kyng Salomon in IhrlmÌ„ and made the noble temple and to hym come Sibelle quene of Saba for to here and see yf it were soth that men speken of the grete and noble wit and wisdam of kyng Salamon and she fonde it soth that men had hir tolde ¶ Of kyng lud ludibras that was kyng leyles sone Ca. x ANd after this kyng leyl regned his sone lud ludibras that made the cite of Canterbury and of wynchestre and he regned xiij yere and died and lieth at wynchestre ¶ Of kyng Bladud that was ludibras sone how he regned was a good man and a nigromancer Ca. xj And after this lud ludibras regned Bladud his sone a grete nigromancer and thurgh hie craft of nigromancie he made the meruaillous hote bath as the gest telleth and he regned xxj yere and he lieth at the newe Troye ¶ Of kyng Leir and of the ansuere of his yongest doughter that graciously was maried to the kyng of fraunce Ca. xij AFter this kyng Bladud regned Leir his sone and this Leir made the toune of leycestre and let calle the toune aft his name and he gouerned the toune well nobely This kyng Leir had ij doughtres the fyrst was called Gonorill the secoÌ„d Rigan and the thridde Cordeill and the yongest doughter was fairest and best of condicions The kyng hir fadre became an olde man and wold that his doughtres were maried â—r that he deide but first he thought to assay whiche of hem loued hym most aud best for she that loued hym best shold best bene maried and he axed of the fyrste doughter how moche she hym loued and she ansuerd and said better than hir owne lyfe Nowe certes quod the fadre that is a grete loue Tho axed he of the second doughter how moche she him loued and she said more and passyng all the creatures of the worlde â— ma foy qd the fadre I may no more axe And tho axed he of the thridde doughter how moche she hym loued certes fadre quod she my sustres haue tolde yow glosing wordes but forsoth I shall telle trouth For I loue yow as moch as I ought to loue my fadre for to bring yow more in certain how I loue yow I shall yow telle as moche as ye bene worth so moche shall ye be loued ¶ The kyng hir fadre wente that she had scorned hym and become wonder wroth and swore by heuen and erth she sholde neuer haâ—e good of hym but his doughtres that loued hym so moche sholde bene well auaunced and maried And the first doughter he maried to Maugles kyng of Scotland and the second he maried to haneinos Erle of Cornewaille and so they ordeyned and spake bitwene hem that they sholde departe the Reame bitwene hem two after the deth of kyng Leir hir fadre so that Cordeill his yongest doughter shold no thyng haue of his land but this Cordeill was wonder faire and of so good condicions â—ud maners that the kyng of fraunce Agampe herde of hir speke sente to the kyng leir hir fadre for to haue hir vn to his wyfe and praied hym therof and kyng Leir hir fadre sent hym word that he had departed the londe vn to his two doughtres and said he had no more lande wherwith hir to marien ¶ And whan AgaÌ„pe herde this ansuer he sente anone ayene to leir and said that he axed no thyng with hir but onely hir clâ—thyng hir body And anone kyng leir sent hir ouer the see to the kyng of fraunce And he resseyned hir with moche wurshipp and with moche solempnite hir spoused and made hir quene of fraunce ¶ Howe kyng leir was driuen out of his land thurgh his folie and howe Cordeil his yougest doughter helpe hym in his nede ¶ Capitulo xiij WHus it fel afterward that tho ij eldest doughtren wolde nat abide till leir hir fadre was dede but werred vpon hym whiles that he leued and moche sorwe and shame hym did wherfor they benoÌ„men hym holy the roialme and bitwene hem had ordeyned that one of hem shold haue kyng leir to soiourne all his lyfe tyme with xl kâ—yghtes and squyers that he myght wurshippfully gone and ride whidder that he wolde in to what contre that hym liked to pley and to solace So that Managles kyng of Scotland had kyng leir with hym in the maner as is aboue said and or othir half yere wer passed Corneill that was his eldest dâ—ughter and quene of Scotland was so aÌ„noied of hym and of his peple that anone she and hir lorde spake to gedre wherfor his knyghtes half and his squyers from hym were gone and nomo left but only xxx and when this was done leir bigan for to make moche sorwe for encheson that his estate was empeired And men had of hym more scorne and despite then euer they had bâ—for Wherfor he nift what for to done and at the last thought that he wolde wende in to Corne waill to Rigan his othir doughter And when he was come the Erle and his wif that was leires doughter hym welcomed and with hym made moche Ioye ther he duelled with xxx knyghtes and squyers And he nad nought duelled ther scarsely tuelfmonth that his doughter of hym nas full and of his coÌ„panie and hir lorde and she of hym had scorne and despite so that from xxx knyghtes they bronghten vn to x. and afterward .v. and so ther left with hym no mo Tho made be forwe y nowâ— aud said sore wepyng Allas that euer he come in to that londe and said yit had me hetter to haue duelled with my fyrst doughter And anonÌ„ wene thennes to his fyrst doughter But anone as she saw hym come she swore by god and his holy names and by as moche as she myght that he shold haue no mo with hym but one knyght yf he wolde ther abide Tho bigan leir ayen weâ—e and made moche sorwe said tho allas nowe to long haue I lyuet that this sorwe and meschief is to me nowe falle For nowe am I porer that some tyme was riche but nowe haue I no frende ne kyn that me wull do any good ¶ But when I was riche all men me honoured and wurshipped and nowe euery man hath of me scorne and despite and nowe I wote well that Cordeill my yongeste doughter said me trougth when she said as moche as I had so moche shold I bene beloued and alle the whilâ— that I had good tho was I beloued and honoured for my ricchesse but my two doughtres glosed me tho and nowe of me they sette litell pris and soth tolde me Cordeill but I wolde nat beleue it ne vnderstond and therfore I let hir gone fro me as a thing that I sette litell pris of nowe wote I neuer what for to done sith my ij doughtres haue me thus disceyued that I so moche loued and nowe mot I nedes sechen hir that is in an othir land
thousand meÌ„ for to destroie the Erle for his falsenesse arriued at Porte smouth ¶ And when Octauian wist that he assembled a grete power of britons and discomfited â—aberne and â—aberne fledde thens in to Scotland and ordeyned there a grete power and come ayene in to this land an othir tyme for to yeue bataille to Octauian When Octauian herde telle that he assembled a grete power and come towardes â—aberne as moche as he myght so that the ij hostes metten vpon steynesmore aud strongly smote to gedre and tho was Octauian discomfited and fledde thens in to Norwey and â—aberne seised alle the land in to his hand tounes castelles as moch as they ther had ¶ And sith Octauian come ayene fro Norwey with a grete power and seised ayene all the land in to his hande and drofe out all the Romains was tho made kyng and regned ¶ How Maximian that was the Emê‘ours cosin of Rome spoused Octauians donghter was made kyng ¶ Ca. xlviij THis kyng Octauian gouerned the land well and nobely but he nad none heir sauf a dought that was a yong child that he loued as moche as his lyfe and for as moch that he wax sike was in point of deth myght no lenger regne he wolde haue made one of his nepheus to haue bene kyng the whiche was a noble knyÈt a strong maÌ„ yâ— was called Conan meriedoke he shold haue kept the kynges doughter haue maried hir when tymÌ„ had bene but the lordes of the lande nolde nat suffre it but yaf hir counseill to be maried to some high man of grete honour and than myght she haue all hir lust And the counseill of the Emê‘our Costantine hir lord and at this counceill they accorded and chose tho cador of cornewaille for to weÌ„de to yâ— emê‘our for to do this message and he noÌ„me the wey and went to Rome and toldeâ—eth Emê‘our this tydyng well and wysely the Emê‘our sent in to this lande with hym his owne cosin yâ— was his vncles sone a noble knyght and a stronge thas was called Maximian and he spoused Octauians doughter and was crouned kyng of this lande ¶ Howe Maximian that was the Emê‘ours cosin conquered the lande of Amorican and yaf it to Conan Meriedok ¶ Ca. xlix THis kyng Maximian bicome so riall that he thought to conquere the land of Amorican for grete ricchesse that he herde tell that was in that lande so that he ne lefte man thas was of worthinesse knyght squyer ne none othir man that he ne toke with hym to grete damage to all the lande for he left at home behynd hym no man to kepe the lande but noÌ„me hem with hym fro this lande xxx M. knyghtes that were doughty meÌ„nys bodies and went ouer in to the lande of Amorican and ther slewe the kyng that was called Imball and conqnered all the lande And when he had so done he called Conan said For as moche as kyng Octauian haue made yowe kyng of Britaigue and thurgh me ye were lette destrobled that ye were nat kyng I yeue yowe all this land of Amorican and yowe ther of make kyng ¶ And for as moche as ye ben a briton and your men also and become fro britaigue I wull that this land haue the same name and no more be called Amorican but he called litell britaigne and the lande fro whens ye ben comen shall he called moche britaigue ¶ And so that men knowe that one britaigue fro that othir Conan meriedok thaÌ„ked hym hendely and so was he made kyng of litell britaigue ¶ And when all this was done Maximian went thens to rome and was tho made Emê‘our after Costantine Conan Meriedok dnelled in litell britaigue with mochel honour let ordeyn ii M. ploughmen of the lande for to erie the land to harwe it and sawe and feffed hem richely after that they were ¶ And for as moche as kyng Conan and none of his knyghtes ne none of his othir peple wolde nat take wifes of the nacionÌ„ of fraunce he tho sent in to grete Britaigue to the Erle of Cornwaille that me called Dionothe that chese thurgh out all the lande xj M. of maydens that is to say viij M. for the mene peple iij. M. for the grettest lordes that sholde hem spouse ¶ And when Dionothe vnâ—fonge this coÌ„mauÌ„dament he let seche thurgh all grete britaigne as many as the noÌ„bre came to for no maÌ„ durst withstoÌ„de his coÌ„mauÌ„dameÌ„ts for as moche as all the land was take hym to warde and to kepe to done all thyng that hym good liked And when all the maydens were as sembled be let hem come before hym to london and let ordeyne for heÌ„ shippes hastely as moche as hem neded to yâ— viage toke his owne doughter that was called Vrsula that was the fairest creature that any man wist and wold haue sent hir to kyng Conan that sholde haue spoused hir and made hir quene of the land but she had made preuely to god a vowe of chastite that hir fadre wiste not ne no man elles that was lyuyng vpon erth ¶ How Vrsula and xj M. maydens that were in hir companie went toward litell britaigne and all were martred at Coleyne Capitulo quinquagesimo THis Vrsula chese vn to hir companie xj M. maydens that of all othir she was ladie mastresse and all they weÌ„te in to shipp at one tyme in the water that was called the thamise and commaunded hir kyn and all hir frendes to Almyghty god and sailled to ward litell britaigne But when they were comen in to the high see a stronge tempeste arose as it was goddis wille ¶ And Vrsula with hir shippes and hir companie were driuen to ward hundland thurgh tempest and arriued in the hauen of the Cite of Coloyne The kyng of the land that was called Geowan was tho in the Cite whan he wise the tydyng that so many fair maydens were ther arriued he toke Elga his brother and othir of his houshold with hym and went to the shippes to seen that faire companie and whan he saw hem so faire he and his companie wold haue ouerlayne hem betake fro hem hir maydenhode But Vrsula that good maid counceilled praied warned taught heÌ„ that were hir felawes that they shold defende hem with all hir myÈt and rather suffre deth than suffre hir body to be defoiled So that all tho maydens become so stedfast in god that they defended hem thurgh his grace so that none of hem had poer to done hem any shame ¶ Wherfor the kyng Gowan wax so sore annoied that he for wrath let slee hem euerichone anone right and so were all tho maydenes martred for the loue of god and lien at Coloyne ¶ How kyng Gowan come for to destroie this land how a man of grete power that was called Gracian defended the land Capitulo quinquagesimoprimo WHen all this was done kyng Gowan
well with the kyng and thought his doughter shold well be maried well beset vpon him graunted him his doughter yf the good lord the kyng wold consent ther to ¶ This Edelwold come ayene to the kyng told him that she waâ— fair ynowe vâ—on to see but she was wonder lothly ¶ Tho ansuerd the kyng and said that he toke but litell charge Sir quod Edelwold tho she is hir fadres heir and I am nat â—â—che of landes and yf ye wold consent and graunte that I must hir haue than shold I be rich y nowe In goddes name qd the kyng I consent ther to Edelwold thanked tho moche the kyng went ayen in to Denenshire spoused the damisell in that contre he duelled And thus it befell vpon a tyme that he tolde his couÌ„ceill all this thyng vn to his wyf howe in what maner he had begiled his lord the kyng that wold haue had hir to wyf And anone as she it wyst she loued hym neuer more afterward as she had done beforne ¶ This lady conceyued by hym a sone and when tyme was that the child shold be borne Edelwold come to the kyng praied hym to heue a sone of his at fontston the kyng hym graunted let call hym Edgar of his owne name ¶ And when this was donÌ„ he thouÈt that he was syker y nowe of the kyng yâ— not wolde haue taken his wyfe for as moche as his lord was a â—oly man and an amerous ¶ How that kyng Edgar wedded Estrilde after the deth of edelwold Ca. C â–ª xiij THus it befell that all men in kyng Edgarys court tho speken said that Edelwold was richely avaunced thurgh the mariage of his wyf yit they said he was avaunced an hunderd fold more For he had spoused the fairest woman that euer was seynÌ„ And the kyng herde speke so moche of hir beaute he thought that Edelwold had hym desseyued and begiled and thought priuely in his hert that he wold gone in to Denenshire as it were for to hunt for the hert for the hynde and othir wylde bestes than he sholde se ther the lady or he departed thennes And this lady was duellyâ—g at a maner besides the forest ther that the kyng wolde hunte at that maner he was her burghed all nyght and whenne tyme come the kyng sholde sope and the sonne shone the kyng asked after his Gossyp and after his godsone and edelwold made hir come before the kyng And notheles yf it othir myght haue bene she sholde not haue comen in his sight by his wyll The lady welcomed the kyng and swetely hym cussed and he noÌ„me hir the honde and tho next by hym her sette and so soped they to gedre And tho was a custome and an vsage in this land that when a man dronke vn to an othir the drynker shold sey wassayl and that othir sholde ansuere drynkehaille and thus did the kyng and the lady many tymes and also kyst And after sopâ—â— whent yme was gone to bedde the kyng went vn to his bed â—â—rtely thenkyng vpon that ladies fairnesse and tho was ouercome for hir loue that hym thought that he shold die but of hir his wyll he had Vpon the morne the kyng Aroos and in the forest went hym ther to disporte with hertes and hyndes and all othir wylde bestes and of the hertes grete pleâ—te to that lady he sent thries he went to solacen and speke with that lady whiles he duelled in that coÌ„tre And after that the kyng remeued thennes and thought how he myght best deliuer edelwold from his wyfe as he had hym fyrst disceyued And the kyng anone after viij dayes let ordeyne a parlament at Salesbury of all his baronage conceill to haue and for to ordeyne how the contre of Northumberland myÈt best ben kept that the danois comen not ther the land to destroie And this Edelwold come also vn to the kynges ê‘lement and the kyng sent hym to yorke for to be keper of that contre And thus it befell that men that knewe hym not slowe hym by the wey And anone as the kyng herde that he was dede he let send after the lady Estrild that she shold come to the Cite of london and ther ben wâ—dded to the kyng with grete solempnite and wurshipp an held a solempne feste and he wered a croune of gold and the quene an othir ¶ And seint dunston amorwe came vn to the kyng in to the chamber and founde the kyng abedde and the quene also yfere And seint dinistoÌ„ axed ho she was the kyng ansuerde this is the quene Estrilde and the erchebisshopp seint dunston said that he did grete wrong and ayens goddes wyll to take a woman to wyfe whos child ye had take at theâ— fonstone and the quene for that word neuer after loued seint duâ—ston and nothelees the good man warned of that foliâ— to lete but his warnyng availled litell for the loue bitwene hem was so moche ¶ The kyng begate vpon this woman a sone was called Eldred and tho this childe was vj. yere olde the kyng his fadre died and about that tyme he had regned xvij yere lieth at Glastenbury ¶ Of seint Edward the martir how Estrild his stepmoder lete hym quelle for to make Eldred hir ownÌ„ sone kyng Ca. C â–ª xiiij ANd after this Edgar regned Edward his sone that he bagate on his fyrst wyfe that well and nobely gouerned the lande for he was full of all maner of goodnesse and lad full holy lyfe and aboue all thyng he loued god and holy chyrche and the quene Estrild his stepmoder let hym slee for encheson to make hir owne sone Eldred kyng and thus was he slayne as afterward ye shull here ¶ Hit befell thus on a day â—hat the kyng Edward went in to a wode for to play in the southcoÌ„tre besides a touâ—e that is called warham in which forest was grete plente of hertes aâ—d hyndes and as he had bene a while ther him for to pley he thought vpon his brother Eldred that was with his moder the quene for hir place was nygh the forest and thought for to gone thidder and visite and see his brother toke with him but a litell meyne and went him tho toward his stepmodreâ— house that in that tyme soiourned in the Castell of Corfe and as he rode in the thikkenesse of the wode to aspie his game it befell that he weÌ„t amys and lost his meynâ— that with him come and at the last he come oute of the wode as he loked aboute he sawe ther fast besides the maner that his stepmoder duelled in and thidderward he went allone and anone it was told the Quene how that the kyng was comen allone withoute companie and therfor she made â—oie y nowe and thought how that she myÈt done that he ner slayne as preuelich as she myÈt And anone preuelich she called to
not longe after that Alisaunder kyng of Scotland nas dede And Dauid Erle of Huntyngdone that was the kynges brother of Scotland axed and claymed the kyngdome of Scotland for encheson that he was right full heir But many grete lordes of Scotland saiden nay wherfor grete debate arose bitwene hem and hir frendes for as moche that they wolde not consent to his coronacion in the mene tyme the forsaid dauid deide And so it befell that the saâ—â—e dauid had iij dough tâ—es that worthelich were maried the first doughter was maried to Bailloll the seconde to Brus the thridde to Hastinges And the for said Bailloll Brus chalenged the land of scotland grete debate strife aroos bitwene hem iij. for encheson that eche of hem wold haue be kyng And when the lordes of Scotland saw the debate bitwene hem iij. they come to kyng Edward of englond seised hym in all the land of Scotland as hir chief lord And when the kyng was seised of the lordes of Scotland the forsaid Bailloll Bruâ—â— Hastinges come to the kynges court axed of the kyng whiche of hem shold be kyng of scotland And kyng Edward that was full gentill aud treâ—e let enquere by the cronicles of Scotland of the grete lordes of Scotland which of hem was of the eldest blode 〈◊〉 it was founde that Bailloll was eldest And that the kyng of 〈◊〉 land shold holde of the kyng of englond done hym feaute ¶ And after this was done Bailloll went in to Scotland and ther was crouned kyng of scotland And the same tyme was vpon the see stronge werre bitwene the englisshmen and the normans but vpon a tyme the normans arriued all at douer there they martred an holy man that was called Thomas of douer And afterward were the normans 〈◊〉 that ther scaped of hem not one ¶ And so ne after kyng Edward shold lese the duchie of Gascoyne thurgh kyng Phelip of fraunce thurgh fals casting of the dossepiers of the land wherfor sir Edmond that was kyng Edwardes brother yafe vp his homage vn to the kyng of fraunce ¶ And in that tyme the clerkes of englond graunted to kyng Edward halfendele of holy churh goodes in helping for to recouer his land ayene in Gascoigne And the kyng sent thidder a noble companie of his bachillers and hym selfe wolde haue wente to Portesmouth But he was let thurgh one Maddoke of walys that had seised the Castell of SwaÌ„done in to his hand and for that encheson the kyng turned ayen vn to walys at cristâ—mass◠¶ And for encheson that the noble lordes of englond that were sent in to Gascoyne had no comfort of hir lord the kyng they were take of sir Charles of fraunce that is to say 〈◊〉 Iohan of Britaigne sir Robert Tiptot sir Rauf Tanny â—ir 〈◊〉 Bardolf sir Adam of Cretinges yit at the ascencion was 〈◊〉 doke take in walys an othir that was called morgan they were sent to the tour of london there they were beheded ¶ How sir Iohan bailloll kyng of scotland withsaid his homage of sir Thomas Turbeluille Ca. C.lxvij ANd when sir â—ohan bailloll kyng of scotland vnderstode yâ— that kyng Edward was werred in gascoyne to whom the â—eame of scotlaÌ„d was deliuered falsely tho ayeus his othe withsaid his homage thurgh ê“curing of his folke and sent to the court of Rome thurgh a fals suggestion to be assoilled of that othe that he swore vn to the kyng of englond so he was by lrÌ„ez enbulled Tho chosen they of scotland doussepers for to benymme edward his right And in that tyme come ij cardâ—â—alls froÌ„ the court of rome froÌ„ the pope Celestine for to trete of acord bitwene the kyng of frallce the kyng of englond ¶ And as tho ij Cardinals speken of a cord Thomas Turbelâ—â—lle was take at â—â—ouns made feaute and homage to the wardeyne of Paris to him put his ij sones in hostage for that he thought gone in to englond for to aspie the contre telle hem when he come in to englond that he had broken the kynges prison of fraunce by nyÈt said that he wold done that all englissh men walshmen shold abowe to the kyng of fraunce this thynge for to bringe to the ende he swore and vpon this couenant dedes were made bitwene hem and that he shold haue by yere a M. ponndes worth of land to bring this thyng to an ende ¶ This fals traitouâ— toke his leue went thennes come in to englond vn to the kyng said yâ— he was broken oute of prison that he had put him in suche ê‘ill for his loue wherfor the kyng coude him moch thanke and full glad was of his comyng And the fals thefe traitour fro that day aspied all the doyng of the kyng also his counseill for the kyng loued hym well was with hym full priue But a clere of englond that was in the kynges house of fraunce herd of this treson of the falsenesse wrote to an othir clerke that was duellyng with the kyng of englond all how Thomas Turbeluille had done his false coniectyng all the counceill of englond was write for to haue sent vn to the kyng of fraunce thurgh the forsaid lrÌ„e that the clerke had sent fro fraunce hit was founde vpon him wherfor he was lad to london drawâ—n honged ther for his treson And his ij sones that he had put in fraunce for hostages were tho beheded ¶ Of the conquest of Berewyke Ca. C.lxviij WHen tho two Cardinals were wente anene in to Fraunce for to trete of the pees at Cambrey the kyng sent thidder of his erles barons that is to say sir edmoÌ„d his brother Erle of laucastre of leycestre sir henry lacy Erle of Nichol â—â—liain vessy a baron of othir baronettz aboute xiiij of the best and wysest of Englond And in the same tyme the kyng Edward toke his viage to Scotland for to werre vpon Iohan Bailloll kyng of Scotland ¶ And sir Robert Roos of Berewyk fled fro the englishmen went to the scottes Aud kyng Edward went hym toward Berewyk beseged the toune And tho that were withyn manlich hem defended sette a fire brende ij of kyng Edward is shippes and said in despite and reproue of hym ¶ Wende kyng edward with his longe shankes To haue gete Berewyk all our vnt hankes Gas pikes hym And when he has don Gas dikes hym 〈◊〉 When kyng Edward herde this scorne anone thurgh his mygh tynesse he passed ouer the dikes assailled the toune and come to the yatys and gate and conquered the toune and thurgh his gracious power queld xxv thousand and vij C. Scottes And kyng Edward lost no man of renonne saue sir Richard of Cornewaille and hym quelled a flemmyng oute of the rede hall with a quarell as the forsaid Richard did of his helme and
Cornewaille And from thens she was bronght to the Cite of wynchestre And ther she was wedded vn to kyng Henry the iiij in the Abbey of seint swythynes of wynchestre with all the solempnite that myght be done and mad◠¶ And sone after she was brought from thens to london ¶ And the maire and the aldermen and the coÌ„munes of the cite of london ridden ayens hir and hir welcomed and brought hir thurgh the Cite of london to westmynster and there she was crouned Quene of englond And there the kyng made a riall and a solempne feste for her and for all maner of men that thidder wold come And in this same yere dame Blaunche the eldest doughter of kyng Henry the iiij was y sent ouer the see with the erle of somersete hir vncle and with mastiâ— Richard Clifford than bisshopp of wurcestre and with many othir worthy lordes knyghtes and ladies aud worthy squyers as longed to such a worthy kynges douâ—hter and comen vn to Coleyn And thidder come the dukes sone of Barre with a faire meyne and resseyued this worthy lady And there the bisshopp of wurcestre wedded and sacred hem to gedre as holy chyrche wold ¶ And ther was made a riall feste and a grete Iustes in the reuerence and wurshippe of hem and of all peple that thidder come ¶ And whan this mariage and fest was done the Erle and the bisshopp and all hir meyne token hir leue of lord and lady come home ayene in to englond in saufte thanked be god And in the v. yere of kyng Henries regne the lord Thomas his sone wente ouer see and the Erle of kent and many othir lordes and knyghtes with men of armes and archiers a grete noÌ„bre to chastize the rebelles that aforne had done moche harme to oure Englisshmen and marchauntz and to many tounes and portes in Englond on the see costeâ—◠¶ And the lord Thomas the kynges sone come in to Flaundres to fore a toune that is called the skluse amonges all the shippes of diuâ—rse nacions that weren there And after ther they ridden with hir shippes amonge hem and wenten a londe and sported hem there ij daies and comen ayene to hir shippes and token the brode see â— and ther they metten with iij. Carrykkes of â—ene that weren lade with diuerse marchandize and well y manned and ther they foughten to gedres longe tyme but the Englisshmen had the victorie and broughten the Carrykkes in to the Cambre before wynchelsee and there they canted thees goodes and one of this Carrykkes was sodenly there bren◠¶ And the lordes and hir peple turned hem home ayene and went no forther at that tyme And in the same tyme Serle yoâ— man of kyng Richard Robes come in to Englond oute of scotlanâ— and told to diuerse peple that kyng Richard was a lyue in Scotland and so moche peple beleued in his wordes wherfor grete parte of the peple of the Reame weren in grete errour and grucchyng ayens the kyng thurgh â—nformacion of lies and fals lesyng that this Serle had made For moche peple trusted and beleued in his seyeng But at the last he was taken in the Northcontre and by lawe Iugged to bene drawe thurgh euery Cite and good burgh tounes in Englond And so he was serued and at the laste he was brought to london vn to the Gyld halle before the Iustice and there he was Iugged for to be brought to the toure of london and ther to be â—eid on an hurdell and than to be drawe thurgh the Cite of london to Tiborne and there hanged and then quartred and his hede smyten of and sette on london brigge and his quartres to be sente to foure good tounes of Englond and there sette vp and thus ended he for his fals treson and disceit ¶ And in the vj. yere of kyng henries regne the iiij the Erle of Marre of Scotland by saufconduyt come in to Englond to chalenge Sir Edmond the Erle of kente of certayne courses of werre on horsebake And so this chalenge was accepted and graunted and the place taken in smythfeld at london And this Erle of marre the scotte come proudely in to the feld as his challenge asked ¶ And anone come in the Erle of kent and rode vn to the scotte manfully rode to gedre with sharpp speres diuerse courses but the Erle of kent had the feld gate hym moche wurshipp thank of all maner of men for his manfâ—ll dedes ¶ And in the vij yere of kyng Henries regne the iiij Sir Richard scrope Erchebisshoppe of yorke the lord erle marchall of englond gadred vn to hem a stronge power ayens kyng Henry ¶ And the kyng hering ther of in all the hast that he myght come with his power northward and mette with hem at yorke And there were thees ij lordes y take brought to the kyng ¶ And anone the Iugges were sette and thees ij lordes brought forth and there they were dampned vn to the deth and bothe hir hedes smyten of and ther they made hir ende on whos soules god for his piâ—e haue mercy Amen ¶ And whan this was done the kyng come to london ayene and there rested hym Anone god of his grete goodnesse wrought and shewed many grete miracles for this worthy clerc Erchebisshopp of yorke that thus was done vn to the dethe Aud in the vij yere of kyng Henries regne Dame Luce the dukes suster of Milane come in to Englond and so at london and ther was wedded to Sir Edmond Holand Erle of kent in the priorie of seint Marie ouereies in suthwerk with moche solempnite and grete wurshipp The kyng was there hym selfe yafe hir at the churche dore And whan they were y wedded and masse was done the kyng his owne persone brought and lad this worthy lady in to the bisshoppes place of wynchestre and there was a wonder grete fest y holden to all maner of peple that comen ¶ In the same yere Sir Robert knolles knyght a worthy weryour died at his maner in Northfolk and from thens he was brouÈt to london vpon a hors bere with moche torche light And so was he brought vn to the white freres in fleetstrete and there was done and made for hym a solempne feste and a riall enterement for tho that thidder wolde come bothe â—ore and riche and there he lieth beried by Dame Constance his wyfe in the mydde of the body of the churche on whos soule god for his pite hane â—ercy Amen ¶ And thus in this same yere Sir Thomas Rampston knyght Constable of the toure of london was dreynte at london brugge as he come from westmynster to wardes the toure in a barge and all thurgh lewdenesse ¶ And in the same yere dame philipp the yonger doughter of kyng Henry was lad ouer the see with sir richard the dukes brother of yorke and Sir Edmond Courteney bisshopp of Norwich and many othir lordes knyghtes and
IN the yere of thyncarnacion of our lord JhuÌ„ crist M. CCCC.lxxx And in the xx yere of the Regne of kyng Edward the fourthe Atte requeste of dyuerce gentilmen I haue endeuourd me to enprinte the cronicles of Englond as in this booke shall by the suffraunce of god folowe And to th ende that euery man may see and shortly fynde suche mater as it shall plese hym to see or rede I haue ordeyned a table of the maters shortly compiled chapitred as here shall folowe which booke begynneth at Albyne how she with her susters fonde this land first named it Albion endeth at the beginnyng of the regne of our said souerain lord kyng Edward the iiij ¶ First in the prologue is conteyned how Albyne with hir sustreâ— enâ—â—d in to this I le and named it Albyon ¶ The beginnyng of the book conteyneth how Brute was engeÌ„drid of them of Troye how he slew his fadre moder Ca. j ¶ How Bâ—ute was driuen oute of his lande how he helde hym in grece And deliuered the troians there out of bondage Ca. ij ¶ How Coryn becam Brutes man how kyng Goffar was discomfiâ—ed And of the fondacion of Tours in Turayne Ca. iij ¶ How Bâ—ute arriued atte tottenesse in the I le of Albion And of the bataill bitwene Coryn Gogmagog Ca. iiij ¶ How Brute made london named this londe britaigne Scotland Albanie Walys Cambre And of the deuision of the londe to his thre sones Ca. v ¶ How kyng Madan regned in peâ—s of the debate of his sones and how that one slowe that othir how after wulues slewe hym that slew his brother Ca. vj ¶ How kyng Ebrac conquered fraunce begate xx sones yxiij doughters Ca. vij ¶ Of kyng Brute grenesheld first sone of kyng Ebrac Ca. viij ¶ Of kyng Leyl Brute grenesheldis sone Ca.ix. ¶ Of kyng Lud ludibras that was kyng Leybes sone Ca. x ¶ Of kyng Bladud that was sone of kyng lud ludibras Ca. xj ¶ Of kyng Leyr of his iij. doughtres and how the yongest was maried to the kyng of fraunce Ca. xij ¶ How kyng Leyr was driuen oute of his londe by his folie and how Cordeil his yongâ—st doughter helped him in his nede Ca. xiij ¶ How Morgan Conedage which were nâ—uews to Cordeil werxyd on hir had hir in â—â—son Ca. xiiij ¶ How Reynold that was Conedages sone regned aft his fadre And in his tyme it rayned blode thre daies Ca. xv ¶ How Gorbodian regned after after reygrold his fadre Ca. xvj ¶ How the two sones of Gorbodian fought for the heritage how they bothe were slayne Ca. xvij ¶ How iiij kynges helde all Britaigne And what their names were Ca. xviij ¶ Of kyng Doneband that was Cleteus sone and how he wan the land Ca. xix ¶ How Doneband was the first kyng that euere wered croune of gold in Britaigne Ca.xx. ¶ How Bâ—â—nne Belyn departed bitwene hem the londe after the deth of their werre Ca. xxi ¶ How Belyn drofe oute of this land Guthlagh of Denmarke and Samye Ca. xxij ¶ How wacoord was made bitwene Brenne belyn by the moyen of Cornewen hir modre Ca. xxiij ¶ How kyng Cormbatrus slow the kyng of denmarke by cause he wold not pay hym his truage Ca. xxiiij ¶ How kyng Guenthelon regned goâ—ned the lond Ca. xxv ¶ How kyng Seysell regned after Guenthelon Ca. xxvj ¶ How kymor regned aft seysell howan regned aft him ca. xxvij ¶ How kyng morwith deide thurgh deuouring of a best ca. xxviij ¶ Of Grandebodian that was the sone of mor with which made the toune of Cambrige Ca. xxix ¶ Of Arâ—ogaill that was grando bodians sone how he was made kyng after deposed for his wikkednesse Ca. xxx ¶ How Hesidur was made kyng aft the deth of Artogaille his brother Ca. xxxj ¶ How the Britons token hesidur out of prison made him kyng the thride tyme Ca. xxxij ¶ How xxxiij kynges regned in pees eche after othir after yâ— deth of Hesidur Ca. xxx.ij ¶ How lud was made kyng after the deth of his fadre ca. xxxiiij ¶ How the britone graunted Cassibalam whiche was luddes brother the Reame in whos tyme Iulius cesar come twies to conquere the londe Ca. xxxv ¶ Of the debate that was bitwene Cassibalam the erle of london and of the truage that was paid to rome Ca. xxxvj ¶ How the lordes of the land after the deth of Cassibalam be cause he had none heir made Andragen kyng Ca. xxxvij ¶ Of kymbalin which was Andragens sone in whos tyme was IhuÌ„ born of the blessyd virgine seint marie Ca. xxxviij ¶ Of kyng Guynder kymbalyns sone which refused to pay tribute to Rome how he was slayne Ca. xxxix ¶ Of kyng Armager in whos tyme the appostles preched ca. xl ¶ How kyng westmer gaf to Beringer an Iland and made the 〈◊〉 of â—â—re wyke Ca. xlj ¶ How kyng westmer dide do arere a stone in thentring of westmerland where he slewe Roderyke Ca. xlij ¶ Of kyng Coyll that was westmers sone Ca. xliij ¶ How kyng lucie regned after Coyll And was the first cristen kyng that euer was in this land Ca. xliiij ¶ How this land was long withoute a kyng and atte last the britons chees Astlepades which after was slayne by Coeyll ca. xlv ¶ How Constaunce a romayn was chosen kynge by cause he wedded Eleyne kyng Coeyls doughter Ca. xlvj ¶ How Costantine sone of Constaunce of seint Eleyne Ruled the londe after was made Emê‘our of Rome Ca. xlvij ¶ How Maxymian that was the Emê‘ours cosin of Rome wedded Octauians doughter was made kyng Ca. xlviij ¶ How Maximian conquerd the londe of Amorican and gaf it to Conan meriedok Ca. xlix ¶ How seint Vrsula with xj M. virgyns in hir companye wâ—re martred at Coleyne Ca. l ¶ How kyng Gowan came for to destroie this lande And how Gracian defended it Ca. lj ¶ How Gracian made hym selfe kyng whan Maximian was slayne afterward the britons slew hym Ca. lij ¶ How Costantine that was the kynges brother of litell britayne was crouned kyng of moche britayne Ca. liij ¶ Of Constaunce that was Costantins sone a monke at wynchestre was taken oute by vortiger made kyng after his fadres deth whom vortigeer let sle hym to make hym self kyng Ca. liiij ¶ How the wardeyns that had tho ij children to kepe whiche were coÌ„stantines sones ledde them to litell britayn for the trayson falsenesse of vortiger Ca. lv ¶ How Engist with xj M. men come in to this londe to whom vortiger gaf the place that is called thongcastell Ca. lvj ¶ Of Ronewen Engistes doughter whom kyng vortiger wedded for her beaute Ca. lvij ¶ How Vortimer that was Vortigers sone was made kyng and how Engist was driuen oute and how Vortymer was slayne by Ronewen Ca. lviij ¶ How the britons chosen Vortiger
how Angeo in mayne was deliuered ca. cc.liij ¶ How sir fransoys Aragonoys toke fogiers in normandie of the losse of Constantinople by the turke ca. cc.liiij ¶ Of thynsurrâ—xion in kente of the communes of whom an Irissh man called Iohan Cade was Captayn ca. cc.lv ¶ How the duke of yorke toke a felde in kente at brentheth And of the burth of prince Edward and of the first felde of Seint Albons where the duke of Somersete was slayne and othir lordes 〈◊〉 cc.lvj ¶ How â—he lord egremond was take by therle of salisburies sones and of â—he robbyng of sandwych ca. cc.lvij ¶ How they of the kynges houshold made affraye aâ—enst therle of warrewyke at westmynstre And of the Iourney of bloreleth Capitulo cc.lviij ¶ How the duke of yorke therles of warwyke of salisbury toke a felde in the westcontre how Andrew trollopp the soudiours of Caleys forsoke them Ca. cc.lix ¶ How the â—rlis of Marche warrewyk salisbury entrid in to Caleys And how the erle of warrewyke wente in to Irland Câ—pâ—ulo ducentesimo sexagesimo ¶ How the â—rles of Marche warewyke of salisbury entrid in to Englond And of the felde of northampton where diuerse lordes were slayne Ca. cc.lxj ¶ How the noble duke of yorke was slayne at wakefelde And of the second Iourney at seint Albons by the Quene and the prince Ca. cc.lxij ¶ Of the deposicion of kyng Henry the sixâ—he And how kyng Edward the fourth toke possession of the Reame And of the baâ—â—ille on palmâ—sonday and how he was crouned Ca. cc.lxiij vltioÌ„ ¶ How the lande of Englonde was fyrst namd Albyon And by what encheson it was so namd N the noble lande of Sirrie ther was a noble kyng and myhty a man of grete renome that me called Dioclisian that well and worthely hym goâ—ned and ruled thurgh hys noble chinalrie So that he conquered all the landez about hym so that almost al the kynges of the world to hym were enteÌ„dant Hit befell thus yâ— this Dioclisian spoused a gentill damisell yâ— was woÌ„der fair that was his Emes doughter labana and she loued hym as reson wolde so that he gate vpon her xxxiij doughtrez of the which the eldest me called Albyne thees damiselles whan they comen vn to age bicomen so fair yâ— it was wonder Wherfor yâ— this Dioclisian anonÌ„ let make a sompnynge aud coÌ„mauÌ„ded by hys lrÌ„ez that all the kynges that helden of hym shold come at a certain day as in hys lrÌ„ez were conteyned to make a riall feste ¶ At which day thider they comen and brought wyth hem amirallys princes dukes and noble thinalrie The fest was rially arayed and ther they liued in Ioye and mirthe ynough that it was wonder to wit And it befell thus that this Dioclisian thought to marie his doughtres among all tho kynges that tho were at that solempnite and so they spaken ded that albyne his eldest doughter and all hir sustres richely were maried vn to xxxiij kynges that were lordes of grete honour and of power at this solempnite And when the solempnite was done euery kyng toke his wif and lad hem in to her owne coÌ„tre and ther made hem quenes And it befell thus afterward yâ— this dame albyne bicome so stoute and so sterne that she tolde litel pris of her lorde and of hym had scorne and despit and wolde not done his will but she wolde haue hir owne will in diuerse maters and all hir othir sustres eâ—ichone here hem so euel ayenst hir lordes that it was wonder to wyt and for as moch as hem thought that hir husbondes were nought of so hie â—age comeÌ„ as hir fadre But tho kynges that were hir lordis wolde haue chastized hem with fair speche and behestes and also by yeftes and warned hem in fair maner vpon all loue and frendshipp that they sholde amende her lâ—ther condicions but all was for nought for they didden her owne wyll in all thyng that hem liked and had of poer wherfor tho xxxiij kynges vpon a tyme and often tymes beten hir wifes for they wend that they wolde haue amended her taches hir wilked thewes but of soche condicions they were that for fair speche and warnyng they didden alle the wers and for beâ—ynges eftsones mochel wers wherfor the kyng that had wedded Albine wrote the tacches and condicions of his wife Albyn and the letter sent to Dioclisian hir fadre And whan the othir kynges herde that Albines lord had sent a left to Dioclisian anone they sent lrÌ„ez enseled with hir seales the condicions the tacches of hir wifes ¶ When the kyng dioclisian saw herd so many playntes of his doughtres he was sore aschamed become wonder angrie wroth toward hiâ— doughtres thought both nyght day yf he tho myght amend it yâ— they so mysded And anone sent his lrÌ„ez vn to the xxxiij kynges that they shold come to hym bring with hem hir wife 's euerichone at a certain day for he wolde ther chastise them of their wikkednesse yf he myght in any maner wyse So that yâ— kynges comeÌ„ all at that day and tyme that tho was sette bitwene hem and the kyng Dioclisian hem vnderfeng with moche honour made a solempne fest to all that were vnder his lordshipp And the thridde day after that solempnite the kyng Dioclisian sent after his xxxiij doughtres that they shold come speke with hym in his chambre when they were come he spake vn to hem of hir wikkednesse of hir cruelte dispitously hem reproued vndernam to hem he said that if they wold nat be chastised they sholde his loue lese for euermore And when the ladies herden all this they becomen abasshed gretly aschamed to her fadre they seyd that they wold make all amendes so they departed out from hir fadres chambre dame Albyne that was the eldest suster lad hem all to hir chambre tho made wide all that were therynne so that no lyfe was amonges hem but she and hir sustres yfere Tho said this Albyne My faire sustres well we knowen that the kyng our fadre vs hath reproued shamed and despised for encheson to make vs obedient vn to oure housbondes but certes that shall I neuer whiles that I leue sith that I am come of a more hier kyngs blode than myne housbonde is And whan she had thus said all hir sustres said the same And tho said Albine full well I wote faire sustres that our housbondes haue pleyned vn to our fadrr vpon vs wherfor he hath vs thus foule reproued and despised wherfor sustres my counceill is that this nyght when our housbondes bene a bedde all we with one assent cutten hir throtes and than we may bene in pees of hem and better we mowe doo this thinge vnder our fadres power than elles where And anone all the ladies consented graunted to this counseill
that lightely I let hir gone fro me withoute any rewarde or yiftes and she said that she loued me as moche as she ought to loue hir fadre by all maner of reson and tho I sholde haue axâ—d of hir nomore tho that me othirwise behighten thurgh hir fals speche nowe haue me disceyued In this maner Leir long tyme began to make his mone and at the last he shope hym to the see and passed ouer in to fraunce and asked and aspied wher the Qâ—ene myght be founden and men tolde hym wher she was And whan he come to the Cite that she was in preuelich he sent his squyer vn to the quene to telle hir that hir fadre was comen to hir for grete nedes And when the squyer come to the quene he tolde hir euery dele of hir sustres from the begynnyng vn to the ende Cordeill the quene anone toke gold and siluer plente and toke it to the squyer in counceille that he shold gone and bere it vn to hir fadrâ— and that 〈◊〉 shold go in to a certain Cite and hym araien laten and wasshen than come ayene to hir and bring with hym an honest companye of knyghtes xl atte lest with her meyne and than he shold sende to hir lord the kyng and sayne that he were comen for to speke with his doughter and hym for to seen and so he did And whan the kyng and the qâ—ene herde that they comen with mochel honour they hym resseyued And the kyng of fraunce tho let sende thurgh alle his Reame and commaunded that all men sholde to hym bene entendant to kyng Leir the Quenes fadre in all maner of thyng as it were to hym selfe When kyng Leir had duelled ther a moneth more he tolde to the kyng and to the Quene his doughter how his two eldest doughtres had hym serued Agampe anone let ordeyne a grete host of fraunce and sent it in to Britaigne with leir the quenes fadre for to conquer his land ayene his kyngdom Cordeill also come with hir fadre in to britaigâ—e for to haue the royame after hir fadres deth And anone they went to shipp and passed the see and come in to britaigue and foughten with the felons hem scomfited and queld And tho had he his land ayen after leued iij. yere and helde his royalme in pees and afterward died Cordeill his doughter hym let entier with mikel honour at leicestre ¶ Howe morgan and Conedage that were newus to Cordeill wrrred vpon hir and put hir in to prison Ca. xiiij WHen that kyng leir was dede Cordeill his yongest doughter helde and had the land v yere and in the mene tyme died hir lord AgamÌ„p that was kyng of fraunce and after his deth she left widue And tho came Morgan and Conedage that were Cordeill sustre sones and to hir had Enymite for as moche as there aunte sholde haue the lande So that bitwene hem they ordeyned a grete power and vpon hir werred gretly and neuer they rest till they had hir taken and put hir vn to deth And tho Morgan and Conedage seised all the laâ—de and deê‘ted it bitwene hem And they helde it xij yere and when tho xij yere were gone ther bigan bitwene hem a grete debate so that werred strongely yfere euery of hem did othir moche disese For Morgan wolde haue had all the lande fro beyonde humbrÌ„ that Conedage helde But he come ayens hym with a strong poâ—r so that Morgan durst nat abide but fled awey in to wales and Conedage pursued hym and toke hym and queld hym Tho come Conedage ayen and seised alle the lande in to his hande and helde it and regned after xxxiij yere and tho died and lieth at newe Troye ¶ Howe Reignold that was Conedages sone regned after his fadre and in his tyme it rayned blode iij. dayes in tokenyng of grete deth Ca. xv ANd after this Conedage regned Reignold his sone a wise knyght an hardy curteis that well nobely goâ—ned the land wonder well made hym beloued of all maner of folke in his tyme it rayned blode that lasted iij. dayes as god wolde sone after ther come grete deth of peple for hostes without nombre of peple foughten till that they were dede wherof no man myght haue lette til that almyghty god therof toke mercy and pite and thogan it cese this Reignold regned xxij yere died lieth at york ¶ How Gorbodian regned in pees that was Reignoldes sone aft he died lith at york ca. xvj AFter this Reignold regned Gorbodian his sone xv yere died and lieth at york ¶ How Gorbodian had ij sones how that one sâ—owe that othir for to haue the heritage how ydoyne hir moder quelled that othir wherfor the land was destroied Ca. xvij WHen this Gorbodian was dede his ij sones that he had becomen stoute proude euer werred to gedre for the land that one was called ferres that othir porres And this ferres wold haue all the land but that othir wolde nat suffre him Ferres had a felons hert and thought thurgh treson to slee his brother but preuelich he went in to fraunce ther abode with the kyng Syward till vpon a tyme whan he come ayene faught with his brother ferres but full euell it happed tho for he was slayne fyrst When ydoyne hir moder wist that Porres was dede she made grete sorwe for encheson that she loued hym more than that othir thought hym for to quelle preuely preuely she come to hir sone vpon a nyght with ij knyues therwith cutte his throte the body also in to smale peces who herd euer suche a cursed modre that quelled with hir owne hondes hir owne sone and longe tyme after laste the reproue shame to the moder that for encheson of that one sone murdred that othir so lost hem both ¶ How iiij kyngis courtesly helde all Britaine and which bene hir names Ca. xviij WHen the ij bretheren were so dede they nad left behynd hem nethir sone ne doughter ne none othir of the kynred that myght haue the heritage for as moch as the strengest meÌ„ driuen and scomfited the feblest and token all hir landes so that in euery contrey they had grete werre strife vnder hem but among all othir thynges ther were amonges hem in the contre that ouercome all tho othir and thurgh hir strenght and myght they token all the landes and euery of hym toke a certayn contre and in his contre let calle hym kyng one of hem was called Scater and he was kyng of Scotland and that othir was called Dawalliere and he was kyng of loegers of alle the lande that was Lotrinus that was Brutes sone The thridde was called Rudac and he was kyng of walys and the iiij was called Cloten and he was kyng of Cornewaille But this Cloten
to the castell and the Erle and his men manly hem defended But at the last it befell so that atte same assaute the Erle hym selfe was slayne and the Castell taken ¶ And the kyng anone turned ayene to Tyntagell and spoused Igerne with mochel honour made hir quene sone after tyme come that she shold be deliuered and bere a child a sone that was called Arthur and after he gate on hir a doughter that was called Amya And whan she come to age nobely was maried to a noble Baron that was called Aloth that was lord of leons ¶ When Vter longe tyme had regned ther come vpon hym a grete sikenesse as it were a sorwe ¶ And in the mene tyme tho that had to kepe Otta that was Engistes sone Ossa his brother that tho were in prison men let hem gone for grete yiftes that they hem yaf wente with hem ¶ And when tho two bretheren were ascaped comeÌ„ ayen in to hir owne contre They ordeyned hem a grete hoost a grete poer and begoÌ„ne to were eftsones vpon the kyng ¶ How kyng Vter chese Aloth to kepe the land of Britaigne whiles that he was sike for as moche as he myght not for his sikenesse Capitulo septuagesimosecundo ANd for as moche as kyng Vter was sike myght not helpe hym selfe he ordeyned Aloth sone of Eleyne yâ— tho was chosen to be wardeyne chiueteyne of all his folke and he anone his britons assembled a grete hoost yafe bataille to Otta and to his folke but Otta at the last was discomfited Hit befell thus afterward thas this britons had dedignacion of Aloth and wolde nat to hym bene attendant wherfor the kyng was annoied wonder sore let put hem in a lytter in the hoost amonges folke ¶ And they lad hym to veroloyne that tho was a faire Cite ther yâ— seint Albone was martred and after was that Cite destroied with paynyms thurgh werre thidder they had sence Otta Ossa hir peple entred in to the toune let make fase the yates and ther they halde hem the kyng come hem beseged made a stronge assauce but tho that were within manlich hem defended ¶ The kyng let ordeyne his gonnes his engynes for to breke the walles the walles were so stronge that no thyng myght hem mysdoo ¶ Otta his peple had grete despite that a kyng byggyng in a lytter had hem beseged they token counceill amonges hem for to stonde vp in the morwe come oute yeue bataille to the kyng so they diden in that bataille were bothe Otta Ossa slayne all tho othir that ascaped a lyue fled in to Scotland made Colegryne hir chyuetay ne the saxons that were a lyue ascaped fro the bataile brough ten ayene a grete strength amoÌ„ges hem they seyden that yf kyng Vter were dede they shold well conquere the land and amonges heÌ„ they thought enpoisen the kyng and ordeyned men for to done this dede and yaf hem of yiftes grete plente this thyng to done and they ordeyned hem thidderward ther that the kyng was ducllyng clo thed hem in pouerwede the better all for to spede hir lither purpose but nothelees for all hir falsenesse and queyntize they myght neâ— come to nygh the kyng ¶ But so at the last they aspied that the kyng drank none othir licour but only water of a clere well that was nygh besides ¶ And thees fals traitours vpon a day preuelich wente to the well put therin poysen so that all the water was enpoisened And anone after as the kyng had dronke of that wat he began to swell sone after he died and as many as dronken of that water deide also ¶ And anone as this falsenesse was aspied follâ— of the toune let stoppe the well for euermore ¶ When the kyng was dede his folke here hym to Stonhenge with grete solempnite of bisshops of barons that were there that beried hym beside Aurâ—lambros his brother after turned ayene tho euerichon lot sende after Arthur his sone and they made hym kyng of the land with moch reuereuce after his fadres deth the xvij yere of his regne ¶ How Arthur that was the sone of Vter was crouned after his fadres deth how he drofe Colegrine and the saxones and Cheldrik of Almayne oute of this land Ca. lxxiij WHen Arthur was made kyng of the laÌ„d he was but yong of age of xv yere but he was faire and bolde and doubty of body and to meke folke he was good and courâ—oiâ— and large of spendyng and made hym welbeloued among all men ther that it was nede ¶ And when he began to regne he swore that saxons neure shold haue pees ne rest till that he had driue hem oute of his lande And let assemble a grate hoost and faught with Colegrine the which after tyme that Otta was dede the saxons mayntened And this Colkgrine was discomfited fledde vij to yorke toke the toune and ther helde hym ¶ And the kyng beseged yâ— toune bnt he myght no thyng spede for the toune was so stronge and they withynne kepte the toune well orpedly ¶ And in the ment â—yme Colegriue let the toune to Bladulf fled hym selfe to Cheldryke that was kyng of Almayne for to haue of hym socour the kyng assembled a grete power come arriued in scotland with v. C. shippes when Arthur wyst of this tydyng that he had nat poer and strength ynowe to fight ayens Cheldryk he let bene the fieâ—e wente ot London And sente anone his lettres to the kyng of litell britaigne that was callyd hoel his nepheu his sustres sone that he sholde come to hym with all the poer that he myght and he assembled a grete hoste and arrined at southmÌ„pton ¶ And when kyng Arthur it wyst he was glad y nowe went ayens hem and hem resceyned with mochel honour so that tho ij hostes hem assembled token hir way euen to niâ—hol that Cheldrik had beseged but nouzt yit taken ¶ And they come vpon Cheldrik vpon his peple or they it wyst ther that they were hem egrely assailled The kyng chel drik and his meyny defended hem manly by hir poer But kyng Arthur his men quelled so many saxons that neuer er was say ne suche slaughter ¶ And Cheldrik his men that were left alyue fledden a waye ¶ And Arthur hem poursued drofe hem in to a wode that they myght no ferthir passe Cheldrik his meÌ„ sawe well that they were brought in to moche disese hem yolden to Arthur in this maner wyse that he sholde take hir hors hir armure and all that they had they must only gone a fote in to hir shippes And so they wolde gone in to hir owne lande and neuer come a yen in to this land And vpon assurance of this thyng
his brother a thousand pounde euery yere and whiche of hem lengest leued sholde bene others heir and so bitwene hem shold be no debate ne strife ¶ And when they were thus accorded the duke went home ayene in to Normandie And when the kyng had regned iiij yere ther Aroos a grete debate bitwene hym and the Erchebisshopp of Canterbury Auncelme For cause that the Erchebisshopp wolde nat graunte hym for to take talliage of chyrches at his wylle And therfor eftsone the Erchebisshopp weÌ„t ouer the see to the court of rome and ther duelled with the Pope ¶ And in the same yere duke of Normandie come in to Englond for to speke with his brother And amonge othir thynges the duke of Normandie for yaf to the kyng his brother the forsaid thousand pounde by yere that he sholde pay hym And with good loue the duke went tho ayene in to Normandie ¶ And when the ij yere were a gone thurgh enticement of the deuell and of lither men a grete debate arose bitwene the kyng and the duke so that the kyng thnrgh conceill went ouer the see in to Normandie ¶ And when the kyng of England was comen in to Normandie 〈◊〉 the grete lordes of Normandie turned to the kyng of Englond and helde ayens the duke hir owne lord and hym forsoke and to the kyng hem yelden and all the good câ—stelles and tounes of Normandie And sone after was the duke taken and lad with the kyng in to Englond the kyng let put the duke in to prison And this was the vengeaunce of god For when the duke was in the holy land God yafe hym suche myght and honour ther wherfor he was chosen to bene of Iherusalem kyng And he wold nat be it but forsoke it and therfor send hym that shame and despite for to be put in to his brothers prison ¶ Tho seised kyng Henry all Normandie in to his hande and helde hit all his lyves tyme and in the same yere come the bisshopp Auncelme from the court of Rome in to Englond ayene and the kyng and he were accorded ¶ And in the yere next comyng after ther began a grete debate bitwene kyng Phillipp of Fraunce And kyng Henry of Englond ¶ Wherfor kyng Henry went in to Normaâ—die and the werre was strong bitwene hem two And tho died the kyng of fraunce lowys his sone was made kyng anone after his dethe And tho went kyng henry ayene in to englond and maried Maude his doughter to Henry the Emê‘our of Almayne ¶ Of the debate that was bitwene kyng lowys of fraunce kyng Henry of englond and how kyng henries ij sones were loste in the high see Capitulo Centesimo .xxxvj. WHenne kyng Henry had bene kyng xvij yere a grete debate aroos bitwene kyng lowys of fraunce and kyng henry of englond for encheson that the kyng had sent in to Normandie to his men that they shold bene helping to the erle of bâ—oyes as mochel as they myght in werre ayens the kyng of fraunce and that they were as redy vn to hym as they wold ben vn to hir owne lord for encheson that the erle had spoused his sustre dame Maude for which encheson the kyng of fraunce did moche sorwe to normandie wherfor the kyng of englond was wonder wrothe and in haste went ouer the see with a grete power and come in to normandie for to defende that lande and the werre bitwene hem lasted ij yere till at the last they ij foughten to gedre and the kyng of fraunce was discomfited and vneth scaped a way with moch â—eyne and the moste part of his men were take and the kyng did with hem what hym liked And somme of hem let he go frelich and somme let he put to the deth But afterward tho ij kynges were accorded And when kyng Henry had holich all the land of Normandie and scomfited his enemies of fraunce he turned ayene in to englond with mochel honour And his ij sones william and Richard wolde come after hir fadre and went to the see with a grete companie of peple but â—r that they myght come to londe the shipp come ayens a roche brake all in to peces and all were drenched that were therin sauf o man that was in the sauie ship that ascaped and this was on seint katerines day and thees were the names of hem that were drenched that is to say william the kynges sone Richard his brother the erle of Chestre Qttonell his brother Gieffrey ridell walter emurcy Godfrey erâ—hedeken the kynges doughter the Countesse of Perches the kynges nece the Countesse of Chestre and many othir When kyng henry and othir lordes arriued were in englond and herde these tydynges they made sorwe y nowe and all hir myrthe â—oye was turned in to mornyng and sorwe ¶ How Maude the Emê‘esse come ayene in to Englond and how she was afterward wedded to Gieffroy the Erle of Angoy Capitulo C.xxxvij ANd when that ij yere were agone that the Erle had duelled with the kyng the Erle went tho from the kyng and began to werre vpon hym and did moche harme in the land of Normandie and toke ther a strong Castell and ther he duelled all that yere and tho come to hym tydyng that Henry the Emê‘our of Almaigne that had spoused Maude his doughter was dede and that she duelled no lenger in Almaigne And that she wolde come ayene in to Normandie to hir fadre ¶ And when she was come to hym he noÌ„me hir tho to hym and come ayene in to Englond and made the englisshmen done othe and feaute vn to the Emê‘esse And the fyrst man that made the othe was william the Erchebisshopp of Caunterbury And that othir kyng Dauid of Scotland and after hym all the Erles and barons of engloÌ„d Also after the noble man the Erle of Angoy a worthy knyght sent to the kyng of englond yâ— he wolde grauÌ„te hym for to haue his daughter to spouse Maude the Emê‘esse And for encheson that hir fadre wyst that he was a noble man the kyng graunted hym and consented ther to And tho noÌ„me he his doughter and lad hir in to Normandie and come to the noble knyght Erle Gaufride and he spoused the forsaid Maude with mochel honour And the Erle begate vpon hir a sone that was called Henry the Emê‘esse sone ¶ And after when all this was done kyng Henry duelled all that yere in Normandie And after that longe tyme a grevous sikenesse toke hym wherthurgh he died And this kyng Henry regned xxxv yere and iiij monthes and after he died as before is said in Normandie and his hert was entered in the grete chyrche of our lady in Rouen And his body was brought with mochel honour in to England and entered at Redyng in the Abbey of the which abbey he was begynner and foundour ¶ Howe Stephene kynge Henry sustres sone was made kyng of Englond ¶ Ca. C.xxxviij AFter this kyng Henry yâ— was the fyrst
gracious queen Anne that was wyfe to kyng Richard in the maner of shene in the shire of surre vpon witsonday and than was she krought to london so to westmynstre and there was she beried and worthely entered beside seint Edwardes shrine On whos sould almyghty god haue pite and mercy Amen ¶ How kyng Richard spoused dame Isabell the kynges doughter of fraunce in the toune of Caleys brought hir in to englond let hir le crouned quene in the abbey of seint Petres of westmynstre Capitulo ducentesimo xlij IN the xx yere of kyng Richardes regne he wente hym ouer the see vn to Caleys with Dukes Erles Lordes and Barons and many othir worthy squâ—ers with grete arâ—aye and commune peple of the Royame in good aâ—aye as than longed to soche a worthy kyng and prince of his noâ—â—ey and of his owne ê‘sone to done hym reuerence and obseruaunce as ought to be done vn to hir liege lord And so myght a 〈◊〉 Emê‘our in his owne to abyde resseyue there that worthy and gracious lady that shold beue his wyfe a yonge creature of xix yere of age Dame Isabell the kynges doughter of fraunce and many othir worthy lordes of grete name both barons and knyghtes with moche othir â—eple that comen vn to the toune of Grauenyng and ij dukes of fraunce that one was the duke of Burgoyne and that othir the duke of Barre that wold no ferther lasse than they had plegges for hem ¶ And than the kyng Richard deliuered ij plegges for hem to go sauf and come sauf his ij worthy vncles the duke of Gloucestre the duke of yorke And they ij wenten ouer the water of Grauenyng and abidden there as for plegges vn to the tyme that the mariage and the feste was done and that thees ij dukes of frauÌ„ce were come ayene vn to Grauenyng water ¶ And theÌ„n thees ij worthy dukes come ouer the water at Grauenyng and so to Caleys with this wurshipfull lady Dame Isabell that was the kynges donghter of fraunce and with hir come many a worthy lord and eke lady and knyghtes and squyers in the best araie that myÈt be And there they metten with our meyny of Caleys the which wel comed hir and hir meyne with the best honour and reuerence that myght be And so brought her in the toune of Caleys ¶ And ther she was resseyued with all the solempnite and wurshipp that myÈt be done vn to such a lady And than they brouÈt hir vn to the kyng And the kyng toke hir and welcomed hir and all hir faire meyne and made there all the solempnite that myght be done ¶ And than the kyng and his counceill asked of the frensh lordes whethir all the couenauntes and forwardes with the composicion that were ordeyned and made on bothe parties shold be trewely kepte and hold bitwene hem ¶ And they said ye And ther they sworne and toke hir charge vpon a boke and made hir othe well and trewely it to hold in all maner of pointes and couenauntz withoute contradiction or delaye in any maner wyse ¶ And than was she brought vn to seint Nicholas chyrche in Caleys and there she was worthely y wedded with the moste solempnite that any kyng or Quene myght be with Erchebisshoppes and bisshoppes and alle ministres of holy chyrche And than weren brought home vn to the Castell and set to mete ¶ And there were serued with all maner of delicasie of alle riall metes and drynkes plenteuously to all maner of strangiers and all othir and no creature warned that feste but all were welcome for ther weren grete hales and tentes sette vpon the grene withoute the castelle to resceyue all maner of peple and euery office redy to serue hem alle and thus this worthy mariage was solempnely y done and ended with all rialte ¶ Than these ij dukes of fraunce with hir peple token hir leue of the kyng and the Quene and wenten ayene to Grauenyng water And there the frenssh lordes that is to say the ij dukes and all hir meyne were comen ouer the water to Grauenyng and there they metten And euery toke leue of othir and so they departed and our lordes come ayene to Caleys and the frenssh lordes wente ouer the water and so home in to frauÌ„ce ayene ¶ And anone after the kyng made hym redy with the Quene and alle his lordes and ladies and all hir peple with hem and comen ouer the see in to Englond and so to london and the Maire and the shereues with all the Aldremen and worthy communes ridden ayens hem vn to the blake heth in kent And thee they metten with the kyng and the Quene and welcomed hem and that in good aray and euery man in the clothyng of his crafte and her mynstrelles to fore hem ¶ And so they brought hem vn to seint Georges barre in south werke and there they toke hir leue And the kyng and the Quene ridden to kenyngton and than the peple of london turned home ayene And in turnyng ayene to londen brigge there was so moche prese of reple bothe an hors and a foot that ther were dede on the brigge xj persones of men of women and of children on whos souâ—es Almyghty god haue pite and mercy Amen ¶ And than afterward the Quene was brought vn to the toure of london and there she was all nyght And on the morwe she was brought thurgh the Cite of london all ouer and so forth vn to west mynstre there she was crouned Quene of Englond And than she was brought ayene to the kynges paleys and there was â—olden an open and riall feste aâ— hir coronacion of all maner of peple that thidder come And this was done the Sonday next after the feste of Seint Clement in the xx yere of kyng Richardes regne ¶ And than the xxv day of August next after by euell excitacion and fals counceill and for grete wrath and malice that the kyng had of olde tyme vn to his vncle the good duke of Gloucestre and to the Erle of Arundell and to the Erle of warrewyke ¶ And anone the kyng by his euell excitacion and his euell counceill and malice late in the euenyng on the sâ—me day aboue said made hym redy with his strength rode in to Essex vn to the tounÌ„ of Chelmesford so come to plasshe sodeynly there sir thomas of wodestoke the good duke of gloucestre lay And the good duke come to welcome the kyng anone ¶ And the kyng arested the good duke hym self his owne body And so he was lad doune to the water and anone put to a shipp And anone had vn to Caleys brought in to the Capitayns warde to be kept in holde by the kynges coÌ„mauÌ„dement of englond ¶ And that tyme the erle marchall was Capitayne of Caleys ¶ And anone after by the coÌ„maundement of the kyng by his fals counceill coÌ„maunded the Capitayn to
squyers ladies and gentâ—l women that appeâ—teyned to such a worthy kynges doughter and come in to Denmarke with his lordes and resceyued this worthy lady for his wife welcomed thees worthy lordes did hem moch reuerence grete wurship And they were brought vn to a toune that was called london in denmarke there was this lady wedded sacred to the kyng of Denmarke with moche solempnite and there she was crouned quene of Denmarke Norway and Swythen and ther was made a riall feste ¶ And whan this feste and mariage was done and ended these lordes and ladies toke hir leue of kyng of quene and comen home ayene in to Englond in hast thanked be â—hesu ¶ And in the viij yere of kyng henries regne there was a man that was called the walssh clerke he appelled a knyÈt that was called sir Perceuall sowdone of treson and there they were â—oyned to fight vn to vtteraunce withynne listes and the day place tyme assigned and lymitted to be done and ended in smyth felde At the whiche day the ij ê‘sones comen in to the felde and foughten sore and myghtely to gedres but at the last the knyght ouercome the clerke made hym yelde hym creaunt of his fals enpechemeÌ„t that he said on him And than was he despoilled of his armure drawe oute of the felde to Tiborne and there was he hanged and the knyght take to grace and was a good man ¶ And in this same yere Sir Henry Erle of Northumberland and the lord Bardolfe come oute of Scotland in preiudice and destruction of kyng Henry wherfor they of the northcontre arisen vpon hem and fought with hem and scomfited hem and toke hem and smyten of hir hedes and quartred hir bodies and sente the heed of the Erle and quarter of the lord bardolfe to london and there they were sette vpon the brigge for fals treson that they had purposed ayene the kyng ¶ And in the ix yere of kyng Henries regne was sir Edmond Holand Erle of kente made Admirall of englond for to kepe the see he wente to the see with many riall shippes that weren full well araied and enparelled and enarmed with many agood man of armes and archiers of good defence of werre in the kynges name of Englond and so he londed at the last in the cost of Britaigne in the I le of Briak with all his peple and he beseged the Castell and sauted it and they withstode hym with grete defence and strengthe And anone he leid his ordâ—naunce and in the lexeng of a gonne come a quarell and smoâ—e the good Erle Edmond in the hede and there â—e caught deths wounde but yit they left nouzt till that they had gete the Castell and all that were there ynne And there this good lord died on whos soule god haue mercy Amen ¶ And than his meyne come home ayene in to Englond with the Erles body and was beried amonges his Auncestres right worthely ¶ And in the same yere was a grete frost in Englond that dured xv wekes ¶ And in the x. yere of kyng Henries regne the iiij come the Seneschall of henaude with othir meyne to seke Auntres and to gete hym wurshippe in dedes of armes bothe on hors bak and on foot at all maner of pointes of werre ¶ And the Seneschall chalenged the Erle of Somersete And the Erle deliuered hym manfully of all his chalenges and put his aduersarie to the wers in all pointes and wanne hym there grete wurshipp and the gre of the felde And the next day after come in to the felde an othir man of armes of the Seneschallis partie ¶ And ayens hym come Sir Richard of Arundell knyght And the henaude had the better of hym on foote in one pointe for he brought hym onâ— his knee ¶ And the thridde day come in an othir man of armes in to the feld and ayens him come Sir Iohan Cornewaill knyght and manly and knyghtly quytte hym in all maner pointes ayens his aduersarie and had the better in the felde ¶ And on the iiij day come an othir man of armes of henaude in to the felde and ayens hym come Sir â—ohan cheynyes sone and manly quitte hym ayens his aduersarie for he caste hors and man in to the felde And the kyng for his manhode at that tyme dubbed hym knyght ¶ And the v. day there come an othir man of armes of the henaudes partie in to the feld And to hym come in Sir Iohan stiward knyght aud manfully quitte hym there in all maner of pointes and had the better ¶ And the vj. day come an othir henaude and to hym come william Porter squyer manfully he quitte hym had the better in the felde And the kyng dubbed hym knyght the same tyme ¶ And the vij day come an othir henaude in to the felde and to hym come Iohan standissh squyer manfully he quitte hym on his aduersarie and had the better in the felde and there the kyng dubbed hym knyght the same day ¶ And on the same day come an othir henaude and to hym come a squyer of Gascoigne and proudely manly he quitte hym on his aduersarie and had the better And anone the kyng dubbed hym knyght ¶ And on the viij day come in to the felde ij men of armes of henaude and to hem come ij soudiours of Caleys that were bretheren that were called Burghes and well and manly quitte hem on hir aduersaries and the better in the felde And thus ended the chalenges with moche wurshippes ¶ And the kyng at the reuerence of the strangiers made a grete feste and yafe hem riche yiftes and they token hir leue and went home to hir owne contre ¶ And in the xj yere of kyng henries regne the iiij there was a grete bataille done in smythfelde bitwene two squyers that one was called Gloucestre that was appellaunt Arthur was the defendaunt and well and manfully foughten to gedre longe tyme and the kyng for hir man fnllnesse and of his grace toke hir quarell in to his hand and made hem to go oute of the felde at ones and so they were deuided of hir batailles and the kyng yafe hem grace ¶ And the xij yere of kyng Henries regne the fourthe Ris die a squyer of walys that was a rebell a riser and supportier to Owen of Glendore that did moche destruction to the peple of walys was taken and brought to london and there he come afore the Iustices and was dampned for his treson and than he was leid on an hurdell and so drawe forth vn to Tiborne thurgh the Cite and there he was hanged and let doune a yene and his hede smyten of and his body quartred and sente to iiij tounes and his hede sette on london brugge ¶ And in the xiij yere of kyng Heâ—ries regne tho deide Sir Iohan Beauford the erle of somersete that was Capitayne of Caleys and was beried
tâ—mise an hous of monkes of chartrehous in whiche two places he is continuelly pray for nyght day for euer whan they of sion reste they of the chartrehous done their seruise and in like wise whan they of the chartrehous reste the othir goon to by the ringyng of yâ— bellis of eyther place eche knoweth whaÌ„ they haue â—ded their seruise which be nobly endowed doon dayly ther grete almesse dedes as in the chartrehous certayne children â—en fouÌ„de to scole at sion certayne almesse gyuen dayly And yit beside all this he had fouÌ„ded a recluse which shall be alway a preest to pray for him by yâ— said chartrehous which preest is well sufficiently endowed for him a seruaunt â—o here may all princes take ensample by this noble prince that regnyng so litell tyme not fully x. yere did so many noble actes as well for his soule to be ê‘petuelly remeÌ„bred praied for as in hiâ— worldly conquestis he being in his most lusty age despised esche wid sinne was vertuous a grete Iustiser in so moche that all yâ— princes of Cristendome dradde hym also of hethenes had deâ—myned iij him selfe if god wold haue spared him yâ— he wold haue werred agayn the sarasyns for to knowe the ayde of othir â—nces all the passages in that Iourney he sente a knyÈt of henaude named sir hugh de lanoye vn to IhrlmÌ„ but eâ— he retorned he deide at boys du vinceÌ„t in the xxxvj yere of his age on whos soule god haue mercy ¶ How kyng Henry the vj. regned beyng a childe not one yere of age of the bataille of vernoill in perche Ca. cc.xlvij AFter kyng henry the v. regned henry his sone but a child not fully a yere olde whos regne begaÌ„ the first day of septeÌ„bre the yere of oure lord M. cccc.xxij This kyng beyng in his cradell was moch doubted drad by cause of the grete conquest of his fadre also the wisedom guyding of his vncles the duk of bedford the duk of gloucestre This yere the xxj day of Octobre deide Charles kyng of fraunce lieth buried at seint denys And then was the duke of bedford made regent of frauÌ„ce the duke of gloucestre was made ê“tectour defendour of englond And the first day of march after was sir william Taillour preest degrated of his preesthode on the morne aftâ—r he was brent in smythfeld for heresie This yere sir Iames stiward kyng of scottes maried dame Iane the duches doughter of Clarenâ—â— of hir first housbonde therle of Somersete at seint mary ouerays Also this yere the xvij day of August was the bataill of vernaill in perche biâ—wene the duke of Bâ—dtford regent of fraunce and the duke of alaunsone whiche was a grete bataille The duke of Bedford had on his side with hym the Erle of Salysbury Mountagu and the lord Talhote and alle the poer that they coude make in Normandie the garnysoâ—s kepâ—e And also many Capitayns with moche peple of the duke of burgoyns And on that othir side was the duke of Alaunson the duâ—â— of Curon that was therle douglas the erle of Boughan with many lordes of fraunce and grete companie of Scottes and army naks And thenne the Erle douglas callid the duke of Bedford Iohan with the beden swerd and he sente hym worde agayne that he shold fynde that day that his swerd was of steell And so the bataille Ioyned on bothe sides and fought longe that ther wyste noman who shold haue the better a grete while but at the laste as god wold the victorie fyll vn to the Englissh partie For ther were slayne the Erle douglas which a litell before was made duke of Turone the Erle of bowhayne the Erle of almarre the erle of Tounar the Erle of vauntedore and the viscounte of Nerhonne whiche was one of them that slowe duke Iohan of Bourgoyne knelyng tofore the dolphyne and many moo vn to the nombre of ten thousand and moo And ther was taken prisoner the duke of Alaunson and many othir lordes and gentils of fraunce but scottes that day were slayne doune right the substannce of them alle ¶ In the thridde yere of kyng Henry the vj. the duke of gloucestre maried the duchesse of holand and wente ouer ser with hir in to henaâ—de for to take possession of his wyfes enheritaunce where he was honourably receyued and taken for lord of the londe But sone after he was fayn to retourne home agayne and lefte his wyfe and his tresour that he brought with hym in a toune is called Mounse in henaude whiche promysed for to be trewe to hym Notwithstandyng they deliuered the lady to the duke of Bourgoyne whiche sent hir to gaunt And from thens she escaped in a mannes araye and come in to zeland to a tounÌ„ of hir owne called zierixâ—e And fro thens she wente to a tonne in holand called the ghowde and there she was stronge ynough and withstode the said duke of bourgoyne And sone after the duke of Gloucestre sente ouer in to Zeland the lord fitzwater with certeyne men of werre and Archers for to helpe and socour the forsaid duchesse of holand which londed at a place in Zeland called brewerâ— hauen where the lordes of the contre come doune and fought with hym and in conclusion he was fayn to withdrawe hym and his meyne to the see agane But yit he slewe and hurte diuerse lordes and moche peple of that same contreye And so retourned home agayne with his meyne and preuayled no thyng ¶ Also this same yeâ—â— Erle of Salisbury the Erle of suffolke the lord wylby and the lord Scalis with their retenue leid siege to the Cite of Manus the which Cite was yolden to them in short tyme with many othir stronge tounes and Castels to the nombre of xxxvj ¶ This tyme alle Normandie and a grete part of fraunce vn to Orlâ—aunce was vnder thobeyssaunce of the kyng of Englond And alle the remenauÌ„t of fraunce was in grete tribâ—lacion and meschief ¶ How ther was a grete affraye like to haue bene bitwene the Cardinall aud the duke of Gloucestre And of the coronacion of kyng Henry the sixthe bothe in englond aud in fraunce Capitulo ducentesimo xlv ij IN the iiij yere the same nyght that the Maire of london Iohan Couentre had taken his charge was a grete wacche in london for affray that was bitwene the bisshopp of wynchestre and the duke of Gloucestre protectour â— For the maire with the peple of the Cite wold abide by the duke of Gloucestre as protectour of the Reame but by labour of lordes that wente bitwene in especiall by the labour of the Prince of Portingale ther was a poyntement taken that ther was no harme done And after the bataille of verneyll in perche the duke of Bedford come â—uer in to englond And on whitsonday this same yere at leycestre he dubbed
yere the xiij day of Ianiuer fill doune the 〈◊〉 with the toure on hit on london bagge toward southwerke with two archis and alle that stode theron ¶ This same yere was a grete traittie holden bitwene Grauenyng and Caleys bitwene the kyng and duke of Bourgoyne where for the kyng was the Cardinall of englond the duke of norfolk and many othir lordes and for the duke was the duchesse hauyng full power of hir lord as Regent and lady of his londes where was taken by thauys of bothe parties an abstinence of werre for a certayne tyme in the name of the duchesse and not of the duke because he had goon from his ooth ligeaunce that he had made to kyng Henry therfor the kyng neuer wolde write ne appointe ne haue to do with him after but all in the duchesse name Also thiâ— same yere quene Iane died the ij day of Iuyll whiche had ben kyng henry the fourth is wife was caried fro bermondesey vn to Caunterbury where she lieth buried by kyng henry the iiij her housbond ¶ This same same yere died all the lyons in the tour of london the whiche had not be seen many yeres before oute of mynde ¶ How Owayn a squyer of wales that had wedded quene katerine was arested and of the scisme bitwene Eugenie and Felix Capitulo CC.li. IN the xvj yere of kyng henry deide Sigismonde Emê‘our of Almaigne knyght of the garter whos terment the kyng kepte at seint poules in loÌ„don rially where was made a riall herse the kyng in his astate clad in blew was at eueÌ„ at dirige on the morne at masse â— And after hym was elect chosen Albert duke of Ostrich whiche had wedded SigismuÌ„dus doughter for to be Emê‘oâ—r This was taken resseyued to be kyng of beme vngarie because of his wife that was sigismuÌ„dis doughter whiche lefte after hym none othir heir This Albert was Emê‘our but one yere for he was poysond so deide somme saye he deide of a flixe but he was a râ—tuouse man pitefull so moche that alle the peple that knewe hym said that the world was not worthy to haue his presence This same yere one Owayn a squyer of walys a maÌ„ of lowe birth whiche had many a day tofore secretely wedded quene ketherine and had by her iij sones a doughter was taken coÌ„maunded to newgate to prison by my lord of gloucestre ê“tectour of the reame Aod this yere he brake prison by the mene of a prest that was his chapelayne And after he was taken agayn by my lord â—emond brought agayn to newgate whiche afterward was deliuered at large And one of his sones afterward was made erle of richemoÌ„d anothir erle of penbroke the iij a monk of westmynstre whiche monke deide sone after ¶ This same yere also on Newyeres day at baynardiscastell fill douâ— a stake of wode sodenly at afâ—â—rno ne and slow iij. men meschiâ—uously and foule hurt othir Also at bed ford on a shrireday were xvâ—ij men murtherd withoute stroke by fallyng doune of a steir as they come oute of their comyn halle and many foule hurt ¶ In the xviij yere sir Richard Branchamp the good Erle of warre wyke deide at Roan he beyng that tyme lieutenaunt of the kyng in Normandie and from thens his body was brought to warrewyke where he lieth wurshipfully in a new Chapell on the southside of the quyre Also this yere was a grete derthe of corne in all Englond for a busshell of wheâ—e was worth xl pens in many places of Englond and yit men myght not haue y nowgh wherfore Stephen Broun that tyme maire of london sent in to pruse and brought to london certayne shippis laden with Rye whiche eased and did moche good to the peple for corne was so skarce in Englond that in somme places of Englond poure peple made hem brede of fern rotes ¶ This yere the generall counseill of basile deposed pope Eugenye And they chese Felix which was duke of Sauoye And than began the scisme which endured vn to the yere of our lord Ihesu crist M. CCCC.xlviij This Felix was a deuoute prince and saw the sones of his sones And after lyued a holy and denoute lyfe And was chosen pope by the counseill of Baâ—ile Eugenye deposed And so the scisme was longe tyme And this Felix had not moch obedience be canse of the nâ—utralite for the moste parte and well nâ—gh all cristendome obedied aud reputed Eugenye for very pope god knoweth who was the very pope of them bothe for bothe occupied during the lyfe of Eugenye ¶ This same yere Sir Richard wiche vicarie of hermettesworth was degrated of his presthode at Poulis and brente at tourhyll as for an heretike on seint Botulpâ—us day how well at his deth he deide a good cristeÌ„maÌ„ wherfor after his dethe moche peple come to the place were he had he brente and offred and made a heepe of stones and sette vp a crosse of tree helde hym for a saynt till the maire and shereuis by commaundement of the kyng and of bisshoppes destroied it and made there a douâ—hylle ¶ Also this same yere the shereuis of london fette oute of Seint Martins the graunt the sayntwarie fiue persones whiche afterward were restored agayne to the Sayntwarie by the kynges â—â—stices ¶ After Alberte the iij. Frederike was chosen Emê‘our This Frederike duke of Osterike was longe Emê‘our differred for to be crouned at rome by cause of the scisme but after that vuion was had he was crouned with Imperiall diademe with grete glorie and triumphe of pope Nicholas the iiij This was a man pesible quiete and of singuler pacience not hating the chyrch he wedded the kyng of Portingales dougter ◠¶ How the duchesse of Gloucestre was arested for treson and committed to perpetuall prison in the I le of man And of the deth of maister Rogier â—olyngbroke Ca. CC.lij IN this yere Elianore Cobham duchesse of Gloucestre was arested for certayn pointies of treson leid agayn hir wher vpon she was examined in seint stephens chapell at west mestre before the Erchebisshopp of Caunterbury And there she was enioyned to open penaunce for to go thurgh chepe beryng a taper in her hond after to perpetuall prison in the I le of manÌ„ vnder the kepyng of sir Thomas stanley Also that same tyme was arested Maister Thomas south well a chanon of westmynstre maister Iohan hume a chapelayn of the said lady maistâ—r Rogger bolynbrok a clerk vsing nigromancie And one margery Iurdemayn called the wich of Eye beside westmynstre Thise were arested as for beyng of counseill with the said duchesse of gloucester And as for maister Thomas southwell he deide in the tour the nyght before he shold haue he reyned on the morne For so he said hym selfe that he shold deye in his bedde and not by Iustise And in the yere xx maister Iohan hume and maister
And said to hem that they shold gone hir kyng for to seche at a â—â—rtayne day to comen ayene that to hem was sette And so they wente forth fast and comen ayene at hir day that was assigned And all the danois brought hir kyng with hym ¶ The kyng Alured anone betâ— hem bene baptised and hir names change so that the kyng of danois called was Aâ—helston xxx of his felawes names were changed also And the othir were baptised to the right beleue And allâ— this was done at westmynstre And after that the kyng Alured helde with hym kyng Athâ—lstone all his danois xij daies at soiourne with mochel solempnite yafe hym grete yifâ—es after that they were baptised so they deê‘ted Tho was kyng alured all at ese when he had his enemies ouercome and that they were turned to the right beleue of Almyghty god ¶ How the danois that comen in to fraunce with Gurmond comen ayene in to Englond and of the deth of kyng Alured ¶ Ca. C.ix ANd thuâ— it befell afterward that the danois of Northumberland that were paynyms comen with a grete strength and an huge host of fraunce that is to vnderstonde with heÌ„ that went in to frannce With Gurmond of Aufrike when he had conquerd Englond And it yafe vn to the saxâ—ns and tho that comen fro fraunce arriuâ—d in kent sent in to Northumberland that they shold come to hem and when tho ij hostes were come and assembled anone they went to destroie the cristen peple of Englond from place to place and diden moche sorwe ¶ Hit befell thus as almyghty god wold an hard chaunce in Englond For the good kyng Alured that was woned to abate the danois deide in the mene tyme ¶ This kyng Alured regned xxx yere and a good kyng had bene and well coude chastise his enemies for he was a good câ—â—rc and let make many bokes And a boke he made of Englissh of auentureâ— of kynges and of batailles that had bene done in the â—ond many othir bokes of gests he let hem write that were of gret wysdome of good lernyng thurgh which boâ—es many a maÌ„ may hym amend yâ— wyll hem rede vpon loke vpon whoâ— soule almyghty god hane mercy And this kyng Alured lieth at wynchestre ¶ Of kyng Edward that was kyng Aluredes sone ¶ Ca. C.x. ANd after this Alured regned Edward his sone yâ— was a good man and a wyse that was called Edward that was wonder courtois ¶ The danois did moche sorwe in the lond and hir poer encresed and gan for to wex from day to day for the danois comen ofte with hir companies in to this land Aâ—d when the kyng sawe that he myght no better done he noÌ„me trewes with hem and graunted hem his pees ¶ And notheles the trews dured nat long that the danois ne begoÌ„ne strongly for to werre vp on the englisshmen and did hem moche sorwe wherfor kyng Edward did assemble a grete host for to fight with hem ¶ And tho this kyng Edward died when god wolde This kyng Edward regned xxiiij yere and lieth at wynchestre besides his fadre ¶ Of kyng Adelston and of Edmonde Eldred and of Edewyne his brother Ca. C.xj. AFter this Edward regned Athelston his sone And when he had regned iiij yere he helde bataill ayens the daâ—oys and drofe kyng Gaufride that was kyng of the danoys and all his host vn to the see and rested by Scotland and noÌ„me strongly the contre all ayere ¶ And after that tho of Cumberland and the scottes of westmerland begoÌ„ne to werre vpon kyng Athelston And he hem yaf so stronge bataille that he queld so many of hem that no man coude telle the nombre of hem after that he ne regned but iij â–ª yere And he regned in all xxv and lieth at Malmesbu◠¶ And after this Adelston regned Edmonde his brother for as moche as kyng Adelstone had no sone And this Edmond was a worthy knyght and a doughty man of body a noble knyght And he iij. yere after that he was kyng he went ouer humber in whiche place he foÌ„d ij kynges of danoys that one was called Enelaf And that othir Renant This kyng EdmoÌ„d drofe hem both from the land and after wet and toke a grete prey in Cumberland This Edmond ne regned but vij yere and lieth at Glastenburie ¶ And after this Edmond regned Eldrede his brother that avenged Edward his fadre of his enemies that hym quelled afterward he seised northuÌ„berland in to his hand made the scottes abowe meke vn to his wyll ¶ And the seconde yere yâ— he had regned come Arnalaf guyran that was kyng of deÌ„marc and seised all Northumberland and helde that londe ij yere and after that come kyng Eldered with a grete poer and drofe him out of this land And this kyng Eldred was a noble man and a good of whos goodnesse seint Dunstan preched and this kyng Eldred regned xj yere lieth at wynchestre ¶ And after this Eldred Edwyne sone of Edmond his brother regned was a lither man toward god the peple for he hated folke of his owne land loued honoured straunge men And sette litell by holy churche betoke of holy church all the tresour that he myÈt haue that was grete shame vâ—lanye to hym selfe ê‘ill to his soule And therfor god wold not that he shold nat regne no lenger than iiij yere and died lieth at wynchestre ¶ Of kyng Edgar that regned a boue the kyngâ—s of scotland of wales how he was begiled thurgh takyng of his wife Capitulo Centesimo duodecimo ANd after this Edwyne regned Edgare his brother a maÌ„ that moch loued god pees holy church also And was a worthy lord bolde myÈty mayntened well this land in pees And this Edgar was lord kyng aboue all the kynges of scotland of walys from the tyme that Arthur was a gone neuer was sithen kyng of his power And this Edgare was seint Edwardes fadre And when Edgares wyfe was dede that was seint Edwardes moder entered he herde speke of the fairnesse of Estrilde that was Orgarus dought a baron of deneÌ„shire that was so fair a woman that all men speken ther of he callâ—d oâ— of his knyghtes that he moche loued trusted vpon told hym Go qd he to the nâ—ble baron Orgar of denenshire see if his doughter be so fair as men spâ—ken of if it be sothe I wyll haue hir vn to my wyfe ¶ This knyght that was called Edelwold went forth his way came ther that the lady was when he saw hir so fair he thought tâ— hane hir hym selfe to wyfe and ther of spake to Orgar hir fadre and Orgar was an olde man and had no moo children but only hir and sawe that Edelwold was a fair yonge knyght and worthy and riche and was