ther he made a nobull chyrche in the wich he sat fyrst in his chair and ther he dwelled vij yere Ì„ after he went to Rome and was made pope till that Nero the Emprour let martir him and tho preched opanly all the apposteles in diuerse landes the right fayeth And when Armager had regned xxiiij yere he died and lieth at london ¶ How kyng westmer yaf to Berynger an yland forlet and ther this berynger made the toun of Berewike ANd after this Armager regned his son Westmer that wos a good man Ì„ a worthy of body well gouerned the land Hit befell so that tydyng come to him on a day that the king Rodrik of Gascoine was come in to this land with a houge host of pepull and wos duellyng in staynsmore And when kyng westmer herd tho tydynges he let assemble an houge host of britans and come to the kyng Rodrik yaf hym batall Ì„ kyng westmer kylled rodrik with his own hondes in playn batall And wheÌ„ kyng rodrikes men saw that ther lord wos deid they yolden them all to the kyng westmer Ì„ bicome his men for euer more Ì„ he yaf them a coÌ„tre that wos forleten wher iÌ„ they myght duell Ì„ theder they weÌ„t Ì„ duelled ther all ther lifes tyme Ì„ ix C men ther were of them Ì„ no mo left at that batell Ther gouerner and prince wos called beringer and a noÌ„ he began a toun that they myght ther iÌ„ duell haue resoorte and let call the toune Birewyke vpoÌ„ twede and ther they duelled become riche but they had no women amonges them Ì„ the bretons wold not yef ther doughtres to thestrangers wherfor they went ower see in to Irland and brought with them women and ther they them spoused but the men koud nat vnder stond ther langage ne the speche of thes women Ì„ therfor they spoken to geder as scottes and afterward thurgh changyng tber lanhages in all fraunce they war called tho scottet and so shulde that folke of that cuntre be called for euer more ¶ How kyng Westmer let arere a stone in the entring of westmerland ther that he slew rodrik and ther he begon fyrst housing ANd after this bataill that is aboue saied wheÌ„ Rodrik wos deid kyng westmer in remeÌ„brance of his victorie let arere ther be sydes the way a gret stone on hygh and yet hit standeth Ì„ euermore shall stand he let graue iÌ„ the stone lettres that thê° saied The kyng westmer of britonne killed in this place Rodrik hys emmny ¶ And this westmer was the fyrst that bylded house toune iÌ„ westmerland at that stone begiÌ„eth westmerlond that westmer let call after his own name ¶ And wheÌ„ westmer had so done he duelled all his lyfes tyme iÌ„ that contre of westmerloÌ„d for he loued that cuÌ„tre more then ony other coÌ„tre And when he had regned xxv yere he died and lieth at Carleill ¶ Of kyng Coill that wos westmer son that held his lond in pees all his lifes tyme. AFter this kyng westmer regned his son Coill a good maÌ„ Ì„ a worthi Ì„ of good coÌ„dicioÌ„s well gouerned his loÌ„d off all me he had loue Ì„ pees iÌ„ his tyme wos neuer coÌ„take debate nor were iÌ„ Britan he regned and wos kiÌ„g in pees all his lifes tym wheÌ„ he had bene kyng xi ere he died an lieth at yorke CLaudiê° wos emê‘our at rome next after Gayê° Ì„ he regned xiiij yere Ì„ viij dayes This maÌ„ come iÌ„ to gret bretan now called engloÌ„d for to chalaÌ„ge the tribut wich thei did deni vn to the romans Ì„ after gret batels ther wos be twix the emê‘our Claudiê° and Armager kiÌ„g of britan and after a cordmeÌ„t made that this Armager shuld wed Claudiê° doughter Ì„ after thes ij shuld euer life iÌ„ pees iÌ„ tokeÌ„ wher of this claudiê° named the cite wer they wer weddid after hiÌ„ called it Claudicestre we call it Gloucestre ¶ This Claudiê° had iij. wifes on Petiua the fyrst wyf he gat a doughter that heyght AntoÌ„ia The first wife decessed Ì„ he weddit messalinaÌ„ and gat a son that height britanicê° Ì„ octauia a dought The thrid he wedit agrippma hauiÌ„g a son that height nero Claudiê° wedit his doughter octauia to nero his wifes son this claudiê° for luf that he had to agrippma his last wife he killed messalina his fyrst wife lest she shuld haue holp britanicê° hir son his to the empyre yet agrippma the last wife of Claudius dred lest hir housband wold haue proferred Britanicus and haue deposed Nero his son Therfor she poysunied hir housband Claudius and Nero was ê“motit to the Empire and this sâ—me Nero yaf his mother sich a reward a yene for he poysunied britanicuÌ„ and kyld his own motber and his wife octauia Iamys the more the apostil this time was slaiÌ„ of Herod agrippa Petre wos presiÌ„d vt pêª patet actuuÌ„ 12. ¶ The body of sent Iamys by myracull wos brought in to Galeciam of spayn Nero after claudiê° wos emê‘our he regned xiij yere vij monethis This nero wos a cursid maÌ„ Ì„ made gret wast iÌ„ the empire he wold not fish bot with nettis of gold and ropis of sylke a gret part of the lordis off Rome he kylled he wos enmy to no men bot to good men he kylled his broder Ì„ his wife his mother and his master he killed also Petre and Paule he wold neuer wer on cloth ij timys all his horsse and his mulis wer shod with syluer And at the last he did set an gret ê‘te of Rome on fyere suÌ„ says to se how Troy brened and sum sayeth the romans coÌ„playned the stretes wer to narow and wheÌ„ he had brent a gret part of rome Nero sayd ther wos space to bild ther stretis wyder then the Senatours with the coÌ„myn pepull com vpoÌ„ him to kyll hym and he fled by nyght iÌ„ to subbarbis of the Cite and hid him a mong the vines And he hered karlys and begers cuÌ„ bi hym Ì„ sayed they wist wher the Emê‘our war he shuld neuer skape them Nero thought it shuld be gret derogacion to his name he wer slayn of chorlys And on a gret stake he ran hiÌ„ self to the hert and died Ì„ ther wos bereid dules keped his body moÌ„y a day after Ì„ did gret hurt to the pepull tyll by a myracull of our lord the bodi wos fond Ì„ take a way Ì„ then the dules voydet Seneca wos this tyme master to Nero. Iuuenalis peeta Lucanus poeta Iacobê° the las the apostil bisshop of ierlmÌ„ wos slaiÌ„ of the iues the sext yere of nero the euaÌ„gelist marcê° wos martered first yer of hiÌ„ Circa annuÌ„ cristti lxxiiij LInus Ytalicus wos pope of Rome x. yere and iij monethis and xiij dayes This Linus his
seknes Marcus Antoniê° the trew Ì„ Lucius Comodê° wer Emprours xix yere Thes ij toke the empire after Antoni the meke And then began ij eÌ„prours to regne bot Luciê° comedê° decessed and Antoni wos empror ther a lone the wich wos a victorius man and a nobyll Bot that hee made the iiij ê‘secucion to kyll cristyn men This marcus wos of so gret sadnes and stedfastnes that for no chawnce he loogh neuer ne changed no cheir nother for gladnes ne for sorow ¶ And when he wos a childe he wos of sich manhoed that on a certayn tyme wheÌ„ he loked his tresor Ì„ had not the wich he myght giffe his knyghtes Ì„ his men when he went to fight ayenes the Germans the Sclauos Ì„ Sarmatas he wold hurt ne greue no body bot had leuer to sell his wifes goldyn vessell hir araymeÌ„t hir beddyng all hir riall stufe theÌ„ take tax of the senetours or of his ê“uynce vnder hym bot he gat the victori of his enmys and recouered all ayene and relesed the ê“uyncis of ther tributis And thos that wold sell hym his wefes tresor ayene· he restored them ther monay and thos that wold not he neuer greued them bot the tabuls of ther dettys be twix hym and them he briynt opynli in the marketh place and changed them at they helped hiÌ„ iÌ„ his necessite ¶ How kyng Lucie regned after his fadre that was a good maÌ„ and after he become cristen AFter kyng Coill regned Lucie his son that was a good man to god Ì„ to all the pepull he sent to Rome to the appostell EuleÌ„thre that tho was pope and saied that he wold become a cristen man and resaue baptym in the name of god and turne to the right faieth and beleue ¶ Eulenthre sent .ij. legats that wer called Pagan an other Elibayn in to this lond and baptised the kyng Ì„ all his mayne and after went from toune to toun and baptised the pepull tyll al the land was baptised and this wos in the yere C.lvi. after the incarnacion of our lord IhuÌ„ crist And this kyng Lucie made tho in this land ij arche bisshoppes on at Canterberi an other at Yorke and other many bysshoppis that yet be in this lond ¶ And when thes ij legates had baptised all this land they ordeyned prestys fer to baptise chyldren Ì„ for to make the sacrament and after they went ayene to rome Ì„ the kyng dulled in his land and regned with mekyll honour xij yere and after died and lieth at Glocestre ¶ How this laÌ„d wos loÌ„g with out a kiÌ„g how britoÌ„s chose a kiÌ„g THis kyng Lucie had none heire of his body begoten thatt was after ward gret harme and sorow to the land For after this kiÌ„g Lucis deth none of the gret of the lond wold suffre an other to be kyng but leuyd in were and debate emonges them selfe .l. yere with out kyng But it befell afterward that a gret priÌ„ce come fro rome in to this land that was called Seuerie nought for to were bot for to saue the right of rome But nerthe les he had not duelled half a yere iÌ„ this land bot that the bretons hym kylled and when tho of rome wist that Seuerie wos so slaiÌ„ they sent an other gret lord in to this lond that wos called Allec that was a strong man and a myghty of body Ì„ duelled iÌ„ this land long tyme did moch sorow to the bretons so that after for pure malece they chosen them akyng emenges them that wos cald astlepades assemled a gret host of bretons and went to London to seche Allec and ther they fond him and killed hym and all hys felows one that wos called walon defendid hym fersely fought long with the bretons but at the last he was discoÌ„fited Ì„ the bretoÌ„s toke him and bond hym handes feet and cast hym in to awater wherfor that water afterward was called euermore walbroke ¶ Tho regned Astlepades in pees till on of his Erles that wos called Coill made afair toune ayenes the kynges wyll and let call the toune Colchestre after his own name wherfor the kiÌ„g wos full wroth thought to destruy him and begon to were vpoÌ„ hym Ì„ brought gret pouer of meÌ„ yaf the erle batell the Erle defendid hym fersly with his power Ì„ slew the kyng him self iÌ„ that bataill Ì„ tho wos Coill crowned and made kyng of this land ¶ This Coill regned and gouerned the reame well and nobilli for he wos a nobull man and welbeloued among the bretons When tho of rome herd that Astlepades was slayn they wer woÌ„der glad and sent an other gret prince of Romans that wos called Constance and he come to the kyng Coill for to chalengf the tribute that wos woÌ„t to be payed to rome And the kiÌ„g answerd wel and wisely and sayed that he wold pay to rome all that right and reson wold with full good wyll And so they acorded tho with good will and with out any contake and so bothe they dueled to geder in loue ¶ The kyng Coill yaf to hym his doughter Elene vn to haue hir to his spouso that wos bothe fair and wise and good Ì„ weli lettred And this Constance spoused hir ther with moch honour and it befell sune afterward that this kyng Coill dyed in the xiij yere of his regne and lieth at colchestre entired ¶ Of kyng Constance that wos a Roman that was chosen kyng after the deth of coyll for as mych that hed spoused Elene that wos kyng Coill doughter AFter this kyng coill Constance was made kyng Ì„ crouned for as mych that he had spoused kyng coilles doughter that wos heir of the land the wich constance regned well Ì„ wortheli gouerned the land and he begat of his wife Elene a son that wos called constantine this kiÌ„g bore trew faieth and trewly did vn to them of Rome all his life and when he had regned xv yer then he died and lieth at yorke ¶ How constantine that wos kiÌ„g constancis son Ì„ the son of seynt Elin gouerned and ruled the land and was Emprour of rome AFter kyng constance deth regned constantine his son and the son of sent Eline that fond the holy crose in the holy land and how constantine become Emprour of Rome Hit befell so in that tyme ther was an emprour at rome that wos a Sarzyn Ì„ a tyrant thas wos called Maxence that put to deth all that beleued in god Ì„ destruyed holy chrche by all his pouer and slew all cristen men that he myght fynd And emong all other he let marter sent Katrin mony other cristiÌ„ pepull that had drede of deth that fled Ì„ come in to this lond to kyng constantine and told hym of the sorow that Maxence did to cristiÌ„te wherfor ConstaÌ„tine had pitte and gret sorew made
to northhumberland that wos his own land ¶ And after the pepull of Leicestreshire made with strength Cadewan that wos Brecynals son kiÌ„g of Leicestre and he after regned nobulli with gret honour ¶ How Cadewan kyng of Leicestre and Elfride kyng of northhuÌ„berland wer frendis and of the debait that after wos betweÌ„ Edwyn and Cadwalyn that wer both ther sonnys ANd after that this bataill wos done the Bretons asseÌ„led them and went thens and come to Leicestre and made ther Cadewan that wos Brecinales son kyng of Leicestre Ì„ of all the cuntre and he toke homages Ì„ feautes of alÌ„ the folke of the cuÌ„tre Ì„ after that he assemled a gret host Ì„ sayed he wold go in to NorthhuÌ„berlond to destruy kig Elfrid sle hiÌ„ if he might Ì„ wheÌ„ he wos comeÌ„ thider frendes weÌ„t so betwen them Ì„ made them accorded iÌ„ this maner That Elfrid shuld hold all the land froÌ„ huÌ„ber vn to scotland Cadewan shuld haue alÌ„ the land athis side huÌ„ber to the south and after that they become good freÌ„dis all ther lifes tyme Ì„ loued to geder as they had be ij brether ¶ And this Elfrid had a son the wos called Edwyn that had Ì„ held all the land of northhuÌ„berland after his faders deth as his fader had holde all his lifes tyme ¶ And Cadewan had an other son that wos caled Cadwalyn that held his faders lond as he it helÌ„d whiles he wos a liue Ì„ they loued to geder as they had be brether ¶ And the loue lasted bituix them bot only ij yere Ì„ after began debate bitwen them thurgh a lither eÌ„uyus cosin of cadwalyns that wos caled briens so thatt they assemled a gret host iÌ„ both ê‘tes at the last it befell that cadwalyn wos discomfited edwyn hiÌ„ pursued Ì„ droue hiÌ„ from place to place so at the last he fle iÌ„ to Irlond ¶ And this oder destroyed his loÌ„d cast doune casteles brent his maners Ì„ deê‘ted all cadwalyns lond among his frendis ¶ And long tyme after come cadwalyn ayene froÌ„ Irlond with a strong pouer in playn bataill kylled Edwyn all his frendis Ì„ namly tho that with held his londis thurgh Edwynes yift ¶ How kyng Oswold wos kylled thurgh kyng Cadwalyn Peanda and how Oswy that wos sent Oswaldes brother regned after him and kylled Peanda WHen that Edwyn wos slayn Offris his son vndertoke the were ayens Cadwalyne his eme so that this Offris died during the were ¶ And after the deth of Offris tho regned a gentill cristyn man that moch loued god almyghty that had all the land of Northhumberland by heritage that was cald Oswald and he wos kyng of all that land ¶ But for as moch as he wos frend to Edwyne and held a gret part of the laÌ„d of Cadwalin this same cadwalyn wered vpon him and drefe him toward scotland ¶ And when Cadwalyn saw that he wold not abyde Cadwalyne nold no longer hym pursew but toke some of his folke to Peanda his brother in law and prayed Peanda to pursew after Oswald till that he wer taken and slayn And Cadwalyne turned home ayene ¶ When Oswalde herd the tyding that Cadwalin turned home ayene he wold no longer fle but aboid Peanda yaf him bataill Peanda wos discomfited and fled and come ayen to Cadwalyn and sayed that he wold neuer hold o fote of land of him but yf so were that he wold a venge him of Oswald ¶ Cadwalyn let assemble a gret host for to fight with Oswald so that he Peanda come to NorthhuÌ„berland Ì„ yaf bataill vn to Oswald in the same bataill was oswald slayn and his heid smyten of and after he wos entered at the abbay of Bardeney iÌ„ wich place god hath wrought for him mony a fair miracull both ther Ì„ els where ¶ And anone Oswy his brother seysed all the land in to his hond that wos thys Oswaldis Ì„ the folke of NorthuÌ„berland loued hiÌ„ wonder well held him for ther lord· but he had men of his kyn worthy ynough that wold haue deê‘ted the land and they wered to gedre well and for as moch as they wer not stroÌ„g ynowgh they come to Pianda and prayed him of helpe and socour and biheght him of that land largely vpon this couenaunt that he wold them gouerne and helpe Ì„ counceill ¶ Peanda herd ther prayer and so spake with the kyng Cadwalin that he shuld ordeyn a gret host and fast ordeyn him in to Northhumberland for to fight with Oswy ¶ And Oswy was a meke man and mich loued pees and charite prayed Peanda of loue and pees and ê“ferrid him of gold and siluer gret plent◠¶ And this Peanda was so proud that he nold graunte him pees for no maner thyng but for all thing he wold with him sight So at the last ther was set a day of batall ¶ And Oswy euer had trast vpon god And Peanda trast to moch vpon his pride and vpoÌ„ his host that he had and to geder they smyten egrely but Peanda anone wos discomfited slayn and this was after the IncarnecioÌ„ of our lord ihuÌ„ crist viC. lv yere And this Oswy regned xxviij yere and a kyng that wos called Oswyne that wos Peandais cosin wered vpoÌ„ king Oswy Ì„ to gedre foughten but Oswy had the victori of Oswyne oswyne was discomfited slayn and lieth at Tynnemouth ¶ How kyÌ„g Cadwaldre that wos Cadwaleynes son regned after his fadre and was the last kyng of Bretons AFt the deth of Cadwalyn regned his son Cadwaldre welÌ„ and nobulli and his moder was the suster of kyng Peanda ¶ And when he had regned xij yere he fell in to a gret sekenesse and than wos ther a gret descorde by twen the lordis of the lond that euery on of hem wered vpon other And yit in that tyme ther fell so gret derth and scarcite of corne other vitailles iÌ„ this land that a man might go iij. days or iiij fro touÌ„e to toune that he shuld not fiÌ„d to bie for gold ne salu bred wyne ne none other vitaill wherwith a man myght leue but onli the pepull leued by rotes of herbis for other lyuyng had thei noÌ„e so mich wos it faillid all a bout fisshis wildbestes all other thing so that yit to this missaueÌ„tur ther fell so gret mortalyte Ì„ pestilence emoÌ„g the pepull by the corupcion of the eir that the leuyng pepull ne sufficed not to beri the deid bodies for they died so sodenli both gret and small lord and sarnand os thei â—ten goyng Ì„ spekyng they fell doune Ì„ died so that neuer wos herd of more soden deth emonge the pepull for he that went for to beri the deid bodi with the same deid bodi wos beried ¶ And so thei that might
law of god wos geueÌ„ iÌ„ the hill of sinay Ì„ the boke of leueticuÌ„ wos wretyn and a noder boke wos called numerum Ì„ the tabernacul wos ordand The boke of deuteronamiuÌ„ wos made Balaam wos ê“phet Ì„ wos slayn Anno muÌ„di .iij M vij C xxv Et anÌ„ xpiÌ„ natiÌ„ M.iiij C lxxiiii SAlmen of the line of crist wos abowte this tyme Ì„ he had a wife that heyt reab Moyses abowt this tyme decesset the water of fleme iordane wos dry Iericho wos take the son stoid iÌ„ the firmameÌ„t iÌ„meuabull historia libri iosue iÌ„cipit iudicum Iosue the secuÌ„d iuge iÌ„ israel wos a myghty maÌ„ iÌ„ batell Ì„ the fryst iÌ„ desert he awer com amelech Ì„ after Moyses of god he wos ordant iuge of israel of whom the batels the werkes Ì„ the religius lyfe ye may se iÌ„ the boke of Iosue wreteÌ„ Eleazar wos the secund bysshop Ì„ he Ì„ iosue deuyded the lond of ê“mision to the child of israell Ì„ of hym deceÌ„dit the bysshoppis vn to crist a few exceppyt Othonyell of the tribe of Iuda wos the thryd iuge and this man delyuered the children of israel fro the oppression of thee Reame off Mesopotomie the wich he ower come in batell thys man toke axam to his wyefe the wiche asked the vale londis a bown Ì„ be nethe of hir fader caleph vt pêª patet iudic prio. Aoth wos the iiij iuge iÌ„ israel this maÌ„ subduid egloÌ„ the kyng of moab and deliuerit the child of israel this wos a myghty man in batell and he vsyd the ton hond as well as the tother for his right hond ¶ A bowte this tyme the kiÌ„gê of Italy be gone and mony tymes ther names be changet of the wich the ê“genite of the romans moâ— clerly is shewed Ianas wos the fyrst kyng of ytaly and afterward of the rude gentilys he wos worshyppit as a god and they fenyd hym to haue ij faces for they worshippit his fest in the begynnyng of the yere as he war the ende of the last yere and the begynnyng of the fyrst yere and of hym the mone of Ianuary has his name Amictus wos the viij kyng of babulon vndyr whom Iosue decessit Anno muÌ„di iij M vij C lxxv Et anÌ„ xpiÌ„ natiÌ„ M iiij C xxiiij Boos son to salmon of the lyne of crist wos this tyme. bott of hym is lytill wretten bot that Math nombres hym iij the genology and as docturs sayth ther wos made skyppiÌ„g of namys be twyx Boos Ì„ Obeth for at the leste be twyx them war CClxxij yere the wich tyme to on man may not be referred Ì„ ther for heyr mony thynges is spoken or I cum to the lyne of crist a yane Nicholaê° de lyra dt ê™ suÌ„t tres boos vnus post alium Sangar wos the v iuge of israel bothe leued no yeres Delbora wos the vi iuge this Delbora wos a womaÌ„ and for thee grace of hir ê“phecy wos gyffen to hir honour that she iuget israel she by the coÌ„maÌ„dment of god called Baruch that he shold go feght with the enmys of israel and the child of israel gat the victory a yans Iabin the kyng of Chanaan and Cizaram the priÌ„ce of his cheualry and he destrued hem vt pêª patet iudicuÌ„ 4o. Phenies wos bisshop and this Phenies yet a yong man for goddis sake slew mony lecherus men And therfor our lord wos plesit wit him Saturnus this tyme wos kyng in Italy and he wos the secuÌ„de kyng ther. this Saturmis is sayed to cum from the lond of cretens in to Ytaly whom by ydolatri thurght a meruelê° blendnes they sayed wos no man bot a god And yet they sayed that hee regnet vpon them as ther kyng and he taught meÌ„ fyrst to donge ther feeldys and of Saturnus the romaÌ„s war calÌ„led saturniam Pâ—icus wos son to Saturnus and or he wos kyng in Italy he wos kyng in Laurentyn and after his decesse of the geÌ„tilis wos worsshippit for a god Anno muÌ„di iij M viij C lxxv Et anÌ„ xpÌ„i natiÌ„ M.iij C xliiij GEdeon the vij Iuge off israel wos this tyme. this Gedeon subduyt iiij kynges s. Oreb Zebee Zeb and Salmana And hee subduyt Madean to israel vide plura iudi cuÌ„ .6.7 et .8 Bocci wos Bisshope in isthel then Abymelech the viij iuge in israel wos naturall sone to Gedyan and he wos not called of god bot malyciosly toke on hym the Prinshod of israel and he slew lxx of his brether wherfor he endit his lyfe myscheuusly vt patet iudicum 9 Tola wos the ix Iuge in israel and this man gydit hym after the olde gouernans of iuges by thee maner of dyreccion and counsell moor then by domynacion Bocci wos bisshop a bowte this tyme bot of hym lytell is wretyn Iayr the x iuge of israel had xxx sonnys whom he made princes of xxx citees And be cause thes war good men and rulit to the plesour off god Therfor in the dayes of thees .ij. men isreel drew to our lord And therfor all thyng come and wos in prosperite and welche Fannus wos the iiij kynge of Italy and he wos kyng of Laurentyn bâ—the Latinus wos kyng in Italy after FaÌ„nus and of thys Latinus wos called the kyngdoÌ„ of latinorum ¶ And Carmentis doughter to Euandri foond fyrst latyn lettyrs Thauranus a bowt this tyme wos kyng of babulon or of asseriorum and vnder thys man Troy wos destruyed fyrst The occasion off the batell off Troy be gone for a lytell thyng in so myche as Lamydon kyng of Troy reseyued not Hercules and Iason wyth dew honour as they shold haue be resaiued and off so lytell a trespasse how mony harmys and hurtys grew Sibilla delphica a for the batell of Troy proficyed how a chyld shuld be borne of a virgin wyth owt mannys seed Laamydon kyng of Troy wos slayn And hys doughtyr xiona wos taken in to grees lond for the wych foulyth myghty batell and most ferfull myscheuys vide historiam troianam Hercules wyth Iason destruyd Ilyum or Troy the wych a none after wos bylded of Pryamus son to Laamydon This hercules did mony meruelus thynges and mony myghty batelles and infenyte lesinges be fennyt on hym· at the laste when he had ower come mych pepull hee wos soor hurt in werre And when he myght not suffyr the payn of his soor with the wych he wos greued hym selfe he ron in to the fyer and when he wos deyd he wos worshyppyt emonges the goddis of the gentyles myghttely Circa annuÌ„ muÌ„di iij M ix C lxxv Et anÌ„ xpiÌ„ natiÌ„ M.ij C xxiiij After the deth of Iayr iuge of israel the pepull of israell addyt new synnys to ther olde And our lord toke them iÌ„ to the pouer of the PhylÌ„ystiens and to the chylder of amon xviij yere and they war grettly oppressit and then they cryed
Reignold that wos Gonedag son rened Gorbodian that wos this Reignold son xv yere Ì„ then he died lieth at yorke ¶ How gorbodian had ij sonnys how that one slew the other for to haue the heritage And how ydoyne ther modre killed thatt other wherfor the land was destruied WHen this Gorbodian was deid his .ij. soÌ„nys that he had become stout proude euer wered to geder for the land Ì„ the one was called Ferres Ì„ other Porres And this ferres wold haue all the land but the other woldnat suffre him this ferres had a felons hert thought thurgh tresoÌ„ to slee his brother but preualy he weÌ„t iÌ„ to fraunce ther abode with the kiÌ„g Syward till vpoÌ„ a tyme whan he come ayene Ì„ fought with his brother ferres but ful euell it happed tho for he was slayn fyrst wheÌ„ ydoyne ther moder wist that Porres was deid she made gret sorow for enchesoÌ„ that shee loued hym more theÌ„ that other Ì„ thought him for to kyll preualy ¶ And preuely she come to hir son vpoÌ„ a nyght with ij knyues therwith cut his throt the bodi also iÌ„ to small peces who herd euer suche a cursed moder that kyllid with hir owne handes hir own son and long tyme after last the reproue Ì„ shame to the moder that for enchesun of that one son she murdred the other Ì„ so lost them bothe ¶ How .iiij. kynges courtasly held all Breten and what be ther names ye shall heyr after WHen the ij brethern war deid they nad left behynd them nother son ne doughter ne noÌ„e other of the kynred that myght haue the heritage Ì„ for as moch as the strangest meÌ„ driueÌ„ scomfited the feblest Ì„ toke all ther londes so that in euery coÌ„tre they had gret were Ì„ strife vnder them but emong all other thynges ther were amoÌ„ges them iÌ„ the contre that ouer come all tho other Ì„ thurgh ther myght Ì„ strenght they tuke all the londes Ì„ euery of them tok a certayn coÌ„tre iÌ„ his contre let call hiÌ„ kyng Ì„ con of theÌ„ was cald Scater Ì„ he wos kiÌ„g of scotland that other wos called Dawaliere Ì„ he was kiÌ„g of loegers Ì„ of all the land that wos Lotrins thatt wos Brutes son The thrid was called Rudac and he was kyng of walis And the iiij was called Cloten Ì„ was kiÌ„g of Cornewaill but this Cloten shold haue had all the land by reson for be cause thar wos no maÌ„ that wist noÌ„e so right heir os he was butt they that were strongest set litell bi hem that wer of lesse estate and therfor this cloteÌ„ had nomore laÌ„d amoÌ„g hem but cornwaill ¶ Of kyng Donebant that was Clotens son wone the lond THis Cloten had a son that was called Doneband that after the deth of his fadre by come an hardy man and a fair and a curteys so that he passed all the other kingê of fairnes Ì„ of worthenesse And a none as he was knyght he wist well that when his fader lyued he was most rightfull heir of all the loÌ„d and shold haue had by reson but other kynges that were of moch more strength than he toke from hym his lond ¶ And afterward this Doneband ordeyned him gret pouer and conquered fyrst all the land of Logeris a and after he wold haue conquered all the land of scotland and wailles and Scat came with his meÌ„ and yaf him batell and Rudac come ayene with his walys men for to help hym but so it be fell that Rudac wos kylled also Scater iÌ„ playn bataill and so Doneband had the victorie and conquerid all the land and well maintined it in pees and in quiete that neuir befor it was so well mayntined ¶ How doneband was the frist kyng that euer bore croune of gold in bretan THys Doneband let make hym a croune of gold and wered the croune vpon his hede as neuer kiÌ„g did bifore and he ordyened a statut that and a man had done neuer so moch harme and myght comeÌ„ in to the tempull ther shold no man hym mysdo but gone ther in safete and in pees and after goin to what lond or cuÌ„tre that hym plesed with owt ony harme â–ª and if ony man sett any hond vpon hym he than shold lese his life And this Doneband made the toun of Malmesberi and the toune also off the vise And when he had regned well worthely xl yere then he died and lyeth at new Troy ¶ How Bronne and Belin deê‘ted bitweyn them the lond after the deth of Doneband ther fadre and of the were be twix them ANd after that this Doneband wos deid his soÌ„nys that he had deê‘ted the land bitweyn them as ther fader had ordeyned so that belyn his eldest son had all the land of bretan from humbar southward And his brotherbrenne had all the land from humber to ScotlaÌ„d but for as moch that BeliÌ„ had the better part Brenne therfor waxed wroth wold haue had more of the lond Ì„ belyn his brother wold greunte hym nomore wherfor coÌ„take were a roso betweyn them two But brenne the yonger brother had no myght ne strenght a yens belyn Ì„ therfor brenne thurgh coÌ„sell of hys folke weÌ„t fro thens iÌ„ to norwey to the kyng Olsinges prayd him of help socour for to coÌ„quer all the lond vpoÌ„ belin his brother vpon that connaund that he wold haue his doughter to wise Ì„ the kyng Olsinges him graÌ„ted belyn anoÌ„e as his brother wos a go to norway he seysed iÌ„ to his hond all the land of northhuÌ„berloÌ„d Ì„ toke all the castelles Ì„ let them be arayed and keped the costes of the see that brenne shold not arriue iÌ„ no sied but that he war take ¶ The kyng ol singes let assemble a gret host and deliueryd his doughter to brenne all the pepull that he had ordeyned Ì„ this damisell Samye had long tyme loued a kyng that wos called Gutlaghen and to hym she told all hir counselÌ„ how that Brenne shold hir haue hir lede with hym for euer more so he shold lese hir but that she myght for sake brenne And whan gutlagh had herd this tydiÌ„g he lay for to aspy brenne with as mony shippis as he myght haue so the two fletes metten to gedre and long tyme they faught so that Brenne turned ayene and wer discomfited And kyng gutlagh toke Samye and put hir in to his shyppe and brenne sham fulli fled thens as a man discomfitied ¶ And this kyng gutlagh wold haue went in to his owne contre but ther come vpon hiÌ„ sych a gret tempest that ·v dayes lasted so that thurgh that tempast he wos driuen iÌ„ to breten with iij. shippis and no mo Ì„ tho that keped the costes on the see toke Gutlagh and Samye
assemled a gret host and agret pouer and went ouer vn to Rome and ther toke the cite and kylled all that ther wos in that wer of mysbeleue that he myght ther fynde And tho wos he made Emprour and was a good man and gouerned hym so well that all londes to hym wer attendaunt for to be vnder his gouernance ¶ And this duell Ì„ tyrant Maxence that tyme wos in the land of Grece and herd this tydynge hee become wode and sodanly he died and so he endid his lyfe when ConstaÌ„tine went from this land vn to rome he toke with hym his moder Elyne for the moch wisdom that she coude and iij. other gret lordes that he most loued that on was called Hoell and an other was called Taberne and the thrid Morhin and toke all his loÌ„d to kepe vn to the Erle of Cornwaill that was called Octauian ¶ And anone as this Octauian wist that his lord was duellyng at Rome he seised all the land in to his hand and ther with did all his will among hygh and law and they held hym for kiÌ„g whan this tydynges come to Constantine the Emprour he was wonder wroth toward the erle octauian and sent Taberne wyth xijM. men for to destruye the Erle for his falsenes and they ariued at portesmouth ¶ And when octauian wist that he asseÌ„led agret pouer of bretons and discoÌ„fited Taberne and taberne fled thens in to Scotland and ordened ther a gret pouer and com ayene in to this land an other tyme for to yef batell to OctauiaÌ„ ¶ When octauian herd tell that he assemled a gret power and com ayen towardes Taberne as moch as he myght so that thos ij hostys metten to gedre vpoÌ„ stanysmore and strongly smot to gedre and tho wos octauian discomfited and fled thens vn to Norway and Taberne seysed all the land iÌ„ to his hand tounes Ì„ castelles as moch as they ther had And sith octauian come a yen fro norway with a gret pouer Ì„ seised all the land iÌ„ his hand drofe out all the romans and wos tho made kyng and regned ¶ How Maximian that was the Emprours cosyn of Rome spoused Octauians doughter and wos made kyng of this land THis Octauian gouerned the land well and nobully but he had none heir saufe a doughter that was a yong chyld that he loued as moch as his lyfe and for as mych thatt he waxed seke and wos iÌ„ poynt of deth myght no longer regne he wold haue made one of his nepheus to haue ben kyng the wich was a nobull knyght and a strong man that wos called Conan meriedoke Ì„ he shuld haue keped the kynges doghter Ì„ haue maried hir wheÌ„ tyme had bene but the lordes of the land wold not suffer it but yaf hir councell to be maried to sum hygh maÌ„ of gret honour and than might she haue all hir lust And the coÌ„sell of thee Emprour Constantyne hir lord and at this counsell they accorded and chose tho Cador of cornwaill for to wende to the emê‘our for to do this message Ì„ he toke the way Ì„ went to rome tolde the emprour this tydyng well Ì„ wysely Ì„ the emê‘our sent in to this land with him his own cosyn that wos his vnkyll son a nobull knyght and a strong that wos called Maximian and he spoused Octauians doughter and wos crouned kyng of this land ¶ How Maximian that wos the emprours cosyn conquered the land of Amorican and yaf it to Conan meriedok THis kyng Maxmian becom so riall that he thoght to conquere the land of Amarican for the gret riches that he herd tell that wos in that land so that he ne left man that wos of worthines knyght squyer ne none othir man that he ne toke with him to gret damage to all the lond for he left at home behynde him no man to kepe the land bot toke them with hym fro this land xxx M knyghtes that wer doughty menys bodies and went ouer iÌ„ to the land of Amorican thor slew the kyng that was called Imball coÌ„quered all the lond ¶ And wheÌ„ he had so done he cald Conan Ì„ said for as mich os kiÌ„g Octauian haue made yow kiÌ„g of bretoÌ„ thurgh me ye werlett and distrobled that ye wer not kiÌ„g I yeue yow this land of amorican and yow ther of maketh the kynge ¶ And for as moch as ye ben a Breton I wyll that thys land haue the same name and no more be called Amorican but bi called litell bretan and the land fro whens we ben comen shall be called moch bretan ¶ And so shall men knaw that on bretan fro that other Conan meridok thanked him hendely and so wos he made kyng of lytell bretan ¶ And when all this was done Maximian went fro thens vn to Rome and was tho made Emprour after constantine and Conan meriedok duelled in lytell bretan with mych honour and ther let ordand ij M. plough men of the land for to erie the land to harow it and for to sowe it and â—effed hem richely after that they wer ¶ And for as miche os kyng Conan and none of his knyghtes ne none of his other pepull wold not take wyfes of the nacion of fraunce hee tho sent in to gret breten to the Erle of cornwaill that men cald Dionothe that he shuld cheâ—e thurgh out all this land xiM. of madens that is to say viijM. for the mene pepull and iijM. for thee grettest lordes that shuld them spouse ¶ And wheÌ„ Dionoth vnder stode this he made acoÌ„mandement thurgh out all the land of bretan and as mony os the noÌ„bro come to he assemled to geder of maydens for ther wos no man that durst withstonde his commandmeÌ„tes for as mich that all the land was take hym to warde and to kepe to done all thinge that him good liked ¶ And when thes maydens wer assemled he let them cum be fore iym att London and let ordan for them shippes hasteli Ì„ os mich as theÌ„ neded to that vyage and toke his own doughter that wos called vrsula that wos the fayrest creature thot any man wyft and he wold haue sent hir to kyng Conan that shuld haue spoused hir Ì„ made hir quene of the land but she had made preuali to god a vowe of chastyte that hir fadre not wyst ne no other man els that wos leuyng vpon ethr ¶ How vrsula and xi M. maydens that wer in hir company went toward litell bretan and all they wer martired at Coloyn THis vrsula chose vn to hir company xi M. maydens that of all other she wos ladie and mastresse and all they weÌ„t in to shipp at on tyme in the water that is called thamse and coÌ„manded hir kyn and all hir frendis to almyghty god and sailed toward litele breton bot wheÌ„ they wer comen in to the hygh see a strange tempaste arose
euery bataill and come in to this land ¶ And whan vortiger herd tell that engist was come ayene with a grett pouer in to this lond· he assemled his bretons and tho went ayens engist for to haue yef hym bataill and his folke ¶ Butt Engist drad him sore of the Bretons For thei had driuen him beforne and discomfited hym with strength wherfor this engist prayd hym a loue day Ì„ sayed he wos not cuÌ„yn in to this laÌ„d for to fight but for to haue his land ayen if he might accord with the bretons and of them to haue luffe and grace ¶ The kiÌ„g vortiger thurgh counsell of his bretons graunted a loue day thus it wos ordeyned thurgh the bretons that the saame day shuld be holdin fast be side Salisberi vpon an hyll ¶ And engitt shuld come thidre with iiij hundreth knyghtys with out mo And the kyng with as mony of the wisest men of his land ¶ And at that day the kyng come with his counsell as it wos ordined but Engist had warned his knyghtys preualy and them commanded that euery of them shuld put a long knyfe in his hosyn whan he saied fair sers now is tyme to speke of loue and pees euery maÌ„ a none shuld draw out his knyfe and sle a breton and so they killed a thousand lxi of knyghtes and with moch sorow mony of them ascaped ¶ And the kyng vortiger ther hym self tho wos taken and lad to Thongcastell and put in to prison and summe of Engistes men wold that the kyng had bene brent all quyke ¶ And vortiger tho for to haue his lyfe granted them as moche as the wold axe and yaf vp all the land tounes Castelles cites and brughes to Engist and to his folke ¶ And all the bretons fled thens in to wales Ì„ ther they held them styll And Engist went thurgh the land and seysed all the lond with fraunchisos and iÌ„ euery place let cast a doune chirches Ì„ houses of religione Ì„ destruid cristiÌ„dom thurgh out all this land Ì„ let change the name of the land that no man of his wer so hardy after that tym to call this lond britan but call it Engist land Ì„ he deê‘ted all the land to his men ther made vij kiÌ„ges for to strenght the laÌ„d that the bretons shuld neuer cuÌ„ after ther iÌ„ ¶ The fyrst kyngdom wos kent ther that Engist him self regned and wos lord Ì„ master ouer all the other ¶ The other kyng had southsexe that now is chichestre The thrid kyng had westsexe ¶ The iiij king had Estsexe ¶ The v. kyng Estangill that now is called Northfolk Southfolk Merchemerich that is to say the Erldom of Nicholl ¶ The vi had Lecestre shiere NorthhamtoÌ„ shiere Hertford and Huntyngdon ¶ The vij had Oxunford Gloucestre Wynchestre Warwik and Derbyshire ¶ How vortiger went in to wales and bigan ther a castell that wold not stond with out morter tempred with blod WHen Engist had deê‘ted all the land in this maner betwen his men and deliuered vortiger out of prison and suffred him frely to gone whidre that he wold and he toke his way and went in to wales ther that is bretons dulled for as moch as that land was strong an wekked to wyn And Engist neuer come ther ne neuer know it befor that land vortiger held him ther with his bretaÌ„s axed concell what hiÌ„ wos best to doo ¶ And they yaf hiÌ„ concell to make a stroÌ„g castel that he might hiÌ„ self ther iÌ„ kepe Ì„ defend if nede wer ¶ MasoÌ„s iÌ„ hast tho wer fet Ì„ bigan the werk vpoÌ„ the hill of Breigh but certes thê° it be fel all the werk that the masoÌ„s made a day doun it fel the nyght Ì„ thei wist not what it might be ther of the kyng wos soro anoyed of that chance and wist not what to doen ¶ Wherfor he let send after the wisest clerkis and also lerned meÌ„ that wer thurgh out wales that myght be found for they shuld hym tell what wos best to done ¶ For they shuld tell wharfor the foundment so failed vnder the werke and that they shuld hym tell what wos best for to done ¶ And the wisest men long tyme had studied they sayed to the kyng that he shuld done seke a chylde borne of a woman that neuer had with man to done and that chyld he shuld sle and temê‘ with his blod the mort of the werk so shuld the werke euer endure with out ende ¶ How the kyng let sech Merlin thurgh out all wales for to speke with hym WHen the kyng herd this he commanded his mesangeres anone to wend thurgh out all wales to seke that chyld yf he myght hym fynd and that they shuld hym bring forth with theÌ„ vn to hym and in recorde and in witnes of this thyng he had tak them his lettres that they ne wer destrobled of no man ne lette ¶ And tho the messangeres went thens and sped so fast thatt they come in to a toune that was called Karmardine and os they passed forth ther way they funden ij child of xxiiij yere age chydiÌ„g yfâ—re with hasty wordes and on of them sayed to that other Donebat quod he ye do all wrong to chide or strife wyth me ¶ For ye haue no wit ne no resoÌ„ as I haue Certes MerliÌ„ ê™ he of your wit ne your reson I make no force for meÌ„ tell ê¯minly that ye haue no thyng of god almygfty sith ye had neuer fadre but euery mau knaweth well who was your mother ¶ The messingers of the kynges vortiger when they herd this strife be tuix the tow gromes they axed of them that stood besides them whens that Marlyn wos borne and also who hym norisshed and the folke hem told that a gret gentyll woman hym bare in KarmardiÌ„e that wos called Adhan but neuer myght man wit who was his fadre ¶ When the kynges messangeris herd this tydyng they went anone to hym that wos wardayne of the toune and toold hym the kynges will and his letter shewed hym wherfor they wer comen theder ¶ Merlyn and his moder anone wer sent be fore the wardayne of the toune he coÌ„manded them that they shuld gone to the kiÌ„g as it wos ordand by his massengers ¶ Merlyn and his moder went thens Ì„ come vn to the kyng Ì„ ther they wer vnderfonge with moch honour and the kyng axed of that lady yf that child wer hir son and who hiÌ„ begate ¶ The lady ansuered full tendirly wepyng and sayed she had neuer company of man worldly ¶ But sir quod she os I wos a yong mayden iÌ„ my faders chambre and other of gret linage wer in my coÌ„pany that often tymes wont to play solace I beleft allone in my chambre wold not gone forth for byrnyng of the sone ¶ And on a tyme ther come a fair bachelar Ì„ entrid in my
his pepull or they wist wer that they wer Ì„ them egrely asseilled ¶ The kiÌ„g cheldrik Ì„ his meny defeÌ„did them maÌ„ly bi ther pouer but kiÌ„g arthur his meÌ„ kylled so moÌ„ny saxoÌ„s that neuer wos seyne sich slaughter ¶ And Cheldrik Ì„ his men that wer left a lyue fled a way ¶ And arthur them pursued and droue oute them in to a wod that they myght no ferther passe Cheldrik his men saw well that they wer brought in to moch disese Ì„ them yold to arthur in this maner wyse that he shold take ther hors and ther armur all that they had they must onli gone oÌ„ fote in to ther shippis and so they wold gone home in to ther own land and neuer cuÌ„ ayen in to this land ¶ And vpon assurance of this thyng they yeuen hym good hostagâ—s ¶ And arthur by couÌ„cell of his men granted this thyng and resaued the hostages and ther vpoÌ„ the other weÌ„t to ther shippes ¶ And when they wer in the hy see the wynd changed as the deuell it wold and thei turnd ther nauy and come a yen to this land and ariued at Totnesse weÌ„t out of the shippes and toke the land clen robbed it moch pepull slew and taken all the armur that they myght find and so they weÌ„t forth till thei come vn to Bathe but the men of the toune shitteÌ„ fast ther yates and nold not suffre them to cum with in the toun and they defendit them well and orpedly ayens them ¶ How Arthur yaf bataill vn to the Saxons when they com ayen iÌ„ to this land Ì„ beseged the toune of bathe Ì„ them ouer come WHen arthur herd this tydyng he let hong anone the hostages and left Hoel of bretan his nepheu for to kepe the marche toward Scotlond with halfe his pepull and hym self weÌ„t to helpe and rescu the toune of Bathe and when he come theder hee yaf a strong bataill to Childrik and kylled almost all the peple that he had· for no man myght hym withstond ne endure vnder thee stroke of his swerd ¶ And ther bothe wer slayn Colegrin Ì„ Bladud his brether ¶ And Cheldrik fled thens and wold haue gone to his shippis But when arthur it wist he toke .x. M knyghtis to Cador that was Erle of Cornwaill for to let Ì„ stop his cumming ¶ And arthur hym self went toward the marche of scotlaÌ„d for messingers told hiÌ„ that the scottys had beseged Hoil of bretan ther that he lay seke and therfor he hasted hym thederward ¶ And Cador pursued after Cheldrik toke him er he might come vn to his shyppis and kylled Cheldrik and his pepull ¶ And when Cador had done this viage he hasted hiÌ„ ayen as fast os he myhht towardes Arthur and fond hym in Scotland ther that he had rescued Hoel of britan But the scottys were fer with in Mounref And ther they held them a while but arthur them pursued Ì„ they fled thens in to Lymoigne that wer in thatt cuÌ„tre lx iles and gret plente of briddis Ì„ gret plente of Egels that wer woned to cry and fight to geders and make gret noyse whan folke come to rob that land and weren as moch os they myght so they did for the Scottis wer so gret rauenours that they toke al that thei might fiÌ„d iÌ„ the laÌ„d of Lymoign with out ani spariÌ„g ther with charged ayen the folke in to Scotland for to wende ¶ How kiÌ„g arthur axed of merlin the aueÌ„turs of vi of the last kiÌ„gê that wer to regne iÌ„ englond how the land shuld enden â–ª SIr qd Merlin in the yere of the incarnacion of ihuÌ„ crist M.CC.xv. shall come a Lamb out of Wynchestr that shall haue a white tong Ì„ trew lippis Ì„ he shall haue writeÌ„ in his hert holinesse ¶ This Lam shall make mony goddis houses he shall haue pees the most ê‘t of his lyfe And he shal make on of the fairest places of the world that in his tyme shall not fulli be made an end of ¶ And iÌ„ the end of his life a wolf of a strange land shall do hym moch harme Ì„ sorow thurgh wer but at the end the lamb shall be master thurgh help of a red fox that shall cum out of the northwest him shall ouer cum Ì„ the wolf shall dy in water And after that tyme the Lamb shal lyue no while bot he shal die ¶ His seede shall be in a strange land Ì„ thee land shall be with out a gouernour a litelÌ„lÌ„ tyme. ANd after this tyme shall come a dragon melled wyth mercy and eke wyth wodenesse and that shallÌ„ haue an berde as a goot that shallÌ„ yef iÌ„ englond shadow shallÌ„ kepe the land from colde Ì„ hete Ì„ his on foot shall be set in wyke Ì„ that other in london and he shall enbrace in habitacions and he shall opyn his mouth toward wales Ì„ the trimbilyng of the hidour of his mouth his ere 's shall strech toward mony habitacions and cuÌ„tres and his breth shall be full suete in strange land ¶ And iÌ„ his tyme shall the reuers renne blod and with brayn Ì„ he shall make iÌ„ places of his land walles that shall do moch harme vn to his seed after his tyme ¶ Then shall ther cum a pepull owt of the north west during his regne that shall be lad thurgh out a wikked hare that the dragon shall doo croune kyng that afterward shall fle ower the see with out cummyng ayene for dred of the dragon ¶ Ì„ iÌ„ that tyme the son shall be as reed as blode as meÌ„ shall se thurgh out all the world that shall be tokyn gret pestylence and deth of folke thurgh dynt of suerd and that pepull shall bene fader les tile the tyme that the dragon die thurgh an hair that shall meue ayens hym were vn to the end of his life that shall not fully be endit iÌ„ his tyeÌ„ ¶ This dragoÌ„ shal be hold iÌ„ his tyiÌ„ the best bodi of the world and he shall die by sides the marches of a strange land the land shall duell faderles with out a good gouern and men shall wepe for his deth from the I le of shepey vn to the hauen of mareil ¶ Wharfor alas shall be ther song of fadroles folke that shall ouer lyuen in his land destruied ANd after this dragon shall cuÌ„ a goot out of kar that shal haue hornes and a berd of siluer and ther shall cum out of his nosthrell a domp that shall be tokyn hunger Ì„ sorow and gret deth of the pepull and moch of his land in the begynnyng of his regne shall be wasted ¶ This goot shall go ouer to france and shall opene the flour of his lyfe and deth In his tyme ther shall a rise an Egle in Cornwaill that shal haue fetres of golde that of
pride shal be with out pere of the land ̄ he shal despise lordes of blood and after he shal flee shamfully by a bere at Gauersech and after shal be made breggis of men vpon the costes of the see and stonys shuld fall fro castels ̄ mony other tounes shall be made playn ¶ In this tyme shall seme that the bere shall brenne ̄ a bataill shall be done vpō the armes of the see in a feld ordeyned as a sheld ¶ And at that bataill shal die mōi whitte heedis wherfor his batal shall be called the white batiill ¶ And the forsayed bere shal̄ done this goot moch harme ̄ it shal̄ cū out of the southwest of his blod than shal̄ the goot lese moch ̄ of his land till at the time that shendship shal̄ hī ouer cū and than shal he clothe him in a lion skyn and than shal̄ he wyn that he had before lost and more ther to ¶ For a pepul̄ shal cū out of the northwest that shal̄ make the goot so soyr a drad hee shal a venge him of his enmys thurgh cuncel of two owles that fyrst shal̄ be in perel for to be vn done but the old owle shall wend away a certayn tyme. and after he shal cum ayen in to this land ¶ Thes two owles shall do gret harme to mōy on so thei shal̄ councel the goot to arere were ayens the forsayed bere ̄ at the last the goot the owles shal̄ cum at burton vpon trent and shal̄ wend ouer and for dred the bere shal fle and a swan with him fro his company to burton toward the north ther they shall be with an hard shoure and than the suan shal̄ be taken slayn with sorow and the bere taken and heded alther next his nest that shall stand vpon a broken brige on whom the son shall cast his bemys and mony shall hym seke for vertu that from hym shall cū ¶ In the same shal̄ die for sorow and care a pepul of his land so that mony landis shal be vpō him the more bolder afterward and thos two owles shal do moch harme to the forsayd flour of lyfe ̄ hir sh̄al̄ lede in to distresse so that she shall passe ouer the see in to fraunce for to make pees betwen thee goot and the flourdelise and ther she shall duell til a tyme that hir seed shal cum sech hir they shall be styl till a tyme that they sh̄al hem clothe with grace and they shall sech the owles ̄ shal put them to despitous deth ¶ And after shall this goot be brought to disese and grett anguissh and in sorew he shall leue all his life AFter this Goot shall cum out of wyndesore a bore that shall haue an hed of a white lions hert and pytuus lokīg ¶ His visage shal̄ be reste to seke mē his brest shal be stāchīg of therst to them that be thersty his worde shal be gospell his bering shal be meke as a Lamb. ¶ In the fyrst yere of his regne he shal haue gret payne to iustifie them that be vn trew And in his tyme shall his land be multiplied with aliandes ¶ And this bore thurgh fersenesse of hert that he shal̄ haue shall make wolfes to becum lambis and he sh̄al̄ be called thurgh out the world bore of holines fersnes of nobulnes ̄ of mekenes and he shal done mesurably all that he shal do vn to the burgh of Ierusalem and he shal whette his teth vpon the yates of Paris and vpō iiij landes Spayn shal tremble for dred Gascoyne shall swet in fraunce he shal put his winge his gret tayll shall rest in Englond softely Almayn shall quake for dred of him ¶ This bore shal yef mantels to ij tounes of Englond and shall make the Reuer rene with blod and brayn he shal make mony medous reed and he shall get as moch as his auncestres did and or that he be deid he shal beyr iij. crounes and he sh̄al put a land in to gret subieccion and after it sh̄al be releued but not in his tyme. ¶ This bore after he is deid for his doughtynes shal be ētered at Coloyn his land shall be than fulfilled of al good AFter this boor shall cum a lamb that sh̄al haue feet of leed and an heed of bras and hert of a loppe a swynes skī and an hard and ī his tyme his land shall be in pees the fyrst yer of his regne he shal do make a cite that all the world sh̄al speke ther of ¶ This Lamb shall lese in his tyme a gret paart of his land thurgh an hidous wolfe but he shall recouer it yeue an lordship to an Egle of his land and this egle shal well gouerne it till the tyme that prid shall him ouer cum Alas the sorow For he shal die of his brethers suerd and after shall the land fal to the forsayd lamb that shall gouerne the land ī pees all his lifes tyme ̄ after he shall die and the land be fulfylled of all maner good AFter this lamb sh̄al̄ cum a moldwarp cursed of goddes mouthe a caytyfe a coward an hare he sh̄al̄ haue an Elderly skyn as a goot and vengeaunse shal̄ fall vpō him for syn ¶ In the fyrst yere of his regne he shal haue of all good grett plente in his land and toward him also and in his land he shal̄ haue gret presyng til̄ the tyme that he shal̄ suffre his pepul̄ lyue in to mich pride with out chastisyng wherfor god wyl̄ be wroth ¶ Than shall arise vp a dragon of the north that shall be ful̄ fers and shal̄ meve were ayens the forsayd Moldwarp and shal̄ yef him bataell vpō a stone ¶ This dragon sholl gadre ayen in to his company a wolf that shal̄ cum out of the west to meve were ayens tho forsayd moldwerp in his sied and so shall the dragō and he bynd ther tayles to geder ¶ Than shal̄ cum a Lion owt of Irland that shal fall in companie with hem and than shall trembull the land that shal be called Englond as an aspyn leef ̄ in that tyme shal castels be fellid doune vpō Thamyse and it shall seme that seuerne shall be dri for the bodies that shall fall deid therin The iiij cheif flodes in Englond shall ren in blod ̄ gret dred shall be and anguissh that shull arisen ¶ After thee Moldwarp sh̄al fle and the dragon ¶ The lion and the wolfe shal thē driue a way the land shall be with out them And the moldwarp shall haue no maner pouer saf onli a ship wher to he mawend ¶ And after that he shall gone to lond whan the see is with draw And after that he shall yef the thrid part of his lond for to haue the fourth part in pees and rest and after he shal life in sorow all his lifes tyme ¶ And ī
hiÌ„ that were of good lyfe Ì„ holy meÌ„ to preche teche to coÌ„uert the english pepull them turne to god that was iÌ„ the vi yere that sent gregori had bene pape of Rome that is to say after the IncarnacioÌ„ of our lord ihuÌ„ crist v. C.lxxxv yere as the cronicles telleth ¶ How sent Austyn baptised and conuerted kiÌ„g Adelbright and the bisshoppis that he made his felawes WHen sent Austyn come fyrst in to Englond he ariued iÌ„ the I le of Tenet and so passed forthe and come vn to Cantorberi and ther soiourned and kyng Adelbright of kent the wos of the lynage of Engist fair vndirfenged sent Austyn his felaws with moch honour and them fonden all that them neded And more ouer he yaf them a fair place that now is cadled the abbay of sent Austin in wich place he lieth him self shiyned ¶ This kyng Adelbright wos a good man Ì„ wyth good will herd sent austyn predicacions and yaf him leue to preche thurgh out all his land of kent to turne and conuerte to him all thee pepull that he might ¶ It befell so afterward thurgh goddis grace that in litell tyme the kyng him self was conuerted to god all his pepull of his land was baptisid ¶ And in the meyn while the pepull turned them to god sent Austyn come to Rochestre ther he preched the word of god And the paynyms therfor hiÌ„ scorned and cast vpoÌ„ him reigh tailles so that all is mantell was honged full of thes reigh tayles ¶ And for more dyspite they cast vpon him the guttys of reighes and of oder fische wherfor the good man sent austyn wos sore annoied and greued and prayed to god that all tho child of that cite that shuld be borne afterward that is to say iÌ„ the cite of Rochester might haue tailles and so they had ¶ And wheÌ„ the kiÌ„g herd of this vengeaunce that wos fallen thurgh sent austyns praier He let make an hous iÌ„ honour of almyghty god wher in women shold be deliuered of ther child at the brigges end iÌ„ the wich house yit womeÌ„ of the Cite bene deliuered of chyld ¶ When sent Gregori had herd tell how the Englissh pepull wer turned to god ê¯uerted he seÌ„t vn to sent austyn his pallione bi a bisshop that wos called Paulin and madâ— hiÌ„ premat Erchebisshop of englond sent worde that he shuld ordein and make bi shoppis iÌ„ the land ¶ And anone as austyn had the pallioÌ„ of the dignite of the Ersbishop he made ij bisshoppis of his felaws that come with him froÌ„ rome that on was called Mellyt he duelled at londoÌ„ and that other wos called IustiÌ„ that held the dignite of rochester this bisshop Mellit tho weÌ„t to preche iÌ„ to Essex baptised the kiÌ„g of the cuÌ„tre that wos called Sycwith that wos kiÌ„g Adelbrightis cosin his sustres son ¶ This IustiÌ„ weÌ„t to preche iÌ„ southsex turned moch of the peple to god And sent austin hiÌ„ self preched thurgh out Englond ¶ How sent austyn weÌ„t iÌ„ to wales ther that the bretons wer how they nold not be obedient to the Erchebisshop of cantorbury WHen all Englond wos baptised Ì„ turned to god sent austyn went in to that land ther that the bretons wer for to kepe them from englisshmen that is to say in to wales and ther he founden monkes and abbeys and vij bisshoppis ¶ For the britons destroied all way the cristyn pepul that sent austiÌ„ had ê¯uerted he saied to the bisshoppis that he wos a legat of rome pÌ„mat of all engloÌ„d that thei shuld bi all resoÌ„ to hiÌ„ be obedieÌ„t they saied they nold not ¶ But to the erchebisshop of CarlioÌ„ the wold they nold neuer for no maner thiÌ„g be obedieÌ„t to the englishmen ¶ For the englishmen thei said bene our aduersaries Ì„ our enmis Ì„ haue driueÌ„ vs out of our cuÌ„tre we be cristiÌ„ men Ì„ euer has bene Ì„ the englismen haue euer bene paynyms bot now of late that they be coÌ„uerted ¶ Sent austyn might of them none onsuer haue otherwise but said pertely that they nold neuer them meke to him ne to the pope of rome ¶ And sent austyn turned ayene tho to kyng Adelbright that was kyng of Kent and told him that his folke nold not be to no man obedient bot to the erchebisshop of karlion ¶ And wheÌ„ the kiÌ„g herd this he wos sore annoied said that he wold them destruy and sent to Elfrid kyng of NorthhuÌ„berlaÌ„d that wos his frend that he shuld cum to him with all the pouer that he myght and that he shuld mete him at Leycestre and froÌ„ thens they wold gone in to wales and ther destruy the Erchebisshopp of Carleon and all tho that had refused sent austyn ¶ How king Adelbright and the kiÌ„g Elfrid kylled brecinal that wos a kyng of bretons that held the contre of Leicestre IT befell so that ther wos a kyng of Breton that held the cuntre of Leicestre and all the cuntre about â–ª his name was Brecinall ¶ And this bretoÌ„ herd tell that tho ij engliâ—h kinges wold mete ther at leicestre for to wend iÌ„ to wales he let ordiÌ„ all the pouer that he had to fight with thes .ij. kiÌ„ges but litell it availed hiÌ„ for his folke that he had wer slain Ì„ him self fled Ì„ lost his landis for euer more ¶ And thes ij kyngê adelbright Ì„ Elfrid duelled a while at Leicestre deê‘tid the land amoÌ„ges them toke homages feautis of folkè of the cuÌ„tre Ì„ after thei weÌ„t toward wales tho of wales herd tell of the scomfitur that Brecinal had at Leicestre and wer wonder sore a drad of tho ij kynges Ì„ toke and chose amonges them good men and holy of Hermytes monkis prestis of other pepull gret plenti that went barefote wellewerd for to haue merci of thes ij· kynges ¶ Bot tho kiÌ„gê wer so sterne Ì„ so wicked that they nold neuer speke with them bot kylled them euerychon ¶ Alas for sorew for they ne spared hem no more thaÌ„ the wolfe doith the shep but smyten of ther hedis euerychon so thei wer all martired that to them come that is to vnderstand v. C. Ì„ xl afterward they went from thens to Baugore for to kyll all thoos that they myght ther find of the bretons ¶ And when the bretons herd that they assemled Ì„ ordeined all ther pouer for to fight with them Tho wos ther abarouÌ„ iÌ„ wales that wos called Bledrik of cornewaill that suÌ„ tyme was lord of Denshyre but the kyng Adelbright had driuen him out iÌ„to walÌ„es after ther he yef them bataill at that bataill wos kyng adelbright slayn Ì„ Elfrid wouÌ„ded sore for soke the feld Ì„ the most ê‘te of his pepull slayn and elfrid fled iÌ„
he knew that the ê“phesy that festome had ê“phecied of the Egle and other ê“phecies accorded to the dyuine ansuer that Cadwaldre had herd he councellid to leue his pepull and his naue and submitte him to the disposicion of god and done all that the angell had commanded him ¶ Than Cadwaladre called Ynor his son and Yuory his cosin that was his sustres son and saydd to them Taketh saied he my folke and my naue that his heir all redy and passe ye in to wales and be ye lordis of bretons that no dishonor come to them by interrupcion of the paynyms folke for defaute of lordis ¶ And then he him self left his reame of Bretan and his folke for euer more and toke his way vn to the pope of Rome Sergius the wich worsshipped him moch and so he wos confessed and toke pennaunce for his synnes ¶ And he had not longe duelld ther that he ne died the .xij. Kalend of May the yere of grace .v. C.lxxix ¶ How kyng Offa wos soueraxn a boue all the kynges of Englond ana how euery kyng wered vpon other IT befell so that all the kynges in that tyme that wer in the lond as thei of Westsex Merchenrich EstaÌ„gle of keÌ„t and of southsex and of other costes eche wered vpon other and he that was most myghty toke the land of him that was most febel ¶ But ther was a kyng amonges them that wos called Offa that wos sent Oswaldes brother This offa conquered all the kynges of the land and regned a boue them all ¶ And so grete wos the were in euery cuÌ„tre bitwen kynges that no man might wit how the lond went ¶ But abbotis Priours men of relegion writen the lyues Ì„ dedis of kynges and how long euery of them regned and in what cuntre and in what maner euery kyng died Ì„ of bisshoppis also And ther of made gret bokes and let call them the cronicles And the good kyng Alured had that boke in hys warde and let bring it vn to wynchester and let it be fast tached to an piler that men shuld it not remeue ne bere it thens so that eueri man myght it se and ther vpon loke ¶ For ther in be the liues of all the KiÌ„ges that euer wer in Englond ¶ How the kyng of Northhumberland Osbright for lay the wyfe of Buerne bocard thurgh strength and after this buerne conquered the kyng with pouer and strength ANd thus it befell in the same tyme that ther wos a king in Northhumberland that wos called Osbright and soiorned at Yorke and this kyng went hiÌ„ vpon a day in to a wod him for to disporte and when he come ayene he went priueli in to a good mans hous that was called Buerne Ì„ the good man of that place wos gone that tyme to the see ¶ For often tymes he wont ther to aspie theues and robers that oft tymes wer woÌ„t to cum in to the land to rob brene and sle ¶ The lady that was buernes wife was a wonder fair woman and the kyng com vn to hir when that hir housbond wos absent And so she trastid none harme vn to the kyng and welcomed him with moch honour and worthely him serued in all thing ¶ When the kyng had eten he toke the lady by the hand leed hir iÌ„ to a chamber sayd that he wold speke with hir a councell Ì„ all the folke froÌ„ the chamber he made void saf only the lady he but the lady wist not wherfor he it did till that he had done al his will And wheÌ„ he had done this dede he turned ayene to yorke the ladi he left ther woÌ„der sore wepyng for the dede that the kyng to hir had done ¶ And wheÌ„ hir lord was comeÌ„ home saw hir wepe sich som mornyng make he axed of hir what she had done why she made such sorow ¶ Sir qd she queinteli falseli the kiÌ„g Osbright me hath done shame velonye ayens my will· told hiÌ„ the trewth how the kiÌ„g had hir forlayne with strength wher for she sayd she had leuer to be deid than lyue ¶ Fair leef be styll ê™ he for ayenes strength febelnesse is litell worth therfor of me shalt thou neuer the lasse be loued and namly for thou hast told me the trewthe ¶ And if almyghty god grante me lyfe I shall the well auenge ¶ This Buerne was a gret man a myghty lord wos well beloued gret frindis had and let send for the grettest lordis of the land to them made his ê¯playn of thee dispite that the kyng to hiÌ„ had done said that he wold be auengid how so euer that it wer all his frendis concelled grented to wend vn to yorke ther that the kyng wos ¶ And buerne toke hys meyne come to the kyng And wheÌ„ the king hiÌ„ saw he called hiÌ„ courtasly Buerne by name buerne him ansuerd and to him saied Sir I you defy and yelde vp feutes hoomages and londis and os moch as I haue holden of you and so fro this tyme forward I wyll neuer of the nothing hold so he deê‘tid from the kyng with out more speche or ony a bydyng toke loue of his freÌ„dis Ì„ weÌ„t in to Denmarke plened to the kyng Godryne told hiÌ„ of the dispite that kiÌ„g Osbright to hiÌ„ had done of his wyf praid him of socour and help him to auenge ¶ When kyng Godrine of denmarke and the danois had herd the complaynt of this Buerne and of the preier that he had they wer right wonder glad iÌ„ hert for as moch that they myght find a cause for to gone in to Englond for to were vpoÌ„ the English men also for to aueÌ„ge Buerne of the dispite that the kyng Osbright had done vn to his wife ¶ And for as moch os Buerne wos sibbe to the king of Denmarke Anone they let ordeyne a gret host of men let ordeyne them shippes and as moch as them nede to haue to that viage ¶ And when all the host was redy the kyng made his ij bretheren cheftaynes that wer nobull knyghtes of body and also bold that on was called Hunger that other Hubba ¶ How the Danys toke yorke and kylled the kyng Osbright and afterwarde kyng Elle WHen all thyng wos redy tho ·ij bred token leue of the kiÌ„ge Godryn and went toward the see for to wend ouer in to Englond as fast as they myght spede Now is Buerne so well comforthed and fast hyed him with the Danois that they bene ariued in the north cuntre and comen thurgh out Holdernesse and destruyed all the cuntre and brenned tounnes and robbyd folÌ„ke and kylled all that myght be taken till that they comen vn to yorke ¶ And wheÌ„ kyng Osbright saw them cum he toke his pepull that he had with him and come out of the cite and
¶ Kyng Edward loued Pers of Ganastone so moch thatt he myght not forlet his componye and so moch the kyng yaf and behight to the pepull of englond that the exiling of the foresaid peris shuld be reuoked at stamford thurgh them that him had exiled wherfore peres of ganaston come ayen in to englond and when he was come ayen in to his land he dispised the grettist lordis of this land and called sir Robert of Clare erle of glocestre horeson And the erle of Nicholl sir henri the Lacy brustynbely and sir Guy erle of warwik the blak hound of Arderne Ì„ also he called the nobull erle and Thomas of Lancastre Churle and mony oder scornes and shame them said and mony other gret lordis of englond ¶ Wherfor they were toward hiÌ„ full angri wroth right sore annoyed ¶ And iÌ„ the same time died the erle of Nicholl bot he charged or that he wos deid Thomas of Lancastre erle that was his son in law that he shuld maynten his quarell ayens this same Pers of Ganaston vpoÌ„ his blissing ¶ And so it befell thurgh help of the erle of Lancastre and also of the erll of werwic that the forsaid sir Pers wos hedid at Gausich beside werwyk iÌ„ the xix day of Iune in the yere of grace a M.ccc .xij. ¶ Wkrfor the kyÌ„g was sore annoyed prayd god that he myght se that day to be a venged vpoÌ„ the deth of the forsaid Pers. ¶ And so it befell afteerward as ye shall here Alas the tyme for the forsaid erle of Lancastre and mony other gret barons wer put to pytuus deth and martired for enchesoÌ„ of the forsaid quarell ¶ The kyng wos tho at london and held a ê‘lament and ordeyned the lawes of sir Symond Mounford wherfor the erle of Lancastre and the erles and all clerge of englond made an othe thurgh counsell of Robert of wynchelse for to maynten tho ordinauÌ„ces for euer more ¶ How Robert the Brus come ayen in to scotland Ì„ gadered a gret pouer of men for to were vpon kyng Edward ANd when sir Robert the Brus that made him kyng of scotland that before wos fled in to Norway for dreed of deth off the good kyng Edward and also he herid of the debate that tho was in Englond bi twene the kyng and his lordis he ordeyned an host come iÌ„ to englond iÌ„ to NorthuÌ„berland cleyn distruid the contre ¶ And when kyng Edward herd this tidyng he let assembull his host and met the scottis at edstreuelin in the day of natiuite of sent IohnÌ„ baptist in the iij yere of his regne in the yere of our lord IhuÌ„ crist a M.CCC xiiij Alas the sorow Ì„ losse that ther wos done ¶ For ther wos slayn thee uery nobull erle Gilbert of Clare sir Robert of Clifford baroun· ther kyng Edward was scomfited and edmoÌ„d of maule the kingê stewerd for dred went and drenched him self iÌ„ a fresh riuer that is called Bannokesborne wherfor thei said iÌ„ reproue dispite of kiÌ„g Edward for as moch as he loued to gon bi water also for he wos discomfited at bannokesborne Therfor the maidens made a song therof iÌ„ that cuÌ„tre of kyng edward of englond iÌ„ this maner they song ¶ Maydens of englond sore may ye morne for tiÈt haue lost your lemmans at bannokesborne with heuelogh what weneth the kiÌ„g of engloÌ„d to haue geten scotland with rombilogh· WHen kyng Edward discomfited was wondir sore and fast he fled with his folke that was left on lyue and went vn to Berewik and ther held him And after he toke hostages thatt is to say ij child of the richest of the toune and the kyng wenteÌ„ to lundon Ì„ toke counsell of thinges that wer nedefull vn to thee reame of englond ¶ And in the same tyme it befell that tho was iÌ„ englond a ribaude that was called Iohan Tanner and he went said that he wos the good kyng edwardis son and let him call edward of Carnariuan and therfore he wos take at Oxforde and ther he chalanged the frere carmes churche that kyng Edwarad had yefen them the wich chirch sum tyme was the kynges hall ¶ And afterward was this IohnÌ„ lad vn to NorthmÌ„toÌ„ and draw and honged for his falsenesse and or that he wos dede he confessid and said before all tho that ther war That the deuell behight him that he shÌ„uld be kyng of englond and that he had serued the deuell .iij. yere ¶ How the toune of Berewyc wos taken thurgh tresoÌ„ Ì„ how ij Cardinales wer robbid in englond ANd in mydlentyn sonday in the yere of our lord IhuÌ„ crist a M.CCC.xvi Berewyc wos lost thurgh fals treson of on Pers of Spaldyng the wich pers the kyng had put ther for to kepe that same toune with mony burgeis of the same toune ¶ Werfor the children that wer put in hostage thurgh the burgeis of Berewyk folowed the kiÌ„ges marchalsie moni dais fetered in strong yrans ¶ And after that tyme ther come ij Cardinales in to englond as the pope had them sent for to make pees bitwen engloÌ„d Ì„ scotland ¶ And as they went toward Doram for to haue sacrid mastyr Lowys of Beaumont bisshop of Doram and os they went they wer taken Ì„ robbid vpoÌ„ the more of wynglesdoÌ„ of wich robbery sir Gilbert of Middelton wos atteint take and honged Ì„ draw at londoÌ„ Ì„ his hede smyten of and set vpoÌ„ a spere and set vpoÌ„ new gate the iiij quartres sent to iiij cites of englond ¶ And that same tyme befell mony mischefes in engloÌ„d for the poer pepull died in englond for hunger so moch so fast died that vnneth men migh them berie for a quart of whete wos worth xl shilling and ij yere an half a quarter whete was worth ·x marke And oft times the poer pepull stole children ete them ete also al the houndis that thei might take Ì„ also horse cattis And after ther fell a gret moreyn among bestis in diuerse cuÌ„tres of Englond during kiÌ„g Edwardis lifes time ¶ How the Scottis robbid Northumberland ANd in the same time come the scottis ayen in to Englond and distruyd Northumberland and brend that land Ì„ robbid it and kylled men and womeÌ„ and children that didly in ther cradeles and brend also holy chirche and destruyd cristyndoÌ„ and toke and bore Englisshmens goodis as they had be sarisens or paynyms and of the wikkidnesse that they did all the world spaken thurgh all cristyndome ¶ How the scottis wold not a mend ther trespase Ì„ therfor scotland wos enterdited ANd when pope Iohaij the xxij after sent Petre herd of the gret sorow and mischief that the scottis wrought he wos wonder sori that cristindom was so distroid thurgh the Scottis Ì„ namly they distruyed so holy chirche wherfor the pope sent a generall
his tyme the hote bathes shalÌ„ becoÌ„ cold and after that shall the molwarp die auentouâ—sli and sodanli A las for sorow for he shall be drowned in a flod of the see his seed shall become fadreles in strange lond for euermore And than shall the land be deê‘ted in to .iij. partes that is to say to the wolfe to the dragon and to the lyon ¶ And so shal it be for euer more and than shall this land be called the land of conquest And so shall the rightfull heyris of englond ende ¶ How Arthur ouer come Guillomer that was kyng of Irland and how the scotes become his men WHen Guillomer that was kyng of Irland hard tidyngê that kyng Arthur was entred at Glastenbury he ordeyned a gret pouer of Irissh men and come to the see with his Irissh pepull and so come in to Scotland ouer the see and ariued fast by ther that kyng Arthur wos with his host and anone as he wyst ther of he went towardes him and yaf him bataill and ouer come him anone right and guyllomer fled with his men ayen in to irland ¶ And when this was done Ì„ he discomfited Arth â— turned him ayen ther that he wos in to the place ther that he had left the Scotys and wold haue them all slayn But the bisshoppes abbotes and other folke of the cuntre and ladies open heed coÌ„ befor kyng arthur and cried him mercy and sayed sir gentill kyÌ„g and myghty haue mercy and pytte vpon us And os your selfe be of the right law to hold and maynten cristindom for full gret dishonour it shuld be to kyll them that beleueth in alÌ„ myghty god as ye done and for goddis loue haue mercy and pytte of vs and suffre vs for we haue had moch sorow and pyne for the Saxones has mony tyme passed thurgh our lond bot that is not ynough to you for often tymes they haue vs done serow and disese ¶ For our casteles they haue taken and our bestes slain and eten and moch harme they haue vs done and if ye wold vs now kyll hit wer no honour to a kyng to kill them that cries him mercy ¶ For ynough ye haue done to vs and has vs ouercuÌ„myn and for the loue of god that ye wyll suffre vs for to life Ì„ haueth merci of cristeÌ„ peple that beleuen iÌ„ crist os ye doo ¶ wheÌ„ kiÌ„g arthur herd this sorow he had pytte of them and yaf them liyfe and lym with out any more harme and they fell doune to his fete Ì„ than kyd him and become his leige men and he toke of them homages ¶ And after that kyng arthur turned ayene with his host and come vn to yorke and ther his bydyng made during that viage ¶ And tho yaf he all loegers to Aloth that had spoused his sustre and other yeftes gret plente and tho was Gawen his cosin bot of yong age and to all his other men that him had seruid in his were he yaf rich yeftes and he thanked them moch all of ther good seruesse ¶ How kyng arthtr spoused GuÌ„nore that wos guÌ„nores cosiÌ„ Erle of cornwaill and after he conqured of guillomer all Irland WHen Arthur had brought his land in pees and rest and in good state and all wos well in euery cuntre tho toke he Ì„ wedded a wife that was called GuÌ„nor Ì„ made hirquene a fair lady and a gentill that Cador the erle of Cornwaill had norisshid in his chambre that wos his own cosin but neuer they had child to gedre and neuertheles kyng Arthur loued hir wonder well and derly ¶ And anone os wynter was passed he let assemble agret host and all his barons and sayed that he wold wend in to Irland for to conqure the land Ì„ he taried not long that he ne passed ouer in to Irland ¶ And Guillomer the kyng let assemble a gret host and yaf bataill to kyng arthur But Guillom wos discomfited and yeld him to the kyng and become his man and to hiÌ„ did feaulte and homage and of him held all that land fro that tyme forward ¶ And after passed kyng arth â— forthermore and coÌ„quered Gutland Island and toke homages of folke and of the land Ì„ ther duelled xij yere in pees and regned with ioy myrthe and ther wered no man ne woman vpon hiÌ„ ¶ And he become so curtas and large and honorabull that the Emprours court of Rome ne none oder thurgh out all the world wos not accompted to kyng Arth â— that ony man wist of ne none so well prâ—sed ¶ And therfor the best knyghtis of all maner landes come vn to him ther for to duelÌ„ and he them ressaued with good will and reuerence ¶ And all the knyghtys weren so good that nomaÌ„ knew the werst And therfor kyng Arthur made a round table that when they shuld sit to ther mete all shuld be elike hie and euenly serued at the tabull that none of them shuld make a vauÌ„ce that on werhier than an other ¶ And kyng arthur had at thatt table Britons Ì„ FrenshmeÌ„ Normans Ì„ Flemynges BurgoÌ„s Mausers Ì„ Loherms of all the landes a this half of monte go rye of his laÌ„d of breton Ì„ of the gret CornwailÌ„ of wales of Irland Ì„ of scotland Ì„ shortely to tell of all the laÌ„des that wold worship cheualrie seche come to kyng Arthurs courte ¶ How kyng Arthur went in to Fraunce and conquered that land of Froll that was a Roman and how he him kylled SYth it befell that kyng Arthur thurgh conceill of his barons and lordis wold go to conquire all fraunce that tho was called Galle thurgh romans that tho held that land in ther pouer and in ther gouernance Ì„ the romans had take that land to a nobulÌ„ knyght a worthy of bodi that wos called Froll Ì„ when he wist that arthur come he ordend an host a gret pouer Ì„ fought with the kiÌ„g and he Ì„ his folke wer discoÌ„fyted fled vn to Paris Ì„ entred the cite Ì„ closed the yates ther hem held ¶ Arthur wyst that frolÌ„ wos gone to paris he pursued after come theder Ì„ hiÌ„ beseged but the Cite was so strong welÌ„ araied tho that wer therin defeÌ„ded them well manli ¶ KyÌ„g arth r duelled thermore theÌ„ a moneth ther wos so moch peple iÌ„ the cite Ì„ dispeÌ„did alÌ„ ther vitails that wer with iÌ„ Ì„ so gret hunger bicom amoÌ„ges them that they died wonder thikke withiÌ„ the cite for hunger and come â—on to Frol and prayed him to be accorded with kyng arthur for to haue pees and they wold yelde them vn to him and the toune also ¶ Froll saw that no longer he myght hold the toune ayens ther wilÌ„ trust gretli vpoÌ„ his own streÌ„gth Ì„ seÌ„t to kiÌ„g arthur that he shÌ„uld cum fight with him body