hoste And when the kynge was passyd wyth his hoste he gaue warnynge vnto the forenamed Marsyll and other that they shulde close the sayde Rowlande in the place callyd Rounceuale The whych accordyng to that false counsayll with an hoste of .lx. thousande or mo beclyppyd Rowlande and his people
Brytons or walshemen the towne of Chester that they hadde kepte possessyon of tyll that daye For the whych vyctoryes thus by hym obteyned he shortely after called a counsayll of his lordes at wynchester and there by theyr aduysys crowned him kyng and chese lorde of this lande that to fore thys daye is called Brytayne and sente then oute into all costes of thys lande his commaundementes and commyssyons chargyng straytly that from that day forthward the Saxons shulde be called Anglys the lande Anglia About the .xxiiii. yere of the reygne of Egbert whyche shulde be the yere of our lord as meaneth Policronica viii hundred and .xix. Kenelmus before mynded the son of Kenwolfus was admytted for kynge of Mercia beynge then a chyld of the age of .vii yeres The whyche by treason of his syster Ouendreda was slayne in a thycke wood by a tyraunt callid Hesbertus and hys bodye after founde by a pyller of the sonne beame or of lyght dyuyne that shone from his bodye towarde heuen It ys also redde of hym that a coluer bare a scrowle wryten in englyshe then vsed and lette yt fall from hyr vppon the aulter of saynte Peter in Rome wherof the wordes were these At clense in Cowbacch Kenelme Kenebern lyeth vnder Thorne hewyd beweuyd whyche is to meane in englyshe now vsyd at Clent in Cow vale vnder a thorne lyeth Kenelmus hedlesse slayne by fraude when this holy body was founde and was borne towarde the place of his sepulture his forenamed syster entendynge some derysyon or other vylanye to be done to the corps lenyd oute of a wyndowe where by the corps shulde passe And to bryng her malycyouse purpose aboute I note by what sorcery she ment there she redde the psalme of the Sauter begynnynge Deus laudem bacward But what so her entente was she there incontynently fell blynde and her eyen dystylled dropes of blood that fell vppon the Sauter boke The which in token of goddes wretche in that boke remayne at thys daye to be sene Of the holynes of thys martyr of his vertue y e legēde of sayntes reportyth the surplusage In the .xxix. yere of the reygne of Egbert or after the englyshe cronycle Edbryght the Danys wyth a great hoste enteryd the seconde tyme thys londe and spoyled the yle of Shepey in Kent or nere to kent wherof herynge the kynge Egbert assembled hys people and met wyth theym at a place callyd Carrum But he wanne of that fyghte lytell worshyppe for the Danys compellyd him and his knyghtes to forsake the felde And by presumpcyon of y e vyctorye they drewe westwarde and made a confederey wyth weste Brytons that liued in seruage By whose power they assayllyd Egbertus landes and dyd myche harme in many placys of hys domynyon and ellys where so that after thys daye they were contynuallye abydynge in one place of the realme of Englande or other tyll y e tyme of harde Kynytus laste kynge of the Danys blood so that many of theym were maryed to Englishe women and many that nowe ben or in tyme passed were called englyshe men are dyscendyd of theym And all be yt that they were many and sondry tymes dryuen out of that lande and chasyd frō one countrey to a nother as after ye shall here yet that not wythstādyng they euer gaderyd newe strengthes and power so that they abode styll wythin the lande Of the kynge of these Danys and of what people they be dyscended dyuerse opynyons of wryters there be whych now I passe ouer for so mych as I entende to shewe somewhat of theym in this worke folowynge Then it folowyth in the storye the tyme contynuyng of the persecucion of these foresayd Paganys and Danes Egbert or Edbryght dyed whē he hadde well and nobly ruled the westsaxons and other the more parte of Englande by the terme after most wryters of .xxxvii. yeres and was buryed at wynchester as sayth Guydo and lefte after hym a sonne named Athenulphus Francia THE CLIX. CHAPITER LOdouicus y e fyrst of that name and sonne of Charlis the great began hys reygne ouer y e realme of Fraūce also his empyre ouer the Romaynes in the yere of grace .viii. hūdred and .xv and the .xx. yere of Egbertus then kynge of westsaxons Thys for his mekenesse was callyd Lewys the mylde or meke In tyme of hys fathers decease he was occupyed in Guyan the whych he before tyme hadde the rule and domynyon of by commaundement of his father But when he was aduertised of his faders deth he anon sped hym toward Aquisgrani so y t y e .xxx. day after hys departyng out of Guyan he came vnto the foresayde cytye where he was mette wyth all the nobles and barons of Fraūce And fyrst or he medled or toke vpon hym any cure or charge of hys owne besynes he with most deuocyon causyd great obseruaunces and myche dyuyne seruyce to be done aboute the sepulture of his father whyche obseruaunce prayers fynyshed and endyd y e sayde Lewes commaundyd to come before hym dyuerse ambassadours that frō dyuerse prynces were sent vnto hys father Charlis and to theym gaue answers concernyng theyr legacyōs and messagis and then proceded vnto the nedes of his realm for y e weale therof and of his people wherein he beynge besyed worde was brought to hym of an ambassad royall y t was comen from Michael the emperour of Constantyne the noble Agayne the whyche he sent certayne of hys lordes to receyue them and so wyth all honour to bryng thē vnto hys presence Of whose commynge the entente was to presente hym wyth certayne ryche gyftes and to desyre hym of his amyte and frendshyppe Also soone after came vnto hym messengers from the Beneuētanys offerynge vnto his magnyfycence obligacyons and bondes to be his true lyeges and to paye to hym yerely in way of trybute .vi. thousande ducates of gold A ducate is of sondry valuys but the leste in value is .iii. s. iii d. ob and the beste .iiii. s. vii d. Then the Soysons or Saxons that were so dyuerse of condycyon beganne to murmoure and rebell agayne this Lowys wherfore or he wolde assemble any people agayne theym he sent thyder certayne persones to know y e cause of theyr rebellyon And when he was enfourmed that yt was for the takynge awaye from them of certayne lādes and possessyons by hys father he then restored agayne the sayde landes and so recouncylyd the countrey to his subieccyon For this dede some of his lordes grudged and sayde such myldenes was not to be vsyd to people of suche obstynacy and sternesse but to haue forcyd them by dynte of sworde to haue lyued in due obedyence In thys passetyme dyed pope Stephan the fourth of that name after whose deth was elected to that dygnyte the fyrste Pascall wythout cōsente or knowlege of this Lowys somdeale to the dyscontentynge of his mynde pleasure But in shorte tyme after he receyued such wordes and presentes
testyfyeth myne authour mayster Robert Gagwyne But the Frenche boke sayth that thys dede was done by Frederyke bysshoppe or Utryke where fore he was after pyteously slayne by such as fauoured y e quene and not all wythout her concent as wytnessyth the sayd cronycle And whan Lewys had in thys other thynges agreed vnto hys sonnes and thought hym self to be in surete of theyr amyte and fauours sodeynly he was coÌ„ueyed vnto the monastery of saynt Medrid or as sayth the Frenche boke he was conueyed to a towne called in Frenche Melanguy wyth hys yonge sonne Charlys And that done the sayd thre sonnes deuyded theyr fathers possessyons amonge theym thre That is to saye Lothayre the eldeste had to his porcyon the londes of the empyre Pepyn the countrey of Guyan and to Lewys the yongest fell the countrey of Bayon whyche mysery of the emperour whan the pope had beholden seen he wyth greate mornynge retorned into Iuly so vnto Rome In which tyme of prysonemeÌ„t of the emperour the sayd Lewys made dyteys pystelles of greate sorowe and lamentacyon to the ensample of all erthlye prynces and to the entent that hys sonnes shulde of hym haue the more compassyon and pytye The whyche I ouer passe for length of tyme and the rather for in tyme of prysonemeÌ„t of Edwarde the seconde callyd Carnaruan was by hym made a lyke coÌ„playnt where of when tyme place comyth I entende to expresse some parte therof whan Lewys had thus a season remayned in pryson for so myche as the comons shulde not thynke that thys shuld be done by the authoryte of y e thre sonnes onely therfore they causyd a couÌ„sayle to be callyd at the cytye of Compeyne there by theyr meanes and labours causyd theyr father by authoryte of spyrytuall temporall lordys to be discharged of all rule and domynyon as well of the empyre as of the realme of FrauÌ„ce by authoryte of the sayd couÌ„sayle or parliament and after caused hym to renouÌ„ce all hys temporall habyte and to become a munke in the monastery of saynt Matke where he was lefte of his sonne Lothayre not with out sure watche and kepynge But full often it is seen that whaÌ„ the erthlye power of man faylyth or wekyth god of hys greate mercy the repentaunt synner to grace callyth hym by hys dyuyne power aydeth and strengtheth and so he dyd thys Lewys For after thys mysery and trybulacyon thus to hym fallen the peple in dyuerse placys of this londe murmured and grudgyd very sore agayne the innaturall dealynge of the sonnes agayne theyr father In these dayes was a greate ruler in Fraunce named Guyllyam stuarde or constable of that lande y e which wyth one Egebard or Edgare a man of greate byrth and alyaunce couÌ„sayled togyder for the enlargyng of y e emperour And lastly wyth ayde of theyr frendes assembled a greate peple And than drewe vnto them .ii. noble men of Burgoyne called Barnarde and Gueryn the whyche sometyme had ben well cherysshed wyth the emperoure Lewys All thys season Lothayre had restyd hym for y e more partye at Aquysgrany But whan he harde of the assemblynge of these foresayd lordes he sped hym towarde Parys And whan he was thyther comen the foresayd lordes sent vnto hym two noble men Rowlande and Gantelyne the whych made request vnto Lothayre in the name of the other lordes that it wolde lyke hym to restore hys father vnto hys former dygnyte wyth other thynges concernynge theyr legacyon To the whyche two lordes Lothayre gaue answere that of hys fathers restorynge to hys fyrste or former dygnyte no man lyuynge wolde be therof more fayne than he wolde But y e deposyng of hym was done by the hole authoryte of y e land wherfore yf he shulde be agayne restoryd it must be by the same authoryte and not by hym onely All be yt that they myghte knowe of hys benyuoleÌ„ce and fauour that he bare towarde hys father he wylled them to stonde a parte whyle he had some coÌ„munycacyon of his lordes for y e same mater By reason wherof were it for fere or for fauour the emperour was shortly after put at hys lybertye and restoryd to all hys fyrst honoure and dygnyte than with great honoure conueyed to a cytye or towne called Ciriciake where met wyth hym hys other two soÌ„nes Pepyn and Lewys and there restyd hym certayne dayes in makyng all feest and ioye and after rode vnto Aquysgrany and there restyd an other season In whych tyme of hys there beyng was brought vnto hym from y e place where she had ben prisoner his wyfe Indyth But whan Lothariê° knewe that hys father had hyr agayne receyued contrary to hys mynde and pleasure he in wrath dyspleasure entryd the countrey of Burgoyne made in it sharpe and cruell warre executed therin many spoylynges and other inordynate dedys The whyche cruelty to wythstande let hys father wyth hys sonne Pepyn wyth a greate hoste sped hym thyder warde But anone as he had knowlege therof mystrustyng his streÌ„gth he yelded hym vnto his faders grace and mercy whom the meke fader receyued and forgaue to hym hys trespasse And after that of hym and dyuerse of hys lordes he had taken assuryd othes and other suretyes he thaÌ„ sent the sayd Lothayre into Italy with a certayne nomber of knyghtes to defende the countrey from daunger of enemyes and strengthynge of the straytes and mountaynes And that wyth other thynges orderyd and done for the weale of hys realme Lewys than toke vpon hym to ryde about hys lande to th entent that he myghte be somwhat enformed of the rule of hys offycers and how the countreys were ruled by the rulers of them And where he found any mysgouernaunce he punysshed the executers therof as well y e bysshoppes as other as farre as his authoryte in that behalfe stretchyd Than Indith consyderynge the emperoure fell into greate age and hyr sonne and his Charlis by name had as yet no suffycyent landes nor possessyons to maynteyne any estate wyth she compassed many wayes in hyr mynde how she myghte acheue hyr entent and to brynge it to good purpose where fynally by counceyll of hyr frendes to y e ende to purchase the loue and fauour of Lothayre she axed of hyr lorde and husbonde that the sayd Lothayre myghte be tutour and gyder of hys yonge sonne Charles Of this request y e emperour was very glad and graunted hyr hyr peticion And so it fell soone after certayne messengers came to the emperoure from Lothayre hys sonne To the whych whan Lewys had gyuen answere to such maters as they were sent fore and gyueÌ„ vnto them other instruccyons he sent them forthe agayne and with them certeyne other to wylle his sayd sonne to come vnto hym in as goodly wyse as he myght But at that season he excusyd hym by sykenesse and whan he was recouered he fayned an other excuse In thys meane tyme worde was brougth
this day in the vtter most border of Fraūce after to Uyenne To y e which citye of Uyen shortly after came vnto hym hys brother Lewys where they two assembled a newe hoste In the whych passetyme as Charlis was comynge towarde hys bretherne messyngers mette with hym sent from his bretherne to comon of a peace So that fynally he was accordyd that the realme of Fraunce shulde be dyuyded in .iii as the father had before dysposyd yt That is to meane Lothayr shuld enioy ouer the landes belongyng to the empyre the countrey of Austracy the whych in processe of tyme was called Lothayre or Lotharingia whyche is to meane Lorayne after his name And to Lewys shulde remayne the prouynce of Germany wyth the coūtrey of Buyan or Benery And to Charlys shulde remayne the countrey called myddell or chefe Fraunce wyth the prouynces of Normandy Burgoyne whyche sayde myddle Fraūce is reportyd to be in space from y e Occean of Brytayne to the ryuer of Mawze The whyche concorde thus fermely stablyshed and fynyshed eyther of other toke theyr departynge and resorted vnto theyr owne lordshyppes But Lothayre dyed shortely after leuynge after hym thre sonnes named Lewys Lothayre and Charlis But this deth of Lothayre is not taken for temporall deth for yt is sayd y t he forsoke the trauayle of y e world and became a munke at the abbaye of Pruny and lyued there a solytary lyfe many yeres after THE CLXIIII CHAPITER CHarlis y e Ballyd thus beyng in peaseble possessyon of the chefe parte of the realme of Fraunce and guydynge yt wyth all sobernes and indifferēt iustyce was well drad and also beloued of his subiectes In processe of tyme as vpon .viii. yeres after that Lothayr abouesayd renouncyd the pompe of the worlde dyed fyrste Charlys the yongest son of the thre of the foresayd Lothayre And after dyed Lothayre the second sonne so that the sayde Lewys onely suruyued whych was after his father enoynted emperour when Charlis kynge of Fraunce knewe certaynely of the deth of these two forsayde brethern and that with out yssu anon he assembled his power and entred the prouynce of Austracy or Lorayne the which his brother Lothayre hadde gyuen to Lothayre his sonne And in shorte whyle after crowned hym kynge of that prouynce wythin the chyrche of saynte Stephan of the cytye of Meaws chefe cyty of that lordshyppe kyngdome wyth the whyche dede Lewys his brother and kynge of Germany and Bayon was dyscontentyd thynkyng hym selfe more ryghtfull enheritour then Charlis for so myche as he was y e elder brother and also brother to the fyrste Lothayre of father of mother where as Charlis was but halfe brother and by the fathers syde onely For this y e sayd Lewys sent to Charlys the Ballyd certayn messyngers gyuynge to hym monycyon that he shulde call to memory the couenauntes betwene theym before tyme stablyshed and that he shulde not meddell hym nor haue to do wythin the landes of his cosyn lately deed vnto such tyme as yt were determyned by theyr bothe counsayles whyther of theym hadde the better ryght this to be obseruyd vppon payne of excōmunycacyon or cursyng But for to Lewys was well sene that his brother Charlis nothyng absteyned hym from the occupyenge of the forenamed countrey he therfore gaderyd an armye to warre vppon his sayde brother In the whych passe tyme Charlys toke to his second wyfe a woman namyd Rychent or Ricent the whyche he before tyme hadde vsyd as his cōcubyne or paramoure And soone after the Danys or Normans inuadyd the landes of Charlys the whych for that tyme he was fayne to appease please wyth ryche gyftes and other pleasures Then Charlys receyued from his brother a seconde ambassade or message the whyche shewyd vnto hym excepte he wold voyde his knyghtes and strengthes that he had sette and put in dyuerse places of the lande of Austracy he shuld be sure to haue of his sayd brother an enymy and that in all haste he wolde entre his lande wyth great force and warre wheruppon was suche answere sente that by both theyr agrementes the mater was hadde in suche cōmunycacyon that fynally yt was agreed that the sayde landes shulde egally be departyd betwene them whyche conclusyon perfyted Lewys wyth his people retournyd into Germany But yt was not longe after that Lewys repented hym of hys agrement so that newe legacyons were made vppon both partyes and lastely wyth myche payne newly agreed After whyche agrement and accorde fynyshed Lewys the emperour and sonne of the fyrste Lothayre sente an ambassade to both the fornamed bretherne admonestynge and warnyng them that nother the one nor y e other shulde intermyt wyth the foresayde landes for so myche as the ryghte therof belonged to him as next heyre to his brother and not to them that were a degre forther The answere of this was deferryd by Charlys how be it his brother Lewis as sayth myne authour gaue ouer his parte shortly after to Lewys y e emperour In this passe tyme Charlys the sonne of Charlis the Ballyd by hys fyrste wyfe whome the father had made ruler of a countrey called Belge hadde rulyd hym insolently and done in that countrey dyuerse outragiouse dedes For the whyche he beyng cōplayned of was brought vnto his father and so by hym commaundyd to pryson But shortely after he was deliueryd at y e requeste of some nobles of Fraūce kept after in his fathers courte where he contynued but a shorte whyle For wythin a lytle season after his father beynge at Lyons he departyd from y e sayde courte and gaderyd to hym a wylde company of euyll dysposyd persons and went agayne into the sayd countrey of Belge and dyd more harme then he had done before season and so contynuyd a long whyle But lastly he was taken and caste agayne in pryson where after longe punyshement he was reued of his syght and then sent vnto the monastery of Corbenyke there safely to be kepte But at length by the entycemēt of his vncle Lewys kynge of Germany and the treason of two mūkes of y e place he scapyd thens and fledde vnto the sayd Lewys his vncle In the which tyme Charlys his father was occupyed in the defence of the Danys or Normannys that then by strength had wonne the citye of Angyers and done therein myche harme whome the kynge closyd wythin the sayd cytye wyth a stronge syege and fynally compellyd theym to seke meanys of peace at the kynges pleasure After whych peace cōcludyd and the sayd Danys auoydyd the kynge repossessyd the sayde cytye It was not longe after that tydynges were brought vnto Charlis of the deth of Lewys the emperoure After knowlege wherof the kynge sent hys other sonne named Lewys into Austracy to haue the rule and y e guydynge of y e countrey And after other thynges ordered for y e weale of hys realme he wyth a stronge company of men of armys passyd y e moūtaynes and
entred the boundes of Italy wherof herynge y e pope and the emperour than as before is sayd beynge at Papye busyed in a great counceyle dissoluyd the same And the pope incontyneÌ„tly toke leue of the emperour departyd agayne to Rome And Charlys wyth a great power that he had gaderyd as well of Italyans as of hys owne people made towarde hys neuewe wherof herynge the sayde Charlone turned agayne by the waye that he had comen tyll he came to hys owne countrey as sayth myne authour also y e French boke But more verely Charlone kepyng togyther hys hoste and hauynge fauour of dyuers lordes of Italye the emperoure Charlys remouyd to y e cytye of Mantue where he was grudged wyth a feuer For remedy wherof he toke a pocyon of a physycyon Iewe named Sedechias whyche was intoxicat by meane of whych venemous pocyon he dyed shortly after whan he hadde reygned as kynge emperoure after moste accorde of writers by y e space of .xxxvii. yeres wherof he reygned as emperoure .iii. yeres leuynge after hym a sonne named Lewys whyche as before is shewed was ruler of the couÌ„trey of Austracy or Lorayne whan thys Charlys was dede hys frendes entendynge to haue caryed the corps into Fraunce causyd it to be seryd and enoynted wyth ryche and precyous bawmes and other oyntmentes and aromatykes But all myghte not stoppe the intolerable ayre of hys body so that they were fayne to bury hym at Uercyle wythin the monastery of saynt Euseby where he laye ouer .vii. yeres after and then taken vp and conueyed to saynt Denys in FrauÌ„ce and there honorably buryed THE CLXVI CHAPITER IN the tyme of thys Charlys the Ballyd as wytnessen many wryters began the erledome of Flaunders the whyche euer before these dayes the ruler therof was called the forester of the kynge of FrauÌ„ce whyche erledome had hys begynnynge by thys meane ye haue harde before in the story of Adeulphus kynge of westsaxons how in hys retornynge from Rome he maryed the doughter of Charlys y e Ballyd named Indith The which Indyth after the deth of her sayde husbonde retornyd by Flaunders towarde Fraunce thynkynge to passe wythout daunger bycause the sayde countrey was vnder the obedyence or her father But at those dayes was ruler or forester in that partyes a noble yonge amerous man callyd Bawdewyne the whyche herynge of the great beautye of thys Indith gaue attendaunce vppon her And receyued her in hys best maner makyng to her all the chere that to hym was possyble and fynally cast to hyr suche loue that whan she supposed to departe and to haue gone into Fraunce he delayed the mater in suche curteys and wyse maner that he wan such fauour of her that she made no greate haste to departe frome hym all be it that moste authours agre that he kepte hyr perforce whan Charlys hadde wyttynge that Bawdewyne thus helde hys doughter Indith he sent to hym straytly chargynge hym to sende home hys doughter but that holpe not the mater ThaÌ„ he purchasyd agayn hym the censures of holy chyrch and accursed the sayd Bawdewyne But whan the kynge conceyued that the yonge man hadde suche loue to Indyth that he sette not by that punysshement and also was certeynly enformed that hyr harte was gyuen vnto hym he in processe by y e meane of some bysshoppes and frendes of the sayd Bawdewine agreed that he shulde take hyr to wyfe and in the name of hyr dowar he shulde holde and enioye the sayd countre of FlauÌ„ders And for he wolde haue hys doughter to be the more honoured he creatyd the sayde Bawdewyne an erle and commaunded hym to be called after that daye erle of FlauÌ„ders It is also shewyd in the Frenche cronycle and of other wryters that thre dayes before hys deth hys spiryte shulde be rauysshed from hys body and vnto places of payne and turment where thys Charlys by the ledynge of an aungell shulde se hylles and mountaynes brenne pyttes full of sulphyr pytche and hote boylynge lede In whyche paynes the sayde Charlys shulde se many of hys progenytours and bysshoppes that counceyled prynces to debate or stryfe or gaue counceyle to them to rayse of theyr subiectys vnlefull taskys or imposycyons wyth many other thynges whyche I passe ouer for length of the mater Anglia THE CLXVII CHAPITER EThelwaldus or Ethelwoldus y e eldeste sonne of Adeulphus began hys reygne ouer the westesaxons or ouer y e more partye of Englande in the yere of our lorde viii hundred and .lv and the .x. yere of Charlys the Ballyd than kynge of Fraunce The whyche became so vnhappy that he maryed y e woman whyche hys father hadde somtyme kepte or holden for hys concubyne as wytnessyth y e authour of y e Floure of hystoryes But Polycronycon sayth that he wedded his stepmoder whyche dysaccordyth wyth the sayenge of other wryters which testifye his stepmoder to be maryed to Bawdewyn erle of FlauÌ„ders as in y e story of Charlys last before is shewyd Thys Ethelwolde though it be not expressyd by what hap he dyed whan he hadde reygned one yere as sayth Polycronyca But another cronycle beryth wytnesse that he was slayne as a martyr of Hungar and Hubba prynces of Danys About thys tyme the holy kynge saynt Edmund coÌ„tynued his reygne ouer the Eest Anglis or Norfolke THE CLXVIII CHAPITER EThelbertus the seconde sonne of Adeulphê° began his reygn ouer the more partye of Englande in the yere of our lorde .viii. hundred lvi the .xi. yere of Charlis y e Ballid then kynge of Fraunce In whose tyme the Danys wyth more strengthes entred y e west part of this land and robbed and spoyled the couÌ„trey before theym tyll they came to wynchester toke the cytye by strength and dyd therin what they wold But the kynge made suche prouysyon that by hym his dukes they were forcyd to forsake the cytye And as they yode toward theyr shippes they were fought wyth and a great parte of theym slayne and taken Of this kynge is nothynge ellys lefte in memory more then before is shewyd but that he dyed when had reygned after moste wryters .vi. yeres and was buryed at Shyrborne leuynge after hym none yssu of hys body wherfore the rule of the lande fell to his brother Etheldrede THE CLXIX CHAPITER ETheldredus the thyrde sonne of Adeulphus beganne hys reygne ouer the west Anglis and the more parte Englande in the yere of our lorde .viii. hundred .lxiii the xviii yere of Charlis y e Ballyd then kynge of Fraunce In the begynnyng of this kynges reygne the Danes landed in eest England or Norff. and Suff. But they were compellyd to forsake that countrey and so toke agayne shyppynge and saylyd northwarde and landed in Northumberlande where they were mette wyth of the kynges then there reynynge callyd Osbryghte and Ella whyche gaue to theym a stronge fyghte But that not wythstandynge the Danys wyth helpe of suche as enhabyted y e countrey wan the
blacke or yet whyte laye no suche outrage For nowe at these dayes pryde and glotony is clerely banyshed froÌ„ theyr monasteryes and cellys and in the rome of pryde wyth hys frende dysobedyence haue they now lodgyd humylyte with his suffer obedyence And in the stede of glotonye and vncleÌ„nesse of lyuynge haue they nowe newely professyd them vnto all chastyte temperaunce abstynence auoydynge all slowth and idelnesse and exercyse theym in gostely studye and preachynge of the worde of god wyth all dylygence So that nowe the holy rulys ordynaunces made by that holy father and abbote saynt Benet which by ignorauÌ„ce haue loÌ„g tyme slepte nowe by grace of good gouernaunce are newely renyued and quyckened And here and ende lest I be accused of dyssymulacyon Then to retourn vnto the Danys from whome I haue made a longe dygressyon trouth yt is that when they hadde as before is sayde martyred the blessed man Edmunde and robbed and spoyled that countrey and they toke agayne theyr shyppes and landed agayne in Southerye and there contynued theyr iourney tyll they came to the towne of Redynge and wanne the towne wyth the castell Policronyca sayth y t the thyrd day of theyr thyther coÌ„ming Hingwar Hubba as they wente in purchasyng of prayes were slayne at a place called Engelfelde whyche prynces of Danys thus slayne the other dele of theym kepte hole to gyther in suche wyse that the weste Saxons myght take of theym none auauntage But yet wythin few dayes after the Danys were holden so shorte that they were forced to yssue out of the castell and to defende theym in playne batayll In y t whych by coÌ„forte of kyng Etheldrede and of Alurede his brother the Danys were dyscomfyted and many of theym slayne wherof the other beynge ware fled agayne to the castell and kepte theym wyth in the same a certayne of tyme. Then the kynge coÌ„maunded Etelwold then duke of Baroke or Barkshyre to attende wyth hys peple vppon that castell to se that the Danys breke not oute at large while he went in other costes of that countrey to subdue other of the sayde Danys But when the Danys knewe of the kynges departure they brake out so daynly anon of theyr hold and toke the duke vnpuruayed slewe hym and myche of hys people and caused the other to with drawe them farther from that towne or castell Then these Danys drewe them to other that were theyr lordes in that couÌ„trey and enbatelled them in such wyse that of theym was gatheryd a stronge hoste It was not long after duke Ethel wolde was slayne but the kyng was ascertayned therof The whyche renewed his heuenesse and made hym full heuy to consyder the losse of his frende and the encreace and multyplyenge of his enymyes For y e daye before reporte of these tydynges as affermeth an olde cronycle worde was brought to hym of the landyng of a Dane named Osryk whyche of Policronyca is named kyng of Denmarke The whyche in shorte tyme after with assystence of the other Danys hadde gaderyd a great hoste and were enbatellyd vppon ashe downe To his batayll Alured was forced by great nede to come before his brother the kynge that then was herynge of a masse wyth great deuocyon not knowynge of that hasty spede of his brother where y e kynge thus beynge in hys medytacyons y e hostes of Anglys and Danys strake to gyders wyth houge vyoleÌ„ce And how be yt the Danys hadde won the hyllande y e crysten men were in the valley yet by grace and vertue of y e kynges holy prayers and manhode of theym selfe they at length wanne the hyll of the Danis and slew theyr duke or kynge called Osryke or after the englyshe cronycle Oseg and fyue of theyr dukes wyth myche of theyr people and chased y e other dele vnto Redynge towne wherfore the Danys resembled theyr people and gathered a newe hoste so that wythin .xv. dayes they mette at a towne called Basynge Stoke and there gaue batayll vnto the kynge and hadde the better Then the kynge gatheryd his people the whych at that felde were chachyd dysparklyd and wyth freshe soldyours to theym accompanyed mette the Danys within two monethes after at a towne called Merton and gaue to theym a sharpe batayll so that myche people were slayn as well of the crysten as of the Danys But in the ende the Danys hadde the honour of the felde and the kynge of Anglys was wounded and fayne to sauegarde hym selfe by polycy when myght fayled After these two feldes thus won by the Danys they obteyned great cyrcuyte of grounde and destroyed man and chyld that to them were inobedyeÌ„t And chyrches and temples they tourned to vse of stables and other vyle occupacyons And to this sorowe was added an other For where the kyng hoped well to recouer his losses by ayde of his subiectes as wel of other ê‘tes of his land as of hys owne of westsaxon when he hadde sent his commyssyons into Northumberland into Mercia and éest Anglia He had of them small or lytell comforte so that the couÌ„tre of west Saxon was brought in great desolacyon For the kyng was beset wyth enymyes vpon euery syde and ouer that his knyghtes and soldyours were tyred palled wyth ouer watche and laboure whyche manyfolde aduersytyes and troubles synkynge in the kynges mynde wyth brose or hurte ensuyng of the wouÌ„de before takeÌ„ at y e batayll besyde Merton shortened his dayes so that he dyed when he had reygned in great persecucion of the Danys after most wryters .viii. yeres wythout yssue of his body By reason wherof the rule of the lande fyll vnto hys brother Alurede It is wytnessyd of some cronycles that not wythstandynge the great trouble and vexacion that this kyng Etheldrede hadde wyth the Danys he founded the house or college of chanons at Exeter and was buryed at the abbaye of wynbourne or wobourne THE CLXXI. CHAPITER ALuredus the .iiii. sonne of Adolfus brother to Etheldredus laste kynge beganne his reygne ouer the westsaxons and other prouynces of Englande in the yere of our lorde .viii. hundred .lxxii and the .xxxi. yere of Charlis forenamed then kyng in Fraunce This Alured or after some wryters Alphred was xii yere of age or he were set to scole But for all that he spedde so well his tyme that he passed his brother and other that were long set forth before hym And by the counsayll of Neotê° or Notê° he ordeyned the fyrst grammer scole at Oxenford other free scoles and fraunchaysyd that towne wyth many great lybertyes translated many lawes Marcyan lawe and other out of Bretyshe speche vnto Saxon tunge He was also a subtyll mayster in buyldyng and deuysynge therof and excellent connyng in all huntynge Fayre he was of stature and moste beloued of his father of all his chyldren Longe tyme it wold aske to reherse all his vertue But for he was in his youth dysposed to y e syn of the fleshe and
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
a byshoppes wede chargyd hym that he shuld loue god and kepe iustyce and be mercyable to the poore men and worshyppe prestes And sayd more ouer Alurede Criste knowyth thy coÌ„science and thy wyll and nowe wyll put an ende of thy sorowe and care For to morow strong helpers shall come to the by whose helpe thou shalte subdue thyne enymyes who arte thou sayd the kyng I am Cutbert sayd he y e pylgryme y t yester day was here with y t to whom thou gauest both brede and wyne I am besy for the and thyne wherfore haue thou mynde hereof when yt is wel with the. But how he had his pilgryme in mynde after by the fredam that he gaue with the possessyons vnto Durham chyrche yt is well and euydently sene Then Alurede after this vysyon was wel comforted and shewed hym more at large so that dayly resortyd to hym men of wylshyre Somersetshyre Hamshyre tyll that he was strongly companied Then the kyng put hym in a great ieoê‘dye as sayth wyllyam de regibus For he dyd on hym the habite of a mynstrell with his instrument of musyke he entred the tentes and pauylyons of the Danys and in shewynge there his enterlude songes he espyed all theyr slouth and idelnesse and harde mych of theyr counsayll and after retourned vnto his company and tolde to theym all the maner of the Danys Then the kynge wyth a chosen coÌ„pany fyll vpon y e Danys by nyght and dystressyd and slewe of theym a great multytude and chasyd theym from that coste And when the kyng had thus chasyd the Danys by couÌ„sayll of his knyghtes he buylded there a toure and named it Edelyng whyche is to meane in oure speche a toure of noble men Oute of whych toure he and his soldyers made many assautes vppon theyr enymyes dyd to them myche harme scath and clerely voyded the countrey of them betwene that and Selwood This Edelynge or Ethelyngyssey standeth in a great marys or more so that men may not wyn to yt withoute shyppe or bote and conteynyth no great grounde but yet therin is venyson and other wyld bestes and fowle and fyshe great plenty Thus kynge Alurede dayly pursuyd his enymyes by helpe of god his subiectes whyche heryng of his vyctoryes and manfull dedes drewe to hym dayly out of all costes By whose powers and assistens he helde the Danys so shorte that he wanne from them wynchester many other good townes and forced them lastly to seche for peace the whych was coÌ„cludyd vppon certayn couenauntis wherof one and principall was that theyr kynge named as before is sayd Guttrun or Gothram or after y e Englyshe cronycle Gurmunde shuld be crystyned and a certayne of his dukes wyth hym And for y e kyng wold haue the Danys banyshed out of the west partyes of Englande he graunted to hym eest Anglia to abyde and dwell in Then this prynce of Danys accordynge to the couenauntes was crystyned at wynchester and .xx. of the grettest of his dukes And to this sayde Danys prynce Alurede was godfather at the funte stone and named hym Athelstane And after he hadde a season feasted the sayde Daues he accordynge to his promysâ— gaue vnto theyr kynge the countrey of eest Anglia whyche then conteyned Norffolk and Suffolk parte of Cambrydshyre And also as wytnessyth Policronica he grauÌ„ted to y e Danys that were crystened the countrey of Northumberlande And the other that wold not be crystyned departed the land failed into FrauÌ„ce where they restyd theym wyth theyr cosyns and Kynnesmen that at those dayes wasted the lande of Fraunce as in the frenche storys is somwhat apparent when this Danys kynge Athelstane hadde the possessyon of these countreys ye shall vnderstand y t all suche Angles as dwelled there and wythin the precyncte of theym were vnder his obedyence And all be yt that he helde the sayd prouynce as in fee of y e kyng and promysed to dwell there as his lyege maÌ„ yet that promyse not wythstandynge he contynued lyke a tyraunte by the terme of .xi. yeres full and dyed in the .xii. In the whyche tyme kynge Alurede amended the cytye of SeptonÌ„ that nowe is called Shaftesburye and other townes and stronge holdes y t by the Danys were sore abatyd and enpayred And as wytnessyth Guydo and other he buylded y e house of nonnes at Shaftesbury or was fyrste founder therof He also founded an house of relygyon in the aboue named place of Ethelyngesey and a nother in wynchester that was named the new monastery In the whiche he was after buryed And ouer this he endowed the churche of saynte Cuthberte in Doreham as before is touched Aboute the .xv. yere of the reygne of Alurede y e Danys whiche before as ye haue hard sayled into FrauÌ„ce retorned into Englande and landed in Kent and so lastly came vnto Rochester and beseged that cytye and lay there so longe that they buylded a towre of tymber and not of stone agayne the gates of the cytye But by strength of y e cytesyns that towre was destroyed and the cytye defended tyll kyng Alurede restowed theÌ„ The whyche hadde made suche purueyaunce for the dystressyng of them by water and lande that they were so nere trapped that for fere they left theyr horses behynde them and fled to theyr shyppes by nyght But whaÌ„ the kynge was therof ware he sent after them toke .xvi. of theyr shyppes and slewe many of the sayd Danys After thys iourney the kynge retorned to London and repayred certayne placys therof that before had ben hurte or febled wyth the Danys and betoke the guydyng therof vnto Etheldredus than erle or duke of Mercia to whom as wyfe he had gyuen hys doughter Elfleda About thys tyme dyed Dunbertus than bysshop of wynchester and the kyng made Dunwolfus bysshop after hym The whyche as sayth Polycronycon the kynge fande in the wodde kepyng of bestes in the tyme whan he hym selfe kepte the woddes for fere of the Danys About the .xxi. yere of the reygne of thys kynge Alurede the Danys landed in .iiii. places of thys lande that is to wytte in the Eest England and the North and in the west in .ii. places But for y e kynge before theyr landynge had warnynge of the deth of AthelstanÌ„ kyng of Danys of Eest England and of other complayntes of y e Danys he therfore yode thyder in whyche tyme of hys there beynge these tydynges came vnto hym THE CLXXIII CHAPITER WHan kynge Alurede was acertayned of these tydynges for so mych as some of the sayde Danes were landed in that coste and knewe well that y e ferther they drewe vnto these partyes the more they shulde be ayded and strengthed he therfore sent messengers in all haste vnto Etheldred erle or duke of Mercia chargynge hym to assemble an hoste of the men of Mercia and the border there about and to make resystens agayne the Danes whyche landed in the west And
that done y e kyng sped hym toward hys enmyes and pursued them so sharpely that in y e ende he droue them out of Eest Anglia The whyche than landed in Kent whyther the kynge wyth hys people spedde hym and in lyke maner draue the Danes from thens How be it of any specyall fyghte or batayle authours therof leue no memory After thys agayne the Danes toke shyppynge sayled into North wales and there robbed and spoyled the BritoÌ„s and from thens retorned by the see into the Eest Anglia and there rested them for so mych as the kynge than was gone westwarde In thys whyle some of the foresayd Danys had wonne the towne of Chester But for the countrees adioynauÌ„t presed so sore vppon them the sayd Danys were compelled to kepe them wythin the sayd towne or cytye and to defende theym by that maner But that holdyng of y e towne lasted so longe that the Danys were compellyd to eate theyr horses for hunger But by apoyntement they lastely gaue ouer the towne went thens into Northumberland And in the whyle that the kynge with his hoste spedde hym thyderwarde they leuynge the stronge holdes and castels garnysshed wyth men and vytayle toke agayne shyppynge fet theyr course in suche wyse that they landed in Sussex and so came vnto the towne of Lewes and from thens toward London buylded a towre or castell nere vnto the ryuer of Lewes But the Londoners heryng of theyr doynges maÌ„ned out a certayn nomber of men of armes the whiche wyth assystens of the men of y e countree put the Danys from that towre and after bete it downe to the grouÌ„d Soone after y e kyng came downe thyder and for he thoughte that ryuer shulde be a meane to brynge enemyes efte soones into that countre therfore he coÌ„maunded y e streme to be deuyded into diuers stremes so y t by reasoÌ„ therof there a shyp myght sayle in tyme afore passed thaÌ„ a lytell bote myghte scantly rowe Than by presence of the kynge the Danes were forsed to fle that countre and from thens toke agayne waye toward walys and kept a parte of the ryuer of Seuerne vppon the border therof buylded them a castell nere vnto walys so rested them there for a tyme. So that .iii. yeres after thys lande was vexed wyth thre maner of sorowes wyth warre of the Danes pestylence of men moreyne of bestes whyche troubles aduersytees not wythstandynge the kyng knyghtly and manfully resysted the malyce of his enmyes and thanked god alway what trouble so euer fyll to hym or to hys realme and susteyned it with greate humylyte and pacyence It is tolde of hym y t he deuyded y e daye and nyght in thre partyes yf he were not let by warre or other greate besynes wherof .viii. houres he speÌ„t in study and lernyng of scyence and other .viii. he spente in preayer and almes dedes wyth other charytable dedes other .viii. houres he spent in his natural reste sustinauÌ„ce of his body the nedes of the realme The whych order he kept duely by waxen tapers kepte by certayne persons Thus thys marcyall knyght contynuyng in all prowesse and vertue lastly dyed whan he hadde reygned ouer the more parte of thys lande by the terme of .xxviii. yeres full And was fyrst buryed at wyltoÌ„ and after certayne yeres remoued and caryed vnto wynchester leuynge after hym a sonne named Edwarde surnamed Edwarde the elder For the other bâ—other called Egelwarde dyed before hys father Francia THE CLXXIIII CHAPITER LEwys the second of that name and sonne of Charlis y e Balled began hys reygne ouer the Frenchmen in the yere of our lorde .viii. huÌ„dred lxxviii and the .vi. yere of Aluredus than kynge of the more parte of Englande Thys was named Lodowicus Balbus whych is to meane Lewys the stamerer for so mych as he had an impedyment in hys tunge ye haue before in y e story of Charlys the Balled herde How Charlon the neuew of Charlys foresayd with hys hoste had entred Italy and entended towarde Rome The whyche after the deth of his sayd vncle Charlys kepte on hys waye lastly came vnto Rome But for the pope than beynge IohnÌ„ the .viii. of that name fauoured the aboue named Lewys Balbus and entended to make hym emperoure therfore he refrayned y t enoyntyng of the sayd Charlon For the whyche dede he fynally was compelled to auoyde the towne couÌ„tre fled into FrauÌ„ce where he beynge honourably of Lewys receyued declared and admytted hym for emperoure as sheweth the Cronycles of Rome But after two yeres of hys reygne or short tyme of thys admyssyon to that dygnyte thys Lewys dyed wherfore the sayde pope to enioye hys papasy in reste retorned to Rome and anoynted the forenamed Charlon and crowned hym with the imperyall dyademe the whyche in y e RomanÌ„ cronycle is named Carolus tertius the thyrde emperour that is to meane of that name But of all thys speketh nothyng the Frenche Cronycle excepte that it is there testyfyed that he was of the sayd pope admytted for emperour Polycronycon sheweth that the seconde Lewys kynge of Fraunce was accursed of the pope Nicolas y e fyrste of that name for so myche as he refused hys lawfull wyfe toke to him his concubine named waldrada But that is vnderstande by Lewys the second emperour of that name whyche was sonne of Lothayre whyche Lothayre was eldest sonne of Lewys the mylde as in the story of Charlys the Ballyd appereth And for the genelogy of Charlis the conqueroure or of hys ofspyng may the clerelyer appere and also that y e reder may haue the more certeyne of the names whych were emperours whych kynges of Fraunce whych were kynges of Germany I shall in the story of Lewys the .v. in whome for a tyme surseasyd y e blode make a remembraunce of euery emperour kynges of Fraunce Germany that reygned from y e sayd Charlis y e grete or conquerour tyll Hugh Capet the whyche Hugh vsurped the crowne of Fraunce as after shall appere Than it foloweth in the story that for partycyon of the lande of Austracy or Lorayn grudge and varyauÌ„ce contynued alwaye bytwene the kynges of FrauÌ„ce Germany whyche bothe kynges at thys daye were named Lewys albeit that the kyng of Fraunce was surnamed Balbus as before is shewed For the whych varyaunce by laboure of frendes these two kynges mette at y e cytye or place called Gundeuyle where after longe coÌ„munycacyoÌ„ it was fynally agreed that the sayde prouynce of Austracy shulde than be deuyded as it somtyme had ben parted bytwene Charlys the Balled and Lewys kynge of Germany theyr bothe fathers After whych peas thus coÌ„cluded eyther parted from other in frendely wyse And Lewys Balbê° yode vnto ArdernÌ„ where he halowed the feste of Crystmas And froÌ„ thens he yode vnto Compeyne where he herde of the rebellyon of a marques of hys realme called Barnarde or more verely after the Romayn
story a marques of Italy For thys Barnarde wyth one Helberde had before tyme taken from the chyrche of Rome certeyne possessyons whyche by meane of thys Lewys the sentence of the chyrche denounced agayne them by the foresayd pope IohnÌ„ were agayn restored and the partyes also reconcyled But now of newe thys Barnarde rebelled agayne wherfore the pope as to Lewys for the defensour of the chyrch of Rome sent for ayde for as before I haue shewed you thys Lewys of the sayde pope IohnÌ„ was authorysed for emperoure But for he was not crowned at Rome wyth the imperyall dyademe he is not accoÌ„pted amonge y e emperours For thys newe rebellyon of Barnarde Lewys assembled hys armye at CoÌ„payne foresayd and froÌ„ thens rode to y e cytye of Troyes in UinceÌ„t where he was taken wyth sodayne malady of y e whyche he dyed shortly after and not wythout suspeccyon of venym whan he had ben kynge of Fraunce fully two yeres leuyng after hym two sonnes that is to saye Lewys and Charlys or after some wryters Charlemayne THE CLXXV CHAPITER LEwys and Charlys the sonnes of Lewys Balbus or Lewys y e stamerer began theyr reygne ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of oure lordes incarnacion .viii. C.lxxx and the .viii. yere of y e reygne of Alurede than kynge of Englande The whyche for they were yonge of age were put vnder tuyssyoÌ„ and gydyng of Barnarde the erle of Auuergii to whom the father by hys lyfe had theÌ„ commytted wherfore the sayd Barnarde wyth other of hys affynyte assembled shortly after at Meaux in Lorayne thyder called vnto them the lordes of the lande to treate maters for the comon weale of y e same In those dayes was a man of grete myght in FrauÌ„ce named GosseleynÌ„ the whyche enuyed the foresayd erle Barnarde other for certayne harmes to hym by them done in tyme be fore passed In auengynge wherof the sayd GosseleynÌ„ intended to putte hym and other from the rule of the land whych he knew well they shuld occupye whyle the sayd two childern had rule of the same And thys euyll purpose to brynge to effecte he went vnto Conrade erle of Parys and shewed to hym moche of his wyll And amonge other thynges lette hym wytte that yf Lewys kynge of Germany myght with hys helpe be made kynge of FrauÌ„ce that he shulde by hym be greatly auaunced By whych meanes he caused the sayde Conrade to take hys parte so that he other of hys affynyte whan they came vnto the foresayde counsayle at Meaux sayde that Lewys kynge of Germany was more apte to rule the lande of FrauÌ„ce than any other was And also after some wryters these Lewis and Charlys afore sayde were not the legyttymate sonnes of the forenamed Lewis Balbê° but gotten in baste of a concubyne of the sayd Lewys Thys mater thus debated and argued amonges the couÌ„sayle lastly by moste in nomber it was agreed that Lewys kynge of Germanye shulde be by ambassade requyred to come and take vppon hym the rule of the lande of myddell Fraunce The whych wyth small request was agreable and in shorte tyme after came vnto the sayd cytye of Meaux and after to Uerdune But as soone as the knowlege was come to Barnarde and other of hys affynyte by counceyle of Hughe and Terry two nobles of Fraunce the bysshop of Orlyaunce with an erle and other were sent to Uerdune vnto the sayd kynge of Germany wyth thys message That yf he were contente to take vnto hym all suche parte of the prouynce of Lorayne as Charlys the Balled kepte from hys fader Lewys wythout more clayme of the lande or realme of Fraunce he shuld gladly haue it And yf nat he shulde abyde the iugement of Mars and hys batayle wyth whyche offer Lewys was well contented and beyng of it in a suertye departed agayne into Germanye Thorough that doynge the forenamed Gosselyne and Conrade with other of theyr freÌ„dê were with yt sore dyscoÌ„tentyd of the departure of Lewys forsayde But the sayd Bernarde with other of his syde in goodly hast after coÌ„ueyed the sayd two chyldren vnto the citye of Ferrer there crowned and proclaymed theym for kynges as wytnessyth mayster Robert Gaguyne But the forenamed Gosselyne and Conrade not leuynge so the mater sente messengers vnto y e quene of Germanye coÌ„playnynge theym vnto her of the vnstablenesse and tymerousnesse of her lorde wherby he had not alonely loste the possessyon of the realme of Fraunce but also he hadde put them and all theyr frendes in great fere and daunger wherof herynge the quene in her mynde was sore dyscontentyd wyth her lorde and husbande and as she durste shewyd yt to hym as his reproche and dyshonour And fynally to satysfye the myndes of the sayde GosselynÌ„ and Conrade she sent into Guyan her brother named Boso by whose aydes and assystence he was of that prouynce proclaymed kynge Endurynge whyche trouble 's the Danys entred the lande and came vnto the ryuer of Lyger and robbed and spoyled the countrey wythoute mercy wherfore the kynges assembled theyr people and gaue to them batayll nere vnto the ryuer of Uyen where they dystressyd the sayde Danys and slewe of them .ix. thousand and drowned of theÌ„ ouer that a grete multytude in the sayde ryuer After whyche vyctory by the kynges obteyned a new vexacyon trouble was to them ascertayned y t Lewys kyng of Germany with a great puysaunce was comen vnto a place called Ducy and to hym was gone the forenamed GosselynÌ„ and Conrade with all the power that they myghte make by theyr ledynge was from thens coÌ„ueyed vnto Rybemaunt But howe so yt was for lacke of performaunce of promyse made by the sayde two erles vnto the kyng of Germany not obserued he herynge of the kynges of Fraunce drawynge towarde hym wyth stronge hoste coÌ„cluded a peas and retourned into Germany And the two bretherne rode to gyder vnto the citye of Damens or Demeus where they deuyded the lande of Fraunce betwene theym So that Lewes held to hym the couÌ„trey nere about Parys with the prouince of Neustria or Normandye and Charles had vnto his part Burgoyn and Guyan with promyse made assured on eyther partye that eyther of them shulde ayde and assyste other THE CLXXVI CHAPITER AFter this partycyon betwene the two bretherne thus made by the meanes of Lewys kynge of Germany the foresayde erles GosselynÌ„ Conrade were vnto the sayde bretherne recouncyled and agreed And for to theym redy worde was brought y â— Bose before named kyng of Guyan hadde wonne the cytye of Uyen therin lefte his wyfe whyle that he occupyed y e hylles and mountaynes beynge there aboute they ioyntly assembled theyr knyghtes sped theÌ„ thyther layde theyr seage aboute the cytye But durynge this syege the Danis often wasted y e land of Fraunce wherfore Lewys the elder brother departed froÌ„ that syege leuynge there his brother Charlys But or the sayde Lewis myght wyn to
so sharpely that he was constrayned to leue the countrey and sayled into Fraunce and lefte the nuÌ„ne behynde hym the whych the kynge caused to be restoryd agayn to the house y t she was taken fro The nexte yere folowyng the sayd Clito wyth his coÌ„pany landed in eest Englande gaderyd to hym y e Danys of that countrey and with theyr ayde destroyed and pylled the countrey about Crekynforde Criklade And then passed y e ryuer of Thamis spoyled the land to Bradenestoke and so froÌ„ thens retourned into eest Anglia y t is Norffolke Suffolke The kynge folowed his enymyes and spoyled of theyr landes whyche they helde by composycyon from the ryuer of Owse to the bordure of saynte Edmundus lande commaundynge hys knyghtes of hys hoste that none shulde dragge or tarye after hys hoste for fere that they were not beclyppyd of theyr enmyes But the Kentyshe men whych trusted to myche in theyr owne strength dysobeyed that commaundement wherfore the Danys awaytynge theyr praye fyll vppon them by bushementes and slewe the more partye of theym wherwyth the kyng was sore dyscontentyd Soone after bothe hostes mette where after longe fyght Clyto wyth many of the Danys was slayne and the remenaunt constrayned to seche peace the whyche was graunted vppon certayne condycyons that they shulde holde theym wythin the boundes to theym lymytted and ouer that paye yerely a certayne money in waye of trybute After whyche peace wyth them stablyshed he repayred cytyes townes and castellys that by the sayde Danys were shatered and broken And about the .viii. yere of his reygne kynge Edwarde repayred the wallys and also the cytye of Kaerlyon that now is called Chester To the whych were great helpers Etheldredê° duke of Mercia Elfleda his wyfe doughter of Alurede as before is shewyd suster of this kynge Edwarde And that done the kynge buylded a stronge castell at Herforde in y e egge of walys And he enlarged so greatly y e walles of Chester y t the castell whych before tyme was wyth out the wall is now wythin And the .ix. yere of his reygn Etheldredê° duke of Mercia by couÌ„sayll of his wyfe traÌ„slated y e bones of y e holy kyng Oswald froÌ„ Bradony to Gloucestre there buylded a fayre monastery in the worshyp of saynt Peter In the .xii. yere of kyng Edwardes reygne the Danes repentynge them of theyr couenauntes before made myndyng enteÌ„dyng y e breche of the same asseÌ„bled an hoste met with y e kynge in Staffordeshyre at a place called Toten halle and soone after at wodenesseylde At whyche .ii. places the kynge slew two kynges two erlys and many thousandes of the Danys that then occupyed the countrey of Northumberlande And soon after dyed the noble man Etheldredus duke or erle of Mercia or myddell Englande After whose deth the kynge for so myche as he hadde often prouyd her wysedome he toke the rule of that countrey to hys wyfe Elfleda London alonely exceptyd the whyche he toke vnder his onwe rule THE CLXXX CHAPITER OF this noble woman Elfleda yf I shulde shewe all the vertues yt shuld aske a long tyme and leasure But amonges other of her noble dedes she buylded and newly repayred many townes cytyes and castellys as Tomworth besyde Lychefeld Stafforde warwyke Shrowesbury watrysbury Eldysbury in the forest besyde Chester that nowe is ouer tourned and destroyed Also she buylded a cytye wyth a castell in the Northe ende of Mercia vpon y t ryuer Merce that in those dayes was named RuncofanÌ„ but now yt is called RuncornÌ„ And she also buylded a brydge ouer the ryuer of SeuernÌ„ whyche is or was named Brymmysburye brydge This stronge virago fauour of cytezeyns and fere of enymyes halpe myche the kyng her brother in gyuynge of counsayll buyldynge of cytyes Of her is told that when she hadde ones assayed the wo and sorowe that women fele and suffer in berynge of a chylde she hated the enbrasynge of her husband euer and toke wytnesse of god and sayde that yt was not coÌ„uenyent or semely to a kinges doughter to vse such flesshely lykynge wherof suche sorowe shuld ensue or folowe In the .xiii. yere of the reygne of this Edwarde a great nauy of Danys whych in tyme of Alurede were driuen into Fraunce now retourned agayn and sayled about the west couÌ„trey and landed in dyuers places toke prayes and went to theyr shyppes agayn And at one time amoÌ„ges other they robbed and spoyled at a place called Irchynfeylde and toke a Brytyshe byshop and caryed hym to theyr shyppes and fynally raunsomed hym at .xl. pounde But as soone as kynge Edwarde had knowlege of theyr beyng he assembled his knyghtes and sped hym westwarde by lande and sent a nother hoste by shyppe to encounter the Danys vppon the see wherof heryng the sayd Danys fledde into Irlande and by that course voyded the land and handes of the kynge Then the kynge for strengthynge of the countrey made a castell at the mouth of the water of Auene and a nother castell at Bokyngham and the thyrd faste therby y t is to meane vpon eyther syde of y e ryuer of Owseone And after retourned into Northamtonshyre and Bedfordshyre faughte there wyth the Danys of these couÌ„tres and at length subdued theâ— wyth theyr leder or duke called Turketyllus About the .xvii. yere of this kynges reygned Elfleda lady of Mercia before mynded gaderyd her knightes And where the Brytons or walshe men brake into the lande about Brekenoke she wyth her people wythstode theym and amonge other prysoners prayes toke there the quene of walshemen And the yere folowynge kynge Edwarde buylded or newly reedyfyed the townes of Towsetour and wygmore and destroyed the castell that the Danys hadde made at Temesforde And that yere the noble Elfleda wanne the towne of Derby from the power of the Danys where they put her in such adueÌ„ture that foure knyghtes whyche were called Gardeyns of her corps were slayne faste by her And y e .xviii. yere of his reygne dyed that noble pryncesse Elfleda in the moneth of Iune and was buryed in the monastery of saynt Peter which her lorde and she before tyme hadde buylded wythin the towne of Gloucetour as aboue is touched ouer the bones of that holy kynge saynte Oswalde whyche monastery was after throwen to grounde by the Danys But Aldredus byshop both of yorke of worcetour made there an other whyche is now chefe house or abbay of that towne or cytye when Elfleda was deed her doughter named Elswyna helde the lordeshyppe of Mercia a season But for the kynge coÌ„sydered yt to be to great a thynge for her to rule he therfore dyscharged her therof and ioyned it to his kyngedome but not all wythout stryfe For dyuers townes kepte of the kyng for a tyme as Snotyngham or Nothyngam Tomworth Derbye and other supposynge the doughter wold haue defended them as the mother by her lyfe had done But finally they came to the
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
theyr enemyes Of thys message the kynge was ryght fayne and forthwith sped him tyll he came to Roan wher he was accordynge to hys honour receyued For the whyche cause he sent in all hast vnto Arnulfe erle of FlauÌ„ders monassynge hym that he sease of his warres in Bayon tyll he receyued farther knowlege The kyng thus restyng in Roan deuysed hys maters at hys pleasure so that the Normayns obeyed them to all hys requestes And for y e good aberynge that Barnarde the Dane was of agayne the kynge he graunted to hym the gydynge of the yonge duke And whan he shulde departe he ordeyned as hys deputye one named Raoull or Rauf The whyche after the kynges departure behaued hym so cruelly to the Normans that they were very irke of hym And ouer thys the foresayd Barnard ferynge the kynges retorne and other more greuous punysshement than they before hadde susteyned sent his messengers vnto Grolle kynge of Denmarke than beynge at Chyerbourk wyllyng hym to assemble his people and to make of them two hostes wherof to sende y e one by lande and that other by water so to entre the couÌ„tre of Normandy in wastyng and spoylynge it by reason wherof he myghte brynge the kynge to some coÌ„munycacyon whych all was done as the sayd Barnarde had deuysed whan the kynge had wyttyng of the Danys that wyth so grete a multytude were entred the prouynce of Normandy he assembled hys hoste and sped hym thytherwarde and in processe of tyme came vnto the cytye of Roane where by hys counsayle it was condyscended that a metynge and frendly communycacyon shulde be had bytwene the kynge the sayd Grolle at a place called in Frenche Herlycum where at the day appoynted bothe prynces mette wyth bothe hostes standynge or hauynge a lytell dystauÌ„ce of And whyle the two prynces were there in communycacyon of the deth and murder of duke willmÌ„ a Dane markynge Herloyne For whose causes as before is shewed duke willmÌ„ was slayne with a spere wounded hym so greuously that he dyed forthwyth whych dede hys brother called Lambert wyth other of y e Frenchmen entendynge to reuenge wyth theyr wepons fylle vppon the Danys whyche them receyued with greate vyolence So that of that a fraye ensued a skyrmysshe and after the skyrmysshe a sore batayle For bothe hostes ioyned on bothe sydes and faught cruelly eyther with other a longe whyle But in the ende the Frenchmen had the worse and were compelled to flee And the kynge to saue hys lyfe fledde also whyche by reason of hys vntrusty horse was taken and kepte secrete a certayne of tyme by his taker But lastly he was discouered and brougth to the cytye of Roane as a prysoner The kynge thus beynge in holde vnder the kepynge of the Danys Engeberge hys wyfe makynge for hym grete dole and sorowe toke her iourney to the kynge of Germany whose doughter she was besechyng hym to prouyde for the delyuerye of her lorde and husbande But of hym had she no socour but rather dyscoÌ„fort shewyng to her that the trowble that her husbande susteyned he had well deserued for his vnstedfastnesse that he agayne wyllyam the duke Rycharde hys sonne had vsed wherfore the quene beynge thus answered of her father rode vnto Hugh le graunde besechyng hym of helpe in this greate nede The which at the request of the quene sent vnto Barnard erle of Senlys requiryng to moue some wayes to the Danys for the enlargynge of the kynge By whose labour and meanys lastely a counsayle was kepte at saynt Clere vpon the ryuer of Ept. where after many argumentes reasons made fynally it was agreed that the kyng shulde be enlarged tyll an other day of coÌ„munycacyon layenge for pledges hys sonne and heyre named Lothayr the bysshop of Senlys and y e bysshop of Beauuayze whyche done the kynge was set at large and forth wyth rode vnto the cytye of Laon. where he abode the other daye of coÌ„munycacyon whyche after was holden at y e foresayd ryuer of Ept. And concluded a peas whyche lasted but a shorte whyle after Thys peas thus confermed Grollo the kynge of Danys wyth greate gyftes was retorned from whens he was desyred And Richarde the yonge duke toke vpon hym the rule of hys owne Signory and grewe and encreased forthwardly wherof Hugh the graunde takyng hede and beholdynge hys wyse demeanure and conuersacyon made suche labour and meanes vnto Barnarde erle of Senlis y t he maried to him his doughter named Emmacet wherof beynge enfourmed the French kynge caste in hys mynde thys greate alyaunce bytwene the yonge duke and two grete perys of hys lande and thoughte y t these .iii. knâ—t in amyte and alyaunce shulde dysturbe hym whan them lyked wherof he called to hym Arnold erle of Flaunders by whose counsayle he sent the sayde Arnolde vnto Ottho kynge of Germany requyrynge hym of ayde to warre vpon y e Normayns and to breke thys affynyte of thys yonge duke of Hugh le graunde and of Barnarde erle of Senlys and for his labour he shuld haue to hym and to hys heyres the prouynce or lordshyp of Lorayne Ottho wyth thys couetous promesse deceyued asseÌ„bled his knyghtes and at the day and place appoynted met wyth the kynge and wyth theyr people sped them to Roan and layde siege vnto y e cytye And whyle the kynges were occupyed in wastynge and brennynge the vylages nere vnto the cytye to put the Normans in the more fere Ottho sent hys neuewe wyth a certayne of hys people in secrete wyse to the gates of the cytye But whan he was comen to the gate that opened towarde the ryuer of SaynÌ„ and thoughte there to wynne hys enterpryse y e cytesyns issued out vppon hym sodeynly and gaue to hym batayle and slewe hym and many of hys company and the remenaunt they chased froÌ„ the walles of the cytye whan Ottho had wyttyng of the ouerthrowe of hys men and deth of his neuew whom he entyrely loued he made inward heuynesse and caste in his minde how he myght reuenge the deth of hys neuewe But whan he approched the cytye and behelde the strength therof wyth also the fyersnesse of the NormaÌ„des he repented hym of enterprysyng of that iourney and torned all hys hatered vnto Arnolde erle of Flaunders by whose sterynge and counsayle that vyage was fyrste begon in so mych that he sought the meanes to brynge y e sayd Arnolde into the handes of the Normans wherof Arnolde beynge warned trussed his stuffe and harneys secretly and in the nyght stale away and so retorned into Flaunders with his retynew The whych thyng knowen to the two kynges in as secrete wise as they myghte departed also from y e siege But yet therof theyr enmyes beynge ware pursued them slewe many of theyr company And or the yere that thys was done in had roÌ„ne hys full compas Lewys the kynge dyed and was buryed in the temple of the holy bysshoppe saynte Remygius wythin the cytye of
Raynys whan he had reygned in great trouble .xxi. yeres leuynge for hys heyre a sonne named Lothayr Anglia THE CLXXXVIII CHAPITER EDmunde y e brother of EthelstanÌ„ and sonne of Edwarde the elder of Ethelwyda the thyrde wyfe of the sayd Edwarde begaÌ„ hys reygne ouer Englande in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred and .xl and the .vii. yere of the .v. Lewys thaÌ„ kynge of Fraunce In the fyrste yere of hys reygne the Danys of Northumberland rebelled agayne hym And for to make theyr party the stroÌ„ger they sent for a prynce of Danys named Aulaffe than beynge in Irlande The which brought wyth hym an other prynce or ruler of Danys named Reygnald wyth a great hoste of Danys other strauÌ„ge nacyons and entred the foresayd countre and warred vppon the next borders in wastynge and spoylynge the inhabytauÌ„tes of the same wherof whan kyng Edmund was warned anone he assembled his people and sped hym toward y e countre and lastly faught wyth the two sayd prynces of the Danys or at the leest chaced them from towne to towne tyll he forsyd them wyth all theyr coÌ„pany of straunge nacyons to forsake vtterly that prouynce and bet down that countre of Cumberlande y t had mych fauoured and ayded the sayde enmyes agayne hym and toke therin greate prayes and deuyded them amoÌ„ges hys knyghtes And y e done other for the good seruyce that MalcolynÌ„ kynge of Scotlande hadde in thys vyage done vnto the kynge or for the trowth and allegyaunce that he in tyme folowyng shulde bere vnto hym or for bothe the kynge gaue there to the sayd MalcolynÌ„ the countre of Cumberlande and seased all y e resydue of the kyngdom or lordshyp of Northumberlande and ioyned it vnto hys owne kyngdome But yet y e Danys retorned agayn in the tyme of Edredus the nexte kynge as after shal be shewed so that as yet the fyne or ende of thys kyngdome is not accompted In thys Edmundus dayes the authour of Polycronyca sayth that whan Edmunde hadde ended hys iourney and set that countree in an order he toke wyth hym the bones of the holy abbot Colfrydus and of that holy abbesse Hylda brought theym vnto Glastenbury and there shryned theym This Colfryde was abbot of Bedas abbey or of the abbey of Gyrwye Hilda was abbesse of Stenshalt or whytby And as affermeth y e sayd authour both places ben in y e North partyes of England Thys kynge Edwarde had a noble woman to wyfe named Elgina of whom he receyued two sonnes named Edwyne and Edgar And as testyfyeth Henry archedekeÌ„ of Huntyngdon thys Edward had ofte warre wyth the Danes the whyche as he affermeth helde than many good townes in myddle England as LyncolnÌ„ NothinghmÌ„ Derby Stafforde Laycetour y e which by his knyghtly manhode he wanne from them And by the helpe of holy Dunstan he ameÌ„ded many thynges within his realm y t had beÌ„ loÌ„ge tyme misordered by meane of y e Danys Of the ende or fyne of thys Edmunde dyuers opynyons there be For Marianus the Scot sayth that whyle thys kynge Edmunde endeuered hym selfe to saue his sewer froÌ„ the dauÌ„ger of hys enemye that wold haue slayne hym at Pulkerchyrche the kynge in ryddynge of the fraye was wounded to the deth and dyed shortly after But wyllyam de regibus sayth that the kynge beynge at a feest at y e foresayd towne or place vppon the daye of saynte Augustyne espyed a felon syttyng in y e halle named Leof whych he before tyme for hys felony hadde exyled and lept ouer the table and plucked that thefe by the here of the hedde to the grounde In whych doynge the sayd felon wyth a knyfe wounded the kynge to the deth and also wyth the same knyfe wounded many other of the kynges seruauntes and at length was all to hewen dyed forthwyth If this be trewe it shulde seme that kynges at those dayes vsed not the honour that they nowe haue and exercyse But whych of these two meanes was vsed in the kynges deth by agreemeÌ„t of all wryters thys kynge dyed whan he had reygned .vi. yeres and more was buryed at Glastenbury the whyche before he hadde sumptuously repayred and lafte after hym two yonge sonnes as before is remembred Edwyne and Edgar But for they were to yonge to rule the lande therfore y e rule therof was coÌ„mytted to Edredê° theyr vncle brother to theyr fader THE CLXXXIX CHAPITER EDredus y e brother of EdmuÌ„de and sonne of Edwarde the elder and of Ethylswyda hys thyrde wyfe began his reygne ouer the realme of Englande in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred and .lxvii and the xiii yere of the fyfte Lewys thaÌ„ kyng of Fraunce The whych as before is towched was admytted kyng by authoryte of hys barony For so myche as the two forenamed chylderne of Edmunde Edwyn and Edgar were thought to yonge and insuffycyent to take vpon them so great a charge The whyche Edrede was enoynted kynge of Oddo archbyshop of CauÌ„terbury in y e towne of Kyngestowne And soone after he warred vpon the Danys that then were reentred into Northumberland or after some wryters there dwellynge vnder trybute of the kynge subdued before of Edmunde hys brother and bette theym downe and caused theym to holde and obeye vnto theyr former couenauntes And the Scottes than began to varye which he also brought vnto due obedyence After a certayne terme y e Danys of Northumberlande whyche euer contynued full of gyle and dowblenesse not beyng content to holde the couenauÌ„tes before made promisses vnto Edredus the kynge called vnto theym theyr olde accessaryes and helpers and bereuyd from the kynges subiectes the cytye of yorke and other stronge townes and castelles to the great hurte of the couÌ„trey and vtter dyspleasure of the kynge wherfore he beynge therof aduertysed in goodly and conuenyent haste assembled hys people and spedde hym thyther and destroyed myche of the lande And in that fury brent the abbey of Rypon whyche the Danys kept for a fortresse and strength and wan from them myche of the strengthes that they to fore had woÌ„ne and broughte theym agayne vnder hys subieccyon when this kynge Edrede had thus spedde hys iourney and was retournynge into Englande nothynge suspectynge the sayde Danys a company of them by the excytyng of Hyrcus a kyng or prynce of the Danys theÌ„ folowyd the kinges hoste and on thys halfe yorke fyll vppon the kynges rerewarde and destroyed slew many a man For the whyche doyng the kynge was sore amoued tourned hys people agayne entendynge to haue destroyed y e countrey vtterly wherof the Danys beynge ware so lowely meked theym vnto hym gaue to hym suche gyftes that the kyng refrayned hym of the great yre that he had purposed to theym But amonges other articles y t he bounde them vnto one was that they shuld banyshe and vtterly refuse theyr fore sayde duke or kynge called Hyrcus whyche thynge with dyuers and many other graunted
Policronycon The which I passe ouer for length of the mater THE CXCIII CHAPITER EDgar thus rulynge the lande after the deth of his fyrst wyfe Egelfleda worde was broughte to hym of y e beaute of Alfrida or Estrild doughter of Orgarus erle of Deuenshire wherfore he sent a knight of his court named Ethelwold to espy whether the mayde were of such beautye as she was reported of or not chargynge hym yf she were so beautyous that then he shulde aske her to wyfe for the kynge But this knyght hauyng syght of this mayden was so wounded wyth the darte of the blynde god Cupyde that he forgate his trouth and allegiaunce y t he shuld owe to his mayster and souerayne and retourned shewynge to the kynge that she was nothynge of the beaute that she was reported of but of meane fayrenesse as other women were wherfore he besought the kynge consyderyng she was her fathers heyre a good maryage that he wolde be so good lord to hym as to wryte vnto her fader y t he myght haue her to wyfe The why the grace he obteyned and at length was maryed vnto her In processe of tyme the fame of the beaute of thys woman sprange so wyde that lastly yt came to the erys of Edgar wherwyth the kynge in mynde beynge sore dyscontentyd wyth Ethilwolde whyche hym had dysceyued yet kepte good countenaunce and made semblaunte as though he hadde nothynge forced y t mater And vpon a tyme as yt were in game warned this Ethilwolde y t then was an erle by reason of hys wyfe or otherwyse that he wold lodge one nyght in his house appoynted the daye when yt shulde be wyth thys monyssyon the erle beynge nothynge contented ranne home nygh deed for fere and prayed his wyfe of helpe in that tyme of nede and y t she wold in all that she myght make her self as fowle and as vnsemely as she coude and shewed to her all the resydue of y e mater Then y e woman cast in her mynde the great dyspleasure y t might ensue toward her agayn god to make that fowle whych he hadde made goodly and fayre and also to her lorde and husbande agayne the kynge thynkyng that he shuld cause her thus to do to the ende to mocke and dysceyue hym wherfore in consyderacyon of the premysses she enourned her in moste costly and shewynge aparayll And ouer y t yf dame nature hadde had any thynge forgoten or mysprinted in her she left not that by womaÌ„s helpe might be amended or refourmed and at the kynges coÌ„mynge receyued hym wyth all ioy and gladnesse By whyche meanes this yonge amorous kyng was soon caught in the dyuylles snare so that he sette reason a parte and folowed his own sensualyte And for to bryng his purpose the better about he kept forth a countenaunce as he had ben well contentyd wyth all thynge and desyred the erle that he wolde wyth hym ryde on huntyng into the wood of welwerley that now is called hore wood where he awaytynge his season tyme strake the erle thorough the bodye wyth his shafte so that he dyed soon after And then he maryed this Elfryda or Estrylde shortely hadde by her Egelredus as before I haue shewyd For the whyche dede sayth Ranulf this Elfrida buylded an house of nunnes at warwell But other authours saye yt was for the slayeng of her stepson Edwarde Also the englyshe cronycle sheweth that this Ethilwolde was slayne by an other meane and not by the kyng About this tyme dyed Oddo archbyshoppe af Caunterbury that was of the nacyon of Danys Of hym is tolde a longe processe in the .x. chapyter of the .vi. boke of Polycronycon And after hym Bryglinus that then was byshoppe of wynchester was made hys successour But for he was not suffycyent for so great a charge he went agayne to wynchester And holy Dunstane byshop of London of worceter was sacryd archbysshoppe of Caunterbury and went to Rome and receyued the palle of pope IohnÌ„ the .xiii. of that name This Dunstane was fyrste abbot of Glastynbury and byshoppe of London worceter and lastely archbyshoppe of Caunterbury In his dayes the order of munkes was religyous and Full of vertues For it hadde relygyous rulers clere of scyence and of clergy so that then men were lad as mych wyth other dedes and good examples of vertuous lyuynge as by theyr famous vertuous prechyng Than Edgare as before ys sayde was crowned kynge at the cytye of Bathe of Dunstane archbysshop of Caunterbury and Oswolde archbysshop of yorke whan he hadde ruled thys lande .xii. yeres The cause why it was so longe or this Edgar were enoynted was as testyfyeth Guydo for hys vnlefull Lechery and specyally for the offence done wyth wylfryde For the whyche dede he was of Dunstane ioyned to .vii. yeres penaunce The whyche penaunce durynge he was kept from the sayd enoyntement as affermeth the sayde Guydo But for what cause so euer it was by agrement of dyuers wryters he was not crowned tyll he had reygned .xii. yeres It is also tolde of thys Edgare that he beynge vpon a season at the towne of Andâ—uyr he was enamoured vpon a noble mannes doughter whyche was of passynge beautye made suche meanes by force or other wyse that the parentes were agreed that the kynge shulde haue hys pleasure But the moder subtyll of wytte bethoughte her of a whyle and sent a seruaunt of hers whych was both comely and fayre to the kynges bed In the mornynge whan the daye began to waxe clere the woman began to styrre and wolde haue departed from the kynge But the kynge refrayned her and asked the cause of her so hasty departyng For I muste be at my worke wyth my felowes sayde the woman at myne houre to kepe my taske And whan the kynge had questyoned wyth her further he lerned that she was a bonde woman and asked of the kynge fredome for y â— nyghtis seruyce The kyng at this had good game and cherysshed that damosell so after that he made her lady of Lordes For these insolent wanton dedes it is sayde that by the counsayle of the holy Dunstane he buylded repayred so many abbeys and houses of relygyon as aboue is rehersed Thus thys noble Edgare passyng his tyme in vertue medled with vyce lastly had wyttynge of the rebellyon of y e Brytaynes or walshmen wherfore he assembled hys knyghtes and entred the lande and dyd them grete harme and waste And among other prayes spoyled the countre of GlamorganÌ„ and also toke or spoyled the countre of Ono and toke the bell of saynt Eltutus which serued for hys chyrche that was taken by vyolence wyth other stuffe hanged it about an horse necke In puttynge it to teÌ„porall seruyce to the dyspleasure of that saynte But for the vyolent takynge therof as Ranulf expresseth in an vndertyde whan kyng Edgar was layde to take hys reste the sayd Eltutus apered and smote the kyng
whyche Rycharde was the thyrde duke of Normandy and the fyrste that name and also was surnamed Rycharde wythoute fere or the hardy as more of hym shall be shewyd in the storye of the .vi. Lewis kynge of Fraunce By reason of maryenge of this Emma whych in y e Frenche cronycle is named the flowre of Normandye thys Egelredus was greatly enhauÌ„ced in hys owne mynde By presumpcyon wherof he sent into all good burghes cytyes and townes of his lande secrete and strayte commyssyons chargynge the rulers that vppon a certayne day that is to say vppon the daye of saynte Bryce at an houre assygned in euery place of hys lande the Danys shulde be sodeynly slayne And so yt was done And as the coÌ„mon fame telleth y t this murder beganne at a lytell towne in Hertefordeshyre wythin xxiiii myles of London called welewynÌ„ or welwynÌ„ For the whyche dedeyt toke fyrst that name as who wolde wene that the we le of the couÌ„trey was there fyrste wonne But who that well coÌ„sydereth the sequell of thys storye shall fynde lytell wynnynge or weale ensuyenge of thys dede But or I procede further here I wyll touche somewhat of the pryde and abusyoÌ„ of y e Danis that they exercysed in Englande in some parte therof as I haue sene in an olde cronycle wherof the authoure ys vnknowen There it is shewyd that the Danys by strength caused husbande men to ere and sowe the lande and do all other vyle laboure that belonged to husbandrye and the Dane helde hys wyfe at hys pleasure with doughter and seruaunt And when the husbandeman came home he shulde scantly haue of hys owne as seruauÌ„tes had so that the Dane had all hys commaundement and ete and dranke hys fyll of the beste wheÌ„ the owner hadde scantely hys fyll of the worste And ouer that the comon people were so of theym oppressyd that for fere and drede they called theym in euery suche house as they hadde rule of Lorde Dane But in processe of tyme after the Danys were voyded the lande thys worde Lord Dane was in derysyon and despyte of the Danys turned by the Englyshemen into a name of opprobrye and called Lurdayne whyche to our dayes ys not forgotten But when one EnglyshemaÌ„ woll rebuke an other he woll for the more rebuke call hym Lurdayn Then to retourne to our fyrste mater Treuthe yt is that when the Danys were thus murdred thorugh Englande tydynges therof sprange into Denmarke whyche kyndeled in theym suche a fury that the kyng therof named Swanus assembled shortely a great hoste and nauye of Danys and in shorte processe after landed in Cornewayll And by treason of a Norman named Hugh whyche by fauoure of the quene Emma was made erle of Deuenshyre the sayd Swanus toke Exetour and after bette downe the wallys Then he entred further into the lande In whyche season the kynge sent vnto Edricê° chargyng hym to assemble the weste Saxons and to wythstande the further entre of the Danys The whyche accordynge to his commyssyon assembled the weste SaxoÌ„s and made good contenauÌ„ce to wythstand the sayd enymyes But when the hostes shulde ioyne were it for fere or for treason he fayned hym syke and fled from hys people The whych for lacke of an hed were fayn to gyue backe to theyr hurte and to theyr enimyes great auauntage and comforte wherfore the Danys resorted then to wyltonÌ„ and ShyrbornÌ„ and anon spoyled both those townes and there refresshed theym But for Swanus had wittynge that the kynge was coÌ„myng towarde hym wyth the power of his lande he therfore departed thens and retourned wyth great pyllage to his shyppes sayled aboute the lande and lastely landed in Norfolke where he wastynge and spoylynge the countrey came in processe vnto the cytye of Norwyche and robbed and spoyled yt and after yode to Thetforde and dyd lykewise to that towne and fyred yt and destroyed y e countrey nere there about But soone after a noble man of that countrey called duke Uskatell mette wyth the hoste of Danys and gaue vnto them an hard and sharpe batayll and slewe many of the enymyes and put them backe For this and for huÌ„ger that then assailed this lande Swanus returned ofte vnto his shyppes departed agayne into Denmarke taryed there all y e wynter folowynge In whyche season he made great prouysyon to reenter the lande of Englande THE CXCIX CHAPITER ABout the .xxvi. yere of the reygne of Egelredus the forenamed Swanus with a stronge army landed at Sandwyche and spoyled all the couÌ„trey nere vnto the see syde and rested hym there tyll he harde of an armye coÌ„mynge agayn hym And when he was ware therof he retourned to his shyppes agayne and herynge the kyng was farre westward he landed in Sussex and spoyled yt wonder sore And when he there was warned of the coÌ„mynge of a batayll of Englyshemen anon he toke shyppynge agayne So that when the englyshemen wende to haue met wyth them in one coste then wolde they sodaynly lande in a nother And when y e kyng prouyded to mete wyth theÌ„ vppon the see other they wold fayne to flee or ellys they shulde wyth gyftes blynde the admyrall of the kynges nauy By whyche subtylytye and crafty meanes they weryed and tyred the hoste of EnglyshmeÌ„ And where euer they went they slew brent and robbed wythout compassyon and pytye The kynge then beyng at Shrewesbury herynge of the great sleyght and cruelty of the Danys called his counsayll to rede what were beste to be done for y e defence of his enmyes where it was concluded that y e kyng to haue peace with the Danys shuld pay vnto them .xxx. thousande pouÌ„d But whyle this was in doynge the Danys destroyed a grete part of Baroke or Barkshyre when this peace was thus made Swanus wyth his company retourned into Denmarke And y e yere folowynge the kynge made Edricus forenamed duke of Mercia Thys Edricus was of lowe byrth ryche of tunge false and subtyll of wyt softe and eloqueÌ„t of speche vntrusty and false of thoughte and promyse as of hym somdeale before is shewyd and after more shall appere In the .xxvii. yere of Egelredus a prynce of Danys named Turkyllus landed in Kent The whyche so greuously warred in that couÌ„trey that the Kentyshemen were fayn to make theyr peace and so departed And yet the persecucyon of Danys seased not For in one countre of Englande or other they euer in whylys robbed pilled the Englishmen So y t all the couÌ„trey a longe the coste froÌ„ the Northe parte of Englande vnto the yle of wyghte was by theym destroyed or hugely sette a backe And when the kynge entended to make prouysyon for to wythstande theym euer Edricus wolde counsayll hym to the contrarye shewynge hym that he shulde spende hys treasour trauayle his people in vayne By mean wherof the Danys entred .l. myles wythin the lande and brent and robbed by dyuers tymes many vylages townes So that they
encreased waxed passynge ryche and the Enlyshemen nedy bare poore Thus contynuynge this mysery Swanus or after the englyshe Swayne then beyng in Denmarke and heryng of the encreace of his people within Englande repented hym of his former couenauntes and thought y t the hole domynyon of EnglaÌ„d shulde belong to hym of ryght For the whyche he prepared his armye nauy in moste defensyble wyse and sped hym into England to the ryuer of Humber and landed in Northumberlande where the erle or ruler of that countrey wyth all the rulers of the same sware feaute vnto the sayde Swanus and promysed to kepe that countrey vnto hys vse And when he had done hys wyll in that coste he entred agayne the water and by the ryuer of Trent he passed to Gaynysburghe and so by North watlyngstrete and subdued the inhabytauntes of that couÌ„trey and forced theym to gyue vnto hym pledges whyche pledges wyth also his nauy he betoke vnto Canutus his sonne whyle he wente farther into the lande And that done he wyth his â–ª people kepte on his iourney tyl he â–ª came into Mercia kyllynge and slayeng the men of that prouynce And reserued the women to vnclene lyuynge as well the relygyous as other and toke by strength wynchester and Oxenford and dyd in them what he lyked And after he hadde thus passed the lande he drewe the nexte waye towarde London But in passynge the ryuer of Thames he loste some parte of hys people other for lacke of a brydge or for ieopardynge theyr passage vnauysely And so in processe he came vnto London where at that tyme kynge Egelredus was wherfore Swanus lefte the cytye and drewe into Kente and so towarde Caunterbury wythoute lette weldynge the countrey at hys wyll and lastely beseged that cytye The whyche manfully defended theyr enymyes by the space of .xx. dayes whyche syege beganne vpon the day of saynte Mathewe in the moneth of September and endured as is aboue sayde and then taken by the treason of a deken named Almaricus the whyche beforetyme blessed Elphegus then archebyshop of that see hadde preserued from deth Then the Danys fyred the cytye when they before had spoyled it and toke the archebyshop and put him in strayte pryson And the monkes of saynt Augustynes abbey they tythed that is to meane they slew .ix. by cruel torment and the tenth they kepte a lyue the whych after was solde and sette to all seruyle laboure And as wytnessyth Antoninus or Uyncent hystoryall they slewe and broughte in seruage ouer the summe of .ix. hundred persones of relygyon they slew of men women chyldren beyonde the noÌ„ber of .viii. thousand As with myche more cruelty yt is shewyd in the .vii. chapyter of the .xvi. tytle of the worke of the sayde Antoninus And fynally for this blessed man Elphegus wolde not condescende to gyue vnto them as sayth Policronica .iii. thousande pounde after they had kept hym in harde pryson by the space of .vii. monethes vppon an Ester eueÌ„ they after many vylanyes to hym done at Grenewyche wythin thre myles of London they stoned hym to deth where he lay in the feld vnburyed a certayne of tyme and after caryed to London and buryed reuereÌ„tly in the chyrch of saynt Paule But afterward in tyme of Canutus he was taken vp agayne and caryed to his owne chyrche Of this blyssed Elphegus Antoninus and also Policronicon shewen many vertues and myracles the whyche I passe ouer for lengthynge of the tyme. THE CC. CHAPITER IN this pastyme kynge Egelredus ferynge the ende of thys persecucyon sent Emma the quene wyth her two sonnes Alphrede and Edwarde vnto Rycharde the second of y e name then fourth duke of Normandy whych was brother vnto the sayde Emma wyth whome also he sent the byshoppe of London About the .xxxiiii. yere of the reygne of Egelredus the Danis when they hadde wonne a great part of the couÌ„trey of westsaxon retorned agayn towarde London wherof herynge the Londoners sent vnto theym certayn gyftes and pledges In all thys season myne authoure maketh no mynde that euer the king gaue vnto the Denys any notable batayll but kepte hym in holdes or places for his owne sauegarde and lytell fruyte or profyte to his lande At the laste he was chaced vnto the yle of wyghte where wyth a secrete companye he helde a great parte of the wynter and fynally wythout catall or comforte sayled ouer to hys wyfe into NormaÌ„dy and there held hym a certayne of tyme. whan Swanus was ascertayned of the departynge of Egelredus out of the lande he was enflamed wyth excedynge pryde so that he arrered excedynge imposycyons of the people and greued them wonderfully And amonges other of his tyraÌ„nyes he asked a great summe of money of saynt Edmundes landes whych the rulers denayed for so myche as they claymed to be free of all kynges trybute For thys he entred the terytory of saynte Edmunde and wasted and spoyled the countrey and ouer that despysed that holy martyr wyth manassyng of the place of his sepulture wherfore the men of that countrey ferynge this tyraunt gaue them to fastynge and prayer so that shortly after he was stycked in an euenynge amonges his knyghtes with y e sword of saynte Edmunde in the towne of Shetforde as sayth Guydo but after Policronicon other in the town of Gaynesborugh where he dyed wyth yellynge and cryenge the thyrd daye after In fere wherof Canutus hys son after that he was kynge closed in y e land of that holy martyr with a depe dyche and graunted to the inhabytauntes therof great fredam quyt them of all kyngly taske or trybute And after buylded a chyrch ouer the place of his sepulture and ordeyned there an house of munkes endued them wyth fayre possessyons And after yt was vsed that kynges of England when they were crowned sent for an offerynge theyr crownes vnto saynte Edmundes shryne and redemed them aftewardes wyth a condygne pryce when Egelredus hadde wrytynge of the deth of Swanus by procurement of his frendes he made meanes to retourne to hys owne By whose meanes he was sent for wyth condycyon that he shulde refourme his olde condycyons Ad for perfourmauÌ„ce of the same he sent his son Edwarde into Englande before hym And in the lent folowynge the kyng came hym selfe and wyth his people sped hym towarde Lyndesey where Canutus was at that tyme resseauÌ„t not prouyded of the kynges so hasty commynge wherfore he beynge not purueyed to wythstande the kynge fledde into Sandewyche in Kente And for he there proued suche persones as before tyme his fader and he hadde taken pledges of fande them not perseueraunt in theyr ê“misses he made to be cutte of all the noses and haÌ„des of the sayd Englyshe people and sayled into Denmarke when he had do and retourned the nexte yere wyth a great nauy and sayled about y e land and toke prayes in the South countrey wherof the kynges eldest sonne named Edmunde
nother stronge cytye called AualonÌ„ and not wythout great daunger wanne yt also at length and after receyued the countrey wyth dew obeysaunce and ordered yt at hys own pleasure and so retourned into Fraunce Arnolde erle of Sens vsed great tyranny amonges the byshoppes mynysters of the chyrche wherfore Leophricus byshop of that see thorough the ayde and counsayll of Regnalde byshop of Parys put oute the sayde Arnolde and delyuered the cytye vnto kynge Robert But the brother of the sayde Arnolde with a certayne of his knyghtes fled to the castell and yt helde wyth strength wherfore the kynge layde syege to the sayd castel and at length wan yt and toke the brother of Arnolde named FromoÌ„de and sent him to OrleauÌ„ce there to be prisoned where he dyed shortly after This Robert as saith the frenche boke buylded fyrst y e castell of MouÌ„t for t He founded also dyuers monasteryes and teÌ„ples and at OrleauÌ„ce the teÌ„ple of saint AnyanÌ„ at Stamps a chyrche of our lady dyuers other in dyuers places of hys realme And he endowed the chyrche of saynte Denys wyth many great lyberties and hadde especyall deuocyon to saynte ypolyte ouer all other sayntes It is radde of this kynge Robert that vppon a season when he hadde longe whyLe lyen at the syege of a castell nere vnto Orleaunce and sawe yt was defuse to wynne be strength he vpon y e daye of saynt Anyan yode vnto Orleaunce there in the quere bare a cope and dyd helpe to synge the dyuyne seruyce And after when he was in his deuocyoÌ„s in the masse whyle when the preste was at the coÌ„secracion and sayd thryse Agnê° dei the walles of the castell fyll wythout stroke of gunne or other engyne and hys enemyes submytted them to hys grace Many vertues myght I shew more of this vertuous price y â— which I passe ouer for length of the tyme and conclude thus that when he had reygned after moste accorde of wryters and ruled hys lande nobly .xxx. yeres he dyed and was buryed in the house of saynte Denys leuynge after him of his fyrst wife ConstauÌ„ce a sonne named Henry and one other named Robert and of hys seconde wyfe .ii. sonnes named Symonde and Almaryche But yt shulde seme by the sequele of the next storye that Constaunce shuld be laste wyfe the other the fyrste and deuorced from hym for some cause so that her chyldern shulde not be legyttymat all be yt the authoure of this maketh no mencyon Anglia THE CCIIII CHAPITER EDmunde Ironsyde the sonne of Egelredus and also Canutus y e sonne of Swanus kyng of DeÌ„marke beganne to rule the Englyshemen in the yere of our lorde a thousande .xvi and the .xix. yere of Robert then kynge of Fraunce For y e Londoners wyth assysteÌ„ce of some of y e lordes of England fauoured EdmuÌ„de But the more party of the lordes fauoured Canutê° specylly the spiritualtye y e before tyme had sworne feauty to hys father And he then beynge at SouthamptonÌ„ swore to them to be vnto them a good trewe iustice and to entreate the people soberly and ryghte wysely Then Edmunde beynge of the archbyshop of yorke crowned at LoÌ„don and the solemnyte fynyshed and ended he sped hym into westsaxon and subdued y t countrey In whych tyme Canutus whych in y e englyshe storye is called Knough drewe wyth hys people to LoÌ„don and wold there haue entred But that was hym forboden of the Londoners For the whiche he layde hys ordynaunce aboute the cytye en tendynge to haue entred perforce But it was not long or he was fayne to breke his syege to depart thens when Canutus was put of from London he drewe westwarde and mette in processe wyth Edmunde in Dorsetshyre besyde Gyllyngham where betwene theym was foughten a stronge and cruell batayll But in the ende Canutus was ouercomen compelled to forsake the felde After thys they mette agayne in worceter shyre where they fought a more stroÌ„ger batayll For this was so strongly bydden by y e men coude not iudge whych parte had the better or which the worse But as wytnessyth Policronica eyther of theym departed froÌ„ other eyther for werynesse of fyghte or for lak of the daye But vppon the morne folowynge both hostes ioyned agayne fought egerly Contynuynge whych fyght Edricus espyenge Edmunde to be at auauntage of wynnynge of the feld sodaynly pyght a dede mannys hed vppon a spere hed and cryed to the hoste of Englyssmen fle fle ye Englyshemen saue your selfe loo here is the hedde of EdmuÌ„de your kyng But Edmunde therof beynge warned spedde hym towarde that parte of the felde and behaued hym so comfortably amonges hys men that by hys knyghtely courage hys people recoueryd that they before had loste and coÌ„tynued the batayll tyll nyght in suche wyse that he hadde rather the better then the worse and caused Canutus to refuse that countrey and to retourne towarde London agayne Then Edmunde beyng aduertysed that Canutus was retourned towarde London he folowed hym and passed the ryuer of Thamys and delyueryd the cytye from daunger of the Danys and afterwarde encountred the Danys at a place called Brentforde where with them he had a cruell fyght and scom fyted theym at length In thys passe tyme Emma y e wyfe of Egelredus ferynge the fortune of the warre sent her two sonnes Alphrede and Edwarde vnto her brother Richarde the seconde of that name and fourth duke of Normandy But Edricus then whyche as before is sayd was euer subtyle of wyt consyderynge the good fortune of Edmunde and hys knyghtely courage thought that at length he shuld ouercome the Danys wherfore to saue hys lande and also to brynge aboute hys malycyouse treason he sought the wayes and meanes howe he myght stande in hys grace and fauour And at length obteyned his entente and swore to hym to be hys trewe subiecte when kynge Edmunde had a season soiorned at LoÌ„don he then made towarde the Danys that then were in Kent and met wyth theÌ„ at a place called Okefforde or Otforde there scomfyted them and chasyd Canutê° to the yle of Shepey And there Canutus toke shypyng sayled about the land entred lastely in y e couÌ„trey of Mercia spoyled a parte therof Then the two hostes met soone after at a place called Asshedown where after longe fyghte Edricus wyth his retynew fledde to the comforte of the Danys By meane wherof kyng Edmunde was put to the worse for many noble men were slayne vppon his party Amonges the whyche the byshop of LyncolnÌ„ the abbot of Ramysey were two that thyther were come to treate a peace betwene bothe prynces But wheÌ„ this was layde to y e charge of Edricê° he by his vntrew meanes so excused hym that no man myght charge hym with any defaut Thus contynuynge thys mortall warre betwyxte these two marcyall prynces to the grete desolacyoÌ„ mortalyte of the people one of the knyghtes of the
orderyd in his lande deuyded his sayd lande in foure partes That is to meane the fyrst princypall which at those dayes was westsaxon he helde vnder hys owne gydyng Eestenglande whych coÌ„teyned Norff. Suff. he betoke to the rule of y e erle Turkyllê° a Dane of whome somwhat is in the .iii. chapyter of y e story of Egelredê° Mercia he betoke to the subtell erle Edricus And the .iiii. Northumberlande vnto a Dane named Hircius But lyke as the man of Inde at no tyme chauÌ„ged his colour so this Edricus chauÌ„ged neuer his fals maners But not wythstandynge the great benefytes that he dayly receyued of his prynces there as he to other hadde ben false and dysceyuable in dayes past euen so nowe he demeaned hym agayne Canutus wherfore he beynge accused proued wyth defaute was commauÌ„ded of the kyng to haue iudgement The whyche was done immediatly his hedde for dyuerse causes smyten of and yt wyth the bodye for spyte caste into a fowle and fylthy place But Ranulf sayth that he was slayne by the kynges agrement wythin his paleys at London and his body wyth the hed throwne after into the towne dyche Thus wyth shame he ended that in falshode dyssymulacyoÌ„ had contynued myche of his lyfe Aboute the .ix. yere of his reygne Canutê° called a parliament at Oxenford where amonges other thynges yt was enacted that Englyshmen Danys shuld holde the lawes of Edgar lately kynge In this pastyme dyed Swanus brother to Canutus kynge of Denmarke wythout issue wherfore that lande fyll to Canutus For the which cause he wyth a stronge army sayled thyther to take the possessyon and to set the countrey in an order or after some wryters to apeas wythstande the wandelys y t then had perced that lande and done therin myche harme where GoodwynÌ„ the erle whose doughter Edwarde the confessour after maryed wyth a certayne nomber of Englyshmen fyll vpon y e wandalys by nyght dystressed theym in suche wyse that Canutus had of them his pleasure For this dede the kyng had erle GoodwynÌ„ euer after in good fauoure and loued Englyshmen more specyally And when he was returned into Englande he shortely after or before maryed Emma the wyfe lately of Egelredus Of the whych he receyued in processe of tyme a son named hym Hardicunitus or after some Hardykynitus after the Englyshe boke Hardyknough And aboute this tyme fyll voyde y â— see of Lyndesser or Durham to the whyche by dyuyne inspyracyon and knowlege receyued by a voyce from the tumbe of saynt Cuthbert blessed EdmuÌ„de after thre yere of vacacyon was electe to that see But ye shal vnderstande that thys was not saynte Edmunde of Ponteney For he was archbyshoppe of Caunterbury in the dayes of Henry the thyrde THE CXCVI. CHAPITER CAnutus about the .vii. yere of his reygne by exhortacyon of Egelnothus then archbishop of CauÌ„terbury translated the body of saynt Elphegus late archbyshoppe of the sayd see martyred by the Danys as before is shewed in the seconde chapiter of the storye of Egelredus and shryued hym in hys owne chyrche of Caunterbury foresayde In the tyme also of thys Canutus aboute the .xvi. yere of hys reygne the Scottes rebelled agayne hym wherfore he with a great army entred Scotlande at length ouercame the kynge of that lande named then Malcolyne and brought them agayne to hys subieccyon as is recorded in the bokes of Marianus the Scot. By reason of whych vyctory Canutus was then kynge of .iiii. kyngdoms of England of ScotlaÌ„d of Denmarke and Norwaye Then as wytnessyth dyuerse authours after he had betaken this lande of Englande to the gydynge of Leofricus Egelnothus and other he then returned into Denmarke And from theÌ„s he yode to Rome in the .xv. yere of his reygn made there great offerynges to saynte Peter and Poule redemed the scole of Saxons fre of all former trybute graunted as before in the storyes of Iue and Offa and other kynges of Saxons is som deale more touched whyche redempcyon of tribute as sayth Guydo was called Rome Scot. But it shall seme in that sayenge some douteth for so myche as at thys daye in dyuers places of EnglaÌ„d as in Northamptonshyre and other the peter pens are yet gaderyd Canutus also after he had in Rome accomplyshed his purpose he in hys returne towarde Englande executed wonderfull dedes of almes in releuynge of the poore and other goftly workes payde great good for raunsom of crysten prysoners amonges other of his dedes It is wytnessyd that he shulde agree with the pope that was called Benet the .viii. of that name pay to hym certayne summes of money that his archbyshoppes after y t daye myghte haue the pall wythoute payenge of money therfore And wheÌ„ he was comen in the citye of Papia in Italy in hys way home warde he there brought the arme of saynte Augustyne the doctour for a hundred pounde of syluer and a talent of golde And here is to be noted that there be thre maners of taleÌ„tes The fyrst and grettest is of y â— weyght of .vi. score pounde weyghte the seconde of the weyght of .lxxii pounde and the thyrde and leest of .l. pounde weyght Then yf we reken this talent with the leest in a pouÌ„de of gold after troye weyght is .xii. vuces and in .l. pounde is .vi. huÌ„dred vnces and euery vnce of fyne golde is worth xl s. By whyche reason this talent shulde be in value to the summe of xii hundred pounde This precyous relyque y e kyng gaue vnto his trusty frende Leofricus y e whych he myche loued and trusted and remayned at Couentre many yeres after whyle Canutus was occupyed in thys iourney coÌ„playnt was brought vnto hym of some mysse demeanurs and rule that were occupyed and exercysed in his absence wythin this realme wherfore he wrote home letters to the lordes chargynge theym straytely that all such defautes were redressed agayne hys coÌ„myng home Thys kynge as wythnesseth Guydo was of great magnyfycence and vsed suche iustyce and temperaunce that in his dayes in the weste partes of the worlde was no prynce of renowne as was Canutus And ouer that he was gretly beloued dradde of hys subiectes In the tyme of this Canutus as tessyfyeth Guillelmus de pontificibus a munke of GlasteÌ„bury named Bryghtwolde whyche was after bysshop of wylton beynge in hys contemplacyon and prayer bethoughte hym on the lynage of Englyshe kynges And in that thought fyll into a slumber in whyche tyme of his slepe he sawe saynte Peter the apostle standynge by hym and holdynge in hys hande Edwarde the sonne of Egelredus which then was in Normandy the whyche to his thynkynge he saw saynte Peter saker y e sayde Edward as kynge of Englande And shewed to hym farther how holy this Edwarde shulde be in hys lyuynge and how he shuld reygne as kynge .xxiii. yeres Then thys monke frayned saynt Peter of the ofsprynge of thys Edwarde and who shulde be
before is rehersed by y e terme of CC.lv. yeres THE CCX CHAPITER EDward the son of Egelredus of Emma hys last wyfe began his reygne ouer England in the yere of our lord M .xliii and the xiiii yere of Henry then kynge of Fraunce The whyche after the deth of Hardykinitus was sente for into Normandye and pledges layde for hym that he wythout fraude shulde be made kynge And then he came wyth a few straunges But as sayth Marianus some of the lordes had sent for Edwarde the outlaw son of Edmunde Ironsyde for to be theyr kynge But after the affyrmaunce of the said authour when he knew that Edwarde hys neuewe was in possessyon of the lande he wolde medle hym no farther Then thys Edwarde by the great aduyse of GoodwynÌ„ erle of west Saxon and of Leofricê° erle of Chester was crowned kyng at westmynster of Edsius then archbyshop of Caunterbury wedded in processe of time after Goditha the doughter of erle Goodwyne whych of Guydo is called Editha The whych he entreatyd in suche wyse y t he put her not from his bed nor yet delte wyth her fleshely whyther yt were for hate of her kynne or forloue of chastite y e trouth is not shewed But all wryters agreen that he coÌ„tynued his lyfe with outen offence wyth women This kyng discharged Engleshmen of y e great tribute called Dane gelt y t whych before is sundry tyme spoken of so y t after y e daye yt was no more gaderyd And also he subdued y e Brytons or walshmen that made warre wythin the bondes of y e land But after y t theyr duke or leder called Gryffyn or Gryffyth with ayde of y e Irysh men entred the ryuer of Seuerne toke many prayes and departed agayne wythout fyght In the tyme of the reygne of thys Edwarde Emma his moder was accused to be familyer with y e byshop of winchester UpoÌ„ which accusacioÌ„ by couÌ„sayll of erle GoodwynÌ„ he toke from her many of her iewellys caused her to be keptsomdele more straitly in the abbay of warwell and the byshop he coÌ„mytted to the examynacyon and correccyon of the clergye But his moder more sorowynge the defame of AlwynÌ„ the byshoppe then her awne estate wrote vnto dyuers byshoppes and besought them of iustyce affermynge y t she was redy to abyde all leful most sharpest triall Then dyuers of y e byshoppes made laboure to the kynge for her and for the byshop But Robert then archebyshop of Caunterbury beyng wyth theyr laboure dyscontended sayde to them in this maner My brethern bisshoppes sayd he how dare ye defende her that is a wyld beste and not a woman she hath defamed her own son the kynge and nempned her lecherours lemman goddes owne preste But be yt so that the woman wolde purge the preste who shall then purge the woman that is accused to be consentynge to the deth of her sonne Alphred and procured venym to the poysonyng of her son Edwarde But how so yt be that she be gylty or gyltlesse yf she woll go barefoted for her selfe .iiii. steppes for the byshop .v contynually vpon .ix. plough sharys brennynge and fyre hote then yf she escape harmelesse he shall be assoyled of this chalenge and she also Thys was of her graunted and the daye of purgacyon assygned At which day y e kyng grete part of his lordes were present but this Robert fayled were yt for pyte or otherwyse Thys Robert was a monke of an house in Normandy and came ouer by the sonde of the kynge and was fyrste made bysshoppe of London and after archbysshopppe of Caunterbury Then the nyght before Emma shulde make her purgacyon she went vnto the shryne of saynt Swythune at wynchester and there kneled all that night in prayer and receyued dyuyne coÌ„forte Upon the morne she was blyndefelde and ladde vnto the place betwene .ii. men where the iron laye glowynge hote and passed the .ix. sharys vnhurte Then at last she sayde Good lorde when shall I come to the place of my purgacyon when they opened her eyen and she sawe that she was paste the payne she kneled downe and thanked God and saynte Swythune Then the kynge repented hym and restored to her that he before hadde taken from her and asked of her forgyuenesse But the archebyshoppe of Caunterburye fledde into Normandye And thys Emma gaue then vnto the monastery of that holy confessour saynt Swythune .ix. maners and the bysshoppe other .ix. as affermeth Polycronica and other It was not long after that kyng Edwarde gaderyd a stronge nauye at SouthamptonÌ„ or more verely in the hauen of Sandwyche for so myche as he was warned that Swanus kynge of Denmarke entended to make warre vppon hym But Polycronycon sayth that he gadederyd thys nauy to wythstande Harolde Harfagar then kyng of North ganys that entended to haue entred Englande But he was letted by y e forenamed Swanê° y t shortely after made warre vpoÌ„ y e sayd Harold An other cronycle shewyth that the Danys and Norgayns whyche is to meane men of Norway were agreed to come ioyntly into England And whyle the kynge was shyppyng of his mne one brought forth a bole full of mede or meth to drynke vpon bon vyage And after that came bole after bole so that after drynke came dronkenes after iangelyng iangelynge tourned into stryfe stryfe tourned into fyghtynge where thorough many were slayne the other turned to theyr owne so that that iourney was lefte of But the legeÌ„de of hys lyfe in the chyrche telleth that he beynge at masse in the chyrche of westmynster vppon a whytsondaye in the tyme of the leuacyon of the sacrament he laught wherof the lordes beynge aboute hym meruayled greatly and after frayned of hym the cause wheruÌ„to he answered and sayde that the Danys wyth the Norwayes of one assente were purposed to haue comen into thys lande and here haue taken prayes But as the kynge of Danys shuld haue entred hys shyp he fyll into the see and was drowned so that I truste in my days they shall not nor none other straungers make any warre in this lande THE CCXI. CHAPITER IN the tyme of thys Edwarde fyll passynge great snowe the whyche began in the begynnynge of Ianuary and so contynued tyll the xvii daye of Marche or saynte Patrykes daye wherof the great quantyte fyll in the weste countreys of Englande And after that ensued great deth of men and moreyne of beftes and by lyghtnynge the corne vpon the ground that yere was wonderfull brent and wasted Aboute the .x. yere of Edwarde as moueth Policronyca and in the moneth of September Eustace erle of BolongnÌ„ came a lande at Douer whyche erle hadde wedded after the sayenge of the sayde authour kynge Edwardes syster Thys was parted frome hys companye in so secrete wyse that hys knyghtes were fayne to serche for hym wenynge to them that he hadde ben slayne by some of the dwellers of the towne In the
dresse So in tyme passed was vsed great sadnesse In the chyrche But nowe men lyghte be wherfore the maners muste wyth men agree SO that by such light answere they planed or excused y e sharpenesse of theyr mysse lyuynge About this tyme whyche shuld by Ranulff be about the .xii. yeare of y e reygne of Edward Marianê° the Scot that before I haue often named that wrote myche of y e dedes of y e kynges of England at the age of .xxv. yeres forsoke the world went on pylgrymage was after shorne munke at Coleyne in Almayne in the abbay of Scottes whyche Marianus after some wryters was in great fauoure with Malcolyne kyng of Scottes In the .xiii. yere of kynge Edward the Scottes rebelled agayn y e kyng wherfore Sewarde erle of Northumberlande by the kynges commaundement gadered a great hoste and entred that lande and behaued hym so manfully that in processe he subdued the Scottes chased y e kynge out of his couÌ„trey so that after kyng Edwarde gaue that kyngedome vnto MalcolynÌ„ sonne of the kynge of Cumbrys to beholden of hym hys heyres kynges as chefe lordes of Scotlande Uppon Ester mondaye aboute the sayde yere GoodwynÌ„ syttynge at the kynges bourde wyth other lordes in y e castell of wyndsore yt happed one of the kynges cuppe berers to stumble and to recouer agayne so that he shedde none of the drynke wherat GoodwynÌ„ lough and sayde nowe that one brother hath susteyned that other wherby he ment that the one fote or legge hathe sustayned y e other from fallynge wyth whyche wordes the kyng marked him sayd Ryght so my brother Alfrede shuld haue holden me ne had Goodwyn ben The erle then conceyued that the kynge suspected hym of hys brothers deth and sayde vnto the kynge in defendynge hys vntrouth syr as I perceyue well it is told to the y t I shuld be y e cause of thy brothers deth So mought I sauely swalowe this mor fel of brede y t I here hold in my haÌ„de as I am giltlesse of the dede But as soone as he had receyued the brede forthwyth he was choked Then the kynge commauÌ„ded hym to be draweÌ„ from the table and so was conueyed to wynchester and there buryed Marianus sayth that as erle GoodwynÌ„ sat at the kynges table at wynchester he was sodaynly taken with a palsye or some other sykenes vpon the Ester mondaye and dyed y e thyrd day after And his lordshyppes were gyuen vnto Harold his eldest sonne then lyuynge Haroldes erledome was gyuen to Algarus the sonne of Leofricus whych was the erledome of Oxenford after some wryters It was not longe after y e kynge Edwarde sent vnto the .iiii. Henry than emperour of Almayne Aldredus bysshop of worceter wyth other noble men prayenge hym that he wolde sende vnto England hys cosyn Edwarde sonne of EdmuÌ„de Ironsyde for so myche as he entended to make hym hys heyre The whyche request was fulfylled so that he came into Englande soone after the whych as ye haue harde before was named Edwarde the outlawe But as witnessyth Guydo and other the yere after that he came into Englande he dyed at London and was buryed at westmynster Thys yere folowynge kynge Edwarde thorough yll counsayll exiled wythout gylte Algarus the sonne of Leofricus The whych assocyat hym wyth Gryffyne kynge or duke of walys and destroyed y e countre of Harforde dyd mych harme to y e towne and set the mynster on fyre and slew vii chanons therof Then the kyng sent Harolde agayn hym the whiche chased the walshmen into theyr own boundes and recoueryd the sayde towne by appoyntement holden by the sayde Algarus and amended all hurtes before done by the walshmeÌ„ and lastely recouncyled the sayde Algarus and his companye vnto the kynges grace THE CCXIII. CHAPITER ABoute the .xv. yere of kynge Edwarde dyed y e noble duke Sewarde ruler of Northumberland of the flux of whome Guydo reherseth dyuers notable actes whyche I passe ouer Of whom yt is radde that when he sawe well he shulde dye he caused hys armour to be put vppon hym and so armed and syttynge in a cheyre hauynge all the ryghtes of the chyrch sayde that so yt became a knyght and man of honour to dye not lyenge as an other mene man and so dyed was buryed at yorke And hys erledome was after gyuen to Tosty or Costy son of GoodwynÌ„ In the yere folowynge or .xvi. yere of kynge Edwarde dyed also y e good erle Leofricus erle of Mercia and of Chester and was buryed in the abbay of Couentre the whyche before he hadde buylded This man purchased many great pryuyleges for y e towne of Couentre and made it free of all maner of toll excepte onely of horse For the whyche to haue also free the comen fame telleth that after longe requeste made vnto hym by his wyfe named Godina he grauÌ„ted her to haue yt therof freed wyth that that she wolde ryde naked thorough the towne by meane wherof yt was freed Then Algarus hys son was erle after hym Harolde then the eldeste sonne of GoodwynÌ„ was in great authoryte ruled myche of the kynges armye The yere folowyng Algarus was accused by malyce exylded the land wherfore he fled agayne to Gryffyne duke of walis as he before had done of whom he was ioyously receyuyd and maynteyned The kynge therof beyng infourmed sent Harolde into walys to make warre vppon Gryffyne The whyche quytte hym in so knyghtely wyse that he chased the walshmen brent the sayde Gryffyns paleys at a place callyd RutlanÌ„ and his nauy and then returned into Englande about mydlent But aboute rogacyon dayes nexte folowyng the sayde Harolde with his brother Tosty was sente thyther agayne wyth a stronge army At whyche season they destroyed a great parte of walys in conclusion brought the walshmen vnto dew subieccyon and forced theÌ„ to gyue pledges for the contynuance of the same And that done pursued so sore vppon the sayde Gryffyne that in the ende his owne people for purchase of theyr owne lyues slewe the sayde Gryffyne and sent his hed vnto Harolde in the moneth of Auguste so that after the deth of thys Griffyne by the commaundement of the kynge the couÌ„trey of walys was commytted to the gydynge of the .ii. bretherne of Gryffyne the whyche had fauoured more the kynges party in tyme of the foresayd warre then theyr brother And this warre in walys thus brought to ende Harold by his polycy recouncyled agayne Algarus erle of Mercia to y e kyngê grace so that he contynued in hys fauoure durynge hys lyfe after About thys tyme a woman of Bakley in Barkshyre vsed yll craftes of sorcery The whyche as she was syttynge vpon a daye at a feste or great dyner a crowe that she had lykyngly fedde and brought vp kreked louder then he was accustomed to do â–ª when the woman harde that noyse her knyfe fyll out of her hande she waxed sodaynly pale And
slew many of his men and gat the fauour of the walshmen by gyftes and plesauÌ„t wordes and also compelled the sayd Robert to forsake EnglaÌ„d The whyche then sayled into a corner of NormaÌ„dye kept him there secretely tyll such tyme as to hym was thyther comen willyaÌ„ erle of Cornewall which wyllyam was also erle of Nortom in Normandye when these two erles were assocyat they gaderyd to them a great strength of Normans dyd great harme wythin the prouynce wherfore the kynge sayled thyther made sharpe warre vppon them In the whych he loste many of his men But in y e ende he put froÌ„ them theyr strength and toke theym both prysoners and so helde them y e terme of theyr lyues And that done he sette that couÌ„trey in good reste and peace and after retourned into Englande After whyche returne kynge Henry made sharpe lawes agayne theues and other that vsed vnleful meanes In whyche lawes was conteyned losynge of lyfe of eyes of stones and other members of man as the gylte requyred And soone after Anselme archbysshoppe of Caunterbury assembled a great couÌ„sayll at London of the clergy of England By authoryte of the which couÌ„sayll dyuers abbotes and other were put from theyr dygnytie for that they had taken before tyme theyr abbayes by vnlefull meanes And amoÌ„ges all other decrees one was y e prestes shulde forgo theyr wyues Then strife fell betwen y e kyng Anselme for that that he wold not sacre the prestes that hadde taken inuestyture of lewde mennys handes whyche before was forboden vppon payne of cursynge But Gyralde archebyshoppe of yorke for the pleasure of the kynge sacred suche bysshoppes wherfore Anselme beynge dyscoÌ„tent departed y e land and yode to Rome to shewe thys wyth other thynges to the pope whyche at that daye by moste accorde of wryters shulde be Pascall the seconde In the .vi. of the kynge the countrey of FlauÌ„dres was sore blemyshed and hurte by meane of the see so that the Flemynges yode aboute to haue socoure of dwellynge and requyred of the kyng to haue lycence that they might inhabyt them in the eest parte of the ryuer of Twede the whych to them was graunted But after a certayn of yeres they were remoued ito westwalys where they remayned a longe whyle but after they sprad all Englande ouer In the .vii. yere of thys kynge vppon a frydaye at nyghte in the fyrste weke of clene lent was sene an vncouth starre betwene y e south and the weste the whyche nyghtely appered at one howre and coÌ„tynued so by the space of .xxv. days And fore agaynst that oute of the eest parte appered a great leuyn or beme of bryghtnes whyche stretched towarde the sayde starre And vppon shere thursdaye nexte ensuynge were sene two monys that one in the eest and that other in the weste And in thys yere Anselme by the kynges agrement returned agayne from Rome and shortely after called a conuocacyon at London In the whyche by the popes authoryte yt was newely conformed and enacted that no temporall man after that daye shuld make inuesture with crosse or wyth rynge In the .viii. yere of the reygne of kynge Henry the fourth Henry emperour of Almayne the whyche had maryed Molde the eldeste doughter of kynge Henry when she was of the age of .v. yeres prysoned pope Pascall and dyuerse of the cardynallys This Henry also warred agayne his father Henry the .iii and lastely caste hym in stronge pryson For the whyche dede as assermeth Ranulphe he wylfully when he had ruled the empyre .xx. yere resygned hys dygnyte into the handes of Calixtus y e secoÌ„de of that name then pope after came secretely into England vnto Chester vnwyttynge hys wyfe or any of hys frendes where he lyued longe after a strayte lyfe and was buryed there at laste But to this sayeng dysagreeth the wryters of the storyes of emperours For of them yt is wytnessed that this Henry the emperour after he had ruled the empyre as before is sayd .xx. wynter he dyed at a place in Almayn called Spyre and there was buryed wyth this scrypture vppon his toumbe Filius hic pater hic auus hic preauus iacet hic whyche is to meane in our vulgare tunge as foloweth The son here lyeth with also y e fader The belsyre for y e great grauÌ„fader when Henry the emperour was thus dede as after yt shal be shewed when conuenyency of tyme requyreth what became of his wife it shall there be declared In the .ix. yere of y e reygne of kyng Henry the archebyshoppe Anselme professed Gerarde archbyshoppe of yorke to the yoke of hys obedyence as he was before taught by the lore of Lamfranke his predecessour And the .x. daye of Auguste folowynge he sacred .v. byshoppes at one tyme as of wynchester of Salysbury of Exeter of Herforde and of Glamurgan And kynge Henry ordeyned a byshoppes see at Ely and ordeyned there Henry that hadde ben bishoppe of Bangor and besette Cambrydgeâ—shyre to the see of Ely And to the bisshoppes see of Lyncolne he gaue his owne towne of Spaldynge for he hadde mynyshed that see by the preferment of Ely In the .x. yere dyed Anselme archbyshop of Caunterbury After whose deth that see was voyde .v. yeres the goodes of the chyrch spent to the kynges vse And wheÌ„ he was prayed to helpe y e chyrch that was wythout an hedde and a pastor he vsed to answere that his fader and also his brother had accustomed to set there the beste proued men y t they might fynd And to the entente that he myght do the same he toke the more tyme laysure wyth suche mylde answeres he so put of the tyme that be fylled hys cofers wyth the great sommes of y e benefyce And who that is desyrous to knowe of the great vertue of thys byshoppe Anselme lette hym rede in the .xiiii. chapyter of the .vii. boke of Polycronycon there he shall fynde a parte therof About this tyme as wytnesseth the frenche cronycle a coÌ„trauersy began betwene the kyng and Lewys kyng of Fraunce son to Phylyp the fyrste This Lewys was surnamed Lewis the great other for hys bygnesse of person or ellys for greatnesse of hys dedes This Lewys sent vnto kyng Henry beynge in Normandy gaue vnto hym monycyon of homage for the duchy of Normandy also that he shulde restore vnto hym or bete down to the grouÌ„de the castell of Gysours also to recompence and restore for hurtes and harmes that his Normans hadde done in those partes But all this of kyng Henry was denyed and shortely after skyrmysshes and cocke fyghtes beganne betwene the sayde two prynces kynge Henry lyenge at the sayde castell of Gysours and Lewys at a place called mounte Calue But thys encreased in suche wyse that after eyther prynce soughte more rome places whose knyghtes sundry tymes met But of any notable batayll I fynde no remembraunce all be yt that the
to the entent he myght fortyfye theym wyth his knyghtes to wythstande the empresse whose cūmynge he euer fered And y e yere folowynge he wāne wyth strength the castellys of Glowceter of Herford of webley of Brystowe of Dudley of Shrewesburye for the whyche cause Robert erle of Glouceter began to wythdrawe hys allegeaunce from kynge Stephan This Robert was the son of Henry the fyrst by reason of baste and for thys dyspleasure sent letters vnto Molde the empresse hys syster promysynge to her great ayde to wynne her ryght In the meane whyle that the empresse made prouysyon for her iourney kynge Stephan concluded a maryage betwene Eustace his sonne and Constaunce the kynges syster of Fraunce doughter of Lewys the great the whyche contynued the amyte betwene England and Fraūce Then in the moneth of Iuly and vi yere of Stephan Molde the empresse as testyfyeth Henry the chanon in hys .ix. boke entred this land by the porte of Portesmouthe and so kepte on her iourney tyll she came to Brystowe and dyd great harme by the meane of her passage through the countrey In whyche tyme of her sayde landynge kyng Stephan laye at the syege of walyngforde castell But as soone as he harde of the landynge of the empresse he anon sente oute commyssyons for more strength and so drewe towarde hys enymyes But in this tyme and season Robert erle of Glowceter and Ranulfe erle of Chester wente vnto the empresse wyth all the power that they might make The empresse herynge the great power commynge wyth the kynge drewe to the cytye of Nycoll now called Lyncolne and there helde her a longe season for all that the kyng myght do But lastely the empresse wyth her people escaped and the kynge was possessyd of the cytye and there bode tyll Candelmas After whyche season erle Robert and Ranulfe before named with a great power of walshmen y e power of the empresse came agayn the kynge where as when bothe hostes were nere ioynyng the erle Ranulfe of Chester spake to his knightes and sayd I requyre you that I that am cause of your parell may be the fyrst that shall entre into the parell Then answered erle Robert and sayd yt is not vnworthy to the y t axeste the fyrst stroke and dignyte of this fyght For to the yt is syttynge for noblesse of blood and vertue of strength in the whyche thou passest other men But the kinges false othe moueth men to warre and to fyght where we muste now wynne the mastry or be ouercomē And he y t hath none other socour is cōstrayned to defende hym by knyghtly and stronge dedes of armes of manhode And so shall we now agayne theym that by entryked wyth gyle wyckednesse as Robert erle of Mellent the erle also of Albemarll and Symon of Hampton the which is a man of great boste and of small myght Then kyng Stephan prepayred to set forwarde hys people and erle Baudewyne had wordes of comfort to the kynges peple sayde Men y t shall fyghte to theym is behouefull thre thynges The fyrst is ryght of y e cause leste men fal in parell of soule The second is quantyte of men of armys leste men be oppreste wyth excedynge nomber And the thyrde is the effecte corage of strēgth of knightes y t the quarel shuld not fayle for lacke of hardy and assured fyghtynge As touchynge whyche thre poyntes I truste we be well sped But ye take hede farthermore what enymyes we haue fyrste we haue agayne vs Robert erle of Glouceter whyche vseth great manasses and executeth lytle or small dedys In mouth he is a lyon but in harte he is a shepe He is pompous in speche and darke in vnderstandyng There is also Ranulfe erle of Chester a man wythout reason and full of folehardynesse redy and preste to all conspyracy and vnstedfastnesse of maner and dedes hasty and furyouse of hart and vnware of parellys He assayeth oft to acheue great dedes but he bryngeth none to effecte And what he fyrsly and fresshely begynneth he cowardely and fayntly forsaketh as vnhappy and vngracyous in all his dedys and is ouercomen in euery place For he holdeth wyth hym banyshed men scullers And the mo of them that be in a company the soner they be ouercomē and weke they be in fyghtyng for eyther of theym putteth truste in his felowe whyle hym selfe is ouerthrowen But or he myght haue finyshed his wordes to moste mennys audyence the crye of the enymyes wyth noyse of trumpettes and gruntyng of horsys approched and smote to gyther and forth go the arowes and gresely cruell fyghte was contynued vppon bothe sydes for the whyle y t yt enduryd where through the grene feld was turned into a perfyte redde so that many a pale wan vysage was there sene yeldynge the gooste wyth armys and legges disseueryd and departed A longe whyle thys fyghte stode in questyon whyther partye shulde obteyne vyctorye But in the ende kynge Stephans partye gaue backe and fledde and he full knyghtly abode on felde wyth a fewe of his knyghtes and was taken and so was brought vnto the empresse the whyche commaunded hym to be conueyed vnder sure kepyng vnto Brystowe where he was kepte as a prysoner from the sayde tyme of Candelmasse vnto holy Roode daye next ensuynge Aboute this tyme was founded the Abbay of Stratforth Langthorne wythin .iiii. myles of London by a knyght called syr wyllyam de Moūtfychet THE CCXXXIII CHAPITER WHen the empresse hadde wonne this vyctorye and had commytted the kyng to warde as before ye haue harde she was not therwith a lytle exalted but thoughte in her mynde that she was in a suerty of the possessyon of the hole realme But she was disceyued for Kent toke partye wyth kynge Stephan But yet after this victory thus obteyned the empresse came vnto wynchester and after to wyltone to Oxenforde to Redynge and to saynte Albonys into the whyche cytyes and townes she was receyued wyth all honoure And fynally she came to London for to entre the state of the lande At her whyche there beynge the quene made assyduat laboure for the delyuerye of the kynge her husbande promysynge that he shulde surrender the lande into her possessyon and he to be come a religyous man other ellys a pylgryme to hys lyues ende But all was in vayne for she myght purchace no grace as then vppon no maner of condycyons The cytezens of London also made great laboure that they myghte vse the lawys of Edwarde the confessoure as they were graunted by wyllyam Conqueroure and not the lawys of her father whyche were of more straytnesse wherof in no wyse they of her coūsayll myght haue any graunte For this the cytezens were dyscontentyd and knowynge that the countrey of Kent wolde strength theyr partye ordeyned to haue taken her But she beynge therof warned departed in haste and lefte behynde her hyr store of housholde and so fledde vnto Oxynforde where she
abbot and munkes of the same wherfore the kynge spedde hym thyther in all haste But for theyr sauergarde the munkes were compelled to fortyfye the chyrche and to defende them by force of armys so that betwene them and the Burgonions many an arbalaster and stone was shot cast And for the kynge myght not so hastly furnyshe hym of his soldyours he therfore sent vnto the erle of Neuers by whose meane as to the kyng was shewed this ryot began commaundynge hym that he shuld se this ryot appeased and that the chyrch of Uerdeley were restored of suche harmys as to theym was done by the inhabytauntes of the towne But of thys cōmaundement the erle set but lytle so that the burgeses perseuered in theyr erroure wherfore the abbot sente agayne to the kynge besechyng hym of his moste gracyouse ayde and socoure Then the kynge herynge of the erles dysobedyence was therwyth greatly dyspleasyd and suspected y e erle to be partye in the cause sped hym y e faster thetherwarde But when the erle was enfourmed of the kynges cōmynge he somdeale feryd and mette wyth the kynge at a place called Moret and there demeaned hym in suche wyse that the kyng forgaue his offense Then he promysed that the kynges pleasure shulde be fullfylled in all thynge as he hadde before cōmaunded wyth more as yt lyked hym to dyuyse Uppon whych promyse so made he commaunded that the Burgonyons shulde fyrste refrayne theym of that rebellyon agayn the chyrch and that they shuld newly be sworne to be obedient vnto the abbot and vnto hys successours as theyr p̄decessours had ben ouer that for the hurtes harmys y t they had done to the place at that season they shulde paye to the sayde abbot and couēt .lx. thousand sous A sous is in value after sterlyng money i. d. ob so that .lx. thousand sous amounteth in sterlyng money .iii. hundred lxxv pounde After whych ende thus made the kynge retourned into Fraunce It was not longe after that y e kyng receyued of quene Alys hys wyfe a sonne and named yt Phylyppe But for y e kyng Lewys had made many pylgrymages and vsed many ways of charyte in gyuynge of almes and otherwyse for to haue a sonne to be his heyre therfore he surnamed this chylde A dieu done a chyld gyuen of god Then thys Lewys for the intollerable dedes of the Iewes whiche in these dayes had great inhabytynge wyth in the lande of Fraūce vsed vsery sleynge of Crysten chyldren he ponyshed many by deth and many he banyshed his lande but yet many remayned Of this Lewys dedes is lytle more cronacled excepte when his son Philyppe was of the age of .xiii. yeres his fader caused hym to be crowned and resygned to hym all the rule of the lande and dyed the yere folowynge at Parys in the moneth of October in the yere of grace .xi. hūdred and .lxxix. By whyche reason he reygned to reken from his faders deth to his owne vppon .xliii. yeres and was rychely enterred by y e meane of his last wife at the monastery of Barbell the whyche he founded in hys yonge days After whose deth y e sayd quene Alys adorned his sepulture in the moste rychest maner wyth gold syluer and precyous gemmys vppon whose tombe was grauen these two versis folowyng as a counsayll left vnto his sonne Phylyppe 〈◊〉 superos tu qui super es successor honoris Degener es si degeneris a laude prioris whyche versys are to be vnderstanden as after foloweth Nowe take good hede thou that doest ouer lyue Hym that in honoure and vertue dyd excelle Se thou alter not nor thy selfe depryue But folowe hym which was of honoure the well For yf thou do not men shall of the tell Thou arte degenerate and growen out of kynde Thy progenytours laude hauynge nothynge in mynde Anglia THE CCXXXVI CHAPITER HEnry the second of that named sonne of Geffrey Plātagenet erle of Angeou and of Molde y e empresse doughter of Henry y e first began hys reygn ouer the realme of England in the moneth of October the yere of our lorde god .xi. hundred and .lv and. y e xix yere of Lewys the viii then kynge of Fraunce Thys Henry was somdeale redde of face brode of breste shorte of body therwyth fatte the whych to aswage he toke the lesse of metes and drynkes and exercysed myche huntynge He was resonable of speche and well lettered orped and also noble in knyghthode wyse in counsayll and dred to myche distenyes He was also free and lyberall to straūgers and harde and holdynge from hys famylyers seruauntes And whome he loued enterely or hated harde it was to turne hym to the contrary He was slowe of answere vnstedfaste of promyse gylefull of dede open spouse breker hamour of holy chyrch and alwayes vnkynde to god He also loued reste and peace to the ende he myghte the more folowe hys delectacyon pleasure wyth mo vyces rehersed by Gyralde the whyche for length I passe ouer This Henry yet as wytnessyth Ranulfe was not all bareyn of vertues For he was of so gret courageousnes that he wolde often say that all the world suffysyth not to a coragyous harte And he encreasyd hys herytage so myghtyly that he wanne Irlande by strength and toke wyllyam kynge of Scottes and ioyned that kyngdome to his owne From the suthe Occean to the north ylandes of Orkeys he closed all the landes as yt were vnder one pryncypate and spradde so largely hys empyre that men rede not of none of hys progenytours that hadde so many prouynces and countreys vnder theyr domynyon and rule For besyde the realme of Englande he hadde in hys rule Normandy Gascoyn and Guyan Angeou and Chynon And he made subiecte to hym Aluerne and other landes And by hys wyfe he obteyned as her ryghte the mountes and hyllys of Spayne called montes Pyrany Of the whyche wyfe Elynoure by name deuorced as before ys sayde from the viii Lewys kynge of Fraunce he receyued .vi. sonnes and thre doughters Of the sonnes fyue were named wyllyam Henry Rycharde Godfrey and Iohn̄ The eldeste of the maydens hight Molde or Maude and was maryed to the duke of Saxon the seconde Elyanoure to the kynge of Spayne and the thyrd named Iane to wyllyam kynge of Scycyle Thys Henry was prosperouse in hys begynnynge and vnfortunate in hys ende and specyally in the last fyue yeres of hys reygne For in the fyrst of those fyue yeres his strength beganne to mynyshe the seconde yere he loste a vyage in Irlande the thyrde he loste Aluerne agayne the kynge of Fraunce the fourth yere he loste Butyrycan and the fyfte yere he loste the cytye of Cenomenea and Turon wyth many holdes to theym belongynge Thys Henry the seconde ascertayned of the deth of Stephan spedde hym into Englande and was crowned the sondaye before Crystemasse daye of Theobalde archbyshoppe of Caunterbury in westmynster chyrch
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
land of Barry wyth great strength and wasted the countrey of Guyan wythout mercy wherof kynge Henry beynge warned in all haste assembled hys people then beynge in Normandye and dâ—ew hym towarde the Frenche kynge whyche then hadde layde syege vnto the castell called in frenche Raoull or the castell of Roaull when both hostes were nere and lykely to haue ioyned medyatours were sente vppon bothe partyes to treate a peace By meane wherof in processe a trewce was taken for a certayne terme so that eyther hoste departed wythoute strykynge of stroke at that season About thys tyme dyed Rycharde archebyshoppe of Caunterbury Of hym yt is redde that a voyce or vysyon was shewed to hym saynge to hym in the mouthe of Cryste For thou haste wasted the goodes of my chyrch I shal rote the out of y e erthe with which wordes he was so frayd that he dyed shortly after Then was Baldewyn byshoppe of worceter admytted to that see though the munkys of Caunterburye wythsayde yt wyth all theyr power In the .xxx. yere of the kynge Heraclius patryarke of Hierusalem came in to England to haue ayde agayne the Sarazyns that had wonne great parte of the landes that Cristen men had in the holy lande and for to defende the holy cytye whyche by Saladyne prynce of Surey was wonne shortely after For by the reporte of Peter Dysroy whyche made a boke in frenche of the wynnynge and losynge of the sayde cytye yt appereth that yt was woÌ„ne by Godfrey de Bulyon in the yere of Crystes incarnacyon a thousande .lxxx. and .xix and so coÌ„tynued vnder the rule of .ix. crysten kynges tyll the laste kynge named Guyde Lesyngham or Lesynguam loste yt wyth the holy crosse in the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred lxxx and .ix. whych maketh the yere of the reygn of thys kyng Henry the xxxiiii Then yt foloweth in the story this Heraclius made besy request vnto the kynge for ayde and profered to hym the keys of the cytye and of our lordes graue and letters of Luciê° y e thyrd of y t name then pope chargyng him that he shuld take vppon hym y e iourney to haue mynde of the othe y t he before time had made The kyng deferred this answere and Baldwyne the archbyshop preached exhorted men to take y e crosse by whose meanes many there were y e auowed that iourney Lastely the kynge gaue answere and sayde that he myghte not leue hys lande wythoute kepynge nor yet leue yt to the praye and robbory of Frenchemen But he wolde gyue largely of hys owne to suche as wolde take vppon theym that vyage wyth thys answere the patryarke was dyscontent and sayde we seke a man and not money welnere euery crysten regyon sendyth vnto vs money but no lande sendyth to vs a prynce Therfore we aske a prynce that nedeth money and not money that nedeth a prynce But the kynge layde for hym suche excuses that the patryarke departed from hym dyscontentyd and comfortelesse wherof the kynge beynge aduertysed entendynge somwhat to recomforte hym wyth pleasaunte wordes folowed hym vnto the see syde But the more the kynge thought to satysfye hym wyth hys fayre speche the more the patryarke was dyscontented in so myche that at the laste he sayde vnto hym Hytherto thou haste reygned gloryously But here after thou shalt be forsaken of him y t thou at thys tyme forsakeste Thynke on hym what he hath gyuen to the and what thou haste yelden to hym agayne Howe fyrste thou were false vnto the kyng of Fraunce and after slewe that holy man Thomas of Caunterburye and lastely thou forsakeste the proteccyon of Crystes fayth The kyng was amoued wyth these wordes sayde vnto the patriarke Though all the men of my lande were one bodye and spake wyth one mouth they durste not speke to me such wordys No wonder sayde the patryarke for they loue thyne and not the. That ys to meane they loue thy goodes temporall and fere the for losse of promocyon but they loue not thy soule And when he hadde so sayde he offeryd hys hedde to the kynge sayenge Do by me ryghte as thou dyddest by that blessyd man Thomas of Caunterburye For I hadde leuer to be slayne of the then of y e Sarasyns For thou arte worse then any Sarasyn and thy people folowyth praye and not a man But the kynge kepte hys pacyence and sayde I maye not wende oute of my lande for myne owne sonnes wyll arryse agayne me when I were absent No wonder sayde the patryarke For of the deuyll they coÌ„me and to the deuyll they shall and so departyd from the kynge in great ire After the patryarke was thus departyd the kynge sente JohnÌ„ his seconde sonne into Irlande In the whyche vyage he spente the kynge great goodys and dyd lytle profyte or none In the .xxxi. yere of kynge Henry the Iewes crucyfyed a chylde in the towne of Burye in Suff. named Robert for whome god shewyd after many myracles And the .xxxii. yere the kynge made a vyage into Irlande to redresse thynges there oute of order But fortune was to hym so contrarye that he loste hys trauayle lyke as the yere before hys sonne IohnÌ„ had done In the .xxxiii. yere of thys kynge Henry at Dunstable in the ayre was sene a crucyfyxe and Cryste nayled theron whyche apperyd vysybly to many a mannys syghte And in thys yere the kynge loste the countrey of Aluerne when he hadde spente great goodes aboute the defence of the same Howe be yt of this warre speketh nothynge the frenche cronycle THE CCXI. CHAPITER IN the .xxxiiii. yere of the kynge Rycharde the erle of Poytowe arrered warre agayn king Henry hys father toke party with the Frenche kynge By meane of the whyche warre all suche summys of money as were before gatheryd by dymys and otherwyse for the helpynge of the croysye to be made into the holy lande by the sayde Rycharde and by many other nobles of the lande were spente in the same innaturall warre wherfore the kynge sayled into Normandy with a stroÌ„ge armye But or the kynge were there landed the sayde Rycharde by helpe of the Frenchemen hadde wonne the cytyes of Towres of Meaus and also the castellys of Raoull and Gysours wyth other At the laste the Frenche kyng Phylyppe the second wyth the sayde Rycharde came vnto the cytye of Cenomanna entendyng to laye syege vnto the same wherof kynge Henry beynge warned sette the suburbes on fyre bycause hys enmyes shuld in theÌ„ haue no socour But the flame of the fyre was by the wynde dryuen into the cytye so sharpely that the kyng was compelled to forsake yt wherwyth y e kynge was so amoued that in hys departynge from the cytye he sayde these wordes For thou haste taken from me thys daye the cytye that I moste loued in the worlde I shall acquyte the for after thys tyme I shall bynome the that thynge y t shuld most haue pleased the in me whych ys myne
e sayd ryght and tytle But yt was not longe or she were frō hym deuorced for cause of alyaūce of gossypred or otherwise Howe be yt in processe of tyme after the said Iugebert was to him agayn ioyned by the authoryte of Pope Innocent the thyrd of that name in the yere of grace .xii. hūdred and .ix. and yere of reygne of this Philyppe .xxx so that the sayde Iugebert was deuorced frome her lorde by the terme of .xvii. yeres or theruppon In whych tyme and season the sayd Phylyppe had maryed the doughter of Phylyppe duke of Sweuy that then was returned vnto her father THE CCXLIII CHAPITER Kynge Phylyp for dyspleasure whych he bare towarde kyng Rycharde made sharpe and cruell warre vpon the Normans and wan therein dyuerse holdes and townes and fynally layde syege vnto the cytye of Roan wherof herynge Iohn̄ erle of Huntyngeton or after some erle of Oxenforde brother to kynge Rycharde whome the Frenche boke nameth Iohn̄ withoute lande wyth the erle of Arundell and other noble men spedde hym into Normandye and so ayded the cytezens and the soldyours of Roan that as testyfyeth the frēche cronycle the French kyng was so moued wyth the warre and defence of the same towne that in a passynge fury consyderyng the wynter season drewe vppon and that he myght not carye awaye his gunnes and other great ordynaunces he set all vppon a fyre and so wyth great agony departed And within thre monethes after he layde syege vnto the castell of Uernyel where whē he had lyen .iii. wekes or more a messynger came vnto hym and sayde that the cytye Euroux was taken of the Normans and the people therof taken prysoners wherfore in all haste he departed and rescued the sayd cytye and prysoners and that done retourned to the foresayde syege and assyeged yt so strōgely that lastely he had yt delyueryd by appoyntement By thys season was kynge Rycharde delyueryd out of the handes of the duke of Ostryge And then beganne the warre to be more cruell whych here I passe ouer for so mych as I entende to shew the effecte therof in the storye of kynge Rycharde folowynge Aboute the .xviii. yere of the reygn of thys Phylyppe fell such plenty of water that the groūde was therwith so bucked and drowned that corne other frutes by reason therof greatly decayed and scanted in such wyse that whete was shortly after at .xx. s a quarter after sterlynge money In the .xx. yere of the reygn of this Phylyppe dyed Rycharde kynge of England to whom was heyre Iohn̄ before named his brother The whyche cōcluded a trewce wyth this Philyppe for certayne yeres as after in the storye of this Iohn̄ shall more clerely appere And soone there after meanes were made to kyng Phylyp that he shuld receyue agayne vnto his company Iugebert hys wyfe and to renounce Mary doughter of the duke of Sweuy or after some authours the doughter of the duke of Bohemy But the kynge wyth this mocyon was nothynge contentyd nor yet agreable to folow any such mocion or request wherfore the prelasy of the lande assemled theym in counsayll and by a full and hole authoryte seynge they myghte not induce the kynge to no conformyte or agrement to resume hys lawfull wyfe and to refuse that other they denounsed hym and hys realme accursed wherwith the kyng was so amoued and vexed that he depryued certayne bysshoppes from theyr sees and also toke in hys possessyon the spyrytuall goodes and prysoned many prestes and other relygyous men and ouer that closed the sayde Iugebert wythin the castell of Sampys and forthermore greued hys comons wyth greuous exaccyons and taxys Than wythin a shorte terme after Iohn̄ de saynte Poule cardynall and Athā or Othemon bysshoppe of Osty and legate of the pope of Rome wyth the archebysshoppe of Burdeaux and other by the commaundement of the pope than Innocent the thyrde kepte a greate counceyle in the cytye of Sorsore where the kynge was monysshed to apere for so mych as before he hadde graunted to be reconcyled vnto hys fyrste wyfe where thys mater hynge in argument before the spyrytuall iudges by y e space of .xv. dayes wythout sentence gyuynge wherfore the kynge beynge wyth the delayes dyscontented sodenly wyth hys wyfe departed wythout takynge of them any congye or leue sendynge them vnderstandyng that as yet he wolde be aduysed or he were dysseuered from hys wyfe wherof whan the sayd Iohn̄ cardynall and the other bysshoppes hadde wyttynge accomptynge theyr laboure loste they retourned shortely after vnto Rome and shewed vnto the pope all as they hadde done And soone there after kyng Iohn̄ was honorably receyued of thys kynge Phylyppe as in the story of the sayd Iohn̄ shall be more playnly shewed And in the yere folowynge which shulde be in the begynnynge of the xxiii yere of thys Phylyppe dyed Mary hys wyfe whyche he wrongfully had holden cōtrary to the law of the chyrche by the terme of tenne yeres or there vppon Of the whyche Mary he hadde receyued a man chylde and a doughter the whyche after were made legyttymate by Innocent the thyrde though some noble men of Fraunce there agayne grudged THE CCXLIIII CHAPITER IT was not longe after that y e kyng assembled greate people and entendyd to haue entred the landys of the erle Rossell o◠Roger de Rose of the whyche he hadde broughte before hym many greuous complayntes of greate extorcyons and exaccyōs that the sayd erle and Roger hadde executed and done vppon the chyrches nere to the valey of Soysons and wolde not refrayne for all the kynges cōmaundement wherfore he rygged hys armye and drewe towarde them But as soone as they were aduertysed of the kynges comynge anone they submytted them to the kynges grace oblygynge them selfe to make restytucyon accordynge to the kynges pleasure to all suche places and persons as they hadde offended And thys acte thus fynysshed kyng Phylyppe returned vnto a place bytwene Uerdon and the I le Audely in the whyche place the kynge hadde appoynted a great counsayle or parlyament where amonge other maters yt was concluded that Iohn̄ kynge of Englande shulde be somoned to appere as the Frenche kynges lyege man at the same parlyament to be holden at parys wythin xv dayes of Ester to answere suffycyently to the kyng vppon such questyons as there shulde be purposed vnto hym for the duchy of Normandye for the coūtrey of Aungeou and of Poytyers But for y t kynge John̄ came not at that day appoynted nor none for hym accordynge to the monyshement to hym gyuen therfore thys kynge Philypppe not withstandynge the amytye and trewce before confermed assembled hys hoste and entred the duchye of Normandye and made therin sharpe and cruell warre and wanne a castell therein named Bonte or Bowte and brused or crased the castellys of Gentylyne and Gurney and seased all y e landes whyche Hugh de Gurney helde and gyue theym vnto the duke of Brytayne And also he gaue vnto hym the
Anno domini M.C.xcii  Anno domini M.C.xciii  wyllyam Hauershall  Balliui  Anno .iii.  IohnÌ„ Buknot  IN the thyrde yere and moneth of Nouember when the Frenche kynge was thus departed kyng Rychard with the duke of Burgoyn whom the French kynge hadde lefte behynde hym to haue the rule of the Frenche hoste lafte and remaynyng in Acre and the countre there about called before hym dyuers persons or pledges of Turkes for the perfourmaunce of certayne appoyntementes taken wyth them at y e wynnynge or gyuynge vp of the sayde cytye of Acris wherof one especiall couenauÌ„t was that by a certayne daye than expyred they shulde cause y e holy crosse to be restored vnto the crysten prynces The whyche for he saw well that they wolde not or myghte not perfourme he therfore put in execucyon of Turkes ouer the noumber of .v. thousande as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle But that agreed not all of the beste wyth the former sayeng coÌ„syderynge the cytye was delyuered by appoyntement there shulde not so many Turkes remayne there But Peter Dysroye sayth that for brekynge of thys appoyntement kynge Rycharde put to deth all suche Turkes as were than wythin the cytye of Acris whyche maye be ment by the hostages or pledges It was not longe after that tydynges were brought vnto kyng Rycharde that the cytye of Hierusalem was wythout any greate strength of Soldyours and that it myghte be wonne wyth easy labour wherfore kyng Rychard assembled the lordes to haue theyr couÌ„sayll where it was coÌ„cluded that euery capyteyne shuld prepare hym to go thyther Uppon whyche agrement the crysten hoste sped them in such wyse y t they were within .v. myles of y e sayd city of Hierusalem where they toke a new couÌ„sayll how they shuld order them and theyr people to lay theyr syege about the cytye In whyche couÌ„sayll it was concluded y t kynge Rycharde wyth hys Englyshe men shulde haue the vawewarde and the duke of Burgoyne the rere warde After whyche conclusyon taken the kynge spedde hym vppon his waye towarde the cytye But by what myshappe or mysfortune I can not saye so soone as the kynge was departed the duke called the lordes of Fraunce before hym and sayde yt is euydent vnto you that all be yt our hedde and souerayne lorde is absent the floure of the chyualry of FrauÌ„ce is present And yf any thyng be done to the honour of the Crysten and reproche of infydels yt is most lykely to be done by vs consyderyng y t insuffycyencye of Englyshemen and other yet neuerthelesse what someuer honoure grow by our dedis to y e cristen hoste yt shall be accompted vnto kyng Rycharde because of hys presence so y t we shall haue all the payne and trauayll and Englyshemen shall haue the honour wherfore if ye wyll do by my counsayll we wyll returne vnto Acrys and there tarye tyll we se farther Some agreed to this counsayll and the more in nomber the other spedde them in all haste after kynge Rycharde and shewed to hym of the dukes returne wherof he beynge so enfourmed returned also vnto Acris It was not longe after that the sayd duke was taken wyth greuous sykenesse and dyed And about that tyme also dyed Baldewyn archbysshoppe of Caunterburye whyche amonge other lordes of Englande accompanyed the kynge in that iourney Anno domini M.C.xciii  Anno domini M.C.xciiii  Nycholas Duke  Balliui  Anno quarto  Petyr Nowlay  ABout the season of Mychelmasse in y e .iiii. yere of the reygne of thys sayde Rycharde tydynges were brought to hym y t the town or castell of Iapheth was besyeged of SalaÌ„dyne and lykely to be soone wonne wythout the crysten were the sooner ayded wherfore kynge Rycharde whych Peter Dysroy calleth the good kynge Rycharde sped hym thyther with his army by water and sent a nother hoste of FreÌ„chemen and other by lande But so yt was or the cristen myght wynne thyther y â— sayd towne and castell were wonne and the prysoners therin taken were sent by water towarde such prysones as Salandyne hadde appoynted them vnto wyth the whyche of good fortune kynge Rycharde mette them rescowyd And that done wyth the Turkes whyche theym conueyed he put in sure holde and helde on hys iourney to Iapheth and there by strength rescuyd the towne castell ond restoryd the crysten to theyr former possessyon and left wyth theym more strength of knyghtes And for to be the more feryd of the myscreauÌ„tes kynge Rycharde caused hys prysoners to hym belongynge to be slayne where other solde theym to theyr great auauÌ„tage by mean wher of he was hadde in wonderfull fere of the Turkes Then kynge Rycharde after thys victory hadde at Iapheth wonne .ii. strong holdes callyd Daron and Gadres and strengthyd them wyth crysten knyghtes And wyth such goodes as he there waÌ„ne of the Turkes he repayred the castel of Ascalon and other that greatly was impayred by the warre of the Turkes In thys season and tyme y e kyng Rycharde was thus occupyed in the holy lande the byshoppe of Ely as before is sayde hauynge the rule of Englande dyd many cruell dedys and oppressyd the clergy and also the lay fee. He wolde coÌ„menly ryde with a thousande horse and greued abbeys by meane of hys gestys or lodgynge wyth theym Also he helde in hys handes the see of yorke for longe season And after y e deth of Balwyne dede as before is shewed in the holy land he also toke the see of Caunterbury vnder hys rule Then he pryued Geffrey that was chosen to the â—ee of yorke of hys mouables caste him as prisoner in y e towre of LoÌ„don And soon after called a counsayll at westmynster as the kynges procuratour and as legate of the pope then Innocent the .iii. At thys counsayll Hughe Nouaunt then byshoppe of Chester great famylyer of the sayd byshoppe of Ely putte forth a complaynt agayne y e munkes of Couentre that they hadde shed the sayde Hughys blood before the hygh aulter of theyr chyrche For whych cause the byshoppe of Ely demyd that the sayde munkys shulde be putte from theyr sayde abbey clerkes shuld be set there for theÌ„ so that by myght the munkes were put thens and dysperbled about in sondry placis and clerkes wyth prebendys set in theyr stallys For thys dede sayth Guydo and other that thys Hugh byshoppe of Chester hadde thus causyd the munkes of Couentre to lose theyr lande and house he toke therfore so great repentaunce that vppon hys deth bed he axed of god that for a due and conuenyent penaunce he myght redeme that offence by the lyeng in the fyre of purgatory from y e daye of his deth vnto the generall day of dome Also the forenamed byshoppe of Ely called in proper name wyllyam de longe shampe contynuynge hys tyrannyes pryuyd Hugh byshoppe of Durham of all maner worshippe and greued the byshoppe of wynchester and
chase of them self a capitayn of low byrth called Dauid so wyth wyues and chyldren passed the next countreys wyth robbynge and spoylyng and grew shortly in great strength and after subdued the partes many other vycyne countreys and grewe lastely vnto great domynyon and lordshyppe in the eest partes of the worlde so that lately theyr prynce or souerayne ys called the great Cahan In this yere as wytnessyth Polycronycon the kynge of Scottys dyd homage to kynge IohnÌ„ at LyncolnÌ„ and sware vpon the crosse of Hubert archbishoppe of Caunterbury in the presence of a legate of Rome .xiii. byshoppes to be trew lyege man to hym and to hys heyres kynges And in this yere one Estate called abbot of Flay came into Englande and amonge other myracles by hym shewyd he blessed a well besyde the towne of wye in kent so y e men and women drynkyng of that water were curyd of dyuerse maladyes But lastly he dyspleasyd so the byshoppes of England y t he was glade to leue the lande after sayled into Normandy Anno domini M.CC.ii  Anno domini M.CC.iii  Arnolde  Balliui  Anno .iii.  Rycharde  About the moneth of December in y e thyrd yere of IohnÌ„s reygn in the prouynce of yorke were sene .v. moonys One in the Eest the seconde in the weste the thyrd in the North y e fourth in the South and the fyfte as it were set in the myddes of the other and yode .vi. tymes in compassynge the other as yt were by the space of an howre and vanyshed away soone after Thys yere in the moneth of February kynge Phylyp callyd a parliameÌ„t at Uerdon where yt was amonge other maters concluded that kynge IohnÌ„ as hys lyege man shulde appere at his parlyameÌ„t holdeÌ„ at Paris wythin .xv. dayes of Eester next folowynge But for so myche as kynge IohnÌ„ nor none for hym apperyd to shewe some lawfull impedymeÌ„t the Frenche kynge therfore entryd the duchy of Normandy and toke the castellys of Bounte of Gentelyne and Gurnay and seased into hys handes all suche landes as Hugh de Gurnay held gaue them vnto Arture foresayde duke of Brytayne And more ouer he gaue to the said Arture y e couÌ„tye of Angeou with two hundred prysoners and a certayne of money to defende the sayde countrey agayn kynge IohnÌ„ when kynge IohnÌ„ had vnderstandynge of all the cruell dealynge of kynge Phylyppe he callyd a counsayll and there asked ayde and was graunted a new ayde to wythstande the Frenche kynges malyce And about Lammasse after the kyng with a fayre coÌ„pany sayled into Normandye and so spedde hym into the countrey of Angeou for so myche as he was enfourmed that Arture hys neuew and duke of Brytayne warryd wythin the same and toke hym prysoner with certayne other knyghtes as syr Hugh le Bruns syr Godfrey de Losyngham wyth dyuerse other At whych tyme kynge Phylyppe lay at the syege of the castell of Arques and herynge of thys dyscomfyture brake vp hys syege to the entent to haue rescowyd the sayde duke But when he was warned that he shulde come to shorte he then chaunged his purpose and went vnto the cytye of Towrys and wanne yt by strength And after for that wynter drew nere he returned into Fraunce In which season also kynge IohnÌ„ retourned wyth his prysoners into Englande In this yere by counsayâ—l of the burgeysys of the cytye of London were chosen .xxxv. of the moste substancyall and wyseste myn whyche after some were called the counsayll of the cytye Of the whych yerely the bailyuys were chosen and after the mayre and shryues were taken of the same nomber Anno domini M.CC.iii  Anno domini M.CC.iiii Balliui Normand Blondell Anno .iiii.  IohnÌ„ of Ely  IN thys fourthe yere of kynge IohnÌ„ were sene many wonderfull tokens For ouer the wynter the whyche passyd in length and hardenesse many yeres before gone wonderfull wederynge as of excedynge lyghtenynges thunders and other stormes of wynde and rayne appetyd and therwyth hayle of the bygnesse of hennes egges the whyche perished frute and corne besydes other hurtes and harmes done vppon houses and yong catell goynge a brode Also spyrites were sene in the ayer in lykenesse of foulys berynge fyre in theyr bylles the whych sette on fyre dyuerse houses And soone there after dyed Hubert archbyshop of Caunterbury In whose place was chosen coÌ„trarye to the mynde of y e kynge by the more partye of the couent of CauÌ„terburye mayster Stephan Langton All be yt some there were that accordynge to the kynges pleasure named the byshoppe of Norwyche and some other For thys eleccyon the kynge was greuousely amouyd agayne the munkes and wolde in no wyse alowe or admyt theyr eleccyon wherfore they sent theyr eleccyon vnto pope Innocynt the thyrde y e whyche admytted the sayde mayster Stephan and refused the other and sacryd hym at Uyterb a citye of Italy and sent hym after with letters of comendacyon vnto kyng IohnÌ„ to take the possessyon and frutes of his benefyce Kynge IohnÌ„ wyth thys was sore amouyd in so myche y t he warned hym his lande and dyuers of the munkes of Caunterbury that fauored hys cause Aboute Ester kynge IohnÌ„ sayled into Normandye for the Frenche kynge had recommencyd his warre in the countye of Guyan and wanne therin dayly dyuerse stronge holdes and castellys and alleyd wyth hym the erle of Alenson and hadde great ayd of the Portuyns and Brytons And when he had brought that countrey vnder his subieccyon he then retourned by Normandye and wanne Conket the vale of Ruell and the yle of Audeley In this season the forenamed pope sente the abbot of Casmer into Fraunce to refourme these two prynces with whome was also accompanyed the abbot of Cressons the whyche endeuored theym so that they were nere agreed of a peace But for they wolde that the Frenche kynge shulde repayre and ameÌ„de suche houses of relygyon as he had hurte ouerthrowen in Guyan and other places belongynge to the crowne of Englande therfore he forsoke the peace not withstandyng that kynge IohnÌ„ in lyke wyse shuld haue repayred all lyke houses apperteynynge vnto y e crowne of Fraunce Then the Frenche kynge in the ende of Auguste layde syege to the castell of Raydepount assauted yt by the terme of .xv. dayes contynually But the soundyours wythin defendyd yt so manfully that they slewe many of theyr enymyes so y e kynge Phylyppe was fayne to gyue backe tyll he hadde deuysed newe engynes after the warre fassyon By reason wherof he lastely wanne the sayde castell and toke there .xx. knyghtes and an hundred and .vii. yomen and other and .xxi. arblasters And when he hadde fortefyed that castell wyth Frenche men he then yode to the castell of Gaylarde and layde hys ordynaunce to that as he hadde done to that other But he laye there a moneth or he myghte do to yt any hurte or harme In all whych season kyng IohnÌ„ warryd vppon
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
Fraunce wyth great pompe and glory It ys affermed of some authours that the Frenche kynge made thys warre vppon kynge IohnÌ„ by excytynge of the pope for hys contumacye agane the chyrche In thys yere also was a communycacyon of a peace to be hadde betwene kynge IohnÌ„ and the archebyshope of Caunterbury and was dryuen to a nere poynte of accorde except restitucyon that kynge IohnÌ„ shulde haue made to the archebysshop and other bishoppes the which his offycers hadde taken in the tyme of theyr absence To the whych restytucyon kynge IohnÌ„ in no wyse wold be agreable wherfore the sayd communycacyon toke none affecte After thys communycacyon kynge IohnÌ„ was so frette wyth malyce that in a fury he let proclayme in sondry placys of hys realme that all suche personys as hadde landes and possessyons wythin Englande spyrytuall or temporall that they shulde returne into Englande by Mychelmas next folowynge or ellys to be clerely excludyd from all suche landes And ouer that streyght commaundement was gyuen to eueryche officer in his countrey to make besye serche yf any wrytynges were broughte from the courte of Rome to any prelate of thys realme and yf any suche were founden to brynge hym and his wrytynges to the kynges presence And more ouer that they shuld sease to the kynges vse all suche landes as to any person were gyuen by the sayde archbyshoppe or by the pryour of Caunterbury syn the tyme of eleccyon of the sayd archebyshoppe and the woodes of the same to be fellyd and solde in all haste Anno domini M.CC.vii  Anno domini M.CC.viii  Roger wynchester  Balliui  Anno .viii.  Edmunde hardell  UPpon the fyrste daye of the moneth of October and .viii. yere of y e reygne of the kyng his fyrst sonne Henry by name was borne of dame Isabell his second wyfe in the cytye of wynchester And thys yere rebellyd the IryshemeÌ„ and dyd myche harme in that countrey whych rebellyon after some wryters was for so myche as the kynge wolde haue leuyed of theÌ„ greuous taskys to haue made warre wyth vppon the French kynge But at lengthe they greuyd or dyspleasyd the kyng in such wyse that he was fayne to sette a taske thorough hys land to oppresse theyr malyce And ouer that he asked of the whyte munkes of England .vi. thousande marke But they excused them by theyr generall hedde so that the kynge toke wyth theym great dyspleasure By reason wherof after his retourne oute of Irlande he vexyd theym sore and gatheryd of theym more then before he hadde desyred and caused some abbottys to forsake theyr houses Then he wyth a puyssaunte armye wente into Irelande and shortely subdued theym and after he hadde sette the countrey in a rule he retourned into Englande Anno domini M.CC.viii  Anno domini M.CC.ix.  Serle the mercer  Balliui  Anno .ix.  Hugh of saynt Albon  IN this .ix. yere the kyng consyderynge the great losse whych he had susteyned by the FreÌ„che kyng in Normandy also in Angeou and Poyteau made ê“uysyon of all thynges belongynge to the warre and after about mydsomer sayled ouer the see and landed at Rochell in Poyteau wyth a myghty hoste At whyche season the Frenche kynge was at Thymon and fortyfyed yt wyth also the castellys of London and Myrable and y e town of Poytyers whyche lytle before he had wonne and after wythoute taryenge returned into Fraunce Then kynge IohnÌ„ herynge of the Frenche kynges departynge sped him to Angiers wanne that towne wyth lytle payne and destroyed y e sayd towne Thyther came to hym the vycouÌ„t of Thonars whyche before was for drede become the Frenche kynges man by his ayde kynge IohnÌ„ then recoueryd some parte of that countrey In thys meane whyle kynge Phylyppe gatheryd a new hoste and herynge of the vnstedfastnes of the vycouÌ„t of Thonars entryd y e landes of the sayde vycounte and wasted and spoyled the countrey withoute pyty Then kynge IohnÌ„ spedde hym towarde the Frenche kynge so that in shorte processe of tyme the two hostys were wythin lytle dystaunce But by what meane of fortune I can not saye for the meane therof ys not expressyd the two kynges there toke peace for two yeres folowynge and after eyther of theym retourned into his owne countrey In this yere the pope beyng ascerteyned of y e cruelnesse of kyng IohnÌ„ executed agayne the whyte munkes of hys lande and also of his obstynacye that he perseuered in agayne holy chyrche sent done a new commyssyon by vertue wherof the curse of enterdytynge was newly denouÌ„cyd and manyfestyd in sondry places of England And ouer that the pope by authoryte of the sayde bulle assoyled or acquyted all the lordes of EnglaÌ„d as well spyrytuall as temporall of all homage and feauty that they of ryght owyd to the kynge to the entent that they shulde aryse agayne hym and depryue hym of all kyngly honour But all this myght not moue the kynge from hys errour ABout the feast of saynt Medard in the moneth of Iuny and later ende of this foresayd .ix. yere the forenamed bayllyues were admytted to y e offyce and the olde that is to meane Roger wynchester and Edmunde Hardell were dischargyd for so myche as they wythstode the kinges purueyour of whete wold not suffer him to conuey certayn mesures of whete oute of the cytye tyll the cytye were storyd For thys the kynge toke such dyspleasure that he sent downe streyght coÌ„maundement vnto the .xxxv. heddes or rulers of the cytye that they shulde dyscharge the sayde two bayllyuys and to put theym in pryson tyll they knewe the kynges further pleasure wherfore the sayd .xxv. persons toke aduyse appoynted a certayne of theym selfe wyth other and rode to the kynge then beynge at Langley to empeter grace for the sayde bayllyues shewynge forther that at that season such dystresse of where was in y e cyty that the common people were lyke to haue made an insurreccyon for the same By whyche meanes and frendeshyppe whyche they had in the court the kynge was so satysfyed that he releasyd theym from pryson And in short tyme after the cytesyns of London made such sute to the kyng that they had graunted to them by y e kynges letters patentes that they shuld yerely chose to them self a mayre and two shryues After whyche graunte to theym confermyd they amonge them self ordeyned that the two shryues shulde be chosen yerely vppon saynte Mathewes daye .ix. dayes before Mychelmas and vppon Michelmas daye to take theyr charge and the mayre to be chosen vppon the same daye and chargyd wyth the other vppon the sayde daye of Mychelmas all be yt that now yt is otherwyse orderyd Anno domini M.CC.ix.  Anno domini M.CC.x. Primus maior    Peter Duke  Henry fyz Alwyn  Anno .x.  Thomas Neell  IN the daye of saynte Mychael the archauÌ„gell and .x. yere of kynge IohnÌ„
and the frenche boke sayth .xv. M. marke Anno domini M.CC.xviii  Anno domini M.CC.xix  Thomas Bokerell  Robert Serle  Anno .ii.  Rafe Gylande  IN thys seconde yere of kynge Henry when the lande was voyded of the stranÌ„gers then inquysycyons were made to knowe what persones hadde fauored the partye of Lewys agayne the kynge of the whyche the kynge pardonyd many of the lay fee. But y e spyrytuall were put to suche fynes y e they were compellyd to laye that they myghte to pledge to please the kynge and ouer that to sue to Rome to be assoylyd And thys yere Ranulphe erle of Chester for consyderacyons hym mouynge toke hys iourney into the holy lande But one cronycle sayth he toke that iourney vppon hym for so myche as hadde contrarye hys allegeaunce made homage vnto Lewis aboue named and for malyce whych he bare towarde kynge IohnÌ„ entendyd at the tyme of that homage doynge to haue made the sayde Lewys kynge of Englande Anno domini M.CC.xix  Anno domini M.CC.xx.  Benetle Ceytur  Robert Serle  Anno .iii.  wyllyam Blounde  IN thys thyrde yere of kynge Henry a parlyament was holden at London by vertue wherof was graunted to the kynge .ii. s. of euery plough lande thorough England whych was for y e charge that he before had wyth Lewys warre Also this yere saynt Thomas of Caunterbury was traÌ„slated in the .vii. day of this moneth of Iuly the whyche was done wyth so great a charge vnto mayster Stephan Langton then archibishop of Caunterbury that the charge therof was not contented many yeres after y e deth of the said Stephan And thys yere as wytnessyth Polycronycon kynge Henry began the new worke of the chyrche of westmynster whyche after that sayenge shuld be in the .xii. yere of hys age Anno domini M.CC.xx.  Anno domini M.CC.xxi  IohnÌ„ wayle  Robert Serle  Anno .iiii.  Iosnele Spycer  IN thys yere Alexander kynge of Scottes maryed dame Iane or Iohan the syster of kynge Henry And this yere was great harme done in Englande by vyolence of a whyrlewynde and fyry dragons and spyrytys were sene fleynge in the ayer And this yere were proclamacyons made in London and thorough out Englande y e all straungers shuld auoyde the lande by Mychelmasse next folowyng except such as came wyth marchauÌ„dyse and to make sale of them vnder the kynges saufe coÌ„duyt which was chefely made to auoyde Foukes de Brent and his complycys whyche kepte the castell of Bedforde agayne the kynges wyll and pleasure And in thys yere was kynge Henry secondaryly crowned at westmynster the .xvii. daye of May. And thys yere the cytye called Damas in the holy land was by crysten men gotten from the Turkys And thys yere came out of the holy lande into Englande Ranulphe erle of Chester and beganne to buyld the castellys of Charteley of Bestone after he buylded the abbay of Delartesse of y e whyte oâ—der For charge and coste of whyche sayde castellys abbay he toke toll thorough all hys lordshyp of all such as passyd y e way wyth any chafire or marchaundyse Anno domini M.CC.xii.  Anno domini M.CC.xxii  Rycharde wymbeday  Robert Serle  Anno .v.  IohnÌ„ wayell  IN thys .v. yere of kynge Henry at Oxenforde was holden a generall couÌ„sayll of the byshoppes and clergye of thys lande In tyme of whyche counsayle a man was taken the whyche shewyd hym selfe to be Cryste and preached many thynges of errour whyche the clerkes at those dayes vsyd And to approue that he was Iesus the sonne of god and that he was comen to refourme those errours and other he shewyd the carectys and tokens of woundes in hys bodye handes and fete like to Iesus that was nayled on the crosse Then he was apposyd and approuyd a false dyssymuler wherfore by dome of y e counsayll he was iudgyd â—o be nayled to the crosse and so delyueryd to the executours the whyche at a place callyd Alburburye nayled hym to a crosse tyll he was dede Also this yere the kynge layde syege vnto the castell of Bedforde that Fowkys de Brent hadde so longe holden by strength Thys syege beganne vppon the euen of the Assencyon of our lorde and so contynued tyll our Lady daye assumpcyon In whyche passetyme many stronge assautys were made to the great losse of men on bothe partyes But fynally aboute thys foresayde daye of assumpcyon yt was taken by fyerse assaute wherein was taken the forenamed Fowkys de Brent and vpon the noÌ„ber of .lxxx. souldyours wherof the more parte were put to deth and the sayde Fowkys after he had lyen a certayne of tyme in pryson was for his fynaunce delyueryd and flemyd the lande And in this yere came the frere Mynors fyrst into Englande These are graye freres of the order of saynte Fraunces whych yf that be trewe they shulde come in to Englande vppon .vi yeres before the deth of saynt Fraunces For after affyrmaunce of the authoure of Cronica cronicarum Iacobus Philippus and other saynte Fraunces dyed in the yere of grace .xii. huÌ„dred and .xxvii. And that order was fyrst confyrmed of Honorius the thyrde of that name pope of Rome in the yere of grace .xii. hundred and .xxiiii. Thys order fyrste beganne vnder a fewe nomber of frerys at the cytye of Caunterbury and after came vnto London and restyd theym there tyll they hadde an house there foundyd by Isabell wyfe of Edwarde the seconde as after shall be shewyd in the storye of the sayde Edwarde all be yt the sayde house was begonne of Margarete the wyfe of Edwarde the fyrste Anno domini M.CC.xxii  Anno domini M.CC.xxiii  Rycharde Renger  Robert Serle  Anno .vi.  Ioseus le Iosne  IN thys .vi. yere of the reygne of kynge Henry a conspyracy was made by one Constantyne the sonne of Arnulphe wythin the cytye of London for the whyche he was drawen and haÌ„ged the morow folowynge our Lady daye Assumpcyon This conspyracy was dysclosed by a cytezyn named walter Bokerell and was so heynous greuous to y e king that he was in mynde purpose to haue throwen downe y e wallys of the cytye But when he had well conceyued that the persones whych enteÌ„ded this coÌ„spiracy were but of the rascallys of the cytye that none of y e heddys or rulers of the same were therunto consentynge he aswagyd hys ire and greuouse dyspleasure whych he entendyd towarde the cytye Anno domini M.CC.xxiii  Anno domini M.CC.xxiiii  Rycharde Iyoner  Robert Serle  Anno .vii.  Thomas Lamberde  IN this seuenth yere Iohan kynge of Hierusalem came into Englande and requyred ayde of kyng Henry to wynne agayne that holy cytye but he retourned wyth small comforte And about this tyme IohnÌ„ the sonne of Dauid erle of Angwyshe in Scotland and nere kynnesman vnto Ranulphe of Chester
chamber at hys maner of woodstoke entendynge to haue slayne the kynge But he was espyed by a woman and taken and so conueyed to Couentre and there arreygnyd of that dede where after lawfull prouys of hys malycyous entent made he for the same was there drawen hanged And in thys yere vppon the euen of saynte Botolphe or the xxvi daye of Iuny was borne at westmynster Edward that after was surnamed Longeshanke This after his father was kynge Anno domini M.CC.xxxix  Anno domini M.CC.xl.  Remonde Bengly  wyllyam Ioynour  Anno .xxiii.  Rafe Aschewy  IN this .xxiii. yere of kyng Henry before the tyme of the eleccyon of the shryues of London one Symōde fyz Mary whych before in the .xvii yere of the kynge had ben in that offyce had purchased a cōmaundement of the kynge dyrected to the mayre and rulers of the cytye y t they shulde cause hym to be electe to that offyce for that yere folowynge But the mayre wyth the heddes of the cytye consyderynge that commaundement to be a derogacyon vnto the lybertyes of y e cytye wythstode yt and chase the forenamed Rafe Ashwy put the sayde Symonde by for the whyche he complayned hym to the kynge Then the kynge sente for the mayre and the rulers of the city and hadde vnto theym many wordes of dyspleasure for the dysobeyenge of his cōmaundement and fardermore discharged willyam Ioynour which that yere was agayne chosen newely to be mayre for the yere folowynge and chargyd the cytesyns to procede to a newe eleccyon for theyr mayre whyche then to satysfye the kynges pleasure chase Gerarde Batte By whose meanys and good polycye the sayde mayr wyth the cytesyns demeaned theym so well to the kynge that they obteyned hys gracious fauour and causyd the forsayde Symonde to fayle of his purpose and was not after admyttyd to that offyce tyll he hadde submyttyd hym to the rule of the mayre and rulers of the same cytye The whyche Symonde behaued him so well after that he was admyttyd for an alderman But in short processe after he demeanyd him so yll and so contraryously vnto the weale and good order of the cytye that he was dyscharged of hys aldermanshyp and dyschargyd from all rule and counsayll of the cytye as in the .xxxiiii. yere of thys kynge folowynge is touched Anno domini M.CC.xl.  Anno domini M.CC.xli  Iohn̄ Gysors  Gerarde Batte  Anno .xxiiii.  Mychaell Tony.  IN thys .xxiiii. yere of kynge Henry saynte Paulys chyrch of London was newely halowyd And the great Chaan of Tartarys before in the seconde yere of kynge Iohn̄ myndyd or touched of theyr begynnynge in thys yere after he had from the Turkys wonne myche of the Eest landes he sent an hoste into the lande of Hūgary the whych held the people of that countrey so shorte that as witnessyth the authour of Policronica and other they were constrayned of necessyte to ete theyr own chyldren and other vnlefull metys But the authoure of Cronica cronicarum sayth that this mysery fell to the peple of Hungary in the yere of our lorde .xii. hundred and .xxi. whyche after that sayenge shulde be in the fyfte yere of thys kynge Anno domini M.CC.xli  Anno domini M.CC.xlii  Iohn̄ Uyoll  Remonde Bengley  Anno .xxv.  Thomas Duresyne  IN this .xxv. yere of kynge Henry Gerarde Batte was agayn chosen mayre for this present yere And after whose eleccyon he was by the worshipfull of the citye conueyed vnto woodstoke and presentyd after the custome vnto the kynge But the kynge enfourmed of hys laste yeres dealynge by suche as ought to hym no good wyll sayde that he wolde not admytte hym to that offyce tyll such tyme as he came to westmynster wyth whyche answere the sayde Gerarde wyth his companye returned vnto London It was not longe after or the kyng came to westmynster where accordynge to theyr dutye the cytesyns of London agayn awayted vppon the kynge to know his pleasure where the kynge callyd before hym the sayde mayre and after certayne questyons to hym put he caused hym to be sworne in his presence After whyche othe to hym geuen the kynge charged hym by vertue of the same that he shulde not take of the bakers and bruers and other vytellars of the cytye .xl. pounde whyche other of his predecessours and also he that laste yere hadde taken And also that he incontynently after hys commynge to London shuld restore vnto the sayd vytellars and other cytesyns all suche money as he hadde wyth wronge in that precedyng yere taken of the comynaltye of the citye But for the sayde Gerarde allegyd for hym certayne consideracyons be sechynge the kynge to pardon hym of that restytucyon the kynge in dyspleasure swore a great othe that he shulde not that yere be mayre nor at any tyme there after And so the commons certyfyed of the kynges pleasure chase in his place or stede Reyner de Bungaye And this yere the kynge yode into walys wherof herynge Dauid then prynce of walys mette wyth the kyng at Ruthlande and submyttyd hym to the kynges grace Also this yere the blessyd Edmunde archebyshoppe of Caunterbury beynge at Pountnay in the prouynce of Burgoyne dyed and there was buryed was after translatyd into y e same place within .x. yeres after his deth by commaundement of Innocent the fourthe then pope of Rome because of his manyfolde myracles whyche god shewyd for hym after hys deth All be yt in hys legende yt is shewyd that he dyed twentye myle from Pountnay called Soly and was after buryed and translated at Poūtnay Of this blessed man Polycronycon shewyth many vertuyes in the .xxxv. chapiter of his .vii. boke whyche here I ouer passe for lengthynge of the tyme. And thys yere one wyllyam of the Marshe was at London for treason drawen and hanged Thys yere also were alder men fyrste chosen wythin the cytye of London whyche then hadde the rule of the cytye and of the wardes of the same and were then yerely chaūgyd as now the shryues be chaūged Anno domini M.CC.xlii  Anno domini M.CC.xliii  Iohn̄ fyz Iohn̄  Remonde Bongley  Anno .xxvi.  Rafe Ashewy  IN this .xxvi. yere of kyng Henry Bonyface was sacryd archbyshoppe of Caunterbury And this yere the kyng wyth a fayre company saylyd into Normandy whyche vyage as sayth y e frenche cronycle was made by the styrynge of a Frenche man named erle of the Marche for so myche as y e sayd erle refusyd to do homage vnto Alphons brother vnto Lewys the .x. of that name and surnamed saynte Lewys then kynge of Fraunce Thys Lewys the yere before hadde maryed his sayde brother vnto the doughter of the erle of Tholouse and hadde gyuen to his sayde brother the erledome of Poyteau wyth all the landes of Aluerne By reason wherof he wold haue causyd the sayd erle of Marche to haue done
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
lyceÌ„ce yode vnto the sayd kyng of Spayn as to his nere kynnesmaÌ„ there disported him a certayn of tyme to his great coÌ„solacioÌ„ In which season diuers letters came out of FrauÌ„ce froÌ„ some of y e kinges couÌ„sall By reason wherof y e kynge of Spayne was informed of mych of the FreÌ„che kinges couÌ„sayll which letters he shewed vnto y e erle of Artoys sayeÌ„g y t he was not without freÌ„des in FrauÌ„ce But he wold not disclose what ê‘sons they were wheÌ„ the erle had taryed in Spayn a coÌ„petent seasoÌ„ he toke leue of y e king deê‘ted with great giftes so sped hym y e in ê“cesse of tyme he cam vnto y e king of FrauÌ„ce at coÌ„uenient leyser shewed vnto hym of the letters shewed vnto him by y e kyng of Spayn wherof the king was not a litle ameruayled It was not loÌ„ge after y t a currour or messanger which vsed to bere letters froÌ„ Pet de Brosh vnto y e king of Spayn fyll syke at an abbay where when he knew he shuld die were it by exortacion of his gostly fader or otherwyse he called to hym y e abbot or hed of y e house chargyng him y t he wold delyuer such letters as he there had vnto y e FreÌ„che kyngê own ê‘son after dyed After whose deth y e said religyous man in coÌ„uenyet hast sped hym vnto y e kinges court presented him with the said letters shewyng vnto him y e mynde of y e sayd messanger which letters when the kyng had vnclosyd he anon knew y t his chaÌ„berlayne Peter de Broshe was the discloser of all his couÌ„saylles wherfore forthwith he coÌ„mauÌ„ded y e said Peter to be had vnder saufe kepyng wherof heryng the bysshop of Bayon fled streyght y e lande so yode vnto Rome The kynge theÌ„ yode vnto Paris where he called a couÌ„sayl of his lordes to examyne y e sayd Peter where finally he was iudged to be haÌ„ged After which iudgemeÌ„t he was coÌ„mytted vnto ward tyll y e morow folowyng At which season long before the son rysyng y o duke of Burgoyn the duke of Braban the erle of Artoys with y e prouost of Paris came vnto the gayole there receyued the said Peter saw him hanged or the sonne were vp IT was not long after y e Peter was thus put to deth but meanes were made betwene these .ii. kynges so that a day of metyng was appoynted y t the said kyng shuld mete to haue coÌ„munycacion for the mater coÌ„cernyng the wroÌ„ges done to dame Blanche her .ii. chyldren beforenamed wherfore y e king of Spayn cam vnto y e citie of Bayon king Philip to a town in yÌ„ prouynce of Tholouse named MouÌ„t marchauÌ„t where these two princes beyng in coÌ„municacyon of y e foresayd mater certayn messangers cam to theÌ„ froÌ„ y e pope then Mantyne y e .iiii chargyng them vpoÌ„ payn of fallyng into y e ceÌ„sures of y t chirch that they agree fall vnto accorde that warre betwen theym be not exercysed By reason wherof kyng Phylyp remitted the mater to y e pope returned vnto Tholouse where mette him the kyng of Aragon named Peter The which after he had there taryed with kyng Philip a tyme at his pleasure he toke his leue of y e kynge after went into Catholoyne where he met with CoÌ„stance his wife doughter of Manfred somtyme kyng of Scycyll y â— which was pryued of his lyfe kyngdome by Charles broder of saint Lewis as before in y e .iiii. chapyter of the storye of saynt Lewys is shortly touched This CoÌ„stance in all y t she might exorted her husbaÌ„d togader his people to enter y e land of Scicill ascertainyng him y t y e Scicillyens wolde take his patye agayne Charles for so myche as they well knew that she was rightfull heyre to that kyngdome In thys tyme and season whyche was the .x. yere of kynge Phylyppe the ryuer of Sayne rose of suche an hyght that yt compassed the cytye of Parys in suche wyse that no man myght come thyther wythoute bote or barge And the water passed wyth suche vyolence that yt brake vi arches of the great brydge of Parys and one of the small brydges Then let vs turne to y e kyng of Aragon whych by incensyng of his wyfe gadered his peple and vnder colour that he wold haue gone agaynste the Turkes hadde graunte of the pope to receyue y e dymes of his owne land for certayne yeres whyle this was in doynge he sent certayne persones into Scycyle to see the state of that countrey The whyche made confederacyes wyth dyuers great men of Scycylyens and ouer that brought wyth theym dyuers of the rulers to the presence of y e kynge wyth whom the sayd Peter made certayn appoyntementes and after retourned them into Scycyle where after theyr returne they cousayled so wyth theyr rulers of Palermo and Messene of other cytyes that in one nyght all the Frenche men in Scycylle were slayne and after in most cruell wyse slewe the women as wel those y t were wyth chylde as other and lefte few or none of the Frenche men in all the chefe cytyes or townes of Scicyll on lyue wheÌ„ tydynges of this myschyef was brought vnto Charles beynge then in the countrey of Angeou he sent messangers vnto the pope Martyne the .iiii requyrynge his ayde to defende his enymyes The whych in all hast sent vnto Palermo y e byshop of saynte Sabyne to charge the cytesyns vppon payne of cursynge to obey vnto Charles for theyr kyng to none other But the rulers of Palermo and also of Messene wold not suffer the sayd byshoppe to passe any farther And also sayde that Peter was entred the countrey of whome they wolde holde and on none other wyth whyche answere he was fayne to retourne In this whyle Charles hadde sent vnto his neuew Phylyppe kynge of FrauÌ„ce the whyche wyth his power to reuoke Peter from Scycyll enteryd the lande of Aragon by Purpunyan and toke the cytye of Ieane In whyche passe tyme Charles entred Scycyl and besyeged Messene But the towne was so strongely fortyfyed that he loste there his labour wherfore he left that syege and yode into the playnes of saynt Martyne and there taryed the coÌ„mynge of hys son then prynce of Salerne The pope theÌ„ accursed Peter for as much as certayne worde was broughte to hym that he hadde proclaymed hym selfe kynge of Scycyll And to the entent to styre the more people agayne hym he gaue his lande of Aragon vnto Charlys erle of Ualoys son of kynge Phylyp of Fraunce when Phylyppe as before is sayde kynge of FrauÌ„ce had won Ieane for as myche as the ways towarde Aragon were harde to passe as well for prouysyons made by the enmyes as otherwyse the kyng therfore sought great aduyse how he myght with lest daunger wyn to his enymyes And after many meanes sought a Russylyan was broughte vnto
in all that he myght and caused his brother to man and vytayll dyuers castelles within walys specyally the castell of Swandon wherin he mych trusted and gatheryd vnto hym the walshemen by gyftes and other meanes so that he was very stronge wherof when the kynge was informed he wolde therunto gyue no credence tyll he had sent thyther and receyued from theÌ„s the certaynte But for so myche as wynter was toward and he myghte nat conueniently go thyder wyth any power he therfore prouyded to send men and vytayl to strength the castelles of Flynt Rutlande and other holdes whyche he there had and wyth prouysyoÌ„ made to warre vppon theym in the begynnynge of the nexte yere suffered that wynter to passe Anno domini M.CC.lxxxi  Anno dnÌ„i xii C.lxxxii  wyllyam Mazerer  Henry waleys  Anno .x.  Nycholas wynchester  IN thys .x. yere y e kyng heryng more and more of the vnstedfastnes of the walshe men for to let them of theyr purpose to greue hys holdes beforenamed he sente thyder with a crewe of sowdyours the erles of Northumberland and of Surrey with whome amonge other went syr Rogyer Clyfforde syr wyllyam Lyndesey syr Rycharde Tanny many other noble knyghtes and squyres The whyche with greate corage entrede into walys and made with the walshemen many skyrmysshes tyll lastly vpon Palme sondaye Dauyd with a great power of walshmeÌ„ met with the sayde lordes knyghtes at a place nere to a towne called Hanardyne where betwene theÌ„ was a sore fyght But in the ende the losse fyll to the Englysshmen For there were slayne syr wyllyam Lyndesey syr Rycharde Tanny with many other and syr Rogyer Clyfforde was taken After whyche ouerthrowe of the Englysshmen the sayde Dauyd layde syege vnto the castelles of Flynt and of Rutlande And his brother in that season warred and occupyed the landes of syr Edmunde Mortymer and wanne the towne called Lambatre vaure and there threwe the walles therof downe to the grounde Thys towne is also called Abreswith It was nat longe after or the brute of thys ouerthrowe of the EnglysshmeÌ„ came vnto y e towne wherfore he sped hym the faster thyderwarde Anno domini M.CC.lxxxii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.lxxxiii  Rauffe Blunt  Henry walys  Anno .xi.  Hawkyn Betnell  IN thys .xi. yere vppon the day of saynte Leonarde or the syxt daye of Nouembre whyle kynge Edwarde was thus occupyed in rescowynge of hys men whyche were besyged of Dauyd syr Rogyer Clyfforde wyth other whyche entended to make a reysynge vppon the walsh men was drowned by foly vppon a brydge made of bargys and plankes to haue passed a water betwene Snowdon and Anglyssey And the thyrde daye of Decembre folowynge was Lewelyne prynce of walys slayne by syr Edmunde Mortymer and hys company and hys hed sente vnto the kynge thaÌ„ beyng at Rutlande The whyche he sent vnto London chargynge that yt beset vppon the toure of London Of thys Lewelyne a walshe metrycian made these foure verses folowynge Hic iacet Anglorum tortor tutor venedorum Princeps wallorum Lewelinus regula morum Gemma ceuorum flos regum preteritorum Forma futurorum dux laus lex lux populorum whyche verses are thus to meane as foloweth Of Englysshmen the scourge of walshe the protectoure Lewelyn the prynce rule of all vertue Gemme of all lyuers and of all other the floure whyche vnto dethe hath payde hys dette due Of kynges a mirrour that after hym shall sue Duke and prayse and of the lawe the ryght Here in thys graue of people lyeth the lyght But an Englysshe metrician wrote other .iiii. verses in dyspraysynge of the sayd Lewelyn as foloweth Hic iacet errorum princeps ac predo virorum Proditor Anglorum fax liuida secta reorum Numen wallorum trux dux homicida piorum Fex troianorum stirps mendax causa masorum The whyche maye in thys wyse be Englysshed Here lyeth of errour the prynce yf yewyll ken These and robbour traytour to Englysshmen A dym bronde a sect of doers yll God of walshmen cruell without skyll In sleyng the good and leder of the badde Lastly rewarded as he deserued hadde Of Troyans blode the drastes and nat sede A rote of falshode and cause of many yll dede Anno domini M.CC.lxxxiii  Anno domini M.CC.lxxxiiii  Iordan Goodchepe  Henry waleys  Anno .xii.  Martyn Box.  IN thys .xii. yere the kynge beynge stylle in walys pursued Dauyd the brother of Lewelyn from towne to towne so that lastly he was taken and broughte vnto the kynge aboute the natyuyte of saynt IohnÌ„ and so holden in warde tyll the kyng had there sped hys nedes Then the kyng had all the countre at hys wyl and gaue vnto Englyssh lordes townes in the myddes of walys and deuyded the couÌ„tre into shyres and ordeyned there shyryfes and other offycers as then were vsed in Englande At Aberconow he made a stronge castell where before was a house of whyte monkes The whych he remouyd thens and ordeyned for them in some other place He also made than the castel of CarnaruaÌ„ fast by Snowdon and repayred agayne the towne of Lambatre or Abreswyth which Lewelyn had before betyn downe Also he garuysshed the castelles and holdes standyng vpon the see syde with Englysshmen and made Englysshemen lordes of the groundes belongyng to the same And whan y e kyng had set that couÌ„tre in rule theÌ„ about Mychelmasse he retourned so Shrewysbury where he set a parlyament In the tyme wherof the forsayd Dauyd as chyef styrrer begynner of al thys warre was there deinyd to be drawen haÌ„ged quartered so he was shortly after at y e sayde towne of Shrewysbury hys hede sent to LoÌ„don set by the hed of hys brother Lewelyn And thys yere was the fyrste son of kyng Edwarde borne whyle the kyng was in walys at y e castel of Carnaruan By reason wherof he was after named Edward of Carnaruan He was born vpoÌ„ y e day of saiÌ„t Mark or y e .xxv. day of April This yere also one LaureÌ„ce Duket a cytezyn of LoÌ„doÌ„ was fouÌ„de dede hanged within sait Mary bow chyrch of chepe For y e which enqueres were made lastely for y t dede were ataynted these .vii. ê‘sons folowing y t is to say Reygnold of lancaster Robert Pynnot Paule of Stepynhith Thomas Cordwayner IohnÌ„ Tolanson Thomas Russell and Robert Scotte the whyche were all for that dede drawyn hanged And a woman for the same dede was also brent And Rauffe Crepyn Iourdan Good chepe Gilbert Clerk and Geffrey Clerke were also attaiÌ„t for the same cause But they were repryed and sent vnto the toure of LoÌ„don where they remayned loÌ„ge after and lastly delyuered And in thys yere the greate conduyte standynge agayne saynte Thomas of Acres in Chepe was begon to be made In this yere also stryfe and vnkindenes beganne to kyndelle betweene the kynge the erle of
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
by ordre of lawe or iustyce In thys yere also floured y e holy man called Robert a chanon of the house of Brydlyngtone the whyche of some wrytters is accompted for a prophete for verses that he made of thynges to come after in Englande whyche I passe ouer at thys tyme. Anno domini M.CCC.viii  Anno domini M.CCC.ix  wyllyam Basynge  Nycholas Faryngdone  Anno .ii.  Iohn̄ Butler  IN thys .ii. yere kyng Edward callynge to mynde the dyspleasure done vnto hym and to hys famulyer Pyers of Gauestone by the bysshoppe of Chester mayster walter Lanton as before is towched in the xxviii yere of the reygne of Edwarde hys father commaunded hym vnto the toure of London where he was streyghtely kepte many dayes after Than the lordes of the lande and specyally syr Henre Lacy syr Guy syr Aymer de Ualance erle of Lyncolne of warwyke of Penbroke to whome y e noble prince Edwarde y e .i. had gyuē so great charge y t Pyers of Gauestone shuld no more come into Englande sawe the rule of the lāde and howe the kynges treafoure by meane of the sayd pyers was wasted assembled them in counsayll of one assent with ayde of other lordes of y e realme spake so with the kynge that contrary hys pleasure he was auoyded the lande and banisshed into Irelande for that yere But the kynge sent vnto hym oftentymes secret messangers and comforted hym wyth many ryche gyftes or made hym hys chyef ruler of the countre Anno domini M.CCC.ix  Anno domini M.CCC.x.  Iamys of saynt Edmunde  Thomas Romayne  Anno .iii.  Roger Palmer  IN thys .iii. yere dyuers grudges began to moue sprynge betwene the kyng and his lordes for the exilynge of Pyers of Gauestone wherfore to contente amyte betwene hym them the sayd Pyers about y e feast of the natiuite of our Lady was fette home agayne and so contynued to the more myschyef of y e realme About thys tyme as testifyeth Cronica Cronicarum other the knyghtes of the ordre of saynte Iohn̄ Baptyste called saynt Iohn̄ of Hierusalē by theyr knyghtly manhode put out of the I le of Rodes or Rodhis y e Turkys and infidelis that to that day occupyed the sayd I le after that wanne vpon the sayd Turkys dayly and yerely so that at thys day they haue in theyr domynyon moche of the landes whyche at that day and longe after was in the power of the sayd Turkes Thys relygyō also was greatly preferryd by the fall of the templers whose possessyons and lādes were to them gyuen as it is before expressed in the thyrde chapytre and .xxi. yere of Phylyp the fayre Thys yere also after some wryters the crowched freres came fyrste into Englande Anno domini M.CCC.x.  Anno domini M.CCC.xi  Symon Croppe  Rycharde Roffham  Anno .iiii.  Petyr Blacnay  IN thys fourthe yere the rule and power of Pyers of Gaue stone more and more encreasynge in so moche that he hauynge the guydynge of all the kynges iewellys and treasoure yode vpon a day vnto west mynster and there out of the kynges iewell house toke a table a payre oftrestyllys of golde and conueyed them wyth other iewellys oute of the lande to the greate inpouerysshyng of the same and ouer that broughte the kynge by meane of hys wanton condycyons to manyfolde vyces as auoutry and other wherfore the foresayde lordes seynge the myschyefe that dayly encreased by occasyon of thys vnhappy man toke theyr counsayll togyther at Lyncolne and there concluded to voyde hym agayne out of Englande so that shortly after he was exyled into Flaunders to the kynges great dyspleasure Anno dn̄i M.CC.xi  Anno dn̄i M.CC.xii.  Symon Merwode  Iohn̄ Gysours  Anno .v.  Rycharde wylforde  IN thys .v. yere vpon the day of saynt Bryce or the .xiii. daye of Nouembre was borne at wyndesore the fyrst or eldest sonne of kyng Edwarde y t after hys father was kynge of Englande and named Edwarde the thyrde And this yere was agayn reuoked by the kynge Pyers of Gaueston out of Flaunders the whych after hys agayne commyng demeaned hym worse than he before dyd In so moche that he dysdayned the lordes of Englande and of them had many dyspytous and sclaunderouse wordes wherfore the lordes of one mynde assented to put this Pyers to deth soone after assembled theyr powers and besyeged hym in the castell of Scarburgh in proces wan that castell toke hym and brought hym vnto Gauersede besyde warwycke and there the .xix. daye of Iunu smote of hys hede wherof whan the kynge hadde knowlege he was greuously dyspleased agayne the sayd lordes and made hys auowe y e hys deth shuld be reuenged By meane of thys the rancoure that before betwene the kynge and hys lordes was kendeled now began further to sprede so that after thys day the kyng sought occasyō agayn hys lordes howe he myght put theym to greuaunce and dyspleasure In thys whyle dyed syr Henry Lacy erle of Lyncolne the whych lyeng vpon his dethe bedde requyred syr Thomas erle of Lācastre that had maryed hys doughter that he wolde stande with the other lordes in theyr defence for the weale of Englande The whyche request the sayd erle graunted and so fermely kepte or obserued it that at length he wyth many other loste theyr lyues as after in the story shall be shewed Anno dn̄i xiii C.xii.  Anno dn̄i xiii C.xiii.  Iohn̄ Lambyn  Iohn̄ Pontenay  Anno .vi.  Adam Lutekyn  IN thys .vi. yere the kyng held hys great court or counceyl of parlyamēt with the lordes spirituall temporall at London where by the aduyces of theym many good ordenaunces and statutes were made to oppresse the ryottouse and other myscheues that at those days were vsed Than the kyng was sworne to kepe those ordenaunces and after all his lordes to theyr powers After the whyche othe so takyn Robert archebysshope of Caunterbury blessed all theym that vphelde the sayde statutes and accursed all such as attēpted to breke any of the same It was nat longe after that worde was broughte vnto the kynge howe Robert le Bruze was retourned into Scotlande and hadde caused the Scottes to rebell of newe ye haue before harde in the .xxxiiii. yere of Edwarde the fyrste howe the sayd Edward chased the forenamed Roberte le Bruze oute of Scotland into Normandy But whenne he had harde of the mysguydynge of the realme of Englande and specially of the dyuysyon betwene the kynge and hys lordes he anone wyth a small ayde of the Norgans or Norwayes retourned into Scotlande where he demeaned hym in suche wyse to the lordes of Scotlāde that he in shorte processe was agayne made kynge of that realme and warred strongely vppon the kynges frēdes and wanne from theym castelles and strōge holdes and wrought vnto Englysshe men moche sorowe and
his enemyes For subdie wherof the cytezyns of London were constrayned to fynde at theyr propre costes an hundred men of armys the whyche contrary theyr lybertyes with a condycyon that after that daye it shulde be no president they sent vnto Portchestre In thys season passe tyme the quene with syr Edwarde hyr son with a small company of Englysshemen and a crewe of Henawders of the whych syr IohnÌ„ of Henawde the erles brother was capytayne toke shyppynge in those partyes had y e wynde so fauorable vnto them that they landed in Englande at a porte called Orwell besyde Harwyche in Suffolke the .xxv. day of SepteÌ„bre without any resistens of meÌ„ of warre agayne hyr made To whome after hyr landyng the people of the couÌ„tre drewe by great companyes so sped hyr towarde London At thys tyme of the quenes thus laÌ„dyng the kyng was at hys cytye of LondoÌ„ But wheÌ„ he harde of the great people y t drewe to hyr out of all countres he fered wherfore in safegardyng of hym self he fled wyth a small companye towarde walys lefte mayster walter StapyltoÌ„ bisshop of Exceter behynd hym to haue the rule of the cytye of London It was nat longe after the kynges departyng that y e quene sent a letter vnto the mayre comynaltie of the cytye requyred of them ayde to subdue the oppressours of y e comoÌ„ weale of the realme But to that letter was made none answere Therefore she wrote the secoÌ„de tyme aduertysyng them of theyr landynge of the entent that she had to refourme y e enormytyes mysgouernauÌ„ce of the lande in admonestyng them of theyr ayde socoure as by the tenure of y e sayd letter more playnly appereth wherof the circumstauÌ„ce I haue left out of thys boke for so moche as I fynde varyaunce in the contentes thereof and also for the copyes there of ben sette oute in the cronycles of Englande and dyuers other bokes Than thys sayde letter was tacked vpon the crosse in Chepe whyche at that daye was called the newe crosse In the nyght before the day of saynt Denys or the .ix. day of October And other copyes of the same were fastened in dyuerse other places of y e cytye wherof one was fastened vpoÌ„ the mayres gate After whyche letter thus publysshed in the cytye the bisshop of Exceter to whome as before is sayd the kyng had commytted the rule of the cytye sent vnto the mayre to haue the keyes of the gates of the cytye by vertue of hys commission By the whych he stode so fermely vsed so sharpe wordes in the kynges name that varyaunce grew betwene hym the cytezyns so ferfourth that the commons of the cytye in theyr rage toke the sayd bysshop the .xiiii. day of Octobre and hym with .ii. of hys housholde esquyers beheded vnreuerently at y e standard in weschep And the same daye was taken for a spye a cytezyn called IohnÌ„ Marshal whych fauoured the Spensers ê‘tye in y e same place also beheded without processe of lawe And then the corps of y e sayde bysshop with hys .ii. seruauÌ„tes were haryed to Thamys syde where the sayd bysshop had begonne to edyfye a toure and there in the rubbusshe and sande of the same they buryed or conueyed these thre bodyes whyche dispyte to hym was done after some auctoures for so moche as he had vsurped of the comoÌ„ grounde of the cytie in settyng of the sayd toure But for what cause was he thus vngoodly vnreuerentely delte with no mencion is made And in thys passe tyme the quene easely a foote space folowed y e kyng which by thys season was coÌ„mâ— to Brystow hauyng with hym the SpeÌ„sers his dyffamed chauÌ„celler mayster Robert Baldocke syr IohnÌ„ erle of Arundell other where by theyr counsayls it was agreed that syr Hugh SpeÌ„ser the father shulde remayne there and haue the rule of the towne castell whyle the kynge with the other toke shyppynge sayled frome thens into walys to rayse the walshemen And so the kyng with syr Hugh Spenser the sonne the other toke shyppyng at Brystowe so sayled into waâ—ys when the certaynte therof came vnto the quene anone she sent to Brystow the erle of Kent the kynges brother syr IohnÌ„ of Henawde wyth dyuerse other for to take syr Hugh Spenser the father The whyche put them in suche deuour that they tooke the sayde syr Hugh and lefte a certayne to holde the towne castell tyll the quene with hyr power came thyther â–ª In the whyche tyme they sped them into walys and in processe tooke y e kynge hys chaunceller the erle of Arundell and syr Hughe Spenser the sonne and broughte them all to the towne of Hereforde And in thys whyle the cytezeyns of London wan the towre of LondoÌ„ and kept it vnto the quenes vse Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxv  Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xxvi  Gylbert Moordon  Rycharde Betayne  Anno .xix.  IohnÌ„ Cotton  IN thys .xix. yere and begynnynge of thys mayres charge vppon the morowe folowynge the feaste of Symon and Iude the same daye that the mayre rode to westmynster to take hys charge the same day at Brystow was syr Hugh Spenser the father putte to dethe and after buryed at wynchestre And vppon saynte Huys daye folowynge or the .xviii. daye of Nouembre was syr Hugh hys sonne draweÌ„ hanged and quartered at Herforde and hys hed sent to London and set amonge other vpon the brydge The comon fame of hym went that after he was taken he wolde take no maner sustenauÌ„ce wherfore he was the sooner put vnto deth Of this Hugh a versyfyer made these two verses folowynge Punis cum lignis a te miser ensis ignis Hugo securis equus abstulit omne decus whiche verses to them that vnder stande no latyne maye in thys wyse be expowned or englysshed wyth ropes were thou bounde and on the galowe honge And from thy body thyne hed wyth swerde was kytte Thy bowels in the fyre were throwe and burned longe Thy body in foure pecys eke wyth an axe was slytte wyth horse before drawyn fewe men pytyenge it Thus wyth these turmentys for thy synnes sake from y e wretched Hugh all wordly welthe was take In thys meane tyme and season the kynge was conueyed vnto the castell of Kenelworthe and there kepte vnder the garde of syr Henry of Lancaster or brother vnto the erle Thomas of Lancaster that was behedyd at Pounfrette And mayster Robert Baldoke the kynges chauncelloure was sent vnto London and put into the pryson of Newgate where after he dyed myserably The erle IohnÌ„ of Arundell was also put to deth at Herforde wythin foure dayes of syr Hugh the yonger Spenser Then y e quene wyth syr Edwarde hyr sonne and with a goodly company of lordes and gentylmen retourned vnto London and there of the cytesyns wyth greate honoure and ioye was receyued vppon the daye of saynte Barbara or the .iiii.
as saythe Guydo was made by the Scottes pryncypally for the deformyte of clothyng that at those dayes was vsed by Englysshemen Thanne the kynge at hys parlyamēt holden at Salysbury made syr Roger Mortymer erle of the Marche and syr Iohan of Elthā hys owne brother he made erle of Cornewayll where after the sayd syr Roger toke moche more vppon hym than other lordes were cōtented wyth so that by the kynges mother and hym all thynge was ruled and guyded And suche lordes as before tyme were assygned to haue the rule and guydynge of the kynge as the erle of kent syr Edmunde of wodestock y e kynges vncle y e erle of Lācastre y e erle marshal with dyuers bysshoppes barons knyghtes to the noumbre of .xii. in short proces of tyme for the more party were set by so that the allonely rule of the lande rested in the quene and the sayde syr Roger. By meane wherof many and great thynges of the realme grewe out of ordre whiche were tedyous to reherce Anno domini M.CCC.xxviii  Anno domini M.CCC.xxix  Rycharde Lazar.  Iohan Grauntham  Anno .iii.  Henry Gysours  IN this thyrde mayres yere y ◠aboue sayde syr Edmunde of wodestoke erle of kente entendynge the reformacion of the mysse ordre of the realme beynge enfourmed that his brother syr Edward was in lyfe deuysed certayne letters towchynge the delyuery of his sayd brother and sent them to his sayd brother of whiche dede he was shortly after accused and by auctoryte of a parlyamēt holden at westmynster aboute Penthecost folowynge he for that dede was iudged to haue his hede smyten of wherof execucyon was doone the fyue and twenty day of May folowynge in the foresayd cytye of wynchester And soone after kyng Edwarde sayled into Fraūce and dyd homage vnto Phylyp de Ualoyes then newly made kynge of Fraūce for the duchy of Guyan in the towne of Amyas After whiche homage so doone he was rychely feasted of the Frenche kynge and solaced in dyuerse maner of fourmes as by iustes huntynge hawkynge and many other pleasures and then in louynge maner toke his leue of the kynge and so returned into Englande The fyfthtenth day of Iune folowynge was borne the kynges fyrst sonne and at wodestoke crystened and named Edward whiche in proces of tyme dyd growe to a noble and famouse man and is moost comunely called in all cronycles prynce Edwarde Of whome in this story some excellente dedes shall be expressed In the moneth of Octobre vpon the .xvii. daye euen of saynt Luke syr Roger Mortymer before named bi meanes of syr wylliā Moūtague syr Rafe Staforde syr Iohn̄ Neuyle other bi a cōpased meane was takē in y e castel of Notynghā not withstādynge y t the keyes of y e sayde castell were daili nyghtly vnder his ward and kepynge the kynge the quene the olde quene with dyuerse other nobles thā beynge in the same castell lodged The maner of the takyng of this erle syr Roger Mortymer I passe ouer for the dyuersyte that I haue sene therof of sundry wryters But many agreen that he with syr Symonde of Bedforde and other were in that nyght taken and after sente vnto the towre of London and there put in strayte kepynge Then the kynge in shorte processe after called a parlyament at London for the reformacyon of many thynges mysordered in the realme by meane of y e foresayde syr Roger as the comune fame went than Anno dn̄i M.CCC.xxix  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.xl  Robert of Ely  Symon Swaylond  Anno .iiii.  Thomas Harworde  IN this .iiii. mayres yere ende of the thyrde yere of this kyng duryng the foresayd parliamente as aboue is touched at Londō the foresayd syr Roger Mortymer was accused before the lordes of the parliamēt of these artycles with other whereof v. I fynde expressed And fyrste was layed vnto hys charge that by hys meanes syr Edwarde of Carnaruan by mooste tyrrannouse deth in the castell of Barkley was murdered Secundaryly that to the kynges great dyshonoure dammage the Scottes by hys meanes treason escaped frō the kyng at y e parke on Stāhope whych then shuld haue fallen in the kynges daūger ne had ben y t fauour of the sayd Roger to thē thā shewed Thyrdely to hym was layed that he for execuciō of the sayd treason receyued of y e capytayne of the sayd Scottes named syr Iames Dowglas great summes of money And also for lyke mede he had to the kynges great dyshonoure and hurte of hys realme concluded a peace betwene y e kyng and the Scottes caused to be delyuered vnto theym the charter or endenture called Ragman wyth many other thynges to the Scottes great aduaūtage inpouerysshyng of this realme of Englād Fourthlye was layed to hym that where by synystre vnlefull meanes contrary y t kynges pleasure wyll or assente of the lordes of the kynges counsayl he had gotten into hys possessyō moche of the kynges treasoure he vnskylfully wasted mysspent it By reason wherof the kyng was in necessyte dryuen parforce to assaye his frēdes Fyfthlie that he also had enpropered vnto hym dyuerse wardes belōgyng to the kyng to hys great lucre the kynges great hurt and that he was more secrete with quene Isabell the kynges mother than was to goddes pleasure or the kynges honour The whych artycles wyth other agayne hym proued he was by auctoryte of the sayd parlyament iuged to dethe And vpō saynt Andrewes euyn next ensuyng at London he was drawen hanged About the begynnynge of August folowyng syr Edwarde Bayloll the sonne of syr Iohan Bayloll some tyme kynge of Scottes by meanes before purchased opteyned suche fauoure that wyth the ayde of syr Henry Beawmoūt syr Dauyd of Stroley syr Geffery Moubray and wyth the ayde of .ii. M. Englysshemē entred into Scotlād by water wher in short space drew vnto thē such multitude of scottes y t the sayd Edwarde was lord of a greate hoste so kepte on his way tyll he came to a place called Gledismore or after some writers Crakismoore where he was encountred of y e power of Scotlād fought there a cruell batayl in y e which were slayn a great multitude of Scottes By reason of whych victorie he was crowned kyng of scottes at y t towne of Scone shortly after And shortly after he mette wyth kynge Edward at the towne of Newe castell and there vnto hym made hys homage feawty for the lande of Scotlāde Anno dn̄i M.CCC.xxx  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.xxxi  Iohn̄ Mockynge  Iohn̄ Pountnay  Anno .v.  Andrew Awbrey  IN thys fyfth mayres yere and syx yere of the kynge in the moneth of Iuly for so moche as y e Scottes had busyed theym to haue slayne Edwarde Bayloll theyr kynge and hym had constrayned to auoyde hys lande or elles to kepe hym in somme stronge holde tyll he myghte by hys frendes or lyeges
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
very fast with the Frēch kynge called hys counsayll to hym to haue theyr aduyce howe he myght beste ordre hym selfe and hys people In whych coūsayll were dyuers opynyons so that many thoughte it better for dyuerse consyderacyons whyche were longe to reherce that the erle shulde rather preferre the amyte of the kynge of Englande thā of the kynge of Fraunce Of whyche opynyon was a greate furtherer or promoter a knyghte of Flaunders called Countryssye ▪ wyth whome the erle beynge for that cause discontent sent hym to pryson And soone after at the request of the Frenche kynge whyche layed vnto hys charge that he hadde receyued greate summes of money of the kyng of Englande for to procure and styre the Flemynges agayne hym he was behedded for whyche dede the dwellers of Gaunte and of Bruges were so miscontente that they vtterly refused y e erle hys counsayll made theym stronge to withstande hys displeasure Than y e erle was constrayned to gather hys lordes knyghtes for the more part of y e cōmons were agayne hym And in short proces after met in playn batayll ī a place called Marchie where after lōge fyghte the erle his holte was put to flyghte forced for hys safegard to take a castel named Mal or Malet In which season kyng Edward beynge enfourmed of y e amytie y t the Flemynges bare towarde hym anon sent vnto them a knyght called syr Galtyer or walter de Magny with a goodly company of archers well apoynted the whyche arryued in an I le called than Cazāter whome the erle of Flaunders with a certayn of hys knyghtes encountred gaue vnto the Englysshemen batayl But in the ende the erle was shamefully chased and many of hys gentylmen slayne and takē as syr Iohn̄ Rodes syr wyllyā Gyll syr Nycholas Chaūcy with many other slayne And syr Guy bastarde brother vnto the erle with dyuerse other taken of y t which some were sent as prysoners into Englande whan the Frenche kyng had vnderstandynge of the deuysyon that was betwene the erle and hys subiectes how faythfull y e erle was vnto hym entendynge to wynne by fayre meanes the fauour of y e Flemynges whyche he knewe well he myght nat wynne by rygoure Than he sente vnto Gaūt the bysshop of saynt Denys with other whych made vnto y e rulers of y e towne of Bruges and other townes there assembled many fayre behestes promyses Amōge y e whych one was that the Frēch kyng wolde acquyte vnto them delyuer vnto theyr vse all suche lordshyppes seygnoryes as he than withheld of theyrs and hys progenytours before hym But all was in vayn For kyng Edward had so sped hys nedes with thē by the meanes of one named Iaques de artiuele a mā of Gaūt which was of great substaūce passyng other in boldenes capacyte of wytte discreciō y t the sayd towne of Gaūt with Bruges Ipre Courtryke or Courtrey Cassyle and other there about condyssended and promysed ioyntly and hooly to refuse y e Frēche kynge to take the kynge of Englandes partye and the rather for the warre whych before tyme Philip de Ualoyes made vpon them in the begynnyng of hys reygne as in y e fyrst yere of the story of the sayde Phylyp shall after appere Anno domini M.CCC.xxxvii  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.xxxviii  wyllam of Pountfreyt  Henry Darcy  Anno .xiii.  Hugo Marbre  IN thys .xiii. yere kynge Edwarde with quene Philip hys wyfe for more assured stablysshemēt of amyte to be had betwene hym and the Holanders Selāders Brabāders passed the see in the begynnyng of y e moneth of Iunii sayled wyth a goodly cōpany into the coūtrey of Brabāt the quene thā beynge great with chyld where of the erle of Brabāt he was Honorablie receyued In whyche season of hys there beynge kyng Edwarde gat vnto hym many frendes Amonge the whych Lewys of Bauyere whych than toke vpon hym as Emperour all be that before that tyme he was of the .xxii. Iohan than pope accursed was one Thys Lewys had such fauoure vnto kyng Edwarde that he assygned ▪ and ordeyned hym for Uycayr of y e empyre by reason of whyche offyce kyng Edwarde made oute hys commaundementes dyd many thynges to hys aduauntage and profyte In thys season quene Phylyppe lyenge at Andwarpe was delyuered of a man chylde that was named Lyonell And Phylyp de Ualoys hauynge knowelege of all thys demeanure of kynge Edwarde gathered vnto hym greate strenthe so that he had about hym innumerable people and taryed with them at Amyas and there about from y e ende of August tyll y e begynnyng of Octobre And whā he sawe that kyng Edwarde came nat he deuyded y e great hoste in retournyng many of theym into theyr owne countreys and the other he sente vnto stronge holdes castelles for to let y t passage of kynge Edwarde and hys hoste into the lāde of Fraunce And in thys passe tyme the Frenche kynge had sent dyuerse shyppes vnto the see wyth men of warre for to take englysshe marchaūtes other that came in theyr course And so befelle that they encountred with .ii. great shyppes of Englande called the Edward and the Cristofer the whiche as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle were freyght with greate rychesse and also well manned Anone as eyther was ware of other gonnes and shot of longe bowes arblasters were nat spared on nother syde so that betwene thē was a cruell fyghte but nat egall For of the Frenchemē were .xiii. sayles great and smal and of the Englysshe men but fyue that is to meane these two foresayd great shyppes two barkys and a caruyll the whyche thre small shyppes escaped by theyr deliuer saylynge the ii abode and fought beyonde .ix. houres in so moche that there was slayn vpon both partyes aboue .vi. C. men But in the ende the sayd .ii. shyppes were taken broughte into y e Frēch kynges stremes and many of the Englysshemen that were sore wounded were cast into the see In thys yere also the sayd Frenschemē of that Nauy landed at Southāpton sodeynly and spoyled the towne and brente a great parte therof And ouer this the Frenche kynge made warre in Gascoyn and wanne there dyuerse smal pyles and one strōge castell standing in the countrey of Gascoyne called Agenoys whych castell was named Pēne But all this season was kyng Edwarde in Almayne made allyaunce with dyuerse prynces of that coūtrey and other and toke assuraūces of them that they shulde ayde assyste hym to wynne hys ryght and tytle y ◠he had to y ◠crowne of Fraūce after returned into Flaūders wher he taryed all thys mayres yere Anno domini M.CCC.xxxviii  Anno domini M.CCC.xxxix  wyllyam Thorney  Andrew Awbry  Anno .xiiii.  Roger Forsham  IN thys .xiiii. yere kynge Edwarde spedyng hys busynesse in Almayn Flaūders as in y e precedynge
which certayne lordes of Almayne shuld haue y e rule y e other hoste shulde be of mē of Brugys of Englyssh archers of y e host was ordeyned syr Robert of Artoys to be leder capitayne whā y e sayd .ii. hostes were all garnysshed with all thynge for thē nedeful y e fyrst of them was sent vnto y e town of Turney and the other vnto y e towne of saynt Omers The which .ii. townes at y e day were lyke strēgth vnto Fraūce as Calays is now vnto England wherfore the Frēch kynge for the more suretye of them sent vnto Tournay the erle of Foys syr Barthā than marshall of Fraūce with .iiii. M. men of armis vnto saynt Omers he sent y e duke of Burgoyn with a great cōpany of lordes other whā sir Robert of Artois had lyen a certeyn tyme before saynt Omers many sharpe assautys by hym and his people had ben gyuen to it in the whiche dyuerse fortunes fell chaunces of warre which were tedyous and longe to wryte fynally vpon the morowe after saynt Iames day or the .xxvi. day of Iulii y e duke of Burgoyne with his retynue yssued out of the towne foughte with y e sayd syr Robert his people a lōge season In y e which fyght was slayne of the dukes partye the lorde of Hamelcourte syr Froysard de Beaford the lorde of saynt Uran a lorde of Spayne a Burgonyon lorde called the lorde of Branges with other dyuerse knyghtes and gentylmen to the noūber of .liiii. as sayth y e Frēche cronycle and of the comune people vpon .iii. M. But in short tyme after the power of the duke encreased in suche wyse that syr Robert with his cōpany was fayne to departe thense and so yode into Ipre there helde hym Then as aboue is sayde when kynge Edwarde had sent forth y e fore named .ii. hostes he with the rest of his people yode vnto a place within .ii. Englysshe myles of Tournaye called in Frēche le Pount de Pree and there lodged hym his people And Phylyp de Ualoys y e Frēche kynge came with his people vnto an house of relegyon whiche then was called y e priory of saynt Andrewe At which two places these two sayde prynces thus lyenge with great strengthes vpon eyther syde kyng Edwarde by counsceyll of his lordes sent vnto y e Frenche kynge a letter conteynynge as foloweth EDwarde by the grace of god kyng of Englāde of Fraūce and lorde of Irelande Syr Phylyp de Ualoys by longe tyme we haue exhorted by messangers and other manyfolde maner of wayes to y e ende y t ye shulde restore vnto vs do to vs reason of oure ryghtfull enherytaūce of the realme of Fraunce the whiche ye haue longe occupyed with great wronge And for that we se well that ye entende to perseuer in youre iniuryous witholdynge without to do vnto vs reason for our ryght to demaūde we are entred into our lāde of Flaundres as souerayne lorde of the same and passe by that countre doynge you ferther to vnderstande that we haue taken with the helpe of our lorde Iesu chryst the ryght with the power of the sayd countrey and with our people them allyed beholdynge the ryght which we haue in y e herytage that ye wythholde frome vs with great wronge and drawe vs towarde you to make a short ende vppon our ryghtfull demaunde and chalenge yf ye wyll towarde vs approche And for so moch that so great power of mē of Armes that came vpon our partyes may not longe holde thē togythers without great destruccyon of y e people whiche euery good crysten man ought to eschewe specyally a prynce or other that haue the gouernaunce of people we therfore moche desyre y t in shorte dayes they may mete And for to eschewe y e more mortalyte of the people so that the quarell apparent atwene vs to the destruccyon of oure chalenge maye stāde in tryal atwene vs two whiche thynge we offre vnto you for the causes aboue sayd How be it that we remembre well the noblenesse of your persone and your great wysedome aduysement And in case that ye wyll not therof that then in our chalenge be set to afferme the batayll of youre selfe with an hundreth persones of your party of the moste suffycyent we in lyke wyse with as many And yfye wyl that one wey nor the other that then ye wyll assygne a certayne day before the cytye of Tournay to fyght with strength agaynst strēgth within .x. dayes after y e syght of these letters And we wolde that all the worlde knewe that these thynges aboue sayd in thys oure desyre is nat for pryde nor for great presumpcion but for that that oure Lorde myghte set the more reste and peace amonge the crysten and for that that the enemyes of god myght be resysted and crystendome enhaunced And y e way y t ye wyll chose of these offers abouesayd wryte agayne to vs by the bringer of these letters to hym makynge hastye delyueraunce Gyuen vnder our great seale at Eschine sur le scaut nere vnto the cytye of Tourney the xv day of the moneth of Iule Upon receyt of whych letters the Frenche kynge by the aduice of hys counsayl wrote agayne vnto kynge Edwarde in maner and fourme as foloweth The Frenche kynges letter PHilip by y e grace of god kyng of Fraunce to Edward kyng of Englād we haue sene a letter sent to Philip de Ualoys brought to our court in y e which letter were certayn requestes And for so moche as the sayd letter came nat to vs the sayde requestes were nat made to vs lyke as it apereth by the tenoure of y e sayd letter we therfore to you make none answer Neuerthelesse for that that we vnderstonde by the sayde letter otherwyse that ye are enbatelled in our realme of Fraunce doyng great domage to vs and our sayd realme to the people moued of wyll without reason nat regardynge y t which a lyege man ought to regarde to hys lyege and soueraygne lorde for ye are entred into our homage in youre selfe a knowelegyng as reason is to the kynge of Fraunce and promised obeysaunce suche as a lyege man oughte vnto hys soueraygne lorde lyke as it appereth by youre letters patētes sealed with your great seale the whyche we haue by vs and for that shulde you be obedyente vnto vs. Our entente is suche that whā we shal thynke it good we shal chase you out of our realme to our honour and mageste royall and to the profet of our people And in thys doynge we haue faythfull hope in oure lorde Iesu Chryste from whome all good to vs commyth For by your enterpryse whyche is of wyll nat reasonable hathe ben lette the holy voyage ouer the see and greate quantyte of cristen people put to deth and y e holy seruyce of god lefte and holy chyrch vnworshypped vnhonoured
Derbye and of Northampton wyth other and for the Frenche kynge the dukes of Burbon of Burgoyne with other for hys party But thys agremente stoode to lytle effecte For it nat wyth standynge the warre betwene these two kynges was contynued so that eyther fortyfyed theyr frendes and allyes And soone after happened that where Iohan duke of Brytayn dyed wythout issu variaunce fel betwene Charles de Bloys and IohnÌ„ erle of Mountforde for the tytle of that dukedome so that betwene theÌ„ mortall warre was exercysed as in the story of Phylyppe de Ualoyes shall after more playnly be declared whyche warre so contynuynge the kynge of EnglaÌ„de ayded y e party of the erle of Mountforde and the FreÌ„ch king ayded Charles de Bloys And ouer that duryng the terme of y e sayde treuce the French kyng made warre vpon the Gascoynes as after shall apere And in Scotlande some styrynge was made thys yere by excytynge of the Frenche kynge in so mych that the kynge was fayne to sende thyder a crewe of soudiours to strength suche holdes as he there helde And in thys yere was y e quene delyuered of a man chyld at y e towne of Langeley the whyche after was named Edmunde and surnamed Edmunde of Langley Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xli  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xlii  IohnÌ„ Luskyn  Symond Fraunces  Anno .xvii.  Rycharde Kyslyngbury  IN thys .xvii. yere kynge Edwarde at the request of dyuers of hys yonge lordes and knyghtes suffered to be exercysed certayn poyntes and feates of warre as iustys turnamentes and other whych were executyd at Dunstable where the kynge and the quene were present wyth the more partye of the lordes and ladyes of the lande Thys yere dyed the forenamed IohnÌ„ duke of Brytayne by reason of whose deth the warre as in the precedynge yere is touchyd grewe bytwene the sayde Charlys de Bloyes and the erle of Mountforde Thys Charlys de Bloyes made his claym to that duchery by tytle of his wyfe that was doughter of Guy vycount of Lymogys and seconde brother of the foresayde IohnÌ„ duke of Brytayne And IohnÌ„ erle of Mountfort claymed by the tytle that he was thyrde brother vnto the forenamed duke But of thys mater I entende to shewe more playnely and of the ende therof in the story of Phylyp de Ualoys as before I haue sayde and rather there than here bycause the fayte therof was not done in Englande but in Brytayne wherof the sayde Phylyppe pretendyd rule and chyefe sygnory Anno domini M.CCC.xlii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xliii  IohnÌ„ Stewarde  IohnÌ„ Hamonde  Anno .xviii.  IohnÌ„ AyleshmÌ„  IN thys .xviii. yere the kynge shortely after Easter callyd a parlyament at westmynster In tyme wherof Edwarde hys eldeste sonne was creatyd prynce of walys And many ordynauÌ„ces for the weale of y e lande there were enactyd whych for length I passe ouer In thys yere also Clement the .vi. of y e name whyche newly was made pope toke vpon hym to gyue dyuers bysshopryches and benefyces which then fell voyde in Englande wherwyth the kynge was nothynge contented in so mych that he sent out coÌ„myssyons and strayte commaundementes that no man in tyme folowynge shulde present or inducte any suche persone or persones that so by the pope were promoted wythout y e agremente of the kynge as farre as towchyd hys prerogatyue The sayd pope Clement was fyrste archebysshoppe of Roan and munke of saynt Benettes order a Frencheman of byrth and before called Peter a man of excellent cunnyng but a waster of goddes patrymony promoted to y e dygnyte by instaunt laboure of the Frenche kyng which sent hys sonne IohnÌ„ duke of Normandy the duke of Burgoyn vnto the cytye of Auynyon or AuygnoÌ„ to procure and further the eleccyon By meane wherof he was there chosen pope aboute the vii day of May and tronysed in the sayd moneth of May in the begynnynge of the yere of grace after thaccompte of the chyrche of Englande M.CCC .xliii. By meanes and fauoure of whyche pope the Frenche kynges causes and maters betwene kynge Edwarde and hym were some deale promoted For as testyfieth the Frenche boke the French kyng thys yere put to deth one mayster HeÌ„ry de Malestrete a graduat man and brother vnto syr Godfrey de Malestrete knyght lately also put to deth by the sayde Frenche kynge for theyr fydelyte whyche they bare towarde kyng Edward as hys feodaryes wherof kynge Edwarde made hys coÌ„playnt vnto the pope of thys and other thynges to be done contrary the constytucyons of the former peace concluded by the two cardynalles and had therof no remedye In thys yere also kynge Edwarde made a coyne of fyne golde and named it the Floryne that is to say the peny of the value of syxe s. viii d. the halfe peny of the value of thre s. iiii d and the far thynge of the value of .xx. d. whyche coyne was ordeyned for hys warres in Fraunce for the golde therof was nat so fyne as was the noble whyche he before in hys fourthen yere of hys reygne had caused to be coyned Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xliii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xliiii  Geffrey wychyngham  Iohan Hamonde  Anno .xix.  Thomas Legge  IN thys .xix. yere the kyng held a solempne feaste at hys castell of wyndsore where betwene Candel masse and lent were holden or executed many marcyall actes as iustes tournamentes with diuerse other at the whyche were present many strauÌ„gers of other landes And in y e ende therof he there deuysed the order of the garter and after stablisshed it as at thys daye it is contynued In this yere about midsomer kyng Edward wyth a stronge armye sayled vnto Sluse and so into lytle Brytayne But for he was dyspoynted of the ayde of the Flemynges by reason of the deth of hys trusty frende Iaques de Artyuele whyche than was slayn of the Flemynges of Gaunt by a coÌ„spyracy that they made agayne hym by suche as fauoured the partye of y e French kyng he tourned home into Englande agayne the same yere leuynge behynde hym the erle of Salysbury with a stronge company to ayde IohnÌ„ erle of MouÌ„tforde agayn syr Charles de Bloys The whyche IohnÌ„ by the ayde of the EnglysshmeÌ„ wan diuerse townes holdes in Brytayne vpoÌ„ the sayd syr Charles his FrenchmeÌ„ But in the ende of thys yere he was taken with such sykenes y t he dyed in a towne called Corentyne After whose deth the sayd Charles posseded the more parte of the duchye of Brytayne Thys yere the kyng sent y e erle of Derby with a stroÌ„g army into GuyaÌ„ for to ayde the erle of NorthaÌ„pton whome y e kynge before had left there at Burdeaux to streÌ„gth that couÌ„trey agayne the French men To whome after the dethe of the forenamed syr IohnÌ„ erle of Mountforde drewe many of the soudyours that were on his partye Anno domini M.CCC.xliiii Â
whiche was repayred in so stronge wyse that he hys hoste passed there ouer withoute parell Howe be it that in the tyme of repayrynge of it the French kyng sent thyder .ii. M. men to let the sayde werke But the archers kept theym of wyth theyr shot in so sharpe maner that y e more partye of them was slayne and the werke ê‘fyghted as aboue is sayd Than kyng Edwarde entred the couÌ„trey of Pycardy the French kynge remoued frome saynte Denys vnto saiÌ„t Germains froÌ„ thens to a town called Aubeuyle in Poyteau from thens to Antoygne In thys whyle kyng Edward with baner dysplayed came vnto the cytye of Beauuayze assayled the towne But the towne was wel garnisshed with soudyours which defeÌ„ded theyr enemyes vygourously wherfore kynge Edwarde coÌ„syderynge he myghte nat lyghtely wynne that towne sette the bulwerkes on fyre and so departed thens yode vnto a place called in Frenche Soygnouile or BlaÌ„ke Tache where he passed the water of Sum vpon a frydaye the .xxv. daye of August and lodged hym hys people nere vnto a forest called Cressy or Crecy wherof whan the French kyng was ware anone he sped hym frome the fore named towne of Antoygne vnto Aubeuyle agayne where after he hadde refresshed hym and hys people he rode vnto an abbey faste by the forenamed towne of Cressy In thys passe tyme IohnÌ„ duke of Normandy and sonne of Phylyp de Ualoys whyche as in the precedyng yere is towched layd hys syege vnto the castell of Aguyllon herynge that hys father was thus warreyed wyth the kyng of Englande brake vp his syege and came with hys strengthe vnto hys father THese .ii. greate hostes thus lodged within lytle compasse nere vnto the forenamed towne of Cressy vpon the saterdaye folowyng the feaste of saynt Bartholmewe beynge the .xxvi. day of the monethe of August eyther cruelly assayled other and foughte there a mortall sharpe batayll whereof in the ende kynge Edwarde gloryouslye was victoure and chaced the Frenche kynge and slewe in that fyght after the sayenge of moste wryters the kynge of Bohemy or Beame sonne of Henry y e Emperoure vii or the. eyght the duke of Loreyne the erle of Alenson brother vnto the FreÌ„che kynge Charles erle of Bloys the erles of Flaunders of Sancer of Narcourt and of Fyennes wyth dyuerse other to the noumber of eyght bysshoppes and erles xvii lordes of name and of banerettes knyghtes and esquyers beyoÌ„de the noumber of .xvi. huÌ„dreth so that as concludeth the Frenche hystorye in that batayll was slayne the floure of the Chyualrye of Fraunce and of the coÌ„mons vpoÌ„ .viii. M. men that the realme of FrauÌ„ce that day susteyned such confusioÌ„ that the lyke therof had nat be sene many yeres passed and y t be people and men of no reputacyon as archers by the vyolence of theyr importune shot whych hors nor man myght stande agayne ThaÌ„ the Frenche kyng with a small company fledde sore hurte vnto a towne called Broy lodged there y e nyght folowynge And kyng Edwarde beynge warned that an other hoste of enemyes was commynge towarde hym abode styll in the same feelde set good watches made great fyres thorough the hoste and so coÌ„tynued tyll the monday folowynge Upon whyche day in the mornynge apered to them a new hoste of Frenche men to the whych they gaue batayle and slewe of them more in noumbre thaÌ„ was slayne vpoÌ„ the saterday before But of capytaynes or men of name the auctor reherseth none Than kyng Edwarde gaue great thankes vnto god of his tryumphaÌ„t vyctory and after departed froÌ„ that towne of Cressye and toke hys waye towarde Moustruell and from theÌ„s to Boleyne and lastlye to Caleys wherof than was capytayne vnder y e Frenche kyng a BurgonyoÌ„ knyght named syr IohnÌ„ de UyeÌ„ne to whom kyng Edwarde sent that he shuld delyuer vnto hym the sayde towne of Caleys But for the kynge receyued from hym no comfortable answere he immedyatly layde hys syege vnto the sayd towne whych was vpon the thyrde day of the moneth of SepteÌ„bre there abode a certayn of tyme in makynge of assautes to the same In whyche tyme and season the erle of Derby lyenge at Burdeaux and hauynge the rule of Gascoyne and Guyan wan dyuerse townes holdes from the Frenchemen as the townes called Sayntez in Poyteaw saynt IohnÌ„ de Angely and y e towne of Poytyers In the whyche he had excedyng treasoure and rychesse soo that he hys sowdyours were greatly enryched by the pyllage that they wan in those townes and couÌ„trey to them adioynaunt And whaÌ„ the sayd erle had spoyled the sayd townes brent a greate parte of the foresayde cytye of Poytyers and the kynges palays within the same he than at hys pleasure retourned vnto Burdeaux In thys passe tyme also the FreÌ„ch kyng to the entente to haste kyng Edwarde into Englande sent Dauyd le Bruze some tyme kynge of Scottes into y e lande with a stroÌ„ge army The which gathered vnto hym such lordes and knyghtes of Scotlande as before tymes fauoured hys party and with them entred the boundes of Northumberlande spoyled that countrey without pyte But it shall apere by other auctoures that thys Dauyd le Bruze at thys daye hadde recouered the crowne of Scotlande and that Edwarde de Bayloll was than dede whych before was kynge Than it foloweth whan the archebisshop of yorke with other lordes than lefte in Englande herde tell that the Scottes were thus entred the lande anone the sayd archebysshppe with syr Henry Perse syr Rafe Neuyle syr Gilbert Umfreyle knyghtes and other gentylmen aswell spyrytuall as other apparayled theyin in theyr best maner and sped them towarde y e Scottes so that they mette with theÌ„ and gaue vnto them batayll vpon y e euyn of saynt Luke or the .xvii. daye of Octobre in a place faste by DurhaÌ„ called at that daye Neuyles crosse where god shewed to the Englysshe men suche grace that they scoÌ„fyted y e Scottes and slew of them great foyson and toke prysoners the sayd Dauid le Bruze syr wyllyam Dowglas syr ThoÌ„lyn Fowkys with other of y e nobles of Scotlande the whyche shortely after were surely conueyed vnto the towre of London and there kepte as prysoners whaÌ„ kynge Edward from the .iii. day of Septembre as before is sayd hadde by sondry tymes assayled the towne of Caleys and sawe well he he might nat shortly wynne it he prouyded for hiÌ„ hys people to lye there all y e wynter folowynge so y t for the lodging of hym his hoste he made so many houses lodges that it semed an other Caleys wherfore in ê“ces of tyme duryng y t syege of the vytelers suche as dayly resorted vnto y e kynges hoste it was named newe Caleys where y e kyng in proper persone abode al the wynter folowyng the more parte of the next somer as after shall apere Anno dnÌ„i xiii C.xlvi  Anno
forenamed duke Appellaūte after thys noble duke of Lācastre to the great honour of all Englande And soone after dyuers obseruaūces accordyng to the law of armys done solempne othes taken eyther set in the rest to haue rōne the fyrst course But kynge Iohan of hys especyall grace ceased y e mater toke the quarell into hys handes so that eyther of theym departed the felde wythout any stroke strykynge and pacyfyed the appeale to the honoure of the duke of Lancastre as wytnesseth the Frenche boke nat wyth standynge he was the French kynges enemye And soone after the sayde duke of Lancastre wyth other nobles assygned to hym by the kyng of England wentte to Auynyon wyth the archebysshoppe of Roan than chaunceller of Fraunce and the duke of Burbō and other appoynted for the kynge of Fraunce to conclude efte a peace betwene theyr two prynces The whyche at the cytye beforesayd were harde at lengthe before the newe pope than named Innocente the .vi. whych also lyke to hys predecessour was a Frencheman and cardynall of Lymosyne in Normādy called by hys proper name Stephan Aubert In conclusyon after great argumēte made on eyther partye before the pope and hys counsayl fynally it was agreed that y e peace betwene the .ii. kynges shuld be kept holden inuiolate tyll mydsomer next folowynge Anno domini M.CCC.liii  Anno dn̄i M.CCC.liiii  wyllyam Tontynghm̄  Thomas Legge  Anno .xxix.  Rycharde Smert  IN thys .xxix. yere kynge Edward by the aduyce of hys coūsayll for so moche as the townes of Flaunders brake theyr promyse before tyme made and helde nat the bādes of amyte by theym promysed by the lyfe of Iaques de Artyuele but fauoured the Frēche kynges partye therefore he with drewe from theym the markettes and staples of wolles that in sondry townes of Flaunders had than lately by the prouycyon of the foresayd Iaques to theyr greate aduauntage vsed to be kept and ordeyned than the sayde staples to be holden in sondry good townes of Englande as westmynster Chychester Lyncolne Brystowe and Caunterbury And shortely after Easter the Frenche kynge sent hys eldest sonne Charles dolphyne of Uyenne into Normandy for to take the rule of y e countre and specially for to sease certayne landes castelles whyche at y e daye belonged vnto the kyng of Nauerne whyche than was oute of the Frenche kynges fauour for the deth of syr Charles of Spayne constable lately of Fraūce y t he had by his meanes murdered in a towne called the Aygle in Normandy vpō .ii. yeres before passed And whyle y e sayd dolphyne was thus besyed in Normādy he made suche meanes to y e rulers therof that they graūted vnto hym ayde of .iii. M. mē for .iii. moneths at theyr proper costes and charges Of thys soone after sprange suche tydinges y t the kyng of Englād was enfourmed that the Frēch kyng had gyuen to hys sonne Charles y e duchy of Normandy with all Gascoygne Guyan and howe y e Normānes had graūted vnto y e sayd Charles .iii. M. mē for .iii. moneths to warre at theyr costes vpō y e Englyshmē whych as y e Frēch boke testifieth was graūted to hym onely to defēde y e kyng of Nauerne y t came to Cōstātyne shortly after for to repossesse all such lādes as the sayd dolphyn of hys had there seased for that wyth a bygge armye made warre vpon the sayd dolphyn But were it thus or otherwyse trouth it is as diuers wryters agreē in the moneth of October and ende of thys yere prynce Edwarde wyth a great hoste entred Gascoyne and passed by Tholouse and passed the ryuer of Gerounde or Geron̄ and so passed by Carcassyon and brent the bulwerkes of that cytye and from thens he rode to Nerbon̄ in pyllyng spoylynge the countre as he went And in the same yere kynge Edwarde wyth his power landed at his towne of Caleys where he rested hī by all y e tyme of this mayres yere And in this yere was the house of the freres Augustynes of Londō fynysshed whyche was reedyfyed by syr Humfrey Bohum erle of Hertforde and Essex whose body lyeth buryed in the quere of the sayde house or chyrche before the hygh aulter Anno domini M.CCC.liiii  Anno domini M.CCC.lv  Thomas Forster  Symon Franceys  Anno .xxx.  Thomas Brandon  IN this .xxx. yere the kynge as ye before haue herde beyng at Caleys shortly after the feast of Alhalloyne toke his iournay towarde the Frenche kynge and contynued his iournay tyll he came to a towne named Hesden and brake there the Frenche kynges parke toke suche pleasures as hym there lyked In whiche season of his there beynge tydynges were brought vnto hym y t y e Scottes had gotē y e towne of Berwyke and how they made dayly assautes to wynne the castell wherfore the kyng made the more hasty spede and returned to Caleys and so into Englande For whiche cause sayth y e Frenche cronycle y t kynge Edwarde fled from the Frenche kynge y t than with a strōge power came from Amy as vnto saynt Omers Than kynge Edwarde sped hym into Scotlande so y t in the moneth of Ianuary and begynnynge of the xxx yere of his reygne and .xxvii. day of the sayd moneth he layd his syege to y e towne of Berwyke had it yolden vnto hym in shorte processe of tyme after And that doone he entred ferther into the lande and subdued y e cheyf townes holdes as he went pursued the Scottysshe kynge so narowly that in the ende he was fayne to submytte hym to y e kynges grace as prysoner and resygned his power into the kynges hande And whan kynge Edwarde had set that coūtre in a rule he returned with the Scottysshe kyng agayne into Englande and called his courte of parlyament at westmynster In y e whiche amōge other thynges to the kynges auauntage was graunted to the mayntenaunce of his warres .l. s. of a sacke of woll for y e terme of .vi. yeres But it contynued lenger though the marchaūtes staplers therat grutched Than let vs now retourne vnto that noble prynce Edward the fyrst begotten sonne of the kynge whych by all thys tyme warred vppon the Frenchmen as in y e precedynge yere is touchyd So that lastly he retourned to Burdeaux wyth many ryche prysoners and pyllages to the great honoure of hym selfe and the greate auauncement of hys soudyours And all be it that in that countrees whyche he then passed were the erles of Armenake and of Foyze of Poytyers and of Cleremount wyth syr Iames de Burbon̄ and many other knyghtes the whyche hadde dowble the people as testyfyeth the Frenche cronycle that the prynce had yet passed he from Tholous to Nerbon̄ fro Nerbon̄ to Burdeaux wythout batayle And after the prynce hadde there a whyle rested hym and hys people and sent dyuers of hys prysoners in to Englande he wyth hys hoste entred the
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
kept to the entent that at all tymes when any cytesyne wolde borowe any money that he shulde haue it there for the space of a yere to laye for suche a summe as he wold haue plate or other iewellys to a suffycyente gayge so that he excedyd not the summe of an hundreth marke And for the occupyenge therof yf he were lerned to saye at hys pleasure De profundis for the soule of IohnÌ„ Bernys and all christen soules as often tymes as in hys summe were comprysed .x. markes As he that borowed but .x. marke shulde saye but ouer that prayer And yf he had .xx. marke then to saye it twyes and so after the rate And yf he were not lerned then to saye so often hys Pater noster But how so thys money was lent or gyded at thys daye the cheste remayneth in the chamber of London wythout money or pledges for the same Anno domini M.CCC.lxx  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxi  Robert Hatfelde  IohnÌ„ Bernes  Anno .xlvi.  Robert GaytonÌ„  IN thys .xlvi. yere and moneth of February kynge Edwarde helde hys parlyamente at westmynster In the whych he asked of the spirytualtye .l. M. li as moch of y e laye fee. The whych by the temporal was graunted but the clergye kepte them of wyth plesaunt answeres So that the kyng and hys couÌ„sayll was with them dyscontented in so moche that to theyr dyspleasures dyuers offycers as the chaunceler the pryuye seale the tresourer and other were remoued beyng spyrytuall men and in theyr offyces places temporall men set in And shortly after the foresayde cardynall of Beauuays came into Englande to treate of the peace betwene the .ii. realmes But he spedde nothyng to the effect therof wherfore in the moneth of Iuly y e Frenche kyng sente into the countre of Poyteaw the forenamed syr Barthram de ClayconÌ„ wyth a stronge armye where he wan dyuers holdes fortresses from the Englyshmen In whyche season kynge Edwarde for strengthyng of the couÌ„tre specially to defende y e towne of Rochell which as aboue in the other yere is shewed was at this yere besieged by the sayd syr Barthran sente the erle of Penbroke wyth other noble men to forty fye the sayde towne and to remoue y e syege But or he myght wynne to the sayd towne he was encountred with a flote of Spaynardes the whyche kyng Henry of Castyle had sent into Fraunce to strength the French kynges partye Of the whyche flote after longe and cruell fyght the sayde erle was taken wyth syr Guycharde de Angle and other to the nombre of C and thre score prysoners the more partye of hys men slayne and drowned wyth the losse of many good shyppes And in the begynnyng of the moneth of Septembre folowyng a Gascoygne borne a man of good fame whome the kyng of England had admytted for hys lyeutenaunt gouernoure of the countre of Poyteaw named le Captall de Bueffe faughte wyth an armye of Frenchmen before a towne named Sonbyse where in conclusyon hys men were slayne and chased he wyth .lxx. of hys partie taken prysoners Than the dukes of Berry of Burgoyne vppon the .vi. daye of Septembre came before Rochell and had certayne communicacioÌ„s with y e rulers of the sayd towne for the delyuery therof In this passe tyme season kyng Edward heryng of the takyng of the erle of PeÌ„broke of the losse that he dayly had of hys men in dyuers partyes of Fraunce with also the ieopardye that y e towne of Rochell and other stode in made hasty prouysyon entendyd to haue passed the see But the wynde was coÌ„traryous that he myght haue no passage wherfore he retourned as sayth PolicronicoÌ„ agayne into the land Than vpon the .viii. daye of Septembre beforesayd the captayne of Rochell hauynge no coÌ„forte of short rescous yelded vppon certayne appoyntementes the sayde towne vnto the forenamed dukes vnto the FreÌ„ch kynges vse And shortely after were also yolden to theym the townes of Angolesme of ExaÌ„ctes of saiÌ„t IohnÌ„ de Angely wyth dyuers other Anno domini M.CCC.lxxi  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxii  IohnÌ„ Phylpotte  IohnÌ„ Pyell  Anno .xlv.  Nycholas Brember  IN thys .xlvii. yere at a wrestelynge holden vpon blake Heth besyde London was slayne a mercer of LondoÌ„ named IohnÌ„ Northwode For the whyche greate dyssencyon grewe amonge the felyshyppes of y e cytye to the houge dystourbaunce of it and a good season after or the rancoure thereof myghte be duely appeased In thys yere also the duke of LaÌ„castre syr IohnÌ„ of Gaunt syr EdmuÌ„de his brother erle of Cambriged wedded the two doughters of Peter whyche was late kynge of Castyle put to deth by HeÌ„ry hys bastarde brother as before I haue shewed in the xliii yere of thys kyngê reygne Of y e whyche two doughters syr IohnÌ„ of Gaunt maryed the eldest named CoÌ„stance hys brother the yonger named Isabell so that by these maryages these .ii. bretherne claymed to be enherytours of the kyngdome of Castyle or Spayne And in thys yere after the duke of Brytayne had receyued many exortacyons requestes frome the Frenche kyng to haue hym vpon hys partye he sente for certayne sowdyours of Englishmen strengthed with them some of thys castelles holdes wherof heryng kyng Charles sent thyder wyth a stronge power the forenamed syr Barthran de Claycon warnyng theym to make warre vpon them as an enemye vnto the house of FrauÌ„ce The whyche accordynge to theyr coÌ„mission entred the lande of Brytayn in wastyng it with irne fyre and in shorte processe had yolden vnto hym the more partye of the chyef townes excepte Brest Aulroy and Deruall Than in the ende of Iuny the sayde syr Barthran layd syege vnto Brest the lord of Craon wyth other laye before Daruall In all whyche season the duke of Brytayne was in Englande For so soone as he hadde as before is sayd bestowed the foresayd Englyshe sowdyours he sayled into Englande to speke wyth kynge Edwarde In the moneth of Iuly the duke of LaÌ„castre wyth syr IohnÌ„ de MouÌ„t forde duke of Brytayne other with a myghty puyssaunce landed at Caleys And after they had rested them there a certayn days they rode vnto Hesden and lodged them within the parke an other season And after passed by DourloÌ„s by Benquesne and so vnto Corbye where they passed y e ryuer of Some and rode vnto Roy in Uermendoys where they rested them by the space of .vii. dayes At whych terme ende they set fyre vpon the towne toke theyr way towarde Laemoys and burned spoyled the countre as they weÌ„t And in processe of tyme passed the ryuers of Osne Marne and of Aube rode thorugh ChaÌ„payne by the erledome of Brame streyghte vnto Guy passed the ryuer of Seyn so towarde y e ryuer of Leyr and vnto Marcynguy y e noÌ„nery And whan they were passed the sayd nonnery they kepte theyr waye
vnto the duke so plesaunt message y t he retourned agayne vnto the cytye whome they receyued with all honor and reuerence And vpon the morow after hys retourne the prouost wyth certayne other of the cytye shewed vnto the duke that they wolde make a greate shyfte for hym towarde the mayntenaunce of hys warres And to brynge that mater to good conclusyon they besought hym y t he wolde assemble at Parys shortly a certayn persones of .xx. or .xxx. good townes there nexte adioynaunt The whych was vnto thē graunted so y t shortely after there assembled at Parys vpō lxx persones the whyche helde theyr counsayll to gyther by sundry days Howe be it in the ende they shewed vnto the duke that nothynge they myght brynge to effecte without assemble of the .iii. astates besoughte hym that they myght be efte reassembled trustyng that by theyr presence the dukes mynde shulde be contente and satysfyed Upon whyche requeste the duke sent hys cōmyssiōs chargyng y e sayd iii. astates to apere before hym at Parys the wednysday nexte folowynge y e day of al sayntes And full fayne he was to do all thyng that the citezyns of Parys hym requyred to do for as testyfyeth the Frenche Cronycle he was so bare of money that he hadde nat suffycyente to defende hys cotydyan charge IN the .viii. yere of kynge Iohn̄ and wednysday after Alhalowen day the .iii. astates reassembled at Parys and helde theyr counsayll within the blacke freers Durynge whych coūsayll the kyng of Nauern̄ that longe had ben holden in pryson wythin the castell of Alleux was deliuered by the meanes of syr Iohanne Pyquygny than gouernoure of the countrey of Arthoys and after conueyed by the sayd Iohn̄ vnto y e town of Amyas whan y e kyng of Nauerne was thus set at large anon his syster and other of hys frendes made meanes vnto the duke of Normandy for an vnyte a peace to be had betwene them and by them a meane was foūden that the kyng with such as were in hys company shulde come vnder saufe conduyt to Parys to common with the duke whā dyuers of the .iii. astates as such as were of Chāpeyn and Burgoyn knewe of the comyng of the kyng of Nauerne vnto Parys they without leue takyng departed And vpon the euyn of saynt Andrew the sayd kynge entred Parys wyth a greate companye of men of armes Amonge the wyche was the bysshop of Parys with many other of y e sayd cytye Upon the morowe folowynge the daye of saynt Andrew the kynge entēdynge to shewe hys mynde vnto the comynalte of the cytye caused an hyghe scaffolde to be made by y e wall of saynt Germayn where he was lodged where moche people beynge assembled he shewed vnto them a lōge processe of hys wrongefull enprysonemente and of the mysgydynge of the lande by meanes of ille offycers wyth many couerte wordes to y e dyshonoure of the Frenche kynge and iustyfycacion of hym selfe and excusynge of hys owne dedes and so retourned into hys lodgyng Uppon the thyrde daye of December the prouoste wyth other of the cytye yode vnto the duke and in the names of the good townes or commynaltyes of the same requyred of hym that he wolde do vnto the kynge of Nauerne reason and iustyce To whome it was answered by y e bysshop of Laon that the duke shuld nat allonly shewe vnto the kyng reason iustyce but he shuld also shewe vnto hym frendely brotherhode with all grace curtesy And all be it that at that season many of y e dukes coūsayll were present to whome the gyuyng of that answere had more cōueniently apperteyned thā to y e sayde bisshop yet they were at that tyme in suche fere that they durste nat moue any thynge that shuld soūde cōtrary the displeasure of the kynge of Nauerne or of the prouoste other Thā it was agreed that vpon y e saterdaye folowynge the kynge and the duke whyche as yet had nat spoken togyther shuld mete at the place of the syster of the sayd kyng where they met with vnfrendely coūtenaūce after they had communed there a lōge season departed with litle loue or charite And vpon the mūday folowyng were shewed vnto the duke hys coūsayle certayne requestes desyred by the kyng of Nauerne the whych the duke was forsed to graunt whereof the substaunce was that the kynge shuld haue agayn and enioye al such lādes castelles and townes with all mouables to them belōgynge as he was in possessyō of y e daye that kyng Iohn̄ was taken within the castel of Roan and ouer that he shuld be pardoned of all offences by hym done agayne the crowne of Fraunce before that daye and all other hys adherentes or suche as had taken hys partie before y t tyme. And soone vpon thys was ordeyned that the erle of Harcourt and other whyche kyng Iohn̄ had caused to be beheded and after to be hāged vppon the commō gybet of Roan shuld be delyuered vnto theyr frendes to be buryed at theyr pleasures After whych conclusions taken and assuraunces made as farre as the dukes auctoryte wolde extende vnto syr Almary knyghte Menlene knyghte wyth thre or foure men of honoure mo were sente into Normandye to repossesse the kyng of Nauerne in all such lādes castelles and townes as he before tyme was in possessiō of wyth all mouables vnto the sayd landes apperteynynge And than the sayde kynge and duke helde famylyer company and dyned and souped togyther often sythes at the manoir or lodgyng of quene Iohan syster vnto the sayd kynge and other places Also the sayde kynge delyuered out of prysone all prysoners as well spyrytuall as tēporall suche as were thought any thyng fauourable vnto hys cause Amonge the whyche some there were that for theyr demerites were adiuged to perpetuall prysone In thys tyme season tydynges sprange within the cytye of Parys that the kynges of Englande and of Fraunce were agreed and that kyng Iohan shulde shortely returne into Fraunce By reason of whyche tydynges the kyng of Nauerne made the more haste to dyspache hym oute of Parys so y t he with hys company departed from Parys the .xx. daye of Decēber rode toward the cytye of Maunte in Normādy Soone after the kyng was thus departed dyuers enemyes to the noumbre of .x. or .xii. C. came within .iiii. or .v. myles of Parys whyche were demyd to be of the company of syr Phylip brother vnto the kyng of Nauerne These robbed and pylled the countrey thereabout in so moch that the people of the coūtrey of Preaux and Trappes and other there aboute were constrayned with theyr mouables to flee vnto Parys wherfore the duke sente out hys letters and cōmyssyons for to assemble hys knyghtes to withstande the sayd enemyes But the sayde cytesyns of Parys caste an other way and thought it to be done to the greuaunce or correccion of them For dowte wherof the prouost with other that had y e gouernaunce of the
comyn vnto Arde. And the frenche men spedde them in suche wyse that they logged theÌ„ the xxiiii day of Auguste vpon the mouÌ„tayne of Tournehawe nere vnto Arde so that both hoostes were lodgyd within an englysshe myle Atwene whom were dayly bekeringes and small skyrmysshes All whyche season the Frenche kyng taryed styll aboute Rowan Than the king of Nauerne whiche by a longe season had dwellyd in Nauerne came by shyppe into Constantyne and sent vnto kynge Charlys y t if he were so pleased he wolde gladly come vnto hym for to shewe to him his mynde wherfore the king sent vnto hym as hostagys the erle of Salebruge the deane of Parys with .ii. other noble men the whyche the kynge of Nauerne wolde nat accepte In the moneth of Septembre and vpon the .xii. day when the duke of Burgoyne had lyen as before is sayd nere vnto the englysshe hooste he that day remoued his people and so went vnto Hesden And the Englisshe hoost remoued to Caux other places as before I haue shewed to you in the .xliii. yere of kynge Edwarde with other thynges apperteyninge vnto the same mater And in the sayd moneth of Septembre kynge Charles manned and vitayled certayne galeys other shyppes and sent them into walys and so to haue entred into EnglaÌ„de But they retourned with lytle worshippe natwithstandynge that he had .ii. noble men of walys named Owan and Iames wynne whiche made to him faste promesse of great thynges by reason that they were enemyes vnto the kyng of Englande For this and for other charges the kynge called a conuocacyon of the temporalte and spiritualte at Parys where to mayntayne hys warres was graunted to hym of all thynge bought soâ—de excepte vitayle the .iiii. peny so that all thynge that was solde by retayle the seller shuld pay the exaccion and that whyche was solde by greate the byer shulde paye the sayd exaccion And the spiritualte graunted a dyme to be payed in .ii. halfe yeres And the lordes and gentylmen were stynted at a certaintye after the value of theyr landes In the moneth of February the kyng sent vnto the kynge of Nauerne than beynge at Chierbourgth certayne messyngers to perfyght an amyte atwene them leste he toke party agayne hym with the Englysshemen But thys treatye contynued a longe season so that iÌ„ the .vi. yere moneth of Iune the kynge of Nauerne hauyng sufficient hostages came to the frenche kynge to Uernon where in conclusion the kynge of Nauerne made his homage vnto the frenche kyng and became there his feodary wherof the Frenchemen made moche ioye After whiche accorde the sayde kynge of Nauerne the thirde day folowing toke his leaue of the kynge and so rode vnto Eureux All which season y e warre was coÌ„tynued by Englisshemen within the realme of Fraunce prouince of Brytayne as before is expressed in the xliiii.xlv.xlvi yeres of kynge Edwarde In the .vii. yere and moneth of Auguste the duke of Braban with many nobles of Fraunce mette in playne batayll with y e duke of Iuillers the duke of Guellre In which batayll after cruell fyght the duke of Braban was chased and vpoÌ„ his syde slayne the erle of saynt Poule with many other noble men whiche the story nameth nat And vpon the other syde was also slayne the duke of Guellre with many other vpon that partye IN the .xi. yere of kyng Charles moneth of Maye he assembled his great couÌ„sell of parlyament at Parys where amonge many actes made for y e weale of his realme he with assente of his lordes and coÌ„mons there assembled enacted for a lawe after that day to be contynued that al heyres to y e crowne of FrauÌ„ce theyr fathers beynge dede may be crowned as kynges of Fraunce so soone as they attayned vnto the age of .xiiii. yeres And in this yere was the treatye of peace laboured by the two cardynalles sent from the pope as before is shewed in the .xlix. yere of kynge Edwarde After whyche treatye nat concluded the kynge of Englande loste dayly of hys landes in Fraunce For in the moneth of August folowyng y e duke of Berry the duke of Angeo and many other lordes to them assygned in dyuers places as in Guyan Angeo and Mayne gate and wanne from the Englysshemen many couÌ„treys townes and castels as Pierregort Rouerge Caoursyn Bigorre Basyndas Berregart Daimet with many other townes and holdes whyche wolde aske a loÌ„ge leysour to reherce to the noumbre of .vi. score and .xiiii. what of townes castelles and other holdes whiche in shorte whyle were wonne frome the Englysshemen in the parties of Fraunce and Brytayne In the .xiii. yere of this Charles the Emperour of Rome Almayne named Charles the .iiii. of that name came into FrauÌ„ce by Cambray to do certayne pylgrymages at saint Denys and elles where and so was conueyed with honorable men as the lorde of Cousy and other vnto saynt Quintyne where he taryed Chrystmas daye And after he was conueyed to a towne called Eâ— of Ewe and from theÌ„ce to Noyen and than to Compeygne where he was mette with the duke of Burbon and other nobles Than he rode to Senlys where he was mette with the dukes of Berry and of Burgoyne bretherne of the Frenche kynge and many other as bisshoppes and other lordes And ye shall vnderstande that all suche as rode in the companyes of these forsayde dukes except bysshops and preestes rode in theyr lyuereys As the companye fyrste of the duke of Burbon brother vnto the quene to the noumbre of CCC men were all cladde in whyte and blewe The company of the .ii. other dukes the noumbre of .v. C. men in blacke and russet that is to meane the erles and other lordes in clothe of golde the knyghtes in veluet the gentylmen in damaske and sattyn and the yemen in clothe Thanne from Senlys he was brought vnto Louuris where mette with hym the duke of Barre with a companye of CC. horse and his company cladde in grene and redde And from thens he was had to saynte Denys vpon the thyrde day of Ianuary whither the king sent to him a chayre rychely garnysshed for so moche as he was vexed with the goute And the quene sente to hym an horse lytter with .ii. whyte palfreys where he was also mette with a great companye of bysshoppes and other spirituall men as abbottes priours and other and taryed there .ii. dayes Upon the .v. day of Ianuary beynge monday he rode towarde Parys But or he were halfe a myle froÌ„ saynte Denys he was mette with the prouoste of the marchauntes with a coÌ„pany of .xv. C. horse y t cytezens being cladde in whyte and violette and so rodde before hym tyll he came to Parys whan the kynge was warned that he was nere the citye he lepte vpon a whyte palfrey and accompanied with many lordes and other to the noumbre of a M. men all his housholde seruauntes beyng cladde iÌ„ one liuerey of browne blewe and darke
or stroÌ„ge holde gotten with great difficulte by maÌ„hode of your noble progenitours To this y e kyng with chauÌ„ged countenauÌ„ce answered sayd Uncle how say ye thoses wordes Than y e duke boldelye recyted y e foresayd wordes wherunto the king beynge more discontented said wene ye y t I be a marchauÌ„t or fole to sell my laÌ„de by saynt IohnÌ„ baptist nay But trothe it is y t our cosyn the duke of Brytaine hath rendred vnto vs al such suÌ„mes of money as our progenitours lente vnto him or his auncetours vpon the said towne of Brest For the whiche reason good conscience will y t he haue his towne restored agayne By meane of whiche wordes thus vttred by the duke suche rancoure and malyce kyndelyd atwene the kinge hym y t it ceased nat tyll the sayde duke was put to dethe by murdre vnlefully Than the duke apperceyuynge the kinges misledynge by certayne persones about him entendyng thereof reformacion for y e weale of the kinge and his realme called vnto him the abbot of saynte Albons the abbot pryour of westmynster and shewed to them his secrete mynde By whose counselles he made assemble shortely after at Arundell to which assemble came at the day appoynted dyuers lordes bothe spirituall temporall as him selfe the erle of Arundell and other Also thyther came the erle of Notyngham than marshall of Englande the erle of warwyke of spirituall lordes the archebisshoppe of Caunterbury the abbottes of saynte Albones and of westmynster with other After whyche assemble thus made and eueryche of theym to other sworne within the castell of Arundel the .viii. day of August they toke there theyr counsell and condiscended yts dyuers lordes about the king as the duke of Lancastre the duke of yorke and other shulde be putte from suche auctoryte and rule of the lande as they than bare and other offycers suche as were thought preiudicial vnto the weale of the lande shulde be dyscharged and punisshed for theyr demerytes whan this with many other thynges was amonge them concluded eueryche of theym departed tyll the tyme of an other metynge atwene theym appoynted But the erle of Notyngham contrarye his othe and promyse fearing the sequell of the matter yode shortely after vnto the kynge and dyscouered vnto hym all the premisses wherefore the kynge in all haste called a secrete counsell at London in the said erle of Notynghames place or after some at the place of the erle of Huntyngdone where it was concludyd y t the sayd erle of Huntyngdone other shulde by strengthe fetche vnto the king the erles of Arundell and of warwyke And in the meane whyle the kynge in propre ê‘sone arested his vncle syr Thomas of woodestoke at Plasshy in Essex as sayeth the Englysshe cronycle All be it an other wryter in laâ—yne saythe that kyng Rycharde in propre persone rode vnto the Manoure of Grenewyche in the nyghte tyme there toke hym in his bedde commauÌ„ded hym vnto the Towre of LoÌ„don whiche shortely after was conueyed vnto Calays and there pyteously murderyd And soone after were the foresayd erles of Arundell warwyke brought vnto the towre of London with also syr IohnÌ„ Cobham syr IohnÌ„ Cheynye knightes But the erle of Arundell was taken to bayle and wente at large vnder suertie tyll the begynnynge of the parlyament In whiche season dyuers other were brought to sondrye prysones Than the kynge sente out his commissyoners vnto the lordes of his realme for to come vnto hys parliament which began after vpon the .xvii. day of Septembre in the begynninge of the .xxi. yere of y e kynge and later ende of thys mayres yere Here it is to be noted that Adam Bame mayre dyed in the begynning of the moneth of Iune For whome was after chosen and admytted the viii day of y e sayd moneth for mayre Rycharde whytyngton to occupye the full of that yere that is to meane tyll the feest of Symonde and Iude. But vpon saynt Edwardes day folowyng whan the newe mayre is accustomed to be chosen Than was he electe agayne for that yere folowynge And so he stode in the offyce of mayraltye an hoole yere and .v. monethes Than to returne to our fyrst mater whan the kyng hadde assembled his lordes y t whiche came with so stronge and myghtie companyes that the cytie suffysed nat to lodge the people but were fayne to be lodgyd in small townes and vyllages nere vnto y e same within short tyme after the sayde parlyamente was begonne the erles of Arundell and of warwyke were broughte before the lordes of the parlyamente holden at westmynster and there fynally iudged as foloweth the erle of Arudell to be ladde on fote from westmynster and place of his iugemeÌ„t thoroughe the highe stretes of the cytie vnto the towre hylle where hys hede to be stryken of and the erle of warwyke was also iudged to dethe But for his great age by meane of hys frendes his iugemente was pardoned and altered to perpetuall prison where as the kyng wolde coÌ„maunde hym whiche after was had vnto y e Ile of Man in Lancasshyre where he consumed the resydue of hys olde dayes And the erle of Arundelle accordinge to the sentence vpon him gyuen vpon the morowe folowyng the feest of saynte Mathewe beynge saterday the .xxii. day of Septembre was ladde on fote vnto y e towre hyll beyng accompanyed with great strengthe of men for so moche as it was demyd y t he shuld haue ben rescued by the waye how be it none suche was attempted but peasably he was brought vnto the sayde place of execucyon and there pacientlye mekely toke his dethe whose body after was by the freres Augustynes borne vnto theyr place within the warde of Bradestrete of London there in the northe syde of the quyer solempnely buryed and after vpon his graue a sumptuous toumbe of marble stone sette and edifyed And by auctoryte of the said parlyament the archebysshoppe of Caunterbury was exyled the realme And vpon the monday folowynge beynge the xxiiii daye of Septembre syr IohnÌ„ lord Cobham and sir IohnÌ„ Cheyny knyght were iudged to be drawen hanged and quarteryd But by instaunce and labour of their frendes that iugement was chaunged vnto perpetuall prison And thys done y e kynge ordayned a royall feeste and helde open housholde for all honeste comers For as affirmeth Peter Pyctauyence a wryter of historyes this prynce kynge Rycharde passed all other of his progenytours in lyberalytie and bounâ—ie The whiche feest and also parlyament yet holdynge the kynge created .v. dukes a marques and .v. erles As fyrste the erle of Derby syr HeÌ„ry of Bolygbrooke sone and heyre of IohnÌ„ of Gaunte duke of LaÌ„castre was created duke of Herforde The secoÌ„de whiche was erle of Rutlande was created duke of Amnerle The thyrde beynge erle of Kent was created duke of Surrey The fourthe beynge erle of Notyngham was created duke of Norfolke And the fyfte was the erle of
waters whyche they myghte sonest attayne â—nto and so wyth greate dyffyculte saued theym selfe In meane tyme whereof the chauÌ„ber beynge wyth the same tyred grewe in so greate a flame that in shorte whyle the more parte of that lodgynge was consumed to y e great fere of y e kynge and other astates thaÌ„ there beynge presente and augmentynge agayne of his former sykenes so that certayne appoyntementes to be holdeÌ„ betwene hym and Rychard kynge of Englande were for that tyme put of IN the .xvi. yere of thys Charles the maryage of peace betwene bothe realmes was concluded and fynysshed at Calays as before I haue shewed to you in the .xix. yere of kyng Rycharde And that triumphe fynysshed Charles at the coÌ„templacyon and prayer of the kynge of Hungry sent vnto hym Phylyp erle of Arroys wyth dyuers other knyghtes in good noumber to ayde y e sayd kynge agayne the Turkys The whyche after that they hadde there a season warred the capytaynes the more party of the Frenchemen of the Turkys were dystressed slayne many taken prisoners to theyr great charge Thys Charles thus contynuyng hys lykenesse two freres of saynte Augustynes order beynge desyrous of money toke vppon theym to cure the kyng And after they had shauen hys hede and mynistred to hym medicyns the kynge dayly febled in suche wyse y t he was nye dede For whiche coÌ„syderacyon they examyned by phylosophers and doctours of physyke founden vncunnynge were degraded of theyr presthode after behedded To thys folye were these fretes broughte by the excytynge of the duke of Burgoyne as the common fame went In the .xix. yere of thys Charles the lande of Fraunce was greuously vexed wyth the plage of ipydymye of whyche sykenesse a greate multytude of people dyed And that yere was there also sene a blasynge starre of wonderfull bygnes wyth stremes apperynge to meÌ„nes syghte of moste feruent brennynge In thys yere also Charles herynge of y e subduyng of kynge Rycharde sente into Englande two of hys housholde knyghtes requyrynge kynge Henry the fourth than newelye made kynge to sende home hys doughter Isabell latelye maryed vnto kyng Rychard wyth suche do war as wyth hyr was promysed In doynge of whyche message kynge Henry toke such dyspleasure that as sayeth Gagwinus myne auctour he threwe the sayde twoo knightes in prysone where through one of theym named Blanchet dyed in Englande and that other called Henry after greate sykenesse retourned into Fraunce And shortely after kynge Henry sente the sayde dame Isabell vnto Calays where she was ioyously receyued of the Frenchemen and so conueyed vnto hyr sayde father whyche as yet was nat of hys sykenesse cured By reason whereof among the lordes of FrauÌ„ce eueryche of them coueytyng to haue rule great dyssencion malyce begaÌ„ to kendle and specyallye betwene the dukes of Orleaunce of Burgoyne and of Berry Than the duke of Orleaunce enteÌ„dyng to promote hys cause vnknowyng the other lordes allyed hym wyth y e duke of Geldre streÌ„ghthed hym wyth .v. C. men of hys so entred the feeldes of Parys And in lyke maner y e duke of Burgoyne wyth a stronge coÌ„pany kept an other cooste of y e countrey Natwythstandyng by meanes of other lordes these two dukes were kept a sunder at lenghte y t duke of Orleyaunce by the kynges comaundement that somewhat was than amended was ordayned regente of the realme The whiche anone as he was sette in auctoryte fell to all rauyne and oppressed the people with cotydyan taskes and tallages and y e spirituall men with dymes other exaccyons wherfore by reason of the studyentes of Parys he was at lengthe discharged of that dignyte and the duke of Burgoyne for hym put in auctoryte Than the duke of Orleyaunce beynge discontented yode vnto LuceÌ„bourgth a towne in highe Almayne sought agayne ayde of the duke of Geldre foresayd But by his frendes he was so aduertysed y t with his owne folkes he returned into Fraunce But yet the malyce and stryfe a twene hym and the duke of Burgoyne seased nat About this season or soone after dyed the duke of Brytayne And as affermeth the auctour afore named kyng Henry y e .iiii. maryed his wyfe wherof hering y e duke of Burgoyne with a company of .vi. M. knyghtes entred Brytayne there by strength toke from her her .iii. sonnes named IohnÌ„ Richard Arthure presented them vnto kynge Charles In y e xxii yere of this Charles was borne of Isabell hys wyfe a man chylde which also was named Charles the which after the deth of his father vnto y e great aduersyte of all the realme of FrauÌ„ce was king of that realme contrary the appointment taken a twene Henry the .v. after kynge of Englande and thys Charles the father nowe of Fraunce kynge as after shall more appere in the story of the sayde kynge Henry the fyfte In this yere also was dame Isabell somtyme wyfe of Rycharde latelye kynge of Englande maryed vnto Charles eldeste sonne of the duke of Orleyaunce And IohnÌ„ the eldyste of the .iii. forenamed sonnes of the duke of Brytayne lately dede toke to wyfe Margarete y e doughter of kynge Charles And Phylyppe duke of Burgoyne dyed soone after leauynge an heyre after hym named IohnÌ„ The whyche after he was gyrde with the swerde of the duchye of Burgoyne he anone by euyll entysynge and counsell areryd warre agayne the duke of Orleyaunce to the great dysturbaunce of all the realme For the sayde duke of Orleyaunce was a prynce of a wonderfull hyghe courage and desyrous of great honoure and after the sayenge of Gagwynus coueyted to be kynge of Fraunce The whyche went to Auyngnyon where as than sate the .xiii. Benet thaÌ„ pope duryng the scisme and admytted by some of the Cardynalles after the dethe of Clement y e .vi. To whiche Benet the said duke made great labour to depryue the Uniuersite of Parys from y e great auctoryte y t it at those dayes stode in whiche was of merueylous auctoryte than as sayeth the forenamed auctour In thys whyle thus endurynge the lande full of myseryes aduersites the quene which y t moche fauoured the dukes partie accompanyed with the sayd duke rode to take her dysporte of huntynge in to the countrey of Meldon To whiche place she sente letters vnto the Dolphyn by y e duke of Bauary her brother that he with hys wyfe whiche was doughter vnto the duke of Burgoyne shulde come for to dysporte theym whereof IohnÌ„ thanne duke of Burgoyne beynge warned suspected the quene that she wyth ayde of the duke wolde conueye the Dolphyn into Germanye and there to holde hym at theyr pleasures And to eâ—peche that purpose he iÌ„ all haâ—e sped him towarde y e Dolphyn and contrary the mynde of the duke of Bauarye whiche than was vpon his waye with the sayd Doulphyne towarde the quene retourned hym and lodged him in a stronge castell called Lupar whereof herynge the duke
fyersly vpon the cytezyns that he draue theÌ„ backe from y e stulpes iÌ„ Southwarke or brydge fote vnto y e drawe brydge In defendynge wherof many a man was drowned and slayne Amonge y t whiche of men of name was Iohan Sutton aldermaÌ„ Mathewe Gouth gentylman and Roger Heysande cytezyn And thus contynued this skyrmysshe all nyght tyll .ix. of the clocke vpon the morne so that somtyme the cytezyns had the better thus soone the Kentysmen were vpon the better syde But euer they kepte them vpon the brydge so that the cytezyns passed neuer moche the bulwarke at the byrdge fote nor y e KentysshmeÌ„ moche ferther thaÌ„ the drawe brydge Thus coÌ„tynuyng the cruel fyght to the dystruccyon of moche people on bothe sydes lastly after the Kentysshmen were put to the worse a trewe was agreed for certayne houres Duryng the whiche trewe the archebysshop of Cantorbury than chaunceler of Englande sent a generall pardon to the capytayne for hymselfe and an other of hys peple By reason wherof he hys company departed the same nyght out of Southwarke so retourned euery man to hys owne But it was nat longe after that the capytayne wyth hys coÌ„pany was thus departed that proclamacyons were made in dyuers places of Kent of Southsex and Sowtherey that who myghte take the foresayde Iak Cade other on lyue or dede shulde haue a M. marke for hys trauayle After whych proclamacion thus publisshed a geÌ„tylmaÌ„ of KeÌ„t named Alexander IdenÌ„ awayted so hys tyme that he toke hym in a gardyn in Sussex where in the takyng of hym the sayd Iak was slayne so beynge dede was brought into Southwarke the daye of the moneth of there left in the kynges benche for that nyght And vpon y â— morowe the dede corps was drawen thorugh the hyghe stretes of the cytye vnto New gate there heded and quartered whose hede was than sent to LondoÌ„ brydge his .iiii. quarters were sent to .iiii sondry townes of Kent And thys done the kyng sent hys commissions into Kent rode after hym selfe and caused enquery to be made of thys riot in Caunterbury where for the same .viii. men were iuged put to deth And in other good townes of Kent Southsex dyuers other were put in execucyon for the same ryot In thys yere also in the west couÌ„tree was slayne the bisshop of Salysbury by the commons of that couÌ„tre wherfore after the kyng had sped his besynesse in Kent Sussex he rode thyder to se also those malefactours punysshed Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.l.  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.li.  IohnÌ„ Myddylton  Nycholas wyfforde Grocer  Anno .xxix.  wyllyam Dere  IN thys .xxix. yere vpoÌ„ sait Leonardes daye or the .vi. daye of Nouembre began the parlyamente at westmynster And the fyrste day of DeceÌ„bre folowyng the duke of Somerset whyche newly was commyn out of Normandy was putte vnder arest and his goodes by the coÌ„mons were fowly dyspoyled borne a waye out of the blak fryers For at this season was moche people in the cytie by reason of the parlyament specially of lordes seruauntes whyche were awaytynge vppon theyr lordes and maysters in great multytude For ye shall vnderstande y e temporall lordê in those dayes kepte other maner of housholdes other maner of reteyndour of housholde seruauntes and other nombre ferre excedynge that the lordes at these dayes done wherefore at parlyament tymes and other great counsayles the cytyes or townes where they assembled were hougely stuffed wyth people Than after thys ryot thys commytted vpon the morowe folowynge proclamacyon was made thorugh the cytye that no man shulde spoyle or robbe vppon payne of dethe And the same day at the staÌ„darde in Chepe was a maÌ„ beheded for brekyng of the sayd proclamacioÌ„ And thus begoÌ„ rumour malyce to spryng betwene y e lordê of the laÌ„de And specially y e duke of Somerset other of y e quenes couÌ„sayll were had iÌ„ great hatered for y e losiÌ„g of NormaÌ„dy wherof y e chief citie of RoaÌ„ was lost or gyue vp by apointemeÌ„t y e yere precedyng as witnesseth Gaguynus vpon coÌ„dycyon that the duke of Somerset with his wyfe and Englyssh sowyours shulde with suche goodes as they myghte cary departe frely from y e cytie For whiche fre passage he shulde pay vnto y e Frenche kynge lvi M. scutes which amouÌ„te to .xiiii. M. marke sterlyng And also he was bounde to delyuer into the Frenche kynges possession all townes and castelles that at that daye were in the possessyon of Englysshemen within the duchy of Normandy For performaunce of whiche couenauntes the lorde Talbot was set for one of the pledges and so by one Floquet before named all the sayd townes and castelles were by hym to the Frenche kynges vse receyued Harflete onely excepted wherof y e capytayne named Cyrson or Curson denyed the delyuery with assystence of one named syr Thomas Auryngham The whiche in despyte of all the Frenche kynges power layde bothe by see and lande helde it from the begynnynge of Decembre tyll the moneth of Ianuary and than for lacke of rescouse gaue it vp by appoynment in y e begynnynge of this mayres yere For this yeldynge vp of Normandy moche dyspleasure grewe vnto the quene and her counceyll in so moche y t the duke of yorke father vnto kyng Edwarde the .iiii. with many lordes with hym allyed toke partye agayne hyr and her counsayll so that mortall warre therof ensued as here after in this story wall appere Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.li.  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lii  Mathewe Phylyp  wyllyam Gregory skynner  Anno .xxx.  Chrystofer warton  IN thys .xxx. yere .xvi. daye of February the kynge beyng accompanied with the duke of Somersette and many other lordes toke theyr iournay towarde the marchys of walys for so moche as he was credibly assertayned y t the duke of york assysted with dyuers other lordes meÌ„ of name had in those partyes gathered great strengthe of people and with them was entrynge the lande and so helde on his iourney towarde hym But whan y e duke had wytyng of the kynges great power he swaued the way from the kynges hoste and toke the way towarde London And for he had receyued knowlege from the cytie y t he myght not there be receyued to refresshe hym and his people he therwith went ouer Kyngstone brydge and so into Kente and there vpon an hethe called Brente heth he pyght his felde wherof the kynge houynge knowlege sped hym after and lastly came vnto Blacke hethe there pyght his felde where bothe hostes beynge thus enbatayled meidacioÌ„ was made of peace by twene both hostes For furtheraunce wherof to the duke were sente y e bysshoppes of wynchester and of Ely with the erles of Salysbury and of warwyke To whome it was answered by the sayd duke y t he nor none of the company entended none hurte vnto the kynges persone
Calays for .xviii. M. li. whyche summes of money whan they had receyued y e sayd lordes of one assent made ouer y e forenamed mayster IohnÌ„ Dynham wyth a stronge company sent hym vnto Sandwyche to wynne y e kynges nauye than there lyenge and other thynges for theyr nedes necessary The whyche sped hym in suche wyse that he toke the lord Ryuers in hys bedde wanne the town toke the lord Scalys sonne vnto the sayd lord Riuers with other ryche prayes and after tooke of the kynges nauy what shyppes them lyked and after retourned vnto Calays nat without consent agremeÌ„t of many of y e mariners whych owyd theyr synguler fauours vnto the erle of warwyke In thys iourney was the sayde Iohan Dynham sore hurt that he was may med vpon the legge haltyd whyle he lyued after Than after this iourney thus acheuyd the sayd lordes by tayled and maÌ„ned the sayd shyppes sent wyth them as chefe capytayne the erle of warwyke into Irelande to speke wyth the duke of yorke and to haue hys counsayll for maters coÌ„cerning theyr charge as reentre into this lande and other where whaÌ„ he had happelye sped hys nedys he retourned towarde Calays bryngyng wyth hym hys mother the couÌ„tesse of Salysbury also kepte hys course tyll he came into the west couÌ„trey where at that tyme was the duke of Gretyr as admyrall of the see wyth a competeÌ„t nouÌ„ber of shyppes well maÌ„ned in so moche that the erle of warwyke prouyded to haue gyuen batayll vnto â—he sayd duke yf he hadde made any couÌ„tenaunce toward him But the duke harde suche murmure speche amoÌ„ge hys owne company whych fouÌ„ded vnto the erle of warwykes fauoure that he thoughte it was more vnto hys profyte to suffre hym to passe than to fight with him But were it for thys cause or for other which y e commoÌ„ fame ruÌ„neth vppoÌ„ which were loÌ„ge to wryte certayn trouth it is that the sayd erle passed wythout fyghte came in sauete to Calays In thys passe tyme a parliament or great couÌ„sayll was holdeÌ„ at Couentre By auctoryte whereof the duke of yorke and all the other foresayde lordes wyth many other were attaynted and theyr laÌ„des goodes seased to the kynges vse And for the more surer defeÌ„ce that they shuld nat efte lande in KeÌ„t prouisioÌ„ was made to defende the haueÌ„s portys vppon the sees syde And at Sandwyche was ordeyned a new streÌ„gthe wyth a capitayn named syr SymoÌ„de MouÌ„forde And ouer thys prouision was ordeyned that no marchauÌ„t passyng into the costys of FlauÌ„ders shulde passe or go by Calays for fere that any shuld come to y e ayde of the sayd lordes But thys prouysyon natwythstandyng comfort to them was sent dayly out of EnglaÌ„d Than these lordes herynge of all thys prouysyon made vppoÌ„ the sees syde to wythstaÌ„de theyr laÌ„dynge sent out an other company vnto SaÌ„dewyche the whych there skyrmysshed wyth the sayd syr SymoÌ„de Mountforde in the ende toke hym broughte hym vnto Ryse Banke there smote of hys hede The foresayd lordes than coÌ„syderynge the strengthe whych they had wyth them and manyfolde frendes hartys which they had in sundry places of EnglaÌ„d condysceÌ„ded for to sayle into Englande so to bryng about theyr enteÌ„t purpose whych was as the coÌ„mon fame went to put a parte frome the kynge all suche persones as were enemyes to the coÌ„mon weale of the laÌ„de And thys to bryng aboute after they had set the towne of Calays in an order sure kepyng they toke shyppynge so sayled into EnglaÌ„de landed at Douer and from theÌ„s helde on theyr iourney thorughe Kente so that they came to LondoÌ„ the .ii. daye of Iuly And after they had there refresshed theym and theyr people they departed thense sped theym towarde the kynge which at y e same tyme of theyr laÌ„dynge was at Couentry and there gathered his people so came vnto Northampton where he pyght hys felde wherof the sayd lordes beynge enfourmed sped them thytherward so that vpoÌ„ the .ix. day of Iuly bothe hostys there mette foughte there a cruell batayll But after long fyght the victory fell vnto the erle of Salysbury and the other lordes vpoÌ„ his partye the kynges hoste was sparcled chased many of hys noble men slayen AmoÌ„ge the whyche was the duke of Buckynghan the erle of Shrowsbury y e vycouÌ„t BeaumouÌ„d the lorde EgremoÌ„de wyth many other knyghtes and esquyers and the kyng taken in the felde After whych victory thus by these lordes opteyned they in goodly haste after retourned vnto LondoÌ„ and broughte wyth them the kynge kepyng hys estate lodged hym in the bysshop of LondoÌ„ palays And after spedye knowelege sent of all the premysses vnto y e duke of yorke yet beyng in IrelaÌ„de a parlyameÌ„t in the name of the kyng was than called holden at westmynster Durynge whych parlyament y e duke of yorke came vnto westmynster vpoÌ„ the frydaye before saynte Edwardes day or the .x. day of October and lodged hym in the kynges palays wherof anone arose a noyse thorugh the cytye that kynge Henry shuld be deposed the duke of yorke shulde be kynge UppoÌ„ thys this parlyamente thus contynuynge the duke came one daye into the parlyament chaumber there boldely beyng the lordes present sette hym downe in the kynges sete so there sittynge made a pretence and clayme vnto the crown affermyng it to be hys ryghtfull enherytauÌ„ce had there certayn bolde wordes in iustyfyenge of the same wherewyth all the lordes presente were greatly dysmayed For thys great many opynions were moued among the lordes Howe be it aswell dyuers of hys frendes as other were of the mynde that he shuld nat be admytted for kynge duryng the lyfe of kyng Henry For appeasynge wherof many great couÌ„sayles were kepte aswell at the blacke freres as at westmynster In all whych tyme and season the quene wyth suche lordes as were of hyr affynyte helde them in the north couÌ„trey assembled to theym greate strengthe in the kynges name to the ende to subdue as she sayde the kynges rebelles and enemyes Thus contynuynge thys vnkyndenesse betwene the kynge and the duke all be it that at that season bothe the kynge and he were bothe lodged within the palays of westmynster yet wolde he natte for prayer nor instaunce ones bysyte the kynge nor see hym tyll the counsayll were concluded vppon some fynall ende concernyug thys greate matter the whyche so continued the full terme of this mayres yere Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lx.  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.lxi. Grocer Rycharde Flemynge  Rycharde Lee.  Anno .xxxix.  IohnÌ„ Lambarde  THys yere whyche was in the begynnynge of the xxxlx yere of kyng Henryes reygne that is to meane vpoÌ„ the euyn of all sayntes or the laste day of October it was condyscended by the lordes spyrytuall temporall by the hole auctoryte of the sayd parliament that
the monastery of saynt Antony Charlys brother to the kynge caused .iiii. letters to be deuysed wherof one he sent to the bysshoppes and spyrytuall men within the cytye the seconde to the consulles or hed men the thyrde to y e scolers of the vnyuersyte and y e .iiii. vnto the comynaltye Of whyche letters the entent ensueth that he nor none of hys company was comen thyder as an enemye to the cytye or to make warre agayne it or the comon weale of the land but for the encreace and augmentacyon therof to the vttermost of theyr powers After receyte of whyche letters and the mater in them conteyned well vnderstaÌ„den and debatyd certeyne oratours for the sayde .iiii. partyes were assygned as thre for the spyrytuall men thre for the consuls thre for the vnyuersyte thre for comynaltye whose names I ouer passe The whyche wyth the bysshop of Parys were sent vnto the barons after longe communycacyon wyth them hadde retourned to the cytie with such report as foloweth Fyrste the lordes wolde that the inhabytauntes of the cytye shulde coÌ„syder the condycyons of the kynge y t whyche yerely oppressyth his subiectes with taskes and other greuouse seruagys Secondaryly how he despyseth y e noble blode of hys realme and draweth to hym vylaynes and men of no reputacyon by whose couÌ„sayls onely all the comon weale of y e land is ruled and guyded Thyrdely how he ruleth hys subiectes by force and wyll wythout mynystracyon of iustyce and hym selfe in all couÌ„sayls and parlyaments is iudge in all causes and callyth hys selfe counsayls and parlyamentes more for hys synguler weale than for the comoÌ„ weale of his realme Fourthely how he enhaunsyth men of lowe byrthe vnto greate honours and causyth noble men to be obedyent vnto them entendynge to brynge the same ignoble men for to be egall wyth the prynces of the lande Fyftely how the lawes be delayed and bolstred by suche as stande in his fauour where thorugh as thys daye lawe is wyll and wyll is lawe and no man almoste in any suerty of lyfe or goodes in so moche that dayly many ben banysshed and put to deth for vnlefull causes and also to any noble man at this daye no power or rome of honour belongeth so that to wylde bestes in the forestes apperteyneth more lybertye and suertye than the more partye of the kynges subgettes Syxtly the greate taskes and summes of money whych dayly be leuyed of the comoÌ„s ben not spent in the kynges honourable nedes and for the comon weale of the realme but are spent nysely ryottously and brybed out of y e kynges cofers For whyche enormytees mysgouernauÌ„ce with many other the sayde lordes were thyder comen in defensyble araye for y e sauegarde of theyr owne persons as to the hed and pryncypall cytie of the realme for to haue ayde and counsayle to refourme the foresayd euyls not with standynge any harme vnto the kynges persone or yet to remoue hym from his regally or kyngly maieste but to enduce hym aduertyse hym to that that shuld be his honour and the weale of hys realme and to lyue in welthe and honour as hys noble ê“genitours haue lyued before hym For the whyche causes and consyderacyons wyth many other whych I passe ouer the sayde lordes as y e kynges trewe subeittes and frendes vnto the comon weale of the lande and of that cytye desyre to entre there to refresshe them and theyr people and to pay truely for all thynge that they shulde take wythout doyng harme or vyolence to any persone All whyche requestes and maters of the lordes shewed vnto the inhabytauntes of the cytye by fauour of some frendes that they there had it was with the more partye well acceptyd and thought conuenyent that they sayde nobles shuld be receyued into the cytye How be it that after longe debatynge of thys mater by meane of the forenamed erle of Donoyse a sparynge of thys receyte of the lordes shuld be tyll they had forther knowlege of the kynges pleasure whyche prouysyon the sayd erle fande for so mych as he was secretely warned of the kynges thyder comynge And vpon thys agremeÌ„t the cytye rested For suertye wherof suche as were within the cytye of the kynges seruauntes and frendes rode dayly nyghtly about y e cyty wyth a stronge company in harneys to se the people kepte in due order Than vppon the daye folowynge came vnto Parys a capytayne of y e kynges named MouÌ„talbone and wyth hym a good bend of men the whyche shewyd vnto the cytesyns that the kyng was comyng out of Normandye with a great host of The lordes beynge warned enbatayled them in the foresayde playne of saynte Antoyn to shewe the strength of theyr hoste vnto the cytye or suche as were therin as theyr enemyes where they so lyenge certayne knyghtes of the kynges party diuerse and sondry tymes brake out by sodeyne resys and skyrmysshed wyth the lordes people to the lytell hurte of bothe partyes In the whych passe tyme kynge Lewys comynge out of Normandye was receyued into the cytye where after hys comynge he put in execucyon .v. persons named IohnÌ„ worter Eustace and Arnolde worter IohnÌ„ Coart and Fraunceys Hasle The whyche persons were accusyd to hym to be chyefe occasyoners of the legacyon made vnto the lordes Of whyche sayde .v. persons thre as IohnÌ„ Coart Fraunceys Hasle Arnolde worter were messengers assygned in the sayde legacyon for the consuls of Parys and the forenamed Eustace worter was one of the thre assygned for the clergye The kynge thus beynge in possessyoÌ„ of the cytye many and dyuers assautes and skyrmysshes bytwene hys knyghtes and the lordes were made but no notary batayle for the kynge was ferre weker And ouer that in thys tyme season the sayde lordes gat vnto them sondry castels and stronge holdes Than at length meanes of a peace was offeryd by y e kynge For concludyng wherofê for the kynge was admytted the erle of Mans with certayne other persons And for the barons was assygned IohnÌ„ sonne vnto the duke of Calabre Lewys erle of saynt Poule and other the whyche assembled and coÌ„moued togyder by sondry tymes .ix. dayes In whyche season came vnto the kynge a newe strength of soudyours out of Normandye the whych the kyng appoynted to kepe the subarbes of saynt Marcell Thys treaty thus hangyng wythout conclusyoÌ„ or ende takynge vppon the .xiiii. day of October in the .vii. yere of y e reygn of thys Lewys was proclaymed thorough the cytye and also the hoste a day of lenger treuce so that thanne the lordes wythdrewe theym vnto theyr stronge holdes and castels holdynge wyth them many soudyours whyche fyll to robbynge and other vnlefull actes to the greate daunger and hurte of the lande And at suche seasons as the arbytrours met to fynysshe this great mater among other thynges offeryd by the kynge he graunted to gyue vnto hys brother Charlys for hys porcyon all Champayne wyth the lordshyppe
thorugh the cytye of London that the kynge hadde pardoned the NorthyrnmeÌ„ of theyr ryot aswell for the deth of the lorde Ryuers as all dyspleasures by them before that tyme done And soone vppon thys a new styrryng begaÌ„ in LyncolnÌ„ shyre whereof the occasyoner was the lorde wellys as the fame than went For whome the kynge sent by fayre meanes promysyng hym to go safe and come safe as it was sayd But trouth it is after hys commyng to the kyng had he before suche promyse or nat he was shortly after beheded Than in February folowyng by medyacyon of lordes a treatye of vnytie and concorde was laboured betwene the kyng hys brother and the erle of warwyke For whyche cause the sayd erle came thanne vnto London And shortly after came the sayd duke as vpon shrouesonday folowyng And vpon the thuysday folowyng the kynge the sayde duke mettte at Baynardes castell where y e duchesse of yorke theyr mother than laye In the whyche passetyme y e erle of warwyke was retourned to warwyke and there gadered to him such streÌ„gth as he myght make as it was reported And in LyncolnÌ„shyre syr Robert wellys sonne vnto the lorde wellys before put to deth in thys whyle had also assembled a greate bend of men purposed to gyue the kyng a felde Of all whyche tydynges whaÌ„ne the kynge was assertayned he wyth his sayd brother the duke spedhim north warde and in that whyle sente to the sayd syr Robert wellys wyllyng him to sende home hys people come to hym and he shulde haue hys grace But that other answered that by like promysse hys father was dysceyued and that shulde be hys example But in conclusyon whan the kynge wyth hys power drewe nere vnto hiÌ„ he toke suche fere that he fledde and soone after was taken and with him syr Thomas Dymmok knyght and other the whyche were shortly after put to deth In thys season was the duke of Clarence departed frome the kynge and was gone vnto the erle of warwyke to take hys parte To whome the kynge in lykewyse sente y t they shuld come to hys presence wythout fere where vnto they made a fayned answere And than consyderynge theyr lacke of power agayne y e kyng departed and wente to the see syde so sayled into Fraunce and requyred the .xi. Lowys than kyng of that regyon that he wolde ayde and assyste them to restore kynge Henry to hys ryghtfull enherytaunce wherof the sayd Lowys beyng gladde grauÌ„ted vnto them theyr requeste helde theÌ„ there whyle they wyth the counsayll of quene Margarete prouyded for theyr retourne into Englande whan the sayde lordes were thus departed the lande the kyng coÌ„mauÌ„ded them to be proclaymed as rebelles and traytours thorugh oute hys realm And in the Easter weke folowynge syr Geffrey Gate one named ClaphaÌ„ whyche entended at South ampton to haue taken shyppynge to haue sayled to the sayde lordes were there taken by the lorde Hawarde and sente vnto warde whych sayde Clapham was beheded soone after and the sayde syr Geffrey Gate fande suche frendshyp that lastly he escaped or was delyuered so that he yode after to seynt wary Thanne was the lorde of saynte IohnÌ„s arrested But at instaunce of the archebysshop of Caunterbury he went a season at large vnder suerty and was fynally commytted to the towre In whych passetyme the erle of Oxenforde gat ouer vnto the foresayd lordes Thus enduryng thys trouble a stirrynge was made in the north partyes by the lord Fitz Hugh wherfore the kyng sped hym thyderwarde But so soone as the sayd lord knewe of the kynges coÌ„myng anone he lefte hys peple fledde into Scotlande And the kyng whych thaÌ„ was commyn to yorke rested hym a season there and there about In the moneth of Septembre .x yere of the kyng the forsayd duke of Clarence accoÌ„panyed wyth the erles of warwyke of Penbroke of Oxenforde other many gentylmen landed at Dartmouth in Deuynshyre there made theyr proclamacyons in the name of kyng Henry the .vi and so drewe ferther into the laÌ„de wherof herynge the commons of that couÌ„tre other drewe vnto theym by greate companyes Than the Kentyshemen beganne to were wylde assembled theym in great companyes and so came vnto the out partyes of the cytye of London Radâ—lyffe saynte Katherynes and other places robbed and spoyled the Flemynges and all the bere houses there as they came ThaÌ„ the foresayde lordes holding on theyr iournaye drewe towarde y e kynge beyng in the northe as aboue is sayde wherof he beyng warned and hauyng wyth hym as than but small strength wherof some to hym were nat very trusty he wyth a secret company toke the next waye toward the wash in Lyncolneshyre and there passed ouer wyth great daunger nat wythout losse of dyuers of hys company and so passed the couÌ„trees into Flaunders and stynted nat tyll he came to Charles hys brother thanne duke of Burgoyne wyth whome he rested a season whaÌ„ the quene which than was in the towre harde of the kynges auoydynge anone she departed frome thens and yode vnto westmynster and there regystred her selfe for a seyntwary woman and in lyke wyse dyd many of kynge Edwardes frendes And than about the begynnynge of Octobre syr Geffrey Gate that till that tyme had holden the sayde seyntwary and other wyth hym wente vnto the prysons aboute London all suche as they had fauoure vnto toke them out and sette them at lybertye And than shypmen other euyll dysposed persones as than drewe to the sayd Geffrey Gate robbed agayn the berehouses set some of them in fyre and after resorted vnto the gates of the cytye there wolde haue entred by force But the cytezeyns wythstode theym wyth suche force that they were compelled to departe thens Upon the .xii. day of October the towre was gyueÌ„ vp by appoyntmeÌ„t kyng Henry was takeÌ„ from the lodgyng where he before laye and was than lodged in the kynges lodgyng wythin the sayde towre In whyche passetyme the duke the forsayd lordes drewe nere vnto the cytye And vpon saterday than nexte folowyng the sayd duke accompanied wyth y e erles of warwyke of Shrowysbury and the lord Stanley rode vnto the towre and there wyth all honour and reuerence fet out kynge Henry conueyed hym to Poulys there lodged hym in the bysshoppes palays so was thaÌ„ admytted taken for kyng thorugh all the lande Readoptio Henrici .vi. HEnri y e .vi. of that name before by Edwarde y e .iiii. put down was agayne restored to the crowne of Englande the. daye of Octobre in the yere of grace M.iiii C.lxix and the .x. yere of Edwarde y e iiii the .xii. yere of the .xii. Lowys than kynge of Fraunce In whose begynnyng of readopcyon the erle of worceter whych for hys cruelnesse was called the bochier of England was taken and putte in streyght pryson And vppon the xv daye of October was the sayde
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
laÌ„des as shuld be assygned vnto y e kyng they cowde nat agre wherfore y e regeÌ„t in coÌ„clusyoÌ„ seÌ„t vnto the erle of StaÌ„ps or Escamps chargyng hiÌ„ to say y t he to y e entent to haue his good wyl had offered vnto hym reasonable offers whyche yf he wolde accepte he wolde be fayne therof and yf nat he let hym vnderstaÌ„de y t he shulde haue no peace wyth hym whyle he lyued By reason of whyche message y e couÌ„sayles on bothe partyes conceyued none other but that this treaty shuld haue concluded no amyte nor peace But howe it was by counsayll or of hys owne lyberalyte whan the kyng had degested this mater in his mynd by all that nyght folowynge he on y e morowe sent for the counsayll of the regent wylled them to shewe vnto the regeÌ„t that he consydered well in hys mynde the great daunger mysery whyche the realme of Fraunce stode in wherfore he beyng of the naturall house of FrauÌ„ce and one of y e Flouredelyce ought to se y e mayntenaunce of the honour of the same And for that that no ruyne of the sayde realme shulde to hym yf any fell after be areâ—ted therfore he was coÌ„tented to set a parte all suche great offers promyses as to hym before tyme had ben offered promysed to holde hym onely contented wyth hys owne righte as he before tymes had enioyed And to y e ende that thys hys wyll pleasure myght to the people be knowen he wylled the regent that the people of that towne of PouÌ„toyse shuld be assembled in the court of that castell that he myghte declare it to them in propre persone The whych accordyng to his mynde was done All whyche rehersall he made before the regeÌ„t and comynalte of the towne promysyng there to delyuer out of hys possessioÌ„ all suche townes castelles and holdys as he had won syn he stode enemye to the crowne of FrauÌ„ce to become true subiecte vnto the kyng louyng neuewe and freÌ„de vnto y e regeÌ„t frome y t daye foreward wherof the regeÌ„t all the coÌ„mons were very glad ioyfull all be it that some trusted lytle to this accorde nor yet to y e coÌ„tinuauÌ„ce therof consyderynge the manyfolde accordes whych before tymes had ben betwene them coÌ„cluded After which accorde thus ended the kynge wyth hys people retourned to Mâ—iant y e regeÌ„t to Paris appoyntyng betwene them to meate at Parys the fyrst day of Septembre next folowyng ACcordyng to y e appoyntmeÌ„te made at Pountoyse betwene the kyng and y e regeÌ„t vpon the fyrste day of Septembre begynnyng of y e x. yere of kyng IohnÌ„ the sayd kynge regent met at Parys where atwen them was holden famylyer coÌ„pany and great kyndenesse shewed vppon eyther partye There also they counceyled how they shulde withstaÌ„de the kyng of Englande whych enteÌ„ded to entre Fraunce shortely after wyth a stroÌ„ge power And after many amytees and frendely dealynges betwen theÌ„ executed y e kyng rode to MeleoÌ„ to delyuer that towne and castel into the regentes possessyon as the story sheweth But whaÌ„ he was coÌ„myn thyther were it with hys wyl or coÌ„trary the sowdyours toke greuouse tolles of all wynes and other marchaundyses that passed that waye whyche after was knowen to be for y e wage sowde of the Nauaroys and Englisshemen whych helde the sayd towne and castell And so y t FrenchmeÌ„ were constrayned to paye the wages of theyr enemyes whyche greued them very sore consyderynge that manyfolde harmes and pyllages of theym before were receyued And after the kyng had auoyded the sayde sowdyours he departed rode vnto MauÌ„t leuyng Creyell in the possessioÌ„ of Englyshmen other And ouer these manyfolde myseryes and myschyeues thus fallyng in the realme of FrauÌ„ce there fell so great habundauÌ„ce of water in the Heruest season that y e corne was loste so that it rose to an hyghe pryce to the greate damage of the comon people And in the moneth of Nouembre folowyng the kynge of Englande with prynce Edwarde other many lordes with a stroÌ„ge power laÌ„ded at Calays so perced Fraunce by Artoys in Pycardy Uermendoys subdued the couÌ„trees before hym tyll he came to Reynes lyke as before is shewed in the .xxxiiii. .xxxv. yeres of kyng Edward where all thys mater wyth y e tenoure of the peace betwene the sayde kynges of Englande and of Fraunce is more at lengthe declared The laste daye of the moneth of Decembre one Marten of Pysdo burgeyse of Parys was draweÌ„ vnto the place of iugemeÌ„t there vpon a scaffolde had fyrste hys armes cutte of after hys legges by the thyes lastly hys hed than he was quartered hys .iiii. quarters sette vppon iiii pryncypall gates of the cytye hys hede sette vpoÌ„ the pyllory The cause of thys iugemente was for so moche as one called Denysot Palmer to whome he had discouered his couÌ„sayll and caused hym to be as an accessary in all hys workes had accused hym that the sayd Marten had agreed couenaunted with certayne offycers capytaynes of the kyng of NauernÌ„ that they at a tyme appoynted shuld haue entred the cytye of Parys to haue slayne the regente other to haue had the cytye at theyr rule and pleasure And so the season thaÌ„ of y e .x. yere tyl y t moneth of Iuly passed in the warres treaty before touched so that the .viii. day of Iuly the Frenche kyng laÌ„ded at Calays there taryed as prysoner tyl the .xxv. daye of Octobre folowynge as before in y e .xxxiiii. yere of kyng Edward is more playnly shewed Than vpon the .xxix. day of Octobre and begynnynge of hys .xi. yere kyng IohnÌ„ came to saynte Omers where he taryed tyll the fourth daye of Nouembre And the .xi. day of December he came vnto saynte Denys where vnto hym vpoÌ„ y e .xii. day came the kynge of Nauerne whyche had nat sene hym sen he was delyuered from pryson brought with hym certayne hostages whyche the Frenche kynge had sente vnto hym for hys saufegarde puttynge hym holy in y e FreÌ„che kynges grace mercy And vpon the morowe folowyng he was newly sworne vnto the kynge to be hys trew faythfull sonne subiect and the kyng agayn vnto hym to be hys kynde father good gracyous soueraygne lorde And forthe wyth were sworne the duke of Normandy Philip brother vnto the sayd kyng of Nauerne to maynteyne all couenauntes made to be made betwene the sayd .ii. kynges so that they were fynisshed coÌ„cluded by the .xviii. day of Ianuary nexte folowyng And soone after retourned the sayd kyng of Nauerne vnto Maunt. And kyng IohnÌ„ vpon the .xiiii. daye of December wyth great tryumphe was receyued into Parys And whanne he was comyn vnto hys palays the prouost of marchauntes wyth certayne burgeyses of the cytye in the name of the comynaltye of the same presented hym with a present