than renewed all the frauÌchyses that kynge Iohn had grauÌted at Romney mede kyng Henry than coÌfermed by his chartre the whiche yet ben holden through out all Englonde And in yâ tyme yâ kyng toke of euery plough londe two shyllynges And Hubert of Burgh was than made chefe iustyce of engloÌde And this was in yâ fourth yere of kynge Henryes regne And in yâ same yere was saynt Thomas of CauÌterbury translated the .l. yere after his martyrdome ¶ And after it was ordeyned by all the lordes of Englonde yâ all alyens shold go out of Englonde come no more therin And kyng Henry toke than all yâ castels in to his handes yâ kyng Iohn his fader had gyuen taken to alyens for to kepe that held with hym But yâ proude Faukes of Brent rychely let araye his castell of Bedford whiche he had of king Iohns gyfte and he helde that castell agaynst kyng Henryes wyl with might strength And the kyng came thyder with a stronge power and besyeged the castell And the archebysshop mayster Stephen of lang ton with a fayre company of knyghtes came to the kyng for to helpe hym And from the Ascencyon of our lord vnto the Assumpcyon of our lady lasted yâ syege and than was the castell wonne and taken And the kynge let hange all those that were gone in to yâ castel wich theâ good wyll for to hold the castell agaynst hym that is to say .lxxx. men And than afterwarde Faukes hymselfe was fouÌde in a chirche of Couentre and there iâ forsware all Englonde with moche shame and than wente agayne in to his owne couÌtree ¶ And whyles that kyng Henry regned Edmonde of Abyndon that was tresourer of Salysbury was consecrate archebysshop of Caunterbury ¶ And this kynge Henry sente ouer see vnto the erle of Prouance that he sholde sende him his doughter in to Englende that was called Elânore and he wolde spouse her And so she came in to Englonde after Chrystmas and on the morowe after saynt Hylaryes daye the archebysshop Edmonde spoused them togyder at Westmynster with grete solempnite And there was a fayre syght bytwene them that is for to saye Edwarde that was nexte kynge after his fader floure of curteysy and of largesse and Margarete that was afterwarde quene of Scotlonde and Beatryne that was afterwarde duchesse of Brytayne And Katheryne that dyed a mayde in relygyon ¶ Of the quinzeme of goodes that were grauÌted for the newe chartre and of the purucyaunce of Oxford ANd thus it befell yâ the lordes of Englonde wold haue some addicyons moo in the chartre of frauÌchyse yâ they had of the kynge spake thus bytwene them And yâ kyng grauÌted them all theyr askynge made to them two chartres yâ one is called yâ grete chartre of frauÌchyses that other is called the chartre of forest And for yâ grauÌt of these two chartres prelates erles barons all the comyns of Englonde gaue to yâ kynge a. M. marke of syluer ¶ Whan kynge Henry had ben kynge .xiiij. yere the same yere he his lordes erles barons of the realme went to Oxford and ordeyned a lawe in amendement of yâ realme And fyrst sware yâ kyng hymselfe and afterwarde all the lordes of yâ londe that they wolde holde yâ statute for euer more who that them brake sholde be deed But the seconde yere after that ordynauÌce the kynge through couÌseyle of syr Edwarde his sone of Rychard his broder that was erle of Cornewayle also of other repented hym of that othe that he had made for to holde that lawe ordynauÌce sente to yâ courte of Rome to be assoyled of that othe ¶ And in the yere nexte comynge after was the grete derth of corne in englonde for a quarter of whete was worth .xxiiij. shyllynges And the poore people ete nettyls other wedes for grete honger many a. M. dyed for defaute of meet ¶ And in the xlviij yere of kyng Henryes regne begaÌ warre debate bytwene hym and his lordes for bycause that he had broken yâ couenauÌtes yâ were made bytwene them at Oxford ¶ And in the same yere was the towne of Northamton taken folke slayne that were within for bycause yâ they had made and ordeyned wylde fyre for to brenne the cite of London ¶ And in the moneth of Maye that came nexte after vpon saynt Pancras daye was yâ batayle of Lewes whiche was yâ wednesdaye before saynt Dunstans daye there was taken kyng Henry hymselfe syr Edwarde his sone Rychard his broder erle of Cornewayl many other lordes ¶ And in the same yere nexte folowynge syr Edwarde the kynges sone brake out of the warde of syr Symon of MouÌtford erle of Leycestre at Herford and went vnto the barons of yâ Marche and they receyued hym with moche honour ¶ And the same tyme Gylbert of Clarence erle of Glocestre that was in yâ ward also of yâ foresayd SymoÌ through the coÌmauÌdement of kynge Henry that went from hym with a grete herte for bycause he sayd yâ the foresayd Gylbert was a fole in his couÌseyle wherfore he ordeyned hyÌ afterward so helde hyÌ with kyng Henry And on yâ saterdaye next after yâ myddes of August syr Edwarde yâ kynges sone discomfited syr Symon of MouÌtford at Kelinworth but the grete lordes yâ were there with hyÌ were taken yâ is to saye Baldewyn wake WilliaÌ de MouÌchensie many other grete lordes And yâ tewesdaye nexte after was yâ batayle done at Eusham there was slayne syr Symon of MouÌtford Hugh spenser MouÌtford that was Rafe Bassets fader of Draiton and many other grete lordes And whaÌ this batayle was done all yâ gentylmen that had ben with the erle Symon were disheryted they ordeyned togyder dyd moche harme to all yâ lond For they destroyed theyr enemyes in all that they myght ¶ Of the syege of Kelynworth how the gentylmen were disherited through counseyle of the lordes of the realme of Englonde and how they came agayne and had theyr âââdes ANd the nexte yere comynge in Maye the fourth daye before yâ teest of saynt Dunstan was the batayle dyscomfyture at Chest erfelde of them that were disheryted there was many of them slayne And Robert erle of Fe riers there was takeÌ also Baldewyn and Iohn de la hay with moche sorowe escaped thens And on saynt Iohn baptystes eue than nexte folowynge began the syege of the castell of Kenilworth the syege lasted to sayne Thomas eue yâ apostle on whiche daye syr Hugh Hastynge had yâ castell for to kepe that yelded vp the castel vnto the kynge in this maner that hymself the other yâ were within the castell sholde haue theyr lyues lyÌmes all that they had therin bothe hors harneys foure dayes of respyte for to delyuer clenely yâ castell of themself of all other maner thynge as they had within the castell And so
yâ vj. dayes ende they yelded yâ castell vnto hym And there was taken the lorde of Crowne syr Bursigaud many other knyghtes men of armes mo than ixxx And frothens by Toren Peten fast by Cheney his noble men yâ were with hyÌ had astronge batayle with frensshmen an C. of theyr men of armes were slayn the erse of Daunce the stewarde of FrauÌce were taken with an C. Men of armes In yâ whiche yere the xix dayd of September fast by Poyners âhe some pryce with a thousande xxx ãâã of armes and archers ordeyned a ãâã ãâã John of FeauÌce comynge to the prynce warde with .vij. M. thosen men of armes moche other people a grete nombre of the whiche there were slayne the duke of Burbon the duke of Athenes and many other noble men And of the prynces meÌ of armes a. M. and of other the true accompte rekenynge viij C. And yâ kyng of FrauÌce was there taken and syr Philip his yonger sone many dukes noble men worthy knyghtes and men of armes aboute .ii. M. And so the victory fell to the prynce to the people of Englond by the grace of god And many that were taken prysoners were set at theyr tausom vpon theyr trouth and knyghthode were charged and had leue to go But yâ prynce toke with hym the kyng of FrauÌce and Philip his sone with all the reuerence that he myght went agayne to Burdeux with a gloryous vyctory The somme of the men yâ there were taken prysoners and of them that were slayne the day of batayle was .iiii. M. iiij C. .xi. ¶ And in the. ãâã vere of kynge Edward the .v. daye of Maye FrauÌce Edwarde with kynge John of FrauÌce Philyp his sone many other worthy prisoners aryued gratyously in the hauen of PluÌmouth and the .xxiiii. daye of the same moueth about thre of yâ clock at after none they came to London by LondoÌbrydge so went forth to the kynges palays at Westmynster there came so greie a multitude prees of people about them to be holde se yâ wonder ryall sight yâ vnnethes fromydday tyll nyght myght they come to westminster And the kynges rasisom of FrauÌce was taxed set to thre myllyons of scutes of whome two shold be worth a noble And ye shall vnderstande that a myllyon is a thousande thousand And after some in mâlj is âaunâom was set at thre thousande thousande floryns and all is one effected And this same yere were made soleÌpne Iustes in smyth felde beynge there present yâ kyng of EngloÌde yâ kyng of FrauÌce yâ kyng of Scotlonde many other worthy and noble lordes ¶ The .xxxiij. yere of the regne of kynge Edwarde at Wyndsore as well for loue of knyghthode as for his owne worshyp at yâ reuerence of the kyng of FrauÌce and of other lordes yâ were there at yâ tyme he helde a wonders ryall and a costly feest of saynt George passyng ony yâ euer was holden afore Wherfore yâ kyng of FrauÌce in scor nynge sayd yâ he sawe neuer ne herde su che solempne feestes ne ryaltees holden ne done with tayles wout payenge of golde or syluer ¶ And in yâ .xxxiiij. yere of his regne the .xiiij. kal. of Iuly syr Iohn erle of Rychemonde kynge Edwardes sone wedded dame Blaunche duke Henryes doughter of Lancastre cosyn to yâ same Iohn by dispensacyon of the pope in yâ meane tyme were ordeyned Iustes at London .iij. dayes of Rogacyons yâ is to saye the Mayre of London with his xxiiii aldermen agaynst all yâ wolde come in whose name stede yâ king priuely with his .iiij. sones Edwarde Leonell Iohn Edmond other .xix. grete lordes held the felde with worshyp ¶ And this same yere as it was tolde sayd of them that sawe it there came blode out of yâ tombe of Thomas somtyme erle of Lancastre as fresshe as that daye yâ he was done to deth And in yâ same yere kyng Edward those his sepulture and his lyggynge at Westmynster fast by the shryne of saynt Edward And anone after yâ .xxvij. daye of October he went ouer see to Calays makynge protestacyon yâ he wold neuer come agayn iÌto EngloÌde tyll he had full ended yâ warre bytwene FrauÌce hym And so in the .xxxvi. yere of his regne in the wynter tyme kyng Edward trauay led in the tyne costes about saynt Hylary tyde he departed his âoost wente to Burgoynward with wh ãâ¦ã than met ãâ¦ã peasybly the duke of Burgoyn be hygh tyng hym .lxx. ãâ¦ã shold spare his men his people And yâ kyng graunted at his request dwelled there vnto the .xvij. daye of Marche the whiche tyme came to kyng Edwardes ere yâ stroÌge theues were on yâ see vnder yâ erle of saynt Paule the .xv. daye of Marche layenge awayte vpon yâ townes of Hastyng Rye other places villages on the see coste had entred as enemyes into the towne of Wynch else slewe all that euer wtstode them withââyd theyr comyng wherfore the kyng was gretely meued angred he turned agayn towarde Parys coÌmauÌded his hoost to destroye slee with stroke of swerde them yâ he had before spared And the .xij. day of Apryll yâ kynge came to Parys there departed his hoost i dyuers batayles with iiij C. knyghtes newe dubbed on yâ one syde of him And syr Henry duke of Lan castre vnderpeas trewse went to yâ ga tes of yâ cite proferyng them yâ wolde abyde a batayle in yâ felde vnder suche coÌdicions yâ yf yâ ãâ¦ã ng of EngloÌd were ouer comeÌ there as god forbede it shold that thaÌ he shold neuer chalenge yâ kyngdom of FrauÌce And there he had of them but shorte scorneful answere came told it to the kyng his lordes what he had herde what they sayd And than went forth the newe knyghtes with many other making assaut to yâ cite they destroyed the subbaâhes of yâ cite And whyle those thynges were in doynge yâ EnglysshmeÌ made theÌ redy to be auenged on yâ shame despite yâ was done yâ yere at winchelse ordeined ãâ¦ã y of .lxxx. shyppes of meÌ of London of other marchauÌtes xiiij M. men of armes archers and went serched and ãâ¦ã mmed the see and manly they toke helde the yle of Cauâ Whe ãâ¦ã gand ãâ¦ã many other men of yâ same couÌtre by the ãâ¦ã for theyr see costes ⪠And yâ king grauÌted them And on yâ morowe after yâ ãâã of cester yâ kynge ãâã ned hym to his hoost towarde Orly ãâ¦ã destroyenge wastyng all yâ couÌtre by yâ way as they went thyderward there fel on them suche a ãâã teÌpest yâ none of our nââ you neuer herde ãâ¦ã suche through yâ whiche ãâ¦ã of our men theyr horses ââtheyr ãâ¦ã as it were through ãâ¦ã were slayn perysshed ãâ¦ã were full grete ãâ¦ã yâ kyng not moche
craftes of London went ãâ¦ã to the toure of London there came ãâ¦ã the Constable of the toure and gaue the Mayre sheryues theyr othe charge as they sholde haue takeÌ in yâââcheker of Westmynster in yâ kynges courte of his Iustyce barons of the escheker than went they home agayne And than the kyng his couÌseyle for yâ grece malyer despyte yâ they had to yâ cite of Londen remeued all his courtes froÌ Westmynster vnto the cite of yorke that is to saye the chauÌceler the escheker the kynges brâche the comyn place there they held all these courtes of lawe fro ââdsâmer yâ is to say the feest of saynt Iohn bapryst vnto yâ feest of Chrystmasse next comyng And than the kynge his couÌseyle it not so êfytable there as it was at London Than anone he remeued if agayne to London so to westmynster for grece ease of his offycers and auaârage to the kynge and al the comyns of the realme And whan the people of London sawe ãâã knewe yâ these courtes were come aga ãâ¦ã and the kyng his people also than the Mayre the aldermen with yâ chefe comyns of the cite let gadre a grete somme of golde of all the comyns of the cite and ordeyned made grete rialtees agaynst his comynge to London for to haue his grace good lordshyp and also theyr lybertees frauÌchyses grauÌted to them agayne as they were wont to haue afore tyme. And through grete instaunce and prayer of the quene of other lordes ladyes the king grauÌted them grace And this was done at Shene iÌ sothery And than yâ kynge wtin two dayes after came to London And the Mayre of the cite with the sheryues aldermen all the worthy men of the cite afterwarde rode agaynst hym in good aray to yâ heth on this syde the manoyr of Shene humbly mekely submyttynge them with all maner obey sauÌce vnto hyÌ as they ought to do And thus they brought yâ kynge the quene to London whan the kynge came to yâ gate of London brydge there they presented hym with a mylke whyte stede sadled brydled trapped with cloth of golde and reed partyed togyder And the quene a palfrey all whyte in the same araye trapped with whyte reed all the coÌdytes of London ranne with wyne bothe whyte and reed for all maner people to drynke who wolde And bytwene saynt Paule and the crosse in chepe there was made a stage a ryall standyng on hye therin were many auÌgels with dyuers melodyes songes And than an auÌgell came downe from the stage on hygh by a vyce set a crowne of gold pyght with ryche perles precyous stones vpon the kynges heed an other vpoÌ the quenes heed And so yâ citezyns brought yâ kyng and yâ quene to Westmynster in to theyr palays And than on the moro we after yâ Mayre the sheryues the aldermen of London came vnto the kynge to his palays at westmynster presented hym with two basyns of syluer ouer gylted ful of coyned golde the somme of .xx. C. pouÌde prayenge hyÌ of his hygh mercy grace and lordshyp specyall grace that they myght haue his good loue with the lybertees frauÌchyses lyke wyse as they were wont for to haue before tyme and by his lettres patentes and his chartre confyrmed And yâ quene other worthy lordes ladyes fell on theyr knees besought yâ kynge of grace to roÌfyrme this Than the kynge toke vp the quene and graunted her all her askynge And than they thaÌked yâ kynge the quene went home agayne ¶ And in the .xvj. yere of kynge Rychardes regne certayn lordes of Scotlonde came in to Englonde for to gete worshyp as by fayte of armes And these were the persones the erle of Marre he chalenged yâ erle Marshall of EngloÌde to Iust with hym certayn poyntes on horsbacke with sharpe speres they rode togyder as two worthy knyghtes lordes certayne courses but not yâ full chalenge that yâ scottysshe erle made for he was cast downe bothe hors man two of his rybbes broken with the fall so he was borne thens out of Smythfelde home to his inne within a lytell tyme after he was caryed home in a hors lytter at porke he dyed And syr William Darell knyght the kynges banerer of Scotlond than made an other chalenge with syr Piers curtayn knight yâ kynges banerer of Englonde of certayn courses yet on horsback in yâ same felde whan he had rydden certayn courses assayed he myght not haue the better he gaue it ouer wolde no more of his chalenge with syr Pyers courtayn knyght yâ kynges banerer of Englonde turned his hors rode to his inne And one Cokborne a squyer of Scotlonde chalenged syr Nycholl Hawberke knyght of certayn courses yet with sharpe speres rode .v. courses togyder at euery course yâ Scotte was cast downe bothe hors man And thus our Englysshe lordes thanked be god had the felde ¶ In the .xvij. yere of kyng Rychardes regne dyed the good gracious quene Anne that was wyfe to kyng Richard in the manoyre of Shene in the shyre of Surrey on whytsondaye And than was she brought to London so to Westmynster there was she buryed and worthely entered besyde saynt Edwardes shryne vpon whose soule almyghty god haue pyte mercy Amen ¶ How kynge Rycharde spoused dame Isabell yâ kynges doughter of FrauÌce in the towne of Calays brought her in to EngloÌde let her be crowned quene in yâ abbey of saynt Peters of Westmynster IN the .xx. yere of kyng Rychardes regne he went ouer see to Calays with dukes erles lordes and barons many other worthy squyers with grete araye and comyn people of the realme in good araye as longed to suche a kynge pryÌce of his nobley and of his owne persone to do hym reuerence obseruaunce as ought to be done to theyr lyege lorde so myghty a kynge emperour in his owne to abyde receyue there that worthy gracyous lady that sholde be his wyfe a yonge creature of .xix. yere of age dame Isabell the kynges doughter of FrauÌce many other worthy lordes of grete name bothe barons knyghtes with moche other people that came to yâ towne of Grauenynge and two dukes of FrauÌce that one was the duke of Burgoyn and that other the duke of Barre that wold no ferther lesse than they had pledges for them And than kynge Rycharde delyuered two pledges for them to go safe and come safe his two worthy vncles the duke of Glocestre the duke of Yorke these two went ouer yâ water of Grauenyng abode there as for pledges vnto yâ tyme that the maryage the feest was done that these two dukes of FrauÌce were comen agayn vnto ⪠Grauenynge water And than
so that no man was so hardy to name god and yf they dyd they were put to strauÌge deth But the bysshop of London that was tho whiche was called Gosselyn scaped went thens to them of Rome to seke socour to helpe to destroye the sarasyns that had destroyed this londe And the Romayns sayd that they had ben so often anoyed for theyr sendyng of folke in to Britayne all for to helpe the Britons they wold no more so do And so the bysshop Gosselyn went thens without ony socour or helpe And than went he to the kyng of lytell Brytayne that was called Aldroie this was the thyrde kyng after Gowan Meriedok as before is sayd The bysshop prayed this kynge Aldroie of helpe socour And the kynge had pite in his herte whan he herde how the bysshop fledde how the chrysten men were so slayne in grete Brytayne through the paynyms sarasyns he grauÌted hym CoÌstantyne his broâer for to helpe hym with power of folke And chaâ dyd araye hors harneys shyppes all thynge that neded to that vyage And whan all thynge was redy he called the bysshop sayd to hym I take you here CoÌstantyne my broder vpon this couenauÌt that yf god gyue hym grace to discoÌfyte the infydeleÌs that than ye shall make hym kyng And the bisshop grauÌted it with a good wyll CoÌstantyne the bysshop toke leue of the kyng Aldroie betoke hym to god toke .xij. Mâinen went to theyr shippes sayled towarde grete Britayn arryued at Totnes Whan the Britons herdethese tydynges that socour came they were glad ordeyned them an huge noÌâre of people went receyued them with moche honour ¶ Gowan anone as he wyst of these ty dynges he assembled all his farasyns came agaynst them gaue theÌ batayle And CoÌstantyn slewe hym with his owne handes all the other sarasyns were dyscomfyted slayne that none escaped excepte those that were couerted to god ¶ How Constantyne that was the kynges broder of lytel Britayn was crowned kynge of grete Brytayne for his worthynes ANone after the batayle they went to London crowned there Constantyne kyng of this londe the bysshop Gosselin set the crowne on his heed and aâoynted hyÌ as it belongeth for a kyng And thaÌ began christeÌdom in this londe agayn And anone after whaÌ this kyng Constantyn was crowned he spoused a wyfe through rouÌseyle of the Brytons begate on herthre sones The fyrst was called CoÌstance the seconde Aurilambros the thyrde Vter This Constance that elder broder whaÌ he came to oââ he ãâã hym a monke at Wynchestre And ConstaÌtyne theyr fader was slayne through treason For it befell vpon a tyme that a Pehyte came to hym vpon a daye as it were on a message sayd that he wolde speke with the kynge pryuely in couÌseyle The kyng let âoyde his chambre of the men that were there within and there abode no moo but the kynge and the Pehite and he made a countenauÌce as though he wolde haue spoken with the kyng in his eere And there he shewe hym with a longe knyfe And after that he went meruaylously out of that chambre in to an other chambre so that at the last no man wyst where he was bâromen Whan the kynges men wyst that theyr lord was so deed they made than so moche sorowe that they wyst not what for to do For as moche as his two sones Aurilambros and Vter were so yonge that none of them myght be kynge and the thyrde broder was a monke at âââ chestre as is sayd before But âoânger that was erle of Westler thought pryuely in his herte through some subryâe for to be kynge hymselfe And wente to Wynchestre where as Constance was monke sayd to hym CoÌstance qued be your fader is deed your two brethern that ben with Gosselyn the bysshop of London to nourysshe be so yonge that neue of them may be kyng wherfore I couÌseyle you that ye forsake your habyte come with me and I shall make suche a meane vnto the Brytons that ye shall be made kynge of this londe ¶ Of Constance that was kynge Constantynes sone whiche was a monke at Wynchestre and how he was made kynge after his faders dethe through counseyle of âoââger that was âââe of Westser for as moche as Aurilambros and ãâã his two bretherne were but yonge of age And Vortiger let shee âyaâ for to be kynge hymselfe THis Vortiger couÌseyled this CoÌsâaÌce so moche tyll he forsoke his abâot and went with hym And anone after he was crowned kyng by the assent of the Brytons This kynge Constance whan he was crowned made kynge he wyll ne knewe but lytell of the worlde nor coude no thynge what knyghthode axed And he made Vortyger his chefe mayster couÌseyler gaue hym all his power for to ordeyn to do as moche as to the realme aperteyned So that hymselfe no thynge entermedled but onely bare the name of kyng WhaÌ Vortiger sawe that he had all the loÌde in his warde gouernauÌce at his owne wyll he thought by preuy treason to slee CoÌstance the kyng that he myght hyÌselfe be crowned made kyng regne let sende after an hondred knyghtes of Pehytes the worthyest of all the londe them helde with hym for to dwell as to be kepers of his body as he wolde go through the londe to ordeyne thynges that appertayned to a kyng And this Vortiger honoured so moche the hondred knyghtes so moche gaue them of golde syluer of ryche iewelles robes horses other thyÌges plente wherfore they helde hym more lord than they dyd the kyng And Vortiger told them yf he myght be kyng ye as it were through treason he wold make them rychest of the londe So at the last through grete gyftes that he had gyuen largely they cryed through the court that Vortiger were better worthy to be kyng thaÌ CoÌstance Wherfore Vortiger made semblauÌt as he had ben wroth he departed thens from the courte and sayd he must go elles where for thinges that he had to do And so the traytour sayd bycause that they sholde slee kynge Constance Whan this Vortiger was gone it befel soon easter ãâã those hondred knyghtes of Peâites wiche the dores of the kynges chambre there they slewe hyÌ smote of his heed baâe it to Vortiger there as he dwelled And whaÌ Vortiger sawe the heed he wepte full tenderly with his eyen neuertheles he was somdele gladde in his herte of his deth And anone Vortiger let take those hondred knyghtes of Pehites hadde his seruauÌtes bynde theyr haudes behynde them lede them to London and there they were dampned to deth as fals traytours And anone after all the Brytons of the londe by the comyn assent crowned Vortiger made hym kyng of the londe ¶ Auno domini C .lxxiiij. SOther a martyr was pope after
that rebelled and prospered ryght wysly euermore on them At the last with a blyssed ende he decessed And in the lyf of saynt Laurence he and his wyfe be put for ensamples bycause of theyr holy and vertuous lyuynge ¶ Benedictê° was pope after Iohn .xi. yere This man had grete stryfe in his dayes For he was put out an other was put in And this Benedictus after that he was deed was seen of an holy bysshop in a wretched fygure he had grete payne And this fygure sayd he trusted no thynge in the mercy of god no thynge profyted hym that was done for hym for it was goten by extorcyon vniustly ThaÌ this bysshop lefte his bysshopryche for drede of this sight went in to a monastery lyued vertuously all his dayes ¶ IohaÌnes the .xx. was pope after hym .xi. yere lytell profyted ¶ Of kyng Knoght that was a Dane ANd after the deth of this Eldred Knoght that was a Daue begaÌ to regne But Edmund Irensyde that was king Eldredes sone by his fyrst wyfe ordeyned a grete power of men began to warre on kynge Knoght And so he dyd many tymes ofte the warre was so stroÌge harde the wonder it was to wyte And the quene Emme that than dwelled at westmynster had grete drede of her two sones Alured Edward lest they sholde be destroyed through the warre wherfore she sente them ouer see in to Normandy to the duke Richard theyr vncle there they dwelled in safete peas loÌge tyme. ¶ This Edmund Irensyde Knoght the Dane warred fyersly togyder But at the last they were accorded in this maner that they sholde departe the realme bytwene them and so they dyd and loued togyder lyke two bretherne ¶ How kyng Edmund Irensyde was slayne through treason by a traytour that was called Edryth of Stratton ANd than after regned kyng EdmuÌd Irensyde Knoght the dane But thus it befel afterward that in the same yere that they were accorded so moche loued togyder wherfore a fals traytour had enuy at the loue that was bytwene them whose name was Edrith of straâtoâ that was a grete lorde that was Edmunde Irensydes man of hym helde all the londe that he had neuerthelesse he thought to betraye his lorde make Knoght kyng of all the londe to the entent rychely to be auauÌced with hym to be well beloued Wherfore he prayed his lorde Edmunde Irensyde on a daye with hym for to ete And the kyng hym curteysly grauÌted and to hym came at his prayer And at meet the kyng was ryally serued with dyuerse metes and drynkes And whan nyght came that he sholde go to bedde the kyng toke his owne meyny and went to the chambre where as he shold take his nyghtes rest And as he loked aboute hym he sawe a fayre ymage a well made in semblauÌt as it were an archer with a bowe bent in his hande in the bowe a fyne arowe Kynge Edmund went nere to beholde it better And whan he was by it anone the arowe smote hym through the body there slewe the kynge for the engyn was made to slee his owne lorde traytoursly And whan kynge Edmund was thus deed slayne he had regned but .x. yere And his people made moche sorowe for him his body they bare to Glastenbury there buryed hym And this fals traytour Edrith anone went to the quene that was kynge Edmundes wyfe that wyst not of her lordes deth toke from her two sones that were fayre yonge that her lorde had goten on her that one was called Edwarde that other Edwyne ladde them with hym to London toke them to kyng Knoght that he sholde do with them what his wyl were And told hyÌ how subtylly he had slayne king Edmund bycause the Knoght sholde haue all the londe of Englonde ¶ O thou fals traytoure hast thou slayne my true broder that was so true bycause of me a man that I moost loued in the worlde Now by my heed I shall for thy trauayle the well rewarde as thou hast deserued anone let hym be taken and bouÌde hym handes feet in maner of a traytour let cast hym in to the ryuer of Tamyse And in this maner the fals traytour ended his lyfe The kyng toke the two chyldren put them vnto the abbot of West mynster to warde to kepe tyll he wyst what was best with them for to do ¶ How kynge Knoght sent bothe kyng Edmondes sones in to Denmarke for to be slayne and how they were saued ANd it befel soone afterward that kynge Knoght had all the londe in his handes spoused the quene Emme through consent of al his barons for she was a fayre woman the whiche was Eldredes wyfe and the dukes syster of Normandy they lyued togyder with moche loue as reason wolde The kyng asked vpon a daye couÌseyle of the quene what was best to do with Edmond Irensydes sones Syr sayd she they be the ryght heyres of the londe and yf they lyue they wyll do you moche sorowe with warre and therfore let sende them in to a strauÌge londe aferre to some man that may destroye them The king anone let call a Dane that was called Walgar coÌmauÌded hym that he sholde lede those two chyldren in to Denmarke so to do and ordeyne for them that he sholde neuer more here of them Syr sayd this Walgar your commauÌdement gladly shall be done And anone he toke the two chyldren ledde them in to Denmarke And for as moche as he sawe that the chyldren were wonders fayre mâke he had of them grete pite ruth wold not slee them but ledde them to the kynge of Hungary for to nourysshe For this Walgar was well beknowen with the kynge well beloued Anone the kynge asked fro whens the children were And Walgar tolde hym sayd that they were the ryght heyres of Englonde and therfore men wolde destroye them therfore syr vnto you they be comen to seke mercy helpe for soth yf they may lyue your men they shall become and of you they shall holde all theyr londe The kynge of Hungary receyued theÌ with moche honour and let them worthely be kepte And thus it befell afterwarde that Edwyne the yonger broder dyed Edwarde the elder broder lyued a fayre man and a stronge and a large of body gentyll and curteys of condicyons so that all men loued hym And this Edwarde in the cronycles is called amonge Englysshmen Edwarde the outlawe And whan he was made knyght the kynges doughter of Hungary loued him moche for his goodnes and his fayrnes so that she called hym her derlynge The kynge that was her fader perceyued well the loue that was bytwene them two he had none heyr but onely that doughter And the kynge vouchedsafe his doughter to no man so well as he dyd to hym that she loued
morowe he founde no thynge there ¶ Of saynt Edwarde the confessour that was Aluredes broder and how he was kynge of Englonde ANd whaÌ this was done all the barons of englond sent another tyme in to Normandy yâ Edward sholde come in to englond with moche âonout And this Edwarde in his chyldhode loued ãâã hey god hym dradde and in honeste clennes ladde his lyfe hated synne as deth And whan he was crow ned anoynted with a ryall power he forgate not his good maners condicyons that he fyrst vsed forgate not all good customes for no maner honour ne for no rychesse ne for no maner hygnes But euer more more gaue hym to goodnes well loued god holy chirche passyng all other maner thynge And poore men also he loued helde them as they had ben his owne bretherne to them ofte he gaue grete almes with full good wyll ¶ Of the fyrst specyall loue that god shewed to saynt Edward lyuynge IT befell on a daye as he went froÌ the chirche of westmynster had herde masse of saynt Iohn the euangelyst for as moche as he loued sayÌt Iohn the euangelist more specyally after god and our lady than he dyd ony other saynt And so there came to hym a pylgrym prayed hym for the loue of god our lady saynt Iohn the euangelyst some good for to gyue hym And the kyng pryuely toke his rynge of his fynger that no man perceyued it gaue it to the pilgrym he it receyued went thens This king Edward made all the good lawes of Englonde that yet ben moost vsed holden And he was so mercyable and so full of pyte that no man myght be more ¶ How the erle Godwyn came agayne in to Englonde and had agayne all his londe and afterwarde saynt Edwarde wedded his doughter WHan the erle Godwyn that was dwellynge in Denmark had moche herde of the goodnes of kynge Edwarde that he was full of mercy and pyte he thought that he wolde go agayne in to Englond for to seke to haue grace of the good kyng Edward that so mercy full was that he myght haue agayn his londe in peas And arayed hym as moche as he myght put hym towarde the see came in to Englonde to London where the kynge was that tyme all the lordes of Englonde helde a parlyameÌt Godwyn sent to them that were his frendes were the moost gretest lordes of the loÌde prayed them to beseche the kynges grace for hym that he wolde graunte him his peas his loÌde The lordes lad hyÌ before the kyng to seke his grace And anone as the kyng sawe hym he appeled hym of treason of the deth of Alured his broder these wordes to hym sayd Traytour Godwyn I the appele that thou hast betrayed slayne my broder Alured Certes syr sayd Godwyn saue your grace your peas your lordshyp I neuer betrayed hym âe yet lewe hyÌ And therfore I put me in reward of the caurte Now fayre lordes sayd the kynge ye that be my lyeges erles barons of the londe that here ben assembled full well ye herde myn appele the answere also of Godwyn therfore I wyll that ye awarde do ryght The erles barons than gadred them all togyder to do this awarde by themselfe so they spake dy uersly among them for some sayd there was neuer alyauÌce by homage serment seruyce nor by lordshyp bytwene Godwyn Alured for whiche thynge they myght hym drawe And at the last they deuysed demed that he shold put hym in the kynges mercy all togyder ThaÌ sna ke the erle Leuerike of Couentre a good man to god to all the worlde told his reason in this maner and sayd The erle Godwyn is the best frended man of Englonde after the kyng well myght it not be gaynsayd that without couâse yle of Godwyn Alured was neuer put to deth wherfore I awarde as touchynge my parte that hymself his sone euery of vs .xii. erles that ben his frendes go before the kynge charged with as moche golde syluer as we may bere bytwene our handes prayenge the kynge to forgyue his euyll wyll to the erle Godwyn and receyue his homage yelde agayn his londe And they accorded vnto that awarde and came euery of them with golde syluer as moche as they myght bere bytwene theyr handes before the kynge and there sayd the forme and the maner of theyr accorde of theyr awarde The kyng wolde not them gaynsaye but as moche as they had ordeyned he grauÌted and coÌfermed And so was the erle Godwyn accorded with the kynge and had agayne all his londes And afterward he bare hym so well so wysely that the kynge loued hym wonders moche with hym he was full preuy And within a lytell tyme they loued so moche that the kynge spoused Godwyns doughter and made her quene And neuertheles though the kyng had a wyfe yet he lyued euer in chastite and clennes of body wtout ony flesshely dede doynge with his wyfe And the quene also in her halfe ladde an holy lyfe two yere dyed And afterwarde the kynge lyued all his lyfe without ony wyfe The kyng gaue the erledome of Oxford to Harolde that was Godwyns sone made hym erle And so well they were beloued bothe the fader and he were so preuy with the kynge that they myght do by ryght what thynge they wolde For agaynst ryght wold he no thynge do for no maner man so good and true he was of conscyence And therfore our lorde Iesu Chryst specyall loue shewed to hym ¶ How kynge Edwarde sawe ââwyne kynge of Denmarke drowned in the see in the tyme of the leuacyon of the sacrament as he stode and herde masse IT befell vpon a whytsondaye as kynge Edwarde herde his masse in the grete chirche of Westmynster at the leuacion of Iesu Christes body as all men were gadred in the chirche and came nigh the awter for to se the sacrynge the kyng lyft vp his handes on hygh toke vp a grete laughter wherfore all that stode aboute hym began gretly to wonder And after masse they asked why the kyÌges laughter was Fayre lordes said kynge Edward I sawe Swyne the yonger that was kyng of Denmarke come in to the see with all his power for to haue comen in to Englond to warre vpon vs I sawe hym all his folke drowned in the see all this I sawe in the leuacyon of Chrystes body bytwene the preestes haÌdes I had therof so grete wye that I myght not my laughter withholde And the erle Leuerich stode besyde hym at the leuacion openly sawe the forme of breed turne in to the lykenes of a yonge childe toke vp his ryght hande blyssed the kynge afterwarde the erle the erle anone turned hym toward the kynge for to
in chyldbed longe tyme had rested hym there And this worde came to yâ king of Englonde where as he lay in Normandy at Roen And for this worde was he euyll appayed also wonders wroth toward the kyng of FrauÌce swore by god that whan he were arysen fro chyldbedde he wolde lyght a thousande candels to the kyng of FrauÌce And anone let assemble a grete hoost of Normans of Englyssh men And in the begynnynge of heruest he came in to Fraunce and brent all the townes that he came by through all the âonÌtree and robbed dyd all the sorowe that he myght through out al FrauÌce at the last he brent the cite of Mandos coÌmaunded his people to bere wode brenne as moche as they myght hym self holpe therto all yâ he myght with a good wyll And there was grete hete what of fyre that was so grete of the sonne yâ it was wonders hote stuffed hyÌ so yâ he became fell in to a grete sekenes And whan he sawe yâ he was so sore seke he assygned all Normandy to Robert Curtoys his sone all EngloÌde to William Rous bequethed to Henry Beauclerk all his tresour And whan he had thus done he receyued all the sacramentes of holy chirche dyed the .xxij. yere of his regne lyeth at Cane in Normandy ¶ Anno domini M .lxvj. O Regory the .vii. was pope after Alexander .xij. yere This man ordeined a general sinody that no preest sholde haue a wyfe ne shold dwell with women but those that yâ synody of Nicena other decrees haue suffred And than the preestes set lytell or nought by his ordynauÌce This man coÌmaunded yâ no maÌ sholde here masse of a preest yâ had a coÌcubyne And he on a certayne tyme as he was cardynall legate of FrauÌce proceded sharply agaynst prelates and preestes yâ were symoners And amonge other there was one bysshop that was gretly famed with symony those yâ accused hym he hyred pryuely to saye yâ contrary the whiche yâ legate conceyued afore all yâ people he sayd Let the iudgement of this man cease at this tyme for it is deceyuable let god dispose for it sayd thus It is certayne that yâ dignite of a bysshop is the gyuer of yâ holy ghost And who someuer byeth a bisshopryche doth agaynst the holy ghoost Than yf thou bysshop dyd not agaynst the holy ghoost saye openly afore all the people Gloria patri et filio et spiritui saucto And many tymes he began to saye it but he coude neuer speke spiritui sancto Than he was deposed of his bysshopryche And after he coude speke it well ynough ¶ Victor the thyrde was pope after hym one yere And this man was poysoned with venym in yâ chalyce ¶ Vrbanus was pope after hym two yere This man cursed the kynge of Fraunce for his aduoutry And he called a counseyle at ClaruÌ in yâ whiche he ordeyned that matyns of our lady sholde be sayd euery daye and on Saterdaye her solempne masse And it is sayd that this was shewed vnto the monkes of Charterhous ¶ Also he called another couuseyle at Turam for the holy londe to be wonne agayn prouoked the people to that thynge And within a lytell tyme after that the holy londe was recouered the gloryous sepulere of our lorde Iesu Chryst Anthiochia with many other noble cytees were taken from yâ handes of yâ sarasyns And it is sayd men byle ued that CC. M. chrysteÌ men went to yâ Journey For there wente of states olde men yonge ryche poore no man coÌ pelled them And this passage was made by yâ visyon of our lady And yâ pryÌces of this people were dyuers One was Godfrey of Bollyon yâ noblest man of all the worlde a vertuous man And an other was Bemond yâ duke of Naples The thyrde was Hugh the kynges broder of FrauÌce many other the whiche dyd full nobly for the fayth of god And it were to longe in this boke to recherse the gloryous actes that they dyd ¶ Of kynge Willyam Rous that was kynge Wyllyam bastardes sone that destroyed townes houses of relygyon for to make the newe forest ANd after this Willyam bastard regned his sone Willyam Rous This Willyam was a wonders coÌtratyous man to god holy chirche let amende make yâ towne of Cardeis that the paynyms had destroyed This king Willyam destroyed holy chirche theyr possessions in what parte he myght fyn be them And therfore there was so moche debate bytwene hym and the archebysshop of Caunterbury Ancelme bycause he cepreued hyÌ of his wyckednes that he destroyed holy chitche And for yâ cause yâ kynge bare to hym grete wrath and therfore exiled hym out of this loÌde And the archebysshop than went to the courte of Rome there dwelled with yâ pope ¶ And this kynge made the newe forest and kest downe destroyed .xxvj. townes and .lxxx. houses of religion all for to make his forest longet broder became wonders proude gladde of his wode forest of yâ wylde beestes that were within it that it was manuayle to wyte so that men called hym kepet of wodes pastours And the longer that helyued the more wycked he became bothe to god to all holy chirche to all his nien ¶ And this kyng let make the grete hall of Westmynster So vpon a day at whytsontyde he helde therin his fyrst feest he loked aboute hym sayd that yâ hall was to lytell by yâ halfedele And at the last he became so coÌtraryous that all thynge yâ pleased god displeased hym all thynge yâ god loued he hated deâdly ¶ And so it befell that he dremed vpon a night alytel or yâ he dyed that he was let blode bââdde a grete quantite of blode a streme of it âepte ân hye towarde hellen more than ãâã ââdeed fadom the clerenes of the daye was ãâã ned vnto âyght derknes the ãâ¦ã ament also And whan he awoke he had grete drede so that he wyst not what to do tolde his dreme to men of his coun seyle said that he had grete drede and supposed that to hym was some myschaunce to come ¶ And yâ second nyght before a monke dremed of the housholde that the kyng went in to a chirche with moche people he was so proude that he despysed all yâ people that were with hym and that he toke the ymage of the crucyfyxe and shamefully bote it with his tethe And the crucifyxe mekely suffred all that he dyd But the kynge as a wood man rent of the armes of the crucyfyxe and kest it vnder his feet and defouled it and threwe it all abrode And a grete flame of fyre came out of the crucyfyxe mouth Of the whiche dreme many men had grete meruayle wonder ¶ The good man that had dremed this
a noble astronomer his tables be very famous ¶ ClemeÌs the .iiij. was pope after Vrban .iij. yere .ix. monethes This ClemeÌs was an holy man sayd by spiryte of êphecy yâ the enemyes of yâ chirche shold perysshe as yâ smoke And it is to be byleued that god cessed yâ tribulacyons of his chirche through his merites He had afore a wyfe children was a preest after bysshop legate beynge in englonde vnknowen to hyÌ was chosen pope after for his vertuous lyfe decessed blyssedly ¶ Gregory yâ .x. was pope after hyÌ .iiij. yere He assembled a coÌcyle at LoduuÌ in frauÌce for yâ grete desyre yâ he had to vysyte personally yâ holy londe in yâ whiche concyle yâ Grekes the Tartares were and there yâ Grekes êmysed to be reformed by yâ vnite of yâ chirche And yâ Tartares newly baptysed promysed yâ same And there were gadered vj C. bisshops a. M. prelates And therfore a certayn maÌ sayd Gregory gadereth togyder all kyÌdes of people And there was decreed yâ all persones vycayres shold be called preestes no prelates yâ no man shold assygne his tythes to what chirche he wolde as they dyd afore but they shold be payed to his moder chirche And he dampned yâ pluralite of bnÌfyces dyed a blyssed man ¶ Innocent the .v. was after hym .v. monethes and lytell dyd ¶ Adrian was after him one moneth dyd lesse ¶ Iohn the .xxj. was after hyÌ viij monethes he was i diuers seyences a famous man but in maners a fole decessed anone ¶ Nycolas yâ .iij. was pope after Iohn .j. yere This man was in his dayes a noble maÌ in buyldyng wel gouerned yâ ciâe all his dayes yâ âj yere he dyed ¶ Rodulphus was emperour .xviij. yere This man was crââ of Hauesburgh a wyse man in armes noble victoryous was chosen at bastle he toke yâ crosse on hym for yâ holy londe The imperyall blessyng he had not but the pope alowed yâ eleccyon for fauour of the holy londe ¶ Anno dnÌi M CC .lxxiiij. MArtyn yâ fourth was pope after Nycholas .iiij. yere This man was a grete louer of relygyous men gretly attendyng to vertuous werkes He cursed yâ emperour of âoÌstaâtynople in so moche as he promysed to turne to yâ fayth in the generall concyle dyd not for yâ whiche he suffred many passyons all holy chirche Also he cursed yâ kyng of Aragon for he expulsed yâ kyng of Cicyle fro his kyngdom And after he had done many batayles agaynst meÌ of misbyleue had suffred many tribulacyoÌs he decessed dyd many myracles ¶ Ni colas de lira a noble doctour of dyuinite was this tyme at Parys this maÌ was a iewe was coÌuerted and myghtely profyted in yâ ordre of frere minors he wrote ouer all the byble Or els he was in the yere of our lorde M .ccc .xxx. And some men saye he was of Braband yâ his fader moder were christen but for pouerte he visyted yâ scoles of the iewes And so he lerned the iewes language or els this Nycolas was enfourmed of yâ iewes in his yonge age ¶ Honorius yâ fourth was pope after Martyn .ij. yere lytell of hym is wryteÌ but yâ he was a teÌperate man a discrete ¶ Nicolaus yâ fourth was pope after hym foure yere this maÌ was a frere minor al though he was a good man in hyÌself yet many vnhappy thyÌges fell in his tyme to the chirche for many a batayle was in yâ cite through his occasyon for he drewe to moche to yâ one parte and after hyÌ there was no pope two yere .vj. monethes ¶ Of kynge Edwarde that was kyng Henryes sone And of his ryalte ANd after this kyng Henry regned Edward his sone the worthyest knyght of all yâ worlde in honour For goddes grace was in hyÌ for he had yâ victory of his enemyes And as soone as his fader was deed he came to London with a fayre company of prelates of erles barons all maner men dyd him moche honour For in euery place yâ this noble Edward rode in London the stretes were couered ouer his heed with ryche clothes of sylke of tapysserye and with ryche couerynges And for ioye of his comynge the burgeyses of the cyte cast out at theyr wyndowes golde syluer handes full in tokenynge of loue worshyp seruyce reuerence And out of yâ condyth of chepe ran whyte wyne reed as stremes of water euery man dranke therof that wolde at theyr owne wyll And this kynge Edwarde was crowned anoynted as ryght heyre of Englonde with moche honour And after masse yâ kyng went in to his palays for to holde a ryall feest amonge them yâ dyd hym honour And whaÌ he was set to mete kynge Alexander of Scotlonde came for to do hym honour reuerence with a queyntyse an C. knyghtes with hym well horsed arayed And whan they were alighted they let theyr stedes go wheder they wolde who yâ myght take them had them styll wtout ony chalengynge And after came syr Edmonde kynge Edwardes broder a curteys a gentyll knyght yâ erle of Cornewayle yâ erle of Glocestre after them came the erle of Penbroke yâ erle of GareÌne And eche of them by themselfe ladde in theyr hande an C. knyghtes gayly disguysed in theyr armes And whan they were alyghted of theyr horses they let them go wheder they wold who that myght them catche them to haue styll wtout ony chalenge And whan all this was done kynge Edwarde dyd his dylygence his myght for to amende redresse yâ wronges in the best maner yâ he myght to the honour of god holy chirche to mayntayne his honour to amende the noyauÌce of yâ comyn people ¶ How Ydeyne that was Lewelyns doughter of Wales and Aymer that was the erles broder of Mountforde were taken on the see THe fyrst yere after that kyng Edwarde was crowned Lewlyn prynce of Wales sent in to FrauÌce to the erle Mountford that through couÌseyle of his frendes the erle sholde wedde his doughter And the erle thaÌ auysed hym vpon this thynge sent vnto Lewlyn and sayd that he wolde sende after his doughter And so he sent Aymer his broder after the damoysell And Lewlyn arayed shyppes for his doughter for syr Aymer for her fayre company yâ shold go with her And this Lewlyn did grete wronge for it was a couenaunt that he sholde gyue his doughter to no maner man without couÌseyle coÌsent of kynge Edwarde And so it befell that a Burgeys of Brystowe came in the see laden with wyne mette them toke them with myght and power And anone the Burgeys sent them to the kyng Whan Lewlyn herde these tydynges he was wonders wroth also sorowfull begaÌ to warre vpon kynge Edward and dyd moche harme to Englysshe