the lordes and ladyes wente to bedde And anone as ther lordes were a slepe they kytte all theyr husbondes throtes and so they slewe them all Whan that Dyoclesyan theyr fader herde of this thynge he became furyously wrothe agaynst his doughters and anone wolde them all haue brente But all yâ— barons lordes of Sirrie counseyled not so for to do suche streytnesse to his owne doughters but oonly sholde voyde the londe of them for euer more so that they neuer sholde come ayen and so he dyde And Dyoclesyan that was ther fader anone coÌ„mauÌ„ded them to go in to shyppe and delyuerd to them vytaylles for half are re And whan this was done all the systers wente in to the shyppe and saylled forth in the see betoke all ther frendes to Apolin that was ther god And so longe they saylled in the see tyll at 〈◊〉 last they came and arryued in an 〈◊〉 that was all wyldernesse And whan 〈◊〉 Albion was come to that londe 〈◊〉 systers This Albine wente frâ—ste forth out of the shyppe and sayd to her 〈◊〉 systers For as moche sayd she as I am the eldest syster of all this company 〈◊〉 fyrst this londe hath taken and 〈◊〉 moche as myn name is Albâ—◠〈◊〉 that this londe be called Albâ—◠〈◊〉 myn owne name And anoue all 〈◊〉 sters graunted to her with a good 〈◊〉 Tho wente out all the systers of 〈◊〉 pe tooke the londe Albron as 〈◊〉 ster called it And there they wente 〈◊〉 downe and founde neyther men 〈◊〉 man ne childe but wylde beestâ—â— of 〈◊〉 uerse kyndes And whan the 〈◊〉 were dyspended they fayled they 〈◊〉 de them with herbes and 〈◊〉 in the season of the yere and so they lyued as they best myght And after 〈◊〉 they toke flesshe of dyuerse beestes and became wonder fatte And so they desyred mannes company mannes kynde yâ— them fayled And for bere they wered wonder courageous of kynde so that they desyred more mannes company than ony other solace and myrthe Whan the deuyll that perceyued wenâ—e by dyuerse countrees and toke a body of the ayâ—â— lykynge natures shad of men came in to the londe of Albion laye by thoâ— wyÌ„men shadde tho natures vpon them they conceyued after brought forth gyauÌ„tes Of the whiche one was called Gogmagog an other Longherigam And so they were named by dyuers names in this maner they came forth were borne horryble gyauÌ„tes in Albion And they dwelled in caues in hylles at ther wyll And had the londe of Albion as them lyked vnto the tyme that Brute arryued came to Totnes that was in the yle of Albion And there this Brute conquered and scomfyted the gyauntes aboue sayd ¶ Explicit prima pars ¶ Here begynneth now how Brute was goten how he slewe fyrst his moder after his fader And how he conquered Albion that after he named Brytayne after his owne name that now is callid Englonde after the name of Engyst of Saâ—onte ¶ This Brute came in to Brytayne about the .xviij. yere of Hely BE it knowen that in the noble cyte of grete Troy there was a noble knyght a man of grete power that was called Eneas And whan the cyte of Troy was loste destroyed thorugh them of Grece This Eneas with all his meyne fledde thens came to Lombardy That tho was lorde gouernour of yâ— londe a kynge that was called Latyne And an other kyng there was that was called Turocelyne that strongely warred vpon this kyng Latyne that oftentymes dyde hym moche harme And whan this kynge Latyne herde yâ— Eneas was come he receyued hym with moche honour hym with helde for as moche as he had herde of hym wyst well that he was a noble knyght a worthy of his body of his dedes This Eneas helped kynge Latyne in his warre And shortely for to telle so well and so worthely he dyde that he slewe Turocelyne and dyscomfyted hym and all his people And whan all this was done kynge Latyne gaaf all that londe that was Turocelynes to this noble man Eneas in maryage with Lauyne his doughter the moost fayrest creature that ony man wyst And so they lyued togyder in Ioye and myrthe all the dayes of ther lyf tyme. ¶ And after Ascanius sone to Eneas wedded a wyf vpon her he gate a sone that was called Silueyne And this Silueyne whan he coude some reason of man vnwetynge his fader and ayenst his wyll aqueynted hym with a damoysell that was cosyn to Lauyne that was kynge Latynes doughter the quene that was Eneas wyf and brought the damoysell with childe And whan Ascanius his fader it wyst anone lete enquyre of the wysest maysters of the grettest clerkes what childe the damoysell sholde brynge forth they answered and sayd that she sholde brynge forthe a sone that sholde kylle bothe his fader also his moder And so he dy de For his moder deyed in berynge of hym And whan this childe was borne his fader lete calle hym Brute And the maysters sayd that he sholde do moche harme and sorowe in many dyuers places and after he sholde come to greate honour and worshyp This kyng Ascanius deyed whan god wolde and Silueyne his sone receyued the londe and made hym wonderly well beloued amonge his people And so whan Brute that was Silueynes sone was .xv. yere olde he wente vpon a daye with his fader for to playe solace And as Brute sholde haue shot vnto an herte his arowe myshapped glaced and so there Brute slewe his fader ¶ How Brute was dryuen out of the londe how he helde hym in Grece ANd whan this myschaslce was befall all the people of the londe made sorowe ynough were sore an angred And for encheson therof they droue Brute out of the londe wolde not suffre hym amonge them And whan he sawe that he myght not there abyde he wente from thens in to Grece there he founde .vij. thousande men that were of the lygnage and kynrede of Troy that were come of grete blood as the story telleth as of men wymmen childern the whiche were all holde in thral dome bondage of the kynge Pandras of Grece for the dethe of Achilles that was betrayed slayne at Troy This Brute was a wonder fayre man and a stronge a huge of his aege of gladde chere semblaunt and also worthy of body and was wel beloued amonge his people This kynge Pandras herde speke of his goodnes his condicyons anone made hym dwelle with hym soo that Brute became wonder preuy mo che beloued with the kynge so that longe tyme Brute dwelled with the kynge So at the last they of Troy and Brute spake togyders of kynrede of lygnage of acquayntaunce and there playned them vnto Brute of ther sorowe of ther bondage and of many other shames that
moo with hym but one kynght yf he wolde there abyde Then began Leyr to wepe and made moche sorowe and sayd tho Alas now haue I to longe lyued that this sorowe and myscheyf is to me now fallen For now I am poore that sometyme was ryche But now haue I noo frende ne kynne that to me wyll do ony good But whan I was ryche all men me honoured worshyped and now euery man hath of me scorne and despyte And now I well wote that Cordeyll my yongest doughter sayd me trouth whan she sayd As moche as I had soo moche sholde I be loued And all the whyle yâ— I had good so longe was I loued and honoured for my ryches But mâ— two doughters glosed me thoâ—â— now of me they sette lytell pryce And soth tolde me Cordeill but I wolde not byleue it ne vnderstonde therfore I lete her go fro me as a thynge that I sette lytell pryce of now wote I neuer what for to do fâ—â—th my two doughters haue me thus deceyued that I so moche loued now must I nedes seke her that is in an other 〈◊〉 that lyghtely I lete her go from me without ony rewarde of yeftes And she sayd that she loued me as moche as she ought to loue her fader by all maner of reason And tho I sholde haue ared â—er no more And those that me otherwyse behoteth thorugh ther fals specheâ— now haue me desceyued In this maner Leyr longe tyme began to make his moone And at the last he shope hym to the seâ— and passed ouer in to Fraunce and ared and aspyed where the quene myght be founde And men tolde hym where she was And whan he came to the cyte that she was in pryuely he sent his squyâ—e vnto the quene for to telle her that her fader was come to her for grete nede And whan the squyre came to the quene he tolde her euery deale of her systers from the begynnynge vnto the ende Cordeill the quene anone tooke golde and syluer plente tohe it to the squyre in couÌ„sell that he sholde go bere it to her fader that he sholde go in to certayne cyte hym aray wasshe thenne come ayeâ— to her And brynge with hym an honest company of knyghtes .xl. at the lest with ther meyne And thenne he sholde sende to her lorde the kyng feyne that he we re come for to spehe with his doughter hym for to see so he dyde And whan the kynge the quene herde that they came with moche honour they hym receyued And the kynge of Fraunce tho lete sende thorugh all his reame coÌ„maunded that all men sholde be as entendant to kynge Leyr the quenes fader in all maner of thynges as if were vnto hymself Whan kynge Leyr had dwelled there a moneth more he tolde to the hynge and to the quene his doughter how his two eldest doughters hadde hym serued Agampe anone lete ordeyne a grete hoste of Frenshmen and sente in to Bry cayne with Leyr the quenes fader for to conquere his londe ayen his kyngdom And Cordeill also came with her fader in to Brytayne for to haue the reame after her faders dethe And anone they wente to shyppe passed the see and came in to Brytayne and fought with the felons and them scomfyted and slewe And tho had he his londe ayen after lyued thre yere helde his reame in peas and afterwarde deyed And so Cordeill his doughter thenne lete entre hym with moche honour at Leycestre ¶ Anno muÌ„di .iiij. M.iij C.xlix Et ante xpÌ„i natiuitateÌ„ .viij. C.liij. AMasius sone to Ioam regned on the Iewes .xxix. yere after the whiche the kyngdom of Iewes was without kynge .xiij. yere This man worshyped the goddes of Seyr vt p3 .ij. para xv ¶ Ieroboam sone to Ioam regned on Israell .xli. yere the whiche was manly and victoryous For he ouercame the kynge of Sirie and restored Israel and Damask after the worde of Iono the prophete But he was not good Therfore sayth Austyn Yf good men regne they prouffyte many men And yf ylle men regne they hurte many men ¶ Anno muÌ„di .iiij. M.iij C.lxxxviij Et ante xpÌ„i natiuitateÌ„ .viij. C.xi. OZias or Azarias sone to Amasie regned on the Iury .lij. yere the whiche lyued well afore our lorde of hyÌ„ is none euyll thynge wryten but that he vsurped the dignyte of preesthode vnder Azari the whiche he forbode hym For yâ— whiche cause our lorde stroke hym with a leper vt pêª .ij. para ¶ Ozee bysshop prophete was this tyme yâ— fyrst of the .xij. that is sende ayenst the .xij. tribus ¶ Ioel the seconde of the .xij. prophecyed or Iuda Ananias the thyrde prophecyed ayenst many people Abdias the fourth of the .xij. ê“phecyed ayenst Edom. ¶ Zacharias sone to Ieroboam regned in Israel vi monethes the whiche began to regne the .xxxviij. yere of Ozias was nought in his lyuynge as his preorecessours were And Sellum slewe hym regned a moneth And Manahen slewe hym toke his kyngdom vt pêª .iiij. reguÌ„ This Manahen regned .x. yere the whiche began to regne the .xxxix. yere of Ozias he ruled hym myscheuously And our lorde toke hym in the power of the kynge of Assuriorum And he payed to hym a thousande talentes of syluer vt pêª .iiij. reguÌ„ ¶ Phaseia sone to Manahen regned in Israel .ij. yere he began to regne the .l. yere of Ozias he was nought in his lyuynge ¶ Phase slewe Phaseta regned .xx. yere he began to regne the .lij. yere of Ozias dyde as other cursyd men dyde Plura vide .iiij. reguÌ„ And after this Israel was without ony kynge .viij. yere ¶ How Morgan Conedag that were neuewes to Cordeill warred vpon her and put her in pryson NOw as kyng Leyr was deed Cordeil his yongest doughter regned the .x. yere of Ozias kynge of Iury. And after her regned Conedag the .xv. yere of Ozias Cordeill that was Leyrs yongest doughter after the deth of her fader had all the londe .v. yere And in the meane tyme deyed her lorde Agampe that was kynge of Fraunce after his deth she was wydowe And there came Morgan Conedag that were Cordeils systers sones to her had enuyte for as moche as ther aunte sholde haue the londe So that bytwene them they ordeyned a grete power and vpon her warred gretely And neuer they rested tyll they had her taken and put her vnto deth And tho Morgan Conedag seased all the londe departed it bytwene them And they helde it .xij. yeres And whan that those .xij. yeres were gone there beganne bytwene them a grete debate so that they warred strongely togyders And eueryche of theym dyde other moche dysease For Morgan wolde haue all the londe from beyonde Humbre that Conedag helde But he came agaynst hym with a grete power
so that Morgan durst not abyde but fledde awaye in to Walys And Conedag pursued hym and toke hym and slewe hym And tho came Conedag agayne and seased all the londe in to his honde helde it And regned after .xxxiij yere And thenne he deyed and lyeth at newe Troye ¶ And by cause the matere conteyneth moost comodyously togyder of the kynges of Brytayne now called Englonde for the tyme of them is not certaynly knowen what tyme of the worlde the kynges folowen regned Therfore they shall be togyder tyll it be comen vnto Guentolen kynge of Brytayne now called Englonde ¶ How Reynolde that was Conedagâ— sone regned after his fader in his tyme it rayned blood thre dayes in tokenynge of grete deth ANd after this Conedag regned Reynolde his sone that was a wyse knyght an hardy â—urteys that well nobly gouerned the londe wonder well made hym beloued of all maner of folke And in his tyme rayned blood yâ— lasted thre dayes As god wolde soone after ther came a grete dethe of people For hostes withoute nombre of people fought tyll that almyghty god therof toke mercy pyte tho gan it cesse And this Reynolde regned .xxij. yere deyed and lyeth at Yorke ¶ How Gorbodian regned in yeas that was Reynoldes sone AFter this Reynold that was Conedags sone regned Gorbodian yâ— was this Reynoldes sone .xv. yere and thenne he deyed lyeth at Yorke ¶ How Gorbodian had .ij. sones how that one slewe the other for to haue yâ— beâ—ytage how Ydoyne ther moder slewâ— yâ— other whefore the londe was destroyed SO whan this Gorbodian was deed his two sones that he had became stoute proude and euer warred togyder for the londe And that one was called Ferres and that other Porres And this Ferres wolde haue all the londe but that other wolde not suffre hym This Ferres had a felonous herte thought thrugh treason to slee his brother But pryuely he wente in to Fraunce and there abode with the kynge Sywarde tyll vpon a tyme whan be came ayen fought with his brother Ferres But ful euyll it happed tho for he was slayne fyrst Whan Ydoyne ther moder wyst that Pours was deed she made grete sorowe for by cause that she loued hym more than yâ— other And thoughte hym for to slee pryuely And pryuely she came to her sone vpon a nyght with two knyues therwith kytte his throte and the body in to smale peces Who herde euer suche a cursyd moder that slewe with her owne hondes her owne sone And longe tyme after lasted the repreef shame to the moder that for by cause of that one sone she murdred the other and so lost them bothe ¶ How foure kynges curtously helde all Brytayne and what were ther names ye shall here after AS the two brethern were deed they lefte not behynde them nother sone ne doughter ne none other of the kynrede that myght haue the herytage And for as moche as yâ— strongest men droue scomfyted the feblest toke all ther londes so that in euery countree they had grete warre stryf vnder them but amonge all other thynges there were amonge them in the couÌ„tree that ouercame all that other thrugh ther myght strengthe they toke all the londes euery of them toke a certayne countree in his couÌ„tree lete calle hyÌ„ kyng one of them was called Scater he was kynge of Scotlonde that other was called Dawa her he was kynge of Loegers of all the londe that was Lotrins that was Buttes sone the thyrde was called Rudac he was kynge of Walys the fourth was called Cloten was called kynge of Cornewayle But this Cloten sholde haue had all the londe by reason for by cause that there was no man that wyst none so ryght an heyre as he was But they that were strongest lette lytell by them that were of lesse estate therfore this Cloten had no more londe amonge them but Cornewaylle ¶ Of kynge Donebant that was Clotens sone wanne the londe THis Cloten had a sone that was called Donebant that after the deth of his fader became an hardy man and a fayr a curteys so that he passed all the other kynges of fayrenesse of worthynesse anone as he was knyght he wyst well that whan his fader lyued he was moost ryghtful heyre of all the londe and sholde haue had by reason But the other kynges that were of a moche more strenghte than he was toke from hym his londe And afterwarde this Donebant ordened hym a grete power conquered fyrst all yâ— londe of Loegers after he wolde haue conquered all the londe of Scotlonde Walys And Scater came with his men yaue hym batayll And Rudac came ayen with his Walysshmen for to helpe hym But soâ— it befell that Rudac was slayne also Scater in playne batayll And so Donebant had the vyctory conquered all the londe well mayntened it in peas and in quyete that neuer before it was so well mayntened ¶ How Donebant was the fyrst kynge that euer bare crowne of golde in Brytayne THis Donebant lete make hym a crowne of golde wered yâ— crowne vpon his heed as neuer kyng dyde before he ordened a statute yâ— a man had done neuer so moche harme myzt come in to the Temple there sholde no man hym mysdo but go there in sauete in peas and after go in to what londe or couÌ„tree that hym pleased without ony harme and yf ony man sette ony honde vpon hym he thenne sholde lese his lyf And this Donebant made the towne of Malmesbury and the towne also of the Vyse And whan he had regned well worthely .xi. yere thenne he deyed lyeth at newe Troy ¶ How Brenne and Belin departed by twene them the londe after the dethe of Donebant ther fader And of the warre betwixt them ANd after that this Donebant was deed his sones yâ— he had departed the londe bytwene them as ther fader had ordeyned so that Belin his eldest sone had all yâ— londe of Brytayne from Humber Southwarde And his brother Brenne had all the lond from Humber vnto Scotlonde ¶ But for as moche that Belin had the better parte Brenne therfore wexed wroth and wolde haue had more of the londe Belin his brother wolde graunte hym no more wherfore coÌ„take warre arose amonge them two But Brenne the yonger brother had no myght ne strength ayenst Belin therfore Brenne thrugh couÌ„sell of his folke wente from thens in to Norweye to the kyng Olsynges prayed hym of helpe socour for to conquere all the londe vpon Belin his brother vpon that couenauÌ„t that he wolde haue his doughter to wyf the kynge Olsynges hym graunted And Belin anone as his broder was gone to Norweye he seased in to his honde all the londe of
Northumberlonde toke all the castelles lete them he arrayed kepte the costes of the see that Brenne sholde not arryue in no syde but that he were taken ¶ The kynge Olsynges lete assemble a grete hoste and delyuered his doughter to Brenne all the people that he had assembled And this damoysell Samie had longe tyme loued a kynge that was called Gutlagh to hym she tolde all her counsell how that Brenne sholde her haue and her lede with hym for euer more and so he sholde lese her but that she myght forsake Brene And whan Gutlagh had herde this tydynges he lay for to aspye Brenne with as many shyppes as he myght haue Soo the two fletes mette togyder longe tyme they faught soo that Brennes men tourned ayen were dyscomfyted And kynge Gutlagh toke Samie put her in to his shyppe And Brenne shamefully fledde thens as a man dyscomfyted And this kynge Gutlagh wolde haue gone in to his owne couÌ„tree but there came vpon hym suche a grete tempest that fyue dayes lasted so that thorugh that tempest he was dryuen in to Brytayne with thre shyppes no moo and tho that kepte the costes of the see toke Gutlagh Samie all his folke and them presented to Belin. And Belin put them in pryson ¶ How Belin droue out of his londe kyÌ„ge Gutlach of Denmark Samie IT was not longe after that Brenne came agayne with a grete nauy and sente to his brother Belin that be sholde yelde ayen his londe to his wyse and his folke and his castelles also Oâ—elles he wolde destroye his londe ¶ Belin dradde noo thynge his malyce and wolde no thynge do after that he hadde sayd Wherfore Brenne came with his folke and fought with Belin. And then Brenne was dyscomfyted and his folke slayne and hymself fledde with .xij. men in to Fraunce And this Belin that was Brennes brother wente thenne to Yorke and toke counseyll what he sholde do with kynge Gutlagh For kynge Gutlagh profered to become his man and for to holde his londe of hym yeldynge yerely M.li. of syluer for euermore for surenesse of this couenauÌ„t to be kepâ—e Gutlagh sholde brynge hyÌ„ good hostage to hyÌ„ sholde do homage his folke yet he sholde swere vpon a boke that it sholde neuer be broke ne fayled Belin tho by couÌ„seyll of his folke grauÌ„ted hym his arynge so Gutlagh became his man And Belin vndertoke of hym his homage by an othe by wrytynge the same couenauÌ„tes And vpon these couenauÌ„tes kynge Gutlagh toke Samie his folke went thens torned ayen to Denmark Euer more after were the couenauntes holden the treuage payed tyll the tyme that Honelus was kyng of Denmark also of this londe thorugh his wyf Gildeburh that he had spoused for she was ryghte heyre of this londe ¶ This Belin dwelled tho in peas worshypfully hym helde amonge his barons he made foure ryall wayes one from the eest in to the weest that was called Watlynge strete an other from the north vnto the south that is called Ikelme strete And two other wayes he made in bossynge thrugh out the londe that one is called Fosse that other Fosse dyke And he mayntened well the good lawes that Donebant his fader had made ordened in his tyme as before is sayd ¶ How acordement was made bytwene Brenne and Belin thorugh Cornewenther moder BRenne that was Belins brother had longe tyme dwelled in FrauÌ„ce there had conquered a greate lordshyp thrugh maryage For he was duke of Bourgoyne thorugh the doughter of the duke Fewyn that he had spoused that was ryght heyre of the londe And this Brenne ordened a grete power of his folke also of FrauÌ„ce came in to this londe for to fygh with Belin his brother And Belin came ayenst hym with a grete power of Brytons wolde tho haue yeâ—en hym batayll But ther moder Corâ—ewen that tho lyued had herde yâ— that one brother wolde haue destroyed that other went bytwene her sones theâ— made acorde with moche payne So that at the last tho two brethern with moche blysse wente togyder in to new Troy that now is called London there they dwelled a yere And after they toke ther couÌ„seyll for to go conquere all FrauÌ„ce so they dyde and brente townes destroyed the londe bothe in lengthe in brede And the kynge of Fraunce yaue them batayl with his power but he was ouercome yaue truage vnto Belin to his brother And after that they wente forth vnto Rome conquered Rome all Lombardy Germany toke homage feaute of erles barons of all other And after they came into this londe of Brytayne dwelled there with Brytons in Ioye rest And tho made Brenne the towne of Brystowe after he wente ouer to his owne lordshyp ther dwelled he all his lyf And Belin dwelled at newe Troy there he made a fayre gate that is called Belynges gate after his owne name And whan this Belin had regned nobly .xi. yere he dyed and lyeth at newe Troy ¶ How kyng Cormbratê° slewe the kynge of Denmark for by cause that he wolde not paye his truage as he sholde ANd after this Belin regned his sone Cormbratus a good man and a worthy And the kynge of Denmark wolde not pay to hym his truage that is to saye a thousande pounde as he had sworne by othe for to paye it also by wrytynge recorde to Belin his fader Wherfore he was euyll apayed wrothe and assembled a grete hoste of Brytons and wente in to Denmark slewe the kynge Gutlagh and brought the londe in subgeccyon all newe And toke of the folke feautes and homage and after went ayen in to his owne londe And as he came forth by Dehency he founde .xxx. shyppes full of men and â—â—â—â—men besyde yâ— cosâ—e of the see And the kynge axed what they were And an Erle that was mayster of them all curteysly answered vnto the kynge sayd That they were exiled out of Spayne and so that they had traueyled half a ye re and more in the see to wyte yf they myght fynde ony kynge in ony londe that of them wolde haue pyte or mercy to gyne them ony londe in ony couÌ„tree wherein they myght dwelle and haue rest and become his lyege men and to hym wolde do homage and feaute whyle that he lyued and to his heyres after hym and of hym and of his heyres holde that londe And whan the kynge this herde he had pyte of hym and yaue them an yle all wyldernesse there that no man was dwellynge sauf oonly wylde beestê And the Erle thanked moche the kynge and became his man and dyde hym homage and feaute and toke all his folke and wente in to the same yle And the Erle was called Irlamall and therfore he lete calle the londe Irlonde after his owne
Thenne he was martred and buryed in saynt Peters ¶ Anâ—cetus was pope after Piê° almoost .x. yere this man made many decrees of the Canon and for bysshopes Vt in caê° Violatores cÌ„ ¶ Galienus a leche goten in Pergamo was in grete fame at Rome The whiche not alonly expowned the bokes of Ypocras but he put many of them to his bokes And of this man is sayd for his dyscrete abstynence the whiche he vsed he lyued an hondred and .xl. yeres He neuer ete nor dranke his fylle ¶ Nota abstinencâ—am ¶ He neuer toke rawe fruytes Alwaye he had a swete brethe He deyed all oonly thrugh aege no sykenesse ¶ Marcus Anthonius the true and Lucius Comodus were Emperours .xix. yere These toke the Empyre after Anthony the meke and thenne began two Emperours to regne but Lucius Comodus decessed And Anthony was Emperous alone the whiche was a victoryous man and a noble but that he made the fourth persecuycon to kylle crysten men This Marcus was of so grete sadnesse and stedfastnesse that for no chaunce he lough neuer ne chaunged no chere nother for gladnesse ne for sorowe And whanne he was a childe he was of suche manhode that on a certayne trâ—â—e whan he loked his tresourand had 〈◊〉 that whiche he myght gyue his knyghtes and his men whan he wente to fyght ayenst the Germaynâ— the Sclauons and Sarmathus he wolde hurte ne greue no body but had leuer to selle his wyues golden vessel and her arayment her beddynge all her ryall stuff than take taxe of the Senatours or of his prouynce vnder hym But he gate the victorye of his enmyes and recouered all ayen released the prouynces of ther trybutes And those that wolde selle hym his wyues tresour ayen he restored them ther moneye those that wolde not he neuer greued them But the tables of ther dettes betwixt hym them he brente openly in the market place and thanked them that they helped hym in his necessyte ¶ How kynge Lucie regned after his fader that was a good man and after he became crysten AFter this kynge Coill regned Lucie his sone that was a good man to god to all the people He sente to Rome to Eulentre that then was pope sayd He wolde become a crysten man receyue baptym in the name of god tome to the ryght fayth byleue Eulentre sente two Legates that were called Pagan an other Elybain in to this londe baptysed the kynge all his meyne And after wente from towne to towne baptysed the people tyll all the londe was baptysed And this was in the yere an hondred .lvi. after the Incarnacyon of our lorde Ihesu cryste And this kyng Lucie made tho in this londe two Arche bysshops one at Caunterbury an other at Yorke other many bysshops yâ— yet ben in this londe And whan these two Legatê had baptysed all this londe they ordeyned prestes for to baptyse children for to make the sacrament and after they wente ayen to Rome And the kynge dwelled in his londe regned with moche honour .xij. yere and after dedye and lyeth at Gloucestre ¶ How this londe was longe without a kyng how the Brytons chose a kyng THis kyng Lucie had none heyre of his body begoten that was afterwarde grete harme sorowe to the londe For after this kynge Lucies deth none of the grete lordes of the londe wolde suffre an other to be kynge but lyued in warre debate amonges themself .l. yere without kynge But it befell afterwarde that a grete prynce came from Rome in to this londe that was called Seuerie not for to warre but for to saue the ryght of Rome But neuertheles he had not dwelled half a yere in this londe but that the Brytons slewe hym And whan they of Rome wyst that Seueri was so slayne they sente an other grete lorde in to this londe that was called Allec that was a stronge man a myghty of body dwelled in this londe longe tyme and dyde moche sorowe to the Brytons So that after for pure malyce they chose a kynge amonge theym that was called Astelepades And assembled a grete host of Brytons wente to London to seke Allec and there they fouÌ„de hym slewe hym al his felowes And one that was called Walon deffended hym fyersly fought longe with the Brytons but at the last he was dyscomfyted the Brytons toke hym and bonde his hondes feet and cast hym in to a water Wherfore that water was called euer more Walbroke ¶ Tho regned Astelepades in peas tyll one of his Exles that was called Coill made a fayr towne ayenst the kynges wyll lete calle the towne Colchestre after his owne name Wherfore the kynge was full wroth thought to destroy hym And began to warre vpon hym and brought grete power of men yaaf the Erle batayll And the Erle defended hym fyersly with his power and slewe the kynge hymself in that batayll And tho was Coill crowned and made kynge of this londe This Coill regned and gouerned the londe well nobly for he was a noble man well beloued amonge the Brytons ¶ Whan tho of Rome herde that Astelepades was slayne they were wonder gladde and sente an other grete prynce of the Romayns that was called Constance And he came to the kynge Coill for to chalenge the trybute that was wonte to be payed to Rome And the kynge answered well wysely sayd that he wolde paye to Rome al that ryght reason wolde with good wyll And so they accorded tho with good wyl and without ony contake And so bothe they dwelled togyder in loue ¶ Kynge Coill yaaf to hym his doughter Eleyne for to haue her to his spowse that was both fayre wyse and good well lettred And this Constance spowsed her there with moche honour And it befell soone after that this kynge Coill deyed in the .xiij. yere of his regne and lyeth at Colchestre entyred ¶ Of kynge Constance that was a Romayne that was chosen kynge after the deth of Coill for as moche that he hadde spowsed Eleyne that was kynge Coils doughter AFter this kyng Coill Constance was made kynge crowned for almoche as he had spowsed kyng Coils doughter that was heyre of that londe The whiche Constance regned well worthely gouerned the londe And he begate on his wyf Eleyne a sone that was called Constantyne And this kyng bare true fayth And truly dyde vnto them of Rome all his lyf And whan he had regned .xv. yere he deyed lyeth at Yorke ¶ How Constantyne that was kynge Constance sone and the sone of Saynt Eleyne gouerned and ruled the londe was Emperour of Rome AFter kynge Constance deth regned Constantyne his sone the sone of saynt Eleyne yâ— founde the holy crosse in the holy londe And how Constantyne became Emperour of Rome ¶ It befell soo in yâ— tyme there was
they were martred at Coleyne THis Vrsula chose vnto her company .xi. thousande maydens yâ— of all other she was lady maystresse And all they wente to shyppe at one tyme in the water yâ— is called Tamyse coÌ„maunded her kynne her frendes to almyghty god saylled towarde lytell Brytayn But whan they were come in to the hyghe see a stronge tempest arose as it was goddes wyll Vrsula with her shyppes her company were dryue to Hundlonde thrugh tempest and arryued in the hauen of the cyte of Coleyne And the kyng of the londe that was called Gowan was tho in the cyte And whan he wyst the tydynges that so ma ny fayre maydens were there arryued He toke Elga his brother other of his housholde with hym went to the shyppes to seâ— yâ— fayre company And whan he sawe them so fayre he and his company wolde haue ouerlayne them sake fro them ther maydenhode But Vrsula that good mayde couÌ„seylled prayed warned taught theym that were her felowes yâ— they sholde defende them with all theyr myght and rather suffre deth than suffre ther body to be defor led So that all tho maydens became so stedfast in god that they defended them thrugh his grace so that none of them hadde power to do them shame Wherfore the kynge Gowan was sore anoâ—ed that he for wrathe slewe them eueryone anone ryght so were all tho maydens martred for the loue of god and lyeth at Coleyne ¶ How kynge Gowan came for to destroy this londe and how a man of grete power that was called Gracian deffended the londe AS all this was done kynge Gowan that was a Sarrasyn called his brother Elga and sayd to hym that he sholde goo conquere the londe that all those fayr maydens were borne in And he ordened tho a grete power of Pehites of Denmarke of Orkenay of Norway And they came in to this londe brente townes slewe folke cast a downe chirches houses and robbed all the londe in length brede put to deth all tho that wolde not forsake the ryght byleue crystendome for as moche as there was no souerayne yâ— myght them helpe For the kynge Maximian had take with hym all the worthy men whan he wente to conquere lytell Brytayne And in the same tyme that ye here now telle was Saynt Albon martryd thrugh the wood tyrauÌ„t Dyoclesian in the same place where is now an abbaye made of saynt Albon whyles yâ— he was a paynym But he conuerted hyÌ„ to god thrugh the predicacoÌ„n of a clerke a wyse man yâ— was called Ancyble that was herbourghed a nyght in his hous And this was after thyncarnacyon of Ihesu Cryst .ij. hondred .xxvi. yere And men shall vnderstonde yâ— saynt Albon suffred his martyrdom before yâ— saynt Edmonde was martryd therfore is saynt Albon called the fyrst martyr of Englond ¶ This Gowans brother his folke that were sarrasyns wente thrugh yâ— londe destroyed all thynge that they fouÌ„de no thynge they spared Whan these tydynges came to Rome how yâ— kynge Gowan had begon for to destroye this londe the Emperour of Rome sente a stronge man of grete power yâ— was called Gracian with .xxiiij. M. well fyghtynge men for to caste out those sarrasyns of this londe And all they arryued at Portesmouth ¶ Maximian myght not come hyÌ„self for as moche as he was chosen Emperour after the deth of Constantyne that was saynt Eleynes sone whan this Gracian was arryued with his hoste he lete aspye pryucly where kynge Gowan myght be founde And he sette vpon them sodenly as they laye in theyr beddes and dyscomfyted hym slewe them in ther beddes euerychone that none of them scaped sauf Gowan that fledde in to his owne couÌ„tree with moche sorowe grete payne ¶ So oneafter it befelle that Maximian was slayne at Rome thrugh treason And whan Gracian wyst that tydynges he lete crowne hym kynge of this londe ¶ How Gracian made hyÌ„ kynge whan Maximian was slayne afterwarde yâ— Brytons slewe hyÌ„ for his wyckednesse THis Gracian whan he began to regne he became so wycked so sterne and so moche sorowe dyde to the Brytons yâ— they slewe hyÌ„ amonge them ¶ Tho whan kynge Gowan vnderstode yâ— Gracian was slayne done to deth he assembled a grete power came ayen in to this londe And yf he had fyrst done harme tho dyde he moche more For tho destroyed he all this londe the crysten people yâ— were in moche Brytayne so that no man was so hardy for to name god he that so dyde anone he was put to strange deth ¶ But the bysshop of London that was tho yâ— was called Gosselim scaped went thens to them of Rome to seke socour to helpe to destroy the sarrasyns yâ— had destroyed this londe And yâ— Romayns sayd that they had ben so often enoyed for ther sendynge people in Brytayne all for to helpe the Brytons they wolde nomore so do and so the Bysshop Gosselin went thens without ony secour or helpe And tho wente he to the kynge of lytell Brytayne yâ— was called Aldroye this was the thyrde kynge after Gowan Meryedok as before is sayd ¶ The bysshop prayed this Aldroye of helpe socoure the kynge had pyte in his herte whan he herde how the bysshop fledde how that the crysten men were soo slayne in grete Brytayne thrugh yâ— paynyms and sarrasyns he grauÌ„ted hym Constantyn his broder hym for to helpe with power of folke And then dyde arraye hors armour shyppes all thynges yâ— neded to yâ— vyage And whan all thynge was redy he called the bysshop to hym sayd I take you here Constantyne my broder vpon this couenauÌ„t That yf god gyue hym grace the paynems the sarrasyns to destroye yâ— ye then make hym kynge And the bysshop grauÌ„ted with good wyll ¶ Constantyne the bysshop toke leue of the kynge Aldroye betoke hym to god toke ther men .xij. thousande and wente to ther shyppes saylled towarde grete Brytayne arryued att Totnesse ¶ Whan the Brytons herde these tydyngê yâ— to them came socour they were strongely holpen ordeyned them anhuge nombre of people came to them and receyued them with moche honour ¶ Gowan anone as he wyst of these tydynges he assembled all the Sarrasyns came ayenst them yaue them batayle And Constantyne slewe hyÌ„ with his owne hondes And all those other Sarrasyns were dyscomfyted slayne yâ— none of them escaped but those that were conuerted vnto almyghty god ¶ How Constantyne that was the kynges brother of lytell Brytayne was crowned kynge of grete Brytayune for his grete vertue his grete worthynesse ANone after the batayll they wente to London crowned there Constantyne made hym kyng of this londe And the bysshop Gosselyn sette yâ— crowne on his heed anoynted hym as it befalleth for a kynge to
the awter ¶ Celestinus a Romayne was pope after Bonifacius .viij. yere ix dayes the whiche ordeyned the psalme afore masse Iudica me deus cÌ„ And att the begynnynge of the masse sholde be sayd a verse of a psalme and at the Grayle and that the Offertorye sholde be sayd afore the sacrynge This same man sente saynt Patryke to Irlonde to conuerte that londe and Palladiê° deaken of Rome to the Scottes to be conuerted ¶ And in the fourth yere of this man there was a generall Synody at Ephysina of thre hondred bysshops ayenst Nestorium an heretyke ¶ Theodosius the yonger with Valentinian his neuewe regned .xxvij. yere In his tyme was the feest ordeyned whiche is called Aduincula sancti petri And in his tyme deyed saynt Austyn in the yere of his aege .lxxvi. And this tyme was reysed the .vij. slepers the whiche sleped two hondred yeres This man deyed at ConstaÌ„tynople there was buryed ¶ This tyme the Saxons entred Englonde and anone by lytyll and lytell they grewe vp myghtely And at the laste they opteyned all the londe ¶ Sixtus a Romayne was pope after Celestinus .viij. yere This was a holy man and a meke And lytell of hym is wryten but that he buylded Sancta Maria maior ¶ Leo Tuscus a Confessour was pope after Sixtus This man was as holy as ony man Fyue tymes in a daye or more he wolde saye masse And on a tyme after it befell whan a certayne woman kyssed his honde he was tempted with her And for the trespaas that he hadde done vnto his penaunce he made his honde to be stryken of And whan the noyse rose vpon hym that he myght not saye masse as he was wonte to do thenne he was ryght sory And all oonly betoke hym in prayer to our lady to helpe hym And our lady restored hym his honde ayen and thenne he sayd masse as he was wonte for to doo And soo that myrade was openly shewed to all people And in the tyme of this pope Marcian the Emperour beynge there was congregate at Calcedany the fourthe vnyuersall Synody of .vi. hondred and .xxx. bysshops agaynst Eusticem the abbot of Constantynopoliton and Alterandruen episcopuÌ„ qui negauerunt in rpÌ„o veâ—am carnem fuisse et etiam negabant carnis nostre resurrectionem ¶ And after he had made many notable sermons epystles he decessed ¶ Marcianus and Valentinianus were Emperours this tyme vij yere In whose tyme was the grete Synody afore reherced whan Eusticem Dyoscorus were condempned IN the tyme that Marcianus was Emperour Vortiger was kynge in Brytayne now called Englonde In whose tyme the Sarons came in to Brytayne made many kynges That is to wyte as is playne by the Cronycles .vij. And by cause it is tedyous to mannes reason to reherce many dyuerse names togyder as .vij. kynges of Englonde and in one tyme the Emperours and Popes Therfore the Cronycles of Englonde shall be sette togyder tyll that we shall treate of Alured In whose tyme the Danes came in to Englonde And the Popes and the Emperours and other kynges in the same tyme shall be sette togyder ¶ Circa annuÌ„ dmÌ„ CCCC .xlix. ¶ How the wardeyns that had those childern to kepe that were Constantynes ladde theym to lytell Brytayne for the treason the falsenesse of Vortiger THis tyme came the Saxons that were pagans fyrst in to Brytayne now called Englonde vnder Vortiger the whiche was crowned kynge of this londe ¶ This tyme those that had these two childern in kepynge the which were Constantynes sones That is to saye Aurilambros Vter thrugh ordynance of Gosselin yâ— was bysshop of London after the faders deth that is to saye Constantyne durste not dwelle in this londe with those childern but conueyed them vnto the kynge of lytell Brytayn For as moche as he tho wyst the treason of Vortiger that tho was made kynge Thorugh whome Constance the elder brother was slayne wherfore the hondred knyghtê of Pehites were put to deth bore all the blame as yâ— Vortiger had not wyst therof ne consented And so the kepers of those two childern dradde lest Vortiger sholde put them to deth thrugh his treason falsenesse as he had done the brother before And therfore they were ladde ouer in to lytell Brytayn the kyng them receyued with moche honour lete them to nourysshe And there they dwelled tyll they became fayâ—â— knyghtê and stronge fyers And thought to be auenged vpon Constance theyr brother whan they sawe theyr tyme soo they dyde as ye shall here telle afterwarde ¶ It was not longe afterwarde that the tydynges came ouer see to the kynrede of the hondred knyghtê of Pehiteâ— that were dampned put to deth thrugh Vortiger in this londe therfore they were wonderly wrothe and swore that they wolde be auenged of theyr kynnes mens deth And came in to this londe with a grete power and robbed in many places and slewe dyde all the sorowe that they myght Whan Vortiger it wyst he made moche sorowe was sore anoyed And in an other place also tydynges came to hym that Aurtlambros and Vter his brother assembled a grete hoste to come into moche Brytayne that is to say in to this londe for to be auenged vpon Constance theyr brothers deth Soo in that one half and in that other he was brought in to soo moche sorowe that he ne wyst whether to go ¶ How Engist and an .xi. thousande men came in to this londe to whome Vortiger yaaâ—e a place that is called Thongcastell ANd soone after this sorowe tydynges came to Vortiger that a grete nauy of straungers were arryued in yâ— couÌ„tree of Kent he wyst not whens they were ne wherfore they were come in to this londe ¶ The kyng sent anone a messager thyder that some of them sholde come speke with hym for to wyte what folke they were what they axed in to what countree they wolde ¶ There were two brethern maysters prynces of that stronge company that one was called Engist that other Horne Engist wente to the kynge tolde hym the cause wherfore they were come in to this londe sayd Syr we ben of a couÌ„tre that is called Saxonie that is the londe of Germayne wherin is so moche sorowe yâ— of the people ben so many that the londe may not them susteyne And the maysters and prynces that haue the londe to gouerne and rule They made to come before them men and wymmen that boldest ben amonge theym for to fyght and that best may trauayll in to dyuerse londes And so they sholde them yeue horse harneys armour and all thynge that them nedeth And after they shall saye to them that they go in to another countree where that they mowe lyue as theyr Auncetrees dyde them before And therfore syr kynge yf ye haue ought to do with our company we ben comen in to your londe and with good wyll you
wolde serue and your londe kepe helpe and defende from your enmyes yf that ye nede ¶ Whan Vortiger herde these tydynges he sayd gladly he wolde theym withholde vppon suche couenaunt yf they myght delyuer his londe of his enmyes he wolde yeue theym resonable londes where they sholde dwelle for euer more ¶ Engist thanked hym goodly and in this maner he and his company a .xi. thousande sholde dwelle with the kynge Vortiger And moche they dyde thrugh theyr boldenesse they delyuered his londe of his enmyes clene ¶ Tho prayed Engist the kynge of so moche londe that he myght make to hyÌ„ a cyte and for his meyne ¶ The kynge answered it was not to do without the counseyll of Brytons ¶ Engist prayed hym eftsones of as moche place as he myght compace with a thonge of a skynne wherupon he myghte make a Maneer for hym to dwelle on And the kynge hyÌ„ graunted freely ¶ Tho toke Engist a bulles skynne and kytte it as smale as he myght all in to â—o thonge all a rounde And therwith compaced he as moche londe as he myght thenne make vpon a fayre castell And so whan this castell was made he lete calle it Thongcastell for as moche as the place was marked with a thonge ¶ Of Ronowen that was Engistes doughter and how the kynge Vortiger spowsed her for her beaute SO whan this castell was made full well arayed Engist pryuely dyde sende by letter in to the countree where he came fro after an hoÌ„dred shyppes fylled with men that were stronge also well fyghtynge in all bataylles And that they sholde also brynge with them Ronowen his doughter that was the fayrest creature that a man myght see ¶ And whan those people were come that he had sente after he toke them in to the castell with moche Ioye And hymself vpon a daye wente vnto yâ— kynge prayed hym there worthely that he wolde come see his newe maneer that he had made in the place yâ— he had compassed with the thonge of the skynne ¶ The kynge anone grauÌ„ted hym freely And with hym wente thyder was well apayed with the castell with the fayre werke and togyder they ete dranke with moche Ioye And whan nyght came that the kynge Vortiger sholde go in to his chambre to take there his nyghtes reste Ronowen that was Engistes doughter came with a cuppe of golde in her honde and kneled before the kynge and sayd to hym Wassaylle And the kynge knewe not what it was for to meane ne what he sholde answere there vpon for as moche as hymself ne none of all his Brytons coude noo englâ—sshe speke ne vnderstonde it but he spake in the same langage that Brytons done yet Neuertheles a latiner tolde it to the kynge the full vnderstandynge therof Wasshayll and that other sholde drynke hayll And that was the fyrst tyme that wasshayll and drynkhayll came vp in this londe And from yâ— tyme vnto this tyme it is well vsed in this londe ¶ The kynge Vortiger sawe the fayrnesse of Ronowen his armes layde about her necke thryes swetely kyssed her anone ryght he was enamoured vpon her yâ— he desyred to haue her to wyf asked of Engist her fader And Engyst graunted hym vpon this couenaunt yâ— the kynge sholde yeue hym all the couÌ„tree of Kent that he there myght dwelle in his people The kyng hym grauÌ„ted pryuely with a good wyll And anone he spowsed the damoysell that was moche confusyon to hymself And therfore all the Brytons became so wrothe for by cause he spowsed a woman of mysbyleue Wherfore they wente all from hym and no thynge to hym toke ne halpe hym in thynge that he had to done ¶ How Vortimer that was Vortigers sone was made kynge Engist dryuen out And how Vortimer was slayne THis Engist wente in to Kente seased all yâ— londe in to his honde for hym for his men became with in a lytill whyle of so grete power so moche people had that men wyst not in lytell tyme whiche were the kyngê men whiche were Engistes men Wherfore all the Brytons had of hym drede and sayd amonges theym But yf yâ— they ne toke other couÌ„seyll bytwene them all yâ— londe sholde be bytrayed thrugh Engist his people ¶ Vortiger the kynge had begoten on his fyrst wyf thre sones The fyrst was called Vortimer The seconde Catagien the thyrde Passent ¶ The Brytons euerychone by one assent chose Vortimer to be theyr lorde souerayne couÌ„seyler in euery batayll crowned hym made hym kynge wolde not suffre Vortiger no lenger to regne for cause of the alyauÌ„ce betwixt Engist and hym ¶ The Brytons ordeyned a grete hoste to dryue out Engist and his company of the londe yaue hym thre bataylles The fyrst was in Kente there he was lorde the seconde 〈◊〉 at Teâ—â—orde and the thyrde in a shyre a this half Colchestre in a more And in this batayle theym mette Catagien Home Engistes brother so that eche of theym slewe other But for as moche as the couÌ„tree was yeuen longe before to Horne thrugh Vortiger tho he spowsed his cosyn there he made a fayre castell that is called Horncastell after his owne name And Vortimer was soo anoyed for his brothers deth that anone he lete fell downe the castell to the grouÌ„de And after he ne lefte nyght ne daye tyll he had dryuen out Engist and his people of the londe And thenne Ronowen his doughter made sorowe ynough And quentely spake to them that were next the kynge Vortimer and pryuyest with hym And so moche she gaue hym of gyftes that he was enpoysened and deyed at London the fourth yere of his regne there he lyeth ¶ How the Brytons chose an other tyme Vortiger to be theyr kynge and Engist came in to this londe and how they fought togyders AFter Vortimers deth the Brytonr by theyr comyn assente eft soones made Vortiger theyr kyng vpon this couenauÌ„t yâ— he sholdde neuer after suffre Engist ne none of his eft sones to come in to this londe And whan all this was done Ronowen the quene pryuely sente by letter to Engist yâ— she had enpoy sened Vortimer yâ— Vortiger her lorde bare ayen yâ— crowne regned And that he sholde come ayen into this londe wel arayed with moche people for to auenge hym vppon the Brytons and for to wyÌ„ne this londe ayen ¶ And whan Engist herde these tydynges he made grete Ioye And appareylled hym hastely with .xv. thousande men yâ— were dughty in euery batayll came in to this londe ¶ And whan Vortiger herde tell that Engist was come ayen with a grete power in to this londe he assembled his Brytons tho wente ayenst Engist for to yeâ—e hyÌ„ batayll his folke But Engist dradde hym sore of the Brytons for they had dryuen hym before discomfyted hym with strength Wherfore this Engist prayed
loue daye In the whiche tyme were slayne a thousande knyghtes .lxi. thrugh treason of Engist The kynge therof had grete pyte thought to make in mynde of them a monumēt of stone y◠myght endure to the worldes ende And of this thynge they toke ther coūseyll what therof was best for to do ¶ Tho spake to the kynge the bysshop of London y◠was called Ternekyn y◠he sholde requyre after Merlyn For he coude best tell how this thynge myght best be made And Merlyn after was sought and foūde came to y◠kynge And the kynge tolde hym his wyll of the monument that he wolde haue made Merlyn answered to the kynge sayd There ben grete stones in Irlonde longe vpon the hylle of Kyan y◠men called Gyauntes karoll And yf they were in this place as they ben there they wolde endure for euer more in remēbraūce of those knyghtes that here be entyred ¶ Per may foy sayd the kyng As harde stone ben in my londe as in Irlonde ¶ Soth sayd Merlyn but in all your londe ben none suche For gyauntes sette them for grete good of themself For at euery tyme that they were woūde or in ony maner hurte they wysshe the stones with hote water and thenne they wysshe them therwith anone they were hoole ¶ How the Brytons wente for to seke the grete stones in Irlonde ASsoone as the Brytons had herde of this thynge they yede and swore amonge them they wolde go seke those stones And toke with them Vter the kynges broder to be chyef capitayne .v. thousande men Merlyn coūselled thē for to go vnto Iolonde so they dyde And whan the kynge of Irlonde y◠was called Guillomer herde telle that straūgers were arryued in his londe he assembled a grete power fought ayenst them But he his folke were dyscomfyted ¶ The Brytons wente before tyll they came to the mount of Kyan clȳmed vp vnto the mount But whan they sawe the stones the maner how they stode they had grete meruaylle sayd bytwene themselfe that noo man sholde them remeue for no strength ne engyne so grete they were so longr But Merlyn thrugh his crafte he remeued them brought them in to theyr shyppes and came ayen in to this londe And Merlyn sette the stones there that the kyng wolde haue them And sette them in the same maner that they stode in Irlonde And whan the kynge sawe that it was made he thanked Merlyn and rychely hym rewarded at his owne wyll And that place lete calle it Stonhenge for euer more ¶ How Passent that was Vortigers sone and the kynge Guillomer came in to this londe and how a traytour that was called Cappa enpoyseneu the kynge Aurilambros ANd men shall vnderstande that Passent that was Vortigers sone lyued the same tyme and came in to this londe with a grete power arryued in the north coūtree wolde be auenged of his faders deth Vortiger strongely trusted vppon the company that he had brought with hym out of y◠londe of Germayne had conquered all the North coūtree vnto Yorke ¶ And whan kyng Aurilambros herde this he assembled a grete power of Brytons wente for to fyght with Passent he dyscomfyted Passent all his people But Passent escaped thens with some of his men fledde thens in to Irlonde and came to kynge Guillomer prayed hym of helpe socour The kynge graunted hym with good wyll sayd that he wolde helpe hym vpon that couenaūt that I my selfe muste go with you with all my power in to Brytayne And I wolde 〈◊〉 aduenge vpon the Brytons the rather for they came in to my londe toke the stones with strength y◠is called Gyaūtes karoll ¶ The kynge Guillomer le te ordeyne his shyppes wente to the see with .xv. thousande men arryued in Walys began to robbe moche sorowe he dyde ¶ It befell so that kynge Aurilambros laye syke at Wynchestre myght not helpe hymself So that he sente in his name Vter his brother with a power to helpe Walys And thytherwarde he wente as moche as he myght ¶ The kynge of Irlonde and Passent herde telle that Aurilambros was syke to hym there came a Sarrasyn that was called Cappa sayd Syre dwelle ye here all in peas with your hoste I behyght you thorugh my quayntesye y◠I shall slee the kynge Aurilambros that is syke Thenne sayd Passent yf ye do so I shall you rychely auaūce The traytour Cappa put vpon hym an habyte of religyon lete shaue hym a brode crowne came vnto the kynges courte and sayd that he wolde helpe the kynge of his malady Tho sayd the traytour Cappa vnto the kynge Syr be of good comforte For I shall yeue you suche a medycyne that ye shall swete anone ryght lyste to slepe haue good reste And the traytour yaaf hym suche poyson to slepe anone ryght and deyed in his slepynge And the traytour sayd that he wolde go out in to the felde tyll he were awaked so escaped he awaye For no man had to hym suspeccyon for by cause of his habyte that he was clothed in and also for his brode shauen crowne But whan the kynges men wyst that he was deed they became wonder sory and fast soughte the traytour but they myghte not fynde hym For that Cappa torned ayen vnto the hoste from whens that he came ¶ Whan Aurilambros deyed a sterre in the morne was seen with a clere lyght at the bought of the beeme was seen she heed of an horryble dragon SO whan the kyng Aurilambros was deed enpoysoned at Wynchestre On the morne after he was deed about the tyme of Pryme there was sene a sterre grete clere the beeme of that sterre was bryghter than the sonne And at the bought of the beeme apperid a dragons heed out of his mouth came two huge lyghtes that were as bryght as ony fyre brennynge that one beeme towarde Fraunce and streyght ouer the see thytherwarde And out of that beeme came .vij. beemes full clere longe as it were the lyght fyre ¶ This sterre was seen of many a man but none of them wyste what it betokened ¶ Vter that was the kynges brother that was in Walys with his hoste of Brytons sawe that sterre the grete lyght that it yaue they wondred therof gretly what it myght betoken And lete calle Merlyn and prayed hym for to telle what that it myght betoken ¶ Of the betokenynge of the sterre MErlyn sawe that sterre behelde it longe tyme. And sythen he quoke wept tenderly And sayd Alas alas that so noble a kyng worthy is deed And I do you to vnderstande that Aurilambros your brother is poysoned y◠I see well in this sterre And yourself is betokened the heed of the dragon y◠is seen at the bought of the beeme that is
spowsed I greyne with moche honour made her quene ¶ And soone after tyme came that she sholde be delyuered bare a childe a sone that was called Arthur And after gaâ—e on her a doughter that was called Amya And whan she came to aege a noble Baron that was lorde of Lyons wedded her ¶ Whan Vter longe tyme had regned there came vpon hym a grete sykenesse as it were a sorowe ¶ And in the meane tyme those that had to kepe Octa that was Engistes sone and Ossa has brother that then were in pryson they lete them go for grete yeftes yâ— they them yaue went with them And whan tho two brethern were escaped were in to theyr owne countree agayne Thenne they ordeyned them a grete power of folke and began for to warre ayen vppon the kynge ¶ How kynge Vter chose Aloth to kepe the londe of Brytayne whyle that he was syke for as moche as he myght not lo◠〈◊〉 syknesse ANd for as moche as kynge Vter was syke myght not helpe hyÌ„ self he ordeyned Aloth sone of Eleyne that tho was chosen for to be wardeyne chyeftayne of all his folke And so he anone all his Brytons assembled a grete hoste yaue batayll to Octa to his folke but Octa at the last was dyscomfyted ¶ It befell thus afterwarde that these Brytons had dedignacoÌ„n of Aloth wolde not be to hym attendauÌ„e Wherfore the kynge was anoyed wonder sore lete put hym in a lytere in the hoste amonges his folke And they ladde hym to Vereloyne that tho was a fayre cyte there yâ— saynt Albon was martred And after was the cyte destroyed with paynems thrugh warre And thyther they had sente Octa and Ossa ther people And entered in to the towne lete make sure yâ— yates there they helde them And the kynge came them besyeged made a stronge assawee but they that were within manly theym deffended ¶ The kynge lete ordeyne his ginnes his engynes for to breke the walles the walles were so stronge that no man myght them mysdo ¶ Octa his people had grete despyte that a kynge lyenge in a lytere had theym besyeged And they toke counseyll amonge them for to stande vp in the morowe erly and come out and yeue batayll to the kynge and so they dyde And in that batayll were bothe Octa and Ossa slayne all the other yâ— escaped a lyue fledde in to Scotlnde made Colegrin theyr chyeftayne And the Saxons yâ— were a lyue escaped fro the batayll brought ayen a grete strength amonge them they sayd that yf kynge Vter were deed they spolde well conquere the londe thought to enpoysen the kynge ordeyned men for to do this dede yaue them of yeftê grete plente this thynge to do And they ordeyned them thyderwarde there 〈◊〉 yâ— kynge was dwellynge and clothed them in poore wede yâ— better all for to spede theyr fals purpose But netheles all theyr falsenes subtylte they myght neuer come to nygh the kynge But so at yâ— last they aspyed yâ— the kynge dranke no other lycour but oonly water of a clere well that was nyghe besyde the fals traytours vpon a daye pryuely wente to yâ— well put therin poyson so yâ— all yâ— water was enpoysened And anone after as the kynge had dronke of that water he began to swelle soone after he deyed as many as dranke of yâ— water deyed also And anone as this was aspyed folke of the towne lete stoppe the welle for euermore ¶ Whan the kynge was deed his folke bare hym to Stonhenge with grete solempnyte of bysshop barons that were there hym to burye besyde Aurilambros his brother And after torned ayen tho euerychone sente after his sone they made hym kynge of the londe with moche reuerence after his faders deâ—he the .xvij. yere of his regne ¶ How kyng Arthur yâ— was the sone of Vter was crowned after his fads deth how he draue Colegrin the Sarons Cheldrâ—k of Almayne out of this londe AS Arthur was made kynge of the londe he was but yonge of aege of .xv. yere but he was fayre and bolde doughty of body And to meke folke he was good curteys and large of spendynge made hym well beloued amonge all them there yâ— it was nede whan he began to regne be swore truely that the Saxons neuer sholde haue reâ—â— ne peas tyll that he hadde dryurn them out of the londe And assembled a greate hoste and fought with Colegrin the whiche after the tyme that Octa was deed the Saxons mayntened And this Colegrin was dyscomfyted fledde vnto Yorke toke the towne there hym helde And the kynge besyeged hyÌ„ there but he myght no thynge spede for the cyte was so stronge And they within the towne kept yâ— cyte well orpedly ¶ And in the mene tyme Colegrin lete the towne to Bladulf fledde hymself to Cheldrik yâ— was kynge of Almayne for to haue of hym socour And the kynge assembled a grete power came arryued in Scotlonde with .xv. hondred shyppes And whan Arthur wyst of these tydynges yâ— he had not power strength ynoughe to fyght ayenst Cheldrik he lete be the syege wente to London and sente anone his letters to the kynge of lytell Brytayne that was called Howell his neuewe his systers sone that he sholde come to hym with all the power that he myght And he assembled a grete hoste arryued at Southampton And what kyng Arthur if wyst he was gladde ynough wente ayenst them them receyued with moche honour So that those two hostê mette assembled them and toke theyr waye euen vnto Nicholl that Cheldrik had besyeged but it was not taken And they came vpon cheldrik his people or they wyst where that they were them egrely assaylled ¶ The kyng Cheldrik and his men defended hym manly by theyr power But kynge Arthur his men slewe so many Saxons that neuer was seen suche slaughter and Cheldrik and his men that were left alyue fledde awaye And kynge Arthur them pursewed droue them out in to a wood that that they myght no ferder passe ¶ Childrik his men sawe well that they were brought in to moche dysease them yelded to kynge Arthur in this maner wyse That he sholde take theyr horses theyr armour and all that they had and they muste oonly goo on foot in to theyr shyppes And so they wolde go home in to theyr owne londe neuer come ayen in to this londe ¶ And vpon assuraunce of this thynge they 〈◊〉 hyÌ„ good hostages ¶ And Arthur by counseyll of his men grauÌ„ted this thynge receyued the hostages therupon the other wente to theyr shyppes And whan they were in the hygh see yâ— wynde chauÌ„ged as the deuyll it wolde they forned theyr nauy came ayen in to
mercy say de Syre gentyll kynge myghty haue mercy pyte vpon vs. And as yourself be of the ryght lawe to holde mayntene Crystendome For full greate dyshonour it sholde be to slee hym yâ— byleueth in almyghty god as ye do And for goddes loue haue mercy pyte on vs suffre vs. For we haue had moche sorowe payne For y o Saxons haue many tymes passed through our londe But yâ— is not ynough to you for oftenymes they haue done vs sorowe dysease For our castelles they haue taken our beestes slayne eten and moche harme they haue vs done And y f ye molde vs now slee it we reâ—none honour to a kynge to slee them that crys hym mercy For ynough ye haue done to vs haue vs ouercome And for the loue of god yâ— ye wyl suffre vs for to lyue haue mercy on crysten people that byleue in Cryste as ye do ¶ Whan kynge Arthur herde this sorowe he had pyte of them yaue them lyf lymme without ony more harme And they fell downe to his feet thanked hym became his lyege men he tooke of them homage ¶ And after that kyng Arthur torned ayen with his hoste came vnto Yorke and made there his bydynge durynge that vyage And tho gaue he all Logrys to Aloth yâ— had spowsed his syster other gyftes grete plente And tho was Gawyn his cosyn but of yonge aege And to all his other men that hym had serued in his warre he gaue ryche gyftes he thanked them moche of all theyr good seruyce ¶ How kynge Arthur spowsed GuÌ„nor that was GuÌ„nors cosyn Erle of Cornewayle and after he conquered of Guillomer all Irlonde ANd whan Arthur had brought his londe in peas reste and in good state all was well in euery couÌ„tree Tho toke he wedded a wyf that was called GuÌ„nor made her quene a fayr lady a gentyll yâ— Cador the erle of Cornewayle had nourysshed in his chambre that was his cosyn But neuer they had children togyder And neuertheles kyng Arthur loued her wonder well deyely And anone as Wynter was passed he lete assemble a grete hoste all his Barons sayd that he wolde go in to Irlonde for to conquere the londe And he caryed not longe yâ— he ne passed ouer into Irlonde ¶ And Guillomer the kynge lete assemble a grete hoste yaue bataylle to kynge Arthur but Guillomer was hys comfyted yelded hym to the kynge became his man to hym dyde fewte and hâ—mage of hym helde all yâ— londe fro that tyme forwarde And after passed kynge Arthur ferthermore conquered Gutlonde Islonde toke homage of the folke of the londe and there dwelled .xij. yere in peas regned with Ioye and myrthe And there warred no man ne woman vpon hym And he became so curteys large honorable that the Emperours courte of Rome ne none other thrugh out all the worlde was not accounted to kynge Arthurs that ony man wyst of ne none so well praysed And therfore the best kynghtê of all maner landes came vnto hym there for to dwelle And he theym receyued with good wyll and reuerence ¶ And all the knyghtes were so good that no man knewe the werste And therfore kynge Arthur made a rouÌ„de table that whan they sholde sytte on ther meete all sholde be ylyke hyghe euenly serued at the table that none of them sholde make auaunt that one of them were hygher thanne an other And kyng Arthur had at that table Brytons Frenshmen Normans and Flemynges Burgoyns Mausers Lotherins of al the londes a this half the mount Goue of his londe of Brytayne and of the grete Corne waylle of Walys of Irlonde and of Scotlonde And shortly to tell of all the londes yâ— wolde worshyp chyualry suche came to kynge Arthurs courte ¶ How kynge Arthur yede in to FrauÌ„ce conquered yâ— londe of Froll that was a Romayne how he slewe hym SYth it befell that thrugh couÌ„sell of his barons lordes kyng Arthur wolde go conquere all FrauÌ„ce that tho was called Galle thrugh Romaynes that tho helde that londe in theyr power in theyr gouernaunce And the Romayns had taken that londe to a noble knyzt a worthy of body that was called Froll And whan he wyst that Arthur came he ordeyned an hoste of a grete power fought with the kynge And he his folke were dyscomfyted fledê vnto Parys entred yâ— cyte closed the yates there helde them ¶ Whan Arthur wyst that Froll was gone to Parys be pursued after came thyder hym besyeged But the cyte was so stronge well arayed tho that were therin deffended theym well manly ¶ Kynge Arthur dwelled there more than a moneth there was so moche people in the cyte that they dyspended all theyr dytayle yâ— they had within And so grete hungre be came amonge them that they deyed wonderly thycke within the cyte for hungre And came vnto Froll prayed hym to be accorded with kynge Arthur for to haue peas they wolde yelde theym vnto hym the cyte also ¶ Froll sawe that he myght no lenger holde the towne ayenst theyr wyll trusted gretly vppon his owne strength sente to kynge Arthur that he sholde come fyght with hyÌ„ body for body so sholde they departe FrauÌ„ce bytwene them two ¶ Kynge Arthur anone grauÌ„ted it And wolde not yâ— none of his people vndertoke the batayle for hym ¶ And vpon the morne both came well arayed without Parâ—s theret that they sholde fyght And anone they smote togyders so fyersly so well they fought on bothe sydes yâ— no man demed the better of them so it befell yâ— Froll yaue Arthur suche a stroke that he kneled to the grounde wolde be nolde he And as Froll wouÌ„ded kynge Arthur in the forhede yâ— the blood fell downe by his â—yen his face Arthur anone sterte vp hertely whan he felte hyÌ„ hurte as a man that semed almoost wood And he toke taburne his good swerde drewe it vp on hyghe and yaaf Froll suche a stroke that therwith he claue his heed downe to the sholders so that his helme myght not be his warraunt so he fell downe deed in the place And thenne tho of the cyte made greate sorowe for Froll And euerychone yelded them to kyng Arthur and the towne also became his men dyde to hym homage feaute And he receyued them toke of them goodly hostages And kyng Arthur after that wente forth with his hoste conquered Augien Angiers Gascoyne Pehito Nauerne and Bourgoyne Berry Lotherne Turin and Peithers and all the other londes of Fraunce he conquered all holy Whan he had conquered taken by homages and feautees he torned ayen to Parys and there he dwelled longe tyme ordeyned peas longe tyme ouer al
his neuewes that was a wyse kynght an hardy that was called Mordred But he was not all true as ye shall here afterwarde Kynge Arthur tooke all his reame to this Mordred sauf oonly the crowne And after that kynge Arthur toke his hoste and wente to South hampton there that the shyppes were brought the folke assembled And they dyde go vnto the see and had wynde weder at wyll And as soone as euer they myght they arryued at Hareflete And assoone as they myght they went to londe out of theyr shyppes and spradde all ouer the countree ¶ How kynge Arthur faught with a gyaunt in Spayne that was called Dinabus that slewe Eleyne that was kynge Howels cosyn of lytell Brytayne BYnge Arthur had not dwelled in the couÌ„tree but a lytell tyme that men hym tolde that there was come a grete gyauÌ„t in to Spayne had rauysshed fayre Eleyne that was cosyn vnto Howell of lytell Brytayne And hadde brought her vpon an hylle that is called the mouÌ„t of saynt Bernarde And there was no man in that couÌ„tree so bolde ne so hardy that durst fyght with hym ne come nye the place there that the gyauÌ„t dwelled that was called Dinabus And moche sorowe he dyde â–ª in the countree ¶ Whan kyng Arthur herde this tydynges he called to hym Kay and Bedâ—were coÌ„maunded them to go pryuely espye where the gyaunt myght be founde And they came to the ryâ—age there that men sholde go to the mouÌ„t that was al enclosed about with water yet is and euer shall be And they sawe a brennynge fyre vppon the hylle And there was also an other hylle nye that there was vpon that an other fyre brennynge Kay and Bedwere came to the next hylle founde a wydowe open heeded syttynge besydes a tombe sore wepynge grete sorowe made And oft she sayd Eleyne eleyne And Kay Bedwere axed what she was wherfore she made so moche sorowe and who laye in that tombe ¶ O sayd she what sorowe mysauenture fayre lordes seke ye here For yf the GyauÌ„t may you here fynde he wyll you slee anone ¶ Be stylle good wyf sayd they therof dysmaye you not but tell vs the south why that thou makest so moche sorowe wepynge ¶ Syrs sayd she For a damoysell that I nourysshed with my breest that was called Eleyne that was nece to Howell of Brytayne And here lyeth the body in this tombe that to me was taken to nourysshe And so there came a deuyll a Gyaunt rauysshed her me also and ladde vs bothe with hym awaye And he wolde haue forlayne that mayde that was so yonge tendre of aege but she myght it not suffre so grete so huge as the Gyaunt was And for certayne yf he come now as he is wont to do he wyll you both now slee therfore go ye hens Thenne bespake these two messengers sayd to her wherfore go ye not from hens ¶ Certes sayd she whan that Eleyne was deed the Gyaunt made me to abyde and haunt his wyll I must nedes it suffre And god it wote I do it not wich my wyll for I had leuer to be deed than with hym to deale so moche payne sorowe I haue whan he me forlyeth ¶ Whan Kay and Bedwere had herde all yâ— this woman them tolde they torned ayen came to kynge Arthur tolde hym all that they had seen and herde ¶ Arthur anone toke them bothe with hym wente pryuely by nyght that none of his hoste wyst came on the morowe erly to the Gyaunt faught with hym strongely and at the last hym slewe And Arthur badde Bedwere smyte of his heed brynge it to the hoste to shewe it for a wonder for it was so grete huge ¶ Whan they came ayen to the hoste they tolde wherfore they had ben out shewed to them the heed euery man was gladde Ioyefull of the worthy dede that kynge Arthur had done that was theyr lorde And Howell was full sorowfull for his nece that was so lost And afterwarde whan he had space he lete make a fayre chappell of our lady ouer Eleynâ— tombe ¶ How kynge Arthur yaue bataylle to the Emperour in yâ— whiche batayll the Emperour hymself was slayne ARthur his people herde tydynges that the Emperour had assembled a grete power as well of sarrasyns as of paynems crysten men Wherof the nombre was .lxxx. thousande hors men with foot men ¶ Arthur his people ordened fast forth in theyr waye towarde the Emperour passed Normandy FrauÌ„ce vnto Burgoyne wolde haue gone vnto the hoste For men tolde hym that the Emperours hoste wolde come to Lucie ¶ The Emperour his hoste in the begynnynge of August teweued from Rome came forth ryght the waye to warde yâ— hoste ¶ Tho came kynge Arthurs spyes sayd yf that Arthur wolde he sholde fynde the Emperour there faste by but they sayd that the Emperour had so grete power with hym of kynges of the londe of Paynems also crysten people that it were but foly to kynge Arthur to mete with them For the spyes â—olde that the Emperour had fyue or sixe men ayenst one of his ¶ Kynge Arthur was bolde hardy and for no thynge hym nysmayed sayd Goo we boldely in goddes name ayenst the Romayns that with them lede Sarrasyns Paynems that no maner trust they haue in god but oonly vpontheyr strength Go we now seke them sharpely in the name of almyghty god slee we the Paynems and Crysten men that ben ayenst vs with them for to destroye Crysten men And god shall vs helpe them to ouercome For we haue the ryght opynyon therfore haue we truste in god And do we so that the enmyes that be to crystendome to god may be destroyed ouercome that men may recorde the warthynesse of knyghthode ¶ Whan kyng Arthur hadde thus sayd they cryed all with an hygh voys ¶ God that is fader almyghty worshypped be thy name with out ende Amen And graunt vs grace well for to do to destroye our enmyes that ben ayenst crystendome In the name of the fader the sone and the holy ghost Amen And god yeue hyen neuer grace ne worshyp in the worlde ne mercy of hym to haue that this daye shall faynte well for to smyte egrely And so they rode softly ordeyned his wynges well wysely ¶ The Emperour herde tell that kynge Arthur his folke were redy appareylled for to fyght with hym how they were camynge He 〈◊〉 ordeyne his wynges in the best wyse that he cowde And more trusted vppon his strength than in god almyghty that was seen afterwarde For whan the 〈◊〉 hostes mette the Emperour lost 〈◊〉 of his folke ayenst one of Arthur And so many were slayne what on that one party on that other that it was grete pyte to wyte to beholde ¶
kynge Cadwaldre made to his folke they arryued in lytell Brytayne and came to kynge Aley ne before sayd ¶ And the kynge receyued hym with grete Ioye made hym to be serued wonder nobly And there abode they longe tyme after ¶ The Englysshe people that were left a lyue and were escaped the grete hungre mortalyte lyued in the best wyse yâ— they myght And moche people sprange came of them ¶ And they sente in to Saronâ—e where that they were borne to theyr frondes for men wymmen and childern to restore the cytees with people to wnes that were all voyde of people for to labour traueylle and tylthe the erthe ¶ Whan the Saxons berde these trdynges they came in to the londe wonder thycke in grete companyes and herberowed themself in the couÌ„â—er all about where that they wolde for they founde no man them for to lette ne withstonde And so they wexed multeplyed gretly And vsed the maners and customes of the couÌ„â—re wherof they were come And they vsed also the lawes and the langages and speche of theyr owne londe that they came fro And also they chaunged all the names of cytees townes castelles and brughs and yaue them names and called them as they now ben called And they helde the Countees Baronages lordshyps in manere as the Brytons before tyme had compassed them And amonge other greate companyes that came from Germayne in to this londe came yâ— noble quene that was called Sexburga with men wyÌ„men without nombre And arryued in the couÌ„tree of Northumberlonde toke the londe from Albion vnto Cornewaylle for her for her folke For there was none that myght them lette for all was desolate vayde of people but it were a fewe poore Brytons that were lefte on mountayns woodes vntyll that tyme. ¶ And fro that tyme forth loste the Brytons this reame for all theyr dayes And the Euglysshe people began to regne departed the londe bytwene them And they made many kynges aboute by dyuerse partyes of the londe as here ben diuyded The fyrst of Westsexe the seconde Mercheurtche the thyrde Estangle the fourthe kente the fyfth Southsex All those regned in this londe after yâ— Cadwaldre was passed out of this londe dwelled in lytell Brytayne with kynge Alayne his cosyn true frende And whan he had longe dwelled there and had knowâ—â—â—ge that the mortalyte pestylence was ouerpassed and that the londe was repleaysshed ayen with people he thought to tome ayen in to his londe And prayed kynge Aleyne his cosyn of socour helpe that he myght be restored ayen to his owne propre reame and fyrfst dygnyte And kynge Aleyne graunted hym his askynge ¶ Thenne dyde he appareylle hym to take his waye and vyage in to this londe And prayed god almyghty denoutely that he wolde make to hym demonstracyon yf his prayer to this londe were to hym pleasauÌ„t or none for ayenst the wyll of god almyghty he wolde noo thynge do ¶ Whan he had thus deuoutely made his prayer a boys fro heuen to hym sayd And badde hym leue that Iourney awaye in to Englonde that he sholde go to the pope of Rome for it was not the wyll of almyghty god that the Brytons sholde regne more in Brytayne ne neuer recouer it vnto the tyme of the prophecye that Merlyn sayd before be fulfylletd And that sholde neuer be vnto the tyme were come that the relyques of his body shall be brought fro Rome and translated in to Brytayne And whan the relykes of other sayntes that haue ben hydde for the persecucion of the paynem folke shall be founde and and opely shewed thenne shal they recouer theyr londe ayen the whiche they haue so longe tyme lost thrugh theyr desertes ¶ Whan Cadwaldre had herde this answere he meruaylled gretly and tolde it to kynge Aleyne ¶ Thenne kynge Aleyne dyde sende for the clergye of his londe and made them to brynge the storyes prophecyes that Meâ—lyn and Sybyll had sayd in theyr prophecyes And whan he knewe that the prophecye that festom had prophecyed of the Egle. and other prophecyes accorded to the dyâ—yn answere that Cadwaldre had herde He counseylled hym and ryght faythfully desyred hym to leue his people his nauy and submytte hym to the dyspolicyon of god and do all that the aungell had coÌ„maunded hym ¶ Thenne Cadwaldre called Ynor his sone and Yuori his cosyn that was his systers sone and sayd to them Taketh sayd he my folke my nauy that is here all redy and passe in to Walys be ye lordes of Brytons that no dyshonour come to them by interrupcyon of the Paynem folke for defaute of lordes ¶ And then he hymself lefte his reame of Brytayne and his folke for euer more and toke his waye vnto the pope of Rome Sergius the whiche worshypped hym moche and soo he was confessyd and toke penaunce for his synnes And he had not longe dwelled there that he ne deyed the .xij. Kalendis in May the yere of grace .v. C.lxxix ¶ How kyng Offa was souerayne aboue all the kynges of Englonde how euery kynge warred vpon other IT befell so that all the kynges in that tyme that were in the londe as they of Westsex Marchenrych Estangle of Kente of Southsex of other câ—stes eche warred vpon other And he that was moost myghty toke the londe of hym that was moost feblest ¶ But there was a kynge amonge them that was called Offa that was saynt Oswaldes brother This Offa conquered all the kynges of the londe regned aboue them all ¶ And so grete was the warre in euery countree bytwene kynges that no man myght wyte how the londe wente ¶ But abbotes pryours and men of Relygyon wrote the lyues and dedes of kynges and how longe euery of them regned in what countree and in what manere euery kynge deyed and of bysshops also And therof made grete bokê and lete calle them Cronycles And the good kyng Alured had that boke in his warde And lete brynge it vnto Wynchestre and lete it be fast tacked to a pylar that men sholde it not remeue ne bere it thens so that euery man sholde it see and therupon loke For therin ben the lyues of all the kynges that euer were in Englonde ¶ How the kynge of Northumberlonde Osbryght forlaye the wyf of Buerne Bocarde thrugh strength after this Buerne conquered the kynge with power and strength ANd thus it befell in the same tyme that there was a kynge in Northumberlonde that was called Osbryght and soiourned at Yorke ¶ And this kynge wente hym vppon a daye in to a wood hym for to dysporte And as he came ayen he wente pryuely in to a good mannes house that was called Buerne and the good man of that place was gone that tyme to the set ¶ For oftentymes there he was wonte to spye theues and robbers that oftentymes were wonte to come in
thynge the whiche the holy man had ordeyned ¶ Anastasius was pope after hym two yere ¶ Laudo was pope .v. monethes lytel they dyde ¶ Iohannas the .x. was pope thenne This IohaÌ„nes was the sone of Sergius pope both of nature of maners And he was pope by myght And wretchedly slayne of Guidols knyghtê for they put on his mouth a pylowe and stopped his breth And after hym was a nother put in but anone he was out and therfore he is not named as pope ¶ Henricê° the duke of Saxon was Emperour of Almayne .xvij. yere this Henricê° was a noble man but he is not nombred amonge themperours for he regned but aloonly in Almayne And he had a very holy woman vnto his wyf her name was Matylda on whom he gate two sones that is to saye Otto Harry And Otto succeded hyÌ„ in the Empyre And Harry had moche londe in Almay ne And he gate an other sone yâ— hyght Brimen he was a very holy man was bysshop of Coleyne And he fouÌ„ded the monastery of Panthaleon ¶ Of kynge Adelstone NOw after this Edwarde regned Adelstone his sone And whan he had regned foure yere he helde batayle ayenst the Danys And droue kynge Gaufride yâ— was kyng of the Danys all his hoste vnto the see and rested by Scotlonde toke strongely all the couÌ„tree an hoole yere And after that tho of Comberlonde of Scottes of Westmerlonde began to warre vpon kynge Adelstone And he gaue them so stronge batayll that he slewe so many of them yâ— no man coude telle the nombre of them And after that he regned but thre yere And he regned in all .xxv. yere lyeth at Malmesbury ¶ Of kynge Edmonde THenne after this Adelstone regned Edmonde his brother For kyng Adelstone had no sone this Edmonde was a worthy man a doughty knyght of body as noble also And yâ— thyrde yere after that he was kynge he wente ouer Humber in to that couÌ„tree in the whiche couÌ„tree he fouÌ„de two kynges of Danys That one was called Enelaf that other Renant This kynge Edmonde droue them both fro yâ— londe after went toke a grete proye in Comberlonde This Edmonde regned but .vij. yere lyeth at Glastenbury ¶ Of kynge Eldred ANd after this Edmonde regned Eldred his broder that auenged Edwarde his fader of his enmyes that dyde hym slee And after he seased all Northumberlonde in to his honde And made the Scottes for to bowe meke vnto his wyll And in the seconde yere of his regne came Arnalaf Guyran that was kynge of Denmarke seased all Northumberlonde helde that londe two yere And after that came kynge Eldred draue hym out of this londe And this kyng Eldred was a noble man a good of whoo 's goodnes saynt Dunstane preched And this kyng Eldred regned .xi. yere lyeth at Wynchestre ¶ Of kynge Edwyn ANd after this Eldred regned Edwyn the sone of Edmonde And he was a symple man towarde god and the people For he hated folke of his ow ne londe and loued honoured strauÌ„ge men And sette lytell by holy chirche And he toke of holy chirche all the treâ— sour that he myght haue That was gre te shame vylany to hymself and peryll to his soule And therfore god wolde not that he sholde regne no lenger than foure yere deyed and lyeth at Wyncheste LEo the sixt a Romayne was pope .vi. monethes ¶ Stephanus the .vij. was after hym two yere ¶ Iohannes the .xi. a Romayne was pope thre yere ¶ Stephanus the .viij. a Germayne was pope after hym .viij. yere ¶ Martinus the thyrde was pope after hym thre yere of these .vi. popes is no thynge had in scrypture For what cause I can not telle ¶ Anno dmÌ„ .ix. C .liiij. AGapitus a Romayne was pope after Martinê° .ij. yere .viij. monethes no thynge of hym is wryten ¶ IoheÌ„s the .xij. a Romayne was pope after Agapitus .viij. yere he had a fader yâ— hyght Alberyke was a worthy man in the cyte of Rome He Induced the noble men to swere yâ— after the deth of Agapitus they sholde these Octauianus his sone pope soo it was done was named Iohn he was a hunter a lecherous man so yâ— openly he kepte wyÌ„men Wherfore certen Cardynalles wrote vn to Otto the Emperour of Saxon that he sholde come to Rome for to helpe to destroye the sclauÌ„dre of yâ— chirche This the pope perceyued yâ— honde that wrote the pystle he made to be cutte of And many tymes he was warned by the Emperour the clergy that he sholde correc te hymself but he nolde for no thynge Thenne he was deposyd Leo was put in to his place Wherfore the Emperour was anoyed and came ayen besyeged Rome so longe tyll they toke Benedicte to hym restored Leo. ¶ Of kynge Edgar that regned aboue the kynges of Scotlonde of Walys how he was begyled thrugh the takynge of his wyf ANd after this Edwyne regned Edgar his brother a man that moche loued god peas and the ryght of holy chirche also And he was a worthy man and a grete lorde of blood and myghty maytened well this londe in peas And this Edgar was lorde kynge aboue all the kynges of Scotlonde of Walys fro the tyme that Arthur was gone neuer was sythen kynge of his power ¶ And this Edgar was Saynt Edwardes fader And whan Edgars wyf was deed that was saynt Edwardes moder enteryd he herde speke of the fayrnesse of Estrylde that was Oxgarus doughter a baron of Deuenshyre that was so fayr a woman that al men dyde speke of her He called one of his knyghtes that he moche loued trusted vpon tolde hym God sayd he to the noble baron Orgarus of Deuenshyre and see yf that his doughter be so fayre as men speke of yf it be soth I wyll haue her vnto my wyf ¶ This knyght that was called Edelwolde went forth his waye as the kynge hym had sayd came there that yâ— lady was And whan he sawe her so fayre he thought to haue her hymself to wyf And therof spake to Orgarus her fader And her fader was an olde man had no moo childern but oonly her sawe that Edelwolde was a fayre yonge knyght worthy ryche and was well beloued with the kynge thought his doughter sholde well be maryed besette vpon hym and grauÌ„ted hym his doughter yf the good lorde the kynge wolde consente therto ¶ And thenne this Edelwolde came ayen vnto the kynge tolde hym that she was fay re ynough vpon to see but she was won der lothly ¶ Tho answered the kynge and sayd that he toke but lytell charge Syr sayd Edelwolde she is her faders heyre I am not ryche of londes and yf ye wolde consente graunte that I myght
his owne meyne wente vnto the chambre there that he sholde take his nyghtes reste And as he loked hym about he sawe a fayre ymage well made and in semblaunt as it were an Archer with a boowe in the boowe a fyne arowe ¶ Kynge Edmonde wente tho nere for to beholde it better what it myght be And anone yâ— arowe smote hym thrugh the body there slewe the kynge For that engyne was made for to slee his owne lorde traytoursly ¶ And so whan kynge Edmonde was thus deed slayne he had regned but .x. yere And his people for hym made moche sorowe And his body they bare vnto Glastenbury there they hym entyred ¶ And this fals traytour Edrith anone wente vnto the quene that was kynge Edmondes wyfe that wyst not of her lordes deth Anone he toke from her two sones that were fayre yonge that her lorde had vpon her goten that one was called Edwarde that other Edwyne ladde theym with hym to London toke them vnto kynge Knoght that he sholde do wish them what his wyll were And tolde hym how subtylly he had slayne kynge Edmonde for by cause loue of hym so that kynge knoght all Englonde in his power hooly myght haue ¶ O thou fals traytour hast thou my true brother that was soo true thus slayne for me the man I moost loued in the worlde Now by my heed I shall for thy trauell the well rewarde as thou hast deserued anone lete hym be take bounde honde foot in manere of a traytour lete cast hym there in to Tamyse in this maner the fals traytour ended his lyf The kynge toke the two childern put them vnto the abbot of Westmestre to warde to kepe tyll that he wyst what was best with them to do ¶ How kynge knoght sente kynge Edmondes sones both in to Denmarke to be slayne how they were saued SO it befell soone after that kynge knoght had all the londe in his honde spowsed the quene Emme thorugh consente of his baronage For she was a fayre woman the whiche was Eldredes wyf and the dukes syster of Normandy they lyued togyder with moche loue as reason wolde The kynge axed vpon a daye counseyll of the quene what was best to do with the sones that were Edmonde Irensydes Syr sayd she they ben the ryght heyres of the londe yf they lyue they wyll do moche sorowe with warre therfore lete sende them in to a strange londe a ferre to some man that may them defoyle destroy The kyng anone lete call a dane that was called Walgar coÌ„mauÌ„ded hyÌ„ that he sholde lede tho two childern in Denmark so to do ordeyne for them yâ— he sholde neuer here more of theym Syr sayd this Walgar gladly your coÌ„mauÌ„dement shall be done anone tho two childern he toke lad them in to Denmark And for as moche as he sawe that the childern were wond fayre also meke he had of them grete pyte ruche wolde them not slee but lad them to the kyng of Hungry for to nourysshe for this Walgar was well beknowen with the kynge well beloued Anone the kyng axed whens the childn were Walgar tolde hym sayd that they were the ryght heyres of Englond therfore men wolde destroye theym And therfore syr vnto you they be come mercy helpe for to seke And forsothe yf they may lyue your men they shall become and of you they shall holde all theyr londe The kynge of Hungry receyued them with moche honour lete them worthely be kepte ¶ And thus it befell afterwarde that Edwyne the yonger brother deyed Edwarde the elder brother lyued a fayre man a stronge a large of body gentyll and curters of condycyons so that all men hym loued And this Edwarde in the Cronycles is called amonge the Englysshmen Edwarde the outlawe ¶ And whan as he was made knyght the kynges doughter of Hungry hym moche loued for his goodnes and his fayrnes that she hym called her derlynge The kyng that was her fader perceyued well the loue that was betwixt them two and had no heyre but only that doughter and the kynge vowchesauf his doughter to no man so well as he dyde to hym that she loued so well he her and yaue her vnto hym with a good wyll Edwarde her spowsed with moche honour The kynge of Hungry sente after all his baronage and made a solempne feest a ryche weddynge And made all men to vnderstande that this Edwarde sholde be kynge of that londe after the decesse of hym And of that tydyngê they were all full gladde This Edwarde begate vppon his lady a sone that was called Edgar Helynge afterwarde a doughter that was called Margarete that afterwarde was quene of Scotlonde And by the kyng of Scotlond that was called Mancolin she had a doughter that was called Maud that was quene afterwarde of Englond thrugh kynge Henry that was the fyrst sone of the conquerour that her wedded And he begate on her a doughter that was called Maude that afterwarde was Empresse of Almayn And of this Maude came the kynge of Englonde that vnto this daye is called Henry yâ— Empresse sone And yet had this Edwarde an other doughter by his wyf that was called Crystyan she was a Nonne ¶ How kynge Knoght that was a proude man conquered Noâ—â—andy how he became afterwarde meke mylde NOw haue ye herde of Edmonde Irensydes sones that kyng Knoght wend they had ben slayne as he had coÌ„mauÌ„ded Walgar before And this kyng Knoght had in his honde all the reame of Englonde Denmarke And after that they wente vnto Norwaye that londo for to conquere But the kynge of the londe that was called Elaf came with his people wende his londe to haue well kepte defended so there he faught with hym tyll at the last he was slayne in that batayll And tho this Knoght toke all the londe in to his honde And whan he had conquered Norwaye taken feaute homages there he came ayen in to Englonde helde hymself so grete a lorde that hym thoughte in all the worlde his pere noo man was And he came so proude and hauteyne that it was grete wonder ¶ And so it befell vpon a daye as he had herde masse at Westmestre wolde haue gone in to his palays the wawes of the Tamyse so swyftely ayenst hym came that almoost they touched his feet Tho sayd the kyng with a proude herte I coÌ„maunde the water to torne ayen or elles I shall make the The wawes for his coÌ„mauÌ„dement wolde not spare but flowed euer in heyght more more The kyng was so proude of hert that he wolde not flee the water bete it with a rodde that he had in his honde coÌ„maunded the water that it sholde go no ferder But for all his coÌ„mauÌ„dement
the water wolde not cesse but euer wexed more more on hygh so that the kynge was all wete stode depe in the water And whan he sawe that he had abyden there to longe the water wolde noo thynge do his coÌ„maundement tho soone he withdrewe hym and tho stode he vpon a stone and helde his hondes on hyghe sayd these wordes herynge all the people ¶ This god that maketh the see thus aryse is kynge of all kyngê of all myghtes moost And I am a caytyf a man deedly and he may neuer deye all thynge doth his coÌ„maundement and to hym is obedyent ¶ To that god I praye that he be my warraunt For I knowlege me a caytyf feble and of no power And therfore I wyll go vnto Rome without ony longe lettynge and my wyckednesse for to punysshe and me to amende For of god I clayme my londe for to holde of none other And anone made redy his heyre and hymself wente to Rome without ony lettynge And by the waye dyde many almesse dedes and whan he came to Rome also And whan he had be there for his synnes do penauÌ„ce he came ayen in to Englonde became a good man and an holy And lyued and left all manere of pryde and stoutenes and lyued an holy lyf after made two abbayes of saynt Benet one in Englonde and an other in Normandye for as moche as he loued saynt Benet more specyally than other sayntes And moche he loued also saynt Edmonde yâ— kynge And oft he yaue grete yeftes to the house wherfore it was made ryche And whan he had regned .xx. yere he deyed and lyeth at Wynchestre ¶ Anno dmÌ„ M.xviij BEnedictus the .ix. was pope after Iohannes he was a grete leâ—hour therfore he was dampned and he aperyd to a certayne man vnd a meruaylous fygure an horryble His heed his take was lylae an asse that other part of his body lyke a beer And he sayde to this man to whom he aperyd Be not aferde for I was a man as ye now be but I apeyre now for I lyued vnhappely in olde tyme lyke a beest whan I was pope In this mannes tyme there was grete dyuysyon sclaunder to the chirche for he was put out in two tymes ¶ And here Tholomeâ—â— noteth that the pryde of bysshops had euer an euyll ende And it was euer the occasyon of moche vnrest and batayll ¶ Conradus the fyrst was Emperour after Henricus .xx. yere This man made many lawes and coÌ„maunded peas to be kepte moost straytly of ony man But the erle of â—udolf was accused he fledde from his londe desyred more to lyue lyke a churle than lyke a gentylman yet meruayllously his sone was made Emperour by the coÌ„mauÌ„dement of god ayenst the wyll of Conradus And at the laste they were accorded And he toke Corodis doughter to his wyf ¶ Of kynge Harold that leuer had go on foot than ryde on hors THis Knoght of whome we haue spoken of before had two sones by his wyf Emme that one was called Hardiknoght that other Harold And he was so lyght of foot yâ— men called hyÌ„ moost comynly Harold Hare foot And this Harold had no thynge the condicyons the maners of kyng Knoght that was his fader For he sette but lytell pryce of chyualrye ne noo curteysy nother worshyp but oonly by his owne wyll And he became so wycked that he exyled his moder Emme And she wente out of the londe in to FlauÌ„dres there dwelled with the erle wherfore after there was neuer good loue betwixt hym his broder For his broder hated hyÌ„ deedly whan he had regned two yere a lytell more he deyed lyeth at Westmestre ¶ Of kynge Hardiknoght that was Haroldes brother AFter this Harold Harefoot regned his brother Hardiknoghtâ— a noble knyght a worthy man moche loued chyualry all maner of goodnes And whan this Hardiknoght had redned a lytell whyle he lete vncouere his brother Harold smote of his heed that was his broder at Westmestreâ— lete cast the heed in to a gonge the body in to Tamyse And after came fysshers toke the body with theyr nettes by nyght bare hym to saynt Clementes châ—â—che there hym buryed And in this maner auenged hym Hardiknoght of his broder for in none other maner he myght be auenged This kynge Hardiknoght was so large a yeuer of meete drynke that his tables were sette euery daye thre tymes full with ryall meetes drynkes for his owne meyne and for all that came vnto his courte to be rychely serued of ryall meetts ¶ And this kynge Hardiknoght sente after Emme his moder made her to come ayen in to Englonde for she was dryuen out of Englonde whyle that Harold Harefoot regned thrugh counseyll of the erle Godewin that tho was the grettest lorde of Englonde next the kynge moost myght do thrugh out all Englonde what he wolde his coÌ„maundement for as moche as he had spowsed the doughter of the good kynge Knoght that was a Daneâ— whiche doughter he hadde by his fyrst wyf ¶ And whanne this quene was dryuen out of Englonde come to the Erle of FlauÌ„dres that was called Baldewyne her cosyn he fouÌ„de her there all thynge that her neded vnto the tyme that she wente ayen in to Englonde that the kynge Hardiknoght had sent for her that was her some made her come ayen with moche honour This kynge Hardiknoght whan he had regned fyue yere he deyed and lyeth at Westmestre ¶ Of the vylany that the Danys dyde to the Englysshmen Wherfore fro that tyme after was no Dane made kynge of this londe ANd after the deth of this kynge Hardsknoght for as moche as he had noo thynge of his body begoten The erles barons assembled made a couÌ„sell that neuer more after no man that was a Dane though he were neuer so grete a man amonges them he sholde neuer be kynge of Englonde for the despyte that the Danes had done to Englysshmen For euermore before yf it were so that the Englysshmen yâ— Danys hapned for to mete vpon a brydge the Englysshmen sholde not be so hardy to meâ—e ne styre a foot but stande styll tyll the Dane were passed forth And more ouer yf that Englysshmen had not bowed downe theyr heedes to do reuerence vnto the Danys they sholde haue ben beten defoylled And suche maner despytes vylany dyde the Danys to our Englysshemen Wherfore they were dryuen out of yâ— londe after tyme yâ— kyng Hardiknoght was deed for they had no lorde that theym myght mayntene ¶ And in this maner auoyded the Danys Englonde that neuer they came ayen ¶ The erles barons by theyr comyn assente by theyr couÌ„seles sent vnto Normandy for to seke those two brethern Alured Edwarde that were dwellynge with the duke Richarde that was theyr
olde testament yâ— newe the lawes of the prophecyes the gospell the canons of appostles all the decrees of the popes of Rome that al they helde I holde that that they dampned Idampne moost specyally that preuylege graunted to Henry the Emperour the whiche rather is graunted to venge his malyce than to multeplye his pacyence in vertue For euer more I dampne that same preuylege ¶ Of kyng Henry Beauclerk that was Wyllyam Rous brother and of the debate bytwene hym Robert Curthos his brother ANd whan Wyllyam Rous was deed Henry Beauclerk his 〈◊〉 was made kynge by cause Wyllyam Rome had no childe begote on his body And this Henry Beauclerk was crowned kyng at London the fourth daye after that his brother was decessyd that is to saye the fyfth daye of August ¶ And anone as Ancelmus that was Archbysshop of CauÌ„terbury that was at yâ— court of Rome herde tell that William Rous was deed he came ayen in to England the kynge Beauclerk welcomed hym with moche honour And the fyrste yere the kynge Henry regned was crowned He spowsed Maude that was Margaretes doughter the quene of Scotlonde And the Archebysshop Ancelmus of CauÌ„terbury wedded them And this kynge begate vpon his wyfe two sones a doughter that is to saye Wyllyam and Richarde Maude And this Maude was afterwarde yâ— Empresse of Almayne ¶ And in the seconde yere of his regne his broder Robert Curthos that was duke of Normandy came with an huge hoste in to Englond for to chalenge the londe But thrugh counseyll of the wyse men of the londe they were accorded in this manere That the kynge sholde yeue his brother the duke a thousande pounde euery yere And whiche of them that lyued lengest sholde be that others heyre and so bytwene them sholde he no debate ne stryfe ¶ And then whan they were thus accorded the duke wente home agayne in to Normandye ¶ And whan the kynge had regned foure yere there arose a grete debate bytwene hym and the Archebysshop of Counterbury Ancelmus For by cause that the Archebysshopp wolde not graunâ—e to hym for to talenges of chirches at his wyll And the reforde efâ—ones the Archebysshope Ancelmus wente ouer the see vnto the courte of Rome there he dwelled with the pope And in the same yere the 〈◊〉 of Normandy came in to Englonde to speke with his 〈◊〉 ¶ And 〈…〉 other thynges the duke of Normandye â—oryâ—â—e vnto the kynge his brother the fousayd thousande pouÌ„de by yere that he sholde paye vnto the duke And with good loue the kynge the duke departed there yâ— duke wente ayen in to Normandy ¶ And whan tho two yere were agone thrugh the entycement of the deuyll of symple men a grete debate arose bytwene the kynge the duke soo that thrugh couÌ„seyll the kynge wente ouer yâ— see in to Normandy whan the kynge of Englonde was come in to Normandy all the grete lordes of Normande torned vnto the kynge of Englonde helde ayenst yâ— duke theyr owne lorde hyÌ„ forsoke to the kynge them yelde all the good castelles townes of Normandy And soone after was the duke taken ladde with the kynge in to Englonde And the kyng lete put the duke in to pryson this was the vengeaunce of god ¶ For whanne the duke was in the holy londe god yaue hym suche myght grate that he was chosen for to haue be kyÌ„ge of Iherusalem and he forsoke is and wolde not take it vpon hym and therfore god sente hym that shame despyte for to be putt in his brothers pryson The seased kynge Henry all Normandy in to his honde helde it all his lyfe tyme. ¶ And in the same yere came the bysshop Ancelmus fro the courte of Rome in to Englonde ayen And the kyng he were accorded ¶ And in the next yere comynge after there began a grete debate bytwene the kynge Phylyppe of Fraunce kynge Henry of Englonde Wherfore kynge Henry wente in to Normandye there was stronge warre bytwene them two And tho deyed the kynge of FrauÌ„ce lowys his sone was made kynge anone after his deth And th◠〈◊〉 kynge Henry ayen in to Englonde maryed Maude his doughter vnto Henry the Emperour of Almayne ¶ Of the debate that was betwixt kynge Lowys of FrauÌ„ce kynge Henry of Englonde how kynge Henryes two sones were loste in the hyght see AS kynge Henry hadê be kynge xvij yere a grete debate arose betwixt kynge Lowys of frauÌ„ce kynge Henry of Englonde for by cause that yâ— kynge had sente in to Normandy to his men that they sholde be helpynge vnto therle of Bloys asmoche as they might in wane ayenst the kynge of frauncâ— And that they sholde be as 〈◊〉 to hym as they were to theyr owne lorde for by cause that therle had spowsed his 〈…〉 Maude And for this cause yâ— kenge of FrauÌ„ce dyde moche sorowe to Normandy Wherfore the kynge of Englonde was wonder wroth in haste wente ouer the see with a grete power same in 〈◊〉 Normandy for to defende that 〈◊〉 And the warre bytwene them lasted two yere tyll at the last they two 〈◊〉 togyder And the kynge of frauÌ„ce was dyscomfyted vnnethes escaped aware with moche payne the moost partâ—â—e of his men were taken And the kynge dyde with theym what hym best lyked And some of them he lete go freely and some he lete be put vnto the deth But afterwarde those two kyngê were 〈◊〉 And whan kynge Henry had hooly all the londe of Normandye 〈◊〉 his enmyes of Fraunce he torned agayne in to Englonde with moche honour And his two sones William Rycharde wolde haue come after the fader went to the see with a grete company of people But are that they myght come to londe the shyppe came ayenst a roche all were drowned that were there in saue â—o man that was in the same shyppe that escaped And this was vpon saynt Katheryns daye these were the names of them that were drowned Willyam and Rycharde the kynges sonâ— a the erle of Chestre Octonell his brother Geffroy Rydell Walter 〈◊〉 Godefray Archedeken the kynges doughter the countesse of Perches the kyngesnece the countesse of Chestre many other ¶ Whan kynge Henry other lordes arryued in Englonde herde these tydynges they made sorowe ynough And all theyr myrth Ioye was torned in to mornynge sorowe ¶ How Maude yâ— Empresse came ayen in Englonde how she was afterward wedded to Geffroy therle of Angoy ANd whan that two yere were agone that the Erle had dwelled with the kynge the erle wente from the kyng began to warre vpon hym dyde moche harme in yâ— londe of Normandy toke there a stronge castell there he dwelled all that yere And tho came to hym tydynges that Henry the Emperom of Almayne yâ— had spowsed
kynge 〈◊〉 haue put clerkes to deâ—h that were 〈◊〉 of felonye without ony 〈◊〉 of holy chirche ¶ And the .xij. yere of his regne was Iohn his soâ—e â—ome ¶ And the xiiâ—j yere of his regne deyed 〈◊〉 the Empresse that was his mâ—der ¶ The .xiiij. yere of his regne y◠〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 spowsed Maâ—de his daughter 〈◊〉 he begate vpon her 〈…〉 led 〈…〉 ¶ And in the .xv. yere of his regne 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 in the same yere 〈…〉 ¶ And the xvi yere of his 〈…〉 and â—â—ge Archebyshopp 〈…〉 of Yorke in 〈…〉 of Thomas Archebyshop of 〈◊〉 Wherfore this same Roâ—es was accursyd of the pope ¶ How kynge Henry that was sone of kyng Henry the Empresse sone â— of the debate that was bytwene hyÌ„ his fader whyle that he was in Normandye AFter the coronacyon of kynge Henry the sone of kynge Henry the Empresse sone That same Henry thempresse sone wente ouer to Normady there he lete marye Elenore his doughter of the Dolphyn that was kynge of Alâ—ayne And in the .vij. yere that yâ— Archebysshop saynt Thomas had ben out lawed the kynge of Fraunce made the kynge saynt Thomas accorded And thenÌ„e came Thomas the Archebysshop to CauÌ„terbury ayen to his owne chirche And this accorde was made in yâ— begynnynge of Aduente afterwarde he was slayne martred the fyfth daye of Crystmasse chenne folowynge ¶ For kynge Henry thought vpon saynt Thomas yâ— Archebysshop vpon Crystmasse daye as he sate at his mete these wordes sayd That yf he had ony good kynghtes with hym he had be many a day passed auenged vpon the Archebysshop Thomas ¶ And anone syr Willyam Breton syr Hugh Moruile syr Willyam Tracy syr Reygnolde Fitz vise beers sone in Englysshe pryuely wente vnto the see came in to Englonde vnto the chirche of CauÌ„terbury there they hym marâ—â—◠〈…〉 in yâ— moder 〈◊〉 ¶ And that was in the yere of the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Cryst M. C.lxxiâ— yere ¶ And anone after Henry the new kyng began for to make 〈◊〉 vp on Henry his fader vpon his 〈…〉 ¶ And so vppon a daye the kynge of Fraâ—â—er all the kynges 〈◊〉 the kynge of 〈◊〉 all the grettest lordes of Englonde were rysen ayenst kyng Henry the fader And at the last as god wolde he conquered al his enmyes And the kynge of FrauÌ„ce he were accorded ¶ And tho sente kyng Henry specyally vnto the kyng of FrauÌ„ce te prayed hym herely for his loue that he wolde sende to hym the names by letters of them that were the begynners of that warre ayenst hym And the kyng of Fraunce sente ayen to hym by letters the names of them that began the warre ayenst hym The fyrst was Iohn his sone Rycharde his brotheer Henry the newe kynge his sone Thâ— was Henry the kyng wonder wroth 〈◊〉 the tyme that euer he hym begate 〈◊〉 the warre dured Henry his sone 〈◊〉 we kyng deyed sore repentynge his â—â—â—dedes moost sorowe made of ony man for by cause of saynt Thomas dethe of CauÌ„terbury And prayed his fader was moche sorowe of herte mercy for his 〈◊〉 paas And his fader foâ—gaaf hym and had of hym grete pyte And after he dâ—ed the .xxxvi. yere of his regne 〈…〉 Redynge ¶ How the crysten men lost all the holy londe in the forsayd kynges tyme â—e a fals Crysten man yâ— became a 〈◊〉 ANd whyle this kyng regned the greate bataylle was in the holy londe bytwene the Crysten men and the Sacrasyns but Crysten men were there slayne thorugh grete â—reason of the erle Tyâ—pe that wolde haue had to wyf the quene of Ierusalem that somtyme was Baldewynes wyf but â—â—e forsoke hym and toke to her lorde a 〈◊〉 a worthy man that was called 〈…〉 Wherfore the erle Tyâ—pe was wroth wente anone ryght to the Soudan that was Soudan of Babylon and became his man and forsoke his crystendome and all crysten lawe And yâ— crysten men 〈…〉 of his 〈…〉 forsoke his owne nacyon And for were the crysten men there slayne with yâ— Sarrasyus ¶ And thus were yâ— crysten men slayne put to horryble deth and the cyte of Ierusalem destroyed and the holy crosse borne awaye ¶ The kynge of Fraunce and all the grete lordes of the londe lete them be crossyd for to go in to the holy londe And amonges them wen Rycharde kynge Henryes sone fyrst after the kynge of Fraunce that toke the crosse of the Archebysshop of Toures But he toke not the vyage at that tyme for cause that he was lette by other maner wayes and nedes to be done ¶ And whan kynge Henry his fader hadê regned .xxxvi. yere and .v. monethes fourre dayes he deyed and lyeth at founteueâ—ad ¶ Anno dmÌ„ M.C.lvi ADuanê° the fourth was pope after Anastasius .v. yere This pope was an Englysshe man the voys of the comyn people sayth he was a bouÌ„de man to the abbot of saynt Albon in Englonde And whan he desyred to be made a monke there he was expulsyd he wente ouer see gaue hym to studye to vertue And after was made bysshop of Albanacens then he was made Legate in to yâ— londe of Woâ—â—acian he coÌ„uerted it to the fayth Then he was made pope for the wouÌ„dynge of a Cardynall he 〈◊〉 all the cyte of Râ—me 〈…〉 William the kyng of Câ—â—yleâ— and caused hym to 〈◊〉 hym This man the fyrst of all the popes of his 〈…〉 dwelleâ— in the olde cyte ¶ Alexander the 〈◊〉 was pope 〈…〉 hym .xij. yere This Alexander hadê 〈…〉 the kynge of Siâ—culoâ— And this man 〈◊〉 saynt Thomas of Caunterbury in his exyle ¶ Nota. ¶ Saynt Bernarde was canonysed by this Alexander his abbot forhâ—de hym he sholde do no myracles for there was soo myghty concours of people And he obeyed to hym whan he was deed dyde no 〈◊〉 ¶ Lucius the thyrde was pope after Alexand. .iiij. yere two monethes Of hym lytell 〈◊〉 wryten In his dayes decessyd Henry the fyrste sone no Henry the seconde this is his Epytaphy Omnis honoris honor decor et decus vibis et orbis 〈◊〉 splendor gloria sumen apex Iulius ingenio vtutibus hector Achillis viribus augustus moâ—bus ore paris ¶ Vehanus the thyrde was pope after Lucius two yere this man decessyd for sorowe whan he herde tell that Ierusalem was taken with the Sarrasyns ¶ Gregorius the viij was pope after hym foure monethes And he practysed myghtely how Ierusalem myght be wonne ayen but anone he decessyd ¶ Clemens the thyrde was pope after hym thre yere and lytell he dyde ¶ Of kynge Rycharde that conquered ayen all the holy londe that the crysten men had loste ANd after this kynge Henry regned Rycharde his sone a 〈◊〉 man and a strâ—nge a worthy and also holde And he was 〈…〉 of the 〈…〉 the thyrde daye of 〈…〉 ¶ And in the seconde yere of his 〈…〉 Rycharde hymself
the crafte for to weue lynnen wollen cloth and to drawa thredes of wâ—ille and flexe And afore that tyme the people vsed the skynnes of bestes for ther clothes ¶ Anno mundi M.vi C.xlij. Et ante xpÌ„i natiuitateÌ„ .iij. M.v. C.lvij THe shyppe of Noe had in length .iij. hondred cubytes in brede .l. in altytue .xxx. Vide plura genesis .vi. ¶ Knowe ye after doctours that a conuenyent payne this tyme was ordeyned to the worlde For thenne lechery habouÌ„ded the whiche defouled mannes body And there by water the erthe was wasshed clensed in sygne of the promyse that god made to man that there sholde neuer be such a flood agayne ¶ And the Rayne bowe hath two pryncypall coloures the whiche represente the two Iugementê The water colour representeth the flood that is passyd The fyre coloure betokeneth the Iudgement to come fyre by the whiche we certenly abyde in the ende of this worlde by cause â—ouetyse shall habouÌ„de by fyre it shall be brente Golde and syluer by the fyre is wonte to be clensyd ¶ Here begynn the the seconde aege of the worlde durynge to Abraham Noe. THis Noe was a ryghtwys man and founde grace ayenst godâ— Whan Noe was fyue hondred yere of aege he had goten Cham. Sem. â— Iâ—phet That tyme by the coÌ„maundemente of god he began to make a shyppe And he made it parfyt in an hondred yere And the hondred yere complete â— our lorde god appered agayne to hym 〈◊〉 coÌ„maunded hym that he with his wyf his children the wyues of them sholde entre the shyppe with all maner of beestes all maner of foules also c. And anone the flood came and stode aboue all hylles â—v cubytes Vide pluragenÌ„ vijus ¶ After the flood a grete dronkenesse betyde vnto Noe. And thorugh occasyon of that dronkenesse be blessed his two sones Sem Iaphetâ— for the faders honour that they had to hym for the honest shame that they couered mekely ther faders membâ—es whan he was slepynge And his sone Cham for his scornynge and his vnreuerence he cursyd ¶ And here after saynt Austyn is made â— the fyrste mencyon of boundage and of noblynesse contrary to it For Noe sayd yâ— C ham sholde be seruaunt in bondage to Sem Iaphet for his vnreuerence Neuertheles ye shall not trowe that all that descended of Cham were vnnoble men of no power For they began fyrst to be myghty men of yâ— erthe As it is open of Nemroth yâ— kynge of Canaan Ascoâ— Nor all of Sem Iaphet were vertuous noble myghty men whan almoost eueryche one fell in to yâ— cryme of ydolatry were oft tymes oppressyd of other men But this blessynge this cursynge hath a respect to vertue vyce for yâ— whiche a man is called truely a noble man or an vnnoble man For he yâ— is vertuous is a noble maÌ„ he yâ— is vnuertuous is not noble The same maner of wyse tho yâ— foloweth the fayth of AbrahaÌ„ rather were called his childern than the Iewes the whiche carnally descended from hym Neuertheles they had a spirytuall preuylege of god for yâ— faders merysâ—â— his blessynge And of these .iij. sones of Noe he beynge alyue after thistory of Philois were born .xxiiij M. .vij. Câ—nen without wyÌ„men childern And they had on them thre prynces Nemorth Iectan Suphen ¶ Anno mundi .ij. M.ij. C.xlij. Et ante xpÌ„â— natiuitateÌ„ .ij. M.vi C.lvij SEm sone to Noe the seconde yere after yâ— flood gate Arphaxat oâ—her whyle he is called Melchisedech The whiche fyrst after the flood made yâ— cyte of Salem now it is called Ierusalem ¶ Cham his broder opteyned Affricam gate sones tweyne Chus and Mesraym And these two gate sones doughters and many a Regyon was of them many of them to vs ben vnknowen for they enhabyte haue theyr maÌ„syons in the occidentall Ynde ¶ Iaphet was broder vnto Cham was blessyd of his fader this Iaphet had .vij. sones as Gomoi Magog Maday Ianam Tuball Mosog Iras. And these .vij. gate sones doughtes of them came many a regyon Vide plura GenÌ„ .xv. ¶ Arphaxat sone to Sem lyued cccc xxx yere And gate Elam Assure Ludde Aram and they gate many a sone doughter vt â—z geuÌ„ ¶ This Assur by cause he wolde not rebell ayenst god in the edefyenge buyldynge of yâ— toure of Babylon as Nemroth dyde therfor he was dryuen vnto the londe of Sennaars londe whiche was ryght strauÌ„ge to hym and was not afore enhabyted The whiche was called after his name Assuria And there he edefyed buylded a cyte afterwarde named Niniue yâ— whiche was the Metropolon of all the kyngdom of AssuriuÌ„ ¶ Chus sone to Cham was fader to Nemroth This Nemroth was a gyaunt of .x. cubytes longe And he began to be myghty in the worlde he is called a boystous hunter afore god This man began that wretched vyce of coueytousnesse by his tyranny with the whiche vyce euer more after this worlde is fulfylled And the pryncypalest kyngdom that he had was Babylon And he had Archade Edissa Selencia and the londe of Sennaar ¶ Sale sone to Arphaxat lyued cccc and .xxxiij. yeres And of hym in scrypture is no thynge wryten but that Moyses nombred hym in the lyne that cometh of Cryste ¶ This Sale gate a sone yâ— was named Heber The whiche after the Hebrewes hadde the spyryte of prophecye And of this Heber the Hebrewes ben named For the Hebrewes tonge bode allone in his hous in the confusyon of the langage And that langage was called mannes langage the whiche euery man vsed afore yâ— toure of Babylon was buylded ¶ This â—eber hadde two sones and one was called Iectan thrugh ensample of Nemroâ—h descendynge from Cham toke the Pryncehode vpon the children of Sem. And he hadde .xiij. sones ¶ But these people after Ierom are not knowen of vs for fernesse of the couÌ„tree or mutacyon and chaungynge of the people or elles of some other maner cause ¶ Anno muÌ„di .ij. M.vi Cxliij Et ante xpÌ„i natiuitateÌ„ .ij. M.v. C.lvi. ¶ Turris Babylonis PHaleg lyued two hondreds and .xxxix. yeres This Phaleg was the yonger sone of Heber in his dayes was made the confusyon of langages For in his hous abode the olde tonge allone and that was Hebrewe Wherfore after saynt Austyn in hym apered a grete stedfasnesse of ryghtwysnes For this hous was free of that payne as not consentynge to the buyldynge of the toure Et sâ—dm Aug there was .lxxij. generacyons so there were .lxxij. langage ¶ Iactan broder to Phaleg of Sem Nem roch prynce of Cham Sulphen of Iaphet these thre prynces with ther people gadred them togyder in yâ— felde of Sennaar dredynge the flood to come ayen sayd Lete vs buylde a toure of the whiche the heyght shall reche to heuen c.
name This kynge Cormbratus came ayen in to his londe and regned .xxv. ye re and after he deyed and lyeth at newe Troy ¶ Anno mundi .iiij. M.iiij C.xl. Et ante xpÌ„i natiuitateÌ„ .vij. C.lvi. IOathan sone to Osias regned in the Iury .xvi. yere of this Ioathan no thynge is wryten of but that he toke not awaye excelsa as other dyde vt pêª .ij. para ¶ Amarias was bysshop And Ysayas the noble prophete was in his dayes ¶ Olympias with the Grekes began the fyrste yere of Ioathan after Iosephus And after Beda Troy was destroyed foure hondred yere afore the fyrst Olympias began vnder Esalâ— a Iuge of Athens In whiche Corshâ—â— gate the chyualry amongê all men Olympus is the name of an hylle in Grecia the whiche for his precyousnesse is called the hylle of god And after Ierom one Olympias conteyneth fully foure yere in the whiche foure yere foure yerely prynces are made And these Olympus des are places ordeyned to the worshyp of Iupater vnder the hylle of Olympo And the lawe of this is this That who some euer is best in ony chyualry what gyfte someuer he desyreth he shall haue ¶ Anno muÌ„di .liij. M.iiij C.lvi. Et ante xpÌ„i natiuitateÌ„ .vij. C.xliij ACham the sone of Ioathan regned on the Iewes .xvi. yere of this Acham noo thynge that is good is wryten for he forsoke our lorde And our lorde stroke hym with his owne people strongely and with the kynges of Serri vt pêª .ij. para .xxviij. ¶ Achitob this tyme was bysshop Ozee kyng of Israel regned .ix. yere the whiche began to regne the .xij. yere of Acham kyng of Iewes This Ozee dradde not god for he lyued nought And he was the last kynge of Israel And in the .ix. yere of his regne he was taken of Salmanasar And Israel was translated in to Assirias vt habetÌ„ .iiij. reguÌ„ .xvij. ¶ Anno muÌ„di .iiij. M.iiij C. 〈◊〉 Et ante xpÌ„i natiuitateÌ„ .vij. C.xl. ¶ Rome AFter Euseby Rome was made in yâ— hylle of Palatin the fourth yere of Acham kynge of Iewes of two brethern Romulus and Remus .xi. kal Maij. the .vij. Olympiades begynnynge Iosephus and Bede sayen the .vi. Olympiades and so they dyfferre a yere Neuertheles it is redde other men to haue regned aboute that place myghtly in Ytaly That is to wyte Ianus Picus Famus Latinus the whiche vnto Eneas regned about two hondred yere And thenne afterwarde from this Eneas to Romulus it was regned vnder .xv. gouernours iiij C. xxxij yere After that fro the cyte was made vnto the laste yere of Tarquyne the proude it was regned vnder .vij. kynges about two hondred and .xliij. yere Thenne afterwarde vnder Senatours and Counsellers vnto Iulius Cezar Emperour by foure hondred .lxiiij. yere Romulus the fyrst of Romayns of whom they ben called in latyn Romans made the cyte to be named Rome after his name The whiche gadâ—ed togyder the people on euery syde an hondred of the sage men wysest he chose thrugh the couÌ„sel of whom all thynge he dysposed the whiche he named Senatours for yâ— tyme of ther aege And he made ther names to be wryten in golden letters wherefore the wryte noble faders thynges so yet Also he called M. men of armes the whiche he named Milites a numero millenario But these were no noble blood Therfore as saynt Austyn sayth de ciuita dei also ther was longe warre betwixt the Sabyns them For Romulus toke many wymmen of the noble blood of Sabyns maryed theym to that vnnoble blood Of this Romulus Orosius wryteth moche euyll vt patet in libro suo ¶ About this tyme Merodach the kynge of Babylon sende grete gyftê to Ezechie the kynge of Iewes vt pêª .iiij. regum xx And thenne the kyngdom of Babylon begon ¶ Anno mundi .iiij. M.lxxij Et ante xpÌ„i nateuitateÌ„ .vij. C.xxvij EZechias the .xiiij. kynge of Iewes a good childe of a cursyd fader regned with a parfyte herte to oure lorde And he restored the hous of god there was none lyke hym afore nor after amonge the kyngs of Iewes therfore our lorde god glorifyed hyÌ„ For whan Sennacheryb the kyng of Assuriorum came ayenst Ezechias with a myghty hoste our lorde stroke his people and slewe an C. lxxxv of fyghtynge men Sennaches ryb fledde shamfully vt pêª .iiij. reguÌ„ .ix et ij para .xxxij. ¶ Sadoch this tyme was hyghe bysshop there ¶ Anno muÌ„di .iiij. M.v. C.i. Et anÌ„ xpÌ„i natiuitateÌ„ .vi. C. lxxxxviij MAnasses kynge of Iewes regned lv yere and he was an euyll childe of a good fader for be dyde more cursedly than ony yâ— was afore hym For he slewe the prophetes of god that the stretes in Ierusalem were all blody And he made Ysai the prophete to be sawen the peces with a sawe of tree Wherfore the kynge of Assuriorum wasted the Iury toke Manasses put hym in pryson And after Manasses repented his trespaas cryed for mercy to our lorde and was herde Thenne he was restored to his kyngdom he amended his lyf vt pêª .iiij. reguÌ„ .xxi. et ij para .xxxiij ¶ Sellum was bysshop Echias after hym This tyme the .vij. wyse men had worshyp in Grece s. Tale. Solon Chilon Poreandus Eldobolus Bias. Pitacus This Talus founde fyrst the defawte of the sonne the moone Vide plu august viij de ci dei ¶ Numa the seconde kynge this tyme regned in Rome .xlij. yere the whiche was a grete worshyper of fals goodes He fulfylled Rome soofull yâ— he myght haue no place for hym self to dwelle in This man put Ianuary February to the begynnynge of the yere Vide plura in august de ciui dei ¶ Aboue all reason it is meruaylle that suche men so excedyng in wytte in all thynges that was ylle receded fro the knowlege of very god ¶ Amon kynge of Iewes regned two yere the whiche was nought in his lyuynge he was stryken of his seruauntes and he deyed without ony repentaunce ¶ Anno muÌ„di .iiij. M.v. C.lviij Et ante xpÌ„i natiuitateÌ„ .vi. C.xli. IOsias the sone of Amon at .viij. yere of his aege began to regne regned .xxxi. yere a good childe of a peruerse fader in his yonge aege he sought the grace of god And in that grace laudably abode vnto his ende His relygyous lyf his werkes ye may see iiij regst xxij et ij para .xxxiiij. ¶ Azastâ—â— the sone of Elchie was bysshop ¶ Tobias about this tyme deyed And he was a very holy man And he prophecyed to the destruccyon of Ierusalem ¶ Tulius Hostilius was the shyrde kynge in Rome And saynt Austyn sayth in his boke deciuitate dei that from Rome was made vnto August the Emperour there was so contynuell bataylle that if was take for a meruaylle and they were one yere without bataylle excepte .xlij. in Nume dayes in the whiche was contynuell peas And this Tulius by cause he
had sayd He spake to the kynge in this 〈◊〉 ¶ 〈◊〉 how I was begoten axe ye no more For it falleth not to you ne to none other to wyte But telle me the cause wherfore I am to you brought and wherfore ye haue sente after me ¶ Truely sayd yâ— kynge my wyse counseyllers haue done me to vnderstonde that the morter of a werke that I haue begonne behoueth to be tempred with your blood or the fundament shall fayle for euer more ¶ Syre sayd Merlyn Wyll ye slee me for my blood to tempre with your mortere Ye sayd the kynge or elles my castell shall neuer stande as my counseyllers doo me to vnderstonde Tho answered Merlyn to the kynge Syr he sayd lete them come before me those wyse counseyllers I woll preue that they sayen not well ne truly And whan the wyse men were comen Merlyn axed yf his blood were the cause to make this werke to stonde and endure All tho wyse men were abasshed coude not answere Merlyn tho sayd to the kynge Syr I shall tell you the cause wherfore your werke thus fayleth and may not stande There is vnder the mountayne there that ye haue buylded your toure a grete ponde of water and in the botome of the ponde vnder the water there ben two dragons that one is whyte and that other reede that fyght togyder ayenst your werke Do ye myne depe tyll your men come to the ponde and cause your men to take awaye the water all out and thenne ye shall see the dragons as I haue you tollde that togyder fyght ayenst your werke and this is the cause wherfore your fundament fayleth The kynge anone lete dygge vnder tyll that men came to the ponde and lete do awaye the water and there they founde two dragons as Merlyn had tolde them yâ— egerly fought togyder The whyte dragon egerly assayled the reede and layde on hym soo strongely that he myght not endure but withdrewe hym and rested in the same caâ—e And whan he had a whyle rested hym he wente before and assayled the reede dragon angrely and helde hym so sore that he myght not ayenst hym endure but withdrewe hym and rested And after came ayen the whyte dragon and strongely fought with the reede dragon and bote hym euyll and hym ouercame that he fledde from thens and nomore came agayne ¶ Of the sygnyfycacyon of those two dragons that were in the botome of the ponde that fought togyder THis kyng Vortiger and his men that sawe this batayll had grete meruayle and prayed Merlyn to tell hym what it myght betoken Syr quod Merlyn I shall telle you The reede dragon betokeneth yourself and the whyte betokeneth the folke of Saxon that fyrste ye toke and helde in your londe that fyght ayenst you and you haue dryuen and enchaced ¶ But Brytons of your lygnage ouercame them droue them awaye And sythen at the comynge ayen of the Saxons they recouered this londe and helde it for euer more And droue out the Brytons and dyde with this londe all theyr wyll and destroyed crystendome thrugh out this londe Ye had fyrste grete Ioye with theyr comynge but now it is corned to you grete damage sorowe For tho two brethern of Constance that was kynge the whiche ye lete slee shall come before a quinzeme passed with a grete power from lytell Brytayne shall auenge the deth of theyr brother And they shall brenne you fyrst with sorowe and after they shall slee a grete parte of Saxons and shall dryue out all the remenaunt of the londe And therfore abyde ye here no lenger to make castell nor other werke But anone go elles where your lyues all for to saue To god I you betake trouthe I haue sayd to you of thynges that shall befall ¶ And vnderstande ye well that Aurilambros shall be kynge But he shall be enpoysoned lytell tyme shall he regne ¶ Of kynge Aurilambros how that he pursewed Vortiger Engist and how they deyed MErlyn and his moder departed from the kynge and torned agayne to Carmardyn And soone after tydynges came to the Brytons that Aurilambros and Vter his brother were arryued at Totuesse with a greate hoste And anone yâ— Brytons assembled them and wente to receyue Aurilambros and Vter with grete noblesse And had them vnto London and crowned Aurilambros and made hym kynge and dyde vnto hym homage And anone he axed where Vortiger that was kynge myght be founde for he wolde be auenged on his brothers dethe and after he wolde warre vppon paynems And they tolde hym that Vortiger was in Walys and so they ladde hym thytherwarde ¶ Vortiger wyst well that tho brethern came hym to conquere and fledde thens in to a castell that was called Gerneth that stode vppon an hyghe mountayrie and there hym helde Aurilambros and Vter his brother and theyr folke had besyeged the castell full longe tyme for the castell was stronge and well arrayed ¶ So at the laste they casted wylde fyre and brent houses and men and all theyr araye and as moche as was within the castell So that Vortiger was brente amonge all other and soo he deyed with moche sorowe ¶ Tho was Engist in Kente and regned there and herde this tydynges and anone fledde and wolde haue gone in to Scotlonde for to haue had socoure But Aurilambros and his men mette with hym in the north countree and yaue hym batayll And Engist and his men defended whyles that they myght But he and his folke were dyscomfyted and slayne And Octa his sone fledde vnto Yorke And Aurilambros hym folowed egrely And Octa a lytell whyle withstode hym But afterwarde he put hym to his mercy And Aurilambros receyued hym and to hym and to his men gaaf the countree of Galeway in Scotlonde and there they dwelled ¶ The kynge Aurilambros wente thorugh out the londe and put awaye the name of Engistlonde that Engist after his name had called it before Tho lete he it calle agayne grete Brytayne and lete make ayen chirches houses of relygyon castelles cytees and borughs â–ª and townes that the Saxons hadde destroyed And came to London and lete make the walles of the cyte whiche Engist and his folke hadde caste downe ¶ The Brytons ladde hym vnto the mount of Ambriam that somtyme was an hous of relygyon that tho was destroyed thrugh the paynems ¶ Wherof a knyght that was called Ambri some tyme was founder of that house And therfore the same hylle was called the mounte of Ambrian And after it was called Ambresbury And shall be so for euer more ¶ How Aurilambros dyde redresse the londe of greate Brytayne that whiche was dstroyed thorugh the Saxons before sayd HOw the kynge Aurilambros lete amende and redresse the house of Ambresbury and there in put monkes But now there ben Nonnes a lytell fro the place that was called Salysbury are that the Saxons slewe the Brytons where Engist and they sholde haue made a
this londe arryued at Totnesse and wente out of the shyppes toke the londe and dene robbed it and moche people slewe tooke all the armour that they myght fynde And so they wente forth tyll they came vnto Bathe But the men of the towne shytte faste theyr yates and wolde not suffre theym to come within the towne And they deffended them well orpedly ayenst them ¶ How Arthur yaue bataylle vnto the Saxons whan they came agayne in to this londe had besyeged the towne of Bathe and them ouercame ANone as Arthur herde this tydynges he lete hange the hostages lefte Howell of Brytayne his neuewe for to kepe the marche towarde Scotlonde with half his people hym self wente to helpe rescowe the towne of Bathe Whan he came thyther he yaue a stronge batayll to Cheldrik slewe almoost all the people yâ— he had For no man myght hym withstonde ne endure vnder the stroke of his swerde And there bothe were slayne Colegrin Bladult his brother Cheldrik fledde thens wolde haue gone to his shyppes ¶ But whan Arthur it wyst he toke .x. thousande knyghtes to Cador yâ— was erle of Cornewaylle for to lette stoppe his to mynge And Arthur hymself wente towarde yâ— marche of Scotlonde For mesengers tolde hym that the Scottes had besyeged Howell of Brytayne there that he laye syke therfore he hasted hym thytherwarde ¶ And Cador pursewed after Cheldrik toke hym er he myght come to his shyppes slewe Cheldrik his people And whan Cador had done this vyage he hasted hym ayen towarde Arthur as fast as he myght founde hym in Scotlonde there that he had rescowed Howell of Brytayne but the Scottes were ferre within Nounref there they helde them a whyle But Arthur them pursewed they fledde thens in to Limoigne that were in that countree .lx. Iles grete plente of byrdes grete plente of Egles that were wonte to crye fyght togyders and make grete nose whan folke came to robbe that londe warne as moche as they myght so they dyde For the Scottes were to grete rauenours that they tooke all that they myght fynde in the londe of Limoigne without ony sparynge there with tharged ayen the folke in to Scotlonde for to wende ¶ How kynge Arthur axed of Merlyn the aduentures of .vi. of the laste kynges that were to regne in Englonde how the londe sholde ende SYr sayd Merlyn In the yere of the Incarnacyon of Ihesu Cryst M.CC.xv. shall come a lambe out of Wynchestre shall haue a whyte tonge true lyppes he shall haue wryten in his herte holynes This lambe shal make many goddes houses he shall haue peas the moost parte of his lyf And he shall make one of yâ— fayrest places of the worlde yâ— in his tyme shall not fully be made an ende of ¶ And in the ende of his lyf a wulf of a straunge londe shall do hym moche harme sorowe thrugh warre But at the ende the lambe shall be mayster thrugh helpe of a reed fore that shall come out of the Northwest hym shall ouercome the wulf shall deye in water And after that tyme the lambe shall lyue no whyle but he shall deye ¶ His seed shal be in a strauÌ„ge londe And the londe shall be without a gouernour a lytell tyme. ANd after this shall come a dragon medled with mercy also with woodnesse And yâ— shall haue a berde as a gote yâ— shall gyue in Englonde a shadowe shall kepe the londe fro colde hete and his owne foot shall be sette in Wyke yâ— other in London And he shal enbrace InhabitauÌ„ces And he shal open his mouth towarde Walys And yâ— tremblynge of the hydour of his mouth his eeres shall stretche towarde many habtacyons couÌ„trees And his bâ—eth shall be ful swete in strauÌ„ge londe And in his tyme shall the ryuers renne blood with brayne And he shall make in places of his londe walles yâ— shall do moche harme vnto his seed after his tyme. ¶ And thenne shall there come a people out of the Northwest durynge his regne yâ— shal be ladde thrughout a wycked hare that the dragon shall do crowne kynge that afterwarde shall flee ouer the see without comynge ayen for drede of the dragon ¶ And in yâ— tyme the sonne shall be as reed as a blood yâ— men shall see thorugh out all the worlde that shall betoken grete pestylence deth of folke thorugh dynt of swerde And that people shall be faderles tyll the tyme that the dragon deye thrugh an hate that shall meue ayenst hym warre vnto the ende of his lyf that shall not fully be ended in his tyme. ¶ This dragon shal be holde in his tyme the best body of the worlde And he shal deye besyde the marches of a strauÌ„ge londe yâ— londe shall dwel â—faderles without a good gouernour men shall wepe for his dethe from the yle of Shepey to the hauen of Martâ—yll ¶ Wherfore Alas alas shall be there longe of faderles folke that shall ouer lyue in his londe destroyed ANd after this dragon shal come a gote oute of Kae yâ— shall haue hornes a berde of syluer there shall come out of his nosethryll a dompe that shall betoken hungre sorowe grete deth of the people And moche of his londe in the begynnynge of his regne shall be wasted ¶ This gote shall go ouer vnto FrauÌ„ce shall open the floure of his lyf deth ¶ In his tyme there shall aryse an egle in Cornewayle that shall haue fethers of golde yâ— of pryde shall be without pere of the londe And he shal despyse lordes of blood And after he shal flee shamefully by a beer at Gauersech after shall be made brydges of men vp on the costes of the see and stones shall fall from castestelles many other townes shall be made playne ¶ In his tyme shall seme yâ— the beer shall brenne a batayll shall be done vpon the armes of the see in a felde ordeyned as a shelde And at yâ— batayll shall deye many whyte heedes wherfore this batayll shall be called the whyte batayll And yâ— forsayd beer shall do this gote moche harme it shall come out of the Southwest of his blood Thenne shall yâ— gote lese moche of his londe tyll that the tyme yâ— shenshyp shal hym ouercome And then shall he close hym in a lyons skynne And thenne shall be wynne that he had before loste more therto For a people shall come out of the North west yâ— shall make the gote so sore aferde that he shal be in grete perplexite And he shall aduenge hym on his enmyes thrugh couÌ„seyll of two owles that fyrst shall be in peryll for to be vndone But yâ— olde owle shall wende a waye a certayne tyme after he shall come ayen in to this longe These two owles
shall do grete harme to many one so they shall couÌ„seyll the gote to arere warre ayenst the forsayd beer And at the laste the gote and the owles shall come at Burton vppon Trent shall go ouer for drede the beer shall flee a swanne with hym fro his company to Burton warde yâ— north there they shall be with an harde shoure And thenne shall the swanne be take slayne with sorowe and the beer taken heeded alther next his neest that shall stande vpon broken brydge on whome the lonne shall cast his beemes And many shall hym seke for vertue that from hym shall come ¶ In the same shall deye for sorowe care a peple of his londe so that londes shall be vpon hym the more bolder afterwarde And those two owles shall do moche sorowe to the forsayd floure of lyf her shall lede in to dystrestre so that she shall passe ouer the see in to Fraunce for to make peas bytwene the gote the flouredelyse there she shall dwelle tyll a tyme that her sede shall come seche her they shall be styll tyll a tyme that they shall them clothe with grace And they shall seche the owles shall put them to dyspytous deth And after shal this gote be broughtte to dysease grete Anguysshe and it sorowe he shall lyue all his lyf AFter this gote shall come out of Wyndesore a boore that shall haue an heed of a whyte lyons herte pyteous lokynge ¶ His vysage shall be reste to syke men His breste shall be stauÌ„ chynge of thyrste to tho that be thyrsty His worde shall he gospell His herynge shall be meke as a lambe In the fyrste yere of his regne he shall haue grete payne to Iustefye them yâ— ben vntrue ¶ And in his tyme shall his londe be multeplyed with alyauntes And this boore thorugh fyersnesse of his herte that he shal haue shall make wulues to become lambes And he shall be called thorugh out of the worlde Boore of holynesse fyersnesse of noblynesse of mekenesse And he shall mesurably all that he shall do vnto the borugh of Ierusalem And he shall whette his teeth vpon the yates of Parys vpon foure londes Spayne shall tremble for drede Gascoyne shall swete In Fraunce he shall put his wynge His grete tayle shall reste in Englonde softly Almayne shall quake for drede of hyÌ„ ¶ This boore shall yeue mantelles to two townes of Englonde and shall make the Ryuer renne with blood brayne And he shall make many medowes reede he shall gete as moche as his auncetours dyde And er that he dyed he shall here thre crownes and he shall put a londe in grete subieccyon after it shall be releued but not in his tyme. This boore after he is deed for his doughtynesse shall be entyred at Coleyne And his londe shall be fulfylled of all good AFter this boore shal come a lambe that shall haue feet of leed an heed of brasse an herte of loppe a swynes skynne an harde And in his tyme his londe shall be in peas the fyrste yere of his regne he shall do make a cyte that all the worlde shall speke there of ¶ This lambe shall lese in his tyme a grete parte of his londe thrugh an hydeous wulfe but he shall recouer it and yeue a lordshyp to an Egle of his londe and this egle shall well gouerne it tyll the tyme that pryde shall hym ouercome Alas the sorowe for he shall deye of his brothers swerde And after shall the londe falle to the forsayd lambe that shall gouerne the londe in peas all his lyues tyme. And after he shall deye the londe be fulfylled of all maner of good AFter this lambe shall come a moldwarpe cursyd of goddes moâ—th caytyf a towarde an haare he shall haue an elderly skyâ—â—e as a gote 〈◊〉 shall falle vpon hym for synne ¶ In the fyrst yere of his regne he shall haue of all good grete plente in his londe and towarde hym also And in his londe he shall haue grete praysynge tyll the tyme that he shall suffre his people lyue in to moche pryde without chastysynge wherfore god wyl be wrothe ¶ Thenne shall aryse vp a dragon of the North that shall be full fyerse and shall meue warre ayenst the forsayde moldwarpe and shall yeue hyÌ„ batayle vpon a stone This dragon shal gadre ayen in to his company a wulfe that shall come out of the West to meue warre ayenst the forsayd moldwarpe in his syde and so shall the dragon and bynde theyr tayles togyder ¶ Thenne shall come a lyon out of Irlonde that shall falle in company with them And thenne shall tremble the londe that shal be called Englonde as an aspyn leyf And in that tyme shall castelles be felled downe vpon Tamyse And it shall seme that Seuerne shall be diyeâ—for the bodyes that shall falle deed there in The foure chyef floodes in Englonde shall renne in blood And grate drede shall be and anguysshe that shall aryse ¶ After the moldwarpe shall flee the dragon The lyon and the wulfe shall them dryue awaye and the londe shall be without them And the mold warpe shall haue no maner power sauf oonly a shyppe wherto he may wende ¶ And after that he shal go to londe where the see is withdrawe And after that he shal yeue the thyrde parte of his londe fuâ— to haue the fourth parte in peas and in rest And after he shall lyue in sorowe all his lyf tyme. ¶ And in his tyme the hote bathes shal become colde And after yâ— shall the moldwarpe deye auenturously sodeynly Alas for sorowe for he shall be drowned in a flood of the see His seed shall become faderles in strauÌ„ge londe for euer more And then shall yâ— londe be departed in to thre partes that in to say to the wulf to the dragon to the lyon And so shall it be for euer mroe And thenne shall this londe be called the londe of Conquest And so shall the ryght heyres of Englonde ende ¶ How Arthur ouercame Guillomer that was kynge of Irlonde And how the Scottes became his men THenne what Guillomer that was kynge of Irlonde herde tydynges yâ— kynge Arthur was entred at Glastenbury he ordeyned a grete power of Irysshmen came to the see with his Irysshe people so came in to Scotlonde ouer the see arryued fast there by yâ— kynge Arthur was with his hoste And anone as he wyst therof he wente towarde hym yaue hym bataylle ouercame hym anone ryght And Guillomer fledde with his men agayne in to Irlonde And what this was done dyscomfyted hym Arthur torned hym ayen there that he was in to the place there that he had lefte the Scottes and wolde haue them all slayne But the bysshopes abbottes other folke of the countree ladyes open heeded came before kynge Arthur cryed hym
In this batayll were slayne thrugh kyng Arthurs fyne kynges of the Paynems of other wonder moche people kynge Arthurs men fought so well that the Romayns and paynems had no more strengthe to withstonde them than .xx. shepe ayenst fyue wulues ¶ And so it befelle that in this batayll in the shoure that was wonder harde longe durynge in that one syde in that other the Emperour amonge them there was slayne but ther was noo man that wyste for very sothe who hym slewe ¶ How kynge Arthur lete entyere his knyghtes that he had lost there in batayll how he sente the Emperours body to Rome that there was slayne in batayll SO whan yâ— Romayns wyst that the Emperour was deed they forsoke the felde yâ— paynems also And kynge Arthur after them chaced tyll it was nyght so many of them slewe that it was wonder to telle And tho torned kynge Arthur ayen whan it was nyght thanked god of his victorye And on the morowe he lete loke serche all the felde for his knyghtes that he there lost That is to saye Borell erle of Maunt. Bedwere Kay and Lyegiers erle of Boleyne Vortiger erle of Baac Aloth erle of Wynchestre Cuisall erle of Chestre and after Holden erle of Flaundres These were the grete lordes that kynge Arthur last in that batayll with other worthy knyghtes them amonge And some he lete entere in abbayes by the couÌ„tree some he lete to be borne in to theyr owne couÌ„tre ¶ And the Emperours body he lâ—te take put vpon a beyr sent it to Rome And sayd to the Romayns that for Brytayne Fraunce whichehe helde other truage wolde he none paye ¶ And yf they axed hym ony other truages ryght suche truage he wolde theym paye ¶ The kynge lete bere Kay to Kenen his owne castell there hym entered And Leygier was borne to Boleyne there he was lorde And Holden was borne to Flaundres there he was entered And all the other he lete entere with moche honour in abbayes in houses of relygyon in the couÌ„tre that they were slayne ¶ And Arthur hymself soiourned yâ— same yere in Bourgoyne with his hoste thought the same yere folowynge to passe the mount Ioye and haue gone to Rome also to haue taken the cyte haue put the Romayns in subgeccyon but the wycked tyraunt Mordred hym letteas after ye shall here ¶ How the traytour Mordred to whom kynge Arthur toke his londe to kepe his castelles helde them ayenst hym AS Arthur had takeÌ„ to Mordred his reame to kepe gone ayenst the Emperour of Rome was passed the see Mordred anone toke homages feaâ—tees of all theym that were in this londe wolde haue had this londe to his owne vse toke castelles about and lete them be arayed And after this falsenesse he dyde an other grete wronge for ayenst the lawe of crystente he tooke his owne emys wyf as a traytour sholde ordeyned hym a grete hoste ayenst Arthurs comynge to holde the londe ayenst hym with strength for euer more to slee kynge Arthur yf he myght sente by the see by londe lete assemble paynems crysten peple And he sente to Saxons to Danys for to helpe hyÌ„ And also Mordred sent to Cheldrik to sende men to hym out of Saxon that was a worthy duke promysed hym yf that he broght with hym moche people he wolde graunte hym InherytauÌ„ce for euer all the londe fro Humbre to Scotlonde all the londe that Engist had of Vortigers yefte whan that he spowsed his doughter ¶ And Cheldrik came with a grete strength and power of people and Mordred hadde assembled also on his half that they had .xl. thousande of stronge knyghtes whan that they had nede ¶ How Arthur enchaced Mordred the traytour how he was slayne also kynge Arthur wounded to the deth AS this tydynges came to kynge Arthur there that he was in Bourgoyne he was full sore anoyed toke all Fraunce to Howell for to kepe with half deale of his men And prayed hym that he wolde it kepe tyll he came ayen For hymself wolde passe in to Brytayne auenge hym vpon mordred that was his traytour And forth with Arthur wente his waye came to Wytsande and made his men to go in to shyppe wolde haue arryued at Sandwyche and brought with hym a grete hoste of Fâ—ensheâ—en also with his owne londe men But or that he myght come to londe with his peple that were come out of his shyppes Mordred was come with all his power yaue a stronge batayll soo that kynge Arthur loste many a man are that he myght come to londe For there was Gawayne his neuewe slayne and Anguysshell that helde Scotlonde and many other wherof kynge Arthur was full sory But after they were come to londe Mordred myght not ayenst them endure But anone was dyscomfyted fledde thens the same nyght with his men and vpon the morne came to London But tho of the cyte wolde not suffre hym to come in And from thens he fledde to Wynchestre and there he hym helde with his people that came with hyÌ„ ¶ Kynge Arthur lete take the body of Gawayne his cosyn the body of Anguysshell lete that one be borne in to Scotlonde and the other to Douer and buryed Anone after kynge Arthur toke his waye for to destroye Mordred he fledde thens in to Cornewayle ¶ And the quene Gunnor that was kynge Arthurs wyf that tho soiourned at Yorke herde that Mordred was fledde thens that he myght not endure ayenst kynge Arthur she was sore aferde had grete doubte and wyste not what was best of all for to done For she vnderstode well that her lorde kynge Arthur wolde neuer of her for to haue mercy for the grete shame that she had done vnto hym And toke her waye pryuely with foure men without moo and came to Karlyon and there she dwelled all ther lyue and neuer after was seen amonges the folke her lyf durynge ¶ Kynge Arthur wyst that Mordred was fledde in to Cornewayle and lete sende after his men in to Scotlande and Northumberlonde vnto Humbre and lete assemble folke without nombre came fro thens in to Cornewayle to seke and pursewe after Mordred ¶ And Mordred had assembled to hym all the folke of Cornewayle had people without nombre and wyst that Arthur was comynge and had leuer to deye take his chaunce than longer flee and abode and yaue an harde batayll to kynge Arthur to his people so that moche people was slayne what of one syde what of that other that no man wyst who had yâ— better party But so it befell at the last that Mordred was slayne all his folke and the good chyualry that kynge Arthur had gadred nourysshed of dyuerse londes and also the noble knyghtes of the rounde table that
the couenauntes bytwene them that were made by othes by hostages fâ—r to bere hym true fay holde hym for lorde and paye to hym truage by the yere ¶ Tho began the Saxons and the Affricans to destroye robbe brenne townes destroye all thynge in asmoche as they myght spared neyther man woman ne childe lerned ne lewde but all they slewe cast downe townes castels chirches so put they all the londe in grete destruccyon And as soone as they myght flee they fledê thens as wel poore as ryche bysshops abbottes chanons all other grete small some in to lytell Brytayne some in to Cornewayle al tho that shyppes myght haue ¶ How the kynge Gurmonde droue kynge Cortyf to Chechestre slewe the Brytons and thrugh crafte engyne gate the same towne COrtyf the kynge fledde thens in to Chechestre that tho was stronge theâ—e helde hyÌ„ .xx. dayes this Gurmonde came it besyeged But the cyte was so stronge that he myght not gete it by no manere of wyse with engyne that they myght do Tho bethought they vpon a subtylte for to brenne the towne They made engynes with glewe of nettes toke pecys of thonder of fyre bonde it to sparowes feet than lete them flee they anone flewe lodged them in yâ— towne there that theyr nestis were in stackes euesynges of houses yâ— fyre began to kyndle brente all the towne And whan yâ— Brytons sawe that in euery syde they hyed them out fought but anone they were slane dyscomfyted And whyle the batayll dured the kynge pryuely hydde hym stale awaye in to Walys men wyst neuer were he became so was the towne of Chechestre taken destroyed And after Gurmonde wente destroyed townes cytes that neuer were after made ayen as it is seen yet in many places of this londe ¶ How this londe was called Englonde for the name of Engist how many kynges were made after in this londe SO whan Gurmonde had destoyde all the londe thrugh out he yaue the londe to yâ— Saxons anone they toke it with good wyll for the Saxons longe tyme had desyred it For asmoche as they were of Engystê kynrede that fyrst had all yâ— londe of Brytayne lete them be called Englysshmen for by cause of Engistes name yâ— londe they lete call Englonde in theyr langage the folke ben called Englyshmen for asmoche as in his tyme it was called Engistê londe whan he had conquered it of Vortiger that spoused his doughter But fro the tyme that Brute came fyrst in to Englonde this londe was called Brytayne yâ— folke Brytons But syth the tyme that this Gurmonde conquered it eftsones yaue it vnto the Saxons they anone ryght chauÌ„ged yâ— name as before is sayd And whan this was done Gurmonde passed ouer in to FrauÌ„ce there conquered many londes destroyed all crysten peple there that he came And the Saxons dwelled in this londe began fast to enhabyte it at her owne wyl And they wolde haue made newe kyngê lordes but they myght neuer assent to haue oonly oo kynge for to be to them attendaunt therfore they made many kynges in dyuerse shyres as it was in Engistes tyme The fyrst kyngdome was Kente that other Southsexe and the thyrde Westsex the fourth Eestsex the fyfth Northumberlonde the sixth Estangle that is to saye Northfolke Southfolk and the seuenth Mercheryche that is the Erldome of Nicholl Huntyngdon Herforde Gloucetre Wynchestre Werwyke Derby and so departed all Englonde in to .vij. partyes ¶ And after that it befell that tho kyngê warred ofttymes togyder And euer he that was strongest toke hym that was feblest and so it was longe tyme that they had no kyng crowned amonge theym ne no crysten man was tho amonge them ne crystendome nother But were paynems tyll yâ— saynt Gregory was pope of Rome that had seen childern of the nacyon of Englonde in the cyte of Rome that were wonder fayre creatures had grete wyl desyre theym to beholde And axed of the marchauntes whens they were of what nacyon And men tolde hym that they were of Englonde and Englysshe they were called but they all the peple of Englonde were paynems byleued not vpon god ¶ Alas sayd saynt Gregory well mowe they be called Englysshe for they haue the vysages of angels therfore well ought they to be crystened And for this cause saynt Gregory sente there saynt Austyn in to Englonde and .xl. good men with hym that were of good lyf holy men to preche teche to conuerte the Englysshe people and them to torne to god that was in the .vi. yere that saynt Gregory had be pope of Rome that is to saye after thyncarnacoÌ„n of our lorde Ihesu Cryst .v. C.lxxxv yeres as the Cronycle telleth ¶ How saynt Austyn baptysed conuerted kynge Adelbryght the bysshoppes that he made his felowes AS saynt Austyn came fyrste in to Englonde he arryuen in the Yle of Tenet so passed forth came vnto Caunterbury and there soiourned And kynge Adelbryght of Kente that was of the lygnage of Engist goodly receyued saynt Austyn his felowes with moche honour them fouÌ„de all that them neded And more ouer he yaue them a fayre place that now is called the abbay of saynt Austyn in whiche place he lyeth hymself shryned ¶ This kynge Adelbryght was a good man and with good wyll herde saynt Austynâ— predycacyons yaue hym leue to preche thrugh out all his londe before sayd of Kent to torne and conuerte to hym all the people that he myght ¶ It betelle so after thorugh goddes grace that in lytell tyme the kynge hymself was conuerted to god all his people of his londe were baptysed And in the meane whyle the peple torned them to god ¶ Saynt Austyn came to Rochestre and there he preched the worde of god And yâ— paynems therfore hym scorned caste vpon hym reygh taylles soo that all his mantell was hanged full of these reygh tayles And for more despyte they caste vppon hym the guttes of reyghes and other fysshe Wherfore the good man saâ—â—â— Austyn was sore anoyed and greued And prayed to god that all tho children of that cyte that sholde be borne afterwarde that is for to saye in the cyte of Rochestre myght haue taylles and so they hadde And whan the kynge herde of this vengeaunce that was falle thrugh saynt Austyns prayer He lete make an house in the honour of almyghty god wherin wymmen sholde be delyuered of theyr childern aâ—â— the brydges ende In the whiche hous yet wymmen of the cyte ben delyuered of childe ¶ Whan that saynt Gregorye hadde herde telle how the Englysshe people were torned to god conuerted he sente vnto saynt Austyn his pallyon by a bysshop that was called Paulin and made
that they were torned to the ryght byleue of god almyghty ¶ How the Danys yâ— came in to FrauÌ„ce with Gurmonde came agayne in to Englonde of the deth of kyng Alured ANd thus it befelle afterwarde that the Danys of Northumberlonde that were paynems came with a grete strength an huge hoste of FrauÌ„ce that is to vnderstande with them yâ— wente in to FrauÌ„ce with Gurmodde of Affryke whan he had conquered Englonde yaue it vnto the Saxons And tho yâ— came fro FrauÌ„ce arryued in Kent sent in to Northumberlonde that they sholde come to them whan those two hostê were come assembled anone they yede to destroye all the crysten people of Englonde from place to place dyde moche sorowe ¶ It befelle thus as almyghty god wolde an harde chauÌ„ce in to Englond For the good kyng Alured that was wonte to abate the Danys deyed in the meane tyme. This kyng Alured regned .xxx. yere a good kynge had be well coude chastyse his enmyes And also he was a good clerke lete make many bokes a boke he made in Englysshe of aduentures of kynges of bataylles that had ben done in the londe many other bokes of Gestes he lete them wryte that were of grete wysdome of good lernynge thorugh whiche bokes many a man may hym amende that woll them lede vpon them loke vpon whose soule almyghty god haue mercy And this kynge Alured lyeth at Wynchestre IOhannes the .viij. was pope after Adrian .viij. yere This IohaÌ„nes anoynted Karolus the Emperour And he suffred grete wronge of yâ— Romayns for he fauoured not the sayd Emperour And therfore he put the sayd pope in kepynge Also he degraded the bysshop of Portuense the whiche was the occayson of all his sorowe ¶ Karolus the seconde was Emperour after Ludouicus This Karolus had a brother the whiche was called Ludouicus he was the kyng of Germayne and he ordeyned batayll agaynst his brother but Karolus or they taught was poysened And he made many a monasterye ¶ Martinê° was pope after IohaÌ„nes one yere This Martinus lytell profyted for he lyued but lytell tyme ¶ Adrianus the thyrde was pope after hym 00 yere And of hym is no thynge wryten ¶ Stephanus the fyfth was pope after hym .vi. yere And no thynge of hym is wryten but that he translated the body of saynt Martyn ¶ Karolus the thyrde was Emperour after the seconde .xij. yere This Karolus had in possessyon peassyble all Fraunce and all Germayne and was crowned Emperour of Iohannes the pope And after this gloryous vyctory he torned all Normandye to the fayth of god almyghty And he myght nomore tesyste the Frenshemen but four yere he regned on them He was vnprofytable to them therfore they put hym awaye ¶ Amulphus was Emperour after Karolus .xiij. yere This Arnulphus vtterly constreyned yâ— Normans yâ— whiche destroyed the Frenshemen .xl. yere Thenne he was syke had no comforte of no lecke for he was in a meruayllous sykenesse soo that he was consumed with lyf and was deed ¶ Formosus was pope after Stephanê° .v. yere this man fyrste was bysshop of Portuensis And pope Iohn was depryued for his Inobedyence was degrated to the lay fâ—â— But by Martyn the pope he was restored And ayenst his othe he came not aloonly to Rome but to offre hyÌ„ the dygnyte of the pope for yâ— whiche there was grete alteracoÌ„n ¶ Bonifaciê° the .vi. was pope .v. dayes ¶ Stephanus the .vi. one yere thre monethes ¶ Iohannes thie monethes and .xij. dayes ¶ Iona also thie monethes and twelue dayes ¶ Theodorus the seconde twenty dayes ¶ Iohannes the enleuenth was two yere .xv. dayes ¶ Benedictê° the fourth thre yere and two monethes ¶ Leo yâ— fourth was .xl. dayes ¶ Xpristo forus the fyrst .vij. monethes All these viij popes were but lytell tyme therfore we can not telle of them none notable thyngê but yf we sholde wryte sclauÌ„dre of them that myght be founde for the vnharde stryfe contencyon in that holy appostles sete For one stroue ayenst an other and repreued the dedes of an other And for to telle how they stroue it were no grete honour to shewe for that holy appostles sete ¶ Ludonicus the thyrde was Emperour after Arnulphê° .vi. yere This man had not the popes blessynge for the vnstablenesse of them the whiche regned in Ytaly And he was constreyned to expulse Berynge And this man was the last Emperour of all the kynred of Karolus kynge of FrauÌ„ce ¶ This tyme the Empyre was remeued and translated dyuyded For the Frenshemen halpe not the chirche the which theyr faders had edifyed and fortefyed but destroyed ne halpe not the Romayns ayenst Lombardes the whiche vexed the Romayns ryght sore Therfore by the comyns assente they were excluded fro the Empyre and the Ytalyens beganne to be Emperour in Ytaly and the Almayns in Almanye vntyl Ottanen the whiche regned in bothe the places The Frensshmen were constreyned to abyde in theyr owne countree and no more to be Emperour for theyr myscheuous lyuynge ¶ Beryngarius the fyrst ¶ Conradus and Beryngarius the seconde Hugo were Emperours after Ludouicê° But they are not nombred amonge the Emperours For some were but in Almayne and some were in Ytalye ¶ Of kyng Edwarde that was kynge Aluredes sone ANd after this Alured regned his sone Edwarde and was a good man a wyse that was called Edwarde was wonder curteys ¶ The Danys dyde moche sorowe in the â—onde theyr power encreaced and began for to wexe from daye to daye For the Danys came often with theyr companyes in to this londe And whan the kynge sawe yâ— he myght no better do then he toke peas with them graunted them his trewes And neuerthelesse the trewes dured not longe that the Danysne began strongly for to warre vpon the Englysshmen dyde them moche sorowe Wherfore kynge Edwarde dyde assemble a grete hoste for to fyght with them And then this kynge Edwarde deyed whan god wolde This kynge Edwarde regned xxiiij yere and lyeth at Wynchestre besyde his fader ¶ Anno dmÌ„ .ix. C .xiiij SErgius the thyrde was pope after Xpristoforus .vij. yere This man 〈◊〉 Cardynall of Rome was expulsed by Formosus the pope then he wente to the Fresshmen And so thorugh the helpe fauour of them he came agayne to Rome and anone expulsed Xpristoforus the pope And thenne was pope hymself And for to auenge wreke his exyle he toke out the body of pope Formosus where that he was buryed And arayed hym in the popes aray ment caused hym to be heeded to be caste in the water of Tybre by Rome Thenne fysshers founde hym brought hym in to the chirche And the holy ymages of sayntes bowed downe to hym whan the body of hym was brought in to the chirche that all men myght see and honourably hym halsyd Yet Sergius destroyed all that
his power ¶ How Gaufride the erle of Angoy yaue vnto Henry the Empressse some alle Normandye ANd after this the kynge wente vnto Wyston wolde haue made a castell there But tho came to hym the erle of Glocestre with a stronge power there almoost he had taken the kynge but yet the kynge escaped with moche payne And William Martell there was token And for whoo 's delyuerauÌ„ce they yaue vnto the erle of Glocestre yâ— good castell of Shyrbom yâ— he had taken ¶ And whan this was done the erle Robert all the kynges enmyes wente vnto Fâ—ryngdon began there for to make a stronge castell but the kynge came thyâ— with a stronge power droue hym thou And in that same yere the erle â—â—â—dulphe of Chestre was accorded 〈◊〉 yâ— the kynge and came to his court at his 〈◊〉 And the erle 〈…〉 to come And the kynge anone lete take hym put hym in to pryson And myght neuer for noo thynge come out tyll yâ— he had yelded vp to the kyng the castell of Nicholl the whiche he had taken from the kynge with his strength in the .xv. yere of his regne ¶ And Gaufride yâ— erle of Angoy yaue vp vnto Henry his sone all Normandye And in the yere that nexte â—â—sewed deyed the erle Gaufride And Henry his sone do anone tamen ayen to Angoy there was made erle moche honour of all his men of the londe And to hym dyde feaute homage the moost party of the londe And tho was this Henry yâ— Empresse sone erle of Angoy also duke of Normandy ¶ In the same yere was made a dynorce bytwene the kynge of Fraunce the quene his wyfe that was ryght heyre of Gascoyne For by cause that it was knowen and proued that they were sybbe nyghe of blood And tho spowsed her Henry the Empresse sone erle of Angoy the duke of Normandy duke of Gascoyne ¶ In the .xvij. yere of this Stephen this Henry came in to Englonde with a stronge power began for to warre vpon this kynge Stephen toke the castell of Malmesbury dyde moche harme And yâ— kyng Stephen hadê soe moche wente that he wyste not whether for to go But at the laste they were accorded thrugh the Archebysshop Theobaldus thrugh other worthy lordes of Englonde vpon this condycyon that they sholde departe the Realme of Englonde bytwene theym two soo that Henry the Empresse sone sholde hooly haue the half of all the londe of Englonde And thus they were accorded and peâ—s was cryed thrughout all Englond ¶ And whan the accorde was made bytwene the two lordes kynge Stephen became so sory for by cause that he hadê 〈◊〉 half Englonde and felle in to suche a malady and deyed in the .xix. yere and â—iij wekes and .v. dayes of his regne all in warre and in contake And he lyeth in the abbaye of Feuersham the whiche he lete make in the .xvi. yere of his regne CElestunus the seconde was pope after Innocencuâ—s .v. monethes And lytell he dyde ¶ Lucius was after hym and lytell proffyted for they deyed both in a pestylence ¶ Eugenâ—us the seconde was pope after hym .v. yere and foure monethes This man fyrste was the dyscyple of saynt Bernarde after the abbot of saynt Anastalius by Rome And came to the chirche of saynt Ceâ—ary and was chosen pope by the Cardnalles he no thynge knowynge therâ—â— And for drede of the Senatours he was consecrated without the cyte this maâ—â— was an holy nan suffred tâ—ybulaâ—yon And at the laste he decessyd and 〈◊〉 at saynt Peters And after anone deâ—â—syd saynt Bernarde ¶ Petrus 〈◊〉 the bysshopp of Parys bâ—â—ther to Granam compyled the some bokes of the Sentence this tyme. ¶ Petrus â—â—mestor brother to Gracian to 〈◊〉 Lombardus made Hystonam 〈◊〉 and other bokes ¶ Frederâ—â—us pâ—mus after Contradus was Emprerour in Almayne in Rome .xxxij. yere This man after the deth of Adryan the pope the whiche crowned hym dyde on sydly with Alexander to hym grete prâ—edyce For he dyde helpe foure that stoute ayenst the appostles sete And he faught myghtely ayenst the kynge of Fraunce thrugh power of the Danys other nacyons But Richarde the kynge of Englonde halpe for to expulse hym And he destroyed medyolanum to the grounde Of the whiche cyte the walles were bygher than the walles of ony other cyte This man at the last after that he had done many vexacyons to the pope he 〈…〉 the holy londe and dyde many meruayl loâ—s thynges thâ—â—r almoost as moche as euer dyde â—arolus magnus And there he came by a towne that men calle Armeniam in a lytell water he was drowned at Tyâ—â— he was buryed ¶ Anaslasius was pâ—pe after Eugenius foure yere and more Thiâ—â—an was abbot of Rufy and thenne he was chose Cardynall after pope ¶ Of kyng Henry the seconde that was the Empresse sone in whose tyme saynt Thomas of Caunterbury was Chaunceller ANd after this kynge Stephen regned Henry the Empresse sone was crowned of the Archebysshop Theâ—baldus the .xvij. daye before Cryst masse And in the same yere Thomas Beâ—â—â— of London Archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury was made the kyngê ChauÌ„celer of Englonde ¶ The seconde yere that he was crowned he lete caste downe all the newe castels that were longynge to the crowne the whiche kynge Stephen had â—eue vnto dyuerse men them had made erles barons for to holde with hym to helpe hym ayenst Henry them presse sone ¶ And the fourth yere of his regne he put under his owne lordshypp the kyng of Walys And in the same ye 〈◊〉 the kyng of Scotlonde had in his owne 〈◊〉 that is to saye the cyte of Karkyll the castell of 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 castell vpon Tyne the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 ¶ The same yere the kynge 〈◊〉 grete power 〈◊〉 in to Waly◠〈…〉 in the 〈◊〉 yere 〈…〉 lorde 〈◊〉 y◠〈…〉 made 〈…〉 in that yere he 〈…〉 the .vi. yere of his regâ—â— he 〈…〉 hoste to Tolouse 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 yâ— vij yere of his regne deyâ—◠〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 the almoost all the cyâ—e of 〈…〉 rugh myschyef was 〈◊〉 The .ix. yere of his regne Thomas 〈…〉 his ChauÌ„celler was chosen 〈…〉 of Caunterbury And vpon saynt Bernardes daye he was sacred And in that yere was borne the kyngê dâ—ughtâ—â— Ele nore ¶ And in the .x. yere of his 〈◊〉 saynt Edwarde the kynge was translated with moche honoâ—r ¶ And the .xi. ye te of his regne he helde his parlyament at Northampton fro thens 〈…〉 Thomas Archebysshop of 〈◊〉 for yâ— grete debate that was betwixt the kynge hym For yf he had be founde on the morowe he had be slaybe therfore he â—ledâ— thens with thre felowes on foot oonly that no man wyste where he was wente ouer the ser to the pope of Rome And this was the pryncypall cause For asmoche as the
a grete debate bytwene kynge Iohan and the lordes of Englonde for by cause that be wolde not grauÌ„e the lawes and holde the â—â—che saynt Edwarde had ordeyned and had ben vsed and holden vnto that to me that he had them broken For be â—â—de holde noo lawe but dyde alle thynge that hym lyked and dyshertysed many men without consente of lordes and â—â—â—tys of yâ— londe And wolde 〈◊〉 the good erle Rodulf of Châ—â—hâ— for by â—â—â—se that he vndertoke hyÌ„ of his wyckednesse and for cause that he dyde so moche shame and vylany to god and to holy châ—rche And also for he helde haunted his owne brothers wyf and laye also by many other 〈◊〉 greate lordâ—â— doughters For be spared noo woman that hym lyked for to haue Wherfore all the lordes of the londe were wroche and 〈◊〉 the cyte of London To câ—sse this debate the Archebtysshop and loâ—des of the londe assembled before the feest of saynt Iohn Baptyst in a medowe belyde the towne of Stanys that is called 〈…〉 〈…〉 for the kynge hymselfe soone after dyde ayenst the poyntes of the same chartre that he had made Wherfore the moost parte of the lordes of the londes assembled and began to warre vppon hym ayen and â—â—nned his towers robbed his folke and dyde all the sorowe that they myght made them as stronge as they myght with all the power they had and thought to dryue hym out of Englonde and make Lowys the kyngê sone of Fraunce kyng of Englonde ¶ And kynge IohnÌ„ sente tho ouer see and ordeyned so moche people of Normans of Pycardes and of Flemynges soo that the londe myght not susteyne them but with moche sorowe ¶ And amonge all this people there was a man of Normandye that was called Fawkis of Brent and this Norman his company spared nother chuches ne houses of relygyon but they brente robbed it and bare awaye alle that they myght take so that the londe was all destroyed what of ony syde and of other ¶ The barons and lordes of Englonde ordeyned amonge theym the beste spehers and wysest men and sente them ouer the see to kynge Phylypp of Fraunce prayed hym that he wolde sende Lowys his sone in to Englonde to be kynge of Englonde to receyue the crowne ¶ How Lowys the kynges some of FrauÌ„ce came in to Englonde with a stronge power of peple to be kyng of Englonde A None as kynge Philyp of FrauÌ„ce herde these tydynges he made â—etayne alyaunce bytwene theym by theyr comune eleccyon that Lowys kynge Philyps sone of Fraunce sholde goâ— with theym in to Englonde and dryâ—se 〈◊〉 kynge Iohn of the londe And alle that were in presence of Lowys made vnto hym homage and became his men 〈…〉 〈…〉 was sette before hym vppon the table And the monke sayd that the loof was worth but an half peny O sayd the kynge tho Here is grete chepe of brede Now sayd he cho and I may lyue ony whyle suche a loof shall be worth .xx. shelynges or half a yere be gone And so whan he sayd this worde moche he thought and often he syghed and toke and ete of the brede and sayd by god the worde that I haue spoken it shall be soth ¶ The monke that stode before the kynge was for this worde full sory in his herte and thought rather be wolde hymselfe suffre deth and thought yf he myght ordeyne therfore some manere remedye And anone the monke wente vnto his abbot and was shryuen of hym and tolde the abbot all that the kynge had sayd And prayed his abbot for to assoyle hym for he wolde yeue the kynge such a drynke that all Englonde sholde be glady there of and Ioyfull Tho yede the monke in to a gardeyne and founde a greate tode therin and toke her vp and put her in a cuppe prycked the tode thorugh wich a broche many tymes tyll that the venym came out of euery syde in the cuppe And tho toke the cuppe fylled it with good ale and brought it before the kynge knelynge sayenge Syr sayd he Wash sayll for neuer the dayes of all your lyf dronke ye of so good a cuppe ¶ Begyn monke sayd the kynge And the monke dranke a grete draught toke the kynge the cuppe and the kynge dranke also a grete draught and sette downe the cuppe The monke anone ryght wente in to 〈◊〉 and there deyed anone on 〈◊〉 soule god haue mercy Amen And fyne monkê synge for his soule specyally and shall whyle that the abbayâ— standeth The kynge rose vp anone full euyll at ease and comaunded to remeue the table axed after the monke And men tolde hym that he was deed for his wombe was broken in sondre ¶ Whan the kynge herde this he comaunded for to trusse but it was for nought for his bely began to swelle for the drynke that he had dronke and within two daâ—â—â— he deyed on the morowe after saynt Luliâ— daye and had many fayre chidern of his body begoten that is to saye Henry his sone that was kynge after Iohn 〈◊〉 fader and Rycharde that was Erle of Comewalle and Ysabell that Empresse of Rome and Elenore that was quene of Scotlonde And this kyng Iohan whan he had regned 〈◊〉 and fyue monethes and fyue daâ—es be 〈◊〉 in the castell of newerbe And his body was buryed at Wynchestre ¶ Anno dmÌ„ M.CC. ERedericus the seconde was Emperour .xxx. yere This man was crowned of Honoriê° yâ— pope ayenst 〈◊〉 for by cause that be sholde frghte with hym the whiche be dyde and â—â—pullyd hym And fyrste be nourysshed the châ—â—che and afterwarde he dylpoyled it as a stepmoder Wherfore Honorius 〈◊〉 hym and all tho that were contrary to his opynyon the pope assoylled And the same sentence Girgoriê° the .ii. renewed And this same man put Henry his owne sone into pryson and there murdred hym Wherfore whan this Emperour an other season was syke by an other sone of his owne he was mindred in the tyme of Innocenicus the fourth ¶ Honorius the thyrde was pope after Innocencius x. yere confermed the ordre of frere Prechers and Mynors And made certayne Decretalles ¶ Of kyng Henry the thyrde that was crowned at Gloucetre ANd after this kynge Iohn regned his sone Henry was crowned at Gloucetre whan he was .ix. yere olde on seynt Symondes daye Iude of Swalo the Legate of Rome thrugh couÌ„seyll of all the grete lordes that helde with kynge Iohan his fader that is to saye the erle Radulf of Chestre Willyam erle Marshall erle of Penbroke Willyam the Brener erle of Feriers Serle the manly baron And all other grete lordes of Englonde helde with Lowys the kynges sone of FrauÌ„ce And anone after whan kynge Henry was crowned Swalo the Legate helde his couÌ„seyll at Brystowe at saynt Martyns feest And there were .xi. bysshops of Englonde of Walys of other prelates of holy chirche a grete nombre and erles barons many
to the plowe and somtyme to dedes of armes whanne tyme and place axeth It semeth of these men a grete wonder that in a boon of a wethers ryght sholder whan the flessheis soden awaye and not rosted they knowe what haue be done is done shall be done as it were by spyryte of prophecye and a wonderfull crafte They telle what is done in ferre couÌ„ties tokenes of peas or of warre yâ— state of yâ— royame sleynge of men spousebreche suche thynges theye declare certayne of tokenes and sygnes yâ— is in suche a sholder bone ¶ R. But the Englysshmen that dwelle in Englonde ben medled in the ylonde ben ferre fro the places that they spronge of fyrste tornenne to the contrarye dedes lyghtelye withoute entysynge of ony other men by hyr own assente And vnesy also vnpacy cut of peas enemyes of besynes and full of slouthe ¶ Wilhel de pon li.iij sayth That whan they haue dystroyed theyr enemyes all to the grounde thenne they fyghten with theyme selfe and sleeth eche other as voyd and an empti stomak werketh in it selfe ¶ R. Netheles men of the south ben esyer and more mylde than meÌ„ of the north For they be more vnstable more cruell and more vnesy The myddell men ben parteners with both Also they vse them to glotony more than other men and ben more costlewe in mete and clothynge Men suppose that they tooke that vyce of kynge Herdeknot that was a Dane For he heet lette forth twyes double messe at Dyner and at souper alsoo These men ben spedefull on hors and a fote Able and redy to all maner dedys of armes aud ben wonte to haue vyctorye and maystrye in euery fyght where noo treasonis walkynge and ben curyous can well tell dedys and wondres that they haue seen Also they gone in dyuerse lon des vnneth ben ony men ryche in her ow ne londe or more gracious in ferre and in straunge londe they can better wynne gete newe than kepe hir owne herytage Therfore it is that they be sprad so wyde and wente that euery londe be theyr owne The men be able to all manere sleyght and wytte but tofore the dede blonderynge and hasty And more wyse after the dede than tofore and leuen of lyghtly what they haue begonne ¶ Solinus li. vi Therfore Eugeniê° the pope sayde that Englysshmen were able to do what euer they wold and to be sette and put tofore all other ne were that lyght wyt letteth And as Hanyball sayde that the Romayns myghte not be ouercome but in ther owne countre soo Englysshmen may not be ouercome in straunge londes but in her owne countre they be lyghtly ouercome ¶ R. These men despysen her owne and prayse other mennes And vnnethe be pleased nor apayd with theyr owne estate what befalleth and becomethe other men they wyll gladly take to theÌ„ self Therfore it is that a yeman arayeth hym as a squyer a squyere as a knyght a knyght as a duke a duke as a kynge Yet some go a boute and wyll be lyke to all manere state and ben in no state For they take euery degre that be of no degre for in berynge outward they be myntrals and herowdes in talkynge grete spekers In etynge and drynkynge glotons In gaderynge of catell hucksters and tauerners In araye tormentours In wynnynges argi In trauayle tantaly In takynge hede dedaly In beddes sardanapaly In chyrches mawmetes In courtes thondre only in preuylege of clergi in preben des they knowleche heÌ„self clerkes ¶ Treuysa As touchynge the termes of latyn as argi tantali dedali serdanapaly ye muste vnderstonde them as yâ— poetes feyned of them Argus was an herde kepte bestes he had an hondred een and Argus was also a shyp a shypman and a chapman and so Argus myght se before and behynde and on euery syde Therfore he that is wyse and ware and can se that he be not deceyued may be called argus And so the Cronycle sayth in plurell nombre yâ— Englysshmen ben argy yâ— is to saye they se about where as wynnynge is That other worde tantaly yâ— poete feyneth that Tantalus slewe his owne sone wherfor he is dampned to perpetuall penauÌ„ce and he standeth alway in water vp to the neyther lyppe hath alwaye rype apples noble fruyte hangynge downe too the ouerlyppe but the fruyte ne the water may not come with in his mouthe he is soo holde and standeth bytwene mete and drynke maye neyther ete ne drynke and is euer an hoÌ„gred and a thyrste that wo is hym alyue by this manere lykenesse of Tantalus they that do ryghte noughte there as is moche is to doo in euery syde ben called taÌ„taâ—y It semeth that it is to saye in tra uayll they be tantaly for they do ryght nought therto The thyrde worde is dedale take hede that Dedalus was a subtyll and a slyeman And therfore by lykenes they that ben subtyll slye theye be called dedaly And the fourth worde is sardanapaly ye shall vnderstonde yâ— Sardanapalus was kynge of AssyryeÌ„s and was full vnchast and vsed hym for to lye softe And by a maner of lykenes of hym they that lyue vnchastly ben called sardanapaly ¶ R. But amonge all Englysshmen medled togyders is so grete a chaungynge and dyuersyte of clothynge and of araye and so many maners dyuerse shappes that well nyghe is ther ony man knowen by his clothynge and his araye of what some euer degre that he be Therof prophecied an holy Anker in kynge Egelfredes tyme in this manere Henry ii.vi. Englysshmen for as moche as they vse them to dronâ— lewnes to treason and to rechelesnes of goddes hous fyrste by Danes and then by Normans and at the thyrde tyme bi the Scottes that theye holde the mooste wretches and lest worth of all other they shall be ouercome Thenne the worlde shall be so vnstable and so dyuerse and varyable that the vnstablenes of thoughtes shall be bytokened by many manere dyuersytees of clothynge ¶ Here foloweth the descrypcyon of the londe of Wales ¶ Of the londe of wales ca. xvi NOwe this boke taketh on honde Wales after Englonde So take I my tales And wende into wales To that noble blood Of Pryamus blood Knowleche for to wynne Of greate Iupyters kynne For to haue in mynde Dardanus kynde In these four tytles I fonde To tell thestate of that londe Cause of the man I shall telle And then prayse the londe and welle Thenne I shall weyte with my penne All the maners of the men Thenne I shall fonde To telle meruaylles of the londe ¶ Of the name and wherfore it is named wales ca .xvij. WAles nowe is called wallia And somtyme it heet Cambriâ— For Camber Brutes sone Was prynce and there dyde wone Thenne wallia was to mene For Gwalaes the quene Kynge Ebrancus chylde Was wedded theder mylde And of that lorde walon Withdraweth of the soun And put to l.i.
a. And thou shalte fynde wallia And though this londe Be moche lesse than Englonde As good glebe is one as other In the doughter as in the moder ¶ Of the commodytees of the londe of Wales ca .xviii. THough that londe be luyt It is full of corn and of fruyte And hath grete plentey wys Of flesshe and eke of fysshe Of beestes tame and wylde Of hors sheep oxen mylde Good londe for all sedes For corn gras and herbes that spredes Ther ben woodes and medes Herbes and floures there spredes Ther ben Ryuers and welles Valeyes and also hylles Valeyes brynge forth flood And hylles metals good Cooll groweth vnder londe And gras aboue at bonde There lyme is copyous And slates for hous Hony and mylke whyte There is deynte and not lyte Of braket meete and ale Is grete plente in that vale And all that nedeth to the lyue That londe bryngeth forth ryue But of grete ryches to be drawe And close many in shorte sawe It is a corner small As though god fyrste of all Made that londe so fele To be selere of all hele Wales is deled by A water that heet Twy North wales from the south Twy deleth in places full couth The south heet Demicia And the other Venedocia The fyrste shoteth and arowes beres That other deleth all with speres In wales how it be Were somtyme courtes thre At Carmerthyn was that one And that other was in Mone The thyrde was in Powysy In Pegwern that nowe is Shrowesbury There were bysshops seuen And nowe ben foure euen Vnder Saxons all atte honde Somtyme vnder prynces of that londe ¶ Of the maners and rytes of the wasshemen cn .xix. THe maner lyuynge of that londe Is well dyuerse from EngloÌ„de In mete and drynke and clothynge And many other doynge They be clothed wonder well In a shyrte and in a mantell A cryspe breche well fayne Bothe in wynde and in rayne In this clothynge they be bolde Though the weder be ryght colde Withoute shetes alway Euermore in this araye They go fyght playe and lepe Stande sytte lye and slepe Without surcot gowne cote and kyrtyll Without iopen tabarde clok or bell Without lace chaplet that her lappes Without hode harte or cappes Thus arayd gone the segges And alwaye with bare legges They kepe none other goynge Though they mete with the kynge With arowes and short speres They fyght with them that them dertâ— They fyght beâ—ter yf they neden Whan they go than whan they ryden In stede of castell and toure They take 〈…〉 Whan they seen it is to do In fyghtynge they 〈…〉 Gyldas sayth they ben 〈◊〉 In peas and not stable Yf men axe why it be It is no vonder for to se Though men put out of londe To put out other wolde fonde But all for nought at this stonde For all many woodes ben at gronde And put the see amonge Ben castels buylded stronge The men may dure longe vn ete And loue well conume mete They can ete and ben mury Without grete cury They ete brede colde and hote Of barly and of ote Brode cakes rounde and thynne As well semeth so grete kynne Selde they ete brede of whete And selde they done ones ete They haue gruell to potage And lekes kynde to companage Also butter mylke and chese Yshape endlonge and corner wese Suche messes they ete snell And that maketh hem drynke well Meete and ale that hath myght Theron they spende daye and nyght Euer the redder is the wyne They holde it the more fyne Whan they drynke atte ale They tell many a lewde tale For whan drynke is in handlynge They ben full of Ianglynge Atte meete and after eke Her solace is salte and leke The husbonde in his wyse Telleth that a grete pryce To gyue a gaudron with growele To hem that syttâ—â—â— on his mele He deleth his meete at meele And gyueth euery man his delâ— And all the 〈◊〉 pluse He kepeth to his owne vse Therfore they haâ—◠〈◊〉 And myshappes alsâ— They eteâ— hote samâ—â— alway All though physyk say may Her houles bes lowe with all And made of yerdes small Not as in cytees nyghe But ferre a sonder and not to hygh Whan all is eten at home TheÌ„ to theyr neyghbouâ—s wyl they 〈◊〉 And ete what they may fynde and se And then torne home aye The lyte is ydle that they ledes In brennynge slepynge suche dedes Walsshmen vse with her myght To wesshe theyr ghestes fete a nyght Yf he wesshe her fete all and somme Then they know yâ— they be welcome They lyue so esely in a route That selde they bere purs aboute At her breche oute and home They honge theyr money and combe It is wonder they be so hende And hate crak at nether ende And withoute ony core Make theyr wardrope atte dore They haue in grete mangeâ—y Harpe tabour pyp for mynstralsy They bere corps with sorowes greâ—â—e And blowe loude hornes of ghert They prayse fast Troyan blood For therof come all her brode Nygh kyn they wyll be Though they passe an hondred degâ—â—e Aboue other men they wyll hem dyght And worshyp prestes with her myght As angels of heuen ryght They worshyp seruauÌ„tes of god almyght Oft gyled was this brode And yerned batayll all for woode For Merlyns prophecye And ofte for sortelegye Beste in maners of Brytons For company of Saxons Ben torned to better ryght That is knowen as clere as lyght They tyllen gardyâ—â—â—â—lde 〈◊〉 And drawe hem to goode townes They ryde armed as wâ—ll god And go y hosed and y shoode And sytten fayre at her mele And slepe in beddes fayre and fele So they seme nowe in mynde More Englysshmen than walssh kynde Yf men are why they now do so More than they wonte to do They lyuen in more pees Bycause of theyr ryches For theyr catell sholde slake Yf they vsed ofte wrake Drede of losse of her good Make them nowe styll of mode All in one it is brought Haue nothynge and drede nought The poete sayth a sawe of preef The foot man syngeth tofore the theef And is bolder on the waye Than the hors man ryche and gaye ¶ Of the meruayls wondres of wales ca .xx. THere is a pole at Brechnok Therin of fyssh is many aflok Oft he chaungeth his hewe on cop And bereth aboue a gardyn crop Oft tyme howe it be Shape of hous there shalt thou se Whan the pole is frore it is wonder Of the noyse that is ther vnder Yf the prynce of the londe hote Byrdes synge well mery note As merily as they can And syngyn for none other man Besydes Caerleon Two myle fro the town Is a roche well bryght of leem Ryght ayenst the sonne beem Goldclyf that roche hyght For it shyneth as god full bryght Suche a flour in stoon is nought Without fruyt yf it were sought If men coude by craft vndo The vaynes of therth and come therto Many benytece of kynde Ben