preuy And so this Iohn of Barnaby was in debate with a frensshe man in the towne of DuÌ„pier so he slewe hym went his waye in all the haste that he myght in to the castell for to haue helpe of his lord And anone came the officers of the towne to take Iohn of Barnaby as a felon syr Edward his lord holpe hym rescowed hym by night made him go out of the castell so he went his waye came in to Englonde wtout ony harme And whan the kyng of FrauÌ„ce sawe that syr Edward had rescowed his felon he became wonders wrothe agaynst syr Edward anone let arest hym toke in to his haÌ„des all his londes Than dwelled syr Edward in pryson vnto the tyme that syr Henry of Beaumont came in to FrauÌ„ce the whiche Henry was somtyme erle of Angos in Scotlonde through his wyfe was put out therof whaÌ„ the accordemeÌ„t was bytwene Englonde and Scotlond through quene Isabell Roger Mortimer theyr coÌ„pany for the maryage that she made bytwene Dauyd that was Robert the Brus sone dame Ione of the toure kyng Edwardes syster of EngloÌ„de well vnderstode this that at the ende he shold come to his ryght but yf it were syr Edwarde Bayloll that was ryght heyre of the realme of Scotlonde And the kyng of Fraunce Lowys loued moche this syr Henry he was with hym ful preuy thought for to make a delyuerauÌ„ce of syr Edwarde Bayloll yf he myght in ony maner of wyse Tho prayed he the kyng the it wolde please his noble grace to grauÌ„t hym syr Edward Baylols body vnto the next parlyament that he myght lyue with his own tentes in the meane tyme that he myght stande to be iudged with his peres at the parlyament And the kyng grauÌ„ted hym his prayer made the foresayd Edward to be delyuered out of pryson in the maner aboue said And anone as he was out of prison syr Henry toke hym forth with hym ladde hym in to EngloÌ„de made hym dwell pryuely at the maner of Sandhall vpon Ouse in Yorkeshyre with the lady Vescy And so he ordeyned him there an huge retynue of Englysshemen also of alyens for to conquere agayne his herytage And so he gaue moche siluer to the sowdyours to alyens for to helpe hym And they behyght for to helpe hym in that they myght but they fayled hym at his moost nede And at that tyme Donald erle of Moryf herde tell how that syr Edwarde Baylol was priuely come in to EngloÌ„de came to hym made grete ioye of his comynge agayn and sayd to hym behyght hym that all the grete lordes of Scotlonde shold be to hym attendauÌ„t shold holde hym for kynge as ryght heyre of ScotloÌ„de dyd to hyÌ„ homage feaute Than came syr Henry of Beaumont to kynge Edwarde of Englonde prayed hym in the waye of charite that he wolde grauÌ„t of his grace to syr Edward Bayloll that he myght safely go by londe froÌ„ Sandhal vnto ScotloÌ„de to coÌ„quere his ryght herytaunce in Scotlonde The kynge answered sayd Yf that I suffre Bayloll go through my londe in to Scotlonde the people wold saye that I shold be assentyng vnto the company Now syr I praye you that ye wolde gyue hym leue to take with hym sowdyours of Englysshe meÌ„ that they myght safely lede hyÌ„ through your londe in to ScotloÌ„de And syr vpon this couenaunt that yf it so befall as god it forbydde he be dyscomfyted in batayle through the Scottes that I also all the lordes that holde with Bayloll ben for euer more out of your rentes that we haue in Englonde And there the kyng vpon this couenaunt graunted theyr bone as touchynge hym those that were of the same quarell the whiche claymed for to haue londes rentes in the realme of ScotloÌ„de And these were the names of those lordes that pursued this foresayd quarell that is to saye syr Edward Bayloll the whiche chalenged the realme of Scotlonde syr Henry BeaumoÌ„t erle of Angos syr Dauid of Stroboly erle of Atheles syr 〈◊〉 frey of Mombray Walter Comyn and many other that were put out of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rytage in Scotlonde whan the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made bytwene Englonde S 〈…〉 〈◊〉 before is sayd And ye shall 〈◊〉 that these lordes toke with them .v. C. 〈◊〉 of armes and .ij. M. archers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tho wente in to shyppe at 〈◊〉 and sayled by the see tyll that they 〈◊〉 vnto Scotlonde came to londe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 kehorne .xij. myle from saynâ— Ioh 〈…〉 towne And anone sente out theyr 〈◊〉 pes agayne for that they sholde no◠〈◊〉 hurt ne empayred neyther that no man sholde go in to the shyppes agayn though that they had nede but abyde all 〈◊〉 and not â—â—ee but stande rather 〈◊〉 deth thaÌ„ flee for to mayn 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quarell Whan the erle of Fi 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 man a sterne herde that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comen for to take the londe of Scotlonde he came in haste to kynkehorne with xij M. scottes for to destroye hym that he sholde not come to londe But syr Edwarde Bayloll his company dyscomfyted hym there at the whiche discomfyture syr AlysauÌ„der of Seron was there slayne many other The erle of Fyffe was tho sore full yll ashamed that so lytell a company had dyscomfyâ—â—d hym and shamefully put hym all his company that were alyue for to flee Than came syr Edward Bayloll toke the coun tre all aboute hym tyll he came vnto the abbey of Dunfermelin there he fouÌ„de vytayles for hym for his folke and amonge all thyÌ„ges he fouÌ„de in a chambre aboute .v. C. of grete staues of fyne oke with longe pykes of yren of stele he toke them deliuered them to the moost strongest men of his coÌ„pany And anone after he went from thens lodged hym in a felde two myle fro saynt Iohannes towne And whan the burgeyses of the towne herde how the erle of Fiffe was dyscoÌ„fyted through Bayloll they were fore adrad brake theyr brydges that they had made ouer the water of Erne so that Baylol myght not go ouer wherfore he lodged hym there all that nyght but lytell hede he toke of rest sayd vnto his people Now dere lordes ye knowe full well that we be now lodged bytwene our enemyes yf they may vs hampre there is no bote but deth wherfore yf we abyde styll here all this nyght I wene it shall turne vs to moche harme For the power of Scotlonde may euer wexe encreace and we may not so do we be but lytell people agaynst them wherfore I praye you for the loue of almighty god make we vs bolde hardy that we may myghtely take the Scottes this night and boldly warre vpon them let vs pursue them this nyght yf they be through vs trauayled se our hardynes other scottes
so that no man was so hardy to name god and yf they dyd they were put to strauÌ„ge deth But the bysshop of London that was tho whiche was called Gosselyn scaped went thens to them of Rome to seke socour to helpe to destroye the sarasyns that had destroyed this londe And the Romayns sayd that they had ben so often anoyed for theyr sendyng of folke in to Britayne all for to helpe the Britons they wold no more so do And so the bysshop Gosselyn went thens without ony socour or helpe And than went he to the kyng of lytell Brytayne that was called Aldroie this was the thyrde kyng after Gowan Meriedok as before is sayd The bysshop prayed this kynge Aldroie of helpe socour And the kynge had pite in his herte whan he herde how the bysshop fledde how the chrysten men were so slayne in grete Brytayne through the paynyms sarasyns he grauÌ„ted hym CoÌ„stantyne his broâ—er for to helpe hym with power of folke And chaâ— dyd araye hors harneys shyppes all thynge that neded to that vyage And whan all thynge was redy he called the bysshop sayd to hym I take you here CoÌ„stantyne my broder vpon this couenauÌ„t that yf god gyue hym grace to discoÌ„fyte the infydeleÌ„s that than ye shall make hym kyng And the bisshop grauÌ„ted it with a good wyll CoÌ„stantyne the bysshop toke leue of the kyng Aldroie betoke hym to god toke .xij. Mâ—inen went to theyr shippes sayled towarde grete Britayn arryued at Totnes Whan the Britons herdethese tydynges that socour came they were glad ordeyned them an huge noÌ„â—re of people went receyued them with moche honour ¶ Gowan anone as he wyst of these ty dynges he assembled all his farasyns came agaynst them gaue theÌ„ batayle And CoÌ„stantyn slewe hym with his owne handes all the other sarasyns were dyscomfyted slayne that none escaped excepte those that were couerted to god ¶ How Constantyne that was the kynges broder of lytel Britayn was crowned kynge of grete Brytayne for his worthynes ANone after the batayle they went to London crowned there Constantyne kyng of this londe the bysshop Gosselin set the crowne on his heed and aâ—oynted hyÌ„ as it belongeth for a kyng And thaÌ„ began christeÌ„dom in this londe agayn And anone after whaÌ„ this kyng Constantyn was crowned he spoused a wyfe through rouÌ„seyle of the Brytons begate on herthre sones The fyrst was called CoÌ„stance the seconde Aurilambros the thyrde Vter This Constance that elder broder whaÌ„ he came to oâ—â— he 〈◊〉 hym a monke at Wynchestre And ConstaÌ„tyne theyr fader was slayne through treason For it befell vpon a tyme that a Pehyte came to hym vpon a daye as it were on a message sayd that he wolde speke with the kynge pryuely in couÌ„seyle The kyng let â—oyde his chambre of the men that were there within and there abode no moo but the kynge and the Pehite and he made a countenauÌ„ce as though he wolde haue spoken with the kyng in his eere And there he shewe hym with a longe knyfe And after that he went meruaylously out of that chambre in to an other chambre so that at the last no man wyst where he was bâ—romen Whan the kynges men wyst that theyr lord was so deed they made than so moche sorowe that they wyst not what for to do For as moche as his two sones Aurilambros and Vter were so yonge that none of them myght be kynge and the thyrde broder was a monke at â—â—â— chestre as is sayd before But â—oâ—nger that was erle of Westler thought pryuely in his herte through some subryâ—e for to be kynge hymselfe And wente to Wynchestre where as Constance was monke sayd to hym CoÌ„stance qued be your fader is deed your two brethern that ben with Gosselyn the bysshop of London to nourysshe be so yonge that neue of them may be kyng wherfore I couÌ„seyle you that ye forsake your habyte come with me and I shall make suche a meane vnto the Brytons that ye shall be made kynge of this londe ¶ Of Constance that was kynge Constantynes sone whiche was a monke at Wynchestre and how he was made kynge after his faders dethe through counseyle of â—oâ—â—ger that was â—â—â—e of Westser for as moche as Aurilambros and 〈◊〉 his two bretherne were but yonge of age And Vortiger let shee â—yaâ— for to be kynge hymselfe THis Vortiger couÌ„seyled this CoÌ„sâ—aÌ„ce so moche tyll he forsoke his abâ—ot and went with hym And anone after he was crowned kyng by the assent of the Brytons This kynge Constance whan he was crowned made kynge he wyll ne knewe but lytell of the worlde nor coude no thynge what knyghthode axed And he made Vortyger his chefe mayster couÌ„seyler gaue hym all his power for to ordeyn to do as moche as to the realme aperteyned So that hymselfe no thynge entermedled but onely bare the name of kyng WhaÌ„ Vortiger sawe that he had all the loÌ„de in his warde gouernauÌ„ce at his owne wyll he thought by preuy treason to slee CoÌ„stance the kyng that he myght hyÌ„selfe be crowned made kyng regne let sende after an hondred knyghtes of Pehytes the worthyest of all the londe them helde with hym for to dwell as to be kepers of his body as he wolde go through the londe to ordeyne thynges that appertayned to a kyng And this Vortiger honoured so moche the hondred knyghtes so moche gaue them of golde syluer of ryche iewelles robes horses other thyÌ„ges plente wherfore they helde hym more lord than they dyd the kyng And Vortiger told them yf he myght be kyng ye as it were through treason he wold make them rychest of the londe So at the last through grete gyftes that he had gyuen largely they cryed through the court that Vortiger were better worthy to be kyng thaÌ„ CoÌ„stance Wherfore Vortiger made semblauÌ„t as he had ben wroth he departed thens from the courte and sayd he must go elles where for thinges that he had to do And so the traytour sayd bycause that they sholde slee kynge Constance Whan this Vortiger was gone it befel soon easter 〈◊〉 those hondred knyghtes of Peâ—ites wiche the dores of the kynges chambre there they slewe hyÌ„ smote of his heed baâ—e it to Vortiger there as he dwelled And whaÌ„ Vortiger sawe the heed he wepte full tenderly with his eyen neuertheles he was somdele gladde in his herte of his deth And anone Vortiger let take those hondred knyghtes of Pehites hadde his seruauÌ„tes bynde theyr haudes behynde them lede them to London and there they were dampned to deth as fals traytours And anone after all the Brytons of the londe by the comyn assent crowned Vortiger made hym kyng of the londe ¶ Auno domini C .lxxiiij. SOther a martyr was pope after
But yâ— bysshops abbots other folke of yâ— couÌ„tre ladyes open heded come before kyng Arthur cryed hyÌ„ mercy sayenge Gentyl kyng as ye are a mayntayner of christeÌ„dom haue pite on vs your euen chrysteÌ„ for by our deth ye gete no worship as to slee chrysteÌ„ folke therfore haue mercy on vs for we haue had moche sorowe by the Saxons yâ— haue passed through our countree but yâ— is not ynough to you for they haue taken our castels slayne out beestes eten moch harme haue done vs yf ye slee vs cryenge you mercy it sholde be grete dyshonour to you For ye haue done ynough to vs haue ouercomeÌ„ vs for goddes loue suffre vs to lyue haue mercy on chrysteÌ„ people yâ— byleue in Chryst as ye do Whan kyng Arthur herd this sorowe he had pite on them gaue them lyf lymme wtout ony more harme they fell down to his feet thaÌ„ked hym became his lyege men he toke of them homage And after yâ— kyng Arthur turned agayn with his host came to yorke there abode duryng yâ— vyage And than gaue he al Logres to Aloth that had spoused his syster plente of other gyftes ThaÌ„ was Gawen his cosyn but yoÌ„ge of age To al his men yâ— had serued hym in his warre he gaue ryche gyftes thankynge them of theyr good seruyce ¶ How kyng Arthur spoused Gueneuer yâ— erles cosyn of Cornewayle and after he conquered all Irlonde WHan kynge Arthur had brought his londe in peas rest in good state and all was well in euery couÌ„tree ThaÌ„ toke he wedded a wyfe yâ— was called Gueneuer made her quene a fayre lady a gentyl yâ— Cador yâ— erle of Cornewayle had nourysshed in his chambre that was his cosyn But neuer they had childreÌ„ togyder neuertheles king Arthur loued her full well And anone as wynter was past he let assemble a grete host and all his barons sayd that he wold go in to Irlonde for to conquere yâ— londe And he taryed not longe yâ— he ne passed ouer in to IrloÌ„de And Guillomer yâ— king let assemble a grete host gaue batayle to kynge Arthur But Guillomer was discoÌ„fyted and yelded hym to the kynge became his man to hym dyd feaute homage of hym helde all that londe fro that tyme forward And after passed kyng Arthur ferthermore and coÌ„quered Gutlonde Islonde toke homage of yâ— folke of the londe and there dwelled .xij. yere in peas and regned with ioye and myrth there warred no man nor woman vpon hym And he became so curteys large honourable that the emperours courte of Rome ne none other through out all yâ— worlde was not accouÌ„ted to kyng Arthur yâ— ony man wyst of nor none so well praysed And therfore yâ— best knyghtes of all maner londes came vnto hym there for to dwell And he receyued them with good wyll reuerence And all the knyghtes were so good that no man knewe the werst And therfore kynge Arthur made a rouÌ„de table that whan they sholde syt at theyr meet all sholde be lyke hye euenly serued at the table that none of them sholde make vaunt that one were hyer than an other And kyng Arthur had at that table brytons frenshmen normaÌ„s flemynges bur gonyons mausers lotherins of all the londes on this halfe the mouÌ„t Gorye and of his londe of grete Brytayne of Cornewayle of Wales of Irlonde of Scotlond and shortly to tell of all the londes that wolde worshyp cheualrye suche came to kynge Arthurs courte ¶ How kyng Arthur went in to frauÌ„ce conquered the londe of Froll that was a Romayne how he slewe hym SIth it befell that kynge Arthur through couÌ„seyle of his barons lordes wolde go to conquere all Fraunce that than was called Galle through Romayns that than helde yâ— londe in theyr power in theyr gouernauÌ„ce And yâ— Romayns had taken that londe to a noble knyght and a worthy of body that was called Froll And whan he wyst yâ— kyng Arthur came he ordeyned an hoost of a grete power fought with the kynge And he his folke were dyscomfyted fledde vnto Parys entred the cite and closed the gates and there helde hym WhaÌ„ Arthur wyst that Froll was gone to Parys he pursued after came thyder besyeged hym But the cite was stronge well arayed they that were therin defended them well and manly Kynge Arthur dwelled there more than a moneth there was so moche people in the cite yâ— they dispended all theyr vytayles yâ— they had wtin so grete hunger became amonge them yâ— they dyed wonders thycke within yâ— cite for hunger came vnto Froll prayed hym to be accorded with kyng Arthur for to haue peas and they wolde yelde them vnto hym the cite also Froll saw that he might no longer holde the cite agaynst theyr wyll trusted gretly vpon his owne strength sent to kynge Arthur yâ— he sholde come fyght with hym body for body so sholde they departe frauÌ„ce bytwene them two Kyng Arthur anone grauÌ„ted it 〈◊〉 not that none of his people vndertoke yâ— batayle for hym And on yâ—â—â—orow bothe came well arayed wtout Parys where as they shold fyght And anone togyder they smote so fyersly and so well they fought on bothe sydes yâ— no man coude deme the better of them And so it befell that Froll gaue Arthur suche a stroke yâ— he kneled to the grouÌ„de wheder he wold or not as Froll withdrewe his 〈…〉 erde he wouÌ„ded kyng Arthur in the foreheed that yâ— blode fell downe by his eyen his face Arthur anone sterte vp egerly whaÌ„ he felte hyÌ„selfe hurte as a man yâ— semed almoost wood he toke Tabourne his good swerde drewe it vp on hygh and gaue Froll suche a stroke yâ— therwith he claue his heed downe to yâ— sholders so yâ— his heline myght not be his warent so he fell down deed in the place And than they of the cite made grete sorow for Froll And euerychone yelded them vnto kyng Arthur the towne also became his men dyd to hyÌ„ homage feaute And he receyued them toke of them good hostages And kynge Arthur after that went forth with his host coÌ„â—uered Angeo Angiers Gascoin Poytou Nauerne Burgoyn Berry Lotherin Turin Poytiers all the other londes of frauÌ„ce he conquered holly And whaÌ„ he had all conquered taken homage feaute he â—â—turned agayn to Parys there dwelled he longe tyme ordeyned peas loÌ„ge tyme ouer all the couÌ„tree through out all frauÌ„ce And whan peas was made ouer all through his noble knyghthode that he had also for his own worthynes And no man were he neuer so grete a lorde durst not meue warre agaynst hym neyther to aryse to make the londe of
agayn to king Adelbryght yâ— was king of Kent tolde him yâ— his folke wold not be to no man obedyent but to yâ— archebysshop of Carlyon Whan the king herde this he was sore anoyed sayd that he wolde destroye them sent to Elfryde kyng of Northumberlonde yâ— was his frende yâ— he shold come to hym with all yâ— power that he myght he wold mete hym at Leycestre and fro thens they wolde go in to wales there destroye yâ— archebysshop of Carlyon and all those that had refused saynt Austyn ¶ How kyng Adelbryght kyng Elfry de slewe Brecynall yâ— was a kyng of bry tons that helde yâ— couÌ„tree of Leycestre IT befell so that there was a kyng of brytons that helde the couÌ„tre of Leycestre all the countre aboute his name was Brecynall And this bryton herde tell yâ— those two englysshe kynges wolde mete there at Leycestre for to go in to wales he let ordeyne all the power that he had for to go fyght with these two kyÌ„ges but lytel it auayled hym for his folke were all slayne hymself fledde lost his londes for euermore And these two kyÌ„ges Adelbryght Elfryde dwel led a whyle at Leycestre departed the londe amonge them and toke homage feaute of the folke of yâ— couÌ„tree And af ter they went toward wales And they of wales herde tell of yâ— discoÌ„fyture that Brecmal had at Leycestre were won ders sore adrad of those two kynges toke chose amoÌ„ge them good men ho ly of heremytes moÌ„kes preestes of other people grete plente yâ— wente bare fote and wolwarde for to haue mercy of those two kynges But yâ— kynges were so sterne so wycked yâ— they wold neuer speke with them but slewe them all Alas for sorowe for they ne spared them no more than the wolfe doth the shepe but smote of theyr hedes euerichone And so they were all martyred yâ— to them came that is to vnderstande .v. C. and .xl. And after they wente fro thens to Bangore for to slee all those yâ— they myght fynde there of yâ— brytons And whan yâ— britons herde that they assembled ordeyned all theyr power for to fyght with them Than was there a baron of wales whi che was called Bledrik of Cornewayle that somtyme was lorde of Deenshyre but king Adelbright had dryuen hyÌ„ out in to wales after there he gaue them batayle at yâ— batayle was kyng Adelbryght slayne Elfryde sore wouÌ„ded forsoke yâ— felde the moost parte of his people slayne And king Elfryd fled in to Northumberlond yâ— was his owne loÌ„de And after the people of Leycestreshyre made with strength Cadewan yâ— was Brecinals sone kyng of Leycestre he after regned nobly with grete honour ¶ How Cadewan kynge of Leycestre Elfryde king of Northumberlond were frendes And of the debate yâ— after was bytwene Edwyn and Cadwalyn that were bothe theyr sones AFter that this bataile was done the britons assembled them and went thens came to Leicestre made there Cadewan yâ— was Brâ—â—ynals sone kyng of Leycestre of all yâ— couÌ„tree And he toke homage feaute of all yâ— folke of the couÌ„tree And after that he assembled a grete hoost and sayd he wolde go in to Northumberlonde to destroye kyng Elfryde slec hym yf he myght And whaÌ„ he was comen thyder frendes went so bytwene them that they accorded them in this maner That Elfryde shold hold all yâ— londe from Humber vnto scotlonde and Cadewan sholde haue all yâ— londe on this syde Humber to yâ— south And after that they were good frendes all theyr lyf loued togyder as they had ben bre therne And this Elfryde had a sone called Edwyn yâ— helde all yâ—â—ond of Northâ—berlonde after his faders deth as his fa der had hold al his lyfe tyme. And Cade wan had another sone called Cadwaâ—â— that helde his faders londe as he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whaÌ„ he was alyue these loued as bre therne the loue insted bytwene them but onely two yere after began debate bytwene them thrugh an euyl enuyous cosyn of Cadwalyns called Bryens so yâ— they assembled a grete host on bothe par tyes And at yâ— last it befell yâ— Cadwalyn was discoÌ„fyted Edwyn pursued him and droue hym froÌ„ place to place so yâ— at the lasthe fled in to IrloÌ„de And Edwyn destroyed his londe cast downe castels brent his maners departed all Cad walyns londe among his frendes And loÌ„ge tyme after came Cadwalyn agayn from Irlonde with a stronge power in playne batayle slewe Edwyn and all his frendes namely them that withhelde his londes by Edwyns gyfte ¶ How kynge Oswalde was slayne by kynge Cadwalyn Peanda And how Oswy that was saynt Oswaldes broder regned after hym slewe Peanda WHan Edwyn was slayne Offris his sone vndertoke the warre agaynst Cadwalin his vncle so that this Offris dyed duryng yâ— warre And after the deth of Offris regned a gentyl chrysten man that moche loÌ„ued god almygh ty that had all yâ— londe of Northumberlonde by herytage yâ— was called Oâ—â—ald he was kyng of all yâ— londe But for as moche as he was frende to Edwin and helde a grete parte of yâ— londe of Cadwa lyn This Cadwalyn warred vpon him and droue hym towarde scotlonde And whan Cadwalyn sawe that he wold not abyde he wolde no longer pursue hym but toke some of his folk to Peanda his broder in lawe prayed hym to pursue after Oswald tyll that he were taken or slayne And Cadwalyn returned home agayn Whan Oswald herd yâ—â—ydyÌ„ges that Cadwalin turned home agayn he wolde no longer flee but abode Peanda gaue hym batayle Peanda was dis comfyted fled came agayn to Cadwa lyn sayd yâ— wolde neuer holde a fote of londe of hym but yf so were yâ— he wolde auenge hym on Oswald Cadwalyn let assemble a grete hoost for to fyght with Oswald so that he and Peanda came to Northumberlonde gaue batayle vnto Oswald in yâ— same batayle was Oswald slayne his heed smyttenof after he was buryed in yâ— abbey of Bardeney in whiche place god hath wrought for hym many a fayre myracle bothe there and els where And anone Oswy his broder seased all the londe in to his handes yâ— was this Oswaldes And the folke of NorthuÌ„berlond loued hym won ders well helde hym for theyr lorde But he had men of his kynne worthy ynough yâ— wolde haue departed yâ— londe they warred loÌ„ge togyder And for as moche as they were not stroÌ„ge ynough they came to Pcanda prayed hym of helpe socour pmysed hym of yâ— londe largely vpon this couenauÌ„t yâ— he wolde gouerne them helpe couÌ„seyle Peauda herde theyr prayer so spake with king Cadwalyn that he shold ordeyn a grete hoost fast ordeyn hym in to Northum berlonde for to fyght with Oswy And Oswy was a
that rebelled and prospered ryght wysly euermore on them At the last with a blyssed ende he decessed And in the lyf of saynt Laurence he and his wyfe be put for ensamples bycause of theyr holy and vertuous lyuynge ¶ Benedictê° was pope after Iohn .xi. yere This man had grete stryfe in his dayes For he was put out an other was put in And this Benedictus after that he was deed was seen of an holy bysshop in a wretched fygure he had grete payne And this fygure sayd he trusted no thynge in the mercy of god no thynge profyted hym that was done for hym for it was goten by extorcyon vniustly ThaÌ„ this bysshop lefte his bysshopryche for drede of this sight went in to a monastery lyued vertuously all his dayes ¶ IohaÌ„nes the .xx. was pope after hym .xi. yere lytell profyted ¶ Of kyng Knoght that was a Dane ANd after the deth of this Eldred Knoght that was a Daue begaÌ„ to regne But Edmund Irensyde that was king Eldredes sone by his fyrst wyfe ordeyned a grete power of men began to warre on kynge Knoght And so he dyd many tymes ofte the warre was so stroÌ„ge harde the wonder it was to wyte And the quene Emme that than dwelled at westmynster had grete drede of her two sones Alured Edward lest they sholde be destroyed through the warre wherfore she sente them ouer see in to Normandy to the duke Richard theyr vncle there they dwelled in safete peas loÌ„ge tyme. ¶ This Edmund Irensyde Knoght the Dane warred fyersly togyder But at the last they were accorded in this maner that they sholde departe the realme bytwene them and so they dyd and loued togyder lyke two bretherne ¶ How kyng Edmund Irensyde was slayne through treason by a traytour that was called Edryth of Stratton ANd than after regned kyng EdmuÌ„d Irensyde Knoght the dane But thus it befel afterward that in the same yere that they were accorded so moche loued togyder wherfore a fals traytour had enuy at the loue that was bytwene them whose name was Edrith of straâ—toâ— that was a grete lorde that was Edmunde Irensydes man of hym helde all the londe that he had neuerthelesse he thought to betraye his lorde make Knoght kyng of all the londe to the entent rychely to be auauÌ„ced with hym to be well beloued Wherfore he prayed his lorde Edmunde Irensyde on a daye with hym for to ete And the kyng hym curteysly grauÌ„ted and to hym came at his prayer And at meet the kyng was ryally serued with dyuerse metes and drynkes And whan nyght came that he sholde go to bedde the kyng toke his owne meyny and went to the chambre where as he shold take his nyghtes rest And as he loked aboute hym he sawe a fayre ymage a well made in semblauÌ„t as it were an archer with a bowe bent in his hande in the bowe a fyne arowe Kynge Edmund went nere to beholde it better And whan he was by it anone the arowe smote hym through the body there slewe the kynge for the engyn was made to slee his owne lorde traytoursly And whan kynge Edmund was thus deed slayne he had regned but .x. yere And his people made moche sorowe for him his body they bare to Glastenbury there buryed hym And this fals traytour Edrith anone went to the quene that was kynge Edmundes wyfe that wyst not of her lordes deth toke from her two sones that were fayre yonge that her lorde had goten on her that one was called Edwarde that other Edwyne ladde them with hym to London toke them to kyng Knoght that he sholde do with them what his wyl were And told hyÌ„ how subtylly he had slayne king Edmund bycause the Knoght sholde haue all the londe of Englonde ¶ O thou fals traytoure hast thou slayne my true broder that was so true bycause of me a man that I moost loued in the worlde Now by my heed I shall for thy trauayle the well rewarde as thou hast deserued anone let hym be taken and bouÌ„de hym handes feet in maner of a traytour let cast hym in to the ryuer of Tamyse And in this maner the fals traytour ended his lyfe The kyng toke the two chyldren put them vnto the abbot of West mynster to warde to kepe tyll he wyst what was best with them for to do ¶ How kynge Knoght sent bothe kyng Edmondes sones in to Denmarke for to be slayne and how they were saued ANd it befel soone afterward that kynge Knoght had all the londe in his handes spoused the quene Emme through consent of al his barons for she was a fayre woman the whiche was Eldredes wyfe and the dukes syster of Normandy they lyued togyder with moche loue as reason wolde The kyng asked vpon a daye couÌ„seyle of the quene what was best to do with Edmond Irensydes sones Syr sayd she they be the ryght heyres of the londe and yf they lyue they wyll do you moche sorowe with warre and therfore let sende them in to a strauÌ„ge londe aferre to some man that may destroye them The king anone let call a Dane that was called Walgar coÌ„mauÌ„ded hym that he sholde lede those two chyldren in to Denmarke so to do and ordeyne for them that he sholde neuer more here of them Syr sayd this Walgar your commauÌ„dement gladly shall be done And anone he toke the two chyldren ledde them in to Denmarke And for as moche as he sawe that the chyldren were wonders fayre mâ—ke he had of them grete pite ruth wold not slee them but ledde them to the kynge of Hungary for to nourysshe For this Walgar was well beknowen with the kynge well beloued Anone the kynge asked fro whens the children were And Walgar tolde hym sayd that they were the ryght heyres of Englonde and therfore men wolde destroye them therfore syr vnto you they be comen to seke mercy helpe for soth yf they may lyue your men they shall become and of you they shall holde all theyr londe The kynge of Hungary receyued theÌ„ with moche honour and let them worthely be kepte And thus it befell afterwarde that Edwyne the yonger broder dyed Edwarde the elder broder lyued a fayre man and a stronge and a large of body gentyll and curteys of condicyons so that all men loued hym And this Edwarde in the cronycles is called amonge Englysshmen Edwarde the outlawe And whan he was made knyght the kynges doughter of Hungary loued him moche for his goodnes and his fayrnes so that she called hym her derlynge The kynge that was her fader perceyued well the loue that was bytwene them two he had none heyr but onely that doughter And the kynge vouchedsafe his doughter to no man so well as he dyd to hym that she loued
fote had dryuen her out of yâ— lond through couÌ„seyle of yâ— erle Godwyn that than was the gretest lorde in Englonde nexte the kynge that had moost rule bycause he had spoused the doughter of kyng Knoght begoten on his fyrst wyfe And whan this quene was dryuen out of Englond came to the erle of Flaundres that was called Baldewyne his cosyn fouÌ„de her there all thyÌ„ge that her neded vnto the tyme that she went agayne in to Englonde that the kynge Hardiknoght had sent for her that was her sone and made her to come agayne with moche honour This kyng Hardiknoght whan he had regned .v. yere he dyed and lyeth at West mynster ¶ Of the vylany that the Danes ' dyd to the englysshmen wherfore fro that tyme after was no Dane made kynge of this londe AFter the deth of this kyng Hardiknoght for as moche as he ne had no chylde of his body begoten the â—â—les and barons asseinbled and made a couÌ„seyl that neuer more after no man that was a Dane though he were neuer so grete a man amonge them he shold neuer be kyng of Englonde for yâ— despyte that they had done to englysshmen For euer more before yf the englyshmen the da nes happened to mete vpoÌ„ a brydge the englyshmen shold not be so hardy to mene a fote but stande styll tyll the danes were passed forth And more ouer yf the englyshmen had not bowed down theyr heedes to do reuerence vnto the danes they sholde haue ben beten defouled suche despytes vylany dyd the danes to our englysshmeÌ„ wherfore they were driuen out of yâ— londe after Hardiknoghtes deth For they had no lorde yâ— myght mayntayne them And in this maner auoyded the danes Englonde that they neuer came agayn The erles barons by theyr comyn assent counseyle sente vnto NormaÌ„dy for to seke those two bretherne Alured and Edwarde that were dwellynge with the duke Rycharde yâ— was theyr vncle in entent for to crowne Alured the elder broder make hym kyng of Englonde of this thynge to make an ende The erles barons made theyr o the but the erle Godwyn of Westsex falsly traytoursly thought to slee these two bretherne anone as they shold come in to Englond in entent to make Harold his sone kynge the whiche sone he had begoten on his wyfe kyng Hardiknogh tes doughter yâ— was a dane And so this Godwyn went pryuely to southhamton for to mete there with the two bretherne at theyr landynge And thus it befell that the messengers that went in to Normandy fouÌ„de not but onely Alured that was yâ— eldest broder For Edwarde his broder was gone to Hungary for to speke with his cosyn Edwarde the outlawe yâ— was Edmund Irensydes sone The messengers said to Aluted how yâ— the erles ba rons of Englond sent for hyÌ„ yâ— he shold boldly come in to EngloÌ„de receyue the realme for king Hardiknoght was deed all the danes dryuen out of the londe ¶ How Godwyn the fals traytour toke Alured vpon Gildesdown whan that he came from Normandye to be kynge of Englonde how he caused hym to be martyred in the yle of Ely WHan Alured herd these tydyÌ„ges he thaÌ„ked god toke shyppyng with all yâ— haste that he myght and passed the see and arryued at south hamton there Godwyn yâ— fals traytour was And whan this traytour sawe yâ— he was comen he welcomed hym receyued hym with moche ioye sayd that he wold lede hym to London where as all the barons of Englonde hym abode to make hym theyr kynge And so they went on theyr waye towarde London And whan they came on Gyldesdowne tho sayd yâ— traytour Godwyn vnto Alured Take hepe aboute you bothe on the lefte syde on the ryght syde of all ye shal be kyng of suche an hondred mod Now forsothe sayd Alured I behyght you and yf I be kyng I shall ordeyne make suche lawes wherof god man shall be well apayed Now had the tray tour coÌ„mauÌ„ded all his men that were with hym that whan they were comen vpon Gyldesdown that they shold slee all that were in Aluredes company that came with hym from NormaÌ„dy after that take Alured lede hym in to yâ— I le of Ely and after put out bothe his eyen of his heed afterward brynge hym to deth And so they dyd for they slewe all yâ— company that were there the nombre of xij gentylmen yâ— were comen with Alured froÌ„ Normandy after they toke Alured in the yle of Ely they put out his eyen rent his wombe toke yâ— chefe of his bowels put a stake in to the grouÌ„de an ende of the bowels fastened therto with nedyls of yren they pricked yâ— good thylde so made hym to go aboute the stake tyll that all his bowels were drawen out of his body so dyed Alured there through treason of the erle Godwyne Whan the lordes of Englond had herde and wyst how Alured that sholde haue ben theyr king was put to deth through the fals traytour Godwyne they were wonders wroth swore bytwene them god his holy name that he sholde dye a worse deth thaÌ„ dyd Edryth of stration yâ— had betrayed his lorde Edmund Iren syde they wold haue put hym to deth but the traytour fledde thens in to Denmarke there helde hym .iiij. yere and more lost all his londe in Englonde SIluester the thyrde was pope after Benedictus This Siluester was chosen Benedict was expulsed And afterwarde was Siluester expulsed Benedict was put vp agayn And after he was put out Gregory was made pope he was but symple lettred man and therfore he chose an other pope to be coÌ„secrate with hym And whan many men were dyspleased with this guydyng of two popes the thyrde was brought in the whiche sholde occupy yâ— place of bothe yâ— two And so they stroue amonge them selfe But Henry the emperour than came to Rome and deposed them all and made Clement the second pope whome he made anone to crowne hym And he sayd to the Romayns they sholde neuer wtout his assent chose pope And so .v. beynge popes the syxth was put in But many men saye this Grego ry was an holy man ¶ Damasus the second was after Clement .xxiij. dayes This man was an vsurper of yâ— popery che he dyed sodeynly And anone the Romayns asked to haue a pope that the Almayns sholde haue none for they were so harde herted that they myght not enclyne to the entent of yâ— emperout the whiche sayd there sholde be no pope chosen but yf he wolde be of counseyle of the eleccyon But for all that they put in this holy man Leo and after he had of that conscyence refused it And anone he was chosen by yâ— comyn assent This Leo put Chryst in the forme of a lasar in to his owne bedde and on the
morowe he founde no thynge there ¶ Of saynt Edwarde the confessour that was Aluredes broder and how he was kynge of Englonde ANd whaÌ„ this was done all the barons of englond sent another tyme in to Normandy yâ— Edward sholde come in to englond with moche â—onout And this Edwarde in his chyldhode loued 〈◊〉 hey god hym dradde and in honeste clennes ladde his lyfe hated synne as deth And whan he was crow ned anoynted with a ryall power he forgate not his good maners condicyons that he fyrst vsed forgate not all good customes for no maner honour ne for no rychesse ne for no maner hygnes But euer more more gaue hym to goodnes well loued god holy chirche passyng all other maner thynge And poore men also he loued helde them as they had ben his owne bretherne to them ofte he gaue grete almes with full good wyll ¶ Of the fyrst specyall loue that god shewed to saynt Edward lyuynge IT befell on a daye as he went froÌ„ the chirche of westmynster had herde masse of saynt Iohn the euangelyst for as moche as he loued sayÌ„t Iohn the euangelist more specyally after god and our lady than he dyd ony other saynt And so there came to hym a pylgrym prayed hym for the loue of god our lady saynt Iohn the euangelyst some good for to gyue hym And the kyng pryuely toke his rynge of his fynger that no man perceyued it gaue it to the pilgrym he it receyued went thens This king Edward made all the good lawes of Englonde that yet ben moost vsed holden And he was so mercyable and so full of pyte that no man myght be more ¶ How the erle Godwyn came agayne in to Englonde and had agayne all his londe and afterwarde saynt Edwarde wedded his doughter WHan the erle Godwyn that was dwellynge in Denmark had moche herde of the goodnes of kynge Edwarde that he was full of mercy and pyte he thought that he wolde go agayne in to Englond for to seke to haue grace of the good kyng Edward that so mercy full was that he myght haue agayn his londe in peas And arayed hym as moche as he myght put hym towarde the see came in to Englonde to London where the kynge was that tyme all the lordes of Englonde helde a parlyameÌ„t Godwyn sent to them that were his frendes were the moost gretest lordes of the loÌ„de prayed them to beseche the kynges grace for hym that he wolde graunte him his peas his loÌ„de The lordes lad hyÌ„ before the kyng to seke his grace And anone as the kyng sawe hym he appeled hym of treason of the deth of Alured his broder these wordes to hym sayd Traytour Godwyn I the appele that thou hast betrayed slayne my broder Alured Certes syr sayd Godwyn saue your grace your peas your lordshyp I neuer betrayed hym â—e yet lewe hyÌ„ And therfore I put me in reward of the caurte Now fayre lordes sayd the kynge ye that be my lyeges erles barons of the londe that here ben assembled full well ye herde myn appele the answere also of Godwyn therfore I wyll that ye awarde do ryght The erles barons than gadred them all togyder to do this awarde by themselfe so they spake dy uersly among them for some sayd there was neuer alyauÌ„ce by homage serment seruyce nor by lordshyp bytwene Godwyn Alured for whiche thynge they myght hym drawe And at the last they deuysed demed that he shold put hym in the kynges mercy all togyder ThaÌ„ sna ke the erle Leuerike of Couentre a good man to god to all the worlde told his reason in this maner and sayd The erle Godwyn is the best frended man of Englonde after the kyng well myght it not be gaynsayd that without couâ—se yle of Godwyn Alured was neuer put to deth wherfore I awarde as touchynge my parte that hymself his sone euery of vs .xii. erles that ben his frendes go before the kynge charged with as moche golde syluer as we may bere bytwene our handes prayenge the kynge to forgyue his euyll wyll to the erle Godwyn and receyue his homage yelde agayn his londe And they accorded vnto that awarde and came euery of them with golde syluer as moche as they myght bere bytwene theyr handes before the kynge and there sayd the forme and the maner of theyr accorde of theyr awarde The kyng wolde not them gaynsaye but as moche as they had ordeyned he grauÌ„ted and coÌ„fermed And so was the erle Godwyn accorded with the kynge and had agayne all his londes And afterward he bare hym so well so wysely that the kynge loued hym wonders moche with hym he was full preuy And within a lytell tyme they loued so moche that the kynge spoused Godwyns doughter and made her quene And neuertheles though the kyng had a wyfe yet he lyued euer in chastite and clennes of body wtout ony flesshely dede doynge with his wyfe And the quene also in her halfe ladde an holy lyfe two yere dyed And afterwarde the kynge lyued all his lyfe without ony wyfe The kyng gaue the erledome of Oxford to Harolde that was Godwyns sone made hym erle And so well they were beloued bothe the fader and he were so preuy with the kynge that they myght do by ryght what thynge they wolde For agaynst ryght wold he no thynge do for no maner man so good and true he was of conscyence And therfore our lorde Iesu Chryst specyall loue shewed to hym ¶ How kynge Edwarde sawe â—â—wyne kynge of Denmarke drowned in the see in the tyme of the leuacyon of the sacrament as he stode and herde masse IT befell vpon a whytsondaye as kynge Edwarde herde his masse in the grete chirche of Westmynster at the leuacion of Iesu Christes body as all men were gadred in the chirche and came nigh the awter for to se the sacrynge the kyng lyft vp his handes on hygh toke vp a grete laughter wherfore all that stode aboute hym began gretly to wonder And after masse they asked why the kyÌ„ges laughter was Fayre lordes said kynge Edward I sawe Swyne the yonger that was kyng of Denmarke come in to the see with all his power for to haue comen in to Englond to warre vpon vs I sawe hym all his folke drowned in the see all this I sawe in the leuacyon of Chrystes body bytwene the preestes haÌ„des I had therof so grete wye that I myght not my laughter withholde And the erle Leuerich stode besyde hym at the leuacion openly sawe the forme of breed turne in to the lykenes of a yonge childe toke vp his ryght hande blyssed the kynge afterwarde the erle the erle anone turned hym toward the kynge for to
of the enterdâ—â—yÌ„g But for no prayer the they myght praye he wolde not coÌ„sent therto wherfore the bisshops seynge this departed thens on the morowe of the AnnuÌ„ciacyon of our lady they pronouced the generall enterdytyng through all Englonde so the the chirche dores were shette Whan the enterdytyng was pronouÌ„ced the kyng for angre toke the foure bysshops londes in to his handes all the clergy of engloÌ„de ordeyned men to kepe it the the clerkes myght not haue theyr lyuynge Wherfore the bysshops cursed all them the shold medle with the goodes of holy chirche agaynst the wyll of the owners Than the iiij bysshops seynge the malyce of the kyng went ouer the see to Rome came to the archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury tolde hyÌ„ all thyng And the archebysshop bad them returne agayn to CauÌ„terbury he wolde eyther come or sende to them in his stede the shold do as moche as yf he hyÌ„self were there And whan the bysshops herde this they returned agayne in to Englonde came to CauÌ„terbury The tydynges came to the kyng the the bysshops were come agayn to CauÌ„terbury hymself might not come thyder the tyme he sente thyder bysshops erles abbots for to treate with them the the kyng sholde receyue the archebysshop Stephen the pryour all the monkes of CauÌ„terbury the he shold neuer after the tyme no thynge take of holy chirche agaynst the wyll of them the oweth the goodes the the kyng shold make full amendes to them of whom he had ony goodes takeÌ„ the holy chirche shold haue all frauÌ„chyse as ferforth as they had in saynt Edwardes tyme the confessour ¶ How Stephen of Langton came agayn in to Englond through the popes coÌ„mauÌ„dement how he went agayne Whan the fourme of accordement was thus ordeyned it was in a payre of endentures they put theyr seales to yâ— one part they yâ— came in the kynges name put theyr seales to that other parte of the endentures and foure bysshops a fore sayd toke that one parte of the endentures to them that other parte they bare with them to shewe to the kyng ¶ Whan the kynge sawe the forme vnderstode it he helde hym full wel apayed of al maner thyÌ„ges as they had ordeyned sauynge as touchynge to make restitucyon agayne of the goodes to that thynge he wold not accorde so he sent worde agayne to the foure vysshops yâ— they sholde put out yâ— one poynt of restitucion But they answered that they wold not put out one worde Than sent the kyng to the archebysshop by the foure bisshops that he shold come to CauÌ„terbury for to speke with hym there sent to hym safeconduyt vnder pledges yâ— is to saye his iustices Gilbert Poiteuin William de la Brener Iohn fitz Hugh that in theyr coÌ„duyt safely he sholde come go agayn at his own wyll And in this ma ner the archebysshop Stephen came to Caunterbury Whan the archebysshop was comen the kyng came to Chilham for he wolde come no nere CauÌ„terbury at yâ— tyme. But he sent by his tresourer bysshop of Wynchestre that he sholde do out of the endentures the clause of restitucyon for to make of the goodes And the archebysshop made his othe yâ— he wolde not do out one worde therof ne yet chauÌ„ ge of that the bysshops had spoken ordeyned And than the archebysshop went agayn to Rome wtout ony more doynge ¶ Kyng Iohn was than more angryer than euer he was before and let make a comyn crye through out all Englonde that all those that had holy chirches rentes went ouer the see that they sholde come agayn in to Englonde at a certayn daye or els they sholde lese all theyr rentes for euer more that he coÌ„mauÌ„ded to euery sheryue through out all Englonde that they sholde enquyre yf ony bysshop abbot pryour or ony other prelate of holy chirche from that daye afterwarde receyue ony coÌ„maundement that cometh fro the pope that they sholde take the body and brynge it before hym and that they sholde take in the kynges handes all theyr loÌ„des of holy chirche that were gyuen to ony man by the archebysshop Stephen or by the pryour of CauÌ„terbury from the tyme of the eleccyon of the archebysshop And coÌ„mauÌ„ded that all the wodes that were the archebysshops shold be casten downe to the grounde and all solde ¶ How kynge Iohn destroyed the ordre of Cisteaux ANd in the same yere the Irysshe men began to warre vpon kyng Iohn kynge Iohn ordeyned hym for to go in to Irlonde let arere an huge taxe through out all EngloÌ„de that is to saye .xxxv. thousande marke And thus he sente through out all Englonde vnto the monkes of the ordre of Cisteaux that they sholde helpe hy oâ— .vj. M. marke of syluer And they answered sayd that they durst no thynge do wtout theyr chefe abbot of Cisteaux Wherfore kynge John whan he came agayn from Irlond dyd them so moche sorow care that they wyst not where to abyde for he toke so moche rauÌ„som of euery hous of them that the somme amouÌ„ted to .ix. M. iij C. marke so that they were clene lost destroyed and voyded theyr houses theyr londes through out all Englonde And the abbot of Wauersay drad so moche his menace that he forsoke the abbey went thens pryuely ordeyned hym ouer the see to the hous of Cisteaux Whan the tydynges came to the pope that the kynge had done so moche malyce than was he towarde the kyng full wroth sent two legates vnto the kynge that one was called Pandulf that other Durant that they sholde warne the kynge in yâ— popes name that he sholde cesse of his persecucyon that he dyd vnto holy chirche and amende the wronge the trespace that he had done to the archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury to the pryour to the monkes of Caunterbury and to all the clergy of Englonde and that he sholde restore all the goodes agayne that he had taken of them agaynst theyr wyll or els they sholde curse hym by name And to do this thynge to con ferme the pope toke them his lettres in bulles patentes These two legates came in to Englonde came to the kynge to Northamton where as he helde his parlyameÌ„t full curteysly they hym sa lewed sayd Syr we come fro the pope of Rome the peas of holy chirche and the londe to amende And we admonest you fyrst in the popes behalfe that yâ— make full restitucyon of the goodes yâ— ye haue rauysshed takeÌ„ of holy chirche of the londe that ye receyue Stephen archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury in to his dignite and the pryour of CauÌ„terbury and his monkes that ye yelde agayne vnto yâ— archebysshop all his londes and rentes without ony with holdyng And syr yet more ouer that ye shall make rest 〈…〉 yoÌ„ vnto all holy chirche
of Irlonde yâ— he had with holden syth that kyng Rycharde dyed Whan kynge Iohn herde this he was wonders wroth For vtterly yâ— enterditynge myght not be vndone tyll that he had made gree resticucyon to the foresayd Iulyan of that she asked The legate than went agayn to yâ— pope after Chrystmasse And the kynge than sent messengers outr see to Iulian that was kyng Rychard wyfe for to haue a relese of yâ— she axed of hym ¶ And so it befell yâ— Iulyan dyed anone after â—â—ster And in so moche the kyng was quyte of that thynge that she asked But than at the feest of saynt Iohn that came nexte after through the popes coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t yâ— enterdityng was fyrst released through out all Englonde the .vij. daye of Iuly And .vij. yere was the londe enterdited And on the morow men ronge and sayd masse through out all London so after through out all Englonde ¶ And yâ— next yere after there began a grete debate bytwene kyng Iohn the lordes of Englonde for bycause he wolde not graunte the lawes and holde the whiche saynt Edwarde had ordeyned had ben vâ—ed and holden vnto that tyme that he had them brokeÌ„ For he wolde holde no lawe but dyd all thynge that hym lyked and dysheryted many men without consent of lordes peres of the londe And wold dysheryte yâ— good erle Radulf of hestre for bycause that he vndertoke hyÌ„ of his wyckednes and for cause that he dyd so moche shame vylany to god to holy chirche And also for he helde haunred his owne broders wyfe and lay also by maner other womeÌ„ grete lordes doughters for he spared no woman that hym lyked for to haue Wherfore all yâ— fordes of the londe were wroth toke the cyte of London To cease this debate the archebysshop lordes of the londe assembled before the feest of saynt Iohn baptyst in a medow besyde yâ— towne of Stanes that is called Romney mede And the kynge made them there a chartre of fraunchyse suche as they wolde aske and in suche maner they were accorded And that accordement lasted not longe For the kynge hymselfe soone after dyd agaynst the poynces of yâ— same chartre that he had made Wherfore the moost part of the lordes of the londe assembled them began to warre vyon hyÌ„ agayn and brent his townes robbed his folke and dyd all thesorowe that they myght and made themselfe as stronge as they myght with all theyr power thought to dryue hym out of Englonde make Lowys yâ— kynges sone of FrauÌ„ce kynge of Englonde And than kyng Iohn sent ouer see and ordeyned so moche people or normans of pyecardes and of flemmynges 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 Faukes of Brent this Norman his coÌ„pany spared neyther chirche ne hous of religyon but they brent and robbed it bare awaye all that they myght take so that yâ— londe was all destroyed what on one syde what on another The barons and lordes of Englonde ordeyned amonge them the best spekers and wysest men and sent them ouer the see vnto kynge Philyp of FrauÌ„ce and prayed hym yâ— he wolde sende Lowys his sone in to Englonde to be kynge of Englonde and to receyue the crowne ¶ How Lowys yâ— kynges sone of frauÌ„ce came in to Englonde with a stronge power of people to be kynge of Englonde WHan kyng Philip of FrauÌ„ce herd these tydynges he made certayn aliaunce bytwene them by theyr comyn eleccyon yâ— Lowys kynge Philyps sone of FrauÌ„ce shold go with them in to Eng londe and dryue out kynge Iohn of the londe And all that were in the presence of Lowys made vnto him homage and became his men And the barons of eng londe helde them styll at London and abode Lowys yâ— kynges sone of frauÌ„ce And this was the nexte batardaye brfore the Astention of our lorde yâ— Lowys came into Englonde with a stronge power And that tyme kynge Iohn had taken all the castelles of Englonde in to alyens handes And than came Lowys and besyeged â—ochesters castell toke it with streugthe And the thursdaye in whytson weke let hange all the alyens that were therin And the thursdaye after he came to London there he was receyued with moche honour of the lordes that abode hym there all to hym made homage And afterwarde on the tewesdaye nexte after Trynite sondaye he toke the castell of Reigate and on the morowe after the castell of Gylforde the frydaye next after the castell of Farneham And the mondaye nexte after the cyte of wynchestre vnto hym was yolden And on the morowe after saynt Iohans daye the manoyre of woluesey to hym was yolden And the tewesdaye after the vtas of saynt Peter and saynt Paule they toke the castell of Odiham And the mondaye after saynt Margaretes daye he ordeyned hym towarde Bawmore for to syege the castell and there he dwelled .xv. dayes and myght not gete the castell and than wente he thens and came to London the toure to hym was yolden ¶ How the pope sent in to Englonde a legate that was called Swalo and of the deth of kynge Iohn ANd in yâ— same tyme yâ— pope sente in to engloÌ„de a legate yâ— was called Swalo he was preest Cardynall of Rome for to mayntayn kynge Iohns cause agaynst the barons of Englonde But the barons had so huge party and helpe through Lowys yâ— kynges sone of FrauÌ„ce that kyng Iohn wyst not wheder to turne ne go And so it befell that he wolde haue gone to Nycholl as he went thyderwarde he came by the abbey of Swynestede there he abode two dayes And as he sate at meet he asked a monke of the hous how moche a lofe was worth that was set before hym vpon the table And the monke sayd that the lofe was worth but an halfpeny O said the kyng tho here is grete chepe of brede Now quod the kynge I may lyue suche a lofe shall be worth .xx. shyllyÌ„ges or halfe a yere be gone And whaÌ„ he had sayd these wordes moche he thought oft he syghed toke and ete of the breed and sayd by god the wordes that I haue spoken it shall be soth The monke that stode before the kynge was for these wordes full sory in his herte thought rather he wolde hymselfe suffre deth and thought how he myght ordeyn therfore some maner remedy And the monke anone went to his abbot was shryuen of hym and tolde the abbot all that the kynge had sayd and prayed his abbot for to assoyle hym for he wold gyue the kynge suche a drynke that all Englonde sholde be glad therof and ioyfull Than went the monke in to a gardeyn fouÌ„de a grete tode therin and toke her vp and put her in a cuppe and prycked the tode through with a broche many
Bayloll ye shall vnderstande that the lordes ladyes the gentyls of Scotlonde came wonders fast to saynt Iohns towne yelded them to Bayloll to him dyd homage feaute for theyr londes yelded them to his peas And he them receiued frely fro thens he went to the abbey of Scone there he was crowned kyng of Scotlonde after he let crye his peas throughout all the londe And at that same tyme it befell that kynge Edward helde his parlyament amonge his lyeges at newe castell vpon Tyne for to amende y◠trespaces the wronges that had ben done in his londe syr Edward Bayloll king of Scotlonde came to hym thyder dyd to hym homage feaute for y◠realme of Scotlonde And in this maner kyng Edward of Englōde gadred agayn his homages feautees of Scotlond wherof he was put out through counseyle assent of dame Isabell his moder of syr Roger Mortimer erle of Marche Than toke Baylol kyng of Scotlonde his leue of kynge Edward of Englonde went thens in to his owne londe of Scotlonde set but lytell by suche as had coūseyled holpen hym in his quarell wherfore they went from hym went lyued by theyr londes rentes in Scotlond And so it befell not longe afterward that the king of Scotlonde ne remeued came to the toure of Anand and there toke his dwellyng thyder came to hym a cōpany of knyghtes stronge men worthy and yelded them vnto y◠kyng and bare them so fayre in dede in coūtenaūce so that he trusted moche vpon them And anone as the traytours sawe that he trusted moche vpō them they ordeyned amōge them fyfty in a company wolde haue slayne theyr lord y◠kyng But through y◠grace of almighty god he brake through a wall an hole in his chambre as god wolde escaped theyr trechery all his men were slayne he escaped with moche drede vnto the towne of Cardoyll there he helde hȳ sore anoyed And this befell on our ladyes euen the concepcyon Than sent kyng Edward Bayloll to kyng Edward of Englōde how falsly traytoursly he was in lytell tyme put to shame sorow through his lyege men on whom he trusted wonders moche prayed hȳ for the loue of god that he wolde maynteyn hym helpe hym agaynst his enemyes The kyng of Englōde had of hym grete pyte behyght to helpe socour hym and sent hym worde that he shold holde hym in the foresayd cite of Cardoyll tyll that he had gadred his power Than ordeyned kynge Edwarde of Englonde a counseyle at London he let gadre his men in dyuers shyres of Englonde And whan he was all redy he went toward the towne of Barwyk vpon Twede thyder came vnto hym kynge Edward Bayloll of Scotlonde with his power besyeged the towne made without y◠towne a fayre towne of pauylyons dy ched them all about so that they had no drede of the Scottes made many assautes with gonnes with other engynes to the towne wherw t they destroyed many fayre houses and chirches also were beten downe to y◠erth with grete stones that spytefully came out of gonnes of other engynes Neuertheles y◠Scottes kept well the towne that the two kynges myght not come therin longe tyme. And the kynges abode there so lōge tyll those that were wtin the town fayled vitayles also they were so wery of wakynge that they wyst not what to do And ye shall vnderstand that the Scottes that were in the towne of Barwyk through y◠comyn coū seyle and theyr assent let crye vpon the walles of the towne that they myght haue peas of the Englysshmen therof they prayed the kyng of his grace mercy prayed hȳ of trewse for .viij. dayes vpon this couenaūt that yf they were not rescowed in that syde of the towne toward Scotlonde of y◠Scottes within .viij. dayes that they wold yelde them vnto the kyng the towne also to hold this couenaūt they profred to y◠king .xij. hostages out of the towne of Barwyk Whan the hostages were delyuered to y◠kyng anone they of the towne sent to y◠Scottes told them of theyr sorowe myschefe And y◠Scottes came than priuely ouer the water of Twede to y◠bought of y◠abbey syr willyam Diket that was tho steward of Scotlonde many other that came with hym put themselfe in grete peryll of theyr lyues at that tyme for they came ouer a brydge that was broken the stones away many of theyr company were there drowned but the foresayd Wyllyam went ouer other of his cōpany came by y◠shippes of Englonde slewe in a barge of Hull xvj men after they went in to y◠towne of Barwik by the water syde Wherfore y◠Scottes helde than y◠towne rescowed asked theyr hostages agayn of the kyng of Englonde And the kynge sente them worde agayne y◠they asked theyr hostages with wronge syth that they came in to the towne of Englōde syde for couenaūt was bytwene them that the towne shold be rescowed by the halfe of Scotlonde Than anone cōmaūded kyng Edward to yelde the towne or he wold hange y◠hostages And the Scottes sayd the towne was rescowed well ynough and therto they wold them holde Whan kyng Edward sawe the Scottes breke theyr couenaūt that they had made he was wonders wroth anone let take syr Thomas fitz Willyam syr Alyfaūder of Feton wardeyn of Barwyk the whiche Thomas was parsone of Dunbar let them be taken fyrst afore that other hostages by cause that syr Alysaunders faders was keper of the towne And tho cōmaunded euery daye two hostages of y◠towne tyll that they were all done to dethe but yf they yelded y◠towne so he sholde teche them to breke theyr couenaūt And whā they of the towne herde these tydynges they became wonders sory sent to the kyng that he wolde graūt them other v 〈…〉 dayes of respyte so y◠bytwene tho hondred men of arntes and .xx. mē of armes myght by strength go bytwene them to the towne of Barwik them force vitayle that the towne must be holde for restowed And yf so were that .xxj. or .xxij. or more were slayne of tho C. beforesayd that the towne sholde not be holden for restowed And this couenaūt to be holdē they sent to hym other .xij. of y◠foresayd towne in hostage The kyng graūted them theyr prayer toke y◠hostages on saynt Margaretes euen in y◠yere of grace M .ccc. xxxij the Scottes came pricking fyersly in foure wynges well arayed in armes for to mete kyng Edward of Englonde Edward the kyng of Scotlonde with theyr power and came fast sharply agaynst euensonge tyme the same tyme was flode at Barwik in the water of Twede that no man myght go ouer on his hors nor on fote the water
Cambrydge came home agayn with his people in to Englonde in haste blyssed be god his blyssed gyftes Amen ¶ And this same yere kynge Rycharde helde his Chrystmasse in the manoyr of Eltham ¶ And the same yere yâ— kyng of Armony fledde out of his owne londe came in to Englonde for to haue helpe socour of our king agaynst his enemyes that had dryuen hym out of his realme And so he was brought vnto the kynge to Eltham there as the kynge helde his ryall feest of Christmasse And there our kyng welcomed hym dyd hym moche reuerence worshyp and coÌ„mauÌ„ded all his lordes to make hym all yâ— chere that they coude And than he besought the kynge of his grace of helpe and of his coÌ„forte in his nede that he myght be brought agayn to his kyngdom londe for the Turkes had destroyed the moost parte of his londe and how he fledde for drede and came hyder for socour helpe And than the kyng hauynge on hyÌ„ pyte and compassyon of his grete myschefe greuous dysease anone he toke his couÌ„seyle asked what was best to do And they answered sayd yf it lyked hym to gyue hym ony good it were well done and as touchynge his people for to trauayle so ferre in to out loudes it were a grete Ieopardy And so the kynge gaue hym golde syluer many other ryche gyftes iewels betaught hym to god and so he passed agayn out of Englonde ¶ And this same yere kyng Rychard with a royall power went in to Scotlonde for to warre vpon the Scottes for the falsnes destruccyon that the Scottes had done to the Englysshmen in yâ— marches And than the Scottes came downe to yâ— kyng for to treate with hym with his lordes for trewse as for certayne yeres And so our kyng his couÌ„seyle grauÌ„ted them trewse for certayne yeres and our kyng turned hym agayn in to EngloÌ„de And whaÌ„ he was comen to Yorke there he abode and rested hym And there syr John Holand the erle of Kentes broder slewe the erles sone of Stafford and his heyre with a dagger in the cite of Yorke wherfore the kynge was sore anoyed greued and remeued thens and came to London And the Mayre with the alder men the comyns with all yâ— solempnite that might be done rode agaynst yâ— kyng and brought him royally through yâ— cite and so forth to westmynster to his owne palays ¶ And in the .ix. yere of kynge Rychardes regne he helde a parliament at Westmynster and there he made two dukes and a markeys and .v. erles The fyrst that was made duke was the kynges vncle sir Edmond of Langley erle of Cambrydge and hym he made duke of yorke And his other vncle syr Thomas of wodstok that was erle of BokyÌ„gham hym he made duke of Glocestre And syr Leonner that was erle of Oxforde hym he made markeys of Deuelyn And Henry of Balynbroke the dukes sone of Lancastre hym he made erle of Derby And syr Edward yâ— dukes sone of Yorke hym he made erle of Rutlonde And syr John Holand yâ— was the erle of Kentes broder hym he made erle of Huntyngdon And syr Thomas Mombray hym he made erle of Notyngham and erle Marshall of Englonde And syr Mychell de la pole knyght hym he made erle of Suffolk chaunceler of Englonde And the erle of the Marche at yâ— same parlyament holden at Westmynster in playne parlyament amonge all the lordes and comyns was ê“claymed erle of the Marche and heyre parent to the crowne of Englonde after kynge Rychard the whiche erle of the Marche went ouer the sce in to Irlonde vnto his lordshyps and londes for the erle of Marche is erle of Vlster in Irlonde and by ryght lygne and herytage And there at the castell of his he lay that tyme there came vpon hyÌ„ a grete multytude in busshmentes of wylde Iryssh men for to take destroye hym And he came out fyersly of his castell with his people manly fought with them there he was take hewen all to peces so he dyed vpon whose soule god haue mercy ¶ And in the .x. yere of kyng Richardes regne the erle of Arundell went to the see with a grete nauy of shyppes enarmed with meÌ„ of armes good archers And whaÌ„ they came in yâ— brode see they mette with the hole flete yâ— came with wyne laden froÌ„ Rochell the whiche wyne were enemyes goodes there our nauy set vpon them toke them all and brought them to dyuers portes hauens of Englonde and some to London there ye myght haue had a toune of Rochell wyne of the best for .xx. shyllynges sterlynge and so we had grete chepe of wyne in EngloÌ„de that tyme thanked be god almyghty ¶ How the fyue lordes arose at Ratcote brydge ANd in yâ— regne of kyng Richarde the .xj. yere the fyue lordes arose at Ratcote brydge in the destruccion of yâ— rebelles yâ— were yâ— tyme in all the realme The fyrst of yâ— fyue lordes was syr Thomas of wodstok the kyÌ„ges vncle duke of Blocestre The seconde was syr Rychard erle of Arundell The thyrde was syr Richard erle of warwik The fourth was syr Henry Bolynbroke erle of Derby The fyfth was syr Thomas Mombray erle of Notyngham And these .v. lordes sawe the myschefe mysgouernauÌ„ce the falsnes of yâ— kynges couÌ„seyle wherfore they that were yâ— tyme chefe of the kynges couÌ„seyle fled out of this loÌ„de ouer yâ— see that is to saye syr AlysauÌ„der Neuell the archebysshop of Yorke syr Roberte Lewer markeys of Deuelyn erle of Oxford syr Mychell de la Pole erle of Suffolke and chaunceler of Englonde And these thre lordes went ouer yâ— see neuer came agayne for there they dyed And than these fyue lordes aboue sayd made a parliameÌ„t at Westmynster And there they toke syr Robert TresiliaÌ„ the Iustyce and syr Nycholl Brembre knyght citezyn of London syr Iohn Salysbury a knyght of yâ— kynges housholde Vske sergeaunt of armes many moo of other people were taken and iudged to deth by the counseyle of these fyue lordes in that parlyament at Westmynster for the treason yâ— they put vpon them to be drawen from yâ— toute of London throughout the Cite and so forth to Tyburne there they shold be hanged and theyr throtes to be cutte and thus they were serued dyed And after that in this same parliameÌ„t at Westmynster was syr Symond Beuerley that was a knyght of the garter syr Iohn Beauchamp knyght that was steward of the kinges houshold syr Iames Berners were foriudged to deth thaÌ„ they were ledde on fote to the toure hyll and there were theyr hedes smytten of and many other moo by these .v. lordes ¶ In this same parlyament and in the. 〈◊〉 yere of kynge Rychardes regne he let trye ordeyne a generall Iustes that is called a turneymeÌ„t of lordes
to her with a good wyll Than went out of the shyppe all the systers toke the londe Albion as theyr syster called it there they went vp downe fouÌ„de neyther man ne woman ne chylde but wylde beestes of dyuers kyndes And whan theyr â—ttayles were dispruded sayled they fedde them with herbes fruytes in season of that yere so they â—â—ued as they best myght after that they toke flesshe of dyuers beestes beraâ—â— wonders faâ—â—e so they desyred maÌ„nes company maÌ„nes kynde them fayâ—ed And for here they wexed wonders couragyous of kynde so that they desyred more mannes company than ony other solace or myrth Whan the deuyll that perâ—â—yued went by dyuers couÌ„tries toke a body of the ayre lykyng natures shâ—â— of men came in to the londe of Albion lay by those women shad tho natures vpon them they conceyued brought forth gyauÌ„tes Of whiche one was called Gogmagog another Langerigan 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 theyr wyll had the londe of Albion as them lyked vnto the tyme that Brute arryued came to Totnes that was in the yle of Albion there this Brute coÌ„quered discoÌ„fyted the gyauÌ„tes aboue sayd ¶ Explicit prima pars ¶ Here begyÌ„neth now how Brute was goten how he slewe fyrst his moder after his fader And how he conquered Albyon that after he named Brytayne after his owne name that now is called Englonde after the name of Engyst of Saxonye This Brute came in to Brytayne aboute the .xviij. yere of Hely BE it knowen that in the noble cite of grete Troy there was a noble knyght and a man of grete power that was called Eneas And whan the cite of Troy was lost destroyed through them of Grece This Eneas with all his meyny fledde thens came in to Lombardy And tho was lorde gouernour of that londe a kyng that hyght Latyne And another kynge there was the hyght Turocelyne that strongly warred vpon this kynge Latyne the oftentymes dyd hym moche harme And whan this kynge Latyne herde that Eneas was come he receyued hym with moche honour hym with helde for as moche as he had herd of hyÌ„ and wyst well that he was a noble knight and a worthy of his body of his dedes This Eneas helped kynge Latyne in his waâ—â—â— shortly for to tell so well so worthely he dyd that he slewe Turocelyne dyscomfyted hym all his people And whan all this was done kyng Latyne gaue all the londe that was Turocelynes to this noble man Eneas iâ— maryage with Lauyne his doughter the moost fayrest creature that ony man wyst And so they lyued togyder in ioye and myrth all the dayes of theyr lyues ¶ And after Ascanius sone to Eneas wedded a wyfe and vpon her he gate a sone that was called Siluine And this Siluyne whan he coude some reason of man vnwytyng his fader and agaynst his wyll acqueynted hym with a damoysel that was cosyn to Lauyne that was kynge Latynes doughter the quene that was Eneas wyfe and brought the damoysell with chylde And whan Ascanius his fader it wyst anone let enquyre of the wysest maysters and of the gretest clerkes what chylde the damoysell sholde brynge forth And they answered and sayd that she sholde brynge forth a sone that shold kyll bothe his fader and his moder And so he dyd For his moder dyed in berynge of hym And whan this chylde was borne his fader let call hym Brute And the maysters sayd that he sholde do moche harme and sorowe in many dyuerse places and after he sholde come to grete honour and worshyp This kyng Ascanius dyed whan god wolde and Siluyne his sone receyued the londe and made hym wonderâ—ly well beloued among his people And so whaÌ„ Brute that was Siluynes sone was .xv. yere olde he went vpon a daye with his fader for to playe solace And as Brute shold haue shotte vnto an hart his arowe myshapped glanced and so there Brute slewe his fader ¶ How Brute was dryuen out of the londe how he helde hym in Grece ANd whan this mischauÌ„ce was befallen all the people of the londe made grete sorowe and were sore dyspleased And bycause therof they droue Brute out of the londe wolde not suffre hym amonge them And whan he sawe that he might not abyde there he went from thens in to Grece there he fouÌ„de vij thousande men that were of the kynrede of Troye and were comen of grete blode as the story telleth as of men and women children the whiche were all holden in thraldome bondage of kyng Pandras of Grece for the deth of Achylles that was betrayed slayne at Troy This Brute was a woÌ„ders fayre man and a stronge huge of his age and of gladde chere semblauÌ„t also worthy of body was well beloued amoÌ„ge his people This kyng Pandras herde speke of his goodnes condicyons anone made hym to dwell with hym So that Brute became wonders preuy moche beloued with the kynge dwelled longe tyme with the kynge So at the last they of Troy Brute spake togyder of kynrede lygnage of acqueyntauÌ„ce and there complayned them vnto Brute of theyr sorowe of theyr bondage and of many other shames the kynge Pandras had done to them to Brute they sayd vpon a tyme. Ye be a lord of our lignage a stronge man a myghty be ye our capytayne gouernour we wyll become your men fulfyll al your coÌ„mauÌ„ dementes brynge vs out of this wret chednes bondage we wyll fyght with the kyng for trouth with the grace of the grete god we shall ouercome hym we shall make you kynge of this londe to you do homage of you we shall holde for euermore Brute had tho grete pyte of theyr bondage that they were brought in pryuely went fro the kynges courte and tho that were of Troy went put them in to woodes in to mouÌ„taynes helde them there and sente vnto kynge Pandras that he sholde gyue them lycence for to departe safely out of his loÌ„de and kyngdom for they wolde no longer dwell in his bondage Whan kyng Pandras herde this he was sore vexed and anoyed tho sware that he wolde â—e them euerychone and ordeyned a grete power and went towardes them for to fyght with them But Brute and his men manly them defended and fyersly fought slewe all the kynges men that none of them escaped and toke the kynge and put hym in pryson and ordeyned a couÌ„seyle amonge them selfe what they myght do with the kynge And some sayd that he sholde be put to deth and some sayd that he sholde be exyled out of the londe
maner Brute had yâ— victory neuertheles Brute made moche sorow for his cosyn Turyn that there was slayne other also that he had lost of his men that is to saye .vij. hondred and .xv. the whiche nobly he buryed in the same castell of Tours there where that he had buryed Turyn his cosyn ¶ How Brute arryued at Totnes in the yle than called Albyon and of the wrastlyng that was bytwene Coryn and Gogmagog ANd whaÌ„ all this was done Brute wold no longer dwell there for to fyght lose his men For kyng Goffers people myght euery day encrease moo and moo Brutes men lessed therfore he toke all his men wente vnto the see had wynde weder at theyr wyll And the fyfth daye after they arryued in an hauen at Cornes came in to this realme that than was called Albyon where they founde neyther man nor woman saue grete gyauntes they dwelled in mountaynes in cauernes And Brute sawe the londe was fayre and at his ly kynge and was good also for hym for all his people as Diane the goddesse had behyght hym And therof was Brute wonders gladde and let assemble vpon a daye all his folke to make a solempne sacrifyce and a grete feest in the honour reuereÌ„ce of Diane the goddesse whiche had couÌ„seyled hyÌ„ fyrst to come in to this londe And whaÌ„ they had done theyr soleÌ„ pnite as they sate at theyr meet vpon a daye there came in vpon them .xxx. gyauntes and slewe .xxx. of Brutes men Brute his meÌ„ anone stert vp fought with the gyauntes slewe them euerychone saue one that was called Gogmagog he was mayster of all yâ— gyauÌ„tes he was stroÌ„ger hyer than ony of the other Brute kepte hym for to wrastle with Corin his man for he was greter and hyer than â—ny of Brutes men from the gyrdelstede vpwarde Gogmagog Corin vndertoke there for to wrastle so togyder they went wrastled a loÌ„ge tyme but at the last Gogmagog helde Coryn so fast that he brake two rybbes in his syde wherfore Coryn was sore angry there he toke Gogmagog bytwene his armes cast hym downe vpon a roche soo that Gogmagog brake all to peces so he dyed an euyll deth therfore the place is called yet vnto this day the saute of Gogmagog And thaÌ„ after Brute gaue all that couÌ„tree vnto Corin And than Corin called it after his name Cornewayle his men ben called Cornewayles so sholde men of that countree be called for euermore And in that countree dwelled Corin his men and they made townes and houses euhabyted that londe by theyr owne wyll ¶ How Brute buylded London called this londe Brytayn and Scotlonde Albanye and Wales Cambar ¶ London BRute his men wente forth and sawe aboute in dyuerse places where that they myght fynde a good place and couenable that they myght buylde and make a cyte on for hym and for his folke And so at the last they came by a fayre ryuer whiche now is called Temmes and there Brute began to buylde a fayre cyte and called it newe Troye in remembraunce of grete Troye from the whiche place all theyr lygnage was comen And this Brute let fell downe wodes let ere sowe londes let mawe down medowes for the sustenauÌ„ce of hyÌ„ his people And thaÌ„ he departed the londe to them so that eche of them had a parte place to dwell in And thaÌ„ Brute let call all this londe Brytayne after his name and his folke Brytons And this Brute had goteÌ„ on his wyfe Gennogen .iij. sones that were worthy of dedes the first was called Lotryn the seconde Albanak the thyrde Cambar Brute bare crowne in the cite of newe Troy .xx. yere after yâ— tyme that the cyte was made And there he made the lawes that the Britons holde And this Brute was wondersly well be ioued amonge all his people And Brutes sones also loued wondersly well togyder And whan Brute had sought all the londe in length brede he founde a londe that ioyned to Brytayne in the north And that londe Brute gaue to Albanak his sone let call it Albanye after his name that now is called Scotlonde And Brute fouÌ„de an other countree to warde the west and gaue that to Cambar his other sone let call it Cambar after his name and now it is called Wales And whan Brute had regned .xx. yere than he dyed in the cite of newe Troye ¶ How Lotryn that was Brutes sone entred with moche honour and gouerned the londe well and worthely AFter Brute regned Lotryn his sone that was the seconde kynge in Brytayn And he began to regne the seconde yere of Samuel This Lotryn was crowned kyng with grete solempnite of all Brytayne And after whaÌ„ he was crowned kyng Albanak Cambar his bretherne departed in to theyr owne couÌ„trees there they lyued with moche honour and worshyp And Lotryn regned well wysely was moche beloued of his people And it befell so that as Albanak dwelled in his his owne londe with moche honour worship there came kyng Hum bar of Hunlonde with a grete power â—â—ryued in Albanye wold haue coÌ„queâ—â—â— the londe and began to warre vpon Albanak slowe hyÌ„ in batayle Whan Albanak was deed the people of the loÌ„de fledde vnto Lotryn tolde him bycause he was kynge of Brytayne how that his broder was slayne prayed hym of his helpe socour for to auenge his broders deth Lotryn thaÌ„ anone let assemble all the Brytons of Kent of Douer vnto derewent of Norfolke Suffolke of Keft fen Lyndessey And whan they were assembled they sped them fast towarde theyr enemyes for to gyue them batayle And Lotryn had sente to Cambar his broder that he sholde come vnto hym with all the power that he myght make for to helpe hym to auenge his broders deth And so he dyd with a good wyll Whan they came togider they toke theyr waye pryuely for to go seke kynge Humbar where they myght fynde hym And so it befell that this kynge Humbar was besyde a water that was a grete ryuer with his folke for to dysporte hym And there came Lotryn Cambar his broder with all theyr folke sodeynly or that ony of theyr enemyes wyst And whan Humbar sawe them come he was sore adrad for as moche as his men wyst 〈◊〉 not afore and also they were vnarmed And anone Humbar for drede 〈◊〉 in to the water and drowned hymselfe and so he dyed and his men were all flayne in so moche that there escaped not one awaye on lyue And therfore is that water called Humbar and euermore shall be as longe as the worlde standeth for bycause that this kynge Humbar was drowned therin And after that Locryn went to his shyppes toke there golde and syluer as moche as he founde vnto himselfe all that other pylfre be gaue
vnto other folke of his hoost And they founde in one of the shyppes a fayre damoyfell whiche was kynge Humbars doughter and she was called Estrylde And whan kynge Lotryn sawe her he toke her with hym bycause of the grete beaute and fayrnes that he sawe in her And for her he was ouertaken in loue and wolde haue wedded her These tydynges came to Corin anone thought to auenge hym on Lotryn for as moche as Lotryn had promised hym to wedde Guentolyn his doughter And Corin in haste toke his waye to newe Troy vnto hym sayd thus to Lotryn Certes ye rewarde me full euyll for the paynes that I haue had for your fader Brute wher fore syth it is so I wyll auenge me now on the. And with that drewe his swerde wolde haue slayne Lotryn the kyng But the damoysel went bytwene them and made them to be accorded in this maner that Lotryn sholde take Guentolyn Corins doughter to wyfe And so Lotryn dyd Neuertheles after he was maryed he wente pryuely to Estrylde gate on her a doughter that was called Abram And it befell so that anone after Corin dyed after whan he was deed Lotryn forsoke Guentolyn that was his wyfe made Es 〈…〉 quene And than Guentolyn dep 〈…〉 froÌ„ theâ—s 〈◊〉 grete wrath in to Cori 〈…〉 e there seased all the londe in to her owne haâ—ors for as moche as she was her faders heyre toke homage of all yâ— men of yâ— londe And afterwarde she assembled a grete hoost a myghty of men for to be auenged vpon Lottyn yâ— was her lorde gaue hym a stronge but a yle where Lotryn her husbonde was slayne his men discoÌ„fyted in the .v. yere of his regne GueÌ„tolyn let take Estrylde Abram her doughter bounde them bothe handes fete cast them bothe in to a water so they were droâ—â—â—ed wherfore yâ— water was euermore after called Abram after yâ— name of yâ— damoysell yâ— was Estâ—yldes doughter englysshe men call that water Seuerine walshmen call it Abram yet vn to this daye And whan this was done Gu 〈…〉 ol yn let crowne her quene of all yâ— londe And she gouerned the londe well and wysely vnto thâ—ty me that 〈◊〉 her sone that Lotryn had goten 〈…〉 was .xx. yere of age that he myght be kyng And so the quene regâ—â—d .xv. yere And than let she crowne her sone kyng and he regned and gouerned the 〈◊〉 well worthtly And his moder went in to Cornewayle and there she dwelled all the dayes of her lyfe ¶ How Madan regâ—ed in peas all his lyfe THis Madan sone to Lotryn regned on the Brytons .xl. yere the whiche began to regne the .xv. yere of Saul And this Madan lyued in peas all his dayes gate two sones Mempris and Maulyn Than he dyed and lyeth at newe Troye ¶ Anno mundi .iiij. M C .xxij. â—t 〈◊〉 Christi na 〈…〉 tatem M. â—xxiiij ¶ Here begynneth the fourth age durynge to the transmygracyon Dauyd _â—Auyd the seconde kynge 〈◊〉 Israell regned this tyme 〈◊〉 man chosen after yâ— desy 〈…〉 god And he was anoy 〈…〉 in his yonge age by Sam 〈…〉 after yâ— deth of kynge Saul he regâ—â—d x◠〈◊〉 This D 〈…〉 d was as a 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 mankynde in whome 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 so moche power so moche humyâ—â—te so moche noblenes so moche 〈◊〉 so grete a charge of seculer thynges so pure beuoute 〈◊〉 contemplacyon of spirytuall thynges so many men to 〈…〉 e so many teres to â—â—epe for his â—â—espace â—ide plura 〈◊〉 regum ¶ Abâ—athar this tyme was bisshop he fledde fro Saul vnto Dauid he was gloryous with hym all his dayes Gâ—d Nathan and Asoph were prophetes than And Nathan was broders sone to Dauid ¶ How Mempris slewe his broder Maulyn THis MeÌ„pris his broder Maulyu stroue fast for the londe And Mempris began to regne the .xxxv. yere of Dauid for bycause that he was the eldest sone he wold haue had all yâ— londe and Maulyn wolde not suffre hym so yâ— they toke a day of loue accorde and at this daye Mempris let kyll his broder through treason hymselfe afterward helde the londe anone let crowne hym kyng regned after became so lyther a man that he wtin a whyle all yâ— men of his londe And at the last he became so wycked so lecherous yâ— he forsoke his owne wyfe vsed the synne of sodomye wherfore almighty god was gretly displeased wroth with hym vpon hym toke vengeaunce bycause of his wyckednes For vpon a daye as he went forth on huntyng in a forest there he lost all his men yâ— were with hym wyst not what he shold do so he went â—p downe hymselfe alone cryed after his meÌ„ but they were gone there came wolues anone all to drewe hym in peces whan he had regned .xxiiij. yere And whaÌ„ his people herde yâ— he was so deed they made ioy myrth ynough and anone made Ebraâ— his sone kynge and he regned with moche honour ¶ Anno mundi .iiij. M C .lxv. Et ante Christi na 〈…〉 tem M .xxxiiij. SAlomon the kyng of peas of the gyfte of our lorâ— had a synguler excedynge aboue all men yâ— euer was in this world but alonely god in wysdom in tychesse in deyntees in glory â—a miliarite with god And all though Moyses Dauid Peter Paule Ierome Austyn other moo exceded hym in holynes but yet they exâ—â—ded hym not 〈◊〉 glorye rychesse And this man so excedynge all men wretchedly 〈◊〉 Of this Salomon is redde in an epystle of saâ—â—â— Ierome yâ— he gate a chylde on yâ— doughter of Pharao at xâ— yere of his age Vâ—de psa reguÌ„ ¶ Sadoch this tyme was bysshop for he deriyned not to yâ— parte of Adonie Dauids sone but was with Nathan for Salomon Abâ—athaâ— on the other parte was deposed ¶ Anno mundi â—iij M. ij C .v. Et ante Christi nat 〈…〉 tem .ix. C. lxxxxâ—â—â—j ROboas succeded SalomoÌ„ his 〈◊〉 der in his kyngdome but not 〈◊〉 wysdome He was deceyued through yâ— couÌ„seyle of yonge men lost .x. 〈◊〉 in so moche as he answered noâ— wysely the people as it is open 〈◊〉 regum ¶ Achimias was bysshop and was yâ— sone of Sadoth Vt pêª patet 〈◊〉 Paraâ—â—po ¶ Reges Israel inâ—â—piâ—â—â— I Heroâ—â—as regned kyng in Israel xxij yere he was fyrst of yâ— hous holde of Salomon and a good man â–ª but whaÌ„ he was made kyng he was a myschenous 〈◊〉 ydolatry made israel to synne i 〈…〉 ry many grete incoÌ„uenyentes 〈…〉 one â–ª almoost to the destruâ—â—yon of 〈◊〉 Israel For he was yâ— fygure of Ma 〈…〉 â—â—de pâ—a .iij. reguÌ„ ¶ Abdias yâ— sonâ— of Robâ—as regned in 〈◊〉 Iewry thre yere and other whyle as a good maÌ„ holpen by god other whyle wretchedly
begynnynge vnto the ende Cordeil the quene anone toke gold syluer plente toke it to the squyer in couÌ„seyle that he sholde go in to a certayne cite and hym araye wasshe than come agayn to her and brynge with him an honest company of knyghtes .xl. at the leest with theyr meyny and than he sholde sende to her lorde the kynge feyne that he were comen for to se speke with his doughter hyÌ„ And so he dyd And whan the kynge and the quene herde that they came with moche honour they hym receyued And the kynge of frauÌ„ce than let sende through all his realme coÌ„mauÌ„ded that all men sholde be as entendauÌ„t to kynge Leyr yâ— quenes fader in all maner of thinges as it were vnto hymselfe WhaÌ„ kyng Leyr had dwelled there a moneth more he tolde to yâ— kynge to yâ— quene his doughter how his two eldest doughters had serued hym Agampe anone let ordeyne a grete host of frenshmen sent in to Britayne with Leyr yâ— quenes fader for to conquere his kyngdome agayne And Cordeil also came with her fader in to Britayn for to haue the realme after her faders deth And anone they went to shyppe passed the see came in to Brytayne fought with the felons discoÌ„fited them slewe than had he his londe agayn after lyued thre yere helde his realme in peas afterward dyed And Cordeil his doughter him let bury with moche honour at Leycestre ¶ Anno muÌ„di .iiij. M. iij C .xlix. Et ante Christi natiuitatem viij C .liij. AMasias sone to Ioam regned on the Iewes .xxix. yere after yâ— whiche yâ— kyngdom of iewes was wtout kyng .xiij. yere This man worshypped the goddes of Seyr Vt pêª patet .ij. para .xxv. ¶ Ieroboam sone to Ioam regned on Israel .xlj. yere yâ— whiche was manly vyctoryous for he ouercame the kynge of Sirie restored Israel Damaske after the worde of Iono yâ— prophete but he was not good Therfore sayth saynt Austyn Yf good men regne they ê“fyte many men And yf yll men regne they hurte many men ¶ Anno muÌ„di .iiij. M. iij C .lxxxviij. Et ante Christi natiuitatem .viii. C. xj Ozias or Azarias sone to Amasias regned on the Iewry .lij. yere the whiche lyued well afore our lorde of hyÌ„ is none euyll thyÌ„ge wryten but that he vsurped the dignite of preesthode vnder Azari the whiche he forbade hym For the whiche cause our lorde stroke hym with a lepre Vt patet .ij. para ¶ Ozee bysshop prophete was this tyme the fyrst of the .xij. that was sent agaynst yâ— xij trybes Iohel the seconde of the .xij. prophecyed of Iuda Ananias yâ— thyrde prophecyed agaynst many people Abdias the fourth of the .xij. prophecyed agaynst Edom. ¶ zacharias sone to Ieroboam regned in Israel .vj. monethes the whiche began to regne the .xxxviij. yere of Ozias was nought in his lyuynge as his predecessours were And zellum slewe hym regned a moneth And Manahen slewe hym and toke his kyngdome Vt pêª patet .iiij. reguÌ„ This Manahen regned .x. yere the whiche began to regne yâ— .xxxix. yere of Osias he ruled hym mischeuously our lord betoke hym in yâ— power of yâ— kyng of AssurioruÌ„ and he payed to hym a. M. talentes of syluer Vt pêª patet .iiij. reguÌ„ ¶ Phaseia sone to Manahen regned in Israel two yere and he began to regne the .l. yere of Ozias and he was nought in his lyuyng ¶ Phasee slewe Phaseia regned .xx. yere he began to regne the .lij. yere of Ozias dyd as other cursed men dyd Vide pl’a plura iiij reguÌ„ And after this Israel was wtouten ony kyng .viij. yere ¶ How Morgan Conedag neuewes to Cordeil warred on her put her to deth WHan that kyng Leyr was deed Cordeill his yongest doughter regned yâ— .x. yere of Ozias kyng of the Iewry And after her regned Conedag the .xv. yere of Ozias And Cordeill that was Leyrs yongest doughter after the deth of her fader had al yâ— londe fyue yere in the meane tyme dyed her lorde Agampe yâ— was kyng of fraunce And after his deth there came Morgan Conedag that were Cordeyls systers sones to her had enemite for as moche as theyr aunt had yâ— londe so yâ— bytwene them they ordeyned a grete power and strongly warred on her neuer rested tyll they had taken her put her to deth And than Morgan Conedag seased al the londe departed it bytwene them they held it .xij. yere whan yâ— .xij. yere were gone there began bytwene them a grete debate so yâ— they warred strongly togyder dyd to eche other moche dysease for Morgan wold haue all yâ— londe fro beyonde Humber yâ— Conedag helde But he came agaynst hym with a stronge power so yâ— Morgan durst not abyde but fledde away in to Wales and Conedag pursued hym toke hym slewe hym And than Conedag came seased al the londe in to his handes helde it regned after .xxxiij. yere than he dyed lyeth at newe Troy ¶ And bycause yâ— mater coÌ„teyneth most coÌ„modiously togyder of yâ— kynges of Britayn now called Englonde for yâ— tyme of them is not certaynly knowen what tyme of yâ— worlde these kynges folowynge regned therfore they shall be togyder tyll it be comen vnto Euentolyn kyng of Brytayne now called Englonde ¶ How Reynolde that was Conedags sone regned after his fader and in his tyme it rayned blode thre dayes in tokenynge of grete deth AFter this Conedag regned Reynold his sone yâ— was a wyse an hardy knyght curteys yâ— well nobly ruled yâ— londe was well beloued of all folke And in his tyme it rayned blode yâ— lasted thre dayes as god wolde soone after there came a grete deth of people for hoostes wtout noÌ„bre of people fought tyll yâ— god therof toke pite than it cesed And this Reynolde regned .xxij. yere than dyed lyeth at Yorke ¶ How Gorbodian regned in peas that was Reynoldes sone AFter this Reynolde regned Gorbodian his sone .xv. yere than dyed and lyeth at Yorke ¶ How Gorbodian had .ij. sones how the one slewe yâ— other for to haue yâ— londe how ydoyne theyr moder slew yâ— other wherfore the londe was destroyed WHan this Gorbodian was deed his two sones yâ— he had became stoute proude euer warred togyder for the londe yâ— one was called Ferres yâ— other Porres And this Ferres wolde haue all yâ— londe but that other wold not suffre hym This Ferres had a felonous hert thought through treason to slee his broder but pryuely he wente in to frauÌ„ce there abode with the kynge Syward tyll vpon a tyme whan he came agayn to fyght with his broder Ferres but full euyl it happed him for he was slayne fyrst Whan ydoyne theyr moder
wyst that Porres was deed she made grete sorowe for bycause yâ— she loued hyÌ„ more than yâ— other thought for to slee hym pryuely And pryuely she came to her sone vpon a night with two knyues therw t cut his throte yâ— body also in to small peces Who herde euer of suche a moder yâ— slewe with her owne handes her owne sone And loÌ„ge tyme after lasted yâ— reprefe shame to yâ— moder that for bycause of that one sone she murdred that other and so lost them bothe ¶ How foure kynges curteysly helde all Brytayne and what be theyr names ye shall here after WHan the two brethern were deed they ne had lefte behynde them neyther sone ne doughter ne none other of the kynrede that might enheryte yâ— londe And for as moche as the strongest men droue discomfyted the feblest toke all theyr londes so that in euery couÌ„tree they had grete warre and stryfe vnder them But amoÌ„ge all other thyÌ„ges there were foure in the couÌ„tree that ouercame all yâ— other through theyr myght streÌ„gth they toke all the londes euery of them toke a certayne couÌ„tree in his couÌ„tree let call hym kynge one of them was called Scater he was called kynge of Scotlonde that other was called Da walier he was kynge of Logres of all the londe that was Lotryns that was Brutes sone The thyrde was called Ru dac he was kynge of Wales And the fourth was called Cloten he was kyÌ„g of Cornewayle But this Cloten sholde haue had all the londe by right bycause there was no man yâ— wyst none so ryght heyre as he was But they that were strongest set lytel by them yâ— were of lesse estate therfore this CloteÌ„ had no more londe amonge them but Cornewayle ¶ Of kynge Donebant that was Clotens sone how he wanne the londe THis Cloten had a sone that was called DonebaÌ„t yâ— after the deth of his fader became an hardy man and a fayre a curteys so yâ— he passed all the other kyÌ„ges of fayrnes of worthynes And anone as he was knyght he wyst wel that whan his fader lyued he was moost ryghtfull heyre of all yâ— londe and sholde haue had it by ryght but yâ— other kynges yâ— were of moche more strength than he toke froÌ„ hym yâ— londe Wherfore this Donebant ordeyned hym a grete power conquered fyrst the londe of Logres and after he went to conquere all the londe of Scotlonde and Wales And Scater came with his men gaue him batayle Rudac came also with his walshe men for to helpe hyÌ„ but so it befell yâ— Rudac was slayne Scater also in playne batayle And so DonebaÌ„t had yâ— vyctory conquered all the londe well mayntayned it in peas and in quyete that neuer before it was so well mayntayned ¶ How DonebaÌ„t was the fyrst kyng yâ— euer bare crowne of golde in Brytayne THis Donebant let make hym a crowne of gold ware the crowne vpon his heed as neuer kyng did before he ordeyned a statute that yfa man had done neuer so moche harme and myght come in to the Temple there sholde no man hym mysdo but go there in safete and in peas after go in to what londe or countree that hym pleased without ony harme and yf ony man had set ony hande vpon hym he than shold lese his lyfe And this Donebant made yâ— towne of Malmesbury yâ— towne also of yâ— vise And whaÌ„ he had regned well worthely .xl. yere he dyed lyeth at new Troy ¶ How Brenne Belyn departed bytwene them the londe after the deth of Donebant theyr fader And of the warre bytwene them ANd after yâ— this Donebant was deed his sones departed yâ— londe bytwene them as theyr fader had ordeyned so yâ— Belyn his eldest sone had all yâ— londe of Brytayn from Humbar southwarde his broder Brenne had all the londe from Humbar to Scotlonde But for as moche as Belin had yâ— better part Brenne therfore waxed wroth wolde haue had more of the londe Belyn his broder wolde grauÌ„te hyÌ„ no more wherfore stryfe warre arose bytwene them two But Brenne yâ— yoÌ„ger broder had no myght ne strength agaynst Belyn and therfore Brenne through couÌ„seyll of his folke went fro thens in to Norwey to yâ— kyng Olsynges prayed hym of helpe soâ—our for to conquere all yâ— londe vpon Belyn his broder vpon yâ— couenauÌ„t that he wolde haue his doughter to wyfe And kyng Olsynges hyÌ„ grauÌ„ted And Belin anone as his broder was gone to Norwey he seased in to his haÌ„des all yâ— londe of Northumberlond toke all yâ— castels let them be arayed kept yâ— coostes of the see yâ— Brenne sholde not arryue on no syde but yâ— he were taken Kyng Olsynges let assemble a grete hoost delyuered his doughter to BreÌ„ne all yâ— people that he had ordeyned This damoysell Samye had longe tyme loued a kyng yâ— was called Gutlagh to hym she tolde all her couÌ„seyle how yâ— Brenne sholde haue her lede her with hym for euermore so he sholde lese her but that she myght forsake Brenne And whaÌ„ Gutlagh had herde these tydynges he laye for to espye Brenne with as many shippes as he myght make haue So the two fletes mette togyder longe tyme they fought so that Brenne his men were dyscomfyted And kynge Gutlagh toke Samye put her in to his shyppe And Brenne shamefully fled thens as a man discomfyted And this kynge Gutlagh wolde haue gone in to his owne touÌ„â—tre but there came vpon hyÌ„ so grete a 〈…〉 st that lasted .v. dayes so yâ— through y◠〈◊〉 pest he was dryuen in to Brytayn with thre shyppes no moo And tho yâ— kepte the coostes of yâ— see toke Gutlagh Samye all his folke them presented to Belyn And Belyn put them in pryson ¶ How Belyn let departe out of his londe kynge Gutlagh of Denmarke and Samye 〈◊〉 I was not longe after yâ— Brenne came agayn with a grete nauy sente to his broder Belyn that he sholde yelde agayn his londe to his wyfe his folke his castles also or els be worde destroye his londe Belyn drad nothâ—ge his malyce wolde no thynge do 〈◊〉 that he had sayd Wherfore Brenne came with his folke fought with B 〈…〉 Brenne was discomfyted and his folke slayne hymselfe fledde with 〈◊〉 men in to frauÌ„ce And this Belyn that was Brennes broder went than to Yorke toke couÌ„seyle what he myght do with kyng Gutlagh for kyng Gutlagh profered to become his man to holde his londe of hym yeldynge yerely a thousande pouÌ„de of syluer for euermore and for sykernes of this couenaunt to be hol den Gutlagh sholde brynge hym good hostages to hym sholde do homage all his folke yet he sholde swere vpon a
boke yâ— it sholde neuer be broken ne fayled ¶ Belyn tho by couÌ„seyle of his folke grauÌ„ted hym his askyng so Gutlagh became his man And Belyn toke of hyÌ„ his homage by an othe by wrytynge the same couenauntes And vpon these couenauÌ„tes kynge Guthlagh toke Samie his folke went thens returned agayne to Denmarke Euermore after were the couenauÌ„tes holden yâ— truage payed tyll the tyme that Honâ—lus was kyng of Denmarke also of this londe through his wyfe Gildeburgh yâ— he had spoused for she was right heyre of this londe This Belyn dwelled tho in peas worshypfully hym helde amonge his baroÌ„s And he made foure ryall wayes one from yâ— eest vnto yâ— west that was called watlyng strete an other from yâ— north vnto the south that was called Ikelme strete and two other wayes he made in bossyng through out yâ— londe yâ— one is called Fosse and that other Fosse dyke And he maynteyned well yâ— good lawes yâ— DonebaÌ„t his fader had made ordeyned in his tyme as before is sayd ¶ How accordmeÌ„t was made bytwene Brenne and Belyn through Cornewen that was theyr moder BRenne that was Belyns broder had longe time dwelled in frauÌ„ce there had conquered a grete lordshyp through maryage For he was duke of Burgoyne through yâ— doughter of duke Fewyn yâ— he had spoused whiche was right heyre of yâ— londe And this Brenne ordeyned a grete power of his folke and also of frauÌ„ce came in to this londe for to fight with Belyn his broder And Belyn came agaynst hym with a grete power of brytons wolde haue gyuen hym batayle But whaÌ„ theyr moder Cornewen that thaÌ„ lyued had herde that yâ— one broder wold haue destroyed that other she went bytwene her sones made them accorde with moche payne So yâ— at the last the two bretherne with moche blysse went togyder in to new Troy yâ— now is called LondoÌ„ where they dwelled a yere after they toke theyr counseyle for to go coÌ„quere all frauÌ„ce so they dyd brent townes destroyed the londe in lengthe brede the kyng of frauÌ„ce gaue them batayle with his power but he was ouer comen gaue truage to Belyn to his broder And after yâ— they went forth vnto Rome coÌ„quered it all Lombardy and Germany toke homage of all the chefe lordes barons And after they came in to this londe of Brytayn dwelled with theyr brytoÌ„s in ioye rest And than made Brenne yâ— towne of Brystow and after he went ouer to his owne lord ship there dwelled he all his lyfe And Belyn dwelled at newe Troye there he made a fayre gate that is called Belynges gate after his owne name And whan this Belyn had regned nobly xâ— yere he dyed lyeth at newe Troye ¶ How kynge Cormbatrus slewe the kyng of Denmarke for bycause that he wolde not paye to hym his truage ANd after this Belyn regned his sone Cormbatrus a good man a worthy And the kyng of Denmarke wolde not paye to hym his truage yâ— is to say a. M. pouÌ„de as he had sworne by othe for to paye it also by wrytyng recorde to Belyn his fader wherfore he was euylapayed wroth assembled a grete hoost of brytons and went in to Denmarke slewe yâ— kyng Gutlagh brought yâ— londe in subieccyoÌ„ all newe toke of yâ— folke feaute homage after went agayne in to his owne londe as he came forth by Orkeney he fouÌ„de xxx shyppes ful of men women besyde the coost of yâ— see yâ— kyng asked what they were And an erle that was mayster of them all curteysly answered to yâ— kynge sayd that they were exiled out of spayne so that they had trauayled halfe a yere more in the see to wyte yf they myght fynde ony kynge in ony londe yâ— of them wolde haue pite or mercy to gyue them ony londe in ony countree wherin they myght dwell haue rest become his lyege men to hym wold do homage feaute whyle they lyued to his heyres after hym of hyÌ„ of his heyres holde that londe And whan yâ— kyng herd this he had pite on them gaue them an yle all wyldernes where no maÌ„ was dwellynge saue onely wylde beestes And yâ— erle thaÌ„ked moche yâ— kyng became his man dyd hym homage feaute toke all his folke went in to the same yle And yâ— erle was called Irlamal therfore he let call yâ— londe Irlonde after his name This kyng Cormbatrus came agayn in to his londe regned .xxv. yere after dyed lyeth at newe Troye ¶ Anno muÌ„di .iiij. M. iiij C .xl. Et ante Christi natiuitatem vij C .lvj. IOathan sone to Osias regned in the Iewry .xvj. yere of this Ioathan no thynge is wryten but 〈◊〉 he toke not away exceâ—sa as other dyd Vt patet ij para ¶ Amarias was bysshop And Ysayas the noble prophete was in his dayes ¶ Olympias with yâ— grekes began yâ— fyrst yere of Ioathan after Iosephus after Bede Troy was destroyed iiij C .vj. yere afore the first Olympias began vnder Esalo a iudge of Athenis in the whiche Corebus gate yâ— thyualty amonge al men Olympus is the name of an hyll in Grecia the whiche for his precyousnes is called yâ— hyll of god And after Ierome one Olimpias coÌ„teyneth fully iiiâ— yeres in yâ— whiche .iiij. yeres foure yerely prynces are made these Olympiades are places ordeyned to the worshyp of Iupyter vnder the hyll of Olympo And the lawe of them is this That who someuer is best in our chyualry what gyfte someuer he desyreth he shall haue ¶ Anno muÌ„di .iiij. M. iiij C .lvj. Et ante Christi natiuitatem vâ—â— C .xliij. ACham the sone of Ieathan regned on the Iewes .xvi. yert Of this Acham no thynge that is good is 〈◊〉 ten for he forsoke our lorde our lorde stroke hym with his owne people strongly with yâ— kynges of Sirry Vt p◠〈◊〉 para .xxviij. Achitob this tyme was bysshop ¶ Ozee kyng of Israel regned .ix. yere the whiche began to regne the. 〈◊〉 yere of Acham kynge of Iewes This Ozee drad not god for he lyued nought And he was yâ— last kyng of Israel in yâ— ix yere of his regne he was takeÌ„ of Sal manasar Israel was translated in to Assirias Vt habeâ— .iiij. reguÌ„ .xvij. ¶ Explicit secunda pars ¶ Anno muÌ„di .iiij. M. iiij C .lxij. Et aute Christi natiuitatem vij C .xl. ¶ Roma caput 〈◊〉 AFter Euseby Rome was made on the hyll of Palatyn the fourth yere of Acham kyng of Iewes of two bretherne Romulê° Remus .xj. kal. Maij. the. vij Olimpiades begynnynge Iosephus Bede sayen the .vj. Olimpiades so they dyffer a yere Neuerthelesse it is redde other men to haue regned about the place myghtely in ytaly
after his owne name And whaÌ„ Westmer had so done he dwelled all his lyfe tyme in that countre of Westmerlonde for he loued that countre aboue all other countrees And whan he had regned .xxv. yere he dyed and lyeth at Karleyll ¶ Of kynge Coyll that was kynge Westmers sone that helde his londe in peas all his lyfe tyme. COyll Westmers sone was crowned kyng after his fader and he was a good man a worthy of good coÌ„dityons well gouerned his londe of all men he had loue and peas And in his tyme was neuer contacke debate nor warre in Brytayne And he regned in peas all his lyfe And whan he had regned .xi. yere he dyed lyeth at Yorke CLaudiê° was emperour at Rome nexte after Gayus he regned xiiij yere .viij. dayes This man came in to grete Britayn now called Englond for to chalenge the trybute whiche they dyd deny to yâ— Romayns And after grete batayles there was bytwene the emperour Claudius Armager kyng of Britayn And after accordement made that this Armager sholde wedde Claudius doughter and after they two shold euer lyue in peas in token wherof this Claudius named the cite where they were maryed after hym called it Claudicestre we call it now Glocestre This Claudiê° had .iij. wyues on Petiua the first wyfe he gate a doughter that hyght Antonia The fyrst wyfe decessed and he wedded MessalinaÌ„ gate a sone yâ— hyght Britanicê° Octauia a doughter The thyrde he wedded Agrippina hauynge a sone that hyght Nero. Claudiê° wedded his doughter Octauia to Nero his wyues sone This Claudiê° for loue that he had to Agrippina his last wyfe he slewe Messalina his secoÌ„d wyfe lest she shold haue helpe Britanicus her sone his to the empyre yet Agrippina the last wyfe of Claudius drad lest her husbonde wolde haue ê“ferred Britanicê° haue deposed Nero her sone therfore she poysoned her husbonde Claudius Nero was ê“moted to the empyre And this same Nero gaue his moder suche a reward agayn for he poysoned Britanicus slewe his owne 〈…〉 oder his wyfe Octauia ¶ Iames the more yâ— apostle this tyme was slayne of Herode Agrippa Peter was pryso 〈…〉 d. vt pêª patet act .xij. The body of saynt Iames was brought by myr 〈…〉 in to Ga 〈…〉 of Spayne ¶ Nero after Claudiê° ã€ˆâ€¦ã€‰ s emperour he regneâ— .xiij. yere vij monethes This Nero was a cursed maÌ„ made grete waste in yâ— empyre He wolde not fysshe but with nettes of golde ropes of sylke A grete parte of the lordes of Rome he slewe He was enemy to good men He slewe his broder his wyfe his moder and his mayster He slewe also Peter Paule He wolde neuer were one cloth two tymes His horses his mules were shod with syluer And at the last he dyd set a grete part of Rome on fyre some saye to se how Troy brent some saye the Romayns coÌ„playned the stretes were to narowe And whaÌ„ he had brent a grete parte of Rome Nero sayd there was space to buylde yâ— stretes wyder Than the senatours with the comyn people came vpon hym to 〈…〉 e hym And he fled by nyght in to the subbarbes of yâ— cite hyd hym amonge the vynes he herde karles beggers come by hym that sayd they wyst where the emperour were he sholde neuer scape them Nero thought it sholde be grete derogacion to his name he were slayne of karles on a grete stake he â—an hyÌ„selfe to the herte dyed there was buryed deuyls kepte his body many a day after dyd grete hurt to the people tyll by a myracle of our lorde the body was fouÌ„de taken away than the deuylles voyded ¶ Seneca was this tyme maister to Nero ¶ Iuuenalis poeta ¶ Lucanê° poeta ¶ Iames the lesse yâ— apostle bysshop of Ierusalem was slayne of the Iewes the vj. yere of Nero. ¶ Marcus the euaÌ„gelyst was martyred the fyrst yere of hym ¶ Cirâ—a annuÌ„ Christi .lxxiiij. â—Anus ytalicus was pope of Rome .x. yere .iij. monethes xi 〈…〉 dayes This Linê° his successour Clâ—tus through theyr holy coÌ„uersacioÌ„ were made to mynyster the treasour of the th 〈…〉 the to the people Peter beynge alyue 〈…〉 Peter attended to prayer prechynge It is redde of this Cletus that he wrote fyrst in his lettres SaluteÌ„ et apostolicaÌ„ vnÌ„dictioneÌ„ Afore this tyme was many a dyscyple of Peter slayne vnder Nero. ¶ Galba this tyme was emperour he regned seuen monethes This man was made emperour by the power of spayne in the same londe Nero lyuyng And after the dethe of Nero brought to Rome there was slayne of a man that came with whete to Rome He smote of his heed bare it to hym that was emperour nexte seynge all his meu none of them helpyng hym ¶ In this mannes dayes came the grete Rethorycyen to Rome fro Spayne was the fyrst the euer taught the seyence openly his name was Quintilian ¶ Ottho regned after hym and he regned but thre monethes for one Vitellus that was presydent of FrauÌ„ce chalenged the empyre in Ytalye bytwene these two were thre grete batayles in the fourth batayle Ottha sawe he sholde be ouercomen in grete despayre he slewe hymselfe ¶ Vitellus regned after this Ottho .viij. monethes for he was a folower of Nero moost specyally in glotony in syngynge of foule songes at feestes etyng out of mesure that he myght not kepe it ¶ Vaspasianus regned nexte after hym .ix. yere .x. monethes .xij. dayes The well gouerned men of Rome seynge the cursed successyon of Nero sente after this Vaspasyan vnto Palestyn for there he was his sone Titus whiche had besyeged Ierusalem And whan he herde that Nero was deed by whom he was sent to Ierusalem and herde of these cursed men regnynge at the instauÌ„ce of these wyse men of Rome not wylfully toke vpon hym the empyre And anone as he was comen to Rome he ouercame the tyrauÌ„t Vitellus let hym be drawen through Rome after in Tyber tyl he was died and than let hym sayle wtout sepulture for this the people desyred This man was cured of waspes in his nose anone as he byleued in our lorde Iesu that was the cause why he went to Ierusalem to venge Chrystes deth He fought xxxij tymes with his enemyes And he dyed the yere of grace .lxxix. ¶ Anno domini .lxxxiiij. â—Letê° a martyr was pope .xi. yere This Cletus was a Romayne gretly he loued pilgrimages to sayntes sayenge it was more ê“fyte to the helth of mannes soule to visyte the place the saynt Peter was in than to fast two yere He cursed all those men lettynge suche pylgrimages or couÌ„seylers coÌ„trary therto At the last was martyred by Damacian the emperour ¶ Titus soue to Vaspasyan was emperour this tyme regned .iij. yere he
that is called Horne castell after his owne name Vortimer was so sore anoyed for his broders deth that anone he let cast downe the castell to the erth And after he stynted not nyght nor daye tyll he had dryuen out Engyst all his people of the londe And than Ronewen his doughter made grete sorowe and craftely spake to them that were nexte to the kyng Vortimer pryuely entreated them and so many gyftes she gaue them that the kynge was empoysoned and dyed at London the fourth yere of his regne and there he lyeth ¶ How the britons chose an other tyme Vortiger to be theyr kynge and Engist came in to this londe agayne and how they fought togyder AFter Vortimers dethe the Brytons by theyr comyn assent made Vortiger agayne theyr kynge vpon this couenaunt that he sholde neuer after suffre Engist nor none of his to come agayne in to this londe And whan all this was done Ronewen the quene pryuely sent by lettre to Engist that she had empoysoned Vortimer and that Vortiger her lorde bare agayne the crowne regned and that he sholde come agayne in to this londe wel arayed with moche people for to auenge hym vpon the brytons and to wynne this londe agayne by myght and strength And whan Engist herde these tydynges he made grete ioye apparayled hym hastely with xv thousande men that were boughty in euery batayle came in to this londe And whan Vortiger herde tell that Engist was comen agayn with a grete power in to this londe he assembled his brytons went to mete Engist for to gyue hym batayle But Engist dredyng the brytons sore for they had dyscoÌ„fyted hyÌ„ before prayed Vortiger of a loue day sayd he was not comen in to this londe for to fyght but for to haue his londe agayn yf he myght accord with the brytoÌ„s Kyng Vortiger through couÌ„seyle of his brytons grauÌ„ted hym a loue day And it was ordeyned by the brytons that the loue daye shold be holden besyde Salysbury on an hyll Engyst sholde come thyder with iiij C. knyghtes no moo And the kyng with as many of the wysest men of his londe And at that daye the kyng came with his couÌ„seyle as it was ordeined But Engist had warned his knightes pryuely that eche of them sholde put a longe knyfe in his hose whan he sayd fayre syrs it is tyme to speke of loue peas euery man anone shold drawe out his knyfe slee a bryton And so they slewe a. M. and .lxj. knyghtes with moche sorowe many oâ— them escaped And the kynge Vortiger there was taken ledde to Thongcastel and put in prison And some of Engistes men wolde that the kyng had ben brent all quycke And Vortiger than for to haue his lyfe graunted them as moche as they wolde aske gaue vp all the londe townes castelles cytees bourghes to Engyst his folke And all the brytons fledde thens in to Wales there helde them styll And Engist went through the londe seased all the londe with frauÌ„chises in euery place let cast down chirches houses of religyon destroyed the chrysteÌ„ fayth through out all this londe and let chauÌ„ge the name of the londe that no man of his were so hardy after that tyme to cal this loÌ„de Britayn but call it Engist loÌ„de And thaÌ„ he departed the londe to his men and made .vij. kynges for to strengthe the londe that the brytons sholde neuer after come therin The fyrst kyngdome was Kent where Engist hymselfe regned was lorde mayster ouer all the other The .ij. was Southsex that now is called Chichestre The .iij. Westsex The .iiij. Eestsex The .v. Estangyl that now is called Norfolk Suffolk Merchemeâ—k that is to saye the erledom of Nicholl The. vâ— had Leycestre shyre Northamton shyre Herforde Huntyngdon The .vij. had Oxforde Glocestre Wynchestre Warwyk and Derby shyre ¶ How Vortiger wente in to Wales began there a castell that wolde not stande without morter tempred with blode WHan Engist had departed all the londe in this maner to his men delyuered Vortiger out of pryson to go where he wold he toke his way in to wales where his brytons dwelled for that londe was stronge yll to wynne Engist neuer came there â—e neuer knewe 〈◊〉 Vortiger helde hym there with his brytoÌ„s asked couÌ„seyle what was best to do 〈…〉 they gaue hyÌ„ couÌ„seyle to make a strong castell that he might kepe defende hyÌ„self therin yf nede were ¶ Masons in haste were fette began the werke vpon the hyll of Breigh But certes thus it befelâ— all the werke that the masons made a daye â—t feâ—l downe the night they wyst not what it myght be therof the kynge was sore anoyed of that chauÌ„ce wyst not what to do Wherfore he let send after the wysest clerkes lerned men that were through out wales that myght be fouÌ„de for they shold hym tell wherfore the fouÌ„dameÌ„t so fayled vnder the werke that they shold hym tell what was best to do And whaÌ„ these wyse men longe tyme had studyed they sayd to the kyng that he sholde do seke a childe borne of a woman that neuer had to do with man and that chylde he sholde do slee tempre with his blode the morter of the werke and so sholde the werke euer endure without ende ¶ How the kyng let seke Merlin through out all Wales for to speke with hym WHan the kyng herde this he coÌ„mauÌ„ded his messengers anone to go through out all Wales to seke that chylde yf they myght fynde hym and that they sholde brynge hym forth with them vnto hym And in recorde and in wytnes of this thynge he had taken them his lettres that they ne were destroubled of no man ne lette And than the messengers went thens spedde so fast that they came in to a town that was called Karmardyne and as they passed forth theyr waye they fouÌ„de two chyldren of .xxiiij. yere of age chydynge togyder with hasty wordes and one of them sayd to that other Donebat quod he ye do all wronge to stryue with me for ye haue no wytte ne no reason as I haue Certes Merlyn quod he of your wytte ne your reason I make no forte for men tell comynly that ye haue no thyÌ„ge of god almyghty syth ye had neuer fader but euery man knoweth well who was your moder ¶ The messengers of kynge Vortiger whan they herde this stryfe bytwene the two gromes they asked of them that stode besyde them whens that Merlyn was borne and also who nourysshed hym And they tolde them that a grete gentylwoman of Karmardyne called Adhan was his moder but none knewe who was his fader Whan the kynges messengers herd these tydyÌ„ges they went anone to hym that was wardeyne of the towne tolde hym the kynges wyll shewed hym his lettre wherfore they were comen thyder
Merlyn his moder anone were fetched before the wardeyn of the towne he coÌ„mauÌ„ded theÌ„ that they sholde go to the kynge with his messengers Merlyn his moder went thens came vnto the kyng there they were receyued with moche honour And the kyng asked of the lady yf that chylde were her sone who hym begate The lady answered full tenderly wepynge sayd she neuer had company of man worldly But syr sayd she whan I was a yonge mayden in my faders chambre with other of grete lignage in my coÌ„pany that ofteÌ„ tymes went to sporte them I left alone in my chambre wolde not go forth for breÌ„nynge of the sonne there came on a tyme a fayre bacheler entred iÌ„ my chambre where I was alone but how he came in where I wyst it neuer ne yet knowe I not for the dores were fast barred with me he dyd game of loue For I had no myght nor power to defende me from hyÌ„ And ofteÌ„ he came to me in the fore sayd maner so that he begate this chylde but neuer myght I wyte what he was ¶ Of the answere of Merlyn vpon the kynges castell that wolde not stande WHan Merlyn had herde all that his moder had sayd he spake to the kynge in this maner ¶ Syr how I was begoten aske ye no more for it falleth not to you nor to none other to knowe but tell me the cause wherfore I am brought to you wherfore ye haue sent for me Certes quod the kynge my wyse couÌ„seylers haue done me to vnderstande that the morter of a werke that I haue begon behoueth to be teÌ„pred with your blode or the fouÌ„dament shall fayle for euermore Syr said Merlin wyll ye slee me for my blode to tempre with your morter Ye quod the kynge or elles shall neuer my castell staÌ„de as my couÌ„seylers tell me Than answered Merlyn to the kyng Syr said he let them come before me those wyse couÌ„seylers I wyll preue that they saye not well ne truly And whan the wyse men were comen Merlyn asked yf his blode were the cause to make the werke stande endure All those wyse men were abasshed and coude not answere Than sayd Merlyn to the kyng Syr I shall tell you the cause wherfore your werke thus falleth may not stande There is vnder the mouÌ„tayn where ye buylde your toure a grete pond of water in the bottom of the ponde vnder the water there is two dragons that one is whyte that other reed that fyght togyder agaynst your werke Do ye depe myne tyll your men come to the pond do your men take away the water all out than ye shal se the dragons as I haue tolde you that fight togyder agaynst your werke And this is the cause wherfore the fouÌ„dament falleth The kyng anone let dygge vnder tyll the men came to that ponde let do away all the water there they fouÌ„de two dragons as Merlin had tolde them that egerly fâ—ught togyder The whyte dragon egerly assayled the reed layde on hym so strongly that he myght not endure but withdrewe him 〈◊〉 rested in the same caue And whan he had a whyle rested hym he went before the reed dragon assayled hym angerly helde hym so sore that he myght not endure agaynst hym but with drewe hym rested And after came agayn the whyte dragon strongly fought with the reed dragon bote hym euyl ouercame hym the he fled froÌ„ thens no more came agayn ¶ Of the significacyon of these two dragons that were in the bottom of the ponde that fought togyder â—His kyng Vortiger his men the sawe this bataile had grete meruayle prayed Merlyn to tell hyÌ„ what it myght betoken Syr sayd Merlyn I shall tell you The reed dragon betokeneth your selfe the whyte betokeneth the folke of Saxonie that fyrst ye toke helde in your lond that fought agaynst you haue dryuen chaced you awaye But Britons of your lignage ouercame them droue them awaye And sythen at the comynge agayne of the Sarons they recouered this londe helde it for euermore droue out the brytoÌ„s dyd with this loÌ„de al theyr wyll destroyed chrystendom through out this londe Ye had fyrst ioye with theyr comyng but now it is turned to your grete domage sorowe For the two bretherne of CoÌ„stance that was kyng whiche ye let see shall come before a quinzeme passed with a grete power froÌ„ lytel Brytayn shall auenge the deth of theyr broder and they shall brenne you fyrst with sorowe and afterwarde they shall slee a grete parte of saxons shall dryue out all yeâ—emenauÌ„t of the londe therfore abyde ye here no lenger to make castel ne none other wâ—rke but anone go els where to saue your lyfe To god I you betake trouth I haue sayd to you of thynges that shall be fall And vnderstande ye well that Aurilam bros shall be kynge but he shall be poysoned lytell tyme shall he regne ¶ Of kynge Aurilambros and how he pursued Vortiger and Eugist and how they dyed MErlyn his moder departed froÌ„ the kynge and returned agayne to Karmardyne And soone after tydynges came to the Brytons that Aurilam bros and Vter his broder were arryued at Totnes with a grete host And anone the Brytons assembled them and went to receyue Aurilambros and Vter with grete noblenes brought them to London and crowned Aurilambros made hym kyng and dyd vnto hym homage And anone he asked where as Vortiger myght be fouÌ„de that was kynge for he wolde be auenged of his broders deth and after he wolde warre vpon the paynyms And they tolde hym that Vortiger was in wales so they ladde hym thyder warde Vortiger wyst well that those bretherne came to conquere hym and fledde thens into a castell that was called Gerneth that stode vpon an hye mouÌ„tayne and there helde hym Aurilambros and Vter his broder and theyr folke had besyeged the castell full longe tyme for the castell was stronge well arayed So at the last they kest wylde fyre and brente houses and men and all theyr araye as moche as was within the castell So that Vortiger was brent amonge all other and so he dyed with moche sorowe ¶ Than was Engist in Kent and regned there and herde these tydynges anone he fledde wolde haue gone in to Scotlonde for to haue had socoure But Aurilambros and his folke mette with hym in the north countree and gaue hym batayle And Engist and his men defended them whyles that they myght but he and his folke were dyscomfited and slayne And Otta his sone fledde vnto yorke And Aurilambros folowed hym egerly And Otta with stode hym a lytell whyle but afterwarde he put hym to his mercy And Aurilabros receyued hym and to hym to his men gaue the countree of Galeway in Scotlonde there they dwelled
wold go home in to theyr own loÌ„de and neuer come agayn in to this londe And vpon assurauÌ„ce of this thynge they gaue hym good host ages And Arthur by counseyle of his men graunted this thynge and receyued the hostages and thervpon the saxons went to theyr shyppes And whan they were in the hye see the wynde chauÌ„ged as the deuyll it wold and they turned theyr nauy and came agayne in to this londe and arryued at Cotnes went out of the shypp 〈…〉 and toke the loude and clene robbed it and slewe moche people and toke all the armure that they myght fynde so they went forth tyll they came vnto Bathe But the men of yâ— towne shette fast theyr gates wolde not suffre them to come within the towne they defended them well and manly agaynst them ¶ How king Arthur gaue batayle vnto the sarons whan they came agayne in to this londe had besyeged the towne of Bathe and ouercame them WHan kyng Arthur herde these tydynges he anone let hange the hostages lefte Howell of Brytayn his neuewe for to kepe the marche to warde Scotlond with halfe his people hymselfe went to helpe rescowe the towne of Bathe Whan he came thyder he gaue a stronge batayle to Cheldrik slewe almoost all the people that he had For no man myght wtstande hym ne endure vnder the stroke of his swerde there were slayne bothe Colegrin and Bladud his broder and Cheldrik fledde thens wold haue gone to his shyppes But whan kynge Arthur wyst it he toke .x. M. knyghtes to Cador that was erle of Cornewayle for to let stop his passage And Arthur hymselfe went toward yâ— marche of scot londe for messengers told hym that the scottes had besyeged Howell of Britayn there as heâ—ay seke therfore he hasted hym thyderwarde And Cador pursued after Cheldrik toke hym or he myght come to his shyppes slewe hym his people Whan Cador had done this viage he hasted hym agayne towarde Arthur as fast as he myght fouÌ„de hym in Scotlonde where he had rescowed Howell of Brytayne But the Scottes were ferre within Mountef and there they helde them a whyle but Arthur pursued them they fledde thens in to Limoigne there were in that couÌ„tre .lx. yles grete plente of byrdes Egles yâ— were wont to crye fyght togyder and make grete noyse whan folke came to robbe that londe and warne as moche as they myght and so they dyd for the Scottes were so grete rauenours that they toke all that they myght fynde in the londe of Limoigne without ony sparynge therwith charged agayne the folke for to go in to Scotlonde ¶ How kynge Arthur asked of Merlyn the aduentures of .vj. of the last kynges that were to regne in Englonde how the londe sholde ende SIr sayd Merlyn in yâ— yere of the incarnacyon of Iesu Chryst M CC .xv. shall come a lambe out of Wynthestre that shall haue a whyte tongue true lyppes he shall haue wryten in his hert holynes This lambe shall make many goddes houses he shall haue peas the moost parte of his lyfe he shall make one of the fayrest places of the worlde that in his tyme shall not fully be made an ende of And in the ende of his lyfe a wolfe of a strauÌ„ge londe shall do hyÌ„ moche harme sorowe through warre but at the laÌ„be shall be mayster through helpe of a reed foxe that shall come out of the north west shall ouercome hym the wolfe shall dye in water And after that tyme the lambe shal lyue no whyle but shal dye His seed shal be in a strauÌ„ge londe And the londe shall be without a gouernour a lytell tyme. ANd after this tyme shall come a dragon medled with mercy and also with woodnes and he shall haue a berde as a gote that shall gyue in Englonde a shadowe and shall kepâ— the lond from colde hete and his one fote shall be set in wyke and that other in London he shall embrace in habytacyons And he shall open his mouth towarde wales the tremblynge of the hydour of his mouth his eeres shall stretche towarde many habyâ—acyons countrees his breth shall be full swete in strauÌ„ge londe And in his tyme shall the ryuers renne blode with brayne And he shall make in places of his londe walles that shall do moche harme vnto his seed after his tyme. And than shall there come a people out of the Northwest durynge his regne that shall be ladde through a wycked hare that the dragon shall do crowne kyng that afterwarde shall flee ouer the see without comynge agayne for drede of the dragon And in that tyme the sonne shall be as reed as blode that men shall se through out all the worlde that shall betoken grete pestylence and deth of folke through dynt of swerde that people shall be faderles tyll yâ— tyme that the dragon dye through an hare that shal mâ—ue warre agaynst hym vnto the ende of his lyf that shall not fully be ended in his tyme. This dragon shall beholde in his tyme the best body of the worlde and he shall dye besyde the marches of a strauÌ„ge londe the londe shall dwell faderles without a good gouernour and men shall wepe for his deth from the yle of Shepey vnto the hauen of Marâ—yl wherfore alas shall be theyr songe of faderlesse folke that shall ouer lyue in his londe destroyed ANd after this dragon shall come a gote out of Kar that shall haue hornes and a berde of syluer and there shal come out of his nosethrilles a domp that shall betoken hungre sorowe and grete dethe of the people And moche of his londe in yâ— begynnynge of his regne shall be wasted This gote shall go ouer in to FrauÌ„ce shall open yâ— floure of his lyfe deth In his tyme there shal aryse an Egle in Cornewayle that shall haue fethers of golde that of pryde shall be with out pere of the londe he shall despyse lordes of blode And after he shal flee shamefully by a bere at Gauerscch And after shal be made brydges of men vpon yâ— costes of the see stones shall fall from castelles many other townes shall be made playne In this tyme shall seme that the bere shall brenne a batayle shall be done vpon yâ— armes of yâ— see in a felde ordeined as a shelde at that batayle shal dye many whyte hedes wherfore this batayle shall be called yâ— whyte batayle And the foresayd bere shall do this gote moche harme it shall come out of the south west of his blode Than shal the gote lese moche of his londe tyll yâ— tyme that shendshyp shall ouercome hyÌ„ And than shall he clothe hym in a lyons skyn than shall he wynne that he had lost more therto For a people shall come out of the northwest yâ— shall
there was no man that wyst for very sothe who hym slewe ¶ How king Arthur let bury his lordes knyghtes that he had lost in the batayle and how he sent the emperours body to Rome that there was slayne in batayle WHan the romayns wyst that the emperour was deed they for soke the felde the paynyms also And kyng Arthur chaced after them tyl it was nyght so many of them slewe that it was wonder to tell And whaÌ„ it was nyght kyng Arthur turned agayn thanked god of his victory And on the morowe he let loke serche all the felde for his knyghtes that he there lost that is to saye Borel erle of maunt Bedewer kay Ligiers erle of Boloyn Vrgety erle of Baar Aloth erle of Wynchestre Cursael erle of Chestre and Holden erle of FlauÌ„dres These were the grete lordes that king Arthur lost in that batayle with other worthy knyghtes amonge them And some he let bury in abbays by the couÌ„tree some he let be borne into theyr owne couÌ„tree And the emperours body he let take put vpon a bere sent it to Rome sent to saye the Romayns that for Brytayn FrauÌ„ce whiche he helde other truage wolde he none paye And yf they asked hym ony other truages ryght suche truage he wold tham paye kyng Arthur let here kay to kenen his owne castell there buryed hym And Ligier was borne to Boloyn where he was lorde And Holden was borne in to FlauÌ„dres and there was buryed And all the other he let bury with moche honour in abbays in houses of relygyon in the countree there they were slayne And kynge Arthur hymselfe soiourned that same yere in Burgoyne with his hoost thought that same yere folowyuge to passe the mount of Ioye and to haue gone to Rome for to take the cite and to haue put the Romayns in subieccyon but the wycked tyraunt Mordred letted hym as after ye shall here ¶ How the traytour Mordred to whom kyng Arthur toke his loÌ„de to kept his castels he helde them agaynst hym WHan kynge Arthur had taken to Mordred his realme to kepe and was gone agaynst the emperour of Rome was passed the see Mordred anone toke homage feaute of all them that were in this londe wolde haue had the loÌ„de to his owne vse toke castels all about and let them be arayed And after this faisnes he dyd an other grete wronge for agaynst the lawe of thrystendom he toke his own vncles wife as a traytour and ordeyned hym a grete host agayust kyng Arthurs comyng to holde the londe agaynst hym with strength for euermore and to slee kyng Arthur yf he myght sent by see by londe and let assemble paynyms christen people And he sent to saxons and to danes for to helpe hym And also Mordred sent to Cheldrik to do men come to hyÌ„ out of saxon that was a worthy duke promised hym yf that he brought with hym moche people he wolde graâ—â—â—e hym in herytage for euer more all the londe froÌ„ beyonde Humber to scotlonde all the londe that Engist had of Vortygers gyste whan that he spoused his doughtcr And Cheldrik came with a grete strength power of people And Mordred had assembled also on his halfe that they had .xl. M. of stronge knyghtes whan that they had nede ¶ How king Arthur chaced that traytour Mordred how he was slayne kyng Arthur Wounded to deth THese tydynges came to kyng Arthur where as he was in Burguyn was therof sore anoyed toke all FrauÌ„ce to Howell for to kepe with halfe of his men prayed hym to kepe it tyll he came agayn for he hyselfe wolde go into Britayn auenge hym on the fals traytour Mordred went his waye came to whytsand toke shyppyng with his men a grete hoost of frenshmen arryued at Sandwyche But or that he myght come to londe with his people Mordred was come with all his power gaue a stronge batayle so that kyng Arthur lost many a man or he myght come to londe For there was Gawayne his neuewe slayne Augnissell that helde Scotlonde many other wherof kyng Arthur was ful sory But after that they were comen to loÌ„de Mordred might not agaynst them endure but was discoÌ„fyted fled thens the same nyght with his men on the morowe came to London but men of the cite wold not let hyÌ„ entre from thens fled to wynehestre there helde hym with his people Kyng Arthur let take the body of Gawayn his cosyn the body of Augnissel let that one be borne to scotlond that other to Pouer buried And after king Arthur toke his waye to destroye Mordred he fled thens into Corne Wayle And the quene Gueneuer that was kynge Arthurs wyfe that thaÌ„ soiourned at yorke herde that Mordred was fled thens that he myght not endure agaynst kyng Arthur she was sore aferde and had grete doubte wyst not what was best to do For she wyst well that her lorde kynge Arthur wolde neuer of her haue mercy for the grete shame that she had done hyÌ„ toke her waye pryuely with .iiij. men no mo came to Karlyon there she dwelled all her lyfe was neuer seen amoÌ„ge folke Kyng Arthur wyst that Mordred was fledde in to Cornewayle let send after his men in to Scotlond NorthuÌ„berlonde vnto Number and let assemble folke wtout nombre went vnto Cornewayle to seke Mordred And Mordred had assembled to hyÌ„ all that folke of Cornewayle without noÌ„bre wyst that Arthur was comynge had leuer to dye take his chauÌ„ce than longer to flee abode gaue an hard batayle to kyng Arthur his people so that there escaped none away on lyue saue kynge Arthur other that were wouÌ„ded to deth for Mordred was slayne all his people and all kyng Arthurs noble knyghtes of the rouÌ„de table wherof it was grete pyte And king Arthurs made hym to be borne in a lytter to Auyon to be heled of his woundes And yet the Brytons suppose that he lyueth in an other lond that he shall come yet conquere all Brytayn But cerâ—es this is the prophecy of Merlyn He sayd his dethe shold be doubtous he sayd trouth For therof yet men haue doubte shal haue for euermore as men saye For meÌ„ wote not whether that he is on lyue or deed ¶ Arthur was borne to Auyon the. xxii yere of his regne after the incarnacyon of our lorde Jesu Chryst .v. C .xlvi. yere ¶ How kynge Arthur delyuered the realme vnto Constantyne the sone of Cador his neuewe WHan kyng Arthur wyst that he myght regne no lenger he let come before hyÌ„ CoÌ„stantyne that was Cadors sone erle of Cornewayl his cosyn and to hym betoke all his realme byddynge hym to be kynge therof tyll that he came agayne for
as moche as he had none heyre begoten of his body and grete harme it was that so noble a kyng and so doughty as he was had no childe of his body begotē But all thȳge that god wyll haue done must be done whose name be blyssed wtout ende amē ¶ How Constantyne slewe Mordreds two sones that warred vpon hym THis Constantyne was a noble a worthy knyght of body And that two sones that Mordred had begoten had grete enuy vnto Constantyne that than was crowned kynge And so it befell that they begā to meue warre agaynst hym assembled a grete hoost of them that were before with Mordred had ben dryuen awaye whiche dyd moche sorowe through out all the londe That one broder ordeyned hȳ to go to London for to take the cite that other went to wynchestre But Constantyne came to London and slewe hym that was there And after he wēt to wynch estrē sleme hym that was there also And so was he quyte of bothe his enemyes Whan Cōstantyne had regued well worthely foure yere he dyed lyeth at London ¶ Of kynge Adclbryghe and of kynge Edell AFter kynge Constantynes deth there were two kynges in Brytayne that one was called Adtlbryght that was a Dane he helde the coūtree of Norfolke and Suffolke That other hyght Edell and was a bryton and he helde Nicholl Lyndesey all the londe vnto Number These two kynges fast warred togyder but they were after accorded loued togyder as they had ben borne of one body The kyng Edell had a syster that was called Orewenne and he gaue her through grete frendshyp to kynge Adelbryght to wyfe And kynge Adelbryght begate vpō her a doughter that was called Argentyl And that thyrde yere after came vpon hym a straūge sekenes that nedes he must dye And he sent to kynge Edell his broder in lawe that he sholde come speke with hym and he came to hym with a good wyll Than prayed he the kyng and coniured hym also in the name of god that after whan he were deed he sholde take his doughter Argentyll the londe kepe and nourysshe her in his chambre And whan she were of age that he shold mary her to the strongest worthyest man that he myght fynde and than he shold yelde vp her londe agayne Kyng Edell graunted it and by othe confermed his prayer And whā Adelbright was deed buryed Edell toke that damoysell Argentyll nourysshen her in his chambre she became as fayre as ony myght be ¶ How kyng Edell maryed the damoysell to a knaue of his kerhym THis kyng Edell that was vncle to Argent yit bet hought how he might falsly haue the londe frō his nece falsly agaynst his othe to deceyue the damoysell to mary her to a knaue of his kechin that was called Curan he became the worthyest strongest man of body that ony man wyst in ony londe lyuyng to him he thought shamefully to haue maryed her for to haue had her londe afterwarde but he was deceyued For this Curan was Haueloks sone that was king of kyrklane in Dēmarke this Curan tōquered his wyues londe afterward slewe king Edel that was his wyues vncle had all her lond as in an other place it telleth more openly he regned but thre yere for saxons danes slewe hym that was grete harme to all Brytayn the brytons bare hym to Stonehenge and there buryed hym honourably ¶ Of king Conan that was Curans cosin AFter this Curan regned Conan his cosyn a proude knyght he regned wtout loue euer was medlyng with his people toke his vncle with warre sleynge his two children The Saxons warred agaynst hȳ oftentymes but he ouercame them so he was in peas all his lyftyme he regned .xiiij. yere after he dyed lyeth at London ¶ Of kyng Cortyf Gurmond that came through the paynyms in to Brytayne AFter this Conan regned his cosyn Cortyf that was behated of all his people this Cortyf lost all britayn through warre in his tyme fel that grete myschefe in brytayn that thrystēdom was destroyed all the brytons were wyuen out of the londe but afterward lefte 〈◊〉 to the saxons as afterward ye shal here For in that tyme there was a paynym that was called Gurmond the kȳges sone Daufrikes of the paynyms folke shold haue ben kynge after his fader but he gaue it to his broder sayd he wold be no kynge tyll he had cōquered a realme in a straūge coūtree And of hym prophe cyed Merlyn callynge him a wolfe of the see And he let assemble paynyms wtout nomrbe shyppes And goynge by the see he conquered dyuers londes takyng he mage of many And he came in Irionde conquered it that oftētymes warred vpon brytons brytons vpon them ofte wonne oft lost gaue hostages to brytons And so they sente to Gurmond there as he was in Irlonde that he sholde come helpe them agaynst that brytons they wold gladly make hym theyr lord For he was a paynim they were paynyms and the brytons were chrysten Whan Gurmond herde this he hasted hym arryued in scotlonde came in to Northumberlond where as the saxons were dwellyng they cōfermed that couenaūtes bytwene them made by othes hostages for to bere hym true fayth holde hym forlorde paye to hȳ truage by yere Than began that saxons the affricans to destroye robbe brenne to wnes destroyed all maner thynge sparyng neyther man woman ne chylde lerned nelewde but slewe all kest downe townes castels chirches so put that londe to grete destruceyon And as soone as they myght flee they fledde thens as well poore as ryche bysshops men of religyon grete small some in to lytell Britayn some in to Cornewayle and all those that myght haue shyppes ¶ How kynge Gurmonde droue kynge Cortif to chuhestre slewe the britons and through subtylte gate the towne COrtyf the kyng fledde thens in to Chichestre that than was a good cite and a stronge there helde hym .xx. dayes And this Gurmond came and be syeged it But y◠cite was so stronge y◠he myght not gete it by no maner of wyse wherfore they thought by subtylte to brenne the towne they made engynes with glewe of nettes and toke peces of tunder fyre boūde it to sparowes feet and afterwarde let them flee and they anone ryght flewe in to the towne there as theyr nestes were in thackes and in euyssynges of houses the fyre began to kyndle brent all the towne Whan y◠brytons sawe that they hyed them out fought but anone they were slayne discomfyted whyle the batayle duted the kynge all in despayre pryuely went in to wales so y◠men wist not where he became And so was the towne of Chichestre takē destroyed And after
mekeman moche loued peas charite prayed Peanda of loue peas profred hym of golde syluer grete plente And this Peanda was so proude yâ— he wolde not grauÌ„te hym peas for no maner thynge but for all thynge he wolde fyght with hym So at yâ— last there was set a day of batayle Oswy euer had trust vpon god Peanda trusted to moche vpon his pryde and vpon his hoost that he had and togyder they smote egerly But Peanda was anone discomfyted flayne And this was after the incarnacion of our sauyour â—esu Chryst vj C. and .lv. yere And this Oswy regned .xxviij. yere a kynge that was called Oswyne that was Peandaes cosyn warred vpon hym and togyder they fought but Oswy had the victory of Oswyne was discomfyted and slayne and lyeth at Cynmouth ¶ How kynge Cadwaldre yâ— was Cadwalins sone regned after his fader and was the last kynge of Brytons AFter yâ— deth of Cadwalin regned his sone Cadwaldre well nobly his moder was yâ— sister of Peanda And whaÌ„ he had regned .xij. yere he fell in to a grete sekenes than was there a grete discorde bytwene the lordes of yâ— londe that eche warred vpoÌ„ other And yet in that tyme there fell so grete derth and scarcete of corne other vytayles in this londe yâ— a man myght go .iij. or .iiij. dayes fro towne to towne that he sholde not fynde to bye for golde ne syluer breed wyne ne none other vytayle wherw t a man myght lyue But onely the people lyued by rotes of herbes for other lyuynge had they none so moche was it fayled all about fysshes wylde beestes all other thynge so yâ— yet to this mysauenture there fell so grete mortalyte pestilence amonge the people by the corrupcyon of yâ— deed bodyes For they dyed so sodeinly both grete small lorde seruauÌ„t in etynge goynge spe kyng they fell downe dyed so yâ— neuer was herde of more sodeyn deth amonge the people For he yâ— went for to bury the deed body with yâ— same deed body was buryed And so they yâ— myght flee fledde forsoke theyr londes houses as well for the grete hunger derth scarcete of corne other vytayle as for yâ— grete mor talite pestylence in the londe went in to other londes for to saue theyrlyues lefte yâ— londe all deserte wasted so that there was no man for to trauayle tyll the loude so that yâ— loude was â—aâ—ayne of corne all other fruytes for define of tillers this misaueÌ„ture duted .xj. yere more yâ— no man myght ere ne sowe ¶ How Cadwaldre went out of this londe in to lytell Brytayne CAdwaldre sawe grete hunger mortalite pestilence the londe all poore faylynge cornes other vytayles his folke perisshed sawe also the moost party of his lond all wasted voyde of people he apparayled hyÌ„ his folke yâ— were lefte alyue passed ouer in to lytel Brytayn with a lytel nauy vnto kyng Aleyn yâ— he moche loued that was his cosyn that his fader had moche loued in his tyme. And as they sayled in the see he made moche lameÌ„tacyon so dyd all those that were with hym and sayd Dedisti nos dite tanquam oues estaruÌ„ et in gentibus dispersisti nos ¶ And than began Cadwaldre to complayne hym to his tolke pyteously and sayd Alas sayd he to vs wretches and caytyues is sorowe for our grete synnes of the whiche we wolde not amende vs whyle we had space now repentauÌ„ce is comen vpon vs through mysaueÌ„ture whiche chaceth vs out of our owne realme propre soyle out of the whiche somtyme Romayns Scottes Saxons nor Danes myght not exple vs. But what auayleth it now to vs that before tyme dyuers tymes haue goten many other londes syth it is not yâ— wyll of god that we abyde dwell in our owne lode God that is very iudge that all thinges knoweth before they be done or made he seeth that we wolde not cese of our synnes that our enemyes myght not vs nor our lygnage exyle fro and out of our realme he wolde that we amended vs of our folyes and that we sholde se our propre defautes therfore hath shewed to vs wrathe wyll chastyse vs of our misdedes syth that he doth vs without batayle or strengthe of our enemyes by grete coÌ„panyes wretchedly to leue our realme propre londe Turne agayn ye Romayns turne agayne ye Scottes turne agayne ye Saxons turne agayn ye frensshmen now sheweth to you Britayn all deserte the whiche your power myght neuer make deserte ne yet your power hath not put vs now in exde but onely the power of the kyng almyghty whome we haue oft offended by our folyes the whiche we wolde not leue vntyll he chastised vs by his diuyne power Amonge the wordes lament acyons yâ— kyng Calwaldre made to his folke they arryued in lytel Gritayn came to king Aleyn And yâ— kyng receyued hym with grete ioye made him to be serued won ders nobly and there he dwelled longe tyme after The englysshe people that were lefte alyue were escaped yâ— grete hunger mortalite lyued in yâ— best wyfe that they might moche people sprang and came of them And they sente in to saxonie where they were borne to theyr frendes for men women and chyldren to restore the citees with people and the townes that were all boyde of people for to labour trauayle and tyll the eâ—th Whan the Saxons had herde these tydynges they came in to this londe won ders thycke in grete coÌ„panyes lodged themselfe in the couÌ„tree all about where that they wolde for they fouÌ„de no man to with stande them ne lette And so they wexed multyplyed gretly vsed the customes of yâ— couÌ„tre wherof they were comen and the lawes the language of theyr owne londe And they chaunged yâ— names of citees townes castelles and boutghes and gaue them names and called them as they now be called And they helde the couÌ„tets the batonages and the lordshyppes countrees in maner as yâ— Brytons before ryme had compassed them And amonge other grete companyes that came from Germayn in to this londe came yâ— noble quene that was called Sexburga with men women without nombre arryued in the couÌ„tree of Northumberlonde toke the lond from Albion vnto Cornewayle for her for her folke For there was none that myght them let for all was desolate voyde of people but it were a fewe poore Brytons that were lefte on mouÌ„taynes wodes vutyll that tyme. And fro that tyme forth lost the Britons this realme for all theyr dayes and the Englysshe people began to regne departed the londe bytwene them and they made many kynges aboute by dyuers partes of the londe as here ben deuysed The fyrst of Westsex the seconde Merchenrych the thyrde
away with the hylles into the feldes vâ— mile thens as they stode and the cytees were not broken nor hurte In the londe of Mesopotanyan the erthe was broken by the space of two myle And also there was a mule whiche spake in a mannes voyce Asshes fell from heuen And in the see of Pontico there was yse for grete frost yâ— was .xxx. cubytes of thycknes And sterres fell froÌ„ heuen so myghtely that men trowed that the ende of the worlde had ben comen All these betokened meruaylous thynges to come ¶ Anno domini vij C .xliiij. AFter Gregori zacharias was pope .x. yere This zachary was a noble man arayed with all vertues with all men he was loued for his mekenes And he deposed the kyng of FrauÌ„ce Hydery put in his place PippinuÌ„ for he was more profytable Here ye may se what power yâ— chirche had that tyme the whiche traÌ„slated that famous kyngdom from the very heyres to the kyngdom of Pippyn for a lefull cause Vt habetur xv q .v. alius ¶ Stephanus the second a Romayn was pope after zacha ry .v. yere This man in all thynge was profytable vnto the chirche as well in worde as in doctryne And he gouerned the spirytualte the temporalte nobly He was the louer the defender of poore men This man anoynted PippinuÌ„ the kyng of FrauÌ„ce sent hym agaynst the Lombardes that he sholde coÌ„pell them to restore the chirche of suche goodes as they had withholden from them longe tyme vnryghtwysly the whiche he dyd He also traÌ„slated the empyre of the Grekes to the frenssh men ¶ Paulus a Romayn was pope after hyÌ„ .x. yere This was a very holy man for he dyd grete almes to faderles children prysoners wydowes and other poore men that he myght be a folower of saynt Paule ¶ Constantyn yâ— second a Romayn was pope after Paule two yere This Constantyn was a lay man sodeynly was made a preest as a tyrauÌ„t toke on him the dignite of the pope and with a grete sclauÌ„dre to the chirche was pope a lytell tyme. But the faythfull men put hym out put out his eyen And this was yâ— fyfthe infamed pope amonge so many hytherto so the holy ghoost that holy apostles seet kepte in all honour and holy nes ¶ Infynyte martyrs were made this tyme by Constantyn the emperour for he was suche an heretyke And men trowe that there was neuer emperour nor no paynym that sleme so many martyrs And this tyme yâ— chirche was troubled full sore very precyously bought the worshyppyng of yâ— ymages of sayntes for yâ— grete shedynge of blode of martyrs And certaynly that cursed emperour was not vnpunysshed For whan he dyed he cryed with an horryble voyce sayd I am taken to a fyre that is vnable to be destroyed and so he yelded vp the ghost to euerlastyng payne ¶ The empyre of Rome was deuyded aboute this tyme. For Stephen yâ— pope translated ytaly other to Karolus yet a yonge man And Constantyn helde the londe of Grece with other londes ouer yâ— see with a grete labour and many rebellynge ¶ This tyme Karolus magnus was a noble yonge man he begaÌ„ for to regne vpon FrauÌ„ce was the sone of Pippinus and his moder was called Berta ¶ Stephanus the thyrde was pope after Paulus thre yere he amended all the errours of Constantyne And he degraded all those the whiche Constantyn ordeyned in a gouernall synody ¶ Anno domini vij C .lxxxiiij. ADrianus a Romayn was pope after Steuen .xxiiij. yere This man was myghtely worshypped of the people no man greter afore hym in honour rychesse buyldynge This man set two solempne synodyes The fyrst of iij C. and l. faders The secoÌ„de in Rome with an hondred fyfty faders beynge present Charles the kynge of Fraunce to whome it was graunted the lyberte of eleccyon of the pope and to ordeyne yâ— apostles se et ¶ Leo the fourth regned emperour with yâ— Grekes .v. yere This Leo was a cursed maÌ„ but not so moche as his fader was he was a couetous man he toke away a certayne crowne of a chirche and put it vpon his heed anone he was corrupted with an axes so decessed And he had a cursed wyfe the whiche regned after hym with her sone ¶ Constantyn was emperour after Leo he was a meke man and put awaye his moder fro yâ— kyngdom that she myght take hede vnto her womens werke But she with a fayned rancour put out his eyen afterwarde his children also and regned agayne thre yere And at the last she was aboute to haue ben wedded And whan the Grekes perceyued that she wold be wedded to grete Karolê° they toke her shette her vp in a monastery toke NichoferuÌ„ to be theyr emperour ¶ The .v. vniuersall study yâ— whiche in olde tyme was translated froÌ„ Athenes to Rome about this tyme was translated to Parys by Karolus kynge of FrauÌ„ce ¶ Nichoferê° was emperour after CoÌ„stantyn He was a very nygon was exalted to his empyre by the Grekes but he profyted not for in his tyme all the eest Imperyall was brought to nought For the Romayns put them vnder Karolus magnê° Â¶ IerusaleÌ„ about this tyme was recouered by Karolus with all the holy londe And the secte of sarasyns was destroyed strongly For the destruccyon of wretches came than ¶ Mychaell was emperour two yere And he was a very chrystâ— man was wel beloued was also conuynge in all scyences And those that Nichoferê° had hurte distressed of theyr goodes by his couetousnes this Michaell restored theÌ„ theyr goodes agayn ¶ Nota. Karolus magnus the fyrst saynt was emperour after Michaell he was crowned emperour by Leo the pope From yâ— whiche tyme the empyre was translated fro the Grekes to FrauÌ„ce Germany And for the translacyon of yâ— empyre the Grekes alway were defectyue vnto yâ— Romayns the Grekes stroue euermore with them but it was more with venymous wordes than with strength more with craft than with batayle For they had so grete enuy at yâ— Romayns that they wolde not obey the chirche of Rome For certaynly whan yâ— the popes wold wryte vnto them for to obey the chirche of Rome they wrote agayn and sayd Ye haue taken from our kynrede the empyre therfore we wyll you not obey and we vs take from you And as touchynge this noble emperour Karolus it is to be vnderstande this man whaÌ„ he was a yonge man he was anoynted kynge in FrauÌ„ce by Stephen the pope in the yere of our lorde Iesu Chryst vij C. and .liiij. whan his tader Pippinus lyued vnder whom with whome he regned .xv. yere to the deth of his fader Than after the deth of his fader in the yere of our lorde god vij C .lxviij. this Karolus with his broder Karolo manna regned two yere Than his broder decessed in the seconde yere
.xv. days ¶ Benedictê° the .iiij. was .iii. yere two monethes ¶ Leo yâ— .iiij. was .xl. days ¶ XpÌ„oforus the fyrst .vij. monethes These .viii. popes were but lytell tyme therfore we can not tell of them no notable thynges but yf we shold wryte sclauÌ„dre of them yâ— myght be fouÌ„de for the vnherd stryfe coÌ„tencyon in that holy apostles seet for one stroue agaynst another repreuing eche others dedes for to tel how they stroue it were no grete honour to shew for yâ— holy apostles se et ¶ Ludouicus yâ— thyrde was emperour after Arnulphê° .vi. yere This maÌ„ had not yâ— popes blessing for yâ— vnstablenes of them yâ— regned in Ytaly he was coÌ„strayned to expulse Bering And this man was the last emperour of all yâ— kynrede of Karolus king of frauÌ„ce ¶ This tyme the Empyre was remeued translated and deuyded For the Frensshmen helped not the chirche the whiche theyr faders had edyfyed fortefyed but destroyed them nor helped not the Romayns agaynst the Lombardes whiche vexed the Romayns ryght sore Therfore by yâ— comyns assent they were excluded from the Empyre the ytalyens began to be emperours in yta lye the Almayns in Almayne vntyll Octauien whiche regned in bothe yâ— places The frensshmen were constrayned to abyde in theyr owne couÌ„tre no more to be emperours for theyr myscheuous lyuynge ¶ Beringarius the fyrst Contadus Beringarius the seconde and Hugo were emperours after Lodewyke but they are not nombred amonge the Emperours For some were but in Almayne and some in Ytalye ¶ Of kynge Edwarde that was kynge Aluredes sone ANd after this Alured regned edward his sone and was a good man and a wyse was also wonders curteys The Danes dyd moche sorowe in the londe theyr power encreased began for to wexe from daye to daye for the Danes came oft with theyr companyes in to this londe Whan the kynge sawe that he myght no better do than he made peas with them and grauÌ„ted them his trewse And neuerthelesse the trewse dured not longe yâ— the Danes ne begaÌ„ to warre strongly vpon yâ— englysshmen dyd them moche sorowe wherfore kynge Edward let assemble a grete hoost for to fyght with them And than this kynge Edwarde dyed whan god wolde And he regned .xxiiij. yere and lyeth at Wynchestre besyde his fader ¶ Anno domini .ix. C. xiiij SErgius the thyrde was pope after Christofer .vij. yere This maÌ„ was a cardynall of Rome was expulsed by Formose the pope than he went to the frenshmen through the helpe of them he came agayne to Rome and expulsed Christofer the pope was pope hymselfe And for to auenge his exile he toke out yâ— body of pope Formose where as he was buryed and arayed hym in popes arayment and caused hym to be heded to be cast in to the water of Tyber by Rome Than fysshers fouÌ„de hym and brought hym in to the chirche the holy ymages of fayntes bowed downe vnto hym whan the body of hym was brought in to the chirche that all men myght se and honourably hym halsed Yet Sergius destroyed all those thynges the whiche the holy man had ordeyned ¶ Anastasius was pope after hym two yere ¶ Laudo was pope .v. monethes lytel they did ¶ IohaÌ„nes the .x. was pope than This Iohn was yâ— sone of Sergiê° pope bothe of nature of maners he was pope by myght wretchedly was slayne by G 〈…〉 does knightes for they put on his mouth a pyllow and stopped his breth And after hyÌ„ was another put in but anone he was put out and therfore he is not named a pope ¶ Henricus the duke of Saxonye was emperour of Almayn .xviij. yere This Henry was a noble man but he is not nombred amonge the emperours for he regned but al onely in Almayn he had a very holy womaÌ„ vnto his wyfe her name was Matilda on whom he gate two sones that is to saye OttoneÌ„ Harry Otto succeded hym in the empyre and Harry had moche londe in Almayn And he gate an other sone yâ— hyght Brimon was a very holy man and was bysshop of Coleyn and he founded the monastery of Panthaleon ¶ Of kynge Athelstone AFter this Edward regned Athelstone his sone and whan he had regned .iiij. yere he held batayle against the Danes droue kyng Gaufrid that was kyng of Danes all his hoost to yâ— see rested by scotlonde toke strongly all yâ— couÌ„tree an hole yere And after that they of Cumberlonde the Scottes of WestmerloÌ„de began to warre vpoÌ„ king Athelston he gaue them so stronge batayle yâ— he slewe so many of them that no man coude tell yâ— noÌ„bre of them And after that he regned but .iij. yere he regned in all .xxv. yere lieth at Malmesbury ¶ Of kynge Edmund AFter this Athelstone regned Edmund his broder for king Athelston had no sone this Edmund was a worthy man a doughty knyght of body also noble And the thyrd yere after that he was kyng he went ouer HuÌ„ber into yâ— couÌ„tree where he fouÌ„de two kynges of Danes yâ— one was called Enelaf and that other Renant This kyng Edmund droue them bothe from the londe and after went and toke a grete prey in Cumberlonde This Edmunde regned but .vij. yere lyeth at Glastenbury ¶ Of kynge Eldred ANd after this Edmund regned Eldred his broder that auenged Edward his fader of his enemyes yâ— did slee hym and afterwarde he seased all Northumberlond in to his handes and made the Scottes for to bowe and meke vnto his wyll And in the second yere of his regne came Arnalaf Guyran that was kyng of Denmarke and seased all Northumberlonde helde yâ— londe two yere And after that came kyng Eldred with a grete power droue hym out of this londe And this king Eldred was a noble man a good of whose goodnes saynt DuÌ„stan preched And this Eldred regned .xj. yere lyeth at Wynchestre ¶ Of kynge Edwyn ANd after this Eldred regned Edwyn the sone of Edmund he was an vncouenable man towarde god and the people For he hated folke of his owne londe loued honoured strauÌ„ge men set lytell by holy chirche and he toke of holy chirche all the treasour that he myght haue that was grete shame and vylany to hymselfe peryll to his soule And therfore god wolde not that he sholde regne no longer than .iiii. yere and dyed and lyeth at Wynchestre LEo the syxthe a Romayns was pope .vj. monethes ¶ Stephanus the .vii. a Romayn was pope after hyÌ„ two yere ¶ Iohn the .xj. a Romayn was pope .iij. yere ¶ Stephanus the viij a Germayne was pope after hym viij yere ¶ Mart 〈…〉 s the thyrde was pope after hym thre yere And of these vj. popes is no thynge had in scripture For what cause I can not tell ¶ Anno domini .ix. C. liiij AGapitus a
after that he had forgyuen Estrilde the quene her trespace bycause that she was cause of kyng Edwardes deth and saynt Dunstan had her alloyled enioyned her penaunce and she lyued after a chaste lyfe and a clene This kyng Eldred wedded an Englysshe woman on her he begate Edmund Iren syde and an other sone that was called Edwyne And after dyed the quene theyr moder And in that tyme came Swyne in to Englonde that was kyng of Denmarke for to chalenge and conquere all that his auncestres had before the tyme And so he conquered and had it all at his askynge For the good erle Cuthbert of Lyndesey all the people of Northumlonde and almoost all the gretest men of Englond helde with Swyne that was king of DeÌ„marke for as moche as they loued not kyng Eldred bycause that his good broder Edwarde was falsly slayne for the loue of hym and therfore no man set but lytell by hym Wherfore kynge Swyne had all his wyll toke all the londe And Eldred the kyng than fledde in to Normandy and so spake to the duke Rycharde that the duke gaue hym his syster Emme to wyfe vpon the whiche he gate two sones that one was called Alured and that other Edwarde And whan kyng Swyne had coÌ„quered all the londe he regned nobly lyued .xv. yere and than he dyed and lyeth at yorke ¶ How kyng Eldred came agayn from NormaÌ„dy and how Knoght the Dane regned and of the warre bytwene hym and Edmunde Irensyde AFter the deth of Swyne that was a Dane Knoght his sone dwelled in Englonde wolde haue ben king And thaÌ„ came agayn Eldred out of Nor mandy with a grete nombre of people a stronge army that Knoght durst not abyde but fledde thens in to Denmark The kynge Eldred had agayne his realme and helde so grete lordshyp that he begaÌ„ to destroye all those that helped Swyne that was a Dane agaynst hyÌ„ And afterwarde this Knoght came agayn from Denmarke with a grete power so that kynge Eldred durst not fyght with hym but fledde from thens vnto London and there helde hym Than came Knoght and besyeged hym so longe tyll that kynge Eldred dyed in the cite of London and lyeth in saynt Paules chirche And he regned .ix. yere BOnus was pope after Benedict one yere This man abode but a lytell tyme. ¶ Bonifacius was pope after hym fyue monethes ¶ Benedictus was pope after hym .x. yere This man crowned Otto the seconde made many Romayns to be taken he gadered a couÌ„seyle agaynst the kynge of FrauÌ„ce where Gylbert the nygromancer was deposed ¶ IohaÌ„nes the .xiiij. was pope after hym .viij. monethes he was put in the castell Aungell and was famysshed to deth ¶ IohaÌ„nes that .xv. was pope after hym .iiij. monethes ¶ IohaÌ„nes the .xvj. was pope after hyÌ„ almoost xj yere This man was taught in armes made many bokes elles lytell of hym is wryten ¶ Gregorius the .v. was pope after this man almoost thre yere This Gregory was made pope at the instaunce of the emperour Otto the thyrde for he was his cosin And whan he had ben a lytell whyle pope and the emperour receded from the cite of Rome PlaceÌ„tinus was put in by Crescencius a consull for money than was stryfe a fewe dayes But the emperour came soone after agayn toke Crescencius the consul stroke of his heed put out the eyen of this man that put out his cosyn of the dignite of the poperyche maymed hym in other membres and his dukes ne his knightes helped hyÌ„ no thyÌ„ge For he dyd that thynge that he shold not haue done and he suffred that that he deserued ¶ Nota. This Gregory with the emperour Otto ordeyned there the chosers of the empyre the whiche from thens forth hath abyden vnto this day For the frensshmen nor none other myght not breke the ordynaunce And those chosers of the Empyre by the pope Otto were not made for ony blame of the saxons but to eschewe the petylles to come And theyr names ben wryten in latyn for lerned men in these verses Magun â—inensis Treuerensis Coloniensis quilibet imperij fit cancellarius horum Et Palatinus dapifer Dux portitor ensis Marchio prepositus camere Pincerna Bohemus Hij statuunt dominuÌ„ cuÌ„ctis per secula summuÌ„ Palatiâ—ê° est comes Reni Marchio est Brandeburgensis Dux SaxonuÌ„ Et rex BohemoruÌ„ VeruÌ„ vt quidam dicunt Through this occasyon the Egle hath lost many a fether and in the ende he shall be made naked ¶ Otto the thyrde was emperour .xviij. yere This man was a worthy man all the dayes of his empyre And after the wysdome of his fader he was a very faythfull man to the chirche And in many batayles he ê“spered bycause he was deuoute to almyghty god his sayntes And gaue myghty worshyppyng vnto the relykes of sayntes And oftentymes he visyted holy places This man was crowned by Gregory his cosyn And at the last he decessed at Rome ¶ Anno domini M .iiij. Nota. SIluester the second was pope after Gregory .iiij. yere he was made pope by the helpe of the deuyll to whome he dyd homage for he sholde gyue hym all thynge that he desyred he was called Gylbert And his enemy gate hym the grace of the kynge of frauÌ„ce and he made hym bysshop of Remensis but anone he was deposed And after he gate the grace of the Emperour was made bysshop of Rauennie after pope but he had an ende anone so haue all that put theyr hope in fals deuyls Yet men trust in his saluacyon for certayne demonstracions of his sepulture for the grete penauÌ„ce that he dyd in his last ende For he made his handes legges to be cut of dismeÌ„bred all his body made them to be cast out at the dore to foules than his body to be drawen with wylde beestes and there to be buryed where so euer they rested as an houÌ„de And they stode styll at saynt Iohn de Latrans there he was buryed that was signe of his saluacyon ¶ IohaÌ„nes the .xviij. was pope .v. monethes ¶ Iohannes the .xix. was pope after hym fyue yere And these two dyd lytel thyÌ„ges ¶ Henricus the fyrst was emperour in Almayn xx yere This Henry was duke of Barry and all accordyng he was chosen for his blyssed fame good name the whiche he had And it is redde that many of these dukes of Barry were holy men not all onely in absteynynge them from flesshly desyres but also in vertuous lyuyng And this Henry had a syster that was as holy as he whome he gaue to wyfe vnto the kynge of Hungary And she brought all Hungary vnto the right byleue and chrysten fayth And his wyues name was Sanâ—â—a Roâ—â—ogundis with whome he lyued a virgyn all the dayes of his lyfe And he made many a batayle as well in ytaly as in Almayn agayust them
¶ Nycolas the seconde was pope after Benedicte two yere This Nycolas called a couÌ„seyle agaynst the archedeken of Turonosens whiche was an heretyke he taught agaynst the fayth For he erred in the sa crament after he was coÌ„uerted was an holy man but he coude neuer coÌ„uerte his discyples ¶ Nota. ¶ Alexander the seconde was pope after hyÌ„ .xij. yere This Alexander was an holy man he ordeyned that vnder payne of cursynge that no man shold here a preestes masse whome they knewe had a â—â—man Vt pâ— xxxij dist preter hoc He had strife with one Codulo but he expulsed hyÌ„ as an vsurper put hym out as a symoner ¶ How Harolde that was Godwyns sone was made kynge how he escaped fro the duke of Normandy Whan â—ayÌ„t Edward was gone out of this worlde and was passed to god worthely buryed as it apperteyned to suche a grete lorde for to be The barons of the londe wolde haue had Edward Helingus sone to Edward yâ— outlawe that was EdmuÌ„d Irensydes sone to be kyngr bycause he was of yâ— moost kyndest kynges blode of yâ— realme But Harold through the erle Godwyn his fader through other grete lordes of yâ— realme that were of his kynne seased all Englonde in to his handes anone let crowne hym kyng after the buryenge of saynt Edward ¶ This Hatold yâ— was Godwyns sone two yere afore saynt Edward dyed he wold haue gone in to FlauÌ„dres but he was dryuen by teÌ„pest in to the couÌ„tree of Pountyf there he was taken brought to duke Willyam And this Harold wende that duke Willyam wolde haue ben auenged on hyÌ„ bycause that Haroldes fader had let slee Alured saynt Edwardes broder pryncypally bycause Alured was sone to quene Emma that was Rychardes moder duke of Normandy yâ— was grandfader to duke Willyam Neuerthelesse he dyd not so for as moche as Harold was a noble a wyse knight that his fader he were accorded with saynt Edwarde therfore he wolde not mysdo hym but alowed all thynge ordeyned bytwene them Harold by his good wyll sware vpon a boke vpon holy saintes that he shold spouse wedde duke Wyllyams doughter after the deth of saynt Edward yâ— he sholde do his besy cure to saue kepe yâ— realme of Englonde vnto yâ— profyte auauÌ„tage of duke William And whaÌ„ Harold had thus made his othe vnto duke William he let hym go free out of pryson gaue hyÌ„ many ryche gyftes And than he departed thens came in to Englond and anone dyd in this maner whaÌ„ saynt Edward was deed as a fals forsworne man let crowne hymselfe kynge of Englonde and falsly brake the couenaunt yâ— he had made before with duke Willyam wherfore he was wonders wroth with hym swore that he wolde be auenged vpon hym what someuer hym befell And anone duke Willyam let assemble a grete hoost came in to Englonde to auenge hym vpon Harold to conquere yâ— londe yf that he myght ¶ And in yâ— same yere that Harold was crowned Harald Hare strenge kyng of Denmarke arryued in Scotlonde thought to haue ben kyng of Englonde he came in to Englond robbed slewe all yâ— he myght tyll yâ— he came to Yorke and there he slewe a. M. men of armes and an hondred preestes ¶ Whan these tydynges came to yâ— king he assembled a grete power went for to fyght with Haralde of Denmarke with his owne handes he slewe hym the danes were discomfyted And those that were left alyue with moche sorow fledde to theyr shyppes And thus kyng Harold of Englonde slewe kyng Harald of Denmarke ¶ Here came the Normans and expulsed Harold a Saxon. Wilhelums conquestor ¶ Anno dnÌ„i M .lxvj. ¶ How Willyam bastard duke of Normandy came in to Englonde and slewe kynge Harolde ANd whaÌ„ this batayle was done Harolde became so proude that he wolde no thynge parte with his people of ony thynge yâ— he had goten but helde it all to hymself wherfore yâ— moost parte of his people were wroth and departed from hym so that onely were left with hym but his soudyours ¶ And vpon a daye as he sate at meet a messenger came to hym sayd that William bastard duke of NormaÌ„dy was arryued in Englonde with a grete hoost had taken all the londe aboute Hastynges also myned the castell Whan yâ— kyng had herde these tydynges he went thyder with a small power in all the haste yâ— he myght for there was but fewe people left with hym And whan he was comen thyder he ordeyned to gyue batayle to the duke Wyllyam But yâ— duke asked hyÌ„ of these thre thynges yf that he wold haue his doughter to wyfe as he had promysed sworne his othe or that he wolde holde the londe of hym in truage or that he wold determyne this thynge in batayle This Harold was a proude man and a stronge trusted moche in his strength and fought with the duke Willyam his people But Harolde and his men were discomfyted in that batayle hymselfe there was slayn And this batayle was ended at Toubrydge in the seconde yere of his regne vpon saynt Calixtes daye and so he was buryed at waltham ¶ Of kynge Willyam bastard how he gouerned hym well and wysely and of the warre bytwene hym the kynge of Fraunce WHan Wyllyam bastard duke of Normandy had conquered all yâ— londe of Englond vpon Chrystmasse daye nexte folowynge he let hym to be crowned kynge at westmynster was a worthy kyng gaue to englyssh men londes largely to his knyghtes And afterwarde he went ouer the see came in to Normandy there dwelled a whyle And in the seconde yere of his regne he came agayne in to Englond brought with hym Maude his wyfe let crowne her quene of Englonde on whyt sondaye ¶ And than anone after yâ— king of Scotlond that was called Mancolyn began to stryue warre with the kyng William And he ordeyned hym toward Scotlond with his men bothe by londe and by see for to destroye kynge Mancolyn But they were accorded the kyng of Scotlonde became his man helde all his londe of hym And king William receyued of hym his homage and came agayn in to Englond And whan kyng William had regned .xvij. yere Maude the quene dyed on whome kynge Wyllyam had begoten many fayre children that is to saye Robert Curtoys WilliaÌ„ Rous Rycharde also that dyed Henry Beauclerk Maude also that was the erles wyfe of Bleynes and other foure fayre doughters And after his wyues deth there began grete debate bytwene hym Philyp the kyng of FrauÌ„ce But at the last they were accorded And than dwelled yâ— kyng of Englond in Normandy no man hym warred he no man longe tyme. ¶ And the kyng of FrauÌ„ce sayd vpon a daye in scorne of kyng William yâ— he had longe tyme lyen
were destroyed through the iudgemeÌ„t of god he was pope agayn and lyued profytably and was buryed at saynt Iohn de Latran ¶ How Stephen the was kyng Henryes systers sone was made king of englond AFter this kyng Henry that was the fyrst was made kynge his neuew his systers sone Stephen erle of Bolloyn For anone as he herde the rydynges of his vncles deth he passed the see came in to Englonde through counseyle and helpe of many grete lordes of Englonde agaynst theyr othe that they had made to Maude the empresse toke the realme let crowne Stephen kyng of the londe And the archebysshop Willyam of CauÌ„terbury that first made the othe of fâ—aute to Maud the empresse set the crowne vpon Stephens heed and hym anoynted bysshop Roger of Salysbury maynteyned the kynges party in as moche as he might The first yere that kyng Stephen began to regne he assembled a grete hoost went towarde Scotlonde for to haue warred vpon the kyng of ScotloÌ„de But he came agaynst hym in peas and in good maner and to hym trusted but he made to hym none â—omage for as moche as he had made vnto the empresse Maud. And in the fourth yere of his regne Maude the empresse came in to Englond And than began debate bytwene kyng Stephen Maude the empresse This Maude went to the rite of Nicholl the kyng her besyeged longe tyme myght not spede so well the cite was kepte defended And those that were wtin the cite subtylly escaped awaye without ony maner of harme And than toke the kynge the cite dwelled therin tyll Candelmas And than came the barons the helde with the empresse that is to saye the erle Randulf of Chestre the erle Robert of Glocestre Hugh Bygot Roberte of Morlay these brought with them a stronge power faught with the kynge gaue hyÌ„ a stronge batayle in the whiche batayle kyng Stephen was taken and set in pryson in the castell of Brystowe ¶ How Maude the empresse wente fro Wynchestre vnto Oxford and after she escaped to Walyngford of the sorowe and dysease that she had WHan kyng Stephen was taken brought in to warde in the castell of Brystowe this Maude the empresse was made lady of all Englonde and all men helde her for lady of the londe But those of Kent helde with kynge Stephens wyfe also Willyam of Pree his retynue helped them and helde warre agaynst Maude the empresse And anone after the kyng of Scotlond came to them with an huge noÌ„bre of people And than went they togider to Winchestre where as the empresse was wolde haue taken her But the erle of Glocestre came with his power faught with them And the empresse in the meane whyle the the batayle dured escaped from them went vnto Oxford and there helde her And in that bataylâ— was the erle of â—â—o cestre discomfyted taken with hym many other lordes And for his delyueraunce was kynge Stephen delyuered out of prison And whan he was delyuered out of pryson he wente thens vnto Oxford besyeged the empresse the than was at Oxford And the syege endured fro Myghelmasse vnto saynt Andrewes tyme. And the empresse than let clothe her all in whyte lâ—nen cloth for bycause she wolde not be know 〈…〉 For in the same tyme was moche â—â—owe so she escaped by the Tamyse from her enemyes And from thens she went to Walyngforde there helde her And the kynge wolde haue besyeged her but he had so moche to do with the erle Randulf of Chestre and with Hugh By got the strongly war red vpon hym in euery place the he wyst not whether for to turne And the erle of Glocestre holpe hym with his power ¶ How Gaufryde the erle of Angel gaue vnto Henry the empresse sone all Normandy ANd after this the kynge wente vnto Wylton and wolde haue made a castell there But than came to him the erle of Glocestre with a stronge power there almoost he had taken the kynge but yet the kynge escaped with moche payne Willyam Martell there was taken and for whose delyuerauÌ„ce they gaue vnto the erle of Glocestre the good castell of Shyrborne that he had taken And whan this was done the erle Robert all the kynges enemyes went vnto Faringdon began there to make a stronge castell But the kynge came thyder with a stronge power droue hym thens And in the same yere the erle Randulf of Chestre was accorded with the kynge and came vnto the courte at his coÌ„muÌ„demeÌ„t And the erle wende safely for to come the kyng anone let take hyÌ„ and put hym in pryson â— myght neuer for no thynge come out tyll that he had yelded vp to the kynge the castell of Nicholl the whiche he had taken from the kyng with his strength in the xv yere of his regne And Gaufryde the erle of Angeo gaue vp to Henry his sone all Normandy And in the yere nexte folowynge dyed the erle Gaufryd And anone Henry his sone returned agayne to Anglo there was made erle with moche honour of his men of the londe to hym dyd feaute and homage the moost parte of the londe And than was this Henry the empresse sone erle of Angeo and also duke of Normandy ¶ In the same yere was made a dyuorse bytwene the kynge of FrauÌ„ce and the quene his wyfe that was right heyre of Gascoyne for bycause the it was knowen proued that they were sybbe and nye of blode And than spoused her Henry the empresse sone erle of Angeo duke of Normandy duke of Gascoyne ¶ In the .xviij. yere of this Stephen this Henry came into Englonde with a stronge power began to warre vpon this kyng Stephen and toke the castell of Malmesbury and dyd moche harme And the kynge Stephen had so moche warre that he wyst not whether for to go But at the last they were accorded through the archebysshop Theobalde and other worthy lordes of Englonde vpon this coÌ„dicyon that they sholde departe the realme of Englonde bytwene them so that Henry the empresse sone sholde holly haue the halfe of all the londe of Englonde And thus they were accorded and peas was cryed through out all Englonde And whan the accorde was made bytwene those two lordes kynge Stephen became very sory for bycause that he had lost halfe Englonde fell in to suche a malady that he dyed in the .xix. yere and. viiâ— wekes .v. dayes of his regne all in trouble warre he lyeth in the abbey of Feuersham the whiche he let make in the .vj. yere of his regne CElestinus the seconde was pope after InnoceÌ„t .v. monethes lytell he dyd ¶ Lucius was after hym lytell profyted for they dyed bothe in a pestylence ¶ Eugenius the seconde was pope after hym .v. yere iiiâ— monethes This man fyrst was the discyple of saynt Bernarde and after the
those two realmes of the popes handes And sholde euery yere paye ferme vnto the courte of Rome a thousande marke of syluer And than toke the kynge the crowne of his heed set hyÌ„ on his knees and these wordes he sayd in herynge of all the grete lordes of englonde Here I resygne vp the crowne the realme of englonde in to the handes of pope Inno cent the thyrde put me hooly in to his mercy in his ordinauÌ„ce Pandulf than receyued yâ— crowne of kyng Iohn kept it .v. dayes as for a seasynge takynge of two realmes of Englonde and Irlonde And confermed all maner thynges by his chartre that foloweth after ¶ Of the lettre oblygatory that kynge Iohn made vnto the courte of Rome wherfore the Peter pens ben gadered through out all Englonde TO all christeÌ„ people throuâ—h out all the worlde dwellynge Iohn by the grace of god kynge of Englonde gretynge to your vniuersite And be it knowen that for as moche as we haue greued offended god our moder chirche of Rome And for as moche as we haue nede vnto the mercy of our lorde Iesu Chryst also we may no thynge so worthy offre as competent sa 〈…〉 to make to god to holy chirche but 〈◊〉 it were our owne body as with â—ur realmes of Englonde of Irlonde Than by the grace of god we desyre to meke vs for the loue of hym yâ— meked hym to the deth vpon the crosse through counseyle of the noble erles barons we offre and frely grauÌ„te to god to yâ— apostles saynt Peter saynt Paule and to our moder chirche of Rome to our holy fader the pope Innocent the thyrde to all yâ— popes yâ— come after hym all the realmes patronages of chirches of EngloÌ„de of Irlonde with theyr appertenauÌ„tes for remyssyon of our synnes for helpe helth of our kynne soules all chrysten soules So yâ— from this daye afterward we wyl receyue and holde of our moder thirche of Rome as fee farme doynge feaute to our holy fader pope Innocent the thyrde so to all the popes that cometh after hym in yâ— same maner aboue sayd And in yâ— presence of the wyse man Pandulf the popes subdeken we make lyege homage as it were in the popes presence before hym were and shal do all maner thynges aboue sayd therto we bynde vs all that cometh after vs our heyres for euermore without ony gaynsayenge to the pope eke yâ— warde of chirche vacauÌ„tes And in tokeÌ„ of this thynge euermore for to last we wyl con ferme ordeyn that our specyall rentes of yâ— foresayd realme sauynge saynt Peters pens in all thynge to yâ— moder chirche of Rome payenge by yere a thousan de marke of syluer at two termes of the yere for all maner customes yâ— we sholde do for yâ— foresayd realmes that is to saye at Myghelmasse and at Eester that is to saye vij C. marke for Englonde and thre hondred marke for Irlond sauyng to vs to our heyres our Iustyces and our other fraunchyses other ryaltees that perteyneth vnto the crowne And these thynges that before ben sayd we wyl that it be ferme and stable without ende And to that oblygacyon we our successours and our heyres in this maner be bounde that yf we or ony of our heyres through ony presumpcyon fall in ony poynt agaynst ony of these thynges aboue sayd and he be warned and wyll not ryght amende hym he shall than lose the foresayd realmes for euermore And that this chartre of oblygacyon and our warrauÌ„t for euermore be ferme and stable without ony gaynsay enge we shall fro this daye afterwarde be true to god and to the moder chirche of Rome and to the pope Innocent the thyrde and to all them that cometh after hym and the realmes of Englonde and of Irlonde we shall trewly mayntayne in all maner poyntes agaynst all maner men by our power through goddes helpe ¶ How the clerkes that were outlawed of Englonde came agayn how kynge Iohn was assoyled WHan this chartre was made ensealed the kynge receyued agayne his crowne of Pandulfs hande sente anone vnto the archebysshop Stephen to all his other clerkes and lewd men that he had exyled out of this londe that they sholde come agayn in to Englonde haue agayn theyr londes also theyr rentes that he wolde make restytucyon of the goodes that he had taken of theyrs agaynst theyr wyll The kyng hymselfe than Pandulf the erles barons went to wynchestre agaynst yâ— archebysshop Stephen And whan he was comen the kynge wente agaynst hym fell downe to his feet thus to hym sayd Fayre syr ye be welcome I crye you mercy bycause that I haue trespaced agaynst you The archebysshop toke hyÌ„ vp tho in his armes kyssed hym curteysly ofteÌ„tymes after ladde hym to the dore of saynt Swythynes chirche by the hande assoyled hym of yâ— sentence and hym recoÌ„cyled to god to holy chirche And that was on saynt Margaretes daye And the arche bysshop anone went for to synge masse And yâ— kyng offred at the masse a marke of golde And whan yâ— masse was done all they went to receyue al theyr londes without ony maner gaynsayenge And that daye they made all myrth and ioye ynough But yet was not yâ— enterdytynge releaced bycause yâ— pope had set that the enterdytynge sholde not be done tyll the kyng had made full restitucyon of yâ— goodes that he had take of holy chirche And yâ— hymselfe sholde do homage to the pope by a tertayne legate that he sholde sende into englonde And thaÌ„ toke Pandulf his leue of yâ— kynge the archebysshop went agayne to Rome And the archebysshop anone let come before him prelates of holy chirche at Redynge for to treate couÌ„seyle how moche what they sholde aske of yâ— kynge for to make restytucyon of yâ— goodes yâ— he had taken of them And they ordeyned sayd that the kyng sholde gyue to yâ— archebysshop thre thousande marke for the wronge yâ— the kynge had done vnto hym And also by porcions to other clerkes .xv. M. marke ¶ And this same tyme Nicolas bysshop of Tuscan cardynall penytencer of Rome came in to Englonde through the popes coÌ„mauÌ„dement the .v. kalende of October came to London yâ— .v. nonas of October for bycause that kyng Iohn all the kynges yâ— came after hym shold euermore holde yâ— realme of Englonde of Irlonde of god of the pope payenge to the pope by yere as is aboue sayd ¶ How yâ— enterdytynge was vndone in englonde of yâ— debate yâ— was bytwene kyng Iohn the barons of the realme WHan kynge Iohn had done his homage to yâ— legate yâ— shewed hyÌ„ the popes lettre yâ— he shold paye to Iulyan and yelde agayne that was kynge Rychardes wyfe yâ— thyrde parte of the londe of Englonde
than renewed all the frauÌ„chyses that kynge Iohn had grauÌ„ted at Romney mede kyng Henry than coÌ„fermed by his chartre the whiche yet ben holden through out all Englonde And in yâ— tyme yâ— kyng toke of euery plough londe two shyllynges And Hubert of Burgh was than made chefe iustyce of engloÌ„de And this was in yâ— fourth yere of kynge Henryes regne And in yâ— same yere was saynt Thomas of CauÌ„terbury translated the .l. yere after his martyrdome ¶ And after it was ordeyned by all the lordes of Englonde yâ— all alyens shold go out of Englonde come no more therin And kyng Henry toke than all yâ— castels in to his handes yâ— kyng Iohn his fader had gyuen taken to alyens for to kepe that held with hym But yâ— proude Faukes of Brent rychely let araye his castell of Bedford whiche he had of king Iohns gyfte and he helde that castell agaynst kyng Henryes wyl with might strength And the kyng came thyder with a stronge power and besyeged the castell And the archebysshop mayster Stephen of lang ton with a fayre company of knyghtes came to the kyng for to helpe hym And from the Ascencyon of our lord vnto the Assumpcyon of our lady lasted yâ— syege and than was the castell wonne and taken And the kynge let hange all those that were gone in to yâ— castel wich theâ— good wyll for to hold the castell agaynst hym that is to say .lxxx. men And than afterwarde Faukes hymselfe was fouÌ„de in a chirche of Couentre and there iâ— forsware all Englonde with moche shame and than wente agayne in to his owne couÌ„tree ¶ And whyles that kyng Henry regned Edmonde of Abyndon that was tresourer of Salysbury was consecrate archebysshop of Caunterbury ¶ And this kynge Henry sente ouer see vnto the erle of Prouance that he sholde sende him his doughter in to Englende that was called Elâ—nore and he wolde spouse her And so she came in to Englonde after Chrystmas and on the morowe after saynt Hylaryes daye the archebysshop Edmonde spoused them togyder at Westmynster with grete solempnite And there was a fayre syght bytwene them that is for to saye Edwarde that was nexte kynge after his fader floure of curteysy and of largesse and Margarete that was afterwarde quene of Scotlonde and Beatryne that was afterwarde duchesse of Brytayne And Katheryne that dyed a mayde in relygyon ¶ Of the quinzeme of goodes that were grauÌ„ted for the newe chartre and of the purucyaunce of Oxford ANd thus it befell yâ— the lordes of Englonde wold haue some addicyons moo in the chartre of frauÌ„chyse yâ— they had of the kynge spake thus bytwene them And yâ— kyng grauÌ„ted them all theyr askynge made to them two chartres yâ— one is called yâ— grete chartre of frauÌ„chyses that other is called the chartre of forest And for yâ— grauÌ„t of these two chartres prelates erles barons all the comyns of Englonde gaue to yâ— kynge a. M. marke of syluer ¶ Whan kynge Henry had ben kynge .xiiij. yere the same yere he his lordes erles barons of the realme went to Oxford and ordeyned a lawe in amendement of yâ— realme And fyrst sware yâ— kyng hymselfe and afterwarde all the lordes of yâ— londe that they wolde holde yâ— statute for euer more who that them brake sholde be deed But the seconde yere after that ordynauÌ„ce the kynge through couÌ„seyle of syr Edwarde his sone of Rychard his broder that was erle of Cornewayle also of other repented hym of that othe that he had made for to holde that lawe ordynauÌ„ce sente to yâ— courte of Rome to be assoyled of that othe ¶ And in the yere nexte comynge after was the grete derth of corne in englonde for a quarter of whete was worth .xxiiij. shyllynges And the poore people ete nettyls other wedes for grete honger many a. M. dyed for defaute of meet ¶ And in the xlviij yere of kyng Henryes regne begaÌ„ warre debate bytwene hym and his lordes for bycause that he had broken yâ— couenauÌ„tes yâ— were made bytwene them at Oxford ¶ And in the same yere was the towne of Northamton taken folke slayne that were within for bycause yâ— they had made and ordeyned wylde fyre for to brenne the cite of London ¶ And in the moneth of Maye that came nexte after vpon saynt Pancras daye was yâ— batayle of Lewes whiche was yâ— wednesdaye before saynt Dunstans daye there was taken kyng Henry hymselfe syr Edwarde his sone Rychard his broder erle of Cornewayl many other lordes ¶ And in the same yere nexte folowynge syr Edwarde the kynges sone brake out of the warde of syr Symon of MouÌ„tford erle of Leycestre at Herford and went vnto the barons of yâ— Marche and they receyued hym with moche honour ¶ And the same tyme Gylbert of Clarence erle of Glocestre that was in yâ— ward also of yâ— foresayd SymoÌ„ through the coÌ„mauÌ„dement of kynge Henry that went from hym with a grete herte for bycause he sayd yâ— the foresayd Gylbert was a fole in his couÌ„seyle wherfore he ordeyned hyÌ„ afterward so helde hyÌ„ with kyng Henry And on yâ— saterdaye next after yâ— myddes of August syr Edwarde yâ— kynges sone discomfited syr Symon of MouÌ„tford at Kelinworth but the grete lordes yâ— were there with hyÌ„ were taken yâ— is to saye Baldewyn wake WilliaÌ„ de MouÌ„chensie many other grete lordes And yâ— tewesdaye nexte after was yâ— batayle done at Eusham there was slayne syr Symon of MouÌ„tford Hugh spenser MouÌ„tford that was Rafe Bassets fader of Draiton and many other grete lordes And whaÌ„ this batayle was done all yâ— gentylmen that had ben with the erle Symon were disheryted they ordeyned togyder dyd moche harme to all yâ— lond For they destroyed theyr enemyes in all that they myght ¶ Of the syege of Kelynworth how the gentylmen were disherited through counseyle of the lordes of the realme of Englonde and how they came agayne and had theyr â—â—â—des ANd the nexte yere comynge in Maye the fourth daye before yâ— teest of saynt Dunstan was the batayle dyscomfyture at Chest erfelde of them that were disheryted there was many of them slayne And Robert erle of Fe riers there was takeÌ„ also Baldewyn and Iohn de la hay with moche sorowe escaped thens And on saynt Iohn baptystes eue than nexte folowynge began the syege of the castell of Kenilworth the syege lasted to sayne Thomas eue yâ— apostle on whiche daye syr Hugh Hastynge had yâ— castell for to kepe that yelded vp the castel vnto the kynge in this maner that hymself the other yâ— were within the castell sholde haue theyr lyues lyÌ„mes all that they had therin bothe hors harneys foure dayes of respyte for to delyuer clenely yâ— castell of themself of all other maner thynge as they had within the castell And so
men bette downe the kynges castels began fast for to destroye kyng Edwardes londes And whan the tydynges came vnto the kynge of this thynge he went in to Wales so moche he dyd through goddes grace and his grete power that he droue Lewlin to grete myschefe that he fledde all maner strength came yelded hym vnto kynge Edward gaue hym .l. M. marke of syluer to haue peas toke the damoysell all his herytage made an obly gacyon to kyng Edward to come to his parlyament two tymes in the yere ¶ And in the seconde yere after yâ— kynge Edward was crowned he helde a generall parlyameÌ„t at Westmynster there he made the statutes for defaute of lawe by the comyn assent of all his baronage And at eester nexte after the kynge sent by his lettre vnto Lewlyn prynce of Wales that he shold come to his parlyameÌ„t for his londe for his holding of Wales as the strength of the lettre oblygatory wytnessed Than Lewlyn had scorne despyte of yâ— kynges coÌ„mauÌ„dement And for pure wrath agayn begaÌ„ warre vpon kynge Edward destroyed his londes And whan kyng Edward herde of these tydyÌ„ges he waxed wonders wroth vnto Lewlyn in haste assembled a grete power of people went towarde Wales and warred so vpon Lewlyn the prynce tyll yâ— he brought hym in moche sorow dysease And Lewlyn sawe that his defence myght not auayle hym and came agayn yelded hym to yâ— kynges grace cryed him mercy longe tyme knâ—led before yâ— kynges feet The kynge â—ad of hym pyte coÌ„mauÌ„ded hym to aâ—â—se for his mekenes forgaue hyÌ„ his wrathe and to hym sayd that yf he trespaced agaynst hyÌ„ an other tyme that he wolde destroye hyÌ„ for euermore Dauid yâ— was Lewlins broder yâ— same tyme dwelled with kyng Edward was a fell man and a subtyll enuyous also ferre castynge and moche treason thought euermore made good semblaunt semed so 〈◊〉 yâ— no man myght perceyue his falsnes ¶ How Lewlyn through â—ggâ—nge of his broder Dauid warred agayn vpon kynge Edwarde IT was not longe tyme that tyme that kynge Edward gaue to Dauid Lewlyns broder the lordship of â—rodesham and made hym knyght And so moche honour dyd he neuer after to no man of Wales bycause of hym ¶ Kyng Edward helde his parlyament at London whan he had done in Wales al that he wolde chauÌ„ged his money yâ— was foule kyt rouÌ„ded wherfore the people coÌ„playned sore so yâ— the king let enquyre of the trespassours And .ccc. were atteynted of suche maner of falsnes wherfore some were hanged and some drawen hanged And afterward the kyng ordey ned that the sterling halfpeny ferthyng sholde go through out all his londe And coÌ„mauÌ„ded that no man fro that daye afterwarde gaue ne â—eoffed hous of religyon with londe or tenemeÌ„t without specyall leue of the kynge he that dyd sholde be punysshed at the kynges wyll the gyfte sholde be for nought ¶ And it was not longe after that Lewlyn prynce of Wales through the entycement of Dauid his broder and by bothe theyr consent they thought to dysheryte kynge Edward in as moche as they myght so that through them bothe the kynges peas was broken And whan kyng Edward herde of this anone he sent his baroÌ„s in to Northum berlonde the surreys also that they shold go take theyr vsage vpon the traytours Lewlyn Dauyd wonders harde it was for to warre than For it is wynter in Wales whan in other couÌ„trees it is somer And Lewlyn let ordeyne well aray vitayle his good castel of Swandon and therin was an huge nombre of people plente of vitayles so that kyng Edward wyst not where to entre And whan the kynges men it perceyued also the strength of Wales they let come in to the see barges botes grete plankes as many as they might ordeyne haue for to go to the foresayd castell of Swandon with men on fote also on hors But the Walshmen had so moche people were so stronge that they droue the Englysshmen backe so that there was so moche prees of people at the turnynge agayn that the charge the burden of men made the barges botes to synke there was drowned many a good knyght that is to say syr Roger Clifford syr William of Lindsey that was syr Iohns sone fitz Robert syr Rychard Tanny an huge nombre of other all was through theyr owne foly for yf they had had good spies they had not ben harmed Whan kynge Edward herde tell that his people were so drowned he made sorowe ynough But than came syr Iohn of Vessye from the kynge of Aragon brought with hym moch people of bachelers of Gascoyns were soudyours dwellynge with Iohn of Vessye of hym receyued wages of hym were holden were noble men for to fyght and brent many townes slewe all the walshmen that they myght take And all those with strength myght made assaute vnto the castell of Swandon gate the castell And whaÌ„ Dauid herde of these tydynges he ordeyned hyÌ„ to flyght WhaÌ„ Lewlyn the prynce knewe that his broder was fledde thaÌ„ was he sore abasshed for he had no power his warre to maynteyn And so Lewlyn began to flee wende well to haue scaped But in a mornyng syr Roger Mortimer mette with hym onely with .x. knightes set hym rouÌ„de aboute to hym went smote of his heed presented it to kyng Edward And in this maner Lewlyn the prynce of Wales was taken his heed smytten of also all his heyres dysheryted for euermore through ryghtfull dome of all the lordes of the realme ¶ How Dauid that was Lewlyns broder prynce of Wales was put to deth DAuid the prynces broder of Wales through pride wende to haue beÌ„ prynce of Wales after his broders deth And vpoÌ„ this he sent after walshmen to his patlyament at Dinbigh folysshly made Wales to aryse agaynst the kyng began to meue warre agaynst kyng Edward dyd all the sorowe dysease that he myght by his power Whan kynge Edward herde of this thynge he ordey ned men to pursue vpon hym And Dauid fyerâ—y hym defended tyll that he came to the towne of saynt Morite there was Dauid taken as he fledde ladde to the kynge And the kyng coÌ„mauÌ„ded that he shold be hanged drawen and smyte of his heed quarter hyÌ„ sende his heed to London the foure quarters to the foure chefe townes of Wales for they sholde take ensample therof be ware And afterward kynge Edward let crye his peas though out al wales seased all the londe into his handes all the grete lordes that were lefte alyue came to do feaute homage to kynge Edward as to theyr kynde lorde And than let kynge Edward amende the lawes of Wales
besydes the hye awter in the chirche of the gray freres sayd vnto syr Iohn Comyn O traytour thou shalte be deed and shalt neuer lette myn auauncement and shoke his swerde at the hye awter and smote hym on the heed that the brayne fell downe vpon the grouÌ„de the blode stert on hygh vpon the walles And yet vnto this daye is that blode seen there no water may wasshe it awaye so dyed that noble knyght in holy chirche ¶ Whan this traytour Robert the Brus sawe that no man wold lette his crownacioÌ„ he coÌ„mauÌ„ded all the barons to be at saynt Iohns town at his crownacion And on the AnnuÌ„ciacion of our lady the bisshop of Glaston the bysshop of saynt Andrewes crowned hym kyng And anone after he droue all the Englysshmen out of Scotlonde And they fledde and came complayned them vnto kyng Edward how that Robert the Brus had dryuen them out of the londe dysheryted them ¶ How that kynge Edward dubbed at Westmynster .xxiiij. score knyghtes ANd whan kyng Edward herde of this myschete he swore that he shold be aueÌ„ged therof hange drawe all the traytours of Scotlonde without rauÌ„som ¶ Than kyng Edward sent for all the bachelars of Englond that they shold come to LondoÌ„ at whytsontyde he dubbed at Westmynster .xxiiij. score knyghtes Than ordeyned he to go in to Scotlonde agaynst Robert the Brus sent before hyÌ„ in to Scotlond syr Aymer the valyauÌ„t erle of PeÌ„broke syr Henry Percy baron with a fayre company that pursued the Scottes brent townes castlels And afterwarde came the kyng hymselfe with erles barons a fayre company ¶ How Robert the Brus was dyscomfyted in batayle how Symond Frisell was slayne THe frydaye nexte before the Assumpcyon of our sady kyng Edward mette with Robert the Brus his company besyde saynt Iohns to â—â—ne in Scotlonde of that whiche company kyng Edward slewe .vii. M. ¶ Whan Robert the Brus sawe this myschefe he began to flee hyd hyÌ„ secretiy but syr Symod Frisell was fore pursued so that he turned again abode batayle for he was a wor thy knyght but our englysshman shewe his hors toke hym led hym to kynge Edward but or he came to hyÌ„ he began to flatre his takers pmysyng them iiij M. marke of syluer his hors â—arneys become a begger ThaÌ„ said Theobald of Peuenes that was the kynges arther Now so god me helpe it is for nought that thou spekest for all the golde in englend I wold not let the go wout coÌ„mauÌ„dement of kynge Edward And kynge Edward wolde not se hym but coÌ„mauÌ„ded to lede hym to London to haue his dome And on our ladyes eue the Nat 〈…〉 he was hanged drawen his herd smytten of hanged agayne with chaynes of â—ren vpon the galowes his herd was set vpon London brydge on a spere and agaynst Chrystmasse the body was brent bycause that the men that kepte the body by nyght sawe so many deuylles aboure hym turmentynge hym with yren crokes hortybly vpon the galowes many that sawe them anone after dyed for drede some waxed mad or fore seke And in that batayle was taken the bysshop of Baston the bisshop of saynt Andrewes the abbot of Sconne all armed as fals traytours fals prelates agaynst theyr othe And they were brought to the kynge And the kynge sent them vnto the pope of Rome that he sholde do with them his wyll ¶ How Iohn erle of Atheles was taken and put to deth ANd at that batayle fledde syr Iohn erle of Atheles and went in to a chirche there hyd hym for drede but he myght haue there no refute bycause that the chirche was enterdyted through a generall sentence in the same chirche he was taken And this syr Iohn wend well to haue scaped fro the deth bycause that he claymed kynrede of kynge Edward And the kyng wold no longer be betrayed of his traytours but sent hyÌ„ to London in haste there was hanged his heed smytten of his body brent But at the prayer of the quene Margarete bycause that he claymed kynrede of kyng Edward his drawynge was forgyuen hym ¶ How Iohn that was Wyllyam Waleys broder was put to deth ANd whan the gretest maysters of Scotlonde were thus done to euyll deth for theyr falsnes and treason Iohn that was Willyam Waleys broder was taken and done to dethe as syr Iohn erle of Atheles was ¶ How Robert the Brus fledde from Scotlonde to Norway ANd at that same tyme was Roberte the Brus moche hated amonge the people of Scotlonde so that he wyst not what was best to do for to hyde hym he went in to Norway to the kynge that had spoused his syster there helde hyÌ„ for to haue socour And Robert the Brus myght not be founde in Scotlonde So kynge Edward than let crye his peas through out all the londe and his lawes were vsed his mynystres serued through out all the londe ¶ How kynge Edwarde dyed ANd whan kynge Edwarde had abated the pride of his enemyes he returned agayne south warde and a malady toke him at Burgh vpoÌ„ saudes in the marche of Scotlonde he wyst well that his deth was full nygh called to him syr Henry Lacy erle of Nichol syr Guy erle of warwik syr Aymer Valence erle of Penbroke and syr Robert of Clifford baron prayed them vpon the fayth that they ought hym that they shold make Edwarde of Carnaruan kynge of Englonde as shortly as they myght that they shold not suffre Piers of Ganaston come agayn in to Englonde for to make his sone to ryot And they grauÌ„ted hym with a good wyll Than the kynge toke the sacramentes of holy chirche as a good christen man shold dyed in very repen tauÌ„ce whan he had regned .xxxv. yere was buryed at westmynster with grete solempnite on whose god haue mercy ¶ Of Merlyns prophecyes that were declared of kynge Edward that was kynge Henryes sone OF this kyng Edwarde pphecyed Merlyn and called hym a dragon the seconde of the. vs kynges that sholde tegne in Englonde sayd that he sholde be medled with mercy also with strengthe sternes that shold kepe Englonde from colde hete And that he sholde open his mouth toward Wales that he sholde set his fote in Wyke that he shold close with walles that shold do moche harme to his sede And he sayd sothe for the good kynge Edward was medled with mercy with fyersnes with mercy agaynst his enemyes of Wales after of ScotloÌ„de with fyersnes whaÌ„ he put them to deth for theyr falsnes traytory as they had deserued it And well kepte he Englond from colde hete syth he kepte it froÌ„ all maner of enemyes that came vpon him to do hym ony wronge And well he opened his mouth towarde Wales made it quake through the hidour
of his mouth whan he conquered it through dynt of swerde For the prynce Lewlyn Dauyd his broder Rys Morgan were put to deth through theyr falsnes theyr foly And he set his fote in wike conquered Barwyke at the whiche conquest were slayn .xxv. M. and. vij C. out take them that were brent in the reed hall And the walles that he let make shall be noyous vnto his sede as men shall here after se in the lyfe of syr Edward of Carnaruan his sone And yet sayd Merlyn that he sholde make ryuers ren in blode with brayn that semed well in his warres where as he had the maystry And yet Merlin sayd that there shold come a people out of the north west durynge the regne of the foresayd dragon that sholde be ladde by an yll greyhouÌ„de that the dragon sholde crowne kyng that afterward sholde flee ouer the see for drede of the dragon without comynge agayn that was proued by syr Iohn Bayloll the kyng Edward made to be kynge of Scotlonde that falsly arose agaynst him after he fled to his owne londes of FrauÌ„ce neuer came agayne in to Scotlonde for drede of kynge Edward And yet sayd Meriyn the people that sholde lede the foresayd greyhouÌ„de shold be faderles vnto a certayn tyme he sayd sothe for the people of Scotlonde gretely were dyseased syth that syr Iohn Bayloll theyr kung was fledde And yet layd Merlin that the sonne shold become in his tyme as reed as blode in tokenynge of grete mortalite of people that was well knoweÌ„ whan the scottes were â—ayâ— And Merlyn sayd that same dragon sholde nourysshe a foxe that sholde meue grete warre agaynst hym that shold in his tyme be ended that semed well by Robert the Brus that kyng Edward noursshed in his chambre that sythen stale aware meued grete warre agaynst hym whâ— the warre was not ended in his tyme. And afterward Merlyn tolde that this dra gon shold be holden the best body of all the worlde he sayd sothe for the good kyng Edward was the worthyest knyght of all the worlde in his tyme. And yet said mer lyn that the dragon sholde dye in the marche of an other londe that his londe sholde be longe wtout a good keper that men sholde wepe for his deth from the yle of Shepey vnto the yle of Mercill wherfore alas shal be theyr songe amonge yeâ—â—myn people faderles in the londe wasted And the pâ—hâ— cy was knowen ouer all full well For the good king Edward dyed at Burgh vpoÌ„ sandes that is in the marche of Scotlonde wherfore the englysshmeÌ„ were discoÌ„fâ—ed sorowed in Northumberiend bycause the king Edwardes sone set by the Scottes no force for the tyot of Pyers of Ganaston wherfore alas was the song through out all Englonde for defaute of theyr good wardeyn from the yle of Shepey vnto the yle of Mareyll the people made moche sorowe for good king Edwardes deth For they wende that kyng Edward shold haue gone in to the holy lond for that was holly his purpose Vpon whose soule god for his hygh grace haue mercy ¶ Anno dâ—â—i M CC. lxxxiiiâ— CElestinus was pope after Nicolas .v. monethes and no thynge noble of hym is wryten but that he was a vertuous man ¶ Bonifacius the. viiâ— was pope after hyÌ„ .viij. yere This Boniface was a man in those thynges that apperteyneth to courte for he was very eâ—pert in suche maters And bycause he had no pere he put no mesure to his prudence toke so grete pryde vpon hym that he sayd he was lord of all the worlde And many thyÌ„ges he dyd with his myght that fayled wretchedly in the ende He gaue an ensample to all prelates that they shold not be proude but vnder the forme of a very shepeherde of god they sholde more study to be loued of theyr subiectes than to be drad This man is he of whome it is sayd that he entred as a fox he lyued as a lyon dyed as a dogge ¶ This tyme the yere of grace was ordeyned from an C. yere to an C. yere the fyrst Jubile was in the yere of our lord god M CCC ¶ Benedictê° the .xj. was pope after Boniface .xi. monethes This man was an holy man of the ordre of the frere prechours lytell whyle lyued but decessed anone ¶ Adulphus was Emperour .vj. yere This man was the erle of Anoxone and was not crowned by the pope for he was slayne in batayle ¶ Albertus was emperour after hyÌ„ .x. yere This man was the duke of Austrie fyrst was repreued of the pope after was confermed by the same pope for the malyce of the kyng of FrauÌ„ce whiche was an enemy vnto the chirche And to that Albert the same pope gaue the kyngdom of frauÌ„ce as he dyd other kyngdomes but it ê“fyted not for at the last he was slayne of his neuewe ¶ ClemeÌ„s was pope after Benedictus almoost .ix. yere This man was a grete buylder of castels other thynges And he dampned the ordre of Templers And he ordeyned the .vij. boke of decretalles the whiche be called yâ— questyons of Clementyns And anone after in a couÌ„seyle the whiche he helde at Vienna he reuoked that same boke the whiche his successour Iohn called agayn incorpored it publysshed it This Clement fyrst of al popes translated the popes seet from Rome to Aumyon And whyder it was done by the mocyon of god or by the boldnes of man dyuerse men meruaylleth ¶ Iohn the .xxij. was pope after hym xviij yere This man was all gloryous as for those thyÌ„ges that were to be vsed through the actyfe lyfe And he publysshed the Constytucyons of the Clementynes sent them to all the vniuersitees And many sayntes he canonysed And the fatte bysshopryches he deuyded And he ordeyned many thynges agaynst the plu ralite of benefices and many heretykes he dampned but whyder he was saued or not our lorde god wolde not shewe to those that he loued very well ¶ Henry the .vij. was emperour after Albert .v. yere This Henry was a noble man in warre and he coueyted to haue peas by londe water He was a gloryous man in batayle was neuer ouercome with enemyes And at the last he was poysoned of a frere whan that he houseled hym by receyuynge of the sacrament ¶ Of kynge Edwarde that was kynge Edwardes sone ANd after this kynge Edwarde regned Edwarde his sone that was borne at Carnaruan And this Edward went in to FrauÌ„ce there he spoused Isabell the kynges doughter of FrauÌ„ce the .xxv. daye of Ianuary at the chirche of our lady at Boloyn in the yere of our lorde Iesu Chryst a. M CCC .vij. And the .xx. daye of Feueryer the nexte yere yâ— came after he was crowned solemply at Westmynster of the archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury of the archebisshop of winchelse And there was so grete prees of people that syr Iohn
Albion named the londe after his owne name Brytayn that now is called Englonde after the name of Engyst and so the realme of Scotlonde was holden of the realme of Englonde of the crowne by feaute homage For Brute conquered that londe and gaue it to Albanack that was his seconde sone and he called that londe Albayn after his own name so that the heyres that came after hym sholde holde of Brute and of his heyres that is to saye of the kynges of Brytayne by feaute homage And froÌ„ that tyme vnto this tyme of kynge Edwarde the realme of Scotlonde was holden of the realme of Englonde by feaute seruyce as aboue is sayd in the Cronycles of Englonde of Scotlonde and bereth wytnes more plenarly ¶ And cursed be the tyme that this parliament was holden at Northamton For there through fals couÌ„seyle the kyng was there falsly dysheryted yet he was within age And yet whan that kyng Edward was put out of his royalte of Englonde yet men put not hym out of the feautees seruyce of Scotlonde ne of the frauÌ„chyses dysheryted hym for euermore And neuertheles the grete lordes of EngloÌ„de were agaynst to confyrme the peas the trewse aboue sayd saue onely quene Isabell that was the kynges moder Edwarde and the bysshop of Ely and the lorde Montmer But reason lawe wolde not that a fynall peas sholde be made bytwene them without the comyn assent of Englonde ¶ Of the debate that was bytwene quene Isabell syr Henry erle of LaÌ„castre of Leycestre of the rydynge of Bedford WHan the foresayd Dauid had spoused dame Ione of the toure in the towne of Barwik as before is sayd the Scottes in despyte of the Englysshmen called dame Ione the couÌ„tesse make peas for the cowardly peas that was ordeyned But the kynges persone bare al the wyte blame with wronge of the makynge of the accorde And all was done through the quene Roger Mâ—rtymer And it was not longe after that the quene Isabell ne toke in to her handes all the lordshyp of Pountfret almoost all the londes that were of ony value that apperteyned to the crowne of Englonde So that the kynge had not for to dyspende but of his vses of his excheker For the quene Isabell Mortimer had a greâ—e meyny of theyr retynue that folowed euermore the kynges courte went toke the kynges pryces for her peny worthes at good chepe Wherfore the couÌ„tre that they came in were full sore adrad and almoost destroyed of them ThaÌ„ began the cominalte of Englonde for to haue enuy to Isabell the quene that so moche loued her before whan she came agayne fro FrauÌ„ce for to pursue the fals traytours the Spensers And in that same tyme the false traytour Robert of Holand that beâ—rayed his lord syr Thomas of Lancastre was than delyuered out of pryson was wonders preuy with the quene Isabell also with Roger Mortimer But that auayled hyÌ„ but lytell for he was taken at Myghelmasse next folowyng as he rode toward the quene Isabell to London syr Thomas wyther smote of his heed besydes the towne of saynt Albons And this syr Thomas dwelled with syr Henry erle of Lancastre he put hym asyde for drede of the quene for she loued hym wonders moche prayed vnto the kyng for hym that the same Thomas myght be exiled out of Englonde And the noble erle syr Henry of Lancastre had oftentymes herde the comyn damour of the Englysshmen of that disease that was done in Englonde also for dyuers wronges that were done to the comyn people Of the whiche the kyng bare the blame with wronge For he was yonge tender of age And thought as a good man for to do awaye and slake the sclaundre of the kynges person yf that he myght in ony maner wyse so as the kyng was therof nothynge gylty wherfore he was in peryll of his lyfe And so he assembled all his retenaunces went spake with them of the kynges honour also for to amende his estate And syr Thomas Brotherton erle Marshall and syr Edmond of wodstok that were the kynges vncles also men of LondoÌ„ made theyr othe for to maynteyn hym in that same quarell And theyr cause was this that the kyng sholde holde his hous and his meyny as a king ought to do haue all his ryalte that the quene Isabell shold deliuer out of her handes in to the kynges handes all maner lordshyppes rentes townes castels that apperteyned vnto the crowne of EngloÌ„de as other quenes dyd before her and meddle with none other thynge And also that syr Roger Mortimer shold abyde dwell vpon his owne londes for the whiche londes he had holpen to disheryte moche people in so moche that the comyn people were destroyed through wrongfull takynge And also to enquyre how by whome the kynge was betrayed falsly deceiued at Stan hope and through whose couÌ„seyle that the Scottes went away by nyght from the kynge And also how and through whose couÌ„seyle the ordynaunce that was made at the kynges crownacyon was put downe that is for to saye that the kynge for amendement and helpyng of the realme and in honour of hym sholde be gouerned and ruled by .xij. of the gretest and wisest lordes of the realme and without them sholde nothynge be grauÌ„ted ne done as before is sayd the whiche couenauntes were malycyously put downe from the kynge wherfore many harmes shames reproues haue fallen to the kyng and his realme And that is to vnderstand for as moche as Edward somtyme kyng of Englonde was ordeyned by assent of the comynalte in playne parlyament for to be vnder the warde gouernaunce of Henry erle of Lancastre his cosyn for saluacyon of his body he was taken out of the castel of Kenâ—â—worth where he was in warde through colour of quene Isabell of Mortimer wtout coÌ„sent of ony parliament they toke lad hyÌ„ where as neuer after none of his â—ynrede myght speke with hyÌ„ after tray toursly murdred hym for whose deth arose a sclaundre through all christendom whan it was done And also the tresour that syr Edward of Carnaruan left in many places 〈◊〉 engloÌ„d in wales was wasted borne awaye without the wyll of kyng Edward his sone in destruccion of hym and all his folke ¶ Also through whose couÌ„seyle that the kyng gaue vp the kyngdom of Scotlonde for the whiche realme the kynges auncesters had full sore trauayled and so dyd many a noble maÌ„ for theyr ryght was delyuered to Dauid that was Robert the Brus sone al the right that no ryght had to the realme as al the worlde it wyst ¶ And also by whome the charters remembrauÌ„ces that they had of the right of ScotloÌ„de were taken out of the tresoury taken to the Scottes the kynges enemyes to the dysherytyng of hym his successours
knightes squyers And these Iustes and turneyment were holden at LondoÌ„ in smythâ—elde of all maner of strauÌ„gers of what londe or ceuÌ„tre that euer they were thyder they were ryght welcome to them to all other was holden open housholde grete feest also grete gyftes were gyuen to al maner of straungers And of yâ— kynges syde were al of one sute theyr coâ—â—s theyr armure sheldes hors trappures and all was whyte hertes with crownes aboute theyr neckes chaynes of gold haÌ„gyng thervpon the crowne hangynge lowe before the hartes body the whiche hart was yâ— kynges lyueray yâ— he gaue to lordes ladyes knyghtes squyers for to knowe his housholde from other people And in this feest came to yâ— Iustes .xxiiij. ladyes ledde .xxiiij. lordes of the garter with chaynes of gold all yâ— same sutes of hartes as it is before sayd froÌ„ yâ— toure on horsbacke through the cite of London in to smythfelde where as yâ— iustes shold be holdeÌ„ And this feest iustes was holden generally for all those yâ— wolde come thyder of what loÌ„de or nacyon that euer they were And this was holdeÌ„ duryng xxiiij dayes of yâ— kynges costes these xxiiij lordes to answere al maner people that wolde come thyder And thyder came the erle of saynt Paule of Fraunce many other worthy knightes with hym of dyuerse partyes full worthely arayed And out of Hollande Henaud came the lorde Ostreuaunt yâ— was the dukes sone of Holland many other worthy knightes with hym of Holland full well arayed And whaÌ„ this feest iusting was ended the kynge thanked these strauÌ„gers and gaue them many ryche gyftes And thaÌ„ they toke theyr leue of yâ— kyng of other lordes ladyes went home agayn in to theyr owne couÌ„trees with grete loue moche thanke ¶ And in yâ— .xiij. yere of kyng Rychardes regne there was a batayle done in yâ— kynges palays at westmyÌ„stre bytwene a squyer of Nauerne yâ— was with kyng Rychard another squyer yâ— was called Iohn walshe for poyntes of treason yâ— this Nauerne put vpoÌ„ this walsh man But this Nauerne was ouercomeÌ„ yelded hym creaunt to his aduersary anone he was despoyled of his armure drawen out of the palays to Tyburne and there was hanged for his falsnes ¶ And in yâ— .xiiij. yere of kyng Richardes regne syr Iohn of Gaunt duke of Lancastre went ouer see into Spayne for to chalenge his ryght yâ— he had by his wyues tytell vnto yâ— crowne of Spayne with a grete hoost of people he had with hym yâ— duchesse his wyfe his thre doughters in to Spayne there they were a grete whyle And at yâ— last yâ— kyng of Spayne began for to treate with yâ— duke of Lancastre and they were accorded togyder through bothe theyr counseyles in this maner that the kyng of Spayne sholde wedde the dukes doughter that was yâ— ryght heyre of Spayne he shold gyue vnto the duke golde syluer yâ— were cast in to grete wedges many other iewels as moche as .viij. charyottes myght cary And euery yere after during yâ— dukes lyf the duchesse his wyfe .x. M. marke of golde of whiche golde the auenture charges sholde be to them of Spayne yerely brynge to Bayon to the dukes assygnes by surete made And also yâ— duke maryed another of his doughters to the kynge of Portyngale yâ— same tyme. And whan he had done thus he came home agayn into Englonde yâ— good lady his wyfe also but many worthy men dyed of the flix ¶ In the .xv. yere of kyng Rychardes regne he helde his Christmasse in yâ— manoyr of wodstok there yâ— erle of Penbroke a yonge lorde tender of age wolde lerne to Iust with a knyght yâ— was called syr Iohn of saynt Iohn rode to gyder in yâ— parke of wodstok And there this worthy erle of PeÌ„broke was slayne with yâ— other knyghtes spere as he cast it from hym whan they had coupled thus this good erle made there his ende and therfore the kyng the quene made moche sorowe for his deth ¶ And in the xvj yere of king Richardes regne Iohn Hende beynge yâ— tyme Mayre of LondoÌ„ and Iohn Walworth Henry Vanner beynge sheryues of London that same tyme a bakers maÌ„ bare a basket of horsbrede into Fletestrete towarde an hostry and there came a yonge man of the bysshops of Salysbury that was called Romayn he toke a hors lofe out of yâ— basket of yâ— bakers he asked hym why he dyd so And this Romayn turned agayn brake the bakers heed neyghbours came out wolde haue arested this Romayn he brake from them fledde to his lordes place and the coÌ„stable wolde haue had hym out but yâ— bysshops men shette fast the gates kepte the place yâ— no man myght entre And than moche more people gadred thyder sayd that they wold haue hyÌ„ out or els they wold brenne vp yâ— place all that were therin And thaÌ„ came the Mayre sheryues with moche other people cessed yâ— malice of yâ— comyns made euery man to go home to theyr houses kepe yâ— peas And this Romayns lorde yâ— bysshop of Salysbury mayster Iohn Waltham that at yâ— tyme was tresourer of Englonde went to syr Thomas Arundel archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury chauÌ„celer of Englond there the bysshop made his coÌ„playnt vnto the chaunceler vpon the people of the cite of LondoÌ„ And than these two bysshops of grete malice vengeauÌ„ce came vnto the kynge at Wyndsore made a grete complaynt vpoÌ„ the Mayre sheryues And anone all yâ— cite afterward came before yâ— kyng his couÌ„seyle they cast vnto the cite a greuous hert wonders grete malyce And anone sodeynly the kynge sent for yâ— Mayre of LondoÌ„ the sheryues they came to hyÌ„ in yâ— castell of Wyndsore And the kyng rebuked the Mayre sheryues ful foule for the offence yâ— they had done agaynst hym his offycers in his chambre at LondoÌ„ wherfore he deposed put out the Mayre bothe sheriues this was done .xiiij. dayes before yâ— feest of saynt Iohn baptyst And than yâ— kyng called to hym a knyght that was called syr Edward Dalingrigge made hym wardeyn gouernour of yâ— cite chambre of London ouer all his people therin And so he kepte that offyce but foure wekes bycause that he was so gentyll tendre to the citezyns of London wherfore the kynge deposed hym made syr Bawdewyn Radyngton knyght yâ— was Controller of the kynges houshold wardeyn gouernour of his chambre and of his people therin and chose to hym two worthy men of the cite to be sheryues with hym to gouerne kepe yâ— kynges lawes in the cite that one was called Gylbert Mawfelde yâ— other Thomas Newenton sheryues And than the Mar 〈…〉 two sheryues all yâ— aldermen wall 〈◊〉 worthy
men call yâ— men of yâ— londe Englysshmen ¶ Alfre Than after that the Danes pursued the londe aboute a. ij C. yere that is to saye fro yâ— foresayd Edbartus tyme vnto saynt Edwardes tyme made yâ— fyfth maner of people in yâ— ylonde but they fayled after warde At the last came Normans vnto duke Willyam subdued Englysshmen yet kepe they yâ— londe they made the syxth people in yâ— ylonde But in the fyrst kynge Henryes tyme came many Flemynges receyued a dwellyÌ„ge place for a tyme besyde Maylros in the west syde of Englonde made the seuenth people in the ylonde Neuertheles by coÌ„mauÌ„dement of the same kynge they were put thens dryuen to Hauerfordes syde in yâ— west syde of wales ¶ R. And so now in Brytayn Danes Pictes fayle all out and fyue nacyons dwell therin that ben Scottes in Albania that is Scotlonde Brytayne in Cambria yâ— is Wales but that Flemynges dwell in yâ— is west Wales And Normans Englysshmen ben medled in al yâ— yloÌ„de for it is now doubte in storyes how and in what maner they were put away destroyed out of Brytayn Now it is to declare how yâ— Pictes were destroyed fayled ¶ Gir .j. ca .vij. Brytayn was somtyme occupyed with Saxons peas was made stablisshed with yâ— Pictes than yâ— Scottes yâ— came with the Pictes sawe yâ— the Pictes were nobler of dedes and better men of armes though they were lesse in nombre than yâ— Scottes Than the Scottes hauynge therof enuy turned to theyr natural treason yâ— they haue ofte vsed For in treason they passe other men beÌ„ traytours as it were by kynde for they prayed all the Pictes specially the gretest of them to a feest wayted theyr tyme whan the Pictes were mery and had well dronke they drewe vp nayles yâ— helde vp holowe benches vnder the Pictes the Pictes vnware sodeynly fell in ouer yâ— hammes in to a wonderfull pytfall Than yâ— Scottes fell on yâ— Pictes slewe them lefte none alyue And so of two maner people the better warryours were al destroyed But the other that ben yâ— Scottes whiche ben traytours all vnlyke to yâ— Pictes toke ê“fyte by that fals treason for they toke all that londe and holde it yet vnto this tyme call it ScotloÌ„de after theyr owne name In kynge Edgarus tyme Kynadius Alpinus sone was duke 〈◊〉 der of the Scottes and warred in Picte londe destroyed the Pictes He warred syxe tymes in Saxon toke all yâ— londe that is bytwene Twede yâ— Scottysshe see with wronge with strength ¶ Of the laÌ„guages of maners vsage of the people of that londe Ca .xv. AS it is knowen how many maner of people ben in this ylonde there ben also so many languages and tongues Neuertheles W 〈…〉 n and Scottes that ben not medled with other nacyons kepe yet theyr language speche But yet yâ— Scottes that were somtyme confederate and dwelled with Pictes drawe somwhat after theyr speche But the Flemynges yâ— dwell in the west syde of Wales haue lefte theyr straunge speche speke lyke to saxons Also Englysshmen though they had fro yâ— begynnynge thre maner of speches southerne northerne myddle speche in yâ— myddle of the londe as they come of thre maner of people of Germania Neuertheles by coÌ„mixcyon medlynge fyrst with Danes afterward with Normans in many thynges yâ— couÌ„tree language is appayred for some vse strauÌ„ge wlaffynge chyteryng harryng garryng grysbytyng This appayring of yâ— language cometh of two thynges One bycause yâ— children yâ— go to scole lerne to speke fyrst englysshe thaÌ„ ben compelled to coÌ„strue theyr lessons in frensshe that hath beÌ„ vsed syth yâ— Normans came in to Englonde Also gentylmens children ben lerned taught from theyr youth to speke Frensshe vplondisshmen wyll couÌ„terfeyte lyken them selfe to gentylmen and are besy to speke frensshe for to be more set by wherfore it is sayd by a comyn ê“uerbe Iacke wold be a gentylmaÌ„ yf he coude speke frensshe ¶ Treuisa This was moche vsed tofore the grete deth but syth it is somdele chaunged for syr Iohn Cornewayle a mayster of graÌ„mer chauÌ„ged yâ— techynge of graÌ„mer scole coÌ„struccyon of frensshe in to englysshe And other scole maysters vse yâ— same waye now in the yere of our lord M CCC .lxxxv. the .ix. yere of king Rychard yâ— seconde leue all frensshe in scoles vse all construccyon in englysshe wherin they haue auauÌ„tage one waye that is yâ— they lerne the sooner theyr graÌ„mer in an other disauauÌ„tage for now they lerne no frensshe nor can none whiche is hurte to them yâ— shall passe the see And also gentylmen haue moche lefte to teche theyr chyldren to speke Frensshe ¶ R. It semeth a grete wonder yâ— Englysshmen haue so grete diuersite in theyr owne language in sowne in speking of it whiche is all in one ylonde And yâ— language of Normandy is comen out of an other londe hath one maner sowne amonge all other yâ— speke it in Englonde for a man of kent southerne westerne northerne men speke frensshe all lyke in sowne speche but they can not speke theyr englisshe so ¶ Treuisa Neuerthelesse there ben as many diuers maner of frensshe in the realme of FrauÌ„ce as dyuers englysshe in yâ— realme of Englonde ¶ R. Also of the foresayd tongue whiche is departed in thre is grete wonder for men of yâ— eest with men of yâ— west accorde better in sownynge of theyr speche than men of yâ— north with men of yâ— south Therfore it is yâ— men of merc 〈…〉 yâ— ben of myddle Englonde as it were partyners with yâ— endes vnderstande better the syde languages northerne southerne than northerne southerne vnderstande eyther other ¶ Wilhel de pon .li. 〈◊〉 All yâ— language of the northumbres specially at Yorke is so sharpe shyteynge froâ—â—yng vnshappe yâ— we southerne men may vnneth vnderstaÌ„de yâ— language I suppose the cause be yâ— they be nigh to yâ— alyens yâ— speke strauÌ„gely Also yâ— kynges of Englonde abyde dwell more in yâ— south couÌ„tree thaÌ„ in yâ— north couÌ„tree bycause there is better corne londe more people more noble citees more ê“fytable hauens in the south couÌ„tre than in yâ— north couÌ„tre ¶ De gentis huius moribus Gir. in 〈…〉 ere FOr yâ— maners doynge of walssh men of Scottes ben tofore somwhat declared Now I purpose to tell declare yâ— condicyons of yâ— myddle people of Englonde But the Flemynges yâ— ben in yâ— west syde of Wales ben now all turned as they were Englisshmen bycause they company with Englysshmen And they be myghty stronge to fyght and ben the moost enemyes that Walshmen haue and vse marchaâ—dyse clothynge ben full redy to put themselfe in auentures to peryll in yâ— see londe bycause of grete wynnyng ben redy somtyme to the plowe somtyme
to dedes of armes whan tyme and place aâ—eth It semeth of these men a grete wonder yâ— in a bone of a wethers ryght sholder whan the flesshe is soden away and not rosted they knowe what hath be done is done and shall be done as it were by spiryte of propheeye wonderfull crafte They tell what is done in ferre countrees tokens of peas or of warre the state of the realme sleynge of men spousebreche suche thynges they declare â—â—rtayne of tokens sygnes that is in suche a sholder bone ¶ R. But the Englysshmen yâ— dwel in EngloÌ„de ben medled in yâ— ylonde and ben ferre from the places that they spronge of fyrst turne to the contrary dedes lyghtly without entycynge of ony other men by theyr owne assent And vn easy also vnpacient of peas enemyes of besynes and full of slouth ¶ Wilhel de pon .li .iij. sayth That whan they haue destroyed theyr enemyes all to yâ— grouÌ„de than they fyght with themselfe and slee eche other as a voyde and an empty sto mak werketh in it selfe ¶ R. Neuerthelâ—sse men of the south ben easyer more mylde than men of yâ— north For they be more vnstable more cruell and more vn easy The myddle men ben parteners with bothe Also they vse them to glotony more than other men ben more costlewe in meet clothynge Men suppose that they toke that vyce of kynge Hardyknoght that was a Dane For he badde set forth â—wyes double messe at dyner at souper also These men ben spedefull on hors a fote able redy to all maner dedes of 〈…〉 s ben wont to haue vyctory and maystry in euery fyght where no treason is walkyng and ben curyous can well tell dedes woÌ„ders that they haue seen And they go in dyuers londes vnneth ben ony men ryche in theyr owne londe or more gracyous in ferre and in strauÌ„ge londe they can better wynne gete newe than kepe theyr owne herytage Therfore it is that they be spradde so wyde wene yâ— euery londe is theyr owne The men ben able to all maner of sleyght wytte but tofore yâ— dede blonderynge hasty more wyse after the dede than tofore leue of lyghtly what they haue begon ¶ Solinê° li .vj. Therfore Eugenius the pope sayd that EnglysshmeÌ„ were able to do what euer they wolde to be set put tofore all other ne were that lyght wytte letteth And as Hanyball sayd that yâ— Romayns myght not be ouercomeÌ„ but in theyr own couÌ„tre so Englysshmen may not be ouercomeÌ„ in strauÌ„ge londes but in theyr owne couÌ„tre they be lyghtly ouercomen ¶ R. These men despyse theyr owne prayse other men vnneth be pleased with theyr owne estate what befalleth other men that they wyll gladly take to themselfe Therfore it is that a yeman arayeth him as a squyer a squyer as a knyght a knight as a duke a duke as a kyng Yet some go about wyll be lyke to all maner state be iÌ„ no state for they take euery degre that be of no degre for iÌ„ beryng outward they be min strels herawdes in talkyng grete spekers in etyng dryÌ„kyng glotons in gaderyng of catell hucksters tauerners in araye turmentours in wynnynges Argi in trauayle Tanâ—ali in takynge hede Dedali iÌ„ beddes Sardanapali in chirches mawmets in courtes thondre onely in ê‘uylege of clergy in prebeÌ„des they knowlege themself clerkes ¶ Treuisa As touchyng yâ— termes of latyn as Argi TaÌ„tali Dedali Sardinapali ye must vnderstande them as yâ— poetes feyned of them Argus was an herde and kepte beestes he had an hondred eyen Argus was also a shyppe a shipman a chapman so Argus myght se before and behynde on euery syde Therfore he that is wyse ware can se that he be not deceyued may be called Argus And so the cronycle sayth in plurell nombre yâ— Englysshmen ben Argi that is to saye they se about where as wynnyng is That other worde Tantali the poete feyneth that Tantalus slewe his owne sone wherfore he is dampned to perpetuall penauÌ„ce and he standeth alwaye in water vp to the nether lyppe hath alwaye rype apples noble fruyte hangynge downe to the ouer lyppe But the fruyte nor the water may not come wtin his mouth He is so holden staÌ„deth bytwene meet drynke and may neyther ete nor drynke is euer an hongred and a thyrst that woo is hym alyue by this maner lykenes of Tantalus they that do right nought there as is moche to do in euery syde ben called Tantali It semeth that it is to say in trauayle they be Tantali for they do ryght nought therto The thyrde worde is Dedali take hede that Dedalus was a subtyll and a slye man And therfore by lykenes they that ben subtyll and slye they ben called Dedali And the fourth worde is Sardanapali ye shall vnderstaÌ„de that Sardanapalus was kynge of Assyryens and was full vnchaste vsed hym for to lye softe And by a maner of lykenes of hym they that lyue vnchastly beÌ„ called Sardanapali ¶ R. But amoÌ„ge all Englysshmen medled togyders is so grete a chauÌ„gynge diuersite of clothynge of aray and so many maners dyuers shappes that well nygh is there ony maÌ„ knowen by his clothynge and his araye of what someuer degree that he be Therof prophecyed an holy Anker in â—ynge Egelfredes tyme in this maner Henâ—i .li .vj. Englysshmen for as moche as they vse them to dronklewnes to treason to rechelesnes of goddes â—ous fyrst by Danes than by Normans at yâ— thyrde tyme by yâ— Scottes that they holde the moost wretchest and leest worth of all other they shall be ouercomeÌ„ Than the worlde shall be so vnstable so dâ—uers varyable that yâ— vnstablenes of thoughtes shall be betokened by many maner dyuersytees of clothynge ¶ Here foloweth the descripcyon of the londe of Wales ¶ Of the londe of Wales Ca .xvj. NOw this boke taketh in honde Wales after Englonde So take I my tales And wende in to Wales To that noble flode Of Priamus blode Knowlege for to wynne Of grete Iupyters kynne For to haue in mynde Dardanus kynde In these foure tytles I fonde To tell the state of that londe Cause of the men I shall â—ell And than prayse the londe and well Than I shall wryte with my pen All the maners of the men Than I shall foâ—de To tell meruayles of the londe ¶ Of the name and wherfore it is named Wales Ca. xviâ— WAles now is called Wallia And somtyme it hyght Cambria For Camber Bruâ—es son Was prynce and there dyd won Than Wallia was to meâ—e For Gwalaes the quene Kynge Ebrancus chylde Was wedded thyder mylde And of that lorde Gwalon 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
see that is bytwene Brytayne Irlonde is all yâ— yere full of grete wawes vneasy that men may selde sayle sykerly bytwene yâ— see is C .xx. myle brode ¶ Of the gretenes and qualite of that londe Ca .xxiiij. IRlonde is an ylonde gretest after Brytayn stretcheth north ward froÌ„ Brendas hylles vnto yâ— londe ColuÌ„bina coÌ„teyneth .viij. dayes iourney euery iourney .xl. myle froÌ„ Deuelin to Patrykes hylles to yâ— see in yâ— syde in brede iiij iourneys Irlonde is narower in yâ— myddle than in the endes all otherwyse than Brytayn is as Irlonde is shorter north ward than Britayn so is it longer south ward the londe is not playne but full of mouÌ„taynes of hylles of wodes of marays of mores the londe is softe rayny wyndy lowe by yâ— see syde wtin hylly sondy ¶ Solmus There is grete plente of noble pasture and of leese therfore yâ— beestes must be ofte dryueÌ„ out of theyr pasture lest they â—te ouer moche for they sholde shende themselfe yf they myght ete at theyr wyll ¶ Gir. Men of that londe haue comynly theyr helth strauÌ„gers haue oft a perylous 〈◊〉 by cause of yâ— moisture of yâ— meet The flesshe of kyen is there holsom swynes flesshe vnholsom Men of yâ— londe haue no feuer but onely yâ— feuer ague and that ryght selde Therfore the holsomnes of yâ— londe the clennes out of venym is worth all the boost richesse of trees of herbes of spycery of ryche clothes of precyous stones of the eest londes The cause of yâ— helth holsomnes of yâ— londe is yâ— attemperate hete colde that is therin Inâ—bus rebê° sufficit In this londe ben mâ—o kyen than oxen more pasture than corne more grasse than seed there is plente of samon of lamprays of â—eles of other see fysshe Of egles of cranes of pecoks of curlewes of sparowhawkes of geshawkes of gentyll fawcons Of welues ryght shrewed myte there ben attercoppes blode soukers eeftes yâ— do nâ— harme there ben fayres lytell of body ful hardy stronge there ben batnacles foules lyke wylde gees whiche grewe wondersly vpon trees as it were nature wrought agaynst kynde Men of relygyon ete barnacles vpon fastyng dares bycause they be not engendred with flesshe wherin as me thyÌ„keth they erre for â—â—ason is agaynst yâ— for yf a man had eten of AdaÌ„s legge he had eteÌ„ flesshe yet AdaÌ„ was not engendred of fader nor moder but yâ— flesshe cometh wondersly of yâ— tree In this loÌ„de is plente of hony of mylke of vine of vyneyerdes ¶ Solinê° ysâ—d wryte yâ— IrloÌ„de hath no bees Neuerthelesse it were better wryten yâ— IrloÌ„de had bees no vyneyerdes ¶ Beâ—a sayth yâ— there is grete huÌ„tyng to roobuckes it is knowen yâ— there be none It is no wonder of Beda for he neuer sawe yâ— londe but some man tolde hyÌ„ suche tales Also there groweth that stone Saxagonê° is called Iris also as it were the rayne bowe yf that stone be holden agaynst yâ— sonne anone it shall shape a raynbowe There is also founden a stone yâ— is called Gagathes whyte margery perles ¶ Of the defaute of the londe Ca .xxv. â—Hete cornes ben there full small vnneth clensed with maÌ„nes hande reserued meÌ„ all beestes beÌ„ smaller there than in other loÌ„des There lacketh well nygh al maner fresshe water fysshe yâ— is not gendred in the see There lacketh vnkynde faucons gerfaucons pertryche fesauÌ„t nyghtyngales and pyes There lacketh also Roo Bucke Ilespyles wontes and other venymous beestes Therfore some men feyne that fauourably yâ— saynt Patryck clensed yâ— londe of wormes of venymous beestes But it is more probable skylfull yâ— this londe was from yâ— begynnynge alwaye wtout suche wormes for venymous beestes wormes dye there anone yf men brynge them thyder out of other loÌ„des Also venym and poyson brought thyder out of other londes lese theyr malyce as soone as it passeth the myddle of the see Also poudre erth of that londe cast sowen in other londes dryue away wormes so ferforth that yf a turfe of yâ— londe be put about a worme it sleeth hym or maketh hym thryll that erth for to escape away In that londe cockes crowe but lytell tofore daye so that the fyrst crowynge of cockes in that londe the thirde in other londes ben lyke ferre tofore the daye ¶ Of them that fyrst enhabyted Irlonde Ca .xxvj. GIraldê° sayth that Casera Noes nece drad the flode fledde with thre men fyfty women in to that ylonde dwelled therin fyrst the last yere tofore Noes flode But afterwarde Bartholanus Seres sone that came of Iaphet Noes sone came thider with his thre sones by happe or by crafte CCC yere after Noes flode dwelled there encreaced to yâ— nombre of .ix. M. men afterward for stenche of careyns of gyauÌ„tes yâ— they had slayne they dyed all saue one Ruanus that lyued M .v. C. yere vnto saynt Patrykes tyme enformed yâ— holy man of the foresayd men of all the doynges and dedes Than the thyrde tyme came thyder Nimeth out of Scicia with his iiij sones and dwelled there CC .xvj. yere And at yâ— last of his ofsprynge by dyuers my shappes of warre of moreyne they were clene destroyed and the londe lefte voyde CC. yere after The fourth tyme v. dukes that were bretherne Gandius Genandus SagaÌ„dius Rutheragus Slauius of the sayd Nimethes successours came out of Grece occupied that loÌ„de deled it in .v. partyes euery partye coÌ„teyneth .xxij. candredes A caÌ„drede is a couÌ„tree yâ— conteyneth an C. townes they set a stone in the myddle of yâ— lond as it were in the nauell and begynnyng of .v. kyngdomes At the last Slauius was made kyng of all yâ— lond The fyfth tyme whan this nacyon was .xxx. yere togyder they wexed feble Foure noble men that were Millesius yâ— kyÌ„ges sones came out of Spayne with many other in a nauy of .xl. shyppes .ij. of yâ— worthyest of these .iiij. bretherne yâ— hyght Hyberê° Hermon deled yâ— loÌ„de bytwene them two But afterward couenauÌ„t was brokeÌ„ bytwene them bothe Hyberê° was slayne Than Hermon was kyng of all yâ— londe And from his tyme to yâ— fyrst Patrykes tyme were kynges of yâ— nacyon C .xxxi. And so fro yâ— comynge of Hibernensis vnto yâ— fyrst Patryk were M. viij C. yere They had that name Hibernensis Hibernia of yâ— foresayd Hiberus or els of Hibetê° a ryuer of Spayne They were called also Gatels Scottes of one Gaytelus yâ— was Phenis neuewe This Gaytelus coude speke many laÌ„guages after the laÌ„guages that were made at Nemproths Toure and wedded one Scotta Pharoes doughter Of these dukes came yâ— HiberneÌ„sis Men saye yâ— this Gaytelus made yâ— Irysshe language called it Gaytelaf as it were a language gadred of all languages tongues At the last Belinus kyng of Britayn had a
tymes tyl that the venym came out on euery syde in the cuppe and than toke the cuppe fylled it with good ale brought it before the kynge and knelynge sayd Syr quod he wassayle for neuer the dayes of your lyf dranke ye of so good a cuppe Begyn monke quod the kynge And the monke dranke a grete draught after toke the kynge the cuppe and the kyng also dranke a grete draught set downe the cup. The monke anone ryght went in to the farmery and there dyed anone on whose soule god haue mercy Amen And .v. monkes synge for his soule specyally and shall whyles the abbey standeth The kyng arose vp anone full euyl at ease and commauÌ„ded to remeue the table and asked after the monke And men tolde hym that he was deed and that his wombe was broken in sonder Whan the kynge herde this he coÌ„mauÌ„ded to trusse but it was all for nought for his bely began to swell of the drynke that he had dronken and within two dayes he dyed on the morowe after saynt Lukes daye And this kynge Iohn had many fayre chyldren of his body begoten that is to saye Henry his sone that was kynge after his fader Rycharde that was erle of Cornewayle Isabel that was empresse of Rome Elenour that was quene of Scotlonde And this kynge Iohn whan he had regned .xvij. yere and .v. monethes and .v. dayes he dyed in the castell of Newarke and his body was buryed at Worcetter ¶ Anno domini M CC. FRedericus the seconde was emperoure .xxxiij. yere This man was crowned of Honorius the pope agaynst Otto bycause yâ— he sholde fyght with hym the whiche he dyd expulsed hym And fyrst he nourysshed the chirche and after he spoyled it as a stepmoder Wherfore Honorius cursed hym all that were contrary to his opynyon the pope assoyled And the same sentence Gregorye the .ix. renewed And this same man put Henry his owne sone in prison and there murdred hym Wherfore whaÌ„ this emperour another season was seke by another sone of his owne he was murdred in the tyme of Innocent the fourth ¶ Honorius the thyrde was pope after Innocent .x. yere confermed the ordre of freres prechours minours made certayne deâ—râ—â—alles ¶ Of kynge Henry the thyrde that was crowned at Glocestre ANd after this kynge Iohn regned his sone Henry was crowned at Glocestre whan he was .ix. yere olde on saynt Symons daye Iude of Swalo yâ— legate of Rome through couÌ„seyle of all the grete lordes yâ— helde with kyng Iohn his fader that is to say the erle Radulfe of Chestre Wyllyam erle Marshall erle of Penbroke Willyam yâ— Brener erle of Feriers Serle yâ— manly baron and all the other grete lordes of Englonde helde with Lowys the kynges sone of FrauÌ„ce ¶ And anone after whaÌ„ kyng Henry was crowned Swalo the legate helde his couÌ„seyle at Brystow at saynt Martyns feest there were .xj. bysshops of Englonde of Wales and of other prelates of holy chirche a grete nombre and erles barons and many knyghtes of Englonde all those that were at that couÌ„seyle sware feaute vnto Henry the kyng that was kyng Iohns sone ¶ And anone after yâ— legate enterdyted Wales bycause they helde with the brons of Englonde also all those that holpe or gaue counseyle to meue warre agaynst yâ— newe kyng he accursed them And at yâ— begyÌ„nyng he put in yâ— sentence the kynges sone of FrauÌ„ce Lowys And neuertheles yâ— same Lowys wolde not spare for all that but went and toke the castell of Barcamstede also the castell of Herford And from yâ— day afterward yâ— baroÌ„s dyd there moche harme through out all EngloÌ„de pryncypally yâ— frensh men that were with Lowys wherfore the grete lordes all yâ— comyn people of Englond let dresse them for to dryue out of Englonde Lowys and his company But some of the barons of the frensshe men were gone to the cite of Nycholl toke yâ— towne helde it to kynge Lowys profyte But thyder came kynge Henryes men with a grete power that is to saye the erle Radulfe of Chestre and Wylliam erle Marshall and Wyllyam the brener erle of Feriers many other lordes with them gaue batayle vnto Lowys men And there was slayne the erle of Perches and Lowys men were there foule discomfyted And there was taken Serle erle of Wynchestre Vmfrey de Bowne erle of Herford Robert the sone of walter and many other that began warre agaynst the kynge there they were taken ladde vnto kyng Henry yâ— was kyng Iohns sone And whan the tydynges came to Lowys of yâ— discoÌ„ fyture yâ— was the kynges sone of frauÌ„ce he remeued from thens and went vnto London and let shette fast the gates of the cyte And anone after kynge Henry sent to the burgeyses of London yâ— they sholde yelde them to hym the cite also and he wolde graunte to them all theyr fraunchyses that euer they were wont to haue before wold coÌ„ferme them by his grete newe chartre vnder his brode seale ¶ And in the same tyme a grete lorde that was called Eustace yâ— monke came out of Fraunce with a grete company of lordes wolde haue comen in to Englonde for to haue holpen Lowys the kynges sone of FrauÌ„ce But Hubert of Burgh and the .v. portes with .viii. shyppes tho mette with them in yâ— high see and assayled them egerly and ouercame them with strength and smote of the heed of Eustace the monke and toke also .x. grete lordes of frauÌ„ce put them in prison and slewe almoost all the men that came with them anone drowned the shyppes in the see ¶ How Lowys returned agayne in to Fraunce and of the confyrmacyon of kynge Iohans chartre WHan Lowys herde these tydyn ges he drad sore to be deed lost and let ordeyn speke bytwene the kyng Lowys by yâ— legate Swalo And through yâ— archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury other grete lordes all yâ— prisoners on that one part on that other shold be delyuered go quyte Lowys hyÌ„selfe sholde haue for his costes a. M. pouÌ„de of syluer sholde go out of Englonde and neuer come agayne therin And in this maner was the accorde made bytwene kynge Henry Lowys And than was Lowys assoyled of yâ— popes legate that was called Swalo of yâ— sentence that he was in the barons of Englonde also And after this kyng Henry Swalo yâ— legate Lowys went to Merton and there was yâ— peas coÌ„fermed bytwene them ordeyned And after Lowys went fro thens to London toke his leue was brought with moche honour to yâ— see with yâ— archebysshop of Caunterbury with other bisshops erles barons so went Lowys in to FrauÌ„ce ¶ And afterwarde the kynge the archebysshop erles baroÌ„s assembled them at London at Mighelmas nexte folowynge helde there a grete parlyament there were