dysperagid maried vnto Dauyd yâ— was Robert Brus sone yâ— was a traytour enmye vnto Englonde and thrugh whoo 's couÌ„seyll she was take in to oure enmyes hondes out of Englonde ¶ And in this meane while yâ— goode eâ—le Henry of Lancastre his companye toke couÌ„seyll how those poyntes abouesayd myght be amended to the worshipp of the kynge to his profyte to yâ— profyte of his lyegs And yâ— quene Isabel thrughe coniectynge also of yâ— Mortimers lete ordeyne a parlement at Salisburye And at yâ— same parlement yâ— Mortimer was made erle of March ayenste all the barons wyll of Englonde in preiudice of the kynge of his crowne And syr IohnÌ„ of Eltham the kynges brother was girde with a swerde of Cornewaylle And tho was callyd erle of Cornewayle and euer more quene Isabell procurydso moche ayenst her sone the kynge yâ— she had the warde of the forsayd syr Edwarde and of his londes And atte that parlement the erle of Lancastre wolde not come But ordeyned all his power ayenst quene Isabelle and the Mortimer And men of London ordeyned them with tyue houndred men of armys ¶ wharme quene Isabell wyste of the doynge â—heÌ„ swore by god and by his names full angerly that in an euyll tyme he thoughte vpoÌ„ tho poyntes Tho sent yâ— quene Isabell yâ— Mortimer after theyr retene we after the kyngys retene we soo yâ— they had ordeyned amonge theÌ„ an huge hoste And they couÌ„seylled yâ— kynge so that vppon a nyght they rode .xxiii. myles too Bedford there yâ— erle of Lancastre was wyth his company and thought to haue hym dystroyed and that nyght she rode besyde the kynge her sone as a kryghte for drede of dethe And it was done the kynge to vnderstonde that the erle Henry of Lancastre and his company wold haue dystroyed the kynge and his counseyll for euer more wherfore the kynge was somdele towardes hym heuy anoyed ¶ whan therle Marschall and therle of Kente the kyngys brother herde of this tydynges they rode soo in message bytwene them that the kynge grauntyd hym his peas to therle Henry of Lancastre for a certayn raunsoÌ„me of a .xi thousand pouÌ„de But that was neuer payed afterwarde And thyse were the lordes yâ— helde with syr Henry of Lancastre syre BeaumoÌ„t syr Fouk fytzwarâ—n syr thomas Rocelyn syr wyllyam Tâ—ussel 〈◊〉 Thomas whyther and abowce an huÌ„dred knyghtes moo that were too hym consented all those were â—ryled thrughe counseyll of quene Isabell of Mortymer For the Mortimer wayted to haue theyr londes yf that he myght thru ghe ony maner coniectynge For he was to coueytous and had to moche his wyll and that was grete pyte ¶ How kynge Edwarde wente ouer the see for too doo his homage vnto the kynge of Fraunce for yâ— duchye of Guy henne IT was notte longe after that the kynge of Fraunce thrughe counseyll of his douzepers sent to kynge Edwarde of Englonde that he sholde come to Parys doo his homage as reason it wolde for yâ— duchye of Guyon so thrugh counsell of yâ— lordes of EngloÌ„de kynge Edwarde went ouer see And at yâ— Ascencyon tyde he came vnto Parys yâ— thyrde yere of his regne for to do his homage vnto yâ— kynge of FrauÌ„ce yâ— kynge receyued his homage made of hym moche Ioy worshyp But whan kynge Edwarde had done his homage hastyly he was sent for into Englonde thrughe yâ— quene Isabell his moder and anone hastyly he came ayen into EngloÌ„de vpon wytsonday without ony takynge leue of yâ— kynge of Fraunce wherfore he was wonder wothe ¶ How syr Roger Mortymer bare him proudely and so hygh ANd now shall ye here of syr Roger Mortymer of wygmore that desyred and coueted to be at an hygh astate so that the kynge grauÌ„tyd hym to be callyd erle of Marche thrugh oute al his lordshyp And he became so proude hauteyn yâ— he wold lese forsake the name yâ— his elds had euer before for yâ— cause he let hym cal erle of marche And none of the comyns of Englonde durste calle hym by othere name for he was callyd so by yâ— kyngys crye that men sholde calle hym erle of Marche Mortymer bare hym so hauteyne so proude that wonder it was for to wyte alsoo dysguysed hym with wonder ryche clothes oute of all manere of reason both of shapynge of werynge wherof the Englysshmen had grete wonder howe and in what manere he myght contriue or fynde suche manere pryde And they sayd amonge them comynly yâ— his pryde sholde nott longe endure ¶ And the same tyme syr Geffray Mortymer the yonge That was Mortymers sone lete calle hym kynge of foly and so it befell afterwarde in dede for he was so fulle of pryde and of wretchydnesse that he helde a rounde table in walys to all meÌ„ that theder came counterfeted the doynge and the manere of kynge Arthurs table but openly he fayled for the noble kynge Arthur was the moost noble lorde of renomme that was in all yâ— world in his tyme yet came neuer none suche after For al yâ— noble knyghtes in all cristeÌ„dom of dedys of armys assayed dwellyd with kynge Arthur and helde hym for ther lorde and souerayne And that was well seen for he oconquerde in a batayll a Romayn that was callyd Froll and gate of hym the reame of Fraunce and slewe hym with his owne houndes and also he faught with a gyaunte that was callyd Dynabus slewe hym that had rauysshyd fayr Elayne that was kynge Howels nece kyng of lytyl Brytain after he slew in bataylle the emperoure of Rome that was callyd Lucie yâ— had assembled ayenst Arthur for to fyght with hym so moche people of Romayns and Pehites sarrasyns yâ— noo man cowde nombre them he dyscomfyted them al as the story tellyth ¶ And in that same tyme comyn voyce spronge in EngloÌ„de thrugh coniectynge ordynauÌ„ce of the frere prechers yâ— syr Edward of Carnariuan that was kynge Edwardes fader of whome the geste tellyth sayd yâ— he was alyue in yâ— castell of Corf wherof all the comyns of Englonde almoste werein sorowe drede whether yâ— it were so or not For they wyst not how traytoursly mortymer had hym done murthred ¶ Howe Edmonde of wodstok that was erle of kente and yâ— kynges brother Edwarde of Carnaryuan was heedyd atte wynchestre ANd vppon a tyme it befell soo that syr Edmonde of wâ—â—â—tok Erle of Kente spake vnto pope IohnÌ„ the .xxii. at Auimon and sayd yâ— almyghty god had oft tymes done for Thomas loue of Lancastre many greate miracles to many men wyÌ„men that were thrughe dyuers maladyes vndoon as vnto yâ— worlde thrughe his prayere they were brought vnto ther helth so syr EdmoÌ„de prayed yâ— pope hertely yâ— he wolde graunte hym grace yâ— forsayd Thomas might be trauÌ„slatyd But the pope sayd nai that he sholde not be traunslatyd vnto yâ— tyme
that he were better certifyed of the clergye of Englonde seen by ther obedyence what thynge god had doon for the loue of saynt Thomas of Lancastre after the suggestion yâ— the forsayd erle of Kent had vnto hym made And whan this Edmond saw yâ— he myght not spede of his purpos as towchynge the traunsla coÌ„n he prayed hym of couÌ„sell as touchyÌ„ge syr Edwarde of Carnariuan his brother sayd yâ— not longe agon he was kyÌ„ge of Englonde what thynge myghte best be doon as touchynge his delyuerauÌ„ce sythe that a comune fame was thrughe EngloÌ„d that he is alyue hole sauf whan yâ— pope herd hym tell yâ— syr Edward was alyue he coÌ„mauÌ„ded yâ— erle vpon his blissynge that he sholde helpe with all yâ— power yâ— he myght that he were delyuerde out of pryson saue his body in all manere yâ— he myght And to brynge this thynge to aâ— ende he assoyled hym his company a pena culpaâ— all that halpe to his delyueraunce Tho toke Edmond of wodstok his leue of the pope came ayen into Englond whan syr Edmond was come some of the frere prechers came sayd that syr Edwarde his broder yette was alyue in yâ— castell of Corf vnder the kepynge of syr Thomas Gurnay tho sped hym yâ— forsayd Edmond as fast as he myghte tyll he came to the castell of Corf acquayÌ„ted hym spake so fair to IohnÌ„ Daueryll yâ— was conestable of the same castell yaue hym ryche yefê for to haue acqueyntauÌ„ce of hym and to knowe of his counsell And thus it befel that the forsayd Edmonde prayed specially to tell hym pryuely of his lorde hys brother syr Edwarde yf yâ— he lyued or were deed yf he were alyue he prayed hyÌ„ ones to haue a syght of hyÌ„ And this syr IohnÌ„ Daueryll was a hyghe herted maÌ„ full of courage answerde shortly to syr Enmond sayd yâ— syr Edward 〈◊〉 brother was in helthe vnder his 〈◊〉 ge durst not shewe hym vnto no man syth it was defended hym in yâ— kyng â—â—â—fe Edwarde yâ— was Edwardes sone of Carnaâ—â—an also by the coÌ„ nauÌ„â—â—â—â—â—te of quene Isabell yâ— kynges moder 〈◊〉 of syr roger Mortymer yâ— he sholde shew his body to no man of yâ— worlde saufonly to them vponlyf lyÌ„me 〈◊〉 tynge of his heyres for euer morâ— But the fals traytour falsly lyed for he was not in his warde but was take thensâ— lad to yâ— castell of Berkley by 〈◊〉 Thomaâ— of Gurney by the coÌ„mâ—â—ndeâ—â—te of Mortymer tyll he was dede as 〈◊〉 is sayd But syr Edmonde of wodstoâ— wyst no thynge yâ— syr Edwarde his brother was deed wherupon he toke a letter vnto kynge Edwarde his brother as to his worthy lordeâ— receyued yâ— letter of hym behyght hym ryght faythfull to do his message without fayll And with that syr Edmonde toke leue of y◠〈◊〉 IhonÌ„ and yede into his owne countre lordshyp in Kent that he had there Anone as this same IohnÌ„ wyst that syr Edmonde was gone into Kent his owne loâ— deshyp anone he went in all the â—aste yâ— he myghte fro the Castell of Corf and came vnto syre Rogere Mortymer and toke hym the letter that syre Edmonde of wodstok erle of Kent had taken hym closed and eâ—sealed with his owne seale And whan syre Roger Mortymer hadd receyued the letter â—e vncloysed it and sawe yâ— was â—â—reyned theâ—â—â— began it to rede wherof the begâ—â—nynge was thy◠¶ Worshyppes and reuerence with brother alyegaunce subiecâ—yon syr knyzâ— worshypfull and dere broder yf it youe please I praye you hertely that ye be in gode comforth for I shall so ordeyn for you that ye shall come out of pryson be delyuerd of that dysese that ye been in And vnderstondyth of your grete lorde shyp that I haue to myn assentynge almoost all the grete lordes of Englonde with all theyr appareyll that is to saye with armoure with tresour without noÌ„bre for to mayntene your quarell so fer forth that ye shall be kynge agayn as ye were before and that they haue sworne to me vpon a boke and as well prelates as erles and barons ¶ whanne syre Roger Mortymer saw and vnderstode the myghte and the strenth of the letter anone his herte for wrathe began to boll and euyll herte bare toward syr EdmoÌ„de of wodstok that was erle of Kent with all the hast that he myght he wente vnto dame Isabell yâ— quene that was the kynges moder and shewed her syre Edmonds letter his wyll and his purpose and how that he hadde coniected ordeyned to put downe kynge Edwarde of wyndsore her sone of his ryalte of his kyngdom Now certes syr Roger sayd she hath syr EdmoÌ„d done so nowe by my faders soule sayd she I wyll be therof auenged yf that god grauÌ„t melyfe and that in a short tyme. And wyth that quene Isabell went vnto kyng Edwarde her sone there he was at the parlement at wynchestre too haue amende the wrongys and the trespasses that were done amonge the people of his reame And thoo she toke and shewed hym the letter that syr Edmond of wodstok had made and ensealed with his owne seale and had hym vpon her blessynge that he sholde be auengyd vpon syr Edmonde as vpon his dedely enmye Tho was the quene sore wrothe towarde syr Edmonde erle of Kent and sessyd neuer to praye vntyll her sone tyll that he had sente in all the hast after hym And vpon that yâ— kyng sent by his letters after syr EdmoÌ„de of wodstok that he sholde come and speke with hym at wynchestre all manere thynge left And whan syr Edmond saw that the kynge sent after hym with his letters ensealed he hasted hym in al that he myght tyll that he came to wynchestre ¶ But whan the quene wyst that syr Edmonde was come to wynchestre tho anone she prayed and so fast wende vnto kynge Edwarde her sone that the good erle was arested anone and ladde vnto the barre before Robert of HamoÌ„de that was Coroner of yâ— kynges hous holde And he associed vnto hym syr Roger Mortimer And tho spake yâ— forsaid Roger and sayd syre Edmonde erle of Kente ye shall vnderstonde that it is done vs to wyte and pryncypally vnto our lyege lorde the kynge Edwarde of Englonde almyghty god hym saue and kepe that ye be his deedly enmye and a tray toure and also a comune enmye too the reame and that ye haue ben aboute many a day for to make pryue delyuerauÌ„ce of syr Edwarde somtyme kynge of Englonde your broder the which somtyme was put downe of his ryalte by the comyn assent of the lordes of Englonde in peasynge of our lorde the kynges estate also of his reame ¶ Tho ansuerd the good man and sayd Forsoth syr vnderstonde well that I was neuer traytourâ— to my kynge ne to the reame and that I doo me on god and on all yâ— worlde therfore by
came in entente for to crowne Alured the elder brother hym make kynge of Englonde And of this thynge to make an ende the erles â—arons made theyr othe But yâ— erle Godewin of Westsex falsely traytoursely thought to slee these two brethern anone as they sholde come in to Englonde in entent to make his sone Harold kynge the whiche sone he had begote vpon his wyfe the whiche was kynge Knoghtes doughter that was a Dane And so this Godewin pryuely hyÌ„ went vnto South hampton for to mete there the two brethern whan that they sholde come vnto londe ¶ And thus it befell the messengers that wente in to Normandy fouÌ„de not but oonly Alured that was the elder brother For Edwarde his brother was gone in to Hungary for to speke with his cosyn Edwarde the outlawe that was Edmondes sone with the Irensyde The messengers tolde sayd Alured how that the erles barons of Englonde sente after hym that he boldely sholde come in to Englonde receyue the reame For kynge Hardiknoght was deed all the Danes dryuen out of the londe ¶ How Godewin the fals traytour toke Alured vppon Gyldesdowne whan that he came from Normandy to be kynge of Englonde how he caused hym to be martyred in the yle of Ely AS Alured herde these tydynges he thanked god And in to shyppe went with all the hast that he myght and passed the see arryued at South-hampton there Godewin the fals traytour was And whan this traytour sawe that he was come he welcomed hym receyued hym with moche Ioye sayd that he wolde lede hym to London there that all the barons of Englonde hym abode to make hym kynge And so they wente on theyr waye towarde London And whan they came on Gyldesdowne tho sayd the traytour Godwin vnto Alured Take kepe about you bothe on the lyfte syde ryght syde of all ye shall be kynge of suche an hondred more Now forsothe sayd Alured I behyght you yf I be kynge I shall ordeyne make suche lawes wherfore god man shall be well pleased Now had the traytour coÌ„maunded all his men that were with hym that whan they were come vpon Gildesdowne that they sholde slee all that were in Aluredes company that came with hym fro Normandy after that take Alured lede hym in to the yle of Ely after put out bothe his eyen of his heed afterwarde brynge hym to deth so they dyde For they slewe all the company that there were the nombre of .xij. gentylmen that were come with hym fro Normandy after toke they Alured in the yle of Ely they put out his eyen rent his wombe toke the chyef of his bowels put a stake in the grounde an ende of the bowels therto fastened with nedyls eylesse of yren they pryched the good childe and so made hym to go about the stake tyll that all his bowels were drawen out of his body so deyed Alured there thorugh treason of the erle Godewin ¶ Whan the lordes of Englonde had herde wyst how Alured that sholde haue be theyr kynge was put to deth thrugh the fals traytour Godewin they were wonder wroth And swore bytwene god them that he sholde deye a more wors dethe than dyde Edrith of Stratton that had betrayed his lorde Edmonde Irensyde they wolde haue put hyÌ„ to deth but the theyf traytour fled thens in to Denmark there helde hyÌ„ foure yere more lost all his londe in Englonde SIluester the thyrde was pope after Benedictus This Siluester was chose and Benedictus was â—â—pulsyd And afterwarde was he expulsyd Benedictus was put vp ayen And after he was put out and Gregorius was made pope And he was but a symple lettred man therfore he chose an other man for to be consecrate with hym And whan many men were dyspleased with this gydynge of two popes the thyrde was brought in the whiche sholde occupye the place of bothe tho two And soo they stroue amonge themself But Henry the Emperour came thenne to Rome deposyd them all and made Clement the seconde pope whome he made anone to crowne hym And he sayd to the Romayns they sholde neuer châ—se pope without his assent And so fyue beynge popes the sixte was put in But many men saye this Gregorus was an holy man ¶ Damaâ—ius the seconde was after Clement .xx. dayes This man was an vsurper of the popeheed and soo he deyed sodenly And anone the Romayns asked to haue a pope that the Almaynes sholde haue none For they were soo harde herted that they myght not enclyne to the entente of the Emperour the whiche sayd There sholde be no pope chosen but yf he wolde be of counseyll of the eleccyon But for all that they putt in this holy man Leo after he bad of that conscyence refused And anone he was chosen by the comyn assent this Leo put Cryste in the fourme of a Lasâ— in his owne bedde in the morowe he founde no thynge there ¶ Of saynt Edwarde the Confessour that was Aluredes brother how he was kynge of Englonde ANd whan this was done all the barons of Englonde sent an other tyme in to Normandy for that Edwarde sholde come in to Englonde 〈◊〉 moche honour ¶ And this Edwarde in his childehode loued almyghty god and hym dradde And in honeste clennesse had ladde his lyf hated synne as deth And whan he was crowned anoynted with a ryall power he forgate not his good maners condycyons that he fyrst vsed And forgate not al good customes for no manere honour ne for ryches ne no manere hyghnes But euer more and more yaue hym to goodnesse and loued god and holy chirche passynge all other manere thynge And poore men also he loued them helde as they had ben his owne brethern And to them oft he yaue grete almesse with full good wyll ¶ Of the fyrst specyal loue that god shewed to saynt Edwarde lyuynge IT befell on a daye as he wente from the chirche of Westmynstre had herde masse of saynt Iohan the Euangelyst for as moche as he loued saynt Iohn Euangelyst more specyally after god our lady than he dyde ony other saynt And so there came to hym a pylgryme prayed hym for the loue of god our lady saynt Iohn the Euangelyst some good hym for to yeue And the kynge pryuely toke his rynge of his fynger that no man perceyued it yaue it to the pylgryme he it receyued went thens ¶ This kynge Edwardâ— made alle the good lawes of Englonde that yet ben moost vsed holden And was so mercyable and so full of pyte that no man myght be more ¶ How the erle Godewin came ayen in to Englonde had ayen all his londe and afterwarde saynt Edwarde wedded his doughter AS the Erle Godewin that was dwellynge in Denmarke had
am Iohn the Euangelyst I am dwellynge with almyghty god your kyng Edwarde is my frende I loue hym in specyall for by cause that he hath euermore lyued in clennesse is a clene mayde I praye you my message fulfyll as I haue you sayd Whan that saynt Iohn yâ— Euangelyst had them thus charged sodenly he voyded out of theyr syghtê both The pylgrymes tho thanked almyghty god went forth theyr waye And whan they had gone two or thre myle they began to waxe very sette them adowne for to rest them so they felle on slepe And whan they had slepte well one of them awoke lyfte vp his heed loked about sayd to his felowe Aryse vp walke we in our waye What sayd that one felowe vnto that other where be we now Certes sayd that other it semeth me that this is not the same couÌ„tree there we layde vs downe in for to rest slepe For we were from Ierusalem but thre myle They toke vp theyr hondes blessyd them wente forth in theyr waye And as they went in theyr waye they sawe sheperdes goynge with theyr shepe yâ— spake none other langage but englysshe ¶ Good frendes sayd one of the pylgrymes what couÌ„tree is this who is lorde therof ¶ And one of the sheperdes answered sayd this couÌ„tree is the couÌ„tree of Kente in Englonde of the whiche the good kyng Edwarde is lorde of The pylgrymes thanked tho almyghty god saynt Iohn Euangelyst wente forth in theyr waye came to Caunterbury fro thens vnto London there they fouÌ„de the kyng And tolde hym all from the begynnynge vnto the endynge asmoche as saynt Iohn had them charged of all thyngê how they had sped by the waye And toke the rynge to kynge Edwarde he toke it thanked almyghty god saynt Iohn Euangelyst And tho made hym redy euery daye fro daye to daye to departe out of this lyf whan god wolde for hym sende ¶ How saynt Edwarde deyed the Twelfth daye ANd after it befell thus on Cryst masse euen as the holy man Edwarde was at goddes seruyce matyns for to here of that hyghe solempne feest he became full syke and in the morowe endured with moche payne the masse for to here And after masse he lete hym be ladde in to his chambre there for to reste hym But in his halle amonge his barons and his knyghtes myght he not come theym for to comforte and solace as he was wonte for to do at that worthy feest Wherfore all theyr myrth and comfort amonge al that were in the halle was tonned in to care sorowe bycause they dradde for to lese the good lorde the kyng ¶ And vpon saynt Iohn daye Euangelyst that came next the kyng receyued his ryghtes of holy chirche as it befalleth to euery crysten man abode the mercy that wyll of god And the two pylgrymes he lete before hym come yaue theym ryche yeftes betoke theym to god Also the abbot of Westmestre he lete before hym come toke hym that rynge in the honour of god saynt Mary of saynt Iohan the Euangelyst And the abbot toke it put it amonge other relykes so that it is at Westmestre euer shall be so laye the kyng syke tyll the twelfth eue And tho deyed the good kynge Edwarde at Westmestre there he lyeth For whoo 's loue god hath shewed many a fayre myracle ¶ And this was in the yere of the Incarnacyon of our lorde Ihesu Cryste M.lxv. And after he was translated put in to yâ— shryne by the noble martyr saynt Thomas of Caunterbury UIctor the seconde was pope after Leo of hym lytell is wryten ¶ Henry yâ— seconde was Emperour after the fyrst Henry .xvij. yere this man was cosyn to Conradus he was borne in a wood twyes taken for to be slayne whan he was a childe but god defended hym euermore Whan he was made Emperour many a monastery he made in the same place in the wood where he was borne This man was a victoryous man he entred in to Ytaly there he toke Padulphus the prynce of Campany ¶ Strephaâ—â—s the .ix. was pope after Victor .ix. monethes ¶ Benedictus after hym he toke the dygnyte of the pope Stephanus by strength kept it .ix. monethes thenne decessyd ¶ Henry the thyrde was Emperour after Henry the seconde this Henry was an 〈◊〉 man many tymes troubled that holy man Gregorius the .vij. And fyrst he axed foryeâ—enesse was assoyled But he perâ—euered not longe but brought in an other pope ayenst hym and sayd he was an heretyke And Gregoriê° cursyd hym And the chesers of the Emperour they chose the duke of Saxon for to be Emperour whom this Henry in batayle ouercame And thenne he came to Rome with his pope pursewed pope Gregorius the Cardynalles also ¶ And thenne anone Robert the kynge of Naples droue hym thens and delyuered the pope his Cardynalles Neuerthelesse yet he was a man of grete almesse And .xij. tymes he faught in batayll and aâ—â— the laste he deyed wretchedly for he was put there by his owne sone For so as he dyde to other men so was he done vnto ¶ Nicholaê° the seconde was pope after Benedictus two yere this Nicholaê° called a couÌ„seyll ayenst the Archedeken of Turonoseus the whiche was an herâ—tyke he taught ayenst the fayth For he erred in the sacrament after he was coÌ„uerted was an holy man but he coude neuer coÌ„uerte his dyscyples Nota. ¶ Alexander yâ— seconde was pope after hym .xij. yere this Alexand was an holy man he ordeyned yâ— vnder payne of cursynge that no man sholde here a preestê masse whom men knewe had a lemman Vt pêª .xxxij. pÌ„ter hoc He had stryue with one Codulo but he expulsyd hyÌ„ as an vsurper put hym out as a symonyer ¶ How Harolde that was Godewins sone was made kyng how he escaped from the duke of Normandy AS saynt Edward was gone out of this worlde was passed to god worthely enteryd as to suche a grete lâ—â—de ought the barons of the londe wolde â—â—â—ad Edwarde Elingus some to Edwarde the outlawe that was Edmonde â—rensydes sone to be kyngeâ— For as moche as he was moost kyndest kynges blood of the reame ¶ But Haâ—des sone thrugh the erle Godewin the strength of his fader Godewin and torugh other grete lordes of the reame that were of his kynne vnto hyÌ„ sybbe seased all Englonde in to his bonde anone lete crowne hym kynge after the enterement of Saynt Edwarde This syâ—olde that was Godewines sone the seconde yere afore that saynt Edwarde was deed wolde haue gone in to Flaundres but he was dryuen thrugh tempest in to the couÌ„tree of Pountyse there he was taken brought to duke Wylliam And this Harolde wende that tho this dâ—ke Wyllyam wolde
had be â—only weddyd to Englysshe people Thenne sholde peas haue ben and reste amonge theym without ony enuye And at that batayll was roger Clyfforde take syr IohnÌ„ Monbrey syr wyllyam Tucâ— it syr wyllyam fitz wyllyam and many other worthy knyghtes there were take at that batayll syr Hugh Dandell nexte daye after was taken and put into pryson sholde haue be doon to dethe yf he had not spousyd the kynges nece that was erle Gylbertes systre of Gloucestre anone after was syr Berthylmewe of Badelesmore takeÌ„ at Stow parke a maneyr of yâ— bysshop of Lyncoln that was his neuewe many other barons baronettes wherfor was made noche sorowe ¶ How Thomas of Lancastre was hee dyd at Pountfret .v. barons hangyd and drawen there ANd now I shall telle you of the noble erle Thomas of Lancastre whan he was take brought to yorke many of yâ— cyte were full gladde and vpon hym cryed with an hygh voys O syre traytoure ye be welcome blessyd be god for now ye shall haue yâ— rewarde yâ— longe ye haue deserued And cast vpon hym many snowe balles many other repreues they dyd hym But the gentyll erle al suffred sayd nother o word nor other ¶ And at the same tyme the kynge herde of this scomfyture was ful glad Ioyous in grete haste came to PouÌ„tfret syr Hughe Spenser syr Hughe his sone and syr IohnÌ„ erle of Arundell and syr Edmonde of wodestoke the kyÌ„ges brother erle of Kent syr Aymer of Valaunce erle of Penbroke and mayster Robert Baldoke a fals pyllyd clerke that was pryue and dwelled in the kynges court all came theder with the kynge And the kynge entryd into the castell syr andrew of Herkela a fals tyraunte thrugh the kynges coÌ„maundement toke with hym the gentyll erle Thomas too Pountfret and ther he was prysoned in his owne castell that he had newe made that stode ayenst the abbaye of kynge edwarde ¶ And syr Hugh Spenser yâ— fader and the sone caste and thought howe in what manere the good erle Thomas of Lancastre sholde be deed without Iu gement of his perys wherfore it was ordeyned thrugh the kynges Iusticys that the kynge sholde put vpon hym poyntes of treason And so it befell that he was ledde to barre before the kynges Iustices bareheed as a theyf in a fayre halle in his owne castell that he hadd made therin many a fayre feste bothe to ryche too poore ¶ And these were his Iustices syr Hughe Spenser the fader Aymer of Valaunce erle of Penbroke syr Edmonde of wodstok erle of Kent syr IohnÌ„ of Brytayne erle of Rychemonde syr â—obert Malemethrop Iustyce syr Robert hym acouspyd in this manere ¶ Thoâ—mas court excludeth you of all manere answer Thomas our lorde the kynge puttyth vpon you that ye haue in his lond ryden with baner dysplayed ayenst hys peas as a traytour ¶ And with yâ— word the gentyll erle Thomas with an hygh voyce sayd Nay lordes forsoth by â—aynt Thomas I was neuer traytoure ¶ The Iustice sayd ayen tho Thomas our lorde the kynge puttythe vpon you that ye haue robbyd his folke and murdred his people as a theyf Thomas also the kynge puttythe vpon you that he dyscomfyted you and your people with his folke in his owne reameâ— wherfore ye went and fledde to the woode as annutlaw and Thomas as a traytoure ye shall be hangyd by reason but the kynge hath foryeuen you yâ— Iugementeâ— for loue of quene Isabell. And Thomas reson wolde that ye sholde be hangyd but yâ— kynge hath foryeue you yâ— IugemeÌ„t for by cause and loue of your lygnage But for asmoche Thomas as ye were taken fleenge and as an outlawe the kynge woll that your heed shall be smyten of Anone haue hym out of preâ—s brynge hym to hys Iugement ¶ whan thelgen tyll knyght Thomas had herde all thyse wordes with an hygh voyce he cryed sore wepynge and sayd alas saynt Thomas fayr fader alas shall I be deed thê° Graunte me nowe blessydfull god answere But all auayled hym no thynge For yâ— cursyd Gascoyns put hym hyther thyther on hym cryed with an hyghe voys O kynge Arthur moost terryble dredefull well knowen shewed nowe is thyne open traytour And an euyll dethe shalt thou ryghte anone deye â–ª Haste thou not ryghte well deserued it ¶ And thenne thyse cruell folke sette vpon the gode knyght Thomas for very scorne an olde chaplet that was all to rent that was not worth an halfe peny And after that they sette hym vpon a white palfroy ful vnsemely and also all bara with an olde brydell And with an horryble noyse they draue hym out of the castell towarde his dethe and they caste vppon hym many balles of snow in dyspyte and as the traytours lad hym out of the castell tho sayd he these pyteous wordes hys hondes helde vp on hygh towarde heueÌ„ Now the kynge of heuen yeue vs merci for the erthly kynge hath vs forsaken a frere precher went with hym out of yâ— castell tyll he came to the place that he ended his lyfe vnto whome he shroue hym all his lyfe And the gentyll erle helde yâ— frere wonder faste by the clothes sayd to hym Fayr fader abyde with vs tyll that I be deed for my flesshe quakyth for drede of dethe ¶ And the sothe for to saye The gentyll erle set hym vpon his knees and torned hym towarde the eest but a rybaude that was called Hygone of mostoon sette honde vpon the gentyll Erle sayd in dyspyte of hym Syr traytour torne the towarde the Scottes thy fowle dethe to receyue torned towarde the North. The noble erle Thomas answered tho with a mylde voys sayd nowe fayr lordes I shall do your wyll with that worde the frere went from hym sore wepynge And anone a rybaude went to hym smote of his heed the .xi. Kalendas of Auerell in the yere of grace M.CCC.xxi ¶ Alas that euer suche a gentyll blood sholde be don to deth withouten cause and reason And traytoursly the kynge was couÌ„seylled whan he thrugh the fals counseylle of the Spensers suffred syr Thomas his vncles sone to be put to suche a dethe and so be beheeded ayenst all manere of reason And greate pyte it was also that suche a noble kynge sholde be dysceyued and mysgouerned thrugh counseyll of the fals Spensers the whiche tho he mayntened thrughe loselry ayenst his honour and alsoo his proffyte For afterwarde ther fell grete vengaunce in Englonde for bycause of the forsayd Thomas deth ¶ Whane the gentyll erle of his lyfe was passyd yâ— pryour and the monkys of Pounfret gate the body of syr Thomas of the kyng buryed it before the hyghe awter on yâ— ryght syde ¶ That same day that thys gentyll knyght was dede were hangyd drawen for the same quarell at PouÌ„tfret syr wyllyam Tuchet syr