reygne the Sarasyns entred the lande of Burgoyne wyth a grete armye and dyd mych harme in that duchy wherfore the kynge gaderynge his hoste met wyth them at a place called in latyne Carrolas and in French Callo the lasse where the Frenchmen were vyctours but nat wythout greate losse of theyr people Than it foloweth whanne thys Rauff had ruled the lande of FrauÌ„ce by y e space of .xii. yeres he dyed with out issue male And was buryed in the chyrche of saynte Calumb in the prouynce of Senys Anglia THE CLXXXIIII CHAPITER EThelstanÌ„ y e son of Edwarde the elder began hys reygne ouer the more part of Englande in y e yere of our lorde .ix. hundred .xxv and the thyrde yere of Rauff than kynge of Fraunce In the fyrst yere of the reygne of EthelstanÌ„ the holy chyld Dunstane was borne in the couÌ„tre of Glastenbury whose lyfe shone after wyth many myracles This was somtyme abbot of GlasteÌ„bury lastly archbyshop of Caunterbury whose holynes ê“phecyes are shewed at length in the .vi. chapyter of the .xvi. tytle of the worke called SinÌ„ Antonini and in the legende of the chyrche also In the seconde yere of the reygne of Ethelstane for an vnytye and a peace to be hadde betwene the kyng and the Danis of Northumberland he maryed to Sithyricê° theyr kyng his suster But after .v. yeres this Sithyricus dyed After whose deth he seasyd the countrey into hys owne hande and put oute the sonne of the foresayd Sythyricus And when he hadde thus accorded wyth the Danys of Northumberlande he shortly after made subiect to him CoÌ„stantyn kynge of Scottes But the sayd CoÌ„stantyne meked hym so lowely to the kynge that he restoryd hym to hys former dygnytye wherfore the sayd Constantyne sayde in prayse of the kynge that yt was more honour to make a kynge then to be a kynge whyche acte was done by the affyrmaunce of Polycronycon in the yere of grace .ix. hundred .xxvi which then after that saynge shuld be the seconde yere of the reygn of this Ethelstane It is testyfyed of Policronica that thys Ethelstane shuld marye one of his susters named Editha or Edyth vnto Otto the fyrst of that name emperour of Almayne and receyued from hym many precyous iewellys and relyques But of this speketh nothyng the cronicle of Romaynes Howe be yt yt is shewyd there that the foresayd Ottho or Otto had a wyfe named Alunda whych as before is sayde in the storye of Edward the elder myght be the doughter of the sayd Edward and of Edgina his seconde wyfe But Uincentius historialis sayth that Henry duke of Saxony whyche was father vnto the fyrste Otto sent vnto Ethelstane requyrynge of hym hys suster to mary vnto his sonne Otto By whych reason I maye folowe that this Ottho maryed the suster of Ethelstane but not Edythe Of these foresayde iewelles sent by Otto one was a precyouse vessell of stone called Onechynus whych was of suche clerenesse also so subtily craftely wrought that yt apperyd to mannes syght as grene corne hadde growen wythin yt and moued and waued as corne doth standyng in the felde More ouer in yt apperyd vynes burgenyng and berynge fruyte and men also to syght mouynge and styrynge He also receyued the great Constantynes sworde wherin was grauen wyth great letters of golde the name of the owner And the hyltes therof were coueryd wyth great plates of golde And one of the nayles was fastenyd to the crosse of the sayd sworde that Criste suffred with his passyon But in thys reporte or saynge Polycronycon varyeth from his former sayng were he reporteth two of the sayd nayles to be spent vppon the brydell of the sayde Constantyne and the thyrde nayle to be caste into a dauÌ„gerous swalowe of the see as before is rehersed in the .lxix. chapiter of thys worke He also receyued the spere of Charlys the gret whych after the opynyon of some wryters was the spere that Longeus opened wyth Crystes syde And the baner of saynte Morys a relyque of greate pryce wyth a part of the holy crosse and a parte of the crown of thorne of our sauyoure Of the whych iewellys kyng Ethelstane gaue a parte vnto saynte Swithunys of wynchester and some he gaue vnto y e abbay of Malmesbury I haue sene a cronycle of EnglaÌ„d which testyfyeth that this EthilstanÌ„ was y e fyrst kynge that euer was enoynted in this land All be yt I fynd therof lytell authorytye excepte that Guydo and other testyfyen that he was crowned at the kynges towne nowe called Kyngestone x. myles from London of Athelyne their archbyshoppe of Caunterbury But that proueth not or argueth hym to be the fyrste for that reason For ryghte so was his fader Edwarde crowned of Plemounde archbyshoppe of the sayde see But Guydo aforesayd affyrmeth that Alurede graund fader to thys Ethylstane was enoyntyd kyng by authoryte of Leo y e .v. then pope wherfore it agreeth better that he shulde be the fyrste Then yt foloweth in the story that aboute the .viii. yere of the reygne of thys Ethilstane dyed Frystane byshoppe of wynchester and Brystane was byshoppe after hym Of whom yt is radde that he sange euery daye masse for all Crysten soules And as the byshoppe Brystane went vppon a nyght about a chirch yerde and sayde hys deuocyons for all crysten soules and lastly sayde requiescant in pace he harde a voyce as yt hadde ben a great hoste of people saynge Amen Soone after Constantyne kynge of Scottes brake couenaunt wyth kynge Ethylstane wherfore he assembled his knyghtes and made towarde Scotlande And in hys way he tourned to saynte IohnÌ„ of Beuerley and offeryd there hys knyfe vppon the aulter sayenge that yf he retourned wyth vyctorye he shulde redeme hys knyfe wyth a noble pryce and that done proceded vppon hys iourney and in coÌ„clusyon scomfyted the Scottes and broughte theym agayne vnto dewe subieccyon And after accordynge to the promyse before made he retourned to yorke and so to the chyrche where the corps of saynt IohnÌ„ of Beuerley laye redemynge his knyfe worthely as he before hadde promysed In the .vi. chapyter of the .vi. boke of Polycronycon yt is remembred that kynge Ethilstane after this subduynge of the Scottes beyng wyth hys lordes and famylyers nere vnto the castell of Dunbar prayed to god and saynte IohnÌ„ yf Beuerley that in that countrey he myght leue some remembraunce or token that those that then were lyuynge and also suche as shulde come after myghte knowe that the Scottes by ryghte shulde be subiectes to Englyshmen And soone after wyth hys sworde he smote vppon a great stone standyng nere vnto the sayd castell with whyche stroke the stone was ryuen to an elle in length that in the tyme of Edwarde the thyrde was there remaynyng to be sene And whyther at this daye yt is so that I am in doute ye haue harde before that kynge Ethilstane after the deth of Sythericus kynge of Northumberlande seasyd
and was anone after the deth of hys brother sent for into Denmarke and receyued ioyously and crowned at Londō of Ethelnotus than archybysshop of Caunterbury But this was of suche cruelty that he sent Alfrycus archbysshoppe of yorke and erle Goodwyne vnto westmynster commaundynge them for the iniury by hys brother Harolde before done vnto his moder Emma that they shuld drawe the corps out of y e place where it was buryed and to be throwen into the ryuer of Thamys which was done accordynge to hys wyll whych corps after as testyfyeth Guydo and other was founden by a fyssher and buryed vnreuerently within the chyrcheyarde of saynt Clement standyng wythout the Temple barre of London And as Polycronycon sayth for a more curelty he caused fyrst the hed of hys sayd brother to be smyten from the body and than throwen in to the sayd ryuer Lette the herers to thys gyue credence as them lyke for to me it semeth though the kyng had ben of suche cruelty that the bysshop forenamed wolde not haue ben the executour of so fowle a dede Thys kyng also leuyed the forenamed trybute named Dane gelt spent it to the lytell comforte of the realme but gaue vnto shypmen and maryners and other lewde persons greate and vnsyttynge fees and wages and was of suche prodegalyte that his bourdes and tabelles of his courte were spred .iiii. tymes in the daye and the people serued of great excesse both of mete also of drynke wyth leuyeng of the foresayd try bute the comons greatly grudged so that in worceter two of hys seruauntes whyche were assygned to gader that money were there slayne For the whyche dede the kynge was so sore dyspleased y t he brent a great parte of that towne Thys Hardykynutus after some authours maryed hys syster named Gunylda vnto the thyrde Henry emperour The whych was of passyng beaute and was the doughter also of Emma laste wyfe of Canutus But in processe of tyme thys Gunylda was falsely accused of spowsebrech for tryall wherof she was put to her champyon wherfore she beynge in greate agony lastely trustyng to god and knowyng her selfe without gylte of that offence putte a chyld that she wyth her had brought out of Englande in stede of the champyon The whyche fought wyth a man of geauntes stature and fynally hym slew and broughte vnto confusyon when Gunylda by dyuyne power hadde thus clered her selfe she vtterly refused the emperours company and ended her lyfe in the seruyce of hym the onely god that so hadde defended her ryght But yt shulde appere by Polycronycon and also by Antoninus that thys mayden was maryed to y e sayde Henry by the lyfe of her father Canutus and also durynge the lyfe of the sayde Henryes father named Conradus the second as before is touched in the storye of the sayde Canutus and not by thys Hardykinytus her brother It is rad that the kynge betoke all the rule of the lande vnto hys moder and erle Goodwyn the whyche had maryed as wytnessyth the englyshe cronycle the doughter of Canutus gotten vppon hys fyrste wyfe Elgina By whome many thynges were mysse orderyd and specyally by the subtylyte of this erle Goodwyn This erle had many sonnes as wytnesseth Polycrony con in the .xxv. chapyter of hys .vi. boke By his fyrste wyfe that was kynge Canutus syster not hys doughter as is aboue sayde he hadde one sonne The whyche by vndyscrete strykynge of an horse was throwen into the Thamys and drowned And the mother was lastely smyttē wyth lyghtenyng and so dyed Of whome yt is there remembred that she was so vngracyous and of so vyle condycyon that she set yonge womē to horedome for to gader by that vnlefull meane ryches After the whyche wyfe so dyed he maryed the seconde of whome he receyued .vi. sonnes That is to wyt Swanus Harolde Tostius wylnotus Sirthe or Surthe and Leoffricus and a doughter named Goditha whych after was maryed to Edwarde the confessour The two sonnes of Egelredus Alphredus and Edwarde whych as ye before haue hard were sent into Normādy by Emma theyr mother came in y e tyme of the reygne of thys kyng into Englande for to vysyte and se theyr mother brought wyth them a great nomber of Normans Then thys Goodwyne ymagyned in hys mynde howe he myght preferre hys doughter Godyth to one of these bretherne and thoughte in his mynde y t the eldest wold dysdayne that maryage And for he thought to ioyne her vnto the yonger and to make hym kynge and her quene he compassed the deth of y e elder And by this mean Goodwyn warned the lordes of Englande and sayde yt was a great ieoperdye for the lande to suffer so many straungers to entre the land without lycence wherfore yt were necessary that they were punyshed to the example of other By whych meanes he gat authoryte to order that mater as to hym semed beste or of his owne power because he was of moste myght nexte the kynge wherfore he yode and mette wyth the sayde Normans and slewe of theym the moste nomber For vppon Guylde downe he slewe alway .ix. saued the .x. And yet for he thoughte to many by that meane lefte a lyue he eft agayne tythed agayne the sayd tythe and slew euery tenth knyght of them and that by cruell deth as wyndynge theyr guttes out of theyr bodyes as sayth Polycronycon and amonge other put out the eyen of the elder brother Alphredus sent hym to Ely where he dyed in short tyme after all be it y e englyshe boke sayth y t he was slayne by the forenamed tormente And Edwarde was conueyed and by some other waye broughte to hys mother But she ferynge the treason of Good wyne sente hym soone ouer the see agayne Howe be yt the ynglyshe cronycle telleth all otherwyse when Goodwyne was after accused for thys cruell dede he sware depely y t he was forced of the kynge so for to do But in one cronicle I fynde that thys dede was executed by Goodwyne in the tyme of Harolde Harefote beynge kynge Then yt foloweth in the story this kynge Hardykynytus beynge at a feste at Lambehyth besyde London mery and iocande whyle he stode drynkynge he fyll downe sodaynly and dyed or waxed dumbe and lay tyll the .viii. daye after the whyche was the .viii. daye of the moneth of Iune and then dyed when he hadde reygned after moste wryters two yeres leuynge after hym none yssue of his bodye lawfull and was buryed by his father at wynchester Thus here endeth the lyne or ofsprynge of Swanus and all other Danys so that after thys kynge the blood of Danys was clerely extyncte and putte oute from all kyngly dygnyte wythin thys realme of Englande And also the persecution of thē seased clerely after thys kynges deth The whyche had contynued to rekē from theyr fyrst landynge in tyme of Brightricus kyng of west Saxon the .ix. yere of his reygne as in y e storye
solet The whythe versys to our vnderstandynge may thus as folowyth be englyshed and expowned The Rose of the worlde but not the clene floure Is here now grauen to whom bewtye was lent In thys graue full darke nowe ys her bowre That by her lyfe was swete and redolent But now y t she is frō this lyfeblente Though she were swete nowe fowly doth she stynke A myrrour good for all that on her thynke Longe tyme after the deth of the sayde Rosamounde in the sayde abbaye was shewed a cofer of the sayd wenches of the length of two fote in whych apperyd fyghtynge geaūtes stertlynge of bestes swymmynge of fyshes and flyenge of fowlys In the forsayde .xx. yere after the opynyon of Guydo the kynge had the seconde monicyon of mendynge of hys lyfe by an Iryshe man y t told vnto hym many secret tokens whyche the kynge supposyd no man had knowen but hym selfe But yet the kynge toke lytell hede therunto In the .xxii. yere of his reygne after the forsayde takynge of y e Scottyshe kynge and .ii. erlys the .xi. day before Septēber wyllyam kynge of Scottys by assent of the lordes spyrytuall and temporall dyd homage to kyng Henry at hys cytye of yorke where the sayde wyllyam graunted by hys letters patentys that he and his successours kynges of Scotland shuld make theyr homage and fydelyte vnto the kynges of Englande as often as they shal be necessaryly requyred And in sygne and token of that subieccyon the kyng of Scottes offered hys hatte his sadell vppon the aulter of saint Peter in y e chyrch of york whyche for a remembraunce of that dede the sayd hat sadell were there kepte many yeres after And ouer y t the lordes of Scotland swore that if theyr kynge at any tyme wold wythdrawe hym from allegeaunce they wold all aryse agayn hym and be to hym as enymyes tyll he were returned to his fayth kepyng of his promyse And for the more strēgth of the sayd cōposycyon the kynge of Scottis came after to y e kyng Henries parlyament holden at Northāpton and a nother season into Normandye Ranulfe munke of Chester sayth that Lewys the .viii. of that name kynge of Fraunce delyueryd vnto kynge Henry a doughter of hys to haue in guydynge and to haue ben maryed vnto Rycharde hys son the whyche after the deth of Rosamoūde he defloured of her vyrgynyte After whyche dede as affermyth the sayde authoure the kynge was in wyll to haue wedded that damoysell For expedicyon wherof he made great meanes ta Hugūcia a cardynall then beynge in his land that he wold make a dyuorce betwene hym and Elyanoure the quene And thys he dyd to the ende to haue the more fauoure of the Frenchemen that by theyr ayde he myghte the better dysheryte hys sonnes But he fayled of his purpose and also yt turned to hys owne harme For by this means he caused the sayde Rycharde hys sonne to shewe all hys demeanour vnto the Frenche kynge so that by hys informacyon vnkyndnesse kyndled betwene them two therof ensued mortall warre as sayth the englyshe cronycle and also Polycronycon But of thys warre speketh nothynge the frenche cronycle nor of none other durynge the lyfe of the sayd Lewys after this daye which dyed in the .xxiiii. yere of thys Henry But the warre that was betwen the two kynges of England and of Fraunce was betwene thys Henry and Phylyppe sonne of thys Lewys as after shal be shewed About the .xxiiii. yere of thys kyng as wytnessen dyuerse wryters fell wonderfull wederynge and tempest of thunder in myddewynter tyme in Hampshyre and other places by violence wherof a preste amonges other was slayn And in the somer folowynge about Mary Magdalene tyde fell hayle of suche bygnesse y t yt slew both men and bestes And about this tyme were the bonys of kynge Arture and his wyfe Gueynour founde in the vale of Aualon whose here of the hed of the sayde Gweynour was then hole and of freshe coloure but so soone as yt was touched yt fell in powder whyche bonys were translated and buryed wythin the chyrche of Glastenburye and were founden by a synger of gestis vnder an holow oke .xv. fote wythin the grounde whyche fyndynge and translatynge is an obiecte to y e fantastycall sayeng of the walshemen that afferme hys commynge agayne to reygne as he before dyd Then hadde kynge Henry the seconde monycyon by a knyghte called syr wyllyam Chesterby or Lyndesey the whyche warned hym specyally for the reformacyon of .vii. artycles The fyrste was that he shuld sette better dylygence to the defence of holy chyrche and maynteynynge of the same The seconde that he shulde se hys lawes executed wyth better iustice then at those days was vsed The thyrd was that he shuld surmyse no mater agayn ryche men and by that mean plucke from them theyr landes goodes The fourth that he shulde restore all suche landes and goodes gotten by suche vnlawfull meanes or by any other The fyfte that he shuld for no medetarye ryghtfull sentence but suffer the ryght to haue hys processe The vi that he shulde se to the payment of hys subiectes for suche stuffe as was dayly taken to his vse also to the payment of hys seruauntes and souldyours wages whych dayly fell to robbynge for defaute The .vii. and the laste was that he shulde in all haste voyde the Iewys of hys lande whyche dayly wrought great sorowe to his commons and to leue theym somwhat to spende in theyr iourney But as he toke the other monycyons so he toke thys and cōtynued hys lyfe as he before hadde done THE CCXXXIX CHAPITER IN the .xxviii. yere of his reygn after moste writers dyed Henry his eldeste sonne then lyuynge y e whych as before is sayde was crowned to the derogacyon of the martyr saynte Thomas And in thys yere whyche shulde be the .iiii. yere of Phylyppe the seconde or of Phylyppe surnamed Gyuen of god the warre beganne betwene kynge Henry and hym wherof was occasyon as testyfyeth the sayd Frenche cronycle the denyenge of the deferrynge of homage that shuld be done to the sayde Phylyppe of Rycharde then eldest sonne of kyng Henry for the lādes of Poytow An other cause also was that where certayne couenauntes were stablyshed and enrolled betwene kynge Henry and Lewys father of thys Phylyp at the maryage of Henry his sonne and Margarete syster of Phylyppe for certayne holdes and castellys wherof y e castell of Gysours was one whych were delyueryd in dower wyth the sayde Margarete vppon condycyon that yf the sayde Henry hadde yssue by y e sayde Margarete then the sayde castellys to remayne to the sayde heyres and yf the sayde yonge Henry dyed without yssue of y e sayde Margarete that then the sayde castellys and holdes to be reuerted vnto the crowne of Fraunce and for that kynge Henry denyed or deferred these two poyntes and wold not answere when he was called the Frenche kynge therfore entred the
Fabyans cronycle newly prynted wyth the cronycle actes and dedes done in the tyme of the reygne of the moste excellent prynce kynge Henry the vii father vnto our most drad souerayne lord kynge Henry the .viii. To whom be all honour reuerēce and ioyfull contynaunce of his prosperous reygne to the pleasure of god and weale of this his realme AMEN ¶ Prentyd at London By wyllyam Rastell 1533. ⧠CVM PRIVILEGIO MVSEVM BRITANNICVM The table of the fyrste volume of Fabyanes cronycle ALbyon and why thys ile of olde tyme so was called it apereth in the fourth lefe the fyrst chapytre Brute the sonne of Siluius and of hys orygynall and fyrste cōmyng into thys lande ca. ii folio iiii Brute of hys fyrst landynge ca. iii. fo v. Thys Brute the son̄ of Siluius Posthumus descended of the noble blode of Troyans entred fyrst y e ile of Albion which he after named Brytayne and now is called England in the yere of the worlde iiii thousande lxiii and before the incarnacyon of Chryst as in the begynnyng of this worke is more openly shewed reygned yeres .xxiiii. Troynuaunt or London of thys kynge was fyrst foūded ca. iiii fo v. Locrinus or Locryne the eldeste sonne of Brute beganne hys reygne ouer Brytayne in the countrye called Leogria or Logiers that after was named myddell Englande in y e yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .lxxxvii. and reygned yeres .xx. capi v. folio vi Gwendoloena or Gwendoleyn y e wyfe of Locryne began to reygne as quene ouer the Brytons or countrey of Logiers in the yere of the worlde iiii thousande C.vii. and reygned yeres xv ca. vi fo vi Madan the sonne of Locrine and of the sayd Gwendolyne began hys reygne ouer the Brytons in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande C. and xxii and reygned after the agrement of many wryters and moste yeres .xl. ca. vii fo vi In the seconde yere of thys kyng◠reygne ended the thyrde age of the world And Dauyd began to reygne ouer Israell Menpricus or Mempricius the sonne of Madan beganne hys rule ouer the Brytons in the yere of the world .iiii. M.C.lxii the yere before Chrystes incarnacyon and reygned yeres xx ca. viii folio vi Ebrancus or Ebrank the sonn̄ of Mempryce begā to rule the Brytōs in the yere of the worlde .iiii. M.C.lxxxii reygned yeres .xii. Thys kyng made the citie of yorke y e town of Acryncte the castelles of Dunbarre Eddynbourgh in Scotland ca. ix fo vii Brute vixii scutum or Brute Greneshelde sonne of Ebranke was made ruler of the Brytons in y e yere of the worlde .iiii. M.ii. C.xlii reygned yeres .xii. ca. x. fo vii Leylus or Leyr the sonne of the forenamed Brute beganne hys rule ouer Brytayn in the yere of y e world iiii M.ii. C.liiii and ruled yeres .xxv Thys kynge founded the towne of Carleyll ca. xi fo vii Lud Hurdibras or Rudibras the sonn̄ of Leyl begā hys dominiō ouer y e Brytōs in the yere of y e worlde iiii M.ii. C.lxxix ruled yeres .xxxix. This kyng made wynchester Caunterbury Septō now named Shaftysbury ca. xii fo vii Baldud the sonne of Lud began hys domynyon ouer the Brytaynes in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousād iii. C.xviii and reygned yeres .xx. Thys kynge founded the towne of Bathe and the bathes wythin the same after some wryters ca. xiii folio vii Leyr or Leyer the sonne of Baldud was made ruler ouer the Brytons in the yere of the worlde .iiii. M iii. C. and .xxxviii and ruled yeres .lx. Thys kynge made the towne of Leycestre ca. xiiii fo vii Cordeilla the yongeste doughter of the forenamed Leyer beganne to rule the Brytons in the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .iii. C.xcviii ruled yeres .v. ca. xvi folio viii Cunedagius with Marganus his neuewes sonnes of the two sisters of Cordeilla beganne theyr dominyon ouer Brytayne in the yere of y e world iiii thousande .iiii. hundreth and .iii. cōtynued yeres .ii. ca. xvii fo viii This Cunedagius forenamed after that he in batayll hadde slayne Marganus beganne hys senyoury ouer the Brytons in the yere of the worlde .iiii. M.iiii C.v. and ruled after moste wryters yeres .xxxiii. ca. xviii fo ix Reynaldus or Rilalnus the sonn̄ of Cunedagius beganne to rule the Brytons in the yere of the world .iiii. thousande .iiii. C. and .xxxviii. reygned yeres .xlv. The .xxxii. yere of this kyng was Rome bylded of the twoo bretherne Remus and Romulus whyche was the yere of the worlde ca. xix fo ix Gurgustius Gurgusto or Gorbodian the sonne of Riuallus was made ruler of the Brytons in y e yere of the worlde .iiii. M.iiii C.lxxxiii and ruled yeres .xxxviii. ca. xx fo ix Sicillius or Siluius the brother or sonne of Gurgustus began hys domynyon ouer the Brytons in the yere of the world .iiii. thousand .v. C. and .xxi. and ruled yeres .xlix. ca. xxi folio ix Iago or Lago the neuewe of Gurgustius was made ruler of Brytayn in y e yere of the world .iiii. thousande v. hundreth .lxx. reygned yeres .xxv. ca. xxii fo ix Kinimacus the brother of Iago and after some wryters the sonne of Siluius began his seygnyorye ouer the Brytons in the yere of the world iiii thousand .v. C.xcv. ruled yeres .liiii. In the .xiiii. yere of thys kynge ended the .iiii. age the Iewes were captyued by the Babylons Also Isopus or Isoppe the feyner of fables in the latter days of thys Kinimacus in the countre of Grece florysshed fayned hys fables ca. xxiii fo ix Gorbodug whome Geffrey of Mōmouth nameth Grobodugo son̄ vnto Kinimacus began hys domynion ouer the Brytons in the yere of the world .iiii. thousande .vi. C.xlix ruled yeres .lxii. Aboute the .xxvi. yere of this kynges reygne was Holiferne slayne of Iudyth the wydow in the chamber of Papiliō As hath Iacobus Philippus ca. xxiiii fo ix Ferrex with hys brother Porrex sonnes of Gorbodug begā iointly to rule y e Brytōs in y e yere after Adam iiii M.vii C. .xi. ruled yeres .v. Here endeth the lyne or ofspryng of Brute ca. xxv fo x. The storys agre that after y e deth of the forsayd bretherne the Brytōs because there remayned no heyre of them were in great dyscorde a longe season were subdued vnder diuers kynges But bycause y e foresayd auctours do nat certyfye y e terme of this dyscorde and also do wryte dyuersly of the reygnes of the forsayd kynges so that some do assyne very few or no certayn yeres and some other many yeres so that in thaccomptyng of the yeres and of tymes there appereth a great alteracyō Therfore it is to be noted as affermeth Ranulph monke of Chester Guydo Galfryde and other that Cunedagius onely began to reygne in the yere of the world .iiii tyousande .iiii. hundreth and .v. And he reygned .xxxiii. yeres whyche maketh the yere of the worlde
peas contynued durynge theyr lyues THE CXCI. CHAPITER LOthayre thus beyng in loue and amytye wyth the Normans caste in his mynde howe he myght wynne from his neuewe Otthon kynge of Germany y e prouynce of Austracy or Lorayn y t in tyme passed was belongynge to his progeny tours And this to brynge to effecte he gaderyd in right secret wyse a chosen host of Frenchemen with them passed the countrey in such wise that he was entred the cytye of Aquisgrani or any great fame or noyse were therof made wherwith Ottho beyng dysmade fledde for that season suffred the sayde Lothayr for that tyme to execute his pleasure so y t the sayd Lothayre spoyled the kynges paleys and other places to the great enrychinge of hym his hoste And when he hadde taryed there a certayne of tyme he retourned wythout batayll wyth great pompe into Fraunce It is shewyd before in the begynnyng of the story of Ethelstane kyng of England that Henry duke of Saxony the whyche is ment for Germany sent vnto the sayde Ethilstane to haue his suster Alunda to mary vnto his sonne Ottho or Otthon ye shall vnderstande this Henry is of some wryters admytted for emperour But his sonne Ottho forenamed was emperour in dede whose sonne this Ottho was abouenamed and called the seconde of that name and emperour after hys father and son of the forenamed Alunda suster to Ethilstane Then this second Ottho emperour kyng of Germany beyng thus as ye haue hard surprised of his neuew Lothayre kyng of west Fraunce gaderyd a stronge hoste and entred the realm of FrauÌ„ce And as wytnessyth Gerardus wryter of hystoryes destroyed the couÌ„trey of Soysons and lastly came vnto Paris and brent y e suburbes of that cytye and hadde a great parte of his wyll of the sayde Lothayre But the frenche cronycle varyeth from this saynge and sayth that Lothayr by the helpe of the duke of burgoyne and of Hugh Capet erle of Paris after y e sayd OtthoÌ„ had fyred the suburbes of the citye of Parys issued out of the towne faught wyth the emperoure and compelled him to gyue backe and fle whom the kynge pursued tyll he came to the ryuer of Isayr or Sue where eyther hoste encouÌ„tred wyth other faught cruelly But at length the emperour was forced to forsake y e feld mych of his people slayn and droned with in the said ryuer And so grete a nomber as affermeth the frenche storye that the course of the water was stopped and ouerflowed the feldes nere vnto the sayde ryuer But this victory not wythstaÌ„dyng as wytnessyth mayster Gagwyn the kynge coÌ„trary the mynde of the duke of Burgoyne and also of Hugh Capet releasyd vnto the emperour the tytle and ryghte of Lorayne The whyche was cause of couetynge of the realme by the sayde Hugh and vsurpynge of the same as affermeth the sayde authoure whyche agrement betwene the two princes stablisshed and ended eyther retourned into his own countrey After the which season no notable dede is put in memory of the sayde Lothayre so that he fynally sykened and dyed in the yere of our lorde .ix hundred .lxxx. vi when he had ruled his pryncypat vygurously by the full terme of .xxx. wynter and was buried in the mynster of saynte Remigius in the cytye of Raynes leuynge after hym a son named Lewys Anglia THE CXCII CHAPITER Edredus or Edwyne the eldeste son of Edmund brother of Ethil stane began his reygne ouer Englande in the yere of our lord .ix. hundred .lvi and the second yere of Lothayre then kynge of Fraunce This Edwyne was crowned kynge at Kyngistone or Kyngestowne besyde London of the archbyshoppe of Caunterbury The whych selfe daye of his ê“fessyon or coronacion broke sodeynly from his lordes entred a secrete chaÌ„ber there occupyed him selfe synfully wyth a nother mannes wyfe wherof saynt DuÌ„stane hauyng knowlege rebuked and blamed hym greuously caused the woman to be voyded from his bed and company whose husband as one authour testyfyeth he slew for to haue y e vnlawful vse of her beaute not coÌ„sideryng y e allyauÌ„ce of affynyte of kynred betwene them affermeth y e sayde authour Guydo writer of storyes sayth that Edwyn coÌ„trary y e lawes of y e chyrch held a woman as his coÌ„cubyne wherfore holy DuÌ„stane accused him vnto Oddo archbishop of CauÌ„terbury by whose power the kynge was causyd to refuse forsake the coÌ„pany of that woman For the which dede Edwyn bare great malice vnto the holy man Dunstane at length by his extorte power banyshed hym his lande and forced hym for a season to holde hym in Flaunders And for the malyce y e he bare towarde hym he dyd myche dyspleasure to all blacke munkes of Englande in so myche that at Malmysbury he put oute the moÌ„kes and set in seculer prestes in theyr stede It is rad of hym that he also toke from the chyrch what he myght and specyally from the blacke monkes In so myche that such precyouse iewellys as Ethylstane hadde before receyued from OthonÌ„ the emperour gyueÌ„ vnto wynchester and Malmysbury he toke theym thens and gaue theym vnto alyauntes and straungers And thus was not onely vnkynde to god but also he vsyd suche tyranny and other vnlefull meanes to hys subiectes that lastely they rebelled agayn hym and specyally the inhabytauÌ„tes of the countre of Mercia or myddell Englande and also of Northumbers and put hym clerely from all kyngely honour and dygnytye when he had reygned after most wryters the full terme of .iiii. yeres and was buryed after in y e cathedrall chyrche of wynchester leuynge none heyre of his body wherfore the rule of the lande fyll vnto Edgar his yonger brother Antoninus archebyshop of FloreÌ„ce in this worke often before mynded amonges many myracles and vertues actes which he in y e .vi. chapiter of y e .xvi. title of his boke called SmÌ„ Antonini reherseth of this holy man DunstanÌ„ sayth that when he had vnderstandynge of the deth of thys EdwynÌ„ by reuelacyon or otherwyse he made hys specyall prayer to god to know what state the soule of EdwynÌ„ was in To whome after thys prayer made apperyd to the sayde DuÌ„stane a great company of feÌ„des turmentynge the soule of the sayde Edwyn and ledynge yt vnto the places of peyne The whyche when this holy man hadde sene he fell to great wepynge and sorowe besechynge god with most deuocyon to haue pytye and compassyon of that soule And whyle he was occupied in his prayer the sayde coÌ„pany of fendes returned wyth yellynge and cryenge shewynge to hym that thorough hys prayer the angelles of god had byrafte from them the soule of Edwyn THE CXCIII CHAPITER EDgar the seconde sonne of Edmunde and brother of Edwyn laste kynge began hys reygne ouer the realme of Englande in the yere of our lorde .ix. hundred and .lx and the .v. yere of Lotharius then kynge of Fraunce The whyche of dyuers wryters is wytnessed to be
abbot and to haue the rule of so holy a charge and so he gaue vnto hym that benefyce wythout takynge any peny Thys kynge wyllyam vsed alway lemmans wherfore he dyed without yssue legyttymat when he had reyned as before is sayde fully .xii. yeres and odde dayes THE CCXXVI CHAPITER HEnry the .iii. son of wyllyam Cōquerour fyrste of y t name whyche for his connynge was surnamed beuclerk began hys reygne and domynyon as kynge of Englande the .v. daye of August in the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred one and the .xliii. yere of the fyrste Phylyppe then kynge of Fraunce was crowned at westmynster ryght shortly after of Thomas archebyshoppe of yorke and Morys byshoppe of London This Henry in his youth plyed him to such studye that he was instructe in the .vii. artes lyberall Anon he made holy chyrche free vsed saynt Edwardes lawes wyth the amendemēt of them He put out of his courte nyce and wāton men and closed Ranulphe byshoppe of Durham in the towre of Lōdon y e which as ye before haue harde was so great wyth wyllyam his brother and sent for Anselme archebyshoppe of Caunterburye whyche before was fledde fro the tyranny of wyllyam Rufus This Henry chastysed the olde vntrewe mesure and made a yerde of y e length of hys owne arme wyth dyuers other thynges reformyng that longe before his days had ben mysse vsed and abhorred excesse of metys and drynkes vsed to fyght more wyth coūsayll then wyth sworde In the seconde yere of his reygne Robert hys brother that by all thys season hadde ben occupyed in warres vppon Cristes enymyes hauyng worde of the deth of hys brother wyllyam and howe his brother Henry hadde taken vpon hym as kynge returned into Normandy and there made preparacyon for to come into Englande In this season also was brokē out of pryson Ranulfe byshoppe of Durham and comen to the sayde Robert into Normandy The whych excyted duke Robert in all that he myght to warre vppon hys brother Henry so that he assembled a stronge armye of knyghtes and toke shyppynge and landed in processe of tyme at Portysmouth But by medyacyon a peace was made and that in suche condycion that he shuld haue .iii. thousand markes yerely as before was promysed vnto hym by willyam Rufus his brother wyth other condycyons of successyon and other thynges the whyche I ouerpasse for length of tyme. Thus Robert beynge contented contrary to the myndes of his lordes after he a season hadde dysported hym in Englande retourned into Normandy where of his lordes he was for thys other dedes before done as after is shewed lytle or lesse and lesse setby For all be yt that by hys fathers lyfe he hadde vyctorye and vtterly dyspleased hym as some deale before ys touched yet by hys manhode and manfull dedes he fell into the fauoure of the people and dyd many and great notable actes and specyally at the wynnyng of the cytye of Acon vppon the myscreauntes and turkes For the whyche dedes yt apperyth by the sequele of the storye that he was also in the fauour of god For when the eleccyon shuld be made for the kynge of Hierusalem and certayne prynces and prynces peeres by ordynaunce made stode wyth theyr tapers abydynge the dyuyne purueyaunce that whose taper were fyrst wyth heuenly fyre lyghtened shulde be admytted for kynge the taper of thys duke Robert was fyrste onely wherfore by dyuyne purueyaunce he was then chosen kynge of Hierusalem The whyche he refused for the payne and trauayle that he shuld haue wyth all also for the couetyse of the crowne of Englande For as soone as he hadde knowlege of the deth of his brother willyam anon he parted the coūtrey and sped hym homewarde in all that he myght For the whych dede as affermeth myne authour he spedde the worse in all his dedes after Thys Robert was wyse in counsayll stronge in batayll and also ryght lyberall and in hys retourne from Hierusalem maryed the doughter of wyllyam de Auersana lorde of Apulia wyth whome he receyued grete sōmes of money for her dower the whych by meane of his liberalyte he spent shortly after Then fortune beganne to frowne vppon duke Robert and sette his owne lordes so agayn hym that they sent vnto kyng Henry hys brother wyllynge hym to come into Normandye and they wolde delyuer the coūtrey vnto him and holde hym for theyr chefe lorde and ruler wherunto as sayth the englyshe cronycle kynge Henry soone cōsented But or euer thys warre betwene the sayde duke Robert kyng Henry beganne thys Henry maryed Mawde or Molde the doughter of Malcolyne kyng of Scotlande and of Margarete hys wyfe doughter of Edwarde the outlawe as in the begynnyng of wyllyam Conqueroure is thouched Of the whyche Molde thys Henry receyuyd after some wryters two sonnes and .ii. doughters y t is to saye wyllyam and Rycharde Mawde Mary And also the sayd authour wyth other saye that Robert duke of Normandye came into Englande in the fourth yere of the reygne of kynge Henry and hadde good chere of his brother and syster For the which he at the request of his sayde syster released to his brother y e forenamed trybute of .iii. thousand markes But by yll tale tellers couetous of signory this broderly loue was after dissolued in such wise that the kynge with a strong army sayled into Normandy and held his broder Robert with so sharpe warre that he chased hym from one countrey to another and wanne from hym Roan Caan Faloys and all the good townes of Normandye and lastely constrayned hym to aske helpe of Phylyppe kyng of Fraunce after of the erle of Flaūdres but he fayled helpe of them both Then wyth such power as he could make he gaue batayll vnto his brother kynge Henry In the whyche he was taken and sent ouer into England and put into the castell of Cardyffe in walys where he remayned as prisoner whyle he lyued And when he was dede he was buryed at Glowcester In this tyme and season as it were in y e .iii. yere of kyng Henry y e chyrch of saynt Barthelmew in Smythfeld of London was begonne to be founded of a mynstrell of this kyng Henry named Rayer and after perfourmed and ended by good and well disposed cytezens of the citye of Lōdon This place of Smythfelde was at y e day a lay stowe of al ordure or fylth and the place where felons and other transgressours of the kynges lawes were put to execucyon THE CCXXVII CHAPITER SO as kynge Henry hadde fynyshed his warre in Normandye was returned into Englande Robert de Bolesyn which was the eldest sonne of Roger de mount Gomeryk erle of Shrewesburye arose agayne the kynge and manned his castellys of Shrewesbury of Brugg◠of Arundell and of Tekynhyll and incoraged the walshmen agayne the kyng But the kyng pursued so cruelly the sayd Robert y t wythin .xl. days he wan all thoses castellis
towne toke ê‘tye wyth the duke brake out vppon the nyght and fyred the town and brent a great parte therof In this while dyed and was drowned Eustace the sonne of kynge Stephan and was buried at Feuersham in Kent in the abbay that his father before had buylded Thybaude archbyshop of Caunterbury left not to labour conclude y e peace betwene y e kyng the duke endeuored hym selfe therin so dylygently wyth the assystence of other that in the yere folowynge the peace was coÌ„cluded vppon dyurese condycyons wherof one was that y e kyng shulde contynue as kynge durynge his lyfe and immedyatly after y e conclusion of this peace the sayd Henry shuld be proclaymed in all the chefe cytyes and townes of Englande for heyr apparant be kynge after the deth of the sayde Stephan and that the kynge shulde take hym for hys son of adopcyon and ryghtefull heyr vnto the crowne To the whyche couenauÌ„tes iustly to be holden y e kyng was fyrste sworne and after his lordes spyrytuall and temporall and so yode bothe to London where they were royally receyued And when y e kyng had fested the duke and gyuen to hym ryche gyftes he toke leue of the kynge and so returned into Normandye as affyrmeth the sayde authour the Floure of historyes Howe be yt the cronycle of England sayth that the accorde was made vpon dyuysyon of the lande betwene theym that is to meane that both shuld reygne to gyther and eyther of them to enioye halfe the lande But how that dyuysyon was made or whych parte of the lande eueryche of them shulde hold no meÌ„cion therof is made And the former accorde shuld be as abue is sayde concluded .viii. days folowynge the Epyphanye of our lorde in the towne of Oxenford And y e kyng dyed in the moneth of October folowyng when he had reygned .xviii. yeres full and odde monethes and was enterred in theforsayde abbay of Feuyrsham Of dyuers authours as Ranulfe and other yt is recorded that thys Stephan lyued in great vexacyon and trouble all the terme of hys reygne It is sayde also that thys Stephan maryed Molde or Mawde the doughter of Mary the whyche was the doughter of Henry the fyrst and countesse of Boloyne by whome he claymed the tytle to be crowned as by the yonger doughter of Henry the fyrst and Henry shorte mantell claymed by the elder But after most certenty of wryters this Stephan was sonne of Eustace erle of Boloyne and of Mary syster vnto Molde that was maryed vnto Henry the fyrste whych Molde and Mary were doughters of Margarete wife of Malcolyn kyng of Scottes whyche Margaret was syster to Edgare Ethelynge and doughter of Edwarde the outlawe that was the sonne of Edmunde Ironsyde Then the eldest syster Molde bare Molde the empresse by Henry the fyrste And Molde y e empresse doughter of Henry the fyrst hadde by her second husbande Geffrey Plantagenet Henry the seconde And so by Henry shorte mantell or Henry the seconde returneth the bloode of the Saxons to the crowne of Englande and so it dyd by Stephan but moste conuenyently by Henry the fyrst as by the dyssent of his mother By whych reason yt foloweth that the blood of willyam conquerour continued but .lxx. yeres yf it be accompted from y e fyrst yere of wyllyam Conquerour vnto the laste yere of Henry the fyrste Thys kynge Stephan at the request of Molde hys wyfe buylded in the yere of grace .xi. hundred .xl y e abbey of Coggeshale in Essex and set therin whyte muÌ„kes Also about the same tyme he founded the abbay of Feuersham in Kent where he nowe corporally resteth And the thyrde he founded in Furneys in Lancashyre and all he garnyshed wyth munkys of Cysteaux order dyed as before is sayde wythout yssue of his body Francia THE CCXXXIIII CHAPITER LEwys the .viii. of that name son of Lewys y e great began his reygn ouer the Frenche men in y e yere of our lord .xi. hundred .xxxvi y e fyrst yere of Stephan then kyng of Englande This also is called the yonger Lewys in whose begynnynge Iohannes de teÌ„poribus dyed Thys IohnÌ„ was somtyme a squyer in the house of Charlys the conquerour the whyche lyued ouer .iii. hundred yeres for whyche cause he was named IohnÌ„ of tyme as he y t myght remeÌ„ber thinges done of longe tyme passed This Lewys at y e tyme of his fathers deth was in the countrey of Guyan for to receyue the dower of his wyfe Elyanour as before in the storye and seconde chapyter of kyng Stephan is touched But when he harde of y e deth of his father he sped hym into FrauÌ„ce where after the necessaryes for the weale of his realme ordeyned he maryed his wyues syster named Alys vnto Arnolde erle of Uermendoze After whyche maryage solempnysed tydynges were broughte vnto hym that the crysten people beynge in the holy lande as warryours vppon the Turkes and Sarasyns were dystressed and ouerthrowen and dyuerse stronge holdes from them taken and wonne wherfore by the exhortacyon of that holy muÌ„ke Bernarde whych at this day is called saynt Bernard y e sayd Lewys wyth also Conradus the .iii. of that name then emperour of Almayne wyth Alphon then kynge of Spayne wyth dyuerse other nobles of Fraunce other prouynces toke vpon them the crosse and prouyded for the expedycyon of that iourney in the .iiii. yere of hys reygne after some wryters But of the takyng of hys iourney dyuers writers holde diuers oppinyons so that the doute resteth betwene the yere of our lord .xi. hundred .xl and the yere of .xi. hundred and .l. when all thynges were redy for that iourney the kynge the quene wyth the floure of the chyualry of FrauÌ„ce set forthwarde vppon that iourney and came in processe of tyme vnto Constantyn the noble where he met wyth Conradus the emperour and Alphons kynge of Spayne whom the prynce Emanuell then emperour of Constantyne the noble receyued ioyusly and made to theym by his outwarde contenaunce louynge and frendely chere and promised vnto theym ayde in that iourney bothe of vitayll and also for guydes for the nexte and surest waye But he contrary to his promyse dyd dysapoynte theym and nothynge ayded theym For he delyueryd vnto theym meale myngeled wyth lyme wherof grewe myche harme to the crysten hoste after And also he assygned vnto them suche guydes as brought them into places and couÌ„treys of sterylyte and other daunger so that hastely the Frenche kyng wyth great dyffyculte and losse of his men came vnto the citye of Danas and becleped yt with a stronge syege the whych he assauted and enpayred very sore and was lykely to haue wonne yt yf he had assauted y e place styll where he began But by counsayll of some false crysten men the whyche as wytnesseth Peter Dysroye and other had taken mede of the Turkes the kynge by theyr counsayll remoued the ordynaunce from the weker place vnto y
theyr weyghtes founde and proued false And ouer y t all suche wares as they shuld have weyed at the kynges beame they weyed moche therof in theyr sayd houses to the hynderaunce of y e kynges custome For whyche offeÌ„ces agayne theym proued to the nombre of .xx. of the sayd straungers were arrested and sent vnto the toure of LoÌ„don and theyr weyghtes brent consumed in westchepe of London the thursdaye before the feast of Symon and Iude. And fynally the sayd marchauntes were delyuered by fyne makynge to the kyng of a thousande .li when they had suffered by a season harde vyle prysonement Anno domini M.CC.lxxxvi  Anno dnÌ„i xii C.lxxxvii  Thomas Crosse.  Syr IohnÌ„ Bryton  Anno .xv.  wyllyam Hawteyn  IN thys .xv. yere the Iewes of Englande were sessed at great summes of money whych they payd vnto the kyng But of one other auctour it is sayd that the commons of Englande graunted to the kyng the v. parte of theyr mouables for to haue the Iewes banysshe out the laÌ„de For whiche cause the sayd Iewes to put the commons from theyr purpose gaue of theyr free wylles great summes of money to y e kyng whych sayeng appereth to be trewe for the sayd Iewes were exyled within few yeres after Thys yere about the begynnynge of May the kynge sayled to Burdeux and frome thens he rode into Fraunce where as witnesseth y e freÌ„sh boke he was honourably receyued of Phylyp le Beau or Philyp the fayre than kynge of Fraunce and after receyued homage of the sayd Edward for the duchy of Guyan And when kynge Edwarde had taryed a season in Fraunce he retourned vnto Burdeux whyther came vnto hym a certayne ambassadours from the kyng of Spayne with the whych he helde longe dalyaunce wherfore of y e freÌ„sh kyng he was suspected that he shuld allye hym with the kyng of Spayne agayne the Frenche kynge And thys yere as testyfyeth Policronycon the somer was so excedyng vote that men dyed for hete And thys yere whete was so plentuous that it was solde at London for xl.vi a quarter Anno domini .xii. C.lxxxvii  Anno domini M.CC.lxxxviii  wyllyam Herforde  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xvi.  Thomas Stanys  IN thys vvi yere of kynge Edwarde saynt Thomas of Herforde was translated And thys yere fyll dystauÌ„ce betwene syr Payne Tip toft wardeyn of certayn castels in walys a walsh knyght called syr Ries ap Mordek So y t sundry skyrmysshes were foughten betwene them many men slayne vpon bothe sydes to the great dystourbaunce of all y e countre Thys yere vpon saynt Margaretes euyn or the .xix. daye of Iulii fyll wonderfull great hayle that the lyke therof was nat of men than lyuynge seen And after that ensued coÌ„tynuell rayne whyche dysteÌ„peryd the grouÌ„d in such wyse that the yere folowyng whete was sold for .xviii. d. a busshel and thys yere for .xiiii. d. And so encreased yerely after duryng y e reygne of the kynge and after in hys soÌ„nes days tyll it was lastly solde for .xl. s. a quarter and aboue Anno domini .xii. C.lxxxviii  Anno domini M.CC.lxxxix  wyllyam Betayn  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xvii.  IohnÌ„ of Caunterbury  IN thys .xvii. yere the warre before in the yere laste paste betwene syr Payn Typtoft syr Ryes contynuynge to the entente that the sayd Ryes myght reuenge hys cause agayne the sayd syr Payne he arrecyd a greate multytude of walshemeÌ„ and brent and wasted dyuers fownes in walys so that the kynge then beynge in Normandy sente 〈◊〉 the â—tle of Cornewayll then beynge the kynges lyeu tenaunte in Englande that he shuld sende thyder an army of knyghtes to withstande the malyce of the walshmen The whych preparyd shortly an army yode with them into the borders of Northewalys where he with hys coÌ„pany bare hym so knyghtly that in the ende the sayd Ryes was takeÌ„ brought vnto porke where he was after drawen hanged and quartered Anno domini .xii. C.lxxxix  Anno dnÌ„i M.CC.xc  Full 〈◊〉 saynt Edmunde  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xviii.  Salaman Langforde  IN thys .xviii. yere vppon once Lady cuyn Assumpcion kyng Edwarde was honorably receyued of the cytezeyns of London and so conueyed vnto westmynster where shortely after were broughte before hym many greuous complayntes of dyuers of hys iustyces as syr Thomas weylande Adam Stretton and other The whych the kynge caused streyghtly to be examyned and lastly were founde gylty of such trespasses and causes as they were accused of wherfore some of theym were outlawed and loste suche goodes as they hadde and the other punysshed by longe enprysonemente and lastely delyuered by payenge of greate fynes Anno domini M. CC.lxc  Anno domini M. CC.lxci  Thomas Romayn  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xix.  wyllyam de Lyre  IN thys .xix. yere the kynge ordeyned y t all woll whych shuld be sold vnto straungers shulde be brought vnto Sandewyche where the staple therof longe after was as it is now at y e towne of Caleys And thys yere were the Iewes banysshed the lande for the whych cause the coÌ„mons gaue vnto the kyng a quindecym or fyftene Thys yere also syr Gylbert de Clare erle of Glouceter maryed dame Iane doughter of kyng Edwarde Thys was called Iohanne of Acrys for she was born at Acrys wheÌ„ kyng Edwarde was there vpon hys great iourney And soone there after in the same yere the duke of Brabannys sonne wedded Margarete the syster of the sayd Iohanne Anno domini .xii. C. lxci  Anno domini M. CC.lxcii  Rauffe Blount  Rauffe Sandewyche  Anno .xx.  Hamonde Boxe  IN thys .xx. yere begynnynge of the maryes yere and also of the kynges .xx. yere that is to meane vpon the euyn of saynt Andrewe or the .xxix. day of NoueÌ„bre dyed quene Elyanore the kynges wyfe and was buryed at westmynster in the chapel of saynt Edwarde at the fete of HeÌ„ry the thyrde where she hath .ii. were tapers brennyng vpon her tumbe both daye and nyght whyche so hath contynued syne the day of her buryenge to thys present daye Thys gentyll woman as before is towched in the xxxviii yere of kyng Henry the third was syster vnto the kyng of Spayn By whome kyng Edwarde had .iiii. sonnes that is to saye Iohn Henry Alphons and Edwarde whych Edwarde succeded his father by reason that the other .iii. died before theyr father Also he had by her .v. doughters The fyrste Elyanore was maryed vnto wyllyam erle of Barre the seconde Iohan of Acrys was maryed as before is sayde vnto the erle of Glouceter the thyrde Margarete was maryed to the dukes sonne of BrabaÌ„t the .iiii. Mary by name was made a menchon at Ambrysbury the .v. named Elyzabeth was maried vnto the erle of Holande and after hys deth she was maryed vnto Humfreye Boherum erle of Hereforde And
Dioclecyan kyng of Sirye as in the englyshe cronycle is affermyd For in all olde storyes or cronycles is not founde that any suche kynge of that name reygned ouer the Syriens or yet Assyriens nor yet any suche storye that his .xxx. doughters shuld slee theyr .xxx. husbandes as there is surmysed was put in writynge whyche yf eny such wonder hadde ben there wrought shulde not haue ben vnremembred of the wryters auctours of that partyes consyderynge that many lesse wonders are put in writynge by the sayde wryters wherfore it ys more apparant y t yt toke that fyrst name of Albyon as aboue is sayde then of Albyne doughter of the sayde Dioclecyon And as to the GeauÌ„tes that Brute founde in this yle at his arryuayll they myght be brought into this laÌ„de by some meane of shyppes or other wyse rather then to be borne of those women as there also is imagyned Of this yle the auctours Alpherd and Beda tell many wonders which in the fyrst boke of Policronycon are suffycieÌ„tly towched where it is sayd y t this yle is called an other worlde For as sayth Solinus the edge of the Frenche cliffe shuld be the ende of the world yf this yland ne were not Many other thynges ben there specyfyed the whyche I passe ouer Thys yle is closyd on all sydes with y e see stretcheth in length out of the sowth into the north hauynge in the sowthest syde Fraunce in the south y e land of Spayne in the north y e couÌ„tre of Norway in y e weste the couÌ„tre of Irland And hath in length from Totnesse to Catenessey .xv. myles beyonde Mychell Stowe in Cornewayle vpon .viii. hundred myles And to reken the brede from saynte Dauyds lande in walys called Menema to Douer clyffes it coÌ„teyneth after moste wryters .iii. hundred myles And yf yt be rekened from y e sayd place in walys vnto parmouthe in Norfolk not so much but lesse by .lx. myles after some wryters And Beda saith it coÌ„teineth ouer CC. miles And this I le was fyrste as aboue ys sayde named Albyon and secundaryly Britayne after Brute thyrde 〈…〉 of Anglis by coÌ„mauÌ„dmeÌ„t of Egberte kynge of Anglys and of westsaxons all be yt that after some wryters yt was called Anglia after the name of the quene of this lande name Anglia albe it that therof is founde lytell authoryte This ile was fyrst coÌ„queryd by y e Romayns and so contynued vnto them as trybutary and vnder theyr rule as after in the ende of the story of Gracianus shall appere ouer .iiii. huÌ„dred yeres secondely by the SaxoÌ„s thyrdely by y e Danys fourthly by the Normans and was deuyded fyrst by Brute in thre partes as in the storie shall appere folowynge THE II. CHAPITER BRute of the auncyent and noble blode of Troyans dyscendyd of Eneas a Troyan and of the doughter of Pryame kynge of the Troyans whyche Eneas receyued of his sayde wyfe a sonne named Ascanius the whych was kynge of the countre of Italye nexte after hys father Eneas For so yt was that after the foresayde cytye of Troy was as before is sayde by the Grekes subuertyd Eneas whyche entendyd to haue sauyd from dethe the fayre Polixena doughter of kynge Pryam was for that dede by Agamemnon duke or chyefe leder of the Grekes exyled froÌ„ Troy the whyche accoÌ„panyed wyth a great nomber of Troyans wythin iii. yeres after his departynge from Troye landed in y e couÌ„tre of Italye And there after dyuerse conflyctys and bataylles hadde wyth Latynus then kynge of Italye he maryed by the agrement of the sayde Latinus hys doughter named Lauina Uppon y e which he gatte a sonne and named hym Syluius Posthumus of the whych after some wryters descendyd Brutus fyrste kynge of Albyon But for a more concordaunce of this worke and conuenyencye of yeres As testyfyeth Policronia Guydo de ColuÌ„na wryter of storyes other Ascanius the fyrste sonne of Eneas gotten vppon hys fyrste wyfe hadde a sonne named Siluius whyche after some wryters is named Siluius Eneas this Siluius Eneas was father to Brute Of this is dyuers opinyons whereof some are manyfestly shewed in the .xxvii. chapyter of the seconde boke of Polycronycon Then yt foloweth in y e story this Brute beyng of the age of .xv. yeres slewe his father in shotyng at a wyld beste And as some authours haue he slewe also hys moder in tyme of his byrth But for the laste dede by agrement of all wryters he was banyshed the countre and after by fortune landed wyth his conpanye in a prouynce of Grece where at y e tyme reygned a kyng named Pandrasus or after some wryters Pandarus y e whyche kynge as affermyth Geffrey of Monmouth was lynyally descendyd of the blode of Achylles In this prouynce Brute founde many Troyans as captiuys thrall to the Grekes wyth the whyche he conspyred faughte wyth y e Grekes sondry tymes lastely for a fynall concorde toke to wyfe the doughter of the sayd Pandrasus name Ignogen After whyche maryage solemnysyd the sayde Brute by couÌ„sayle of y e Troyans with a certayne of shyppes well vytaylled departed out of Grece and soughte his aduenture whyche after many daungers of the passed he landed wyth his company in a parte or yle of Affrica named as sayth Guydo and other Lergesia wythin whyche yle at those dayes stode an old temple dedycate in y e honoure of Diua or Diana a goddesse of mysbyleued people The whyche temple when Brute had apê‘ceyuyd anon he yode into yt where knelyng before the aulter wyth great deuocyon sayde these versys folowynge Diua potens nemorum terror syluestribus apris Cui licet amfractus ire per aethereos Infernasque domos terestria iura resolue Et dic quas terras nos habitare velis Dic certam sedem qua te venerabor in aemon Qua tibi virgineis templa dicabo choris The whyche versys are to be vnderstanden in our moder tonge as after is expowned Celestyall goddesse that weldest fryth a woode The wylde bore bestes thou feryst by thy myght Guyder of shypmen passynge the ragyone flode The infernall howses for and the erth of ryght Beholde and serche and shewe where I shall fyght Tell the certayne place where euerlastyngly A temple of virgyne to the Iâ—Balledyfpe After whyche prayer obseruaunces after y e pagan ryte with great deuocyon done and exercysed aboute y e auter of y e sayd goddesse or idolle in those days vsed Brute fill in a slepe In tyme of whyche slepe apperyd to hym the sayd goddesse and sayd to hym in maner forme as foloweth Brute sub occasum solis trans Gallica regna Insula in oceano est vndeque clausa mari Insula in oceano est habitata gigantibus olins Nunc deserta quidem gentibus apta tuit Hic de prose tua reges nascentur ipsis Totius terrae subditus orbis erit Hanc pete nanque tibi sedes erit in illa
he dyed and was enteryd or buryed at TroynouaÌ„t or London THE V. CHAPITER LOcrinus or Locryne y e fyrst or eldest son of Brute was made kynge of Brytayne of y e countre of Logiers the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .lxxx. and .vii. The whych helde to his parte as sayth Policronicon and also Guydo de Columna the countre that stretcheth from the south see vnto the ryuer of Humbre as before is expressyd whyle this Locrinus thus reygned in Logiers his brother Albanactus beynge ruler as before is sayd of Albania or Scotlande was warreyd by a duke whome the cronycle of EngaÌ„ld nameth Humbre y e which slewe Albanakt in playne batayll ye shall vnderstande y t this Humber at the daye of his commynge into Albania was not named Humber but after olde wryters he was called kynge of Hunnys or kyng of Sithia without other addicyon This kyng as before is sayde after he thus subduyd Albanactus held the lande of Albania tyll after y e Locrinus wyth his brother Cambre gathered a gret power of men of armys and yode agaynst the sayde kynge of Hunnys and by strength of theyr Britons chasyd and subduyd the sayde HuÌ„nys so sharpely that many of theÌ„ with theyr kyng were drowned in a ryuer which departyth England and Scotland And for so myche as to the wryter of the storye of Brytons his name was declared to be Humber therfore the sayde auctor affermyth that the sayd Humber y e ryuer toke the fyrste name of hym whyche yet contynueth to this daye Furthermore testyfyeth the sayde auctour that after this victory thus obteyned by these two forsayde brotherne this Locrinus enamowred hym selfe vppon a fayre wenche named Estrylde and doughter of the forenamed Humber and her kept vnlefully by a certayne of tyme. where wyth his wyfe named Guendoloena beynge sore dyscontent excyted her fader and freÌ„des to make warre vppon the sayde Locryne her husbande In the whyche warre lastly he was slayne when he hadde reygned or ruled Loegria or Logiers after the concordaunce of moste writers .xx. yeres and was buryed by his fader in the cytye of Troynouaunt leuyng after hym a yonge sonne gotteÌ„ vppon his wyfe named Madan THE VI. CHAPITER GUeÌ„doloena or GueÌ„doleyne the wyfe of Locrinus doughter of Corineê° duke of Cornewayle for so myche as Madan her sonne was yonge to gouerne the lande was by coÌ„mune assent of all y e BrytoÌ„s made ruler of the yle of Brytayne the yere of the world .iiii. thousande a huÌ„dred and .vii. And so hauyng possession of the sayde yle we le and dyscretly she ruled yt to the comfort of her subiectes tyll the tyme her sonne Madan came vnto hys lawfull age At the whiche season she gaue ouer the rule and domynyon to hym after she had ruled as before ys sayde thys yle xv yeres THE VII CHAPITER MAdan the sonne of Locryne of GueÌ„dolyne before named was made ruler of Britayne in the yere of y e world iiii thousande C. and .xxii. Of thys is lytell or no memory made by any wryters excepte that some wryte of hym that he vsed great tyranny amonge his Brytons Neuerthelesse all or the more ê‘te of writers agreen that he ruled this I le of Britayn by y e terme of .xl. yeres At y e ende of which terme he beynge at his dysporte or huntyng was of wyld bestes or woluys slayne or deuouryd and left after him two sonnes as sayth Policronica named Menprecius Manliê° THE VIII CHAPITER MEnprecius the eldest sonne of Madan was made ruler of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde .iiii thousande C.lxii. But he reygned not loÌ„ge in peace For his yonger broder Manlius of a malycyous and couetyse mynde entendynge to be kynge and to expell or subdue his brother excyted the Britons in such wyse to rebell agayne Menprecius y e great and dedly warre contynued longe amonge them Howe be yt lastely by mediacyons of frendes a daye of communycacyon in louynge maner ner attwene these two bretherne was appoynted At whyche daye of assemble Menpriciê° by treason slewe his brother Manlius after whose deth he lyued in more tranquylite and rest where through he fyll into slowth and by meane of slowth into vnlefull lykynge and lechery and by that vyce into hatered of his subiectes by takynge of they re wyues and chylder and fynally became so vnhappy y t he forsoke his lefull wyfe and concudynes and fyll into the synne of Sodomye Thus from one vice he grew into a nother so that he became odyble to god and man and lastely goyng on huntynge and lost of his people was distroyed of wyld bestes when he had reygned .xx. yeres leuyng after hym a goodly yonlynge begoten of his lefull wyfe named Ebranke THE IX CHAPITER EBranke the sonne of Menprecius was made ruler of this lande of Brytayne in the yere of the worlde foure thousande a hundred lxxx and .ii and had as testyfyeth Policronica Gaufryde other wryters .xxi. wyues of the whych he receyued .xx. sonnes and .xxx. doughters wherof the fayrest was named Gwales or after some Gualea He sent these doughters to Albia Siluius whych was the .xi. kynge of Italye or the .vii kynge of Latynes to the ende to haue them maryed to the blood of Troyans This Ebranke was also a man of fayre statute of great strengthe by his power and myght he enlarged his domynyon in so myche that he wanne and occupyed a great parte of Germania by y e ayde and helpe of the Latynes and retourned theÌ„s wyth great pray ryches After whych retourne he buylded the cytye of Caerbrank now called yorke whych shulde be as sayth the authour named Flos historiaruÌ„ or the Floure of historyes wryten in frenche in the .xxiii. yere of y e reygne of the sayd Ebranke which accompt to folow yt shuld seme that Troynouant or LoÌ„don was buylded before the sayd cytye of yorke about an hundred and .xl. yeres supposyng the cytye of London to be begonne in the seconde yere of Brutes reygne Also he buylded iÌ„ Albania or Scotlande the castell of Maydens the whych is called Edynborgh After which edyfyces ended and made he wyth a great armye sayled into Gallia nowe Fraunce and subdued the Gallis and retourned wyth great triumphe and rychesse And when he had guyded this lande of Brytayne nobly by the terme of .lx. yeres after moste concordaunce of wryters he dyed and was buryed at Caerbrank or yorke leuynge after hym for hys heyre his eldest sonne as sayth Gaufryde named Brute Greneshyelde THE X. CHAPITER BRute Greneshyelde the sonne of Ebranke was made gouernour of this lande of Brytayne the yere of the worlde .iiii. thousande .ii. huÌ„dred and xlii Of this Brute is no memory made touchynge any fame excepte y e Gaufryde sayth that he ruled this lande of Brytayne his fader lyuynge a certayne tyme after his fader by the terme of .xii. yeres The whyche yeres expyred or endyd he dyed and lyeth buryed
e pope and he shulde be by hym restoryd to perfytte helthe whyche was done and he heled as the legende of sayntes bereth wytnesse Thus haue I shewed to you a part of the dedys of Constantyne whych yf I shulde coÌ„tynue the hole processe of his reygne that endured as emperoure by the space of .xxx. yeres I shulde therof make a large volume But it concernyth nothynge of th entent of this worke as touchynge the lande of Brytayne therfore I woll retourne my style to Octauius from whom I haue made a loÌ„g digressyoÌ„ THE LXX CHAPITER IN this passetyme whyle Constantyne occupyed hym in nedes of th empyre as aboue is shewed Octauius beynge lieutenant in the lande of Brytayne vnder Constantyne ruled the lande to the pleasure of the Brytons a certayne of tyme. But when he perceyued that he was in fauoure of them and that Constantyne was farre from hym castynge also in his mynde that y e sayd Constantyne beyng then emperour wold or myght not lyghtly retourne into Britayn he therfore with helpe of his affynyte and freÌ„des withstode the Romaynes lefte in Brytayne of Constantyne and vsurpyd the rule domynyon of y e lande wherof wheÌ„ certayntie came to y e knowlege of CoÌ„stantyne he in all hast sent into Brytayne a duke named TrahernÌ„ the whyche was vncle vnto Heleyne moder of Constantyne when this TrahernÌ„ was arryued in Brytayne with iii. legions of knyghtes anon Octauius made towarde hym wyth hys Brytons and wyth hym mette nere the citye then called Kaerperis now called Porte chestre or Porchestre but more verely in a felde nere vnto the cytye of Kaerguent that now ys called wynchester whych felde then was named Maesurian The .ii. hostes mette wyth great ire and fough ten longe whyle But in y e ende TrahernÌ„ was compelled to forsake the felde and after drewe wyth his Romaynes towarde Albania or Scotlande wherof Octauius beyng warned folowed hym and in the countre of westmerlande gaue vnto hym the seconde batayll where then Octauius was chasyd TrahernÌ„ was vyctour the whych pursued Octauius so egerly that he coÌ„pelled hym to forsake the lande of Britayne and to sayle into the countre of Norway for his sauegarde But yt was not longe after that the sayde Octauius gaderyd a newe people of Brytons Norways and was redy to retourne agayn into Britayne In whych tyme as testyfyeth myne authour Gaufryde an erle of Brytayne that entyerly loued Octauius by treason slewe the sayd TrahernÌ„ a lytell before the landynge of the sayde Octauius whyche shortly subdued the Romaynes and y e lande to his owne vse This shuld be after moste concordaunce of wryters wheÌ„ Constantyne wyth also the ayde of TrahernÌ„ hadde ruled this lande of Brytayne by the terme of .x. yeres THE LXXI CHAPITER OCtauiê° duke of y e Iessis otherwyse westsaxons beganne his reygne ouer the Brytons in the yere of our lorde .iii. hundred .xxix. This in the englyshe boke is called Octauian the whych as testyfyeth Gaufryde gaderyd in shorte whyle after so great plentye of treasoure and rychesse that he feryd no man and ruled this lande in peasyble wyse So that of hym or of his actes is left lytell memorye excepte that when he was fallen into age by the counsayll of Brytons he sent vnto Rome for a noble yonge man of the aliy of Heleyne moder vnto Constantyne called Maximianê° as after more playnly shal be shewed all be yt that some aduysed hym to make one Conan Meryadok his cosyne kynge after hym But by the instaÌ„t labour of Caradok then duke of Cornewayll Octauius lastly sent vnto Rome Mauryce the sonne of the forenamed Caradok to brynge or conuey the sayd Maximianus into Brytayne for to mary the onely doughter of Octauius and by reason therof to enioy y e realme of Brytayne This Maximianê° is of some auctour named Maximius the whych as wytnessyth Gaufride was the sonne of Leonyne brother to Heleyne and vncle vnto CoÌ„stantyne the great whych saynge affermeth also Iacobus Philippê° authour of a boke called Supplementum cronicarum wherin he nameth the sayde Maximianus a knyght of the Bryton blood Then it foloweth when the forenamed Maurice had spedde his nedes so y t he came to the presence of Maximianê° shewed theffecte of his Message the sayd Maximianus to hym graunted in all haste prepared for his voyage into Brytayne shortly after with coÌ„uenient cuÌ„pany landed at Southampton wherof beynge warned Conan Meryadok he wyth a certayne of knyghtes of his affinytye was purposed to haue frayed with the sayd Maximianê° to haue destressed hym for so mych as he wel knewe that by hym he shuld be puâ— from the rule of the lande But thys purpose was let by the commaundement of the kynge or otherwyse so y t the sayd Maximianus was coÌ„ueyed safely to the kynges presence shortly after wyth consent of the more partye of his lordes gaue his doughter vnto the sayde Maximianus wyth possessyon of this yle of Brytayne The whyche mariage solemnysed endyd the sayde Octauiê° dyed shortly after But howe long he reygned none of the foresayde authours testystye excepte dyuers of them agre y t he contynued his reygne tyll y e tyme that Gracyan and Ualentinyan ruled the empyre the whyche beganne to reygne the yere of our lorde .iii. huÌ„dred .lxxx. and .ii. By whyche reason yt muste folowe that the sayd Octauius reygned at the leest .liiii. yeres THE LXXII CHAPITER MAximianê° or Maximiê° y e son of Leonine cosyn Germayn of Constantyne the great was made kynge of Bryton in the yere of oure lorde .iii. hundred .lxxx. and .ii. Thys in the englyshe boke is named Maximian the whych as testyfyeth Gaufryde and other was stalworth and myghty of his handes But for he was cruell and pursued somdele the cristen he therfore of all wryters is called Maximianê° the tyrant Attwene this Conan before named was stryfe and debate and dyuers conflyctes attwene theÌ„ was foughten in the whyche eyther of them spedde dyuersly all be yt that lastely they were made frendes So that Maximianê° reygned a season in quyete and gaderyd rychesse treasour not all wyth out grudge Lastely he was moued exyted to warre vpon the Galles thorow whych couÌ„cell he wyth a great hoste of BrytoÌ„s sayled into Armorica that now is called lytell Brytayne and bare hym so knyghtly that he subdued that countre vnto his lordshyp after gaue the sayde countre to Conan Meryadok to hold of hym and of the kyngeê of great Brytayn for euer And then commaunded the sayde lande to be called lytell Brytayne For this vyctory his knyghtes proclamed hym emperour where thorough he beynge the more exaltyd in pryde passed farther in the landes of the emprye vyctoryously subdued a great parte of Gallia or Fraunce and all Germania For thys dede dyuers authours accompt hym false and periuryd wherfore yt shulde seme that before his departynge froÌ„ Rome he was sworne vnto Gracian and Ualentynyane emperours
.iiii. huÌ„dred .lxxvi. And the fyfte yere of Uortygers last reygne But Denys and other that accoÌ„pt this kyngdome to begynne in the yere of our lord foure hundred and .lv. allowe the begynnynge therof to be when Hengistus had fyrst gyft of the same by reason that Uortyger maryed his doughter This lordeshyppe conteyned the countre that stretcheth from eest Occean vnto the ryuer of Thamys and had vpon the southeest Southerye and vppon the weste London vpon the northeest the Thamys aforesayd and Eestsaxon nowe Essex And this lordshyppe conteyned also the yle of Thanet whyche lordshyppe or kyngdome endured after moste wryters from the tyme of the fyrste yere of the reygne of Hengiste tyll the .xxv. yere of Egbert before named by the terme of .iii. hundred and .xlii. yeres folowynge that accompte At whyche season the sayde Egbert then kynge of westsaxons subdued Baldredus theÌ„ kynge of Kent and ioyned yt to hys owne kyngdome Al be yt that the authoure of Policronica affermeth yt to endure by the space of thre hundred and .lxviii vnder .xv. kynges wherof Baldredus was the laste whyche folowyth nere vnto the accompt of Denys before named The fyrste crysten kyng of this lordshippe was Ethelbertus or Ethelbert the whyche receyued the fayth of Cryste by that holy man saynt Austayne or Augustayne nere about the yere of our lordes incarnacyon foure hundred .lxxx. and .xvi. The whyche Ethelbert caused soone after to be edyfyed the monastery of saynt Peter and Paule in the eestsyde or ende of the cytye of Dorobernia now Caunterbury He gaue vnto this Austayn and his successours byshoppes of Caunterbury a place for the byshoppes see at Chrystes chyrche wythin the sayd cytye endowed it with many ryche possessioÌ„s This Hengiste and all the other Saxons whyche ruled the .xvii. pryncypates of Brytayne as after shall be shewed are called of moste wryters reguli whyche is to meane in oure vulgare or speche as small or lytell kynges So that this Hengist is accompted a lyttell kynge The whyche when he hadde thus rule of the foresayde .iii. prouynces he sent for mo Saxons gatheryd them y t were sparkled abrode so y t in these prouynces the fayth of Chryste was all quenchyd and in slepe Then Hengist wyth Octa his son gaderyd a great streÌ„gth of SaxoÌ„s and faught wyth the Brytons and ouercame the Brytons and chasyd them in suche wyse that Hengiste kepte his lordesshyppe in peace and warre by the space of .xxiiii. yeres as moste wryters testyfye THE XCII CHAPITER NOwe then lette vs retourne agayne to Uortiger y e which when he sawe the Saxons in suche wyse encrease theyr strength and the Brytons dayly dyscreace for as writeth myne authour Gaufryde y t Saxons had the rule of London yorke Lincolne or LindecolnÌ„ and KaergueÌ„t that is wynchester wyth other good townes wherfore as affermeth the sayd Gaufryde the kyng for fere of y e SaxoÌ„s also for that y â— he was some deale warned of the commyng of the .ii. bretherne Aurely and Uter sonnes of Constantyne he therfore consyderynge these many and great daungers fledde into Cambria or walys and there helde hym for the more suertye where as wytnessyth the sayde Gaufryde he then buylded the castel before mynded Of y e which buyldynge and impediment therof and also of the gettynge or byrthe of Merlyne and of his prophecyes he made a longe worke the whyche I passe ouer for dyuerse consyderacyons retourne agayne to Uortiger Trouth yt is that whyle Uortygernus was thus besyed in walys the forenamed brethern Aurely and Uter preparyd theyr nauy and men of armys and passed the see and landed at Totnesse as sayth the englysh cronycle wherof when the Brytons were ware that were disparklyd and seueryd in many couÌ„tres they drewe to them in all hasty wyse The which sayde bretherne when they sawe that they hadde a competent nomber of knyghtes they made towarde walys to dystresse Uortyger wherof he beynge warned for so myche as he well knewe y t he myght not make sufficyeÌ„t defence by streÌ„gth of knyghtes he therfore garnyshed his castell wyth strength of men and vytayll entendynge to sauegarde hym selfe by that meane but all in vayne For the sayde two bretherne wyth theyr armye besegyd the sayd castell and fynally after many assautes wyth wylde fyre consumed the sayde castell wyth Uortiger and all that was therin Of hym yt is redde that he shulde lye by his owne doughter in truste y e kynges shulde come of his blood For the whyche dede he was accursyd of saynte Germayne and lastely ended his lyfe as hefore is expressed when he hadde reygned nowe laste ix yeres THE XCIII CHAPITER AUrelius Ambrosius the seconde sonne of CoÌ„stantyne and brother to Constancius slayne by the treason of Uortyger was kynge made of the Brytons in the yere of oar lorde .iiii. hundred .lxxx. one and the .xxi. yere of Childericê° then kynge of Fraunce Of thys yt is sayd that when he hard of the dyuysion that was in the land of Brytayne betwene Uortiger and the Saxons and in what maner the SaxoÌ„s had subdued the Brytons he in all goodly haste wyth ayde of the kynge of lytell Brytayne spedde hym into thys lande where after the aboue sayde vyctory hadde of Uortiger he spedde hym towarde yorke as affermeth Gaufride and there chasyd the Saxons that helde the cytye wyth Octa or Osca sonne of Hengist and toke the sayde Octa kepte hym as a prysoner somwhat of tyme. But howe so yt was by treason of his keper or otherwyse he brake pryson And he wyth his fader gaderyd after a great hoste and mette Aurelius his Brytons at a place called Crekynford where was foughten a stronge myghty batayll to y e losse of both partyes but the more losse fyll to the SaxoÌ„s For of them was slayne foure dukes and .iiii. thousande of other men that other dele chasyd to theyr great daunger yet this not wytstandynge Hengiste contynued his lordshyppe in Kent and Aurelius Ambrose whyche the englyshe cronycle nameth Aurilambrose kepte the countre called Logiers or myddell Englande wyth walys and chasyd the Saxons y â— dwelled in y e .ii. forsayd prouynces of eest Saxon and eest Anglis out of those countres The seconde kyngdome THE XCIIII CHAPITER IN this passe tyme a SaxoÌ„ named Ella wyth his thre sonnes called Symen or Symon Plettynger and Cissa came wyth thre shyppes called Obilas and landed in the south parte of Brytayne and slewe many Brytons at a place that then was named Cuneueshore chased many vnto a wood theÌ„ called Andresleger and after occupyed y e countre inhabyted hym his Saxons wythin the sayde prouynce makyng hym selfe kyng and lorde therof By reason wherof by his might power the sayd prouynce or countre was after named y e kyngdome or lordshyp of Southsaxons The whyche after most concorde of wryters shuld haue his begynnyng y â— .xxxii. yere after the fyrst coÌ„myng of HeÌ„gist which
vnto a dragoÌ„ vnder a sterre apperynge in the firmament wherof there is made a long processe and by Gaufryde in his Brytyshe boke also affermed the whych to me semeth of lytell credeÌ„ce But trought it is that after Uter was as before is sayde made kynge he was enamowryd vppon the dukes wyfe of Cornewayll named Igwarne or Igorne for to optayn his vnlefull lust sought many dyuers meanes So y e lastly he made warre vpoÌ„ her husbaÌ„de named Garolê° or Gorleis at leÌ„gth slew y e sayde duke at his castell called Tyntagell standynge in Cornewayle after maryed his wyfe and receyued of her the noble knyght Arthur and a doughter named Amye as sayth the englyshe cronycle More is not lefte of any wryter of authoryte in remembraunce of thys Uter all be it that some testifye that he by the helpe of Merlyne shulde fetche Coria gigantum otherwyse called the stone henge out of IrlaÌ„d as before I haue shewed in the story of Aurelius And of Gaufryde ys shewed that Uter also shulde wynne the forsayde ladye by the enchauntement of Merlyn whych is not comely to any chrysten relygyon to gyue to any suche fantastycall illusyons any mynde or credence wherfore I passe ouer leuynge all the other mater whych also ys there rehersyd of the warre betwene Uter and Osca sonne of Hengyste for so mych as it is dyscordaunt vnto other wryters and fynally conclude that thys Uter Pendragon dyed by force of venym when he hadde ruled thys yle of Brytayne by the full terme of .xvi yeres and after was buryed by his brother Aurely in Coria gigantum or stone henge leuynge after hym the forenamed sonne the puyssaunt Arthur Francia THE CI. CHAPITER LOtharius or Clotharius the yongest sonne of Clodoueê° was made kynge of a parte of Fraunce called Soisons in y e yere of our lorde .v. hundred and .xiiii and the .xiiii. yere of Uter then kynge of myche Brytayne ye shall vnderstande that after the deth of Clodoueus laste kyng of Fraunce the lande by hym was dyuyded to hys foure sonnes That is to say to the eldest sonne Clodomirus was appoynted the lordshyppe of Orlyaunce to Theodoricus the seconde sonne Austracye to Childebertus y e thyrd son myddell FrauÌ„ce or the countre lyenge about Paris and to this Lothayr the aboue sayd lordshyppe of Soisons Of whyche sayd lordshyppes eyther of them possessyd they were of theyr subiettes called kynges and so contynued in good reste a certayne of tyme. In the whyche season Clotyld theyr moder berynge in mynde the vnnaturall deth of her parentes wylled her sonnes to venge theyr deth whych deth as testyfyeth Uincent historyall and also Antoninus was in this forme folowynge Gundenchus the grauÌ„d father of Clotildis had .iiii. sonnes that is to saye Cundebaldus Gondigisillus Hilpericus and Godomarus To these .iiii. sonnes Gundenchus besette the lande of Burgoyne Gondigisillê° and Godomarê° dyed wherfore the land of Burgoyne fyll to Cundebaldus and Hilpericus Then Cundebaldus for couetyse of the hole lordeshyp slew his brother Hilpericus fastened a great stone to the necke of his wyfe and cast her into a depe water And of hys .ii. doughters wherof the eldest hyght Trona he exyled in poore wede or clothynge And the yonger he kepte in seruage wythin his owne courte The whyche after as before is shewed was maryed agayne hys wyll vnto Clodoueê° fader to this Lothariê° Then yt foloweth this Lotharius sonne of Clotild made sharpe warre vpon Sigismonde sonne of Cundebaldus whyche then was dede In the whyche warre the eldest sonne Clodomyrus was slayne leuyng after hym .iii. sonnes named Theobaldus Guntherus or Guntharre and Clodoaldus whych .iii. sonnes toke to her tuycyon and guydynge But the other brother maynteyned the warre agayn y t BurgoynioÌ„s in such wyse y e finally they obteyned y e ryght porcyon of theyr moder Clotilde After thys warre was fynyshed in Burgoyne Childebertus the thyrd sonne herynge that Almarcus kyng of Spayne mysse entreated his suster made warre vppon hym lastly hym subdued and sette his suster in her former estate But whyle the said Childebert was thus in Spayne occupyed Theodorus his brother toke from hym a cytye to hym belongyng called MouÌ„tclere and slewe the knyghtes which Childebertus had lefte there to kepe the sayd cytye For this myscheuous dede arose gret debate betwene these two bretherne but by medyacyon of frendes they were at leÌ„gth accordyd Then Theodorus sought new meanes of dyspleasure agayne his sayde brother as well treason as other wyse the whyche Childebert by his polycye and wysedome wyth good fortune escapyd Childebertus than castynge in his mynde how he myght wynne to hym the patrymony or the lordeshyp that lately beloÌ„ged vnto his eldest broder Clodomyrus toke counsayle of his brother Clotharius In such wyse y t they to gyder or of one assent sent vnto theyr moder Clotyld for theyr neuewes childern of theyr brother And she nothynge mystrustynge theym sent the sayde childern vnto the sayd ii brethern But wythin shorte tyme of theyr commyng vnto theyr sayde vncles as testifyeth mayster Robert Gagwyne and also the freÌ„che cronicle Lotharius tyraÌ„nously wyth his sworde slew two of y e sayde childern And then the thyrde fledde for his sauegarde vnto suche as hym fauouryd He was after agayne taken and compelled to make a solemne othe y t he shulde become a relygyous man neuer clayme any part of his ryght or enherytaunce By which vnlefull meane the .ii. brothern obteyned the hole lordshyppe of Orleaunce and partyd the reuennues thereof betwene them but that enduryd but a whyle And here I passe ouer the sorowe that Clotylde made for the childern of her sonne Clodomyrus and also the orderyng of the yongest son called Clodoaldus whyche escaped the daunger of his vncles as before is shewed the whyche wolde aske a longe season THE CII CHAPITER IT was not long after but that the seconde brother kynge or duke of Austracy dyed of goddes visytacyon leuynge after hym a sonne named Theodobertus The whyche of his two foresayde vncles was greuously warred by loÌ„ge tract of tyme the whyche he defendyd thorough his marciall knighthode And when he by dyuers meanes hadde sought peace and myght not purchase it he then founde suche meanes by ryche gyftes and otherwyse that he waÌ„ne the fauoure of his vncle Childebert and cherysshyd hym as his frende Then fyll vnkyndnes betwene Childebert and Lotharius in so myche that eyther of theÌ„ assembled a great hoste to subdue that one the other But the forenamed Theodobertus made all y e power he myght to ayde and assyste Chyldebert So that vppon bothe partyes was a great multytude of knyghtes armed redy to fyght Clotilde then herynge of this mortall warre betwene her two sonnes and also consyderynge the lykelyhode of the great effusyon of mannes blood that myghte ensue by the reason of the ioynynge of these foresayd two hostes in all hast yode vnto the sepulture or shryne of
that tyme reygned in kent or soone after Ethelbert or Athelbert whyche myghte be taken of some for Adelbryght And that other whyche he named Edylf myght be taken for Ella kynge of Southsaxons But this Ella shulde not by concorde of wryters be lyuynge at this tyme. It myght wyth more conuenyency accorde that yt shulde be a kynge of Deira or of NorthuÌ„berlande named Ella the whyche reygned more aboute this tyme and season Of these two kynges the sayde englyshe cronycle telleth a longe processe the whych for I fynde none authour of authoryte that wryteth or speketh of the same I passe yt ouer ye shall also furthermore vnderstande that after this daye the Brytons dayly dyscreasyd of lordshyppe and rule wythin Brytayne drewe them towarde Cambyr or walys so that the countre about Chestre was the chyefe of theyr lordshyp wythin Brytayne For dayly the Saxons landed wyth companyes and occupyed y e princypall partes of y e same as shortely here after shall appere The fyfthe kyngdome of the Saxons THE CIX CHAPITER IN the tyme of the reygne of this fore named Aurelius Conanus as wytnessyth Polycronica Guido other beganne the kyngdome or lordshyp of Brenicia vnder a Saxon named Ida the yere of our lorde .v. hundred and .xlvii and the seconde or laste yere of the sayd Conanus Thys lordshyp was in the north parte of Brytayne and grewe in short whyle more more so that fynally it was named the kyngdome of Northumberlande But ye shall vnderstande that this lordshyp was fyrste deuyded in two kyngdomes wherof the fyrste as aboue is sayde was called Brenicia and that other Deyra The meris or markis of this kyngdome of NorthuÌ„berlande were by Easte and by west the occean see by south the ryuer of Humber and so downwarde towarde the weste by the endys of y e shyres of Notynghm and Derby vnto the ryuer of Merse or Mercia and by north the Scottysshe see whyche is called forth in Scottysh in Brettyshe the werde The southsyde of thys lordshyppe was called Deyra whyche is nowe called the bysshopryke of Durham and the north syde was called Brenicia whyche were than departyd or seuered by the ryuer of Tyne Deyra conteyned the lande from Humber to the ryuer of Tyne and Brenicia included the countree from Tyne to the Scottysshe see In Brenicia regned fyrste as is aboue sayd Ida or Idas in Deyra regned fyrste Ella whych lordshyppes began bothe within .iii. yeres But in processe of tyme bothe in one were named the kyngdome of Northumberlande whych so contynued somwhyle vnder one kynge somewhyle vnder two by the terme of .iii. hundred and .xxi. yeres as sayth Ranulphe munke of Chester And after furth contynued y e name vnder Saxons and Danes tyll the comynge of Edredus brother of Ethelstane son of Edwarde y e elder The whiche Edredus in the .ix. or last yere of hys reygne ioyned thys to hys owne kyngdome By which reasoÌ„ it shulde seme that thys kyngdome endured vnder that name vpon .iiii. hundred and .ix. yeres The fyrste crysten prynce of thys kyngdome was named Edwynus that receyued the fayth of saynt Paulyne as testyfyeth Guydo In thys lordshyppe also were included these shyres and countrees nowe called yorke Notyngham shyre or Snothyngham shyre Derby shyre y e bysshopryke of Durham Copelande and other Amonge the many kynges y t reygned in thys lordshyppe whych after some wryters were to the nomber of xxiii reygned one accoÌ„pted the .viii. kynge by Guydo named Ethelfridê° sonne of Ethelricus whych Ethelfridus destroyed mo Brytons than all y e other kynges of SaxoÌ„s This was fader to saint Oswold Oswi He slewe also many of the BrytoÌ„s at a batayle that he had agayn them besyde Kaerlegyon or Chester and two thousande and a huÌ„dred of monkes of the house of Bangor as it ys testyfyed of Polycronicon in the .x. chapyter of hys .v. boke the whyche monkes were comen thyder to praye for the good spede of the Brytons And ouer thys forsayde nomber of monkes .l. fled whereby they wyth theyr leder named Brucyuall were sauyd Of suche a nomber of monkes of one house myghte be demyd a wonder But the sayd Policronica wyth Guydo and other wryters affermyn that in that house of Bangor were at those dayes for the more party thre tymes vii hundred monkes the whych lyued by the trauayle of theyr handes onely The forenamed Oswye was after Oswolde kynge of thys prouynce whych gaue wyth hys doughter Elfleda a nonne .xii. lordshyppes into y e chyrche to buylde wyth .xii. monasteryes whereof .vi. of the sayde lordshyppes were in Brenicia and .vi. in Deyra as sayth Guydo And also Ranulphe in hys .v. boke of Polycronyca and .xvi. chapyter affermyth the same THE CX CHAPITER UOrtiporiê° sonne of Aureliê° Conanus after the opynyon before sayd was ordeyned kynge of Brytayne in the yere of our lorde .v. hundred and .xlviii. and the .xxxiiii. yere of Clotharius thenne kynge of Fraunce Of the whych is lytell memory lefte in any cronycler or wryter excepte y t Guydo testyfyeth hym to be a vyctoryous knyght shewyng breefly that he in sondry batayles scomfyted the Saxons and defendyd hys lande and Brytons from y e daunger of them and other that the Saxons alyed them wyth In the tyme of the reygne of thys kynge a Saxon named Ella the son of Iffus began to reygne in y e south syde of the kyngdome of Northumberlande called Deyra as before is touchyd in the chapyter of the sayde kyngdome Then yt foloweth whan this Uortiporius hadde ruled the Brytons knyghtly by the terme of .iiii. yeres he dyed and was put to hys fader leuynge none heyre of hys body For as myche as all wryters agreen that the kynges of westsaxon at length subdued all the other kyngdomes and made of the hole land of mych Brytayne but one kyngdome or monarchye and all other as well of Brytons as of Saxons fayled or lefte of that all onely excepted therfore I entende to brynge in the name of euerych kyng of westsaxon froÌ„ the fyrst Cerdycus or Chyldricus ioyne them wyth the kynges of Brytons for so long as hereafter y e sayd Brytons contynued theyr reygne wythin any parte of Brytayne THE CXI CHAPITER MAlgo a duke of the Brytons and neuewe of Aureliê° Conanus as sayth the authour of the Floure of hystories begaÌ„ his reigne ouer the Brytons in the yere of oure lorde .v. hundred .lii and the .xxxviii. yere of Clotharius then styll kynge of Fraunce and also the .xv. yere of Kenricus the sonne of Cerdicus and seconde kyng of westsaxoÌ„ aforesayd accomptyng .xv. yeres of the reygne of hys fader as Guydo allowyth Thys Malgo after y e accorde of all wryters that make mencyon was y e comlyest and moost personable man of all Brytons than lyuyng therewyth endowed with knyghtly manhode The whyche wythstode y e Saxons and kepte them of that they damaged not the lande the whyche he
from thens to Uerdune or Uerdoune Theodoberte hauynge knowlege of hys malycyouse brothers purpose gaderyd in Austracy a greate hoste and so sped hym tyll he came to the cytye of Toull where bothe hostes shortely after met and in the feldes or playnes nere to the cytye foughte a stronge batayle In the which was slayne greate people vppon bothe sydes but the more parte vppon the syde of Theodobert wherfore he fynally was compelled to forsake the felde and fled vnto Coleyne where he gaderyng a newe powar fought agayne wyth hys brother In the whyche fyght he had lyke fortune was agayn chasyd to hys grete shame and losse whom Theodoricus as hys mortall enemye folowed fyrynge and wastynge the countreys as he went in so myche that the inhabytauntes of the couÌ„treys fell before hym besechynge his grace that for the offence of one man he wolde not destroye so many innocentes assurynge hym forthermore that they wolde become hys lyegemen and holde theyr lande of hym for euer At whyche request he sayde gladly he wolde to them graunte theyr petycyon yf that they wolde presente to hym the hedde of hys brother After the whych answere by them of Theodorych receyued they amonge them selfe appoynted out a certayne of persones moste apte to theyr purpose and wyllyd theym to go vnto Theodobert to execute theyr entent The whyche sped theyr iourney tyll they came to the presence of Theodobert shewyd vnto hym that yf he wolde be agreable to departe wyth suche stuffe and iewellys as he had of hys faders so that Theodoryche myghte be partener therof he shulde haue perfyght amyte and rest wyth hym To the whyche wordes he gyuynge confydence and truste called wyth hym the sayde persones and brought them into y e howses where the sayd stuffe and iewellys lay And whyle he was busyed to deuyde out and appoynte y e porcyon of hys one of the sayde persons slewe hym sodeynly and after of one agrement strake of hys hed and in secrete wyse caused yt to be conueyed vnto hys brother whan Theodoryche hadde receyued the hed of hys brother he sped hym to Coleyne where this treason was wrought and receyued the cytye into hys possessyon wyth all y e kyngdome of Austracy to hys brother belongynge And when he had there ordred hys nedes after hys mynde wyth two sonnes and an excedynge fayre doughter of Theodobert he spedde hym vnto Mees the chefe cytye of Austracy where wyth hym met hys graundmoder Brunechyelde The whyche perseuerynge in all malyce and myschefe caused y e sayd two sonnes to be shortly slayn Theodorych then restoryd or delyuered vnto Clothayre all such laÌ„des as to hym he had before promysed Theodoryche thus endynge hys warre the whyche by a longe season spent hys tyme in kepynge of concubynes was nowe rauyshed wyth the beaute of his brothers doughter the whyche he hadde brought from Coleyne But that doyng Brunechyeld wythstode wyth all her power because the mayde was so â—eâ—e of hys kynne For the whych he beyng with herfore dyscoÌ„tent sayde o thou most wycked false woman dyd not thou make me to beleue that Theodobert was not the sonne of my father but that he was the sonne of a gardyner For what cause hast thou caused me to ê‘secute my brother and lastely to â—lee hym After the whyche wordes he wolde haue slayne her yf he of his lordes hadde not ben letted whyche dede not forgotten of this vngoodly woman euer after imagyned howe she myght brynge Theodoryche out of lyfe And lastely she hyryd such as were about hym to consent to her iniquyte so that vpon a season when he came out of his stew or bayn he axyd drynke by y e force wherof he was poysoned â—yed soone after wheÌ„ he had reygned .xviii. yeres Howe be yt Antoninus in the .vi. chapyter .xii. tytle of the seconde parte of hys worke sayth that he was brent wyth fyre by the dyuyne power THE CXXVI CHAPITER NOw that I haue shewed vnto you the fyne ende of these two bretherne by reason of whose deth the hole pryncypate of Fraunce fell vnto the abouenamed Clothayr I shall now expresse vnto you the dedys by hym done after he hadde all the rule onely So yt was that y e forenamed Brunechyelde malygned euer agayn Lothayr And to the fortherauÌ„ce of her malyce â–ª she behauyd her in such wise wyth some of the rulers lordes of Austracy that she caused them to admytte owne named Sygebert to be ryghtfull enherytoure of that lande â–ª But for that some of them had good experyence of theyll dysposycyon of this woman they therfore sent two noblemen of that lande name Pepyn and Arnold vnto Clothayre willynge hym to sende hastely into that prouynce After the whyche message by these two lordes reported Clotharius shortely after spedde hym into Austracy and at a castell called Cathomat he lodgyd hym with hys people whereof herynge Brunechielde sent vnto hym gaue vnto hym monicyon that he shuld voyde the land for so myche as Sygebert the eldest sonne of Theodoryche was therof ryghtefull enherytour ye haue harde before that Theodoryche vsyd lemmans of the whyche he receyued foure sonnes y t is to say Sygebert Corbe Chyldebert and Merone wherfore y e foresayde Brunechyelde entendynge to dystourbe Lothayre and all the lande fortyfyed the sayd Sygebert to clayme the lande of Austracye And when Clothayre hadde receyued knowlege of this maundemeÌ„t from Brunechielde or Bruncheuste he sent to her answere that he wolde assemble the lordes of Austracy and be demed by theym whyther thys land belonged to hym or Sygebert And she ferynge that sentence excyted people of the prouynce of Germanye to strength her partye wyth all the people that she myght make of the sayde countre of Austracy And that to bryng about she sente one Garnery an other Albon Of this Garnery she hadde suspeccyon that he shuld fauour y e partye of Lothayre wherfore to Albone hys felowe she sente letters that he shulde put the sayde Garnery away wheÌ„ Albone had ouer rad the letter he brake yt in peces threwe theym from hym And afterwarde a frende of Garneryes gaderyd the peces and so ioyned theym that he conceyuyd the sentence of the letter and forthwyth shewyd yt vnto Garnery when Garnery perceyued the malycyous entent of Brunechielde he kepte yt secrete to hym selfe all be it that he by his secrete meanes caused the Germanyes that they shuld take no partye wyth Brunechyelde And that done he retourned into Burgoyne where wyth her and in her coÌ„panye he solycyted so the lordes of Burgoyne that some of them abhorred the crudelite of that woman And when Garnery hadde in thys wyse compassed hys maters he sent vnto Lothayr shewyd that yf he myght haue hys grace and safecondute he wolde come to hym and shew to hym thynges concernynge hys aduauntage All the whyche was graunted Then Clothayre by counsayle of y e sayd Garnery assembled his power shortly sente a
Derbysshyre and wayted his tyme and lastly fand the kynge smally accompanyed and entended to haue ronne thorough the kynge wyth a sworde enuenemed But one Lilla the kynges trusty seruaunt dysgarnysshed of shylde or other wepyn to defende his mayster starte betwene the knyg the sword and was stryken thorough the body and dyed and the kynge was wounded with the same stroke And after he wouÌ„ded the thyrde and was takeÌ„ and confessyd by whom he was sent to worke that treason The other knyght that was secondly wounded dyed and the kynge laye after longe syke or he were helyd And the same nyght folowynge the quene was delyuered of a doughter the whyche kyng Edwyn caused to be crystened of Paulinus y e bysshop in tokeÌ„ that he wolde fulfylle all suche promyse as he before had made And she was named Enfleda and halowed vnto god And after whytsontyde y â— kyng beynge scantly hole of the wounde assembled his hoste made towarde the kynges of westsaxon and after a greate and sore fyghte venquysshed them and theyr hoste But Edwyn for all thys vyctory and other thynges gyuen to hym of god as he that was in helthe of the worlde forgate his former promesse and had lytell mynde therof excepte that he by the preachyng of Paulinus forsoke his maumeÌ„trye and for his excuse sayde that he myghte not clerely renye his olde lawe that his forefaders hadde kepte so longe and sodeynly be crystened without authoryte and good aduyse of hys counceyle He also receyued letters of exhortacyon and coÌ„forte to take the baptyme from y e .v. Boniface thaÌ„ pope The whiche also sent to the quene lyke letters with a myrrour garnysshed with syluer and a combe of iuory and for the kyng a shyrte wrought in soÌ„dry places with letters of golde But all this preuayled nothynge Then Paulinê° made his specyall prayers to god and had it shewed to hym by reuelacyon of the token that was gyuen to Edwyn in tyme of his trybulacyon After the which knowlege hadde Paulinus shortly after came vnto the kyng and layeng his hande on hys hed frayned of hym whyther he had any lyke remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of any lyke token The whyche whan the kynge hadde confessyd the holy bysshoppe sayde vnto hym Lo thou hast ouercomen thyne enemyes and wonne thy kyngdome holdest it in moste large wyse therfore perfourme thy promesse and be trew to hym that hath holpen thy It was not longe after that the kynge assemblyd hys counceyll and by theyr agremeÌ„t he was of the sayd Paulinus byshop of yorke baptysed wythin the sayde cytye the .xi. yere of hys reygne and the yere of grace as testifyeth Guido .vi. C.xxvii He was the fyrste crysten kyng that reygned in that couÌ„trey And after hym many of hys lordes subiectes were also crystened of the sayd Paulinus and the flamyns or bysshoppes of theyr false goddes were turned to Crystes faythe In token wherof they armed them as knyghtes bestrode good horses where before by theyr lawe they myghte vse none armoure nor ryde but onely on a mare From that tyme forthwardes by the term of .vi. yeres durynge the lyfe of kynge Edwyn Paulinus crystened contynuelly in bothe prouynces of Deyra and in BreÌ„nicia in the ryuers of Gweuy Swala whyche he vsed for hys fontes and preached in the shyre of Lyndesey and buylded there a chyrche of stone at Lyndecoln or Lyncolne In thys tyme was so great peace in that kyngdome of Edwyne that a woman myghte haue gone from one towne to an other without grefe or noyaunce And for the refresshynge of waye goers this Edwyn ordeyned at clere wellys cuppes or dysshes of iron or brasse to be fastened to postes standynge by the sayd wellys sydes and no man was so hardy to take awaye those cuppes he kept so good iustyce and with that he was knyghtely of hys dedes He was the fyrste that wanne this ile of Eubonia now called the ile of man And by hys meanes Orpewaldus or Corpewaldus the sonne of Redwaldus kynge of Eest anglis or Norphis to whom as before is touchyd Edwyn had fledde for socoure was conuerted to the true fayth and a greate parte of his men with hym And for this Edwyn excellyd y e other kynges they enuyed at hym and specyally Penda kynge of Mercia the whyche excyted Cadwan kynge of Brytons agayne hym So that they two assemblyd a great hoste agayne Edwyn and lastly met in a palce called Hatfelde and after sharpe fyght on bothe sydes there Edwyne was slayne whan he had reygned ouer y e Northumbris .xvii. yeres in the yere of our lorde as sayth Guydo .vi. C. xxxiii when these two kynges Cadwan or Cedwalla and Penda hadde thus ouercomen the kynge and hym slayne and mych of hys people they became so cruell to men of that countrey that they destroyed therin mych people as men women chyldren as well religyous as other wherfore Paulinus the archebysshop beholdyng theyr cruelnesse toke with him the quene Enfleda hyr doughter fled by water into Kent And for the bysshoprych of Rochester was than voyde by reason that Romanus the last bysshop was adreynte Paulyne was there ordeyned and made bysshop of that see and there dyed And also lefte there his Paull as affyrmeth Policronycon and other the archebysshoppes see of yorke was voyde .xxx. yeres after But y e quene whyche was named Etherberga became a menchon sayled into Gallia or Fraunce wherein an abbaye called Brydgence or Bryggence she lyued an holy lyfe and dyed and hyr doughter Enfleda coÌ„tynued hyr professyon and was afterwarde abbesse of Strenshalt in the vale of whitby After the deth of Edwyn Osrycus that was the sonne of Elfricê° which was brother of Ethelfridus toke vppon hym to be kynge of Deyra and Eaufricus the eldest sonne of Ethelfrida as before in the C. and. xxviii chapiter is touched was made kyng of Brennicia the whyche turned theÌ„ both froÌ„ Crystes fayth and became myscreauÌ„tes For the whych goddes wrech fell vpon them in short whyle after for they were bothe slayne in y e yere folowynge of y e fornamed Cadwan and Penda And whan these sayde two kynges were thus slayne Oswalde y â— second sonne of Ethelfrid began his reygne ouer the prouynce of Brennicia as chefe of that kyngdome of Northumberlande and had the rule of Deira in lyke wyse wherof whan Cadwan or Cedwalla was ware he gathered hys Brytons and thoughte to slee Oswalde as he hadde before slayne his brother Eaufricus But Oswald whan he was warned of the greate strength of thys Cadwan he made his prayers to god and besoughte hym mekely of helpe to withstande his enemyes And or he yode to prayer he arreryd a crosse of tre before the whyche he knelyd a longe whyle in a felde whyche longe after was called Heuynfelde and at thys daye is had in greate worshyppe That place is nere vnto the town or chyrche of Agustalde in Brennicia the whyche chyrche was there
Brytons or walshemen the towne of Chester that they hadde kepte possessyon of tyll that daye For the whych vyctoryes thus by hym obteyned he shortely after called a counsayll of his lordes at wynchester and there by theyr aduysys crowned him kyng and chese lorde of this lande that to fore thys daye is called Brytayne and sente then oute into all costes of thys lande his commaundementes and commyssyons chargyng straytly that from that day forthward the Saxons shulde be called Anglys the lande Anglia About the .xxiiii. yere of the reygne of Egbert whyche shulde be the yere of our lord as meaneth Policronica viii hundred and .xix. Kenelmus before mynded the son of Kenwolfus was admytted for kynge of Mercia beynge then a chyld of the age of .vii yeres The whyche by treason of his syster Ouendreda was slayne in a thycke wood by a tyraunt callid Hesbertus and hys bodye after founde by a pyller of the sonne beame or of lyght dyuyne that shone from his bodye towarde heuen It ys also redde of hym that a coluer bare a scrowle wryten in englyshe then vsed and lette yt fall from hyr vppon the aulter of saynte Peter in Rome wherof the wordes were these At clense in Cowbacch Kenelme Kenebern lyeth vnder Thorne hewyd beweuyd whyche is to meane in englyshe now vsyd at Clent in Cow vale vnder a thorne lyeth Kenelmus hedlesse slayne by fraude when this holy body was founde and was borne towarde the place of his sepulture his forenamed syster entendynge some derysyon or other vylanye to be done to the corps lenyd oute of a wyndowe where by the corps shulde passe And to bryng her malycyouse purpose aboute I note by what sorcery she ment there she redde the psalme of the Sauter begynnynge Deus laudem bacward But what so her entente was she there incontynently fell blynde and her eyen dystylled dropes of blood that fell vppon the Sauter boke The which in token of goddes wretche in that boke remayne at thys daye to be sene Of the holynes of thys martyr of his vertue y e legēde of sayntes reportyth the surplusage In the .xxix. yere of the reygne of Egbert or after the englyshe cronycle Edbryght the Danys wyth a great hoste enteryd the seconde tyme thys londe and spoyled the yle of Shepey in Kent or nere to kent wherof herynge the kynge Egbert assembled hys people and met wyth theym at a place callyd Carrum But he wanne of that fyghte lytell worshyppe for the Danys compellyd him and his knyghtes to forsake the felde And by presumpcyon of y e vyctorye they drewe westwarde and made a confederey wyth weste Brytons that liued in seruage By whose power they assayllyd Egbertus landes and dyd myche harme in many placys of hys domynyon and ellys where so that after thys daye they were contynuallye abydynge in one place of the realme of Englande or other tyll y e tyme of harde Kynytus laste kynge of the Danys blood so that many of theym were maryed to Englishe women and many that nowe ben or in tyme passed were called englyshe men are dyscendyd of theym And all be yt that they were many and sondry tymes dryuen out of that lande and chasyd frō one countrey to a nother as after ye shall here yet that not wythstādyng they euer gaderyd newe strengthes and power so that they abode styll wythin the lande Of the kynge of these Danys and of what people they be dyscended dyuerse opynyons of wryters there be whych now I passe ouer for so mych as I entende to shewe somewhat of theym in this worke folowynge Then it folowyth in the storye the tyme contynuyng of the persecucion of these foresayd Paganys and Danes Egbert or Edbryght dyed whē he hadde well and nobly ruled the westsaxons and other the more parte of Englande by the terme after most wryters of .xxxvii. yeres and was buryed at wynchester as sayth Guydo and lefte after hym a sonne named Athenulphus Francia THE CLIX. CHAPITER LOdouicus y e fyrst of that name and sonne of Charlis the great began hys reygne ouer y e realme of Fraūce also his empyre ouer the Romaynes in the yere of grace .viii. hūdred and .xv and the .xx. yere of Egbertus then kynge of westsaxons Thys for his mekenesse was callyd Lewys the mylde or meke In tyme of hys fathers decease he was occupyed in Guyan the whych he before tyme hadde the rule and domynyon of by commaundement of his father But when he was aduertised of his faders deth he anon sped hym toward Aquisgrani so y t y e .xxx. day after hys departyng out of Guyan he came vnto the foresayde cytye where he was mette wyth all the nobles and barons of Fraūce And fyrst or he medled or toke vpon hym any cure or charge of hys owne besynes he with most deuocyon causyd great obseruaunces and myche dyuyne seruyce to be done aboute the sepulture of his father whyche obseruaunce prayers fynyshed and endyd y e sayde Lewes commaundyd to come before hym dyuerse ambassadours that frō dyuerse prynces were sent vnto hys father Charlis and to theym gaue answers concernyng theyr legacyōs and messagis and then proceded vnto the nedes of his realm for y e weale therof and of his people wherein he beynge besyed worde was brought to hym of an ambassad royall y t was comen from Michael the emperour of Constantyne the noble Agayne the whyche he sent certayne of hys lordes to receyue them and so wyth all honour to bryng thē vnto hys presence Of whose commynge the entente was to presente hym wyth certayne ryche gyftes and to desyre hym of his amyte and frendshyppe Also soone after came vnto hym messengers from the Beneuētanys offerynge vnto his magnyfycence obligacyons and bondes to be his true lyeges and to paye to hym yerely in way of trybute .vi. thousande ducates of gold A ducate is of sondry valuys but the leste in value is .iii. s. iii d. ob and the beste .iiii. s. vii d. Then the Soysons or Saxons that were so dyuerse of condycyon beganne to murmoure and rebell agayne this Lowys wherfore or he wolde assemble any people agayne theym he sent thyder certayne persones to know y e cause of theyr rebellyon And when he was enfourmed that yt was for the takynge awaye from them of certayne lādes and possessyons by hys father he then restored agayne the sayde landes and so recouncylyd the countrey to his subieccyon For this dede some of his lordes grudged and sayde such myldenes was not to be vsyd to people of suche obstynacy and sternesse but to haue forcyd them by dynte of sworde to haue lyued in due obedyence In thys passetyme dyed pope Stephan the fourth of that name after whose deth was elected to that dygnyte the fyrste Pascall wythout cōsente or knowlege of this Lowys somdeale to the dyscontentynge of his mynde pleasure But in shorte tyme after he receyued such wordes and presentes
theyr enemyes Of thys message the kynge was ryght fayne and forthwith sped him tyll he came to Roan wher he was accordynge to hys honour receyued For the whyche cause he sent in all hast vnto Arnulfe erle of FlauÌ„ders monassynge hym that he sease of his warres in Bayon tyll he receyued farther knowlege The kyng thus restyng in Roan deuysed hys maters at hys pleasure so that the Normayns obeyed them to all hys requestes And for y e good aberynge that Barnarde the Dane was of agayne the kynge he graunted to hym the gydynge of the yonge duke And whan he shulde departe he ordeyned as hys deputye one named Raoull or Rauf The whyche after the kynges departure behaued hym so cruelly to the Normans that they were very irke of hym And ouer thys the foresayd Barnard ferynge the kynges retorne and other more greuous punysshement than they before hadde susteyned sent his messengers vnto Grolle kynge of Denmarke than beynge at Chyerbourk wyllyng hym to assemble his people and to make of them two hostes wherof to sende y e one by lande and that other by water so to entre the couÌ„tre of Normandy in wastyng and spoylynge it by reason wherof he myghte brynge the kynge to some coÌ„munycacyon whych all was done as the sayd Barnarde had deuysed whan the kynge had wyttyng of the Danys that wyth so grete a multytude were entred the prouynce of Normandy he assembled hys hoste and sped hym thytherwarde and in processe of tyme came vnto the cytye of Roane where by hys counsayle it was condyscended that a metynge and frendly communycacyon shulde be had bytwene the kynge the sayd Grolle at a place called in Frenche Herlycum where at the day appoynted bothe prynces mette wyth bothe hostes standynge or hauynge a lytell dystauÌ„ce of And whyle the two prynces were there in communycacyon of the deth and murder of duke willmÌ„ a Dane markynge Herloyne For whose causes as before is shewed duke willmÌ„ was slayne with a spere wounded hym so greuously that he dyed forthwyth whych dede hys brother called Lambert wyth other of y e Frenchmen entendynge to reuenge wyth theyr wepons fylle vppon the Danys whyche them receyued with greate vyolence So that of that a fraye ensued a skyrmysshe and after the skyrmysshe a sore batayle For bothe hostes ioyned on bothe sydes and faught cruelly eyther with other a longe whyle But in the ende the Frenchmen had the worse and were compelled to flee And the kynge to saue hys lyfe fledde also whyche by reason of hys vntrusty horse was taken and kepte secrete a certayne of tyme by his taker But lastly he was discouered and brougth to the cytye of Roane as a prysoner The kynge thus beynge in holde vnder the kepynge of the Danys Engeberge hys wyfe makynge for hym grete dole and sorowe toke her iourney to the kynge of Germany whose doughter she was besechyng hym to prouyde for the delyuerye of her lorde and husbande But of hym had she no socour but rather dyscoÌ„fort shewyng to her that the trowble that her husbande susteyned he had well deserued for his vnstedfastnesse that he agayne wyllyam the duke Rycharde hys sonne had vsed wherfore the quene beynge thus answered of her father rode vnto Hugh le graunde besechyng hym of helpe in this greate nede The which at the request of the quene sent vnto Barnard erle of Senlys requiryng to moue some wayes to the Danys for the enlargynge of the kynge By whose labour and meanys lastely a counsayle was kepte at saynt Clere vpon the ryuer of Ept. where after many argumentes reasons made fynally it was agreed that the kyng shulde be enlarged tyll an other day of coÌ„munycacyon layenge for pledges hys sonne and heyre named Lothayr the bysshop of Senlys and y e bysshop of Beauuayze whyche done the kynge was set at large and forth wyth rode vnto the cytye of Laon. where he abode the other daye of coÌ„munycacyon whyche after was holden at y e foresayd ryuer of Ept. And concluded a peas whyche lasted but a shorte whyle after Thys peas thus confermed Grollo the kynge of Danys wyth greate gyftes was retorned from whens he was desyred And Richarde the yonge duke toke vpon hym the rule of hys owne Signory and grewe and encreased forthwardly wherof Hugh the graunde takyng hede and beholdynge hys wyse demeanure and conuersacyon made suche labour and meanes vnto Barnarde erle of Senlis y t he maried to him his doughter named Emmacet wherof beynge enfourmed the French kynge caste in hys mynde thys greate alyaunce bytwene the yonge duke and two grete perys of hys lande and thoughte y t these .iii. knâ—t in amyte and alyaunce shulde dysturbe hym whan them lyked wherof he called to hym Arnold erle of Flaunders by whose counsayle he sent the sayde Arnolde vnto Ottho kynge of Germany requyrynge hym of ayde to warre vpon y e Normayns and to breke thys affynyte of thys yonge duke of Hugh le graunde and of Barnarde erle of Senlys and for his labour he shuld haue to hym and to hys heyres the prouynce or lordshyp of Lorayne Ottho wyth thys couetous promesse deceyued asseÌ„bled his knyghtes and at the day and place appoynted met wyth the kynge and wyth theyr people sped them to Roan and layde siege vnto y e cytye And whyle the kynges were occupyed in wastynge and brennynge the vylages nere vnto the cytye to put the Normans in the more fere Ottho sent hys neuewe wyth a certayne of hys people in secrete wyse to the gates of the cytye But whan he was comen to the gate that opened towarde the ryuer of SaynÌ„ and thoughte there to wynne hys enterpryse y e cytesyns issued out vppon hym sodeynly and gaue to hym batayle and slewe hym and many of hys company and the remenaunt they chased froÌ„ the walles of the cytye whan Ottho had wyttyng of the ouerthrowe of hys men and deth of his neuew whom he entyrely loued he made inward heuynesse and caste in his minde how he myght reuenge the deth of hys neuewe But whan he approched the cytye and behelde the strength therof wyth also the fyersnesse of the NormaÌ„des he repented hym of enterprysyng of that iourney and torned all hys hatered vnto Arnolde erle of Flaunders by whose sterynge and counsayle that vyage was fyrste begon in so mych that he sought the meanes to brynge y e sayd Arnolde into the handes of the Normans wherof Arnolde beynge warned trussed his stuffe and harneys secretly and in the nyght stale away and so retorned into Flaunders with his retynew The whych thyng knowen to the two kynges in as secrete wise as they myghte departed also from y e siege But yet therof theyr enmyes beynge ware pursued them slewe many of theyr company And or the yere that thys was done in had roÌ„ne hys full compas Lewys the kynge dyed and was buryed in the temple of the holy bysshoppe saynte Remygius wythin the cytye of
But how it beganne myne authour myndeth not But ye shall vnderstand that at this daye the cytye of London had moste housynge and buyldynge from Ludgate towarde westmester and lytell or none where y e chefe or herte of the cytye is nowe excepte in dyuers places was housing but they stode with oute order So that many townes and cytyes as Caunterbury yorke and other dyuers in Englande passed London in buyldynge at those days as I haue sene or knoweÌ„ by an olde boke somtyme in the Guyldehal of London named Domys day But after the coÌ„quest yt encreaced shortly after passed excelled all y e other About the .viii. yere of this kynges reygne the kynge maryed erle Egbertus doughter named Ethelgina or Elgina Of the whyche in processe of time he receyued a son named Edmunde whyche after was surnamed Ironsyde and .ii. other sonnes named Edwyn and Ethylstane and a doughter named Edgina In this pastyme dyed saynt Ethilwalde byshop of wynchester He was borne in wynchester and noryshed vnder holy Dunstane at Glastenbury and there shorne monke and after was chosen abbot of Abyndon in the tyme of the reygne of kynge Edredus And in the tyme of Edgar he was sacryd byshoppe of wynchester where he made an abbay of nunnes and translated saynt Swythynes body out of the erth After whyche sayde Ethelwalde holy Alphegus abbot then of Bathe was sacred byshoppe of wynchester the whyche after was archebishoppe of Caunterbury and martyred hastely of the cruell Danys as after shall be shewed About the .ix. yere of Egelredus for stryfe y t was betwene the byshop of Rochester and hym he wyth his knyghtes beseged the sayde cytye wherof holy DuÌ„stane sent to y e kyng amonyssynge hym that he shulde refrayne hym of that cruelty suffre y e byshop and his citye in peace oneles that he offended saynte Andrewe patrone of that citye But this message mylded nothyng y e kynges courage Then thys blessed man sent to hym a hundred pounde in gold wyllyng hym to refrayne of that outrage the whyche he receyued and brake the syege Then blessyd Dunstane sente this message to the kyng For thou haste preferred golde before god and syluer before the apostle and couetyse before me right so euyll happes shall come vnto the but not whyle I am in lyfe But the kynge toke lytell regarde to those wordes but contynued in his insolent cursed dedes About the .xi. yere of his reygne dyed that blessed archbyshoppe saynte Dunstane Of whom Ranulff in the xiii chapyter of his .vi. boke of Policronycon maketh rehersall of dyuers of his vertues and myracles the whyche I passe ouer and the rather bycause his legeÌ„de or lyfe is manyfest Siricus was archbyshop after hym after hym wulricus And after wulricus blessed Elphegê° was archbyshop of that see It was not longe after the deth of holy Dunstane but that the Danys perced England in many and sondry places of the lande in suche wyse that the kynge was to seke to which coste he shuld go fyrst to wythstande his enymyes And in conclusyon in auoydynge of more harme he was compellyd to appeace theym wyth great summes of money But when y e money was spent they fyll to new robbynge of the people Then the kynge graunted more money But for all that the Danys robbed and spoyled y e couÌ„trey of NorthuÌ„berlaÌ„d and besyeged London at the laste And for augmentacyon of the kynges sorowe Elfricus that then was mayster or admyrall of the kynges nauy fled as a false traytour And after that recoÌ„cyled fled the second tyme to the Danys wherfore y e kyng in wreche of the father commauÌ„ded the eyen of his sonne Algarus to be plucked or done out of his hedde But whyle this persecucion thus contynued by meanes of the holy byshoppe of wynchester Elphegus a peace was concluded for a tyme betwene the kyng and the Danys And the prynce or chefe captayne of them named Aulaff was so exorted by the said holy byshop y t he became a cristeÌ„ man to whome the kynge was godfather so that after the sayde Aulaff retorned to his owne without doyng of more harme so that for a whyle the warre of Danys seased But whyle that rested the blody flyx wyth a brennynge feuer vexed the people thorough the lande that myche folke therof dyed Contynuynge whyche mysery the Danys agayne assayled the lande dyd in dyuers places great harme so that for lacke of a good hed or gouernour many thynges in the land peryshed For the lordes were at such dyssencyon that one with that other that when they were assembled to speke or treate of peace betwene that one lorde and that other and yf any good thynge were dyuysed for the hurte of theyr enymyes anone the Danys were warned therof by some of the same counsayll wherof were suspected Elfricus and Edricus And to this sorowe was ioyned hunger and penury amonges the commons that eueryche of theym was constrayned to plucke and stele from other so that what by the pyllage of the Danys and inwarde theuys and brybours this lande was broughte in great mysery and myschefe THE CXCVIII. CHAPITER EGelredus then wrapped in misery lefte not to gader of hys subiectes what he myght as well by vnlaufull meanes as otherwyse For as sayth Ranulfe myne authour he wold for fayned or small causes dysheryte meÌ„ of theyr possessyoÌ„s after cause men to redeme theyr owne for great summes of money And ouer that he walowed in lechery gyuyng hym to all vycyous and incontynent lyfe of his body By whych vngracyous meanes he brought this land in such ruyne that what he myght not helpe by streÌ„gth he warred wyth money So y t from the fyrst entre of the Danys as testyfyeth Policronica in the .xviii. chapyter of his .vi. boke also Guydo wyth other authours that from the fyrst trybute of .x. thou sande pounde he broughte yt at the laste in processe of .v. or .vi. yeres to xl thousande pounde The whyche yerely durynge his lyfe and after to the commynge of saynte Edwarde was leuyed of his subiectes and named for the contynuance therof Dane gelt whyche is or was to meane money payde to the Danys or shortly Dane money In this tyme as yt were about the xv yere of his reygne dyed saynt Oswalde the archbyshoppe of Caunterbury And soone after dyed Ethelgina the quene And the body of saynte Cuthbert was translated from holy ylande to Durham in the whyche yle he helde anankers lyfe as yt is before shewyd in the storye of Cadwalader Thus contynuynge this lande vnder the greuous tribute of the Danys and also by susteynynge of many villanyes and iniuryes by the Englyshe men of the sayde Danys as after somdele shall appere this Egelredus by counsayll of his famylyers about the .xxi. yere of hys reygn maryed Emma y e doughter of Rychard duke of Normandy before mynded in the storye of Lewys the .v. and Lothayre hys sonne kynges of FrauÌ„ce The
partye of Edmunde gatte hym to an hyghe place where he myght be somwhat harde of y e hoste and spake in thys wyse Dayly we dye and no man hath the vyctorye For Edmunde may not be ouercome for his great strength and Canutus may not be ouercome for fauoure of Fortune what shall then be y e fruyte of thys cōtynuall stryfe None other but when the knyghtes ben all slayn on eyther partyes then the dukes compelled by nede shall accorde or ellys they shall fyght alone wythout knyghtes Then syn this shall be the ende why do they not one of these two If they accorde why is not this kyngedome suffycynt for twayne y t somtyme suffysed for .vii. If theyr couetyse of lordshyppes be so great y ◠eyther hath indygnacyon to take and haue parte wyth other or ellys that one to be vnder that other then lette them fyghte alone that woll be the lordes alone left If all mē fyght all men be slayne by meane wherof no men shall be left to be vnder theyr lordshyp or ledyng of dukes nor yet to defende the kynge agayne stronge enymyes or nacyons These wordes thus spoken were ryght wele alowed of both hostes For as affermeth myne author at this time a trewce was made betwen both prynces far a certayne tyme. After whych peace ended were yt by occasyon of these wordes or otherwise the sayde two dukes Edmunde and Canutus agreed to trye theyr quarelles betwene them two onely And for thys was assygned by theyr both agrementes a lytell yle called then Olney nere vnto Glouceter or after some wryters named Olenege bycleped wyth the water of Seuerne In whyche place at the daye appoynted the two chāpyons met wythoute company or assistence wythin y e sayd yle the hostes of bothe partyes standynge wythoute the yle and there abydynge the fortune of thys batayll There eyther proued other fyrste wyth sharpe speres and after wyth kene and cuttynge swordes what shall I of thys make lenger proces when eyther hadde other well proued and assayed by receyuynge of harde and sore strokes by the fyrste mocyon of Canutus as moste wryters testyfyen they lastely accorded and kyssed to gyther as louers to the great comforte of bothe hostes And shortely after by the aduyce of bothe theyr counsaylles condescended vppon partycyon of the lande whyche immedyately was done to bothe theyr agrementes and loued after as two bretherne duryng theyr naturall lyues But the serpent Idre of enuy and false conspyracye which euer burnyd in the harte of Edricus was kyndeled so sore that of pure force yt must breke out vpon a lyght flambe so what he myghte not accomplyshe by his owne persone he fulfylled by his sonne as testyfyen dyuerse authours For as affermeth Guydo this sonne of Edricus away tynge his tyme espyed when y e kyng was at the wyddraught to purge nature and wyth a spere strake hym into the foundement and so into the bodye wherof kynge Edmunde dyed shortly after at Oxen. The king thus beynge slayne anon Edricus thynkynge therby to be greatly exalted spedde hym in all haste vnto Canutus and saluted hym as kynge and shewed hym of thys treason onely for hys loue done when Canutus hadde well vnderstandyng of y e confessyon of Edricus he lyke a dyscrete and ryghtous prynce sayd vnto hym in thys wyse For thou haste Edricus for the loue thou berest vnto me slayne thyne naturall lorde whyche I moste loued I shall exalte thyne hed aboue al the lordes of England And forthwyth commaunded hym to be taken and hys hedde to be stryken of and pyght on a spere hedde and after sette vppon the higest gate of London But Marianus the Scot telleth that Edmunde dyed at London by naturall sekenesse about the feste of saynt Andrewe And the englyshe cronycle affermeth the forenamed treason but by a nother maner of doynge But howe so euer this noble prynce dyed trouth yt is after agrement of moste wryters y t he ended hys lyfe when he hadde reygned one yere more as myche as from the moneth of Iune vnto the ende of Nouember and was buryed at Glastenbury by hys graundfather Edgare Policronica sheweth in the .xviii. chapyter of hys .vi. boke that Canutus after the deth of Edmunde gave vnto Edricus the lordeshyppe of Mercia and by hys counsayll exyled the brother of Edmunde called the kynge of chorles and thorough his con̄sayle executed many cruell dedes Of this Edmūde remayned two sonnes that is to wyt Edmunde and Edwarde THE CCV CHAPITER CAnutus or Knougth after the Englyshe cronycle sonne of Swanus as before is touched and yonger brother as appereth by y e story folowynge began his domynyon alone ouer Englande in the yere of our lorde a thousande .xix and the xxi yere of Robert then kyng of Fraūce The whyche anon after the deth of Edmunde assembled a counsayll at London where among other thynges in that coūsayll debated a questyon was put whether in the composicyon made betwene Edmunde and Canutus any speciall remembraūce was made for the chyldren or brethern of Edmunde for any partycyon of any parte of the lande wherunto yt was answered of the lordes naye Affermyng farthermore wyth othe for the kynges pleasure that they to the vttermoste of theyr powers wolde put of that blood of Edmunde in all that they myght By reason of whyche answere promyse they thought many of them to haue standen in the great grace and fauoure of the kynge but yt turned all otherwyse For many of them or the more partye such as Canutus apperceyued knewe that they beforetyme were sworne to Edmunde and his heyres also were natyue Englishe men he mystrusted disdaned euer after In so myche that some he exyled some were slayn and some by goddes punyshement dyed sodaynly But amonge all Edricus wyth his sugred wordes contynued in the kynges fauoure as sayth Marianus before mynded By whose counsayll other he shortely after outlawed the foresayde brother of Edmunde surnamed kynge Charlis as before is touched But he afterwarde was reconcyled to the kynges fauour and lastely slayne of his owne seruaūtes Canutus also by the sayde counsayll sent the .ii. sonnes of Edmūde named as before is sayde Edmunde Edwarde vnto his brother Swanus then kynge of Denmarke to be slayne after the oppynyon of some wryters But he abhorrynge that dede sente theym to Salomon then kynge of Hungarye as wytnessyth Guydo and other where in processe of tyme Edmunde dyed and his brother Edwarde in tracte of tyme maryed Agatha the doughter of the .iiii. Henry then emperour of Almayne Of the whyche Edwarde and Agatha procedyd Margarete that after was quene of Scotlande and Crystyane that was a menchon and a sonne named Edgar and surnamed Ethelynge Thys Edwarde of the cronycles of England is named Edwarde the outlawe for so myche as he neuer returned into Englande as sayth the sayde englyshe cronycle after hys fyrste exyle Then to returne vnto Canus the whyche after some thynges
kynge after hym To the whyche questyon was answered by Peter the kyngedome of Englyshemen is the kyngedome of god wherfore the kynges therof shall stande at goddes puruyaunce And also a nother doctour called Henry of Huntyngdon shewyd that an holy man warned Englyshe men y â— a lorde whyche they thought nothynge vppon shulde come out of Fraunce brynge them ryght lowe In the tyme also of thys Canutê° by agrement of many wryters fyll one thynge worthy mynde and memory In a town of Saxony named Calbis in y e dyocesys of Magburgh and parysshe of saynt Magii xviii men and .xv. women vppon the euen of the Natyuyte of our lorde began a daunce about the chyrche yarde of saynt Magu afore sayd the person or other prestes beyng than at masse wythin y e same chyrche which beyng troubled wyth the noyse of the mynstrellys also the dynne of the sayde men and women sent vnto them in monysshynge them to seace of that doynge But all was in vayne for they wolde not seace of theyr dysport for any commauÌ„dement y t to theÌ„ was gyuen wherwyth the preste beynge dyscontented that they none other wyse reuerenced y e sacrament noryed that solempne season besought god and saynte Magii that they shulde contynue theyr daunce by the space of an hole yere The whyche prayer was harde in suche wyse that they contynued the same songe daunce tyll that daye twelue monethes and neuer eate nor dranke nor rested theÌ„ in all y e season And moreouer dewe nor rayne fyll vppon them in all that yere nor garment nor no thyng that was about them was impayred shoo nor other At the yeres ende Horobertus archbysshop of that dyocesys came vnto y e sayde place and lowsed them of that bonde whych the preste had bounde them in and before the awlter of the chyrche them reconsyled Of the whyche a prestes doughter and two other dyed forth wyth and the remenaunt yode to reste and slepte by the space of .iii. dayes and iii. nyghtes folowynge where after some of them dyed and suche as lyued fell lame of theyr lymmes And one of the same .xviii. men beyng named Ubertus or Hupertus wrote thys wonder wyth hys owne hande for a more recorde of the trowth Then let vs retorne to Canutus of whom it is redde that after hys coÌ„myng from Rome he beganne somdele to presume in pryde set more by hym selfe than good wysdome wolde In tyme of whyche exaltacyoÌ„ of hys mynde he went vnto the Tamys syde and behelde howe the water swelled or flowed And so standynge nere the water the water touched hys fete Than he charged the water that he shuld flowe no hygher and that in no wyse he shulde to wche hys lordes clothes But the water kepte his course and wette at length the kynges thyes wherewyth y e kyng abasshed sterte backe and sayde all erthly kynges may know that theyr powers be vayne and that none is worthy to haue the name of a kynge but he that hath all thynges subiecte to hys hestes as here is shewed by worchynge of hys treature by thys water And for thys as wytnesseth Polycronycon and other he offered hys crowne to y e rode of wynchester and neuer bare it vpon his hed after It is also wytnessed of the sayde authour that Canutus maryed hys doughter hadde by hys laste wyfe vnto Henry sonne of Conradus the emperour the seconde of that name as also it is testyfyed of the authour of Cronica cronicarum And he repayred many monasteryes and specyally suche as before tyme were hurte or throwne downe in the tyme of hys fathers persecucyon And began and ended the monastery of saynt Edmundes Bury endowed it wyth ryche possessyons as before is towched And dyed fynally at Shaftesbury and was buryed at wynchester whan he hadde reygned .xix. yeres leuyng after hym two sonnes of hys wyues the eldest was named Harolde and the yonger Hardykynytus the whyche lyuyng hys fader was made kynge of Denmarke Francia THE CCVII. CHAPITER HEnry the sonne of Robert begaÌ„ hys domynyon ouer the French men in the yere of our lord M.xxix and the .x. yere of Canutus than kynge of Englande To the whyche Henry CoÌ„stantyne the moder was so vnkynde that she by her meanes wolde haue preferred her yonger sonne Roberte duke of Burgoyne to the rule of the lande before thys Henry so that by her meanes bothe cytyes and castels were wyth holden from hym and was by her suche other as toke her parte so ouer lad that he was forced to resorte to Robert than duke of Normandy for to aske helpe of hym to wythstande hys enemyes ye shall vnderstande that this Robert was the .vi. duke of Normandy and sonne of Richarde the seconde and also father vnto wyllyaÌ„ bastard that conquered Englande Thys Roberte was lyberall and noble of condycyon but defamed of y e deth of hys elder brother Rychard the thyrde For the whyche murder as wytnessyth dyuers authours the vii yere of hys dowchery he went to Iherusalem and dyd in that pylgre mage many honourable and liberall actes the whyche in good order ben remembred in the .xix. chapyter of the vi boke of Polycronicon This Robert receyued kyng Henry wyth all honour and gaue vnto hym greate and ryche gyftes sent for hys frendes and knyghtes so y e the kynge had by hys ayde a greate myghty hoste And retorned agayn into Fraunce and in short whyle after recouered from hys sayde moder bothe cytyes townes and castelles that she and her fautours from hym wythhelde And fynally agreed so wyth her that he and she contynued frendes theyr lyfe tymes enduryng After whyche accorde about the .v. yere of hys reygne he made warre vppon Eudo erle of Champayne vppon Baldewine erle of FlauÌ„ders and in processe of tyme wan froÌ„ them certayne cytyes and castelles the whyche Constance his moder hadde before tymes gyuen to them in tyme of dyscencyon In thys warre was slayne Eudo erle of Champayne wherfore hys .ii. sonnes Stephen Thybaud maynteyned the warre agayne the kynge but to theyr bothe harmes in y e ende For Stephen loste therby the cytyes of Chartres and towers and Thybaude y e cytyes of Troyes Maulx wyth other whan Henry hadde ended thys warre set hys lande in some quyetnesse he thaÌ„ buylded a monastery of saynt Martyne called Des ChaÌ„ps besyde Parys and set therin seculer prestes In thys passetyme Robert duke of Normandy moued in conscyence to vysyte the holy sepulture of oure lorde called before hym hys lordes of hys lande wyllynge and coÌ„maundynge them to owe theyr trewe allegaunce vnto hys yonger sonne wyllyam and to take hym for theyr lord and duke yf he retorne not agayne And to thys he caused to swere Robert than archbysshop of Roan with the other of hys lordes and after departed vppon the sayd iourney and dyed in the cytye of Bethenia as he was coÌ„mynge homewarde wherof y e lordes of Normandy beynge assertayned
accepted the foresayde wyllyam to theyr lorde and souerayne Of thys wyllyams procreacyon yt is wytnessed of Uyncent hystory all and other that his father passynge by the cytye or towne of Faloys in Normandy he sawe a company of maydens daunsynge by the strete Amonges the whych was one of passynge beautye called Arlet and doughter to a skynner To y e which duke Robert caste vnlefull loue in suche wyse y t he caused her to be broughte to his bed the nyght folowyng and helde her to his concubyne a certayn of tyme after begat on her this wyllyam whē his moder was wyth him cōceyued she dremed that her bowel lys were sprad ouer all Normandye and Englande And when he was borne of his moders wombe he fyll to the groūde and closed his handes wyth powder of the flore or pauement Therfore the mydwyfe made and exclamacyon and sayd this chyld shall be a kynge Then yt foloweth when thys wyllyam was thus admitted duke some of his lordes by the meane of y e kyng of Fraūce began to wythdraw them from hym In so myche y e erle Gylbert to whome duke Robert had betaken hys ponge sonne to gyde was slayne and other that were especyall frendes to the chylde There was fyghtyng and manslaughter and the countrey fowle faren with by reason of the opynyons that were amonges them selfe wherof Guy a Burgoyn was one of the chefe causers For he with his adherentes sayde alwayes that they wolde haue no bastarde to be ruler of them This Guy as saith the frēche boke was nere kynnesman vnto y e yonge duke descendyd of the doughter of the seconde Rycharde and entended to haue ben duke hym selfe For the which he ensensed y e kyng of Fraūce agayn hym in all that he myght but at length duke wyllyam toke hym and put hym to deth Thus the Frenche kynge forgettynge y e kyndnesse shewyd to hym by duke Robert hys father toke partye agayne hym to the vttermoste and ordeyned hym .ii. hostes wherof one he delyueryd to his brother Almaryk and warned hym to eutre y e countrey of Caus and he hym selfe ladde that other and entred with it the coūtrey of Eurour But wyllyam not ferynge the kynges great power beynge growen wele towarde mannes stature lyke a luste yonge knyght made towarde the kynges brother gaue to hym batayll hym ouercame and chased the Frenchemen to theyr great bylany wherof heryng the Frenche kyng wyth his people spedde hym toward wyllyam to reuenge the shame done to his men But in cōclusyon he wan there no honoure Then peace was made betwene the kyng and y e duke and the Frenche prysoners were delyueryd But this peace enduryed not long for the Frēch kyng callynge to remēbraūce the losse of hys men at Mort mere or dede see wyth other dysauauntages by hym sustayned of the sayde duke wyllyam called to hys ayde Geoffrey erle of Aungiers And whan hys hoste was assembled they entred y e prouynce of Normādy cōtynued theyr iourney tyll they came to an arme of the see where the hoste shulde passe ouer Of thys new warre duke wyllyā beynge warned in all haste assembled hys Normans and sped hym y e next waye to mete the Frenchemen In thys meane whyle the Frenche kynge had passed the water wyth certayne of hys hoste trustyng that the remenauaūt shulde haue folowed But soone after the water flowed so faste that hys people myghte not passe And in thys whyle came the duke and set vpon the kynges hoste and bet theym downe cruelly so that at length the kynge was compelled to flee and loste a great nomber of his knyghtes to consyder them y e were slayne wyth the other that were taken prysoners whan kynge Henry had well dysgested in hys mynde the wrongfull trouble that he by enuyous persons hadde put the duke vnto and remēbred the yll expedycyon that he had in that warre he recōsyled hym selfe and made meanes that the duke and he myghte be agreed and accorded The whyche by dyscrete solycytours was shortely after brought to good effecte so that they contynued as frēdes durynge theyr lyues after Than Henry abstayned hym from all warre vsed the reste of hys lyfe in peas and quyetnesse Thys Henry had two wyues and of the laste whyche was doughter to the kynge of Russy he had .iii. sonnes that is to say Phylyp y ◠whych he made kyng of Fraunce by hys lyfe Robert that was after duke of Burgoyne and Hughe that was after named Hugh le graunde and was fader to Raufe erle of Uermendoyse And in thys kynges dayes Burgoyne that had ben vnder y e Frenche kynges obeysaunce ouer a hundred and .xxx. yeres refused the Frenche kynge aparte of them torned vnto Conradus the seconde of that name than emperour So that that parte whyche stretched to Champayne belonged to Fraunce and that other parte whyche stretched toward Basaynz belonged to the Almayns And that yere that the kynge had admytted hys sonne Phylyp to the gydynge of the realme he dyed and was buryed at saynt Denys leuyng after hym the issue forenamed whan he hadde reygned after moste wryters .xxxi. yeres Anglia THE CCVIII CHAPITER HArold the sonne of Canutus of Elgma y e erlys doughter of Hampton begā his reygne ouer Englande in y e yere of our lordes incarnacyon M. xxxix and the x. yere of Henry thā kyng of Fraūce Thys for his delyuernesse swyftenesse was surnamed Harefote In whose begynnynge stryfe was amonge the lordes for so myche as of hys byrthe shulde be doughte whyther he were the kynges son or not and specyally erle Goodwyne that dyd the vttermoste of hys power to sette hym by and put Hardykynitus his brother to that honour But Leo frycus that Canutus so mych loued and trusted wyth the ayde of the Danes wythstode so myghtely Goodwyne and hys sonnes that they fayled of theyr purpose Anone as thys Harold was crowned kynge he banysshed hys stepmoder Emma and toke from her suche goodes and iewelles as she had The whych Emma sayled than into Flaūders and there of Bawdewyne the erle was reuerently receyued there abode durynge the lyfe of thys Harolde The whyche contynued hys lyfe to lytell fruyte or profyte of the land nor yet of the subiectes so that of hym other for y e vyce that clerkes lyste nat to put in memory other for the rudenesse whyche is worthy no memory nothynge of hym is put in remembraunce but that he dyed at London or after some at Oxenford was buryed at westmynster when he had reygned as moste wryters agreen .iii. yeres and odde monethes leuynge after hym none heyre wherfore hys brother kyng of Denmarke was next kynge after hym THE CCIX. CHAPITER HArdikynytus the sonne of Canutus of Emma was made kyng of England in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon M.xli and the xii yere of Henry than kyng of Fraūce Thys of some wryters is named Hardykynytus and Hardyknough
whyche serche they demeaned theym so vndyscretely that they slewe a cytezyne of Douer By meane wherof the people arose and in the questyonynge of thys mannes deth ran at length vppon the erles company and slewe .xx. of hys men and wounded many mo Hastely the erle apperyd and toke his mennys parte But in conclusyon he was fayne to wythdrawe hym selfe with a few persons and rode vnto the kynge then beyng at Glouceter and made vnto hym a greuous complaynte of the men of Douer Then erle Goodwyne for so moch as to hym was commytted the rule of Kente was charged to ryde thyther and to take wreche of the inhabytauÌ„tes of that towne But he with sayde that commaundement and counsayled the kyng to sende for the wardeyns of the castell of Douer and rulers of the towne for to answere to suche maters as were layde agayne them and yf they were gylty to punyshe them and ellys not This answere of GoodwynÌ„ pleased nothynge the kynge nor suche as were aboute hym wherfore many mo lordes were sent for Amonge the which Leofricus erle of Chester and Sewarde erle of Northumberland of myne authour ben named After whych assemble of y e lordê erle Goodwyne had suche monycyon of some of y e counsayll y t he wythdrewe hym from the courte and gadered to hym strength of knyghtes out of dyuers shyres as west Saxon Kent and houed at BeuerstonÌ„ tyl his sonnes came vnto him with more peple Soone after came vnto hym his eldest son named Swanus brought wyth hym a fayre companye that he hadde arreyred in Oxenfordeshyre Gloucetershyre and Harolde hys other sonne wyth a feleshyppe that he had assembled in eest Englande and HuntyngdonÌ„shyre so that of these people was made a great hoste Then GoodwynÌ„ to the kyng was accused for gaderynge of so great an hoste But he excused hym and sayde yt was done to wythstand the walyshmen The whyche contrary proued he was coÌ„maunded to sende awaye the people and to come wyth a certayne nomber vnto the courte But that he refused Then the kyng wyth hys counsayll beynge at London Goodwyn and Harold was eft sent for and charged to come to the courte wyth .xii. persones wythoute mo and to render into the kynges handes all knightes fees that he and Harolde his sonne hadde wythin Englande To thys by theym was answered that they myghte not come to the counsayll of treachours and gylefull men and that also wyth so fewe men in nomber they mygthe not wythoute parell or shame passe by the countrey In thys whyle a parte of Goodwyns knyghtes wythdrewe theym and hys power beganne to mynyshe and the kynge in thys whyle hadde gaderyd a stronge hoste Then proclamacyons were made that Goodwyne shuld come to the courte as before is sayd or auoyde the land with in fyue dayes wherfore Goodwyne consyderyng the ieopardy y t he was in toke wyth hym .iii. of his sonnes that is to meane Swanus Tosty Gurthe and sayled into Flaundres â–ª where he was receyued of the erle Baldwyn after some wryters whose doughter Swanus his sonne hadde before spoused was named Iudeth And Harolde and Leofricus two of his other sonnes with a few shyppes sayled out froÌ„ Brystow into Irland when the kynge was ascertayned that erle Goodwyne wyth hys fyue sonnes was in thys maner departed oute of his lande he shortly after called a parlyament and by authoryte of the same outlowed Goodwyne hys .iii. sonnes that were gone wyth hym And that done he put his owne wyfe and doughter of GoodwynÌ„ into the abbaye of warwell wyth one mayden as sayth Marianus And so GoodwynÌ„ and hys sayde sonnes contynued two yeres outlawed In the whyche season he or hys retynue toke dyuers tymes prayes in y e marches of Englande and in the ende drewe to hym suche strength that he was purposed to haue entred the lande wyth force and to haue warred vppon the kynge But by medyatours that fauoured erle Goodwyn a peace was made betwene y e kynge and hym so that in processe he was receyued to grace wyth hys sonnes hys doughter restored to her fyrste and former honoure And for thys peace to be contynued for Goodwyns parte was delyueryd for pledkes a sonne of hys called wylnotus and a sonne of Swanus named Hacum or Hacun The whyche .ii. pledges kynge Edwarde sent vnto wyllyam duke of Normandy to be kept And Algarus the sonne of Leofricê° erle of Chester to whbme the kynge had gyuen the erledome of Harold ruled yt dyscretely in tyme of his absence at hys returne delyuered yt to him again gladly without grudge THE CCXII. CHAPITER DUrynge the tyme of this out lauwry of Goodwyne wyllyam bastarde duke of Normandye came with a goodly coÌ„pany into this land and was honorably receyued to whom the kyng made great chere And after he hadde taryed here a certayne of tyme to his agrement and pleasure he retourned to hys owne wyth great gyftes pleasures And Emma the kinges moder dyed shortly after and was buryed a wynchester And Swanus the eldest sonne of Goodwyne went to Hierusalem and from thens towarde Lycia and dyed by the waye of colde that he had taken of goynge barefote Then the Normans that had gyuen to the kynge euyll counsaylles agayne Englyshemen were by Goodwyne and his frendes exyled Among the whyche Robert archebyshop af Caunterbury that hadde spoken sore agayne theym was one whych after went to Rome to complayn to the pope then LeonÌ„ the .ix. or Uyctour the seconde And wheÌ„ he had receyued letters of y e pope directed to y e kyng he returned to his abbay of Gemeticum in Normandye where he somtyme had ben munke and abbot and there dyed After hym Stigandus was made his successoure the whyche as sayth Policronicon had before tyme lefte the byshopryche of Shyrborne and toke the see of wynchester by streÌ„gth He also vsed fayres of holy chyrche thynges and was a lewde or vnlettred man as the more part of the bysshoppes of Englande at those dayes were And ouer that he passed other in ryches and dyssymulacyon But yet he neuer had y e palle from Rome though there be great sale that maketh many maystryes Then was openly spoken that he was not worthy a byshopryche that coude vse y e bragge or pompe of the worlde the vse of voluptuosyte of glotony and Lechery the shynynge araye of clothynge the countenaunce of knyghtes and the gaderynge of horsemen and thynketh full lytell on the profyte of soules And yf men sayde to theym that a byshoppe shulde be chosen for holynesse of lyuyng and for hys good clergye and not for couetyse of money they wold answere as foloweth Nunc aliud tempus alii pro teÌ„pore mores The whyche verse maye be englyshed in thys maner As tyme requyreth so men done theym vse In wynter warme clothes in somer lyght and lesse In tyme of sadnesse men done gamys refuse And in myrthe tyme men myrthes theym
with y t she beganne to syghe and sorow sayd alas this daye is my soule comen to the laste sorow And so after that she had spoken those wordes a messanger came to her and sayde that her son and all her mayny was dede sodaynly Then she was conueyed to her owne and was full syke wherfore in haste she sent for an other son of hers that was a monke a doughter y t was a nunne at whose coÌ„myng she sayd to them in thys wyse I am the woman that haue vsed yll crafte and enyll lyuynge and in vayne I hoped to haue ben saued by your bedes and prayers But now I praye you that ye woll releue my tourmentes and paynes for of my soule the iudgement is gyuen wherfore in case that ye maye kepe my body from tourment sewe it in an hartes skyn and laye it in a troughe of stone and hyll it wyth lede close and iuste and after do bynde it wyth barres of iron in moste strongest and sure wise and cause ye .xl. ê‘sons to synge psalmes by nyght and vppon the morne as many masses And yf I lye so stylle iii. nyghtes than burye my body on the .iiii. daye But all thys was for noughte For the fyrste nyght whyle the psalmes were in sayeng y e stroÌ„ge bandes were sodaynly to brokeÌ„ and one wyth a gresely loke was sene vppon an horse backe all blacke cast thys woman behynde hym so rode forth wyth so greate crye and noyse that it was harde as sayth Polycronycon .iiii. myles thens Thys wolde I not haue shewed but that I fynde it wryten and recorded of diuers authours Than to retourne to our fourmer story as wytnessyth myne authoure Ranulfe about y e .xx. yere of y e reygne of kynge Edwarde Harolde sayled towarde Normandye to vysyte hys brother wylnotus and Hacun hys neuewe the which as ye before haue harde were layde there for pledges for the peas to beholden vppon erle Goodwyns syde agayne the kynge But he in his course of saylyng was weder dryuen by tempeste into the countre or prouynce of Pontyfe or more verely into the puynce of PouÌ„tyth where he was taken as a prysoner and sent vnto duke wyllyam of Normandy The whyche forced hym to swere that he in tyme folowynge shulde marye hys doughter that after the deth of kynge Edward he shulde kepe the lande of England to hys behofe accordyng to the wyll and mynde of Edwarde after some wryters And after the opynyon of a nother cronycle wryten in latyn the sayd Harolde for to be in the more fauour of duke wyllyaÌ„ shewed to hym that kynge Edwarde in presence of hys barony had admytted the sayde wyllyam for his heyre and couenauÌ„ted wyth hym that yf he ouerlyued the kyng he wold in saue wyse kepe the lande to hys vse For the whyche tydynges promyse wyllyam grauÌ„ted to hym hys doughter to wyfe y t than was wythin lawfull yeres of maryage wyth greate dower And for to cause Harolde to be the more stabler in hys promyse kepynge he delyuered to hym Hacun hys neuew and sonne of hys brother Swanus whyche he myche desyred and kepte styll wylnotus the brother of y e sayd Harolde After whiche couenauntes suffycyentely stablysshed and enacted Harold departed from duke wyllyam wyth greate and ryche gyftes and in processe of tyme landed in Englande And at hys comynge to the kynges presence he shewed to hym all that he had done in the foresayde maters where wyth the kynge was well coÌ„tented as affermeth the sayd latyne cronycle THE CCXIIII CHAPITER IN the .xxii. yere of kynge Edwarde as testyfyeth Ranulfe Tostius the brother of Harolde was for cause not shewed disconted in the kynges courte and went vnto Harforde in the marche of walys where at that tyme the seruauntes of Harold by coÌ„mauÌ„dement of theyr mayster were besyed to make prouysyon for to receyue the kynge But whan thys Tostius was thyder comen he cruelly slewe the sayde seruauÌ„tes of hys brother hacked them in small pecys and caste them after in meresowce or salte And that done sent worde vnto the kynge y t yf he wolde come vnto hys feest he shulde lacke no powdered mete what so euer he hadde besyde Thys cruell dede sprange wyde so that for it he was hated of all meÌ„ in so mych that hys owne tenauntes the men of NorthuÌ„berland of which prouynce he than was lorde of arose agayne hym and toke froÌ„ hym that he hadde and lastely chaced hym into Flaunders wyth a fewe persons than a waytynge vppon hym But y e vertuouse kyng Edward not beyng contented wyth the comons doynge consyderynge it to be done wythout hys aduyce and coÌ„mauÌ„dement sent thyder Harolde to do correccyon vppon the heddes or capytayns of the Northumbers wherof they beynge acerteyned coÌ„tynued theyr strength and mette wyth Harolde hys people and sent hym to vnderstaÌ„de that they were frely borne and frely nourysshed that they myght nat suffer no cruelnesse of dukes Also they had lerned of theyr elders soueraynes to meyntayn fredom or to suffer deth and to lyue in quyetnesse vnder an easy duke whan Harolde had receyued thys message and aduertysed y e strength of the NorthuÌ„bers he perceyued well that wythout greate effusyon of blode he myghte not correcte the mysse doers wherfore it semed to hym better to fauour the couÌ„tree than to take hede of the synguler profyte of hys brother so that he retorned to the kynge wyth thys answere and purchased theyr pardon of hym and also procured so y e kyng y e he assygned to them an other duke or erle that was named Malcarus And Tostius hys brother wyth hys wyfe chyldern remayned in Flaunders durynge the kynges lyfe Kynge Edwarde in the .xxii. yere of hys reygne syttyng at mete vpon Eester day in his paleys of westmynster sodaynly lowghe whan other dyd talke and eate whan thys blessyd man had dyned and was entred into his chamber his famylyers asked of hym y e cause of hys lawghyng To whom he answered for y e same selfe tyme sayd he .vii. slepers that in the mount Seleon besydes Ephesym in Asya the lasse had slepte two hundred yeres or there about vpon the ryght syde the selfe same tyme they tourned them and shall slepe agayne vpon that other syde .lxxiiii. yeres Though thys be tolde of Ranulphe other syth in thys sayenge appereth some dyscordaunce wyth other wryters also wyth the former sayenge of the sayde Ranulphe in the .xxii. chapyter of hys .iiii. boke of PolycronycoÌ„ where he sayth that the sayd .vii. slepers were closed in y e caue the fyrst yere of Decius and so sleped contynuyngly to the laste tyme or yeres of Theodocius the youger than emperour by whyche reason they shulde slepe about y e season or space of .ii. hundred yere as aboue is sayd and than arose and shewed them to that sayd Theodocius emperour and many other dyed soone after as wytnessyth
Uincencius hystorialis Antoninus Iacobus Philippus and other wherfore it can not stande wyth reasoÌ„ y t they shulde slepe vpon y e other syde after y e tournyng .lxxiiii. yeres as is aboue sayd nor that they shulde sterue in y e tyme of thys holy kynge and confessoure For hys tyme of reygne was after y e tyme of Theodociê° aforesayd more than .vi. hundred yeres But yf it be ment by some other For there are vii other slepers spoken of in y e .xxvi. chapyter of the fyrste boke of Polycronycon that hath slepte in a nother caue many yeres wherfore I remytte thys vnto other and folowe the order of the story wherein it is founde that whan this blessed kyng Edwarde had receyued by dyuyne monycyon that he shulde chaunge thys transitory and bryckell lyfe for the lyfe euerlastynge he sykened in the Crystmasse weke In tyme of whych sykenesse was shewed to hym a vysyon that he after shewed vnto suche as were about hym and sayde two men of relygion came to me that I somtyme was famylyer wyth in Normandye and shewed that they were sent from god vnto me to gyue vnto me warynynge of such thynges as foloweth And fyrste they sayde that for the dukes bysshoppes and abbotes of Englande be not goddes seruauntes but the deuyllys god hath taken thys kyngdome into the handes of enemyes for a tyme and fendes shall walke and destroble the people Than I besought god that the people myghte haue warnynge and do penaunce and be delyuered as the people were of the cytye of Ninyue Nay sayde they for these men be so indurate of harte y e they shulde do no worthy penaunce nor to them god shall shewe hys mercy nor forgyuenesse Than I asked of them whaÌ„ myghte be hope of mercy and pardoÌ„ They answered whan a grene tree is hewen downe and a parte therof cut from the stocke and layde .iii. fourlonge from the stocke and wythout mannes helpe or hande shall retourne to his stocke or rote and take agayne hys shappe and than flouryshe and brynge forth fruyte whan thys is done than maye be hope of comforte and of remedy In the tyme that this blessyd man shewed thus thys vysyon was present there wyth other Stygandus archebysshoppe of Caunterbury The whyche sayde vnto the other that the kynge raued or ellys doted for age and sykenesse as olde men done and accompted these wordes for foly and vanyte But not longe after Englande felte and conceyued thys prophecye whan it was in subieccyon of straungers and alyauntes as after shall be shewed Than who that is desyrous to knowe the exposycion of the prophecye of the grene tree lette hym rede in the ende of the lyfe of thys gloryous kynge and confessoure translated by wyllyam Caxton in the boke called the Legende of sayntes and there he shall fynde it All be it that in other places I haue sene it otherwyse interpreted the whyche I remytte to them that haue experyence in suche facultye And to conclude thys storye trouth it is that this blessyd kynge dyed the .iiii. daye of Ianuary whan he hadde reygned .xxiii. yeres vii monethes and odde days and was buryed in the monastery of westmynster y â— whych he before had gretly augmeÌ„ted repayred but nat in that maner and fourme that it is nowe in For the chyrche that nowe there standeth was so reedyfyed and buylded newe of Henry the thyrde and sonne of kynge IohnÌ„ The whiche also after some wryters translated thys blessyd kynge Edwarde from the lower parte of y e chyrche and shryned hym there he now lyeth And this kynge Edwarde laft after hym no chylde for he was accompted for a vyrgyn whan he dyed Francia THE CCXV CHAPITER PHylyp the fyrst of that name son of Henry began his dominioÌ„ ouer the Frenchemen in the yere of our lorde M.lviii the .xvi. yere of Edwarde the confessour than kynge of Englande And of thys Phylyp it is radde that he maryed a wyfe named Berta the doughter of Baldewyne erle of Holland and of Fryce Of the whyche Berta this Philyp receyued a sonne and named hym Lewis and a doughter y e was called CunstauÌ„ce But in processe of tyme he haunted so myche the company of a woman named Bertande that he hated hys laufull wyfe and at length helde her in pryson and kept that other in her stede and gatte vppon the sayd Bertrande two sonnes named Phylyp Florys and a doughter which myne authour nameth not For thys aduoutry he was often monysshed of y e pope that he shulde leue the companye of that yll woman and take to hym hys lawfull wyfe y t he so longe had holden in pryson within hys castell of Monsfruell And for he wolde not be obedyent vnto the popes couÌ„sayll he was fynally accused of pope Urbane the seconde of that name By meane wherof he was reconcyled and restored agayne to his wyfe and refused hys concubyne And in the tyme of thys Phylyp Godfrey de BollioÌ„ with many other crysten prynces at the exortacyon of Peter the heremyte sayled into the holy lande and wanne the cytye of HierusaleÌ„ out of the Sarasyns handes whyche prynces lastly crowned the sayd Godfrey kynge of the sayde cytye And after it so contynued in possessyon of crysten men by y e terme of foure score and tenne yeres vnder ix crysten kinges and lenger myght haue endured hadde not discencyon fallen amonges them selfe And so by Antoninus Peter Disrey and other it is manyfestely shewed Thys vyage after moste accorde of wryters begaÌ„ in the yere of grace M.lxxxvi and the .xxvii. yere of thys Phylyp And the sayd Godfrey was crowned kynge of the sayde cytye of Hierusalem after the affyrmaunce of y e sayde wryters in the yere of grace a thousande and foure score and .xix. Of thys Phylyp lytell worthy memory is lefte in wrytynge For lyke as hys fader Henry made hym kyng by his lyfe and suffered hym to haue the rule of the lande ryght so thys Phylyp after a certayne of tyme coÌ„mytted the rule of the lande vnto Lewys his sonne And he sette hys mynde to huntynge and other dysportes and so ladde hys lyfe in all slowthe and idelnesse Than Lewys takynge vppon hym the charge of the realme subdued the erle of Mounte Merusy other that laboured to take from the chyrche of saynt Denys certayn preuyleges and also constrayned them to restore and satysfye all hurtes and harmes to the sayde chyrche by them done Thys Lewys as affermeth the Frenche cronycle maryed the doughter of Guy erle of Cotcheforde the whyche after for nerenesse of kynne was deforced from the sayde Lewys to the greate dyspleasour of the sayde erle Guy wherfore he moued warre agayne the sayd Lewys and toke from hym certayne holdes and castelles of the whyche the castell of Gurney was one But at length Lewys had y e better of that warre and recoueryd diuers of the sayd holdes And amonges other prysoners by hym and his knyghtes takeÌ„
monethes and odde dayes and was buryed at the monasterye of the holy crosse of waltham whyche he before hadde founded and set therin chanons and gaue vnto theym fayre possessyons And here endeth for a time y â— blood of Saxons the whych contynued to reken from Hengestus fyrste reygne by the space or tyme of .v. hundred and lxxxxi yeres And yf yt be rekened from the begynnyng of the west SaxoÌ„s then yt endureth by y e terme of .v. hundred .lxv. yeres whych coÌ„tynued as rulers kinges of this land all the sayd tyme onely except y â— that passed betwene the fyrst yeres Canutus and the laste yere of Hardekynitus In the whyche season passed or flowed vpon .xxiiii. yeres All be yt y t the persecucyon of the Danys lasted mych lenger as to fore I have shewed in y e story of y e forenamed Kynitê° THE CCXVIII CHAPITER THen for as myche that god of his vnknowen iudgementes to man and by his hygh hyd counsayll wolde suffer this duke to conquere so noble a lande and to be lord and souerayne ouer so many noble enherytours as were now be with in the same I thynke yt coÌ„uenyent to shew here the dyscent of the sayde duke and how nere of blood he was vnto the blessed kynge Edwarde the confessour wherfore as before to you I haue shewed in the storye of Charlys the Symple somtyme kynge of FrauÌ„ce a myscreaunt or a pagan named Rollo ê‘secuted sore the realm of FrauÌ„ce lastely wan by strength the citye of Roan the hed or chefe cytye of Normandy And in conclusyon for a fynall peace betwene the sayde kynge and Rollo to be had the sayde Rollo was crystened named Robert and maryed Silla the doughter of y e said Charlys To whom y e kyng gaue in waye of Dower y e hole duchy of Normandy The whych Robert after he was crystened ruled that dukedome as a good crysten man by the terme of .xiiii. yeres and receyued of y e sayd Silla a son and named hym wyllyam the whyche after was surnamed Longa spata as who wold saye wyllyam wyth a longe sworde This wyllyam was duke after his fader .xxv. yeres and lefte after hym a sonne named Rycharde whych as before is shewed in the storye of Lew es y e .vi. was named Richard y e hardy Then Rycharde the hardy was the thyrde duke and reygned .lii. yeres had by hys wyfe a son named Rycharde the good and Emma that was wyfe to Egelredus and mother to saynte Edwarde the confessoure After hym the Good Rycharde was duke and reygned .xxviii. yeres and lefte after hym two sonnes that is to say Rycharde and Robert The fyrste after two yeres was slayne by treason of hys brother Robert so that Robert was then duke and reygned .ix. yeres The whyche Robert as yt is before shewed in the storye of Henry kyng of Fraunce was father vnto this duke wyllyam And thys wyllyam was the .vii. duke of Normandye and ruled yt or he conquered Englande after moste wryters .xxx. yeres whereby yt appereth that Emma was aunte to duke Robert father of wyllyam Conquerour And saynte Edwarde and this duke wyllyam were by y e fathers syde cosyn â—armay nes remoued as sheweth by thys draught folowynge Th fyrste duke Rollo or Robert the fyrste duke The seconde duke Wyllyam longa â—pata sonne of Robert and the second duke The thyrde duke Rycharde the hardy the son of Wyllyam and .iii. duke Rycharde the â—ood and sonne of Rychard the fyrst Emma moder of Edward confes sour doughter of the sayd Richard The .iiii. duke Rycharde the .ii surnamed y e good a son of Rychard the fyrst .iiii. duke The fyft duke Rychard y e thyrd son of Richard .ii. and .v. duke Brethern The syxte duke Robertus the son of Rycharde ii and Brother of Rycharde .iii. vi duke Brethern Wyllyam the sonne of Robert the .vii. duke and noble conquerour ANd thus here an ende of the .vi. part of thys worke for so myche as the lande was here conquered and put vnder the rule of an other nacyon wherfore as before I haue vsed and done to gyue thankes vnto that moste blessyd vyrgyn our lady saynt Mary as furtherer and conductryce of thys worke so here agayn I salute and hayle her wyth the .vi. ioye of the fornamed vii ioyes thus begynnynge Gaude virgo mater Christi tu quae sola c. All hayle and be gladde moste noble and moder dere Of Iesu Chryste vyrgyne moste pure and clene Deseruynge onely by grace and lyuynge moste clere To be of that dygnyte thou celestyall quene To perce the heuens that beeth so serene And nexte to the trone of the hygh Trynyte Thou arte admytted for to holde thy see THys .vi. parte to be accompted from the fyrste yere of Iue vnto the laste daye of the reygne of Harolde or begynnynge of wyllyam Conqueroure includeth of yeres .iii. hundred and .lxxx. yeres and one ANd so thys lande was conquered after the fyrst commynge of Brute to folowe thaccoÌ„pte of thys worke by the force of thys duke wyllyam hys Normans ii thousande .ii. hundred and two yeres ¶ Thus endeth the syxt parte THE VII PARTE NOw shaketh my haÌ„de my pen waxeth dulle Forweried tyred seyng this worke so loÌ„g The authours so rawe so farre to culle Dymme derke straunge to vnderstond And farre out of tune to make trew songe The storyes and yeres to make accordaunte That yt to the reder myght shew trewe and plesaunt But vnder correccyon all thynge may be borne And so I remytte yt to suche as ben experte Prayenge to theym as I haue done beforne To fauour and correcte so that vnder couerte Of theyr proteccyon this may shewe a parte Holsome and playne fruytefull and profytable And to the reders and herers ioyous and delectable For were not that I dueste not farther wade The streme is so depe and therto so daungerous But one thynge there is that somwhat doth me glade The great daunger and storyes doughtous Ben ouer passed so that more bounteous The authours ben and more manyfestly The storyes folowynge they done certyfye wherfore as before to you I dyd promyse Thys .vii. parte nowe I wolde take in hande Besechynge alwayes in moste humble wyse The welle of bountye that flowre moste adorande By whose humylyte man fyrste comforte fande And was redemed from hys captyuyte This parte to fynyshe she wyll myne helper be And brynge to ende thys worke that I haue take On hande to wryte onely of entent To brynge to lyght and for yt shulde not shake The olde honoure that to Englande was ment Of famous wryters whyche haue theyr duytes sent Unto theyr folowers all vyces to subdue Honoure to maynteyne and to exalte vertue Here after folowyth the storye of duke wyllyam Conqueroure THE CCXIX. CHAPITER WIllyaÌ„ duke of Normandye surnamed Conquerour baste sonne of Robert y e vi duke of that said dukedome and
neuew vnto Edward the confessour as before is shewed beganne hys domynyon ouer thys realme of Englande the .xv. daye of October in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon a thousand .lxvii and y e ix yere of the fyrste Phylyppe then kyng of Fraunce and was crowned kynge of the same vppon Crystmas daye nexte folowynge of Aldredus archbyshoppe of yorke for so myche as at that tyme Stigandus archbysshoppe of Caunterbury was then absent or durste not come in the pÌ„sence of the kynge to whome he ought no great fauour as in the sequele shall appere when wyllyam had sette in quyet a great parte of thys lande he betoke the gydyng therof to his brother the byshop of Bayon and in lent folowynge sayled into Normandye and led wyth hym the chefe rulers of England for doute of sturryng in tyme of his absence Amonge the whyche the two erles Marcarê° and Edwyne rulers of Northumberlande Mercia were two wyth also Stigandus and Edgare Ethelynge To the why the Stigandus wyllyam shewed great reuerence and couÌ„tenaunce of fauoure But all proued to great dissymulacyon after as was shewed by the depryuynge of the sayd Stigandus and prysonment of hym in wynchester towne by a longe terme and season In the next wynter whan wyllyam had sped hys besynesse in Normandy he retourned into England wyth greate pompe and sette a greuous trybute vpon the Englyshmen By reason wherof some partyes of the lande rebelled agayne hym and specyally the cytye of Excetour the whyche defended hym for a certayne of tyme. But lastly by force he wanne the sayde cytye and punysshed the cytesyns greuously For thys and other sterne dedes of wyllyam Marcharus erle of Northumberlande wyth Edgare Athelynge and dyuers other as hys moder and two systers Margarete and Crystyan sayled into Scotlande But another cronycle telleth y t Edgare entendynge wyth Agatha hys moder and hys two systers to haue sayled into Almayne where he was borne was by tempest of the see dryuen into Scotlande where of Malcolyne than kynge of Scottes they were ioyously receyued And in processe of tyme the sayde Malcolyne caste suche loue vnto the sayd Margaret that he toke her to wyfe as before is touched in the fyrste chapyter of the story of Canutê° Of the which Margaret the sayde Malcolyne receyued .ii. doughters and .vi. sonnes wherof thre named Edgare AlexauÌ„der Dauyd were kynges of Scotlande nexte folowynge theyr fader And Molde one of y e foresayd doughters was after maryed vnto the fyrst Henry kynge of Englande And the other doughter Mary was maryed to Eustace erle of Bolongii Of Molde the fyrste doughter Henry receyued .ii. sonnes named wyllyam and Rychard the whych bothe dyed before theyr fader as after in y e story of the sayd Henry shall appere And he receyued also two doughters named Molde and Mary whych Molde or Mawde was maryed to y e fyfte Henry emperour of Almayne After whose deth she was agayne maryed to Godfrey of Geoffrey PlaÌ„tagenet erle of Aungeowe Of whom descended Henry surnamed shorte mantell and kynge of Englande called Henry the seconde And the other doughter Mary was maryed vnto the erle of Blaynes of whoÌ„ descended Molde or Mawde that was wyfe vnto kynge Stephen Than it foloweth that thys wyllyam after thys foresayd trybute so leuyed of the Englysshemen and knowynge of the depertynge of the lordes foresayde kepte the other the streyter But it was not longe after that Marcharus was reconsyled to the kynges grace and fayled agayn as folowynge shall be shewed For thys and other causes whyche were tedyous to shewe wyllyam exalted the Normans and gaue vnto them the chyefe possessyons of the lande so that they dayly encreased in great honour and welth and the Englysh men as faste decayed Kynge wyllyaÌ„ also made .iiii. stronge castels where of two be sette at yorke the thyrde at Lyndetyngham or Notynghm and manned them wyth Normans and the .iiii. at Lyncolne About the thyrde yere of his reygne Harolde Canutus sonnes of Swanus kynge of Denmarke came on lande in the North of Humber wyth a stronge nauy and in all haste drew them towarde yorke Than the Normans whyche hadde the rule of the towne and castelles feryng that the Englysshemen wolde ayde the Danys and wyth the houses of the suburbes of the towne haue fylled the towne dyches sette the suburbes on fyre wherof y e flame was so bygge and wyth the wynde so stronge that it toke into the cytye brent a parte therof wyth the mynster of saynt Peter In tyme wherof the Danys by fauour of some of the citesyns entred the cytye and slewe more than thre thousande of the Normans But it was not longe or kynge wyllyam chased the Danys to theyr shyppes and toke so greate dyspleasure wyth the inhabytauntes of that prouynce that he destroyed the land lyenge bytwene yorke and Durham in suche wyse that .ix. yeres after or there about the lande laye vnlabored vntylled onely out taken saynt IohnÌ„s lande of Beuerley the which was for borne by reason of a wreche done by dyuyne power vpon one of kynge wyllyams knyghtes The whych as he was besyed in wastyng and spoylynge of the sayde countre fyll sodeynly wyth hys horse so that hys horse brake hys necke and the knyghtes face was turned to his backe And of the famyne that the people of that countre susteyned wonders are reported that they shuld eate all maner of vermyn as cattes rattes dogges other so harde they were kepte by the warre of the kyng And in that yere also Molde or Mawde the wyfe of kynge wyllyaÌ„ was crowned quene of England of Aldredus archebysshop of yorke In the .iiii. yere of the reygne of thys kynge the Scottes with Malcolyne theyr kynge entred Northumberlande and wasted and destroyed sore that countre and slewe there in myche people and many they toke prysoners helde theÌ„ as bonde men But in the .vi. yere of hys kyngdome wyllyam made such warre vppon the Scottes that he lastely forced the sayde Malcolyne to swere to hym bothe homage and feauty as it is wytnessed of wyllyam of Malmesbery and other wryters THE CCXX CHAPITER Kynge willyam by counsayle of the erle of Hortford and other caused the abbeyes of Englande to be serched And what money in them at that season was founde he caused it to be brought to hys treasour For the whyche dede after the exposycyoÌ„ of some authours the sayd erle was punysshed as after shall be shewed Soone vpon thys in the tyme by twene Easter and wytsontyde was holden a solempne counsayle at wynchester of the clergy of Englande At the whyche counsayle were presente two cardynalles sent from y e second Alexaunder than pope In thys couÌ„sayle Stygandus archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury was depryued from his dygnytye and that for thre skylles The fyrste was for that he had holden wrongfully that bysshopryche whyle Robert the archebysshop was lyuynge The seconde cause was for that he hadde receyued the Paule
hym in hys courte therfore Malcoline departed from the kynge in great dyspleasur For the whyche and other causes the warre bytwene England and Scotlande was reuyued so that vppon saynt Bricius daye folowyng Malcolyne wyth hys retynewe foughte wyth an erle named Robert and thā erle of Northumberlande and there was slayne wyth hys eldest sonne Edwarde For sorowe wherof Margaret quene of Scotlande and syster vnto Edgare Ethelynge as in the fyrste chapyter of the story of wyllyā Conqueroure is shewed dyed soone after Than the Scottes made Dunwalde brother of Malcolyne theyr kynge and put by hys sonnes But by the ayde of kynge wyllyam Edgare whyche of some wryters is named Dunkam was made kynge as eldest sonne of Malcolyne In the .vii. yere of the reygne of kynge wyllyam Auncelyne or Anselme that was archbyshop of yorke was remoued to Caunterbury as affermeth one cronycle But Polycronycon and Guydo sayen that Hugh erle of Chester beynge sycke and diseased in the .vi. yere of wyllyam Rufus sent into Normādy for Anselme than abbot of Barry for thre causes The fyrste to vysyte and se hym and to be reconcyled of hym as the man that he moste trusted The seconde cause was that he shuld releue some abbays of Englande that the kynge vexed wyth greuous trybutes And the thyrd cause was y t he shuld foūd an abbay at Chester whych place he after buylded made one Rycharde his chapleyne fyrst abbot of y e place and sone after he was made archbysshop of Caunterbury where by it appereth that the sayd see was voyde ouer the terme of thre yeres Thys sayd .vii. yere Englande Normandye were greued wyth trybute and moreyne of men so sharply that tyllynge of the erth was spared or putte of for that yere there after ensued great hūger Thys yere also y e Scottes slewe theyr kyng Edgar and restored agayn to the rule of the lande the forenamed Dunwalde And many grysly and vncouth syghtes were thys yere sene in England as hostes of men fightyng in y e skye and fyre lemys other And the holy bysshop wolstone of worceter dyed soone after of whom it is shewed y t he sondry tymes warned rebuked Englyshmen for theyr mysseliuyng and sayd for theyr offenses they were so punysshed of the Normans But the Englyshmen excused them selfe and sayde that the Normans were worse in lyuynge than they where vnto the byshop answered and sayd that god vsed the wyckednesse of thē in Englyshmen For by the wycked he punysshed y e wycked And so doth god suffer the deuyll to punysshe synners in hell he hym selfe is punysshed wyth them Of thys wolstone it is radde that kynge wyllyam wold haue put hym from hys see to the entente that he myghte put another into hys see wherof thys holy man beynge warned yode vnto the kynge and sayde to hym I am enfourmed that thou wylte take from me the whiche a better man thā thou arte gaue vnto me wherfore of whom that I receyued so noble a gyfte to hym wyll I gyue it agayn and than take it from hym yf thou may And whan he hadde so sayde to the kynge he yode to the sepulture of Edward the confessoure and after y t he had made his prayers there he pytched hys crosse in y e marble stone that laye vppon the graue But no man myghte plucke out the staffe tyll wolston came thyther hym selfe and pulled it out at the kynges cōmaundement wherfore the kynge seyng that maruayle suffred hym to enioye hys benefyce styll In the .x. yere of willyam Rufus stryfe and dyscencyon fell bytwene hym and Anselme bysshop of Caunterbury for Anselme myght nat call hys synodys nor correcte the byshoppes but as the kynge wolde The kynge also chalenged the inuestiture of bysshoppes and pylled the spyrytualtye and temporaltye with vnreasonable taskes trybutes the which he spent vpon the towre of London the makynge of westmynster hall And ouer that the kynges seruauntes greued and pylled englysshmen vnreasonably And to thys mysery was ioyned the vnsaceable couetous of Ranulphe that was somtyme chapelayne vnto wyllyam conquerour the whyche was at thys day the kynges procuratour and gadered hys taskes ouer all He was so couetous and so euyll dysposed that he wolde leuye .iii. taskys for two He pylled the ryche and bare downe the poore and caused many men to lose theyr landes for smal causes and therfore the kynge had hym in hys synguler fauoure And by hys meanes byshoprykes were boughte and solde as playnly as other marchaundyses For that tyme clerkes vsed busshed and brayded heddys longe tayled blasynge clothes shynynge golden gyrdels and rode wyth gylte spurres wyth vsynge of dyuers other enormytees All whyche vyces Anselme wolde haue corrected but he lacked assystence of hys bretherne y e bysshoppes For the whyche cause other he departed the londe wherewyth the kyng beynge mysse contented sente after hym suche persons as robbed and spoyled hym and entreted hym in most cruell maner For the whyche dede Raufe bysshoppe of Chychester blamed the kynge and also rebuked all such bysshoppes as had refused the partye of Anselme had fauoured the kynge in causes cōcernynge the foresayde varyaunce And forthermore he wythstode the kynge and hys offycers in takynge of fynes of prestes for cryme of fornicacyon For whyche causes the kyng wyth the sayd Raufe was sore amoued and dyscontented and opteyned such fauour that he suspēded many chyrches of hys dyoses But in the ende Raufe demeaned hym in suche wyse that he hadde hys owne wyll and his chyrches enlarged and freed that before were stopped wyth thornes And the kynge gaue vnto hym y e fynes of prestes within his dyosis and endued y e see of Chychester with many greate gyftes And vpon a tyme kynge wyllyam was rydynge towarde hys dysporte of huntynge and sodeynly a messenger came vnto hym and sayde that the cytye of Cenemonia in Normandye was beseyged wherfore he wythout longe taryenge or aduysement toke the streyght way to these syde and sent to hys lordes chargynge them to folow whan the sayd lordes came to hys presence they aduysed hym to tarye tyll his people were assembled But he wolde nothynge do after theyr counsayle but sayd such as hym loued he shortely wyste well wolde folowe hym and so yode to shyp settyng aparte all parels The mayster of the shyp was afrayde he sawe the weder so darke so clowdy and counceyled the kynge to tary tyll the wynde wolde blowe more fauorably But he commaunded hym to make all the spede that he cowde vpon hys lyfe sayenge that he neuer harde that euer any kyng was drowned And so he passed the see and landed in Normandy and gathered to hym there hys knyghtes whan the capytayne of the syege whose name was Helyas knewe of the kynges landyng he fered and anone began to breke the syege But by treason he was taken and brought to the kynges presence To whom the kynge shewed suche
sayde warre contynued by the terme of two yeres In the ende of whych two yeres wyllyam the eldest sonne of kynge Henry beynge a chyld and wythin age contented so well the mynde of Lewys that he refrayned of hys warre for that tyme. In the .xiii. yere at Shrewesburye was a great erth quake and at Nothyngham from the morne to the vndertyde The ryuer of Trent was so fordryed in the moneth of June as sayth Guydo that men wente ouer drye And the starre called stella cometa or the blasynge sterre aperyde soone after Theruppon folowed an harde wynter great deth of the people and scarcete of vitayll by the great moreyn of bestes In thys yere also the kynge founded the abbay of Hyde wythoute the wallys of wynchester that of olde tyme was wythin the wallys THE CCXXVIII CHAPITER IN the .xv. yere of hys reygne y e kynge enteÌ„dyd to haue â—moted Faricus abbot of Abyndon vnto the see of Caunterburye But by a counsayll kept at wyndesoure of bysshoppes y e kynges mynde was chauÌ„ged and to that see was then admytted Raufe that was byshoppe of Rochester And the same yere one Thurstone was chosen archebyshoppe of yorke the whyche wythsayde hys professyon of obedience that he shuld owe to the see of Caunterbury wherfore at lengthe he was depryuyd of hys dygnyte But after by laboure that he made to Pascall the pope before named the sayde pope wrote vnto the kynge that he shulde restore Thurstone agayne to the see of yorke By whyche meane he was agayne restoryd but yet he disdayned to do hys lawefull obedyence vnto Raufe archebyshope of Caunterbury Then the stryfe was renewed which Lamfranke before as ye haue harde in the thyrde chapyter of wyllyam Conquerour dyd appeace and was brought in argument before the pope The whyche at the kynges request promysed y t he wolde nothyng do nor ordeyne that shuld be derogacion to the archbyshop of Caunterbury or to the dygnyte of his chyrche But in coÌ„clusion the pope gaue such a defuse sentence in thys mater that he lefte the stryfe vndetermyned and vnassoyled And when y e kynges procuratours wyth also the archbyshop of Caunterbury were absent were yt for nede or for fauour the pope was so bowed that he forsoke y e olde rule vsed before hys days and sacred the sayde Thurstone and gaue vnto hym the pawle For this dede y e kyng was sore dyscontented wyth Thurstone and warned hym the entre of his lande wherfore the pope wrote after shortely to the kynge wyllyng hym to suffer Thurstone to occupye his see peaseably or he shulde be accused and suspended by the dygnyte of the offyce of Caunterbury and so Thurstone enioyed his see In the yere of our lorde .xi. hundred .xviii. as sayth the frenche cronicle whyche was the .xvii. yere of thys kyng Henry the fyrst the warre was agayn quyckened betwen kyng Henry and Lewys kynge of Fraunce wherof was the occasyon as sayth the sayde frenche cronycle Thybaude erle of Chartres whych Thybaude was greuyd by the Frenche kynge and for necessyte requyred kynge Henry of ayde and helpe to whome the kynge as to hys kynnesman sent ayde and socoure And afterwarde the kynge sayled ouer with a stronge armye and sente a nobleman named Stephan into the lordshyppe of Brye to defendeyt agayn the Frenche kynge when Lewys vnsterstode that kynge Henry was landed in Normandye wyth so great power he in all haste assembled a stronge power and drewe hym towarde the kynge But there were so stronge holdes mannyd wyth Normans also such depe and great ryuers that the Frenche kynge myght not wynne vnto kynge Henry Then lastely by a feate of warre whyche were longe to reherse he wan a town named Lyngues in Cause in the whyche towne was a brydge to passe the ryuer of Thee and so into Normandye when a certayne of the knyghtes of Lewes had thus wonne the foresayd towne the sayd Lewes wyth his people spedde hym shortly after and rescued his foresayde knightes then spoyled and robbed the towne the whyche was ryche for so myche as yt hadde ben in quyet and rest many yeres before He also slewe and toke prysoners all y e Normans there dwellyng put in theyr stede FrenchmeÌ„ And that done he sped hym towarde kynge Henry the which was at a castell called Male assyse there made purueyaunce for the defence of the Frenchmen And when he hadde garnyshed yt to hys pleasure he departed thens But not longe after the Frenche kynge came thyther wyth his hole hoste of Frenchmen and after many sore cruell assautys wan the sayde castell and bette yt downe euen wyth the grounde After whych season as sayth the sayd cronicle fell to the Frenche kynge many and dyuerse mysfortunes For shortely after amonge other myssechaunces a noble captayn of hys named Angueran de Chanmount the whyche had done myche harme in Normandye to kynge Henry and wonne there some castelles and other stronge holdes dyed sodeynly And in shorte tyme after Baldewyne erle of FlauÌ„dres a man of great streÌ„gth and puyssaunce as he beseaged a castell was wounded in the face and dyed wyth in .vi. dayes after Then Fauques erle of Aungeos in whom also this Lewys affyed mych and trusted maryed his doughter vnto willyam the eldest sonne of kynge Henry and refused the kynge of Fraunce parte and ayded and assysted kynge Henry in all that he myght so that dayly the power of kyng Henry encreased and the Frenche kynges mynyshed Lastely these two prynces met wyth theyr both hostes in playne feld and foughte a dedely and cruell batayll where in the ende the Frenche kynge was ouercomen and loste myche of his people and was coÌ„pelled to flee vnto a place called Audely for his sauegarde But thys ouerthrowe of Frenchemen is excused in the moste fayrest maner so y t they excuse them selfe and saye that kynge Henry set vppon kynge Lewys when he was not ware but hys knyghtes all oute of aray order and also kyng Henry had farre excedynge nomber of men ouer that theyr kyng had with other wordes of boste of them selfe slaunder of Englyshemen the whyche as to me appereth is an augmentacyon of theyr owne shame But Ranulfe the munke sayth shortely that kyng Henry ouercame the Frenche kynge royally in batayll Then yt foloweth in y e story fynally these sayde prynces were agreed and wyllyam the sonne of kyng Henry dyd homage vnto y e French kyng for the landes of Normandye by the agrement of his fader For the kyng thought hym selfe to good to be vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of y e Frenche kyng Then kynge Henry caused hys free men of Englande and of Normandy to do homage vnto his sonne wyllyam And soone after Fouques before named lefte hys erledome of Angeer or Angiers in guydyng of kynge Henry and yode hym selfe into the holy lande and wylled in his testament that yf he retourned not agayne that the sayde erledome shulde remayne vnto his sonne
in lawe wyllyam son of kynge Henry whyche hadde maryed hys doughter About the .xx. yere of the reygne of kyng Henry quene Molde or Mawde hys wyfe dyed in Normandy the whyche in her youthe was set by her father kyng of Scottes into a nunry and there ware vsed the vayle and habyte of a nunne For the whiche cause when kynge Henry was agreable to take her vnto wyfe thys mater fell in great despucyon Anselme then archebyshop of Caunterbury was sore agayne that maryage a season of tyme. But at length yt was suffycyeÌ„tly proued that she was there as a fygure a woman worynge that habyte wythoute professyon of order And this was thus ordered by her father to the ende to put by vnworthy wowers Thys of wryters was reputed for a blessyd and holy woman after the lyuynge of a worldly woman when kynge Henry had contynued in Normandy vppon the season and terme of .iii. yeres he toke shyppyng at Haterflete in Normandy and sayled happely into Englande the same day that is to meane y e .xxiiii. day of Nouember as sayth some wryters And shortly after willyaÌ„ duke of Normandy wyth Rycharde his brother Notha the countesse of Persye Rycharde erle of Chester with his wyfe the kynges nyce and the archdekyn of Herforde and other to the nomber of a hundred .lx. persones toke shyppynge at the sayde porte were all drowned a bocher onely excepte whyche mysfortune fell by the ouersyght of the maister and other which fell at a dyssencyon in the nyghte amonge them selfe by reason wherof they ranne vppon a rocke as shewed the foresayde bocher From this dauÌ„ger wyllyam duke of NormaÌ„dy was escaped and was in the shyppe bote nere vnto the lande But when he harde the lameÌ„table crye of the CouÌ„tesse Notha he commaunded the rowers to returne and saue the sayd Countesse whych done by what mysfortune I can not saye after she was receyued into the bote were it by tempeste or ouer chargynge of the bote or otherwise they were all swalowid of the see so that none of them was after fouÌ„de but ê‘te of theyr goodes Of this duke wyllyaÌ„ some desclaunderous wordes are lefte in memory both in the englyshe cronycle and also of other wryters the whyche I ouerpasse THE CCXXIX CHAPITER IN the .xxi. yere of hys reygne kynge Henry made y e parke of wodestoke be syde Oxenforde with other plesures to the same And Fouques erle of Angiers returned out of the holy land and maryed the syster of her that before he had maryed vnto wyllam duke of Normandye vnto the son of Robert Curthose and gaue wyth her the erledome of Conomanna And stryfe began to kyndell betwene kynge Henry the sayd Fouques for the wytholdyng of the dowre or ioynture of hys fyrste doughter maryed wnto wyllyam the kynges sonne In the .xxiii. yere of kynge Henry dyed Raufe archbyshoppe of Caunterbury and one named wyllyaÌ„ was set in y e see after hym And the kynge in thys yere beganne the foundacyon of y e abbay of Redyng And IohnÌ„ a cardynall of Rome was sente from Calyxte the seconde of that name theÌ„ beynge pope for certayne maters coÌ„cernynge the pope In the tyme of whyche hys so beynge here the cardynall made sharpe processe agayne prestes that norysshed Crysten moyles and rebuked them by open publyshement and otherwyse so that he wan hym here but small lytle fauoure But this dyssymuled doctour toke so great feruence in the correccyon of the iudgement of prestes of Englande that he forgate the lore and couÌ„sayll of his famous pope Caton whyche in the boke of his counsayll or of wysedome thus sayth Quae cuspare soses ea tu ne feceris ipse Turpe est doctori cum cuspa redarguit ipsum The whyche two verses maye be englyshed as foloweth Auyse y e well let reason be thy guyde when other folke thou arte aboute to blame That suche defaute in the be not espyed For yf there be then shalt thou haue the shame A mannes honoure suche thynges woll reclayme It ys full foule when that a man woll chese If that hys dede agayne hys wordes preche This couÌ„sayll was not remembred of the sayd Cardynall For in the euenynge after he had lewdely blowen his horne and sayde it was a detestable synne to aryse from the syde of a strumpet sacre the body of Cryste he was taken wyth a strumpet to his open shame and rebuke In the .xxv. yere of kynge Henry was called a counsayll at London where the spyrytualty condescended that the kynges offycers shulde punyshe prestes that cheryshed the foresayde mulys But the sayd offycers toke money and sufferyd the prestes to spurre theyr mulys at theyr pleasure whyche offyce at this daye is so clerely renouÌ„ced of al spyritual men y t neyther kyng nor bishop taketh for yt any synes nor yet correccyon necessarye to be done for the same In the .xxvii. yere of his reygne as reporteth an olde Cronycle the gray freres by procuryng of y e kyng came fyrste into Englande and had theyr fyrst house buylded at Caunterbury And aboute this tyme by moste accorde of writers dyed Henry the .iiii. emperour of that name whyche as before is touched maryed Molde the doughter of kyng Henry After whose deth the sayde empresse came vnto her father into Normandye when kyng Henry was ascertaynted of the deth of Henry the emperour for so myche as he hadde none heyre male he caused soone after the more party of hys lordes of England as well spirytuall as temporall to swere in his presence that they shuld kepe y e land of Englande to the vse of Mawde y e empresse yf he dyed wythoute yssue male and she then suruyued In the .xxviii. yere of kyng Henry Geffrey PlaÌ„tagenet erle of Angeou maryed Molde the empresse Of the whyche two descended Henry the second that after Stephan was kyng of Englande In this yere also the kynge had dyuers monycyons and vysyons For amonge other ferefull dremys he saw a great company of clerkys with dyuerse wepons whyche manassed hym for dette that he shuld owe vnto them And when they were passed he thought y t he was manassed to deth of his own knyghtes And lastely apperyd to hym a great company of byshoppes whych thretened hym and wolde haue smytten hym wyth theyr crosses By this monicyon he toke remorce in his conscyence and dyd great dedes of charyte in Normandye where he hadde sene these visyons And after his coÌ„myng then into Englande in satysfaccyon of wronges done to the chyrche as affermeth Guydo he then founded the abbay of Redynge before spoken of And ouer that he releasyd vnto Englyshe men the Dane gelt that was by his father his brother renewed In the .xxx. yere of this kyng Henry dyed the erle of Flaundres and kynge Henry as sayth Ranulfe was by agrement of Lewys the Frenche kyng made erle as next heyr enherytour to the sayde erledome But it is not there expressed by
whyche was consentyng to the same murder was hanged vppon a galos by the waste and armys and by hym amastyfe or great curre dogge the whyche as soon euer he was smytten bote vppon the sayde Bartopus so that in processe he all to rent hym dyd to hym so great payne that lastely he endyd his lyfe in great mysery In the time of y e reygn of this Lewys the bishop of Clermōde was voyded his see by the cruelnes of the erle of Auerne wherfore the kyng assembled his knyghtes and by strength set the byshoppe in hys place agayne maugry his enymyes And agayne the second tyme when he was eft put out by the sayde erle the kynge restoryd hym and toke suche pledges of the erle that he remayned after in good quyet In y e later dayes of this Lewys his eldest sonne named Phylyppe wyth a conuenyent company vppon a daye for his dysporte rode about certayne stretys of the cytye of Parys and as he rode an hogge sodeynly starte amonge the horse fete of the chylde wherwyth the horse beynge frayde lepte sodeynly and cast the chylde to the grounde wyth so great vyolence that he dyed y e nyght folowynge For this myssehappe the kynge toke great heuynesse so that he waxed dayly more feble And for he was vnweldly by reason of ouer ladynge of fleshe and myghte not well trauayll he therfore by the aduyce of hys lordes admytted hys seconde sonne named Lewys to the rule of the realme and hym he crowned by his lyfe tyme and also maryed hym vnto Elynoure the doughter of the duke of Guyan by whych he was inherytoure vnto her father And shortely after the kynge sykened and to hys great payne in an horse lytter was brought vnto saynt Denys where he lyenge a season syke and knew that the owre of deth was nere commaunded suche as were aboute hym that they shulde spredde a tapytte vppon the ground and then laye hym vppon the sayde tappette and vppon hym to be made a crosse of asshes whyche all was done accordynge to his commaundement And there he so laye tyll he dyed in the yere of hys reygne to reken from the deth of his father to his owne endynge daye .xxx. yeres so that he reygned .xxix yeres full and odde monethes and was buryed in the monastery of saynte Denys with great pompe wyth thys scrypture folowynge vppon his tombe Illustris genitor Lodouict rex Lodouicus Vir clemens Christi seruorum semper amicus Institui fecit pastorem canonicorum In sella veteri trans flumen Parisiorum Hane vir magnanimus asmi victoris amore Auro reliquijs ornauit rebus honore Sancti Dionysi qui seruas corpus humatum Martyr antisles Lodouici solue reatum whyche versys may be expowned in our vulgar as foloweth The noble father of Lewys Lewys the kynge To Crystes seruauntes ryght meke and louynge Caused to be made of chanons an howse In a selle of Paris where the streme flowes whyche this man myghty for loue of saynte Victor wyth golde an relyquys enorued with great honor wherfore saynte Denys whyche kepest hys body graued Martyr and bishoppe pray that his soule be saued Angsia THE CCXXXII CHAPITER STephan erle of Boloyn and son of the erle of Blesence and of the wyues syster of Henry the fyrst named Mary beganne his reygne ouer the realme of Englande in the yere of our lord .xi. C.xxxvi the first yere of Lewes y e .viii. of y t name then kyng of Fraunce This was a noble man and hardy But contrarye hys othe after the affyrmaunce of some wryters that he made to Molde the empresse he toke vpon hym y e crowne and was crowned vppon saynte Stephans daye in the Crystemasse weke at westmynster of the archbisshoppe of Caunterbury the whyche in lykewyse had made lyke othe vnto the sayde empresse in presence of her fader as before is touched In punyshment wherof as men denied the sayde archbyshoppe dyed shortly after And many other lordes whyche dyd accordyng lyke went not quyte wythout punyshement A great causer of this periurye as rehersyth one authour was this one Hugh Bygot stewarde somtyme wyth Henry the fyrste immedyatly after the deceace of the sayde Henry came vnto England and before the sayde archbysshop and other lordes of the lande toke wyllfully an othe sware that he was present a lytle before the kynges deth when kynge Henry admytted chase for hys heyre to be kynge after hym Stephan hys neuewe for so myche as Molde his doughter had dyscontented hym wher vnto the archbyshoppe wyth the other lordes gaue to hasty credence But this Hugh scaped not vnpunyshed for he dyed myserably in a shorte tyme after when kyng Stephan was crowned he sware before the lordes at Oxynforde that he wolde not holde in hys hand the benefyces that voyded and that he wold forgyue the Dane gelt as kyng Henry before hym had done wyth other thynges whyche I passe ouer And for this Stephan drad the cōmynge of the empresse he therfore gaue lycence vnto his lordes y t euery of them myght buylde a castell or strong fortres vpon his own groūd And soone after he agreed wyth Dauyd kynge of Scottes receyued of hym homage after he had from hym wonne some townes and holdes The towne of Exetoure rebellyd agayne the kynge in the seconde yere of hys reygne But he in the ende he subdued theym And wyllyam archbyshoppe of Caunterburye dyed the same yere whose benefyce was after gyuen to Thibaude abbot of Becco in Normandye About the fourth yere of his reygne Dauyd kynge of Scottys repentynge hym of hys former agrement made wyth the kynge entred of newe the boundes of Northumberlande aboute the ryuer of Theyse towarde the prouynce of yorke and brent and slewe the people in moste cruell wyse not sparynge man woman nor chylde Agayne whome Thurstone by the kynges cōmaundement was sent The whych wyth his power quytte hym so knyghtly that he ouer threwe the hoste of Scottes and slewe of theym a great nomber and compellyd theym to wythdrawe agayne into Scotlande In the which passetyme y e kyng layde syege to the castell of Bedforde and wanne yt And that done he then made a vyage into Scotlande where he dyd lytle to hys pleasure or profyte Then in his retourne homewarde he toke Alexaunder byshoppe of Lyncolne and helde hym in duresse tyll he hadde yelded or gyuen vnto hym the castell of Newerke And then he chased Nygellus byshop of Ely Also in thys furye he toke suche displeasure with his louynge frende Roger byshop of Salysburye that he caste hym in bondes tyll the sayde Roger hadde rendred vnto hym the two castellys of Uyes and Shyrburne For the whyche thys Roger in remembrynge the great ingratytude of the kynge toke such thought that he dyed shortely after and left in redy coyne .xl. thousande marke whyche after hys deth came to the kynges cofers One cronycle sayth that kynge Stephan obteyned these foresayde castellys
to the entent he myght fortyfye theym wyth his knyghtes to wythstande the empresse whose cūmynge he euer fered And y e yere folowynge he wāne wyth strength the castellys of Glowceter of Herford of webley of Brystowe of Dudley of Shrewesburye for the whyche cause Robert erle of Glouceter began to wythdrawe hys allegeaunce from kynge Stephan This Robert was the son of Henry the fyrst by reason of baste and for thys dyspleasure sent letters vnto Molde the empresse hys syster promysynge to her great ayde to wynne her ryght In the meane whyle that the empresse made prouysyon for her iourney kynge Stephan concluded a maryage betwene Eustace his sonne and Constaunce the kynges syster of Fraunce doughter of Lewys the great the whyche contynued the amyte betwene England and Fraūce Then in the moneth of Iuly and vi yere of Stephan Molde the empresse as testyfyeth Henry the chanon in hys .ix. boke entred this land by the porte of Portesmouthe and so kepte on her iourney tyll she came to Brystowe and dyd great harme by the meane of her passage through the countrey In whyche tyme of her sayde landynge kyng Stephan laye at the syege of walyngforde castell But as soone as he harde of the landynge of the empresse he anon sente oute commyssyons for more strength and so drewe towarde hys enymyes But in this tyme and season Robert erle of Glowceter and Ranulfe erle of Chester wente vnto the empresse wyth all the power that they might make The empresse herynge the great power commynge wyth the kynge drewe to the cytye of Nycoll now called Lyncolne and there helde her a longe season for all that the kyng myght do But lastely the empresse wyth her people escaped and the kynge was possessyd of the cytye and there bode tyll Candelmas After whyche season erle Robert and Ranulfe before named with a great power of walshmen y e power of the empresse came agayn the kynge where as when bothe hostes were nere ioynyng the erle Ranulfe of Chester spake to his knightes and sayd I requyre you that I that am cause of your parell may be the fyrst that shall entre into the parell Then answered erle Robert and sayd yt is not vnworthy to the y t axeste the fyrst stroke and dignyte of this fyght For to the yt is syttynge for noblesse of blood and vertue of strength in the whyche thou passest other men But the kinges false othe moueth men to warre and to fyght where we muste now wynne the mastry or be ouercomē And he y t hath none other socour is cōstrayned to defende hym by knyghtly and stronge dedes of armes of manhode And so shall we now agayne theym that by entryked wyth gyle wyckednesse as Robert erle of Mellent the erle also of Albemarll and Symon of Hampton the which is a man of great boste and of small myght Then kyng Stephan prepayred to set forwarde hys people and erle Baudewyne had wordes of comfort to the kynges peple sayde Men y t shall fyghte to theym is behouefull thre thynges The fyrst is ryght of y e cause leste men fal in parell of soule The second is quantyte of men of armys leste men be oppreste wyth excedynge nomber And the thyrde is the effecte corage of strēgth of knightes y t the quarel shuld not fayle for lacke of hardy and assured fyghtynge As touchynge whyche thre poyntes I truste we be well sped But ye take hede farthermore what enymyes we haue fyrste we haue agayne vs Robert erle of Glouceter whyche vseth great manasses and executeth lytle or small dedys In mouth he is a lyon but in harte he is a shepe He is pompous in speche and darke in vnderstandyng There is also Ranulfe erle of Chester a man wythout reason and full of folehardynesse redy and preste to all conspyracy and vnstedfastnesse of maner and dedes hasty and furyouse of hart and vnware of parellys He assayeth oft to acheue great dedes but he bryngeth none to effecte And what he fyrsly and fresshely begynneth he cowardely and fayntly forsaketh as vnhappy and vngracyous in all his dedys and is ouercomen in euery place For he holdeth wyth hym banyshed men scullers And the mo of them that be in a company the soner they be ouercomē and weke they be in fyghtyng for eyther of theym putteth truste in his felowe whyle hym selfe is ouerthrowen But or he myght haue finyshed his wordes to moste mennys audyence the crye of the enymyes wyth noyse of trumpettes and gruntyng of horsys approched and smote to gyther and forth go the arowes and gresely cruell fyghte was contynued vppon bothe sydes for the whyle y t yt enduryd where through the grene feld was turned into a perfyte redde so that many a pale wan vysage was there sene yeldynge the gooste wyth armys and legges disseueryd and departed A longe whyle thys fyghte stode in questyon whyther partye shulde obteyne vyctorye But in the ende kynge Stephans partye gaue backe and fledde and he full knyghtly abode on felde wyth a fewe of his knyghtes and was taken and so was brought vnto the empresse the whyche commaunded hym to be conueyed vnder sure kepyng vnto Brystowe where he was kepte as a prysoner from the sayde tyme of Candelmasse vnto holy Roode daye next ensuynge Aboute this tyme was founded the Abbay of Stratforth Langthorne wythin .iiii. myles of London by a knyght called syr wyllyam de Moūtfychet THE CCXXXIII CHAPITER WHen the empresse hadde wonne this vyctorye and had commytted the kyng to warde as before ye haue harde she was not therwith a lytle exalted but thoughte in her mynde that she was in a suerty of the possessyon of the hole realme But she was disceyued for Kent toke partye wyth kynge Stephan But yet after this victory thus obteyned the empresse came vnto wynchester and after to wyltone to Oxenforde to Redynge and to saynte Albonys into the whyche cytyes and townes she was receyued wyth all honoure And fynally she came to London for to entre the state of the lande At her whyche there beynge the quene made assyduat laboure for the delyuerye of the kynge her husbande promysynge that he shulde surrender the lande into her possessyon and he to be come a religyous man other ellys a pylgryme to hys lyues ende But all was in vayne for she myght purchace no grace as then vppon no maner of condycyons The cytezens of London also made great laboure that they myghte vse the lawys of Edwarde the confessoure as they were graunted by wyllyam Conqueroure and not the lawys of her father whyche were of more straytnesse wherof in no wyse they of her coūsayll myght haue any graunte For this the cytezens were dyscontentyd and knowynge that the countrey of Kent wolde strength theyr partye ordeyned to haue taken her But she beynge therof warned departed in haste and lefte behynde her hyr store of housholde and so fledde vnto Oxynforde where she
e stroÌ„ger where after dyuers assautes made the kyng conceyued well y t he was dysceyued A cause of this treason as sayth y e foresayde Peter was this The erle of FlauÌ„dres which by dyuerse experymeÌ„tes saw that the cytye was lyke to be goten made supplycacyon to the kynge and the lordes that he myghte haue the rule of the cytye at suche tyme as yt were wonne the which to hym was grauÌ„ted wherof beynge aduertysed dyuerse Suryons of y e couÌ„trey borne dysdayned that a straunger shuld be lorde of theyr enherytaunce and for that condesceÌ„ded and agreed to that treason by mean wherof the crysten prynces loste theyr trauell Then the crysten prynces seynge y t they were thus deluded toke theyr aduyce howe they myght contynewe theyr pylgrimage vnto the holy citye of Hierusalem But in this counsayl sourded and quykened so many opynyons that eche was contraryous vnto other By mean wherof the emperour was so dyscontented that he toke leue of the Frenche kynge and other and so returned into hys own countrey But the Frenche kynge taryed there in that costes a yere after and dyd there but lytle worthye any memory All be yt of this vyage the frenche boke maketh a great longe processe touchynge the wynnyng of the cytye of Anteoche wyth hys beynge and counsayllys kepynge wythin Hierusalem other thinges there rehersed But for I se the mater dysagreable to other wryters and also thynke that myche therof is fayned I therfore passe yt ouer howe be yt that to some persones suche fablys ben full pleasaunte to here wherfore all suche I remytte vnto the sayde french cronicle somwhat I shall folowe the authour Gyraldê° y t which wyth other testyfyen that Lewys in his returne towarde Fraunce waxed syke for y e long forberyng of his wife wherfore by thaduyce of phisycyons also of byshops he was couÌ„sayled to take a wenche because his wyfe was so farre from hym But y e kyng wythstode that counseyll and sayde that hym hadde bene leuer to be syke and dye of goddes hande then to lyue in spouse brekynge offende hys lawes And so the kyng put himselfe to the mercy of god and receyued helth shortly after Also it is told of hym that he vsed to faste euery frydaye brede and water and by his famylyers he was counsayled that he shulde leue that faste for wekynge of hym selfe fede a hundred of poore men euery frydaye the whyche vnto god shuld be myche more acceptable To this he answered and sayde we wold gladly fede so many poore men or mo but our fastynge woll we not breke For wythout the profyte that yt doth vnto the soule yt profyteth also right myche to the body For the purgacyon and reste of one daye helpeth myche to put of the superfluyte of the other and also yt maketh the sharper apetyte when Lewys was retourned into Fraunce for what happe yt is of the frenche cronycle made doutefull he was from Elyanour hys wyfe deuorced of the whych he hadde receyued before .ii. doughters as before is touched the whyche in processe of tyme folowynge was maried vnto Henry duke of Normandy whych maryage was a new occasyon of the warre betwene Englande and Fraunce For the landes of Poytowe wyth Gascoyne and Guyan Lewys claymed by his former possessyon Henry by reason of the maryag of y e sayd Elyanour as heyr to the sayde landes Of the whyche warre shal be shewed in the story of y e sayde Henry folowyng After whyche deuorce thus made kynge Lewys maryed the yongeste doughter of the kynge of Spayne that was named CuÌ„staunce and she dyed of her fyrst chylde Then for so myche as kynge Lewys hadde none heyr male by couÌ„sayll of his barony he maryed the thyrd wyfe the whych was the yongeste doughter of Thybaude erle of Bloys was named Alys This sayde erle dyed and left after hym .iiii. sonnes and .v. doughters The eldest sonne named Henry was erle of Troys the seconde named Thybaude was erle of Bloys the thyrd named Stephan was erle of Sancorum or Sauncorer and y e fourth named wyllyam was archbysshoppe of Raynes The eldeste of the doughters was duches of Burgoyne the seconde was countesse of Barre the thyrde was maryed fyrst to the duke of Puell and after to a knyght named syr william de Goer the fourth was countesse of Perche and the fyfte as before is sayd quene of FrauÌ„ce whych was a woman garnyshed wyth many vertues as the storye declareth THE CCXXXV CHAPITER IN processe of tyme after the solemnisacyon of this maryage complaynte was brought before the kynge of the erles of CleremouÌ„t and Puy or Puyll sonne of the duke before rehersyd and of the erle of Plomet that they shuld spoyle and wast the chyrches and landes to the sayde chyrches belongynge For the which dedys the kynge commaunded the sayd .iii. erlys to warde but not with out warre and shedynge of blood And after the subduynge of y e sayd thre erlys a knyght or great man of myght called wyllyam y e erle of Chalon wyth a company of tyrauntes assembled for to robbe and spoyle the chyrche of saynte Peter of Cluny in Burgoyne wherof herynge the prestes and mynysters of the chyrche to the entent to mytygate to appeace the cruelty of the sayde tyrauÌ„tes dyd vpon them the ornamentes of y e sayd chyrche and yode agayne them with processyon wyth a great companye them folowynge of the people of the towne and the countrey there about in peseable and charytable wyse But when the sayde tyrauntes approched vnto the sayde coÌ„pany with out compassyon and pyty as turkes ranne vppon crysten men or wyth lesse Pytye so ranne they vppon the prestes and other and spoyled them of all the sayde ornameÌ„tes and slew of that coÌ„pany to the nomber of .v. huÌ„dred or mo after spoyled the sayde chyrche of suche stuffe as was therin lefte It was not longe after or kynge Lewys had wyttynge of this cruell dede wherfore in auengynge the chyrche he gatheryd a conuenyent power and spedde hym thyther But the sayde wyllyam erle of Chalon herynge of the kynges coÌ„mynge fled y e couÌ„trey so y t the kyng myght haue no certayne knowlege where he became wherfore the kyng entred and seased his landes and gaue the moyty therof to y e duke of Burgoyn as chefe lorde of that soyle and that other halfe he gaue vnto the erle of Neuers to whose auncetry in tyme passed the sayd moyty apperteyned And that done he commaunded inquyry to be made of his accessaryes the prebensons or prebendars of the whyche he punyshed by dyuerse maner of tormentes and dethes to the great contentacyon of the countrey when the kynge hadde thus fynished this vyage and was returned into Fraunce soon after was knowlege brought vnto him that the Burgonyons men of the towne of Uerdeley rebelled agayne the hed chyrch or abbay of that towne and enteÌ„dyd to haue done some vylany to the
hys reygne ouer England the xvii daye of Nouembre the morowe after saynt Edmond the archbisshop in the yere of our lorde M.CC lxxii the .ii. yere of the .iii. Phylype than kynge of Fraunce reygned nobly yeres .xxxiiii. fo lv Elyanoure mother to kyng Richard was enlarged fo iiii Edmounde Crouchbak was maried to the doughter of y e erle of Amnarle as apereth in fo xliiii EdmouÌ„d wodstocke wroughte treason fo lxxxviii Edward the sonne of Henry foresayd distressed the barons as it is shewed folio xxxix Edwarde forsayd dystressed the Barons the seconde tyme as is shewed folio xxxix Edwarde the holy kyng and confessour was translated as it shewed in folio xliiii Edwarde was crossed into the holy lande and of hys feates there done folio xlv Edwarde of Carnaruan as apereth folio lviii Edward the second called Edwarde Carnaruan the sonne of the fyrst Edwarde began hys domynyon ouer Englande in the moneth of Iuly and yere of our lorde god M.iii. C. vii and the .xxi. yere of the .iiii. Phylyppe or Philip the fayre than kynge of Fraunce and reygned yeres full xix fo lxxiiii Edwarde the fyrst maryed to hys .ii. wyfe the Frenche kynges syster folio lxv Edwarde the .iii. of that name sonÌ„ of Edwarde the secoÌ„de and of dame Isabell the doughter of Philippe le Beawe or the .iiii. Phylyp late kyng of Fraunce whych Edwarde aboute the age of .xv. yeres began hys reygn ouer the realme of England the .xxv. daye of Ianuary in the yere of grace M.iii. C. .xxvi and the .iiii. yere of Charles the fayre thaÌ„ king of FrauÌ„ce the whyche reygned yeres .li. folio lxxxvi Edwarde Carnaruan was myserably slayne as is shewed fo lxxxvii Edwarde Bayloll was made kynge of Scottes fo lxxxviii Edwarde the .iii. sayled into Braban wyth hys wyfe loke in fo xci Edward the .iii. chaleÌ„ged y e hole kingdome of Fraunce fo xciii Edward the eldest sonÌ„ of the duke of yorke was electe for king of EnglaÌ„d loke in fo cc.vi. Edwarde the .iiii. of that name and eldest sone of Rychard duke of yorke whych was proclaymed heyre paraÌ„t to the crowne began hys domynyon ouer the realme of Englande in the iiii day of Marche in y e yere of grace M.iiii C.lx the .ii. yere of the .xi. Lowys than kyng of FrauÌ„ce reygned at that tyme .viii. monethes yeres viii fo cc.xiiii Edwarde the .iiii. beforenamed wan the felde of Barnet vpon Ester daye agayne kyng HeÌ„ry the .vi. in the yere of grace M.iiii C.lxxi yere of Lowys the French kyng aforesayd and reygned after that day .x. monethes and yeres .xii. So that fyrste laste he reygned ouer .vii. monethes assygned to Henry the .vi. dayes .xxxvi. monethes yeres .xxi. or wyth the sayde monethes of Henry the .vi. set to Edwardes reygne make .xxii. yeres and odde dayes fo cc.xx. Edwarde the .v. of that name sonne of Edward the .iiii. of the age of .xiiii. yeres and lasse began to reygne as kyng of EnglaÌ„d the .x. daye of Apryll yere of our lord M. iiii.lxxxiii the xxxv yere of the .xi. Lowys thaÌ„ kyng of Fraunce and reygned tyll the .xx. day of Iuly next folowyng in which season passed dayes .lxxii. folio cc.xxiiii Elizabeth the holy womaÌ„ doughter of the kyng of Hungery fo xxi Eleanoure quene of her progenye loke in fo lxi Emperoure of Almayne came into England fo c.lxvii Emperour forsayd came agayn into thys lande fo c.lxxii Enuye of Frenchmen fo v Enguerram was put to deth folio lxxxiii Epytaphye of Rychard the fyrste as apereth in fo x Epytaphye of Frederyke the emperour fo xxv Epytaphye of Edward the fyrst loke in fo lxviii Epytaphye of Edward the .iii. folio cxvi Epytaphye of kyng Rycharde the .ii. loke in fo clxvi Erthquake fell in EnglaÌ„d fo xxv Erle of Penbroke was ouerset with Frenchmen other fo cxiii ExpressemeÌ„t of the grudges atwene kyng Rychard the fyrst the FreÌ„che kynge fo iiii Eugeny pope and of hys actes folio clxxxvii FAlse Cryst was crucyfyed as is shewed in fo xix False clerke of Oxenforde whych fayned hym selfe madde came to wodstocke enteÌ„dyng to haue slayne king Henry the .iii. fo xxii Faytes or actes of warre done at DoÌ„stable fo xcvi Fysshes wonderfull takeÌ„ in the .xxxv yere of kyng HeÌ„ry the .vi. fo cci FlorenÌ„ of golde was made by kynge Edward the .iii. fo xcvii Fryers mynors came fyrst into Englande loke in fo xix Fryers Augustynes in the .xxxv. yere of kynge HeÌ„ry the .iii. buylded theyr house in a place in walys called wodhous as is shewed fo xxvi Fryers were put to deth loke in folio clix Frenche kyng sent for hys doughter that was kynge Rychardes wyfe folio clix FreÌ„ch nauy dyscoÌ„fyted fo clxxiiii Froste excedyng loke in fo clxviii GAscoynes make warre agaiÌ„st FrenchmeÌ„ borderers in kyng Charles the .v. days as is shewed in folio lxxxvi Gabell or taxe reysed vppon salte in Fraunce loke in fo cxix Guynes castell was yoldeÌ„ to Englishmen loke in fo ci Grudge betwene Baldwyn and his monkes fo vii Grudge arose betwene kyng IohnÌ„ hys lordes fo xvi Grudge and dyspleasure betwene y e bysshop of wynchester and the duke of Glouceter it is shewed in folio clxxxi Grudge and murmure toke place amonge the nobles of Fraunce as appereth fo cc.xxviii HArme done by thonder as appereth in fo cvii Hawâ—e wythout reuerence of the sacrament was slayne in the churche folio cxli Hastynges lord Chamberleyne was sodeynly put to deth fo ccxxiiii Henry the thyrd of that name sonnÌ„ of king IohnÌ„ a chyld of .x. yeres began to reygne ouer EnglaÌ„de in the moneth of Octobre and yere of oure lorde M.CC. .xvii and the .xxxvii. yere of Phylype thaÌ„ kyng of FrauÌ„ce and reygned yeres .lvi fo xviii Henry Bolyng broke y e .iiii. of y e name and sonne heyre of IohnÌ„ of Gaunt duke of LaÌ„castre the whyche IohnÌ„ was secoÌ„d sonne of Edwarde the .iii. lyuyng after theyr father or the .iii. sonne to rekyn prynce Edward this Henry after the deposicioÌ„ of Rychard in the ende of the moneth of SepteÌ„bre begaÌ„ to reygne ouer EnglaÌ„de in the yere of our lorde M.iii. C.lxxx xix and the .xix. yere of Charles y e .vii than kyng of Fraunce and reygned yeres .xiii. fo clxiii Henry the .vi. of that name sonnÌ„ of Henry the .v. of y e name sonne of HeÌ„ry the .iiii. began hys reygne ouer the realme of EnglaÌ„d vppon the morne after saynt Cuthbertys day or y e â—xi day of Marche in the ende of y e yere of grace M.iiii C. .xiii and y e â—xxii yere of Charles the .vii. than kyng of FrauÌ„ce and reygned yeres .ix. fo .clxx HeÌ„ry the .v. dame Kateryne doughter of Charles the .vi. or .vii. a chylde of halfe yere of age begaÌ„ hys reygne ouer EnglaÌ„d FrauÌ„ce in the ende of the moneth of Iuly and yere
after smote hym wych hys crosse vpon the lefte syde Upon the morne after the pope was fouÌ„den dede and hys bedde all blody But of thys is nothynge in the cronycle or storye of Innocent After that sayenge of Polycronycon this byshoppe Grostehede shuld dye in the .xxxvii. yere of thys kynge Henry the whyche sayenge agreeth better with the storye except that the sayde pope lyued after the deth of the sayde byshoppe .vi. yere Anno domini M.CC.l.  Anno domini M.CC.li.  Humfrey Basse.  IohnÌ„ Norman  Anno .xxxiiii.  wyllyam fyz Rycharde  IN this .xxxiiii. yere was an excedynge wynde the whyche in sondry places of England dyd great harme whyche was in the begynnynge of this yere vppon the daye of Symon and Iude. About thys tyme in the duchy of Burgoyne as testyfyeth Fasciculus temporuÌ„ and other an hyll remouyd from hys proper place and glode by many a myle and lastely ioyned hym vnto other hyllys In the whyche glydynge or ronnynge the sayde hyll oppressyd or slewe v. thousande people And thys yere Symon fyz mary alderman of London for hys dysobedyence and euyll counsaill that he gaue vnto Margarete Uyell before in the xxxi yere of thys kynge touchyd wyth other secret labours and maters entendyd by hym to the hurte of the cytye was dyschargyd of hys aldermanshyppe and put oute of the counsayll of the cytye Anno domini M.CC.li.  Anno domini M.CC.lii  Laurence Frowyke  Adam Basynge  Anno .xxxv.  Nycholas Batte  IN thys .xxxv. yere of kynge Henry beganne the frere Augustynes to buylde or inhabyte them in walys in a place callyd woodhouse And in this yere maryed kyng Henry his doughter Mary or after some wryters Margarete vnto Alexander kynge of Scottys at the cytye of yorke and dyd receyue homage of the sayde Alexander for the kyngedome of Scottes or for the prouynce of Scotlande in lyke maner as many of his progenytours had done dyuerse and many tymes before as in this worke both before thys tyme and also after is shewyd Anno domini M.CC.li.  Anno domini M.CC.lii  wyllyam Durham  IohnÌ„ Toleson  Anno .xxxvi.  Thomas wymborne  IN thys .xxxvi. yere the kynge graunted vnto the shryues of London that they shulde yerely be alowyed of .vii. pounde for certayne pryuyleges or grounde belongynge to saynte Paules chyrche the whych at this daye is allowyd by the Barons of the kynges excheker to euerey shryue when they make theyr accompte in the offyce of the pype Also thys yere was grauÌ„ted by the kynge for the citesens more ease that where before tyme they vsyd yerely to present theyr mayre to y e kynges presence in any such place as he then were in Englande that nowe from thys tyme forthwarde they shulde for lacke of the kynges presence beynge at westmynster presente theyr mayre so chosen vnto the barons of hys Excheker and there to be sworne admyttyd as he before tymes was before the kynge Anno domini M.CC.lii  Anno domini M.CC.liii  IohnÌ„ Northampton  Nycholas Batte  Anno .xxxvii.  Rycharde Pycarde  IN thys .xxxvii. yere the water of the see aboute the daye of saynte Paulyn in the moneth of Ianuary rose of suche heyghte that yt drowned many vyllagys and housys nere vnto yt in dyuerse places of Englande And thys yere the kynge the quene and syr Edwarde his son wyth Bonyface archebyshoppe of Caunterburye and dyuerse other nobles of the realme sayled into Normandye and taryed at Burdeaux a certayne of tyme. But of theyr dedys or cause of theyr saylynge thyther is no mencyon made in the cronycle of England How be yt in the FreÌ„che boke yt is shewed y t the cause was to ioyne Edwarde the kynges sonne vnto the syster of y e kyng of Spayne by maryage This yere also the water of Thamys sprange so hygh that yt drowned many housys about the waters syde by meane wherof myche maâ—chaundyse was peryshed and loste And thys yere the cytezyns hadde graunted of the kynge that no cytesyns shulde paye scauage or tolle for any bestes by them brought as they before tymes hadde vsyd Anno domini M.CC.liii  Anno domini M.CC.liiii  Robert Belyngton  Rycharde Hardell  Anno .xxxviii.  Ranfe Aschewye  IN thys .xxxviii. yere by procurement of syr Rycharde erle of Cornewayll for dyspleasure whyche he bare towarde y e citye for exchauÌ„ge of certayne grounde to the same belongynge the kynge vnder coloure that the mayre hadde not done due execucyon vppon the bakers for lackynge of theyr syzys seased the lybertyes of the cytye That ys to be vnderstanden that where the mayre and comynaltye of the cytye hadde by the kynges graunte the cytye to ferme wyth dyuerse customys and offyces for astynted and ascertayned summe of money now the kyng sette in offycers at hys pleasure the whiche were accomptable vnto hym for all reuenues and profytes that grew wythin the sayde cytye But wythin foure dayes folowynge the feste of saynte Edmunde the byshop or by the .xix. daye of Nouember the cytesyns agreed wyth the sayde erle for .vi. hundred marke After whych agrement wyth hym concluded they soone after were restoryd vnto theyr lybertyes This yere syr Edward the kynges sonne and heyre was maryed vnto Eleanour y e kinges sister of Spayn And in the Cristmas weke the kyng landed at Douer and y e quene wyth hym wyth many other lordes when the kynge was comen to London he was lodgyd in the towre where he sent for to come vnto hym the mayre and the shryues wyth whom he resoued greuously for the escape of one callyd IohnÌ„ Gate This IohnÌ„ had murderyd a pryour allyed vnto the kynge The mayre layde the charge of this mater from hym vnto y e shryues for so myche as to theym belonged the kepynge of all prysons wyth in the cytye so that the mayre returnyd home and the shriues remayned there as prisoners by y e space of a moneth after or more And in theyr places and for theym were chosen Steuen Oystergate Henry walmoode But how the old shryues passyd out of the kynges daunger I fynde not Anno domini M.CC.liiii  Anno domini M.CC.lv.  Stephan Oystergate  Rycharde Hader  Anno .xxxix.  Henry walmoode  IN this .xxxix. yere in the feaste of saynte Etheldrede dame Eleanour wyfe vnto the kynges son syr Edwarde came vnto London where she was honorably receued of the cytesyns and the cytye rychely curteyned and garnyshed wyth dyuerse ryche clothes where the kynge was present at her commynge And she was honorably coÌ„ueyed through the cytye to saynte IohnÌ„s wythoute Smythfelde and there lodgyd for a whyle But after she was remouyd vnto Sauoy It was not longe after y t the kyng seasyd the lybertyes of the cytye for certayne money whyche y e quene claymed for her ryght of the cytesyns so that about saynte Martyns tyde in
grew to makynge of partyes so that wyth the goldsmythes toke partye the felyshyp or craft of wyth the tayllours helde y e craft of stayners By meane of thys myche people nyghtly gaderyd in the stretes in harneys And at length as yt were prouyded y e thyrd nyght of the sayde partyes met vpon the nomber of .v. huÌ„dred men on both sydes and ran to gyther wyth such violence y t some were slayn and many wouÌ„ded Then outcrie was made so y t the shy reffes with strength of other coÌ„mons came to the ryddynge of theym and of theym toke certayn persones and sent them vnto dyuers prysons and vppon the morowe suche serche was made that the moste of the chefe causers of that fray were taken and put in warde Then vppon the freday folowyng saynt Katheryns day sessyons were kepte at Newgate by the mayre and LaureÌ„ce de Broke iustyce and other where .xxx. of the sayd persones were arregned of felony and .xiii. of them caste and hanged And for one Godfrey de Beuerlay holpe to arme one of the sayd persons he was also caste amonge the other In lent folowyng the kynge beyng at westmynster commauÌ„ded the mayre of London to present vnto hym .vi. persones such as were able to be shyriffes Of the whyche .vi. so presented y e kyng chase .ii. for to be shyreffes that is to say wyllyam de Durham and walter Henry and then caused theym to be sworne that they shulde gader the profytes of the cytye and to gyue a trewe accompte before the Barons of the excheker And the morow after saynt Iamis daye or the .xxvi. daye of Iuly the kynge dyscharged syr Aleyn Souch mayre and made StephaÌ„ Edworth constable of the toure and custos of the cytye of London Of these rulers of the cytye after the yere that Thomas fyz Thomas was mayre are dyuers oppynyons For after some writers from that yere whyche as the xlviii yere of kynge Henry tyll the lviii yere of hys reygne in the whyche yere Iohan Adryan draper was mayre were all custodyes and gardeyns and no mayres and who to y e was then constable of the towre of LoÌ„don was also custos of the cytye About this tyme also by medyacy on and meanes of syr Edwarde all suche dysheryted persones as kepte the yle of Ely were reconcyled vnto the kynge and all fortresses and defences therin by theym made plucked away and destroyed And in thys moneth of Iuly Octobonus the legat after he had made many good rules in the chyrche not wythoute great charge of dymes leuyed of the same toke his leue of the kynge and rode towarde the see syde with great treasour and so returned in processe of tyme to Rome where after Innocent the fyft about the yere of our lorde .xii. hundred .lxxvi. he was chosen and created pope and then named Adryan y t .v. of y t name and dyed wythin .l. dayes of his eleâ—yon This yere also for so myche as many of the cytesyns of London for the great imposycyon charge that they were sette at towarde the fyne of .xx. thousande marke forenamed wyth other charges voyde the cytye wyth theyr housholdes and goodes enhabited them in dyues places of the lande thynkynge therby to be acquited of the sayd sessyng or charge the other of the cytye whych remayned made instant laboure to y e kyng and had yt graunted that all suche as for the sayde cause hadde voyded theyr goodes out of the cytye shulde be distrayned by the shyryff of y e shyre where they then dwelled and forcyd to paye all suche summes as they before were assessyd at And in the moneth of September the forenamed .v. cytesyns whych remayned prysoners in the towre of wyndefore that is to saye Thomas fyz Thomas Mychaell Tony Stephan Buckerell Thomas Pywelysdon and IohnÌ„ de la Flete as before in the ende of the .xlviii. yere is expressyd made at thys season theyr ende wyth syr Edwarde the kynges sonne for great summes of money were delyueryd Anno domini M.CC.lxix  Anno domini M.CC.lxx  wyllyam Haddystoke  Thomas fiz Thomas  Anno .liiii.  Anketyll de Aluerne  IN this .liiii. yere beganne an harde froste about the feaste of saynt Andrew and enduryd tyll yt was nere vnto Candelmasse The whych was so feruent that Thamys aboue the bridge betwene London westmynster was so harde frosyn y e men and bestes passed ouer on fote from Lambhyth to westmynste and so vpward in dyuers places to Kyngstone and marchaundyse was caryed from Sandwych other hauens of the see vnto London by lande for that shyppes at y e season myghte not entre into the ryuer of Thamys And about the feaste of saynte Uedast fyll suche plent of water y e Thamys flowed and rose so hyghe y â— the lyke therof was not sene by men then lyuynge wherof ensued mych harme about London for the selers by the water syde were all drowned and in theym great plente of marchaundyse peryshed and loste In this yere in the begynnynge of lent y e kynge gaue vnto syr Edward his son the rule of the cytye of London with all reuenues and profytes to yt belongynge After whyche gyft y e sayd syr Edwarde made syr Hugh the son of Othon coÌ„stable of y e towre and custos of the cytye And vppon the .ix. daye of Apryll ensuynge syr Edmunde the kynges other sonne surnamed Crouch bake maryed at westminster the doughter of the erle of Aumarle For solempnyte wherof the kynge kept there in y e great hall a great honorable feaste the sondaye folowynge And vppon the daye of saynte Erkenwalde or the laste daye of Apryll nexte ensuynge syr Edwarde y e kynges sonne commaunded the citesyns of London to presente vnto hym .vi. persones able to be shyreffes of London Of the whyche he admytted to that offyce wyllyam de Hadestoke Anketyll de Aluerne sware them to be accomptauntes as theyr predecessours were And the .vi. daye of May folowyng pÌ„sentyd at y e Guyld hall and there chargyd of new At these dayes a newe custome or toll was vsed to be payed by the cytysyns of London vnto the kynge whych toll syr Edwarde then hadde letten so ferme to a marchaunt strauÌ„ger for .xx. marke by yere wherfore the cytesysn not wyllynge to be vnder the rule of a strauÌ„ger made grete suyte vnto the sayde syr Edwarde and lastely agreed wyth hym to bye the sayde tolle free for the summe of two hundred marke And in the ende of this yere that is to meane the .xiii. daye of October the kynge lette translate wyth great solemnytye the holy body of saynte Edwarde kynge and confessour that before laye in the syde of the quere where the monkes nowe synge into the chapell at the backe of the hyghe aulter of westmynster abbay there layde yt in a ryche shryne And in this yere the kynge hadde graunted vnto hym towarde his vyage purposyd by hym
his marchauÌ„tes myght vse theyr entercourse into FlauÌ„dres as they before tymes had done such lossis as before was by theym susteyned shulde be recompensyd And so soone after an amytye betwene the kynge and her was concluded In this yere about y e ende of Marche dyed Rychard kynge of Almayn and erle of Cornewayle brother to the kynge and was buryed at Haylys an abbaye of whyte monkes by hym before tymes buylded after he hadde ben kynge of Almayne by the terme of .xv. yeres But after the rehersall made before in the .xxx. yere of this kyng Henry he shuld reygne xvi yeres In the moneth of Iuny y e monastery of y e Trinite in y e citie of Norwiche was consumed wyth fyre by reason of a fraye made betwene seruauntes of the abbaye and some of the cytezeyns of the cytye whyche grewe to a great skyrmysshe For the pryour of the same and other of the monkes purueyed sowdyours and helde y e belfray and the chyrch by force of armys and threwe out stones dartes and shotte many arrowes by reason wherof many of y e towne were bothe wounded slayne whyche broughte the comons and yonge men in suche a furye and madnesse that they fyrid the gates and after forced the fyre with rede and drye woode that the chyrche wyth the bookes all other ornamentes of the same and all houses of offyce belongynge to the same abbey were clene brent and throwen downe so that nothynge was preserued excepte a lytell Chapell whaÌ„ tydynges of thys ryot came to y e kyngê knowlege he was therwith greuously dyspleased so that he rode thyder soone after and there commaunded questes to be charged of knyghtes esquyres that dwelled in the countre aboute and to endyte all suche persones as were occasyoners and executours of that dede By reason of whyche enquery fynally were caste and iuged vppon the nombre of .xxx. yonge men of the towne the whyche were after drawen to the place of execucyon and there hanged and brent to the great dyscomfyture sorowe of the cytezeyns For they thought y e pryour of the place was the occasyoner of all that myschyef whych was borne out defended by the bysshop of Norwyche than beyng named Roger And this yere were diuers prodygies strauÌ„ge tokens sene in dyuers places of Englande amoÌ„ge y e whych at Grenewyche besyde London a laÌ„be was yenyd hauynge .ii. perfyte bodyes wyth all membres and but one heed Anno domini M.C.lxxii  Anno domini M.CC.lxxiii  Rycharde Parys  Syr walter Henry  Anno .lvii.  IohnÌ„ Bedyll  IN thys .lvii. yere of kynge HeÌ„ry and begynnynge of the same the kynge sykened so that he was forcyd to kepe his bed at westminster where he called before hym syr Gylberte de Clare erle of Glouceter and caused hym to be newly sworne to kepe the peas of the lande to the behofe of Edwarde hys sonne and than dyed vppon the daye of saynte Edmunde the bysshoppe or the .xvi. day of Nouembre and was buryed vppon the southesyde of saynte Edwarde in westmynster whenne he had reygned .lvi. yeres .xxviii. days leuynge after hym syr Edwarde beforenamed for hys heyre EdmuÌ„de Crowchbak In a table haÌ„gyng vpoÌ„ the tombe of the sayd Henry are written these verses folowynge Tercius Henricus iacet hic pietatis amicus Ecclesiam strauit istam quam post renouauit Reddat ei munus qui regnat trinus vnus The whyche may be Englysshed as foloweth The frende of pyte and of almesse dede Henry the thyrde whylome of Englande kynge who thys chyrch brake after hys mede Agayn renewed into this fayre buyldynge Nowe resteth in here whyche dyd so great a thynge He yelde hys mede that lorde in deyite That as one god reygneth in persones thre Francia LOwys the .ix. of y e name and sonne vnto the seconde Phylyp begaÌ„ his reygne ouer the realme of FrauÌ„ce in the yere of our lorde .xii. C.xxiii and the .vii. yere of the thyrde HeÌ„ry then kynge of Englande Thys Lowys was crowned at Raynes vpon the daye of saynt Sixtus the pope or the .vi. day of August By the meane of thys Lowys as testifieth the freÌ„she cronycle retourned the blode of Pepyn to the enherytaunce of the crowne of Fraunce whose name was Isabell doughter of Bawdewyn erle of Henaut whych Bawdewyn was discendyd of Ermengaunte somtyme countesse of Namoure whyche was doughter to Charles duke of Lorayne the whyche Charles was lynyally dyscended of Charles the CoÌ„querour that was sonne of Charles Martellus the sonne of Pepyn whan thys Lowys had passed the solempnytye of hys coronacyon he made a vyage into y e countre of Poytiers and there wanne from the Englysshe men certayne castelles townes as before in the .x. yere of Henry the thyrde is touched The whyche vyage by hym fynysshed he at y e contemplacyon and prayer of kyng Iohan kynge of Hierusalem toke vpoÌ„ hym the crosse to warre vpoÌ„ the Turkes and after all thynges for that vyage made redy passed with hys hoost by Burgys Neuers and so to Lyon and from Lyon to Auygnd the whyche for dysobedyence to the chyrche of Rome had stande accursed vppon the terme of .vii. yeres But where as kynge Lowys supposed he shulde haue passed with hys people as he had passed the other cytyes y e cytezeyns closed the gates agayne hym wolde nat suffre hym nor hys to come within the cytye wherfore the kynge commaunded assaute to be made and so continued there hys siege tyll the myddell of August the whyche was begon aboute the ende of NoueÌ„bre and loste there many of hys men amoÌ„ge the whych Guy erle of saynte Paule a man of great fame was one with y e bysshop of Lemeryk and other to the noÌ„bre of .ii. M. or theraboute wherewith thys Lowys was so amoued that he made a solempne othe that he wolde nat departe thens tyll he had wonne the towne when that the rulers of the towne had knowlege of the kynges aâ—owe and promesse that he had made they toke aduysemente and shortly after sent vnto the kynge .ii. noble men of the cytye to entreate and common of peas But peas was to them vtterly denyed except they wolde submytte theym hooly to the correccyon of the pope For the offence done to god hys chyrch of Rome after to staÌ„de to the kynges dome for dyspleasure done agayne hym In the ende thoughe thys condycyon were greatly agayne theyr mynde it was lastly agreed vnto and the kynge with his people was receyued into the cytye And after he had restyd hym there a season that the cytezens had agreed theym with the popes legate and receyued of hym absolucioÌ„ with a new bysshop named Peter Corbio of the popes eleccyon than Gregory the .ix. with other thynges done accordinge to the sayd popes commaundement Then kynge Lowys commaunded fyrste the dyches of the towne to be fylled playne with the grounde And
of theyr pryncys y t is to mene the corps of Lewys and theyr naturall prynce Phylyppe hys son and of the obseruaunces done and great assembles of the lordes spirytuall and temporall to welcome theyr prynce and doynge of theyr duties euery man according to honour But after al these ceremonies in due order fynyshed prouysyon was made for the coronacyon of the kynge The whyche was crowned at the cytye of Raynes vppon the daye of the assumpcyon of our lady in the yere of grace .xii. hundred .lxxi. SHortely after that the solempnyte of this coronacyon was passed kynge Phylyppe for his recreacyon rode into the countrey of Uermendoyse where after he had derestyd hym a season Robert erle of Artoys requyred hym to vysyte hys countrey where he was receyuyd of the burgeysys of Artoys wyth great honour and gladnes and there was feastyd with all disport and gladnes by a certayne of tyme after The whiche expyryd he returned into FrauÌ„ce About the thryde yere of his reygne the erle of Foys contrary y e kynges pleasure toke partye agayn Getarde a knyght lorde of the castell of Casseboun or Tasseboun y e which before had slayn y e brother of the erle of Armenac specyall freÌ„d of the sayd erle of Foyz whyche sayde two erles to reuenge the deth of theyr sayd brother pursued the sayde Gerarde so narrowly that for his sauegarde he refused his owne castell and fled vnto a castell of the kynges and there helde hym wyth his wyfe chyldren and substauÌ„ce But when the two erles were ware therof they sped them thyder wyth theyr powers and layd syege to the castell and in the ende threwe it downe to the grounde and slewe all the souldyours that they there founde as well the kynges seruauntes as other hopynge to haue founde theyr enymye Gerarde the whyche was escapyd thens secretly when the rumour of this dede came vnto the kynge he dysdayned sore that dede and toke yt ryght grevously In so myche that he called hys lordes and by theyr counsayll assembled hys knyghtes and entred wyth force the prouince of the erle of Foyz The whyche herynge of the kynges great dyspleasure fortyfyed hys castell and there helde hym The which was so besette wyth rokkes of stone that the kynge myght not wynne to yt wyth ease wherfore the kynge coÌ„maunded the rokkes to be cutte with masons and other worke men made a solempne othe that he wold not depart thens or he hadde the erle and his castell at his pleasure when the erle hadde beholden the great power of his enymyes and the prouysyon of the kyng to wynne his castell wyth other ieopardyes he made meanes to the kynge for grace and fynally putte hym and his into his mercy Then the kynge commauÌ„ded hym to be bounde and so to be conueyed to the casrell of Beauquesu where he was imprysoned by an hole yere after And the kyngâ—â—eased all hys landes and set a certayne of hys knyghtes to kepe hys castell and caryed hys wyfe and chyldren wyth hym into Fraunce But after a yere runne the kynge was so laboured to by the frendes of the sayd erle that he was eularged from pryson and vppon suertye suffred to serue in the kynges courte where he bare hym so well y t fynally the kyng made hym knyght restored hym to all his laÌ„des But what fyll of y e erle of Armenac the story sheweth not Aboute the .vi. yere of his reygne kynge Phylyppe maryed Mary the doughter of the erle of Burbon or after some the doughter of Iohan the duke of Braban the whych he loued entyerly wherof Peter de Broshe then beynge lorde chamberlayne hauynge enuy and disdayn sought the wayes and meanes to mynyshe the great loue betwene her lord and her and fonde by his meane that a sonne of y e kynges named Lewys was prysoned the whyche dede he by subtyle secrete meanes as though yt had nothyng comen of hym layde yt to y e charge of the quene For this y e kyng made many maner of inquysycyons as well by sorcery as other But in al his workes he found his quene gyltlesse wherfore he sufferyd the mater to passe tyll he myght haue more assured profe in that mater Aboute thys season Ferdinandus kynge of Castyle that before tyme hadde maryed Blanche doughter of saynt Lewis dyed leuyng after hym two sonnes borne of y e sayd Blanch named Ferdinande and Alphons whych by couenaunt at the mariage made shulde be heyres vnto the kyngdome of Spayne and Castyle But the father of this Ferdinande so beynge dede contrary hys honour and promise wrote vnto the lordes of Castyle amonestynge theym that they shulde admytte for theyr kynge hys seconde son named SaÌ„xyon or Sanxio and swere to hym both feautye homage The whyche was all done accordyng to hys commaundement so that Blanche was dyspoynted of her dower and her chyldern of theyr ryght and enherytauÌ„ce For y e which kyng Phylyppe her brother was greuously dysconteÌ„tyd and for reforma cyon therof sente vnto the kynge of Spayn his chefe boteler wyth other desyryng hym to perfourme all such couenauÌ„tes as betwene hym and his fader were coÌ„cluded at the maryage of his syster Blanche or at the laste yf that he refusyd y t to do y t he wold sende hys sayde syster wyth her two chyldern sauely into Fraunce In coÌ„clusyon y e mother wyth her two chyldern were brought by the sayde boteler vnto the kynge wythoute other pleasure other in worde or in dede For the whyche he the yere folokyng gaderyd a stronge hoste and passed wyth theym by Poyteau and Gascoyne tyll he came vnto a towne ioynynge to the border of Spayne named Sainterre where the kyng met another party of his hoste There by counsayll of some of his lordes the kynge concluded to retourne into Fraunce for daunger of wynter that was coÌ„mynge and other hyd causes But the rumour in the hoste went y t some of the kynges counsayll hadde receyued rewardes of the kynge of Spayn By meane wherof the kyng loste that iourney and returned into Fraunce to his great dyshonour and damage In tyme of kynge Phylyppes returne into Fraunce tydynges were broughte to hym that Eustace de Beau Marche whom the kyng had appointed to haue the gydyng of the countrey or kyngdome of Nauarye was besyeged in the citye of Pampulyne wherfore y e kyng coÌ„maunded y e erle of Artoys to spede hym thyder to rescowe the sayde Eustace The whyche behauyd hym so manfully that he rescowed the sayde Eustace and chasyd Garsymerans chefe styrrer of that rebellion and brought the people of that countrey agayne to due subieccyon whyle the erle of Artoys was thus occcupyed in the sayd countrey messangers came to hym from the kynge of Spayne requyrynge hym sene that he was so nere that he was so nere y t he wold come disport him there for a season wher of y e erle of Artoys sent kyng Philip worde hauyng of hym
there in hys owne persone they were the more egre vppon the Aragons to the entente to haue taken or siayne theyr kynge So that fynally they compelled theym to forsake the felde to saue them selfe by flyght by reason wherof the kynge with the more parte of his knyghtes were saued from the daūger of theyr enemyes But in this fyght Peter kyuge of Aragone was so hurte that he dyed shortly after whan these foresayd knyghtes with theyr prysoners were returned vnto the Frenche kynge had shewed vnto hym of that vyctory he reioyced therof greatly more wolde haue done yf he had knowen how sore his enemy Peter was woūded But to brynge to fyne his purpose he dayly more and more assauted the towne In y e tyme that Gereonde or Gyrōde was thus besyeged of y e Frēche kynge the erle of Foyz that to the capytayne of the towne ought great fauour many tymes by lycence of y e kynge yode into the towne and had dyuers comunycacyons with hym so that he lastly knowynge the sayde towne to be bare of vytayle shewed to the kynge that he wolde laboure the sayde capytayne named syr Raymōde de Cerdon y t the towne myght be gyuē vp into the kynges handes so that soone after y t sayde capytayne desyred a respyte of .viii. dayes to send vnto y e king of Aragō to knowe whether he wolde rescowe the towne or nat Upon y ◠whiche graūte made the messangers were sente and returned with a certaynte of the kynges dethe Upon whiche knowledge had the sayde capytayne agreed to delyuer the towne vpon cōdicion to haue with thē suche mouables as he with y e cytezyns sowdyours had within the towne All whiche condicions assured the kynge receyued the towne of Geronde into his possessyon The whiche whan he had manned with knyghtes of his owne he the by cousayle whiche tourned after to his harme diuided his nauy and sente a parte of them into Fraunce and the other into Tholous wher the kynge entended to tary the wynter folowynge But so spone as his nauy was thus deuyded the Aragons mette with them that rested in the hauen of Russilian and gaue to them suche batayle that they toke many of them and slewe the kynges admyrall and many other noble men of Fraunce and helde the Frenchemen so shorte that for so moche as they wolde nat that so good shyppes shulde come to the handes of theyr enemyes they set fyre vpon the remenaūt brent thē and after resorted vnto the kynge whē kynge Phylyp was ascertayned of the losse of his nauy he toke it greuously in somoche that for that and other thynges that he myght not brynge to his purpose he fyll into a feuer was therwith greatly anoyed Than for strengthe of his enemyes whiche kepte the passage of the mountaynes called in latyn Mōtes Pireni and for wekyng of hym selfe by reason of his sekenesse he passed by the strayte places tyll he came to Parpynyan where his sekenes encreased so sore that he dyed in shorte tyme of his thyder cōmynge in y t moneth of October whā he had regned xv yeres lackynge certayne dayes whose bowelles were buried at Nerbon and his body at saynt Denys This Phylyp had .ii. wyues By the fyrst Isabel by name and doughter of the kynge of Aragon Iaques or Iames by name he had .iii. sōnes Lewes whiche was poysoned Phylyp whiche for his beaute and fayre shappe was named Phylyp le Beau or Phylyp the fayre Charles the Ualoys And by Mary his wyfe and doughter of the duke of Braban he had Lewes Margaret Blaūche whiche Margarete was after maryed to Edwarde the fyrste than kynge of Englande Thus endeth Phylyp the .iii. of Fraunce Anglia EDwarde y e fyrst of that name sone of Henry y e thyrde surnamed lōge shāke begā his reygne ouer Englāde in the moneth of Nouember and .xvii. day of y e same and the yere of our lorde .xii. C.lxxii seconde yere of the thyrde Phylyp than kynge of Fraunce This Edwarde as before is shewed in the .lv. yere of his father was in y e holy lāde whan his father dyed there at the cytie of Acon or Acris he dyd many feates of warre wherof the cronycle maketh certayne mencyon where he beynge so exercysed in Marciall actes tidīges was brought vnto hym that his father was deed wherfore in all hast he spedde hym into Englād so that he came to London the secōde day of August and was crowned at westmynster the .xiiii. day of December folowyuge whiche was in the begynnynge of the seconde yere of his reygne Anno dn̄i M.CC.lxxii  Anno dn̄i M.CC.lxxiii  Iohan Horne  Syr walter Heruy  Anno primo  walter Potter  IN this fyrst yere of kynge Edwarde the fyrst vpon the daye of Symon and Iude were certayne attemptes made by some of the cytyzyns to haue made suche a mayre as they had lysted but for they were dyspoynted of theyr accessaryes they let for that tyme whiche in the yere folowyng vpon the same day toke further effecte as in the begynnynge of the nexte yere shal be towched In y e ende of this yere and seconde day of Auguste kynge Edwarde came to London from his great iourney of y e holy lande where of the cytezyns he was receyued with all ioy honour and so conueyed vnto westmynster where he kepte great obseruaunces for his father by a certayne tyme after Anno dn̄i M.CC.lxxiii  Anno dn̄i M.CC.lxxiiii  Nicholas wynchester  Henry waleys  Anno .ii.  Henry Couentre  IN thys seconde yere of this kynge and daye of Symon Iude whan Phylyp le Tayloure which before was chose to be mayre shulde as that daye haue taken his charge in the Guyldehall of Londō dyuers cytezyns put hym besyde the mayres seet and set therin syr walter Heruy that the yere before had been mayre For the whiche great rumour and grudge arose amonge the cytezyns wherfore the mater was after brought before the kyng the whiche herynge the reasons of bothe partyes for somoche as he coude not agre theym he putte bothe the sayde syr walter and the sayd Phylyp asyde and chase Henry Forwyk for custos of the cytye the whych so contynued tyll Cādelmas after At whych tyme by dyscrete and wyse peasyble meanes the forenamed syr walter Heruy was set in auctorite as mayre and so contynued the full of the yere after Thys yere vppon the .xiiii. daye of Decembre was the kynge crowned at westmynster of mayster Roberte kylwarby than archebisshop of Caūterbury For Bonyface hys predecessour dyed the yere that kynge Henry dyed At thys coronaciō was present Alexandre kynge of Scottes the whyche vpon the morowe folowyng dyd homage to kyng Edward for the kyngdome of Scotlande After the Solempnytie of the coronacyon was ended the kyng heryng of the rebellyon of Lewelyne prynce of walys that dysdayned to come to hys coronacyon anone
le Beawe then kynge of Fraūce The whyche Margarete whyle the kyng was in Scotlāde was brought vnto Douer and so vnto Caunterbury where the kyng spoused her in the moneth of Septembre as wytnesseth the Frenche cronycle and receyued of her in processe of tyme folowyng two sonnes named Thomas and Edmunde and a doughter named Margarete The fyrste of the sonnes was surnamed Thomas of Brothertō and the seconde Edmūde wodestoke Anno domini M.CC.xcix  Anno dn̄i M.CCC  Iohn̄ Armenter  Elys Russell  Anno .xxviii.  Henry Fryngeryth  IN thys .xxviii. yere the kynge herynge of the vntrowth and rebellyon of the scottes made the .iii. vyage into Scotlāde and bare hym so knyghtly that in shorte processe after hys commynge he subdued the more parte of the lande And after he sped hym vnto the castell of Estryuelyn wherin were many of the greate lordes of Scotlande and enuyroned the sayd castel with a strōg siege But he laye there somwhat oftyme without wynnynge of any great aduauntage or hurte doynge vnto the scottes wherfore of polycy he caused to be made .ii. payre of galowes in y e syght of the castell and after cōmaūded proclamacyons to be cryed that yf the scottes by a certayn day wolde yelde that castell to the kynge they shuld haue lyfe lym̄e And yf nat but that he wanne it by strength as many as were within the sayd castel shuld be hāged vpon those gybettes none astate nor persone to be excepted In processe of tyme whan y e scottes had well dygestyd thys proclamacyon and sawe the strength of theyr enemyes cōsydered theyr owne feblenes lak of socoure they assented fynally to yelde theym theyr castell vnto the kyng whyche shortly after was done wherof kyng Edwarde beyng possessed stuffed it with Englissh knyghtes after toke a newe othe of the lordes and capytaynes the whyche he founde closed within that castell of trewe feythfull allegeaūce after sufferyd them to go where theym lyked And whan wyllyam walys whych as before is sayd pretended the rule gouernaunce of Scotlande harde tell that the stronge castell of Estryuelyne was yelden vnto kynge Edwarde that lordes and knyghtes therin founden in whyche he moche affyed were sworne to the kynges allegeaunce he feryd sore leste y e sayd company wolde betray hym bring hym vnto y e kyng wherfore he with hys adherentes withdrewe hym into the mareyses other daūgerous places where he thoughte he was in suertye for pursuynge of the kynges hooste Then the poore commons of the lande presented theym by great companyes and put theym holy in the kynges grace mercy so that the kynge thought then that he was in peasyble possessyon or in a greate suertye of the lande wherfore after he had caused to be sworn vnto hym the rulers of dyuers borughes cytyes townes with other offycers of the lande he retourned vnto Berwyke so into Englande and lastly vnto westmynster In thys tyme season that y e kyng was thus occupyed aboute his warres in Scotlande the quene was cōueyed vnto London Agayne whom the cytezyns vpon the nombre of .vi. C. rode ī one lyuerey of rede whyte with the conysaunce of dyuers mysteryes brodered vpon theyr sleues and receyued her .iiii. myles without the cytie so conueyed her thorugh y ◠cytie whiche then was garnysshed and behanged with tapettes arras and other clothes of sylke and ryches in most goodly wyse vnto westmynster and there lodged whan the kynge this yere retourned out of Scotlande he caused shortly after an inquysycyon to be made thorugh his lande the whiche after was named Troilbaston̄ This was made vpon al offycers as mayres shyreffes baylyffes excheters many other that had mysborne them in theyr sayd offyces and had extorcioned or mystreated y e kynges lyege people otherwyse than was accordynge with the good ordre of theyr sayd offyces By meane of whiche inquisicyon many were accused and redemed theyr offyces by greuous fynes to the kynges great lucre and auauntage Other meanes were foūdē also as forfaites again y e crowne the whiche broughte great summes of money to the kynges cofers towarde the great charge of his warres y t he susteyned in wales Fraūce and Scotlande as before is shewed this yere also the kynge for cōplaynt that was brought vnto hym by mayster walter Langton bysshop of Chester of syr Edwarde his eldest sone for that he with Pyers of Gaueston̄ and other insolent persones had broken the sayde parke of the sayde bysshop ryottously destroyed y e game within it he therfore inprysoned the sayd syr Edwarde his son̄e with his complyces And in processe of tyme after when the kynge was thorughly enformed of y e lassiuyous wantō disposiciōs of the sayd Pyers of Gaueston̄ for that he shulde nat enduce the forenamed syr Edwarde to be of lyke dysposycyon he therfore banysshed the sayd Pyer of Gaueston̄ out of Englande for euer But after the dethe of kynge Edwarde y e banysshmente was soone denulled by Edward his sone wherof ensued moche harme and trouble as after shal be shewed Anno domini M.CCC  Anno dn̄i M.CCCi  Luke Hauerynge  Elys Russell  Anno .xxix.  Rycharde Champeis  IN this .xxix. yere of kynge Edwarde dyed Edmunde erle of Cornewayle the sonne of Rycharde somtyme erle of the sayd coūtre and kynge of Almayne without yssue wherfore that erledome retourned agayne to the crowne of Englande And in this yere the kynge gaue vnto syr Edwarde his sone the pryncypate of wales and ioyned there vnto the sayd erledome of Cornewayle Anno dn̄i M.CCC.i  Anno dn̄i M.iii. C.ii.  Robert Caller  Iohn̄ Blount  Anno .xxx.  Peter Bosham  IN thys .xxx. yere the kyng helde hys greate counsayll of parlyamente at hys cytye of Caunterbury Anno domini M.CCC.ii  Anno domini M.CCC.iii  Hugh Pourt  Iohn̄ Blount  Anno .xxxi.  Symon Parys  Anno domini .xiii. C.iii.  Anno domini .xiii. C.iiii.  wyllam Combmartyn  Iohn̄ Blount  Anno .xxxii.  Iohn̄ de Burfforde  Anno domini M.CCC.iiii  Anno domini M.CCC.v.  Rogyer Parys  Iohn̄ Blount  Anno .xxxiii.  Iohn̄ Lyncoln̄  IN this .xxxiii. yere wyllyā waleys that vnto the kyng hadde done so many dyspleasures and treasons agayne the trouth and allegeaunce of hys othe as some deale before is shewed was takē at the town named saint Domynyk in Scotlād and sent vnto London and there arraygnyd and vpon the euyn of saynt Bartylmewe drawen hanged and quartered and hys hedde set vppon London brydge and hys .iiii. quarters sent into Scotlande there hāged vpon the gates of certayne townes of the lāde And at Myghelmas folowynge the kynge holdynge hys parlyament at westmynster thyder came out of Scotlande the bysshop of saint Andrewes Robert le Bruze syr Symon de Frysell erle of Dunbarre syr Iohn̄ of
assygne begynnynge at Gaunt so to Bruges other places more ouer they shulde yelde vnto Robert theyr erle y e castell of Courtray with all abylemeÌ„tes of warre other necessaries theruÌ„to belongyng Al whych coÌ„dicions to obserue they shuld deliuer vnto y e kyng of FrauÌ„ce good hostages But al this came to small effect as after shal appere IN the .xxvii. yere of thys Phylyp Iacob the mayster of y e teÌ„plers with an other greate ruler of y e sayd ordre whych was named Uisytour of the same after longe prysonment were brent at Parys And in the same yere kynge Phylyp arrered a taxe thorugh Fraunce whyche before that dayes was neuer herde nor spoken of Thys was so greuous that al NormaÌ„dy Picardy Champeygne allied them togyder vtterly denayde the paymeÌ„t therof wherof heryng other countrees toke the same opynyon so that a greate rumour murmour was reysed thorugh out y e realme of FrauÌ„ce in such wyse that the kyng for pacyfyeng of the people was fayne to repeale the sayd taxe In the .xxviii. yere of the reygne of kyng Philip in y e weke of Easter the iii. wyfes of the .iii. sonnes of kynge Philip that is to say Margarete the wyfe of Lowys hys eldest sonne and kyng of Nauerne Iohanne or Ione the wyf of hys seconde sonne Philip erle of Poytyers and Blaunche the wyfe of hys thyrde sonne Charles erle of Marches were accused of spouse brekyng and sent froÌ„ a place of nunnes where they lay and conueyed vnto more streyghter kepyng y e whych .iii. wyfes were al .iii. doughters vnto the duke of Burgoyn ThaÌ„ vppon strayte examynacyon made Margaret and Iohanne were gyltye of that cryme fouÌ„d wherfore they were sent vnto the castell of Gaylard in NormaÌ„dy there to be kept as prysoners terme of theyr lyues And the forenamed Blanche for so moche as she was foundeÌ„ gyltles was agayn restored vnto her lorde Charles erle of the Marches And in shorte tyme after the two paramours of the sayd Margaret Iohanne that is to saye Philip DaÌ„noy and Gautyer DaÌ„noy or waltier Dannoy knyghtes men of fame and goodly personage bretherne at the kynges commaundement were fyrst brent in the vysage with hote ireÌ„s after draweÌ„ to the gybet at PoÌ„toyse there hanged whyche mysfortune the kynge toke so greuously that he reioysed neuer after About the feast of saynte Peter or the begynnyng of August the kynge herynge of the rebellyon of the Flemynges by Engwerram hys mooste secrete couÌ„saylour made an assemble of the cytezyns of Parys and by the mouth of the saynd Enguerram desyted a subsydye of the sayd cytezeyns to mayntayne hys warre agayne the Flemynges the whyche by StephaÌ„ Barbet in the name of the hole cytye was graunted By precideÌ„ce wherof all the great cyties good townes of FrauÌ„ce were charged in lyke maner whyche caused greate vnkyndnes grudge of the people towarde y e sayd Enguerram Than prouysyon was made for a newe iourney into Flaunders so that the kynge sent hys twoo sonnes and many other nobles of his lande in the moneth of Septembre folowynge into the sayd countre of FlauÌ„ders The whyche made good spede layde fyrste theyr siege to the castel of the I le and wanne it after that entred towarde other stroÌ„ge holdes But the flemynges put them of and gaue vnto the Frenche hoost so sharpe assautes that in processe they were constrayned to retourne into Fraunce wyth smal honoure wherof the great defaute was layde vpoÌ„ Enguerram and vpoÌ„ one of the sonnes of the erle of Flaundres whych lytel tofore by meanes of y e sayd EnguerraÌ„ was made erle of Neuers In the moneth of Nouembre folowyng kynge Phylyp beyng at fouÌ„tayne Beliaunt in the prouynce of Gastenoys was taken with suche sykenesse and dyed shortly after when he had reygned .xxviii. yeres and more and hys body after caryed vnto saynt Dionise and there buryed leuing after hym y e thre forenamed sonnes Lowys Philyp Charlys a doughter named Isabell whych before tyme was maryed vnto the seconde Edwarde thaÌ„ kyng of Englande Anglia EDwarde the seconde of y t name soÌ„ne of Edwarde the fyrst born at Carnaruan in a towne of walys beganne his reygne ouer Englande in the moneth of Iulii .viii. day of the sayd moneth in the yere of our lord .xiii. C. .vii the .xxi. yere of the .iiii. Phylip than kyng of Frauce The whych was crowned at westmynster the .xiiii. daye of Decembre after the oppinioÌ„ of dyuers wryters But Ranulph moÌ„ke of Chester in his boke of Policronicon sayth y t he was crowned in the forsayd monastery of the bisshop of wynchester the sonday in quinquagesima whych is the .xiiii. day after the closyng of Alleluya of the bisshoppe of wynchester for so moche as Robert than archebisshope of CauÌ„terbury was than out of Englande Thys Edwarde was fayre of body great of strengthe but vnsted faste of maners vyle in coÌ„dicions For he wolde refuse the company of lordes men of honour hauÌ„te hym with vylayns vyle ê‘sones He also gaue hym to great drynkyng lightly he wolde dyscouer thiÌ„ges of great couÌ„sayl with these many other disalowable condicions he was exercysed whych tourned hym to great dishonour hys lordes to great vnrest as by the sequele of thys hys story shall appere Anone as hys father was buryed and hys exequy scantly fynysshed he forgettynge the hyghe chargeable commauÌ„dement of hys sayd father sent in all haste for hys olde compere Pyers of Gauâ—stone The whych he receyued wyth all ioy gladnesse auaunced hym to moche honour And thus passed the season of y e olde mayre and shyreffes of London so y t at the feastes of Myghelmas Symon Iude folowyng y e olde mayre and shyreffes that is to meane syr Iohan Blount Symon Bolet Godfrey at the conduyt were dyscharged and the newe as vnder foloweth admytted Iuno domini M.CCC.vii  Anno domini M.CCC.viii  Nycholas Pygotte  Syr IohnÌ„ Blount  Anno primo  Myghell Drury  IN thys begynnynge of thys mayres yere and fyrst yere of y e kynge the sayd kynge Edwarde in the moneth of Decembre sayled into FrauÌ„ce and the .xv. day of Ianuarii folowynge at Boleyn in Pycardy maryed Isabell the doughter of Philyp le Beaw than kyng of Fraunce soon after retourned with her into Englande so vnto London where of the cytezeyns they were ioyously receyued and so conueyed vnto west mynster where as before is shewed vpon the sonday in quinquagesima they were bothe solemply crowned At whyche coronacyon was so excedynge prease that a knyghte called syr IohnÌ„ Bakwell was thrested to deth Than the kynge gaue shortely after vnto Pyers of Gauestone the erledome of Cornewayl and the lord shyp of wallyngford was ruled all by hys wanton counsayll folowed the appetite and pleasure of his body nothynge orderynge by sadnesse nor yet
had reygned fyue yeres and odde dayes leuynge after hym none heyre of hys body excepte the quene was than wyth chylde whyche chylde dyed soone after y e byrthe wherfore some questions for that kyngedome were moued as before touched in the ende of the fourthe yere of thys Charles after shal be forther expressed Anglia Edwarde the thyrde EDwarde the .iii. of that name sonnÌ„ of Edward the seconde and of Isabell y e alonely doughter chylde of Phylip le Beawe or Phylyppe the fayre father to Charles laste kynge of Fraunce beganne to reygne as kynge of Englande his father yet lyuynge the syx twenty daye of Ianuary in the ende of the yere of grace a thousande thre hundreth and syx and twenty and the fourth yere of Charles the fyfth last kynge of Fraunce and was crowned at westmynster vppon the daye of the puryfycacyon of oure Lady nexte ensuynge In hys begynnynge came forthe plentye and gracyous happes for the erthe tooke plentye the ayre tempoure the see quyetnesse and to the chyrche grewe peace In thys fyrste yere he confermed the lybertyes and fraunchyses of y e cytye of London and ordeyned that the mayre for the tyme beyng shuld sytte in all places of iugement within the lyberty of the same for chiefe iustyce the kynges persone onely excepte that euery alderman that hadde ben mayre shuld be iustyce of peace in all London and Myddelsex eueryche alderman that hadde not be mayre shulde be iustyce of peace wythin his owne warde And also he graunted to the cytezyns the fee ferme of London for .iii. hundreth pownde that they shulde not be constrayned to go out of the cytye to fyghte or defende the land for any nede Also that after that daye the fraunchyse of the cytye shulde not be seasyd into the kynges handes but onely for treason or rebellyon done by the hole cytye And Southwerke was admytted to be vnder the correccyon and rule of the citye and the mayre of London to be baylyffe of Southwerke and the mayre to chose ordeyne such a baylyffe of that borough as hym lyked whiche ordinaunce endureth to this day In the moneth of Apryll for so mych as meanes were made by the frere prechours or the blacke freres for the delyuery of kynge Edwarde the .ii. out of pryson therfore he was had out of the castell of Kenelworth coÌ„ueyed vnto y e castel of Berkeley where after about saynt Mathewys tyde the sayde Edward by y â— meanes of syr Roger Mortimer was myserably slayne Of this Edward are lyke opinyoÌ„s as were of Thomas of Lancaster whyche I referre to goddys iudgement For certayne it is that for hys former wyld and insolent lyuynge he toke greate repentaunce And so he hadde great cause for durynge hys reygne there was hedyd and put to deth by iugement vppon xxviii barons and knyghtes ouer y t noble men that were slayne in Scotlande by hys infortunyte Kynge Edwarde as yet beynge of tender age not passing .xv. yeres heryng of the great pryde and presuÌ„pcyon of the Scottes and howe they dayly warred vpon the borders and entryd the lande in brennynge and spoylyng his people assembled hys people about Easter so sped hym toward Scotland In whych meane tyme the Scottes were entred the land were comen as farre as StaÌ„hop in Uiridale and had lodged theÌ„ in the woddes of Stanhop parke in dyuers bushementys wherof y â— kyng beyng enfourmed made such prouysyon that he beset them rouÌ„de about and trusted well to haue brought theÌ„ vnder hys subieccyon But when the kynge thoughte to be of them moste sure by treason of some of hys hoste the Scottes were clene escaped and retourned into Scotlande wherof y e fame ranne vpon syr Roger Mortymer But how so it was y â— kyng loste that iournay and retourned into Englande with lytle worshyppe And here ye shall vnderstand that to this day the olde mayre and shyryâ—â—es y t is to meane Hamunde Chyckwell Benet Fulham and IohnÌ„ Canston stode in offyce tyll y e day folowyng of SymoÌ„ Iude which was almost y â— full of y e fyrst yere of y e sayd Edward the .iii. And then for the residue of the fyrst yere for the more party of the second yere was electe and charged the mayre and shyryffes folowynge Anno domini M.CCC.xxvi  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxvii  Henry Darcy  Rycharde Betayne  Anno .i.  IohnÌ„ Hawteyne  IN the ende of the fyrste yere of thys kynge Edwarde begynnyng oâ— thys mayres yere the kynge after Crystmas maryed dame Phylyppe y e erles doughter of Henawde in the cytye of yorke in the euyn of y e conuersioÌ„ of saynt Paule or y e .xxiiii. daye of Ianuary And soone after the kyng about y e feast of Pentecoste helde hys parlyament at Northampton At the whych parlyament by euyll couÌ„sayl wherof syr Roger Mortymer the olde quene bare the blame the kynge made wyth the Scottes an vnprofytable and a dyshonorable peace For fyrste he released to theym theyr feauty and homage Also he delyuered vnto theym olde auncyent wrytynges sealed wyth the seales of the kynge of Scottes and of dyuerse lordes of that lande bothe spyrytuall temporall with many other charters patentes by the whyche y e kynges of Scottes oblyged them to be feordaryes vnto y t crowne of Englande At whyche season also was delyuered certeyne iewelles whych before tymes had ben woÌ„ne froÌ„ y e Scottes by kynges of England Amonge the whych the blacke crosse of Scotlande is specyally named a relyke accompted of great preciosyte And nat alonely the kyng by hys synystre couÌ„sayll lost hys tytle and ryght that he had to the realme of Scotlande as farre as the sayd couÌ„sayl might helpe it but also all lordes barones all other men of England that had any landes or rentes within Scotlande loste theyr ryghte in lyke maner excepte they wolde dwel vpon the sayd landes and becomme the kynge of Scottes lyege men And soone after was concluded a maryage betwene Dauyd le Bruze sonne of Robert le Bruze and Iane the kynges syster whyche of diuerse writers is surnamed Iane of the towre or Iohan of Towers Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxvii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.xxviii  Symon Fraunces  Hamonde Chyckewell  Anno .ii.  Henry Combmartyn  IN thys yere whyche at thys daye was the seconde yere of the kyng Dauyd foresayd the son of Roberte le Bruze thaÌ„ kynge of Scottes maryed vppon the daye of mary Magdaleyne at hys towne than of Berwyke y e fore named Iane syster vnto the kynge of Englande But it was nat longe after or the Scottes in despyte of the Englysshemen called hyr Iane make peace And also to theyr more derysyon they made dyuerse truffes roundes and songes of the whyche one is specially remembred as foloweth ¶ Longe beerdys hartles Paynted hoodes wytles Gay cotes graceles Maketh Englande thryfteles whyche ryme
protectoure of the realme of FrauÌ„ce in the begynnynge of the moneth of February And vpoÌ„ Trynite sonday next ensuyng he with hys wyfe were crowned at Raynes in y e yere of our lord god a M.iii. C.xxviii the .ii. yere of kyng Edward the .iii. thaÌ„ beynge in possessioÌ„ of the crowne of Englande Betwene thys Philip the sayd Edward kyng of Englande as some deale before in the story .iiii. yere of Charles the .v. is towched great disputacions argumentes arose betwene theyr couÌ„sayles for the right tytle to the crowne of FrauÌ„ce For it was thought by the couÌ„sayl of EnglaÌ„de for so moche as Edwarde was cosyn to Philip le Beaw sonnÌ„ of y e sayd Philippes doughter which had no mo chylder but Edwardes mother that he shuld rather be kyng of FrauÌ„ce than Philip de Ualoys that was but cosyn germayn to Philip le Beaw sonne of hys brother Charles Of whych dispucioÌ„s argumentes the fynall coÌ„clusion was y â— for an olde decre law by auctoritye of parlyament loÌ„ge before made was enacted that no womaÌ„ shuld enheryte the crowne of FrauÌ„ce therfore y e tytle of Edward by myght of the FreÌ„chemen was put by thys Philip admytted to the gouernauÌ„ce of the same After whych direccioÌ„ thus takeÌ„ specially by y e meanes of syr Robert erle of Artoys thys Philip anone was proclamed regeÌ„t of FrauÌ„ce vnto such tyme as the quene wyfe of Charles the .v. whych thaÌ„ was wyth chylde were delyuered so receyued the rule of the lande as regeÌ„t In tyme wherof Peter Remy principall tresorer of kyng Charles last dede whyche Peter lyuyng the sayd Charles was accused of myspeÌ„dyng of y e kynges tresoure enrychyng of hym selfe coÌ„trary to ryght reason so y t his goodes shuld be estemed at .iiii. C.M. li. after Parys money wherof y e value is set out in diuers places before in this werke was takeÌ„ out of pryson areygned at Parys there conuict adiuged vpoÌ„ the .xxiiii. day of Marche draweÌ„ thorugh the cytie hanged vpon the comoÌ„ gybet at Parys And vpoÌ„ the fyrst day of Apryll folowyng the old quene wyfe of Charles laste kyng was lighted of chyld brought forth a doughter at Boys in UinceÌ„t which after was named Blanche wherfore where before the sayd Philip de Ualoys ruled before but as regeÌ„t nowe he was allowed takeÌ„ for kyng and crowned as before is sayd at the citie of Raynes with y e quene his wyfe vp on Trinite sonday And whaÌ„ y e soleÌ„pnyte of hys coronacioÌ„ was ended he then assembled before hym hys couÌ„sayll Lowys the erle of FlauÌ„dres receyued of hym homage for the sayd erledom And that done he besought the kyng of ayde to oppresse certayn townes of hys couÌ„tre whych rebelled agayne hym wherunto y e kyng grauÌ„ted by counsayll exortacion of syr Gautyer or walter de Crecy than coÌ„stable of Fraunce the kyng sent oute hys commyssioners chargynge hys lordes with theyr assygnes sowdyours to mete with hym in dyffeÌ„syble arraye at the cytie of Arras by mary Magdaleyne day next ensuyng At whyche day the kyng with his lordes and people there meting toke forewarde vpon hys iourney sped hym toward Cassyle a town of FlauÌ„dres where within lytell space of the towne he pyght hys pauylyons and teÌ„tes wasted and pylled the couÌ„tre thereabout But the Flemynges kepynge within the sayd towne fered nothyng the French kyng but in dyrision of hym and of hys lordes they caused a red cok to be paynted vpoÌ„ a whyte cloth wrote in greate letters in y e sayd clothe thys tyme folowynge haÌ„ged it out ouer the walles Quant ce quoc iâ—y chantera â—e roy troue ca entrera ¶ whych is thus to meane in our vulgare speche whan that thys cok lo here doth synge than shall thys founde kynge hys hoste in brynge WHaÌ„ thys was redde of the FreÌ„ch men and report made therof vnto the kynge he was therwyth sore amoued and specyally for that y t they named hym the foundeÌ„ kyng Therfore they assayled them stroÌ„gly vppon all partyes But they of the towne defended theym manfully so that theyr enemyes had of them none aduauntage Than the kynge sente syr Robert de Flaundres a knyghte of the erles with a certayne sowdyours commaundyng hym to assayle the Flemynges toward saint Omers And the erle he monysshed y t he with hys people shuld assayle theÌ„ towarde the yle Than the comoÌ„s of Bruges Ipre of Tourney of Fourneys and of all Cassyle assembled theym and prouyded that a certayne of theÌ„ shuld kepe the mount of Cassyle and another company shulde kepe the couÌ„tre towarde Tourney and the thyrde hoste shulde fortyfye the countre towarde the yle The whiche people ordered euery hoste hys lymit to hym assigned and dayly skyrmysshed wyth the Frenche men so that betwene them men were slayne vpon bothe partyes whan the kyng had thus lyen before the towne a certayn season the Flemynges nat feryng theyr enemyes issued oute of the towne and pyght theyr teÌ„tes vppon the mounte of Cassyle shewed them boldly vnto theyr enemyes thaÌ„ kyng Phylyp seynge the boldnesse of the Flemynges and howe lytell they fered hym toke couÌ„sayll of hys lordê how he myght cause them to dysceÌ„de the hylle for so longe as they kepte y e hyll it was iuperdous perylous to stye towarde theym Lastly it was agreed by the kynge and hys lordes that syr Robert de Flaundres wyth other shuld assayle an holde or town thereby called Terroner de Bergner by meane wherof the kyng thoughte that they wolde discende the mount to rescue the sayd towne which accordyng to y e kynges mynde was done and a bulwerke set vppon a fyre But the kynge had neuer the rather hys entent For they kepte them and theyr gates in so sure wyse that the French kyng for al hys great power myghte to theym do no scathe In so moche that the kynge consyderynge theyr strength was condyscended to famysshe them by hunger that they myght nat wynly streÌ„gth for that toke y e lesse watche or regarde to hys people but suffered them to play and dysport them out of theyr harneys eche of theÌ„ in others tente thynkyng hym sure of hys enemyes for any assaute or warre by theym to be procured or attempted agayne hym or hys lordes But whether it were that hys enemyes of this were warned or that of theyr owne courage and pryde they wolde assayle the frenche hoste vpon the .xxiiii. daye of Auguste towarde y e nyght the sayde hoste of Flemynges aualed the mount in as secrete wyse as men of watre myght drewe theÌ„ towarde the French men whych thaÌ„ were vnarmed and in theyr disportes of dysynge and playeng at the chesse other games Uppon whome the Flemynges came so sodaynly y t they slewe many of theyr enemyes and forced many to fle toward saynt Omers for theyr sauegarde And so the
about Dunkyrke they gaue vnto hym suche assaute that he was constrayned to gyue backe And for the said shippes and goodes shulde nat come vnto the possessyon of his enemyes he sette them on fyre within the hauen and so was wasted bothe shyppes and goodes And all be it that after this mysse happe he recouered his strengthe layed syege vnto y e towne of Ipre and wrought the flemynges moche care and trouble shortely after suche syckenesses fell amonge his people as the flyre and other that his souldyours dyed of them great noumbre for the whiche he was compelled to leaue hys iourney and to retourne into EnglaÌ„de In this yere also was a batayle or feates of armes done in the kynges palays of westmynster atwene one called Garton Appellaunt and syr IohnÌ„ Ansley knyght defendauÌ„t of whiche fyght at length the knight was vyctor and caused his enemye to yelde hym For the whiche the sayd Garton was from that place drawen vnto Tyburne and there hanged for his false accusacyon and surmyse Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxiiii Grocer Symonde wynchecombe  Nycholas Brembre  Anno. vii  IohnÌ„ more   Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxiiii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxv  Nycholas Exton  Nycholas Brembre  Anno. viii  IohnÌ„ Frenshe  THis yere king Rycharde holdynge his Christmas at Eltham thyther came vnto hym the kynge of Ermony whiche was chased out of his lande by the Infydels and Turkes and required ayde of y e kynge to be restored vnto his dominyon The kynge fested and comforted him according to his honour after couÌ„sell taken with hys lordes concerninge that mater he gaue vnto him great sommes of money and other ryche gyftes with the whiche after he had taryed in Englande vpoÌ„ ii monethes he departed with glad countenaunce And soone after Ester the kynge with a greate armye yode towarde ScotlaÌ„de But whan he drewe nere vnto the borders such meanes were sought by the Scottes that a peace was concluded atwene bothe realmes for a certayne tyme. After whiche conclusion so taken the kynge returned vnto yorke and there restyd hym a season In which tyme varyaunce fell atwene IohnÌ„ HolaÌ„de brother to the erle of Kent and the erles sonne of Stafforde by reason of whiche varyaunce in conclusion y e sayd sonne of the erle was slayne of the hande of the same syr IohnÌ„ HolÌ„ade for the whiche dede the kynge was greuously amoued departed shortely after with his company toward London Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxv  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxvi Grocer IohnÌ„ Organ  Nycholas Brembre  Anno. ix  IohnÌ„ Chyrcheman  THis yere kynge Rycharde assembled at westmynster hys highe court of parliameÌ„t Durynge the whiche amonge other many actes in the same counsell concluded he created .ii. dukes a marques and .v. erles Of the whiche firste syr Edmonde of Langley the kynges vncle and erle of Cambrydge was created duke of yorke syr Thomas of woodstoke his other vncle erle of Buckyngham was create duke of Gloucester syr Lyonell Uere y t was erle of Oxenforde was made marques of Deuelyn sir Henry Bolingbrooke sonne and heyre of IohnÌ„ of GauÌ„t duke of Lancastre was made erle of Derby syr Edwarde sonne heyre vnto the duke of yorke was made erle of Rutlande syr IohnÌ„ Holande brother to the erle of Kent was made erle of Huntyngdone syr Thomas Monbraye was made erle of Notyngham and Marshall of Englande and syr Mychaell de la Poole was made erle of Suffolke ChauÌ„celler of EnglaÌ„de And by auctoryte of the same parlyamente syr Roger Mortymer erle of the Marche and sonne and heyre vnto syr Edmonde Mortymer and of dame Philyppe eldest doughter and heyre vnto syr Lyonell y e seconde sonne of Edward the thyrde was soone after proclaymed heyre paraunt vnto the crowne of Englande The whiche sir Roger shortely after sayled into Irelande there to pacifye hys lordeshyppe of wulster whiche he was lorde of by his foresayde mother But whyle he was there occupyed aboute the same the wylde Irysshe came vpon hym in noumbre and slewe him and moche of his company This sir Roger hadde Issue Edmonde and Roger Anne Alys and Elynoure that was made a nunne The .ii. foresaid sonnes died without issue and Anne eldest doughter was maryed to Rycharde erle of Cambrydge whiche Rycharde was sonne vnto syr Edmonde of Langley before named The which Rycharde hadde issue by the sayde Anne Isabell ladye Bouchier Rycharde that after was duke of yorke father to kynge Edwarde the .iiii. whiche sayd Richarde erle of Cambridge was put to deth by Henry the .v. as after shall appere In this yere also syr HeÌ„ry Bolingbroke erle of Derby maryed the Countesse doughter of Herforde by whome he was lorde of that countrey And by her he had issue Henry that after him was kynge Blaunche duches of Barre and Philippe that was wedded to the kynge of Denmarke Also Thomas duke of Clarence IohnÌ„ duke of Bedforde Humfrey duke of Gloucester Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxvi  Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxvii Goldesmythe wyllyam Stondon  Nycholas Exton  Anno. x.  wyllyam More  IN this .x. yere the erle of Arundell was sent into the duchye of Guyan for to strengthe suche soudyours as the king at that tyme had in those parties or after some wryters to scoure the see of rouers enemyes The whiche erle in kepynge his course or passage encountred a myghtye flote of Flemynges laden with Rochel wyne set vpon them and distressed them theyr shyppes and so broughte them vnto dyuers portes of EnglaÌ„de By reason wherof the sayde wyne was so plenteous in Englande that a tonne thereof was solde for a marke and .xx. s. the choyse And amonge other in that flote was taken the Admyralle of Flaunders whyche remayned here longe after as prysoner Anno domini M.CCC.lxxxvii  Anno dnÌ„i M.CCC.lxxxviii Goldesmythe wyllyam Uenour  Nycholas Exton  Anno. xi  Hughe Fostalfe  THis .xi. yere of kyng Rycharde syr Thomas of woodstocke duke of Gloucester the erle of Arundell with the erles of warwyke of Derby and of Notyngham consyderynge howe the king and hys lande was mysse ladde by a fewe persones aboute the kynge entendyng reformacion of the same assembled them to haue a counsell at Radecoke brydge and after arrered great people so with a stronge power came to London there caused y e king to call a ê‘liament wherof herynge maister Alexander Neuyle than archebysshop of yorke sir Lyonell Uere marques of Deuelyn and syr Mychaell de la Poole Chaunceller and erle of Suffolke fearyng punisshement fledde the lande and so died in straunge countreys Than the kynge by counsell of the other aboue named lordes durynge the parlyament caused to be taken syr Roberte Treuylian chefe Iustyce of Englande syr Nycholas Brembre late mayre of the cytie of London sir IohnÌ„ Salysbury knyghte of housholde sâ—r IohnÌ„ BeauchaÌ„p stewarde also of the kynges house
bothe hoostes of bothe prynces or suche coÌ„panyes as before either of them was appointed to bryng Here if I shuld brynge in the dyuers metynges of y e sayd princes and the curyous seruices that eyther caused other to be fed serued within eyther of theyr tentes or of theyr dalyaunce or pastymes continuynge the season of their metynges and the dyuersyte of the manifolde spices and wynes whiche there was ministred at y e said season with all y e ryche apparell of the sayde pauilyons cupbordes garnysshed with plate rich iewels it wold aske a loÌ„ge tracte of tyme. But who y t is desirous to knowe or here of the cyrcumstauÌ„ce of all y e premysses let him rede y e worke of maister IohnÌ„ Froysarde made in Frenche and there he shall se euery thynge touched in an ordre And here I shall shortly touch the giftes y t were gyuen of eyther of y e princes of their lordes And fyrst king Rychard gaue vnto y e Frenche kynge an hanap or basyn of golde with an ewer to y e same ThaÌ„ againwarde y e FreÌ„che king gaue vnto him iii. staÌ„ding cuppes of golde with couers garnisshed with perle stone a shippe of golde set vpon a bere rychely garnysshed with perle stone Than at theyr seconde meting king Rycharde gaue vnto him an ouche set with so fyne stones y t it was valued at .v. C. marke sterlynge where agayne the Frenche king gaue vnto him .ii. flaggons of golde a tablet of golde and therein an ymage of saint Mychaell rychely garnisshed Also a tablet of gold with a crucifixe therin well and rychely dyght Also a tablet of golde with an ymage of the Trynite rychely set with perle and stone Also a tablet of gold with an ymage of saynt George in likewise set with perle and stone whiche all were valued at the summe of .xv. C. marke Than king Richarde seyng y e bouÌ„te of the Frenche kinge gaue to hym a bauderyke or coler of golde set with greate dyamantes rubyes and balessys beyng valued at .v. M. mark the whiche for the preciosyte thereof that it was of such an excellency and fynesse of stuffe the Frenche kynge therfore ware it aboute his necke as often as the king and he mette together Than the Frenche kyng gaue vnto hym an ouche a spyce plate of golde of great weyght and valued at .ii. M. marke Many were the ryche gyftes that were receyued of lordes and ladyes of bothe prynces Amonge the whiche specially are noted .iii. giftes whiche kyng Richarde gaue vnto the duke of OrleauÌ„ce for the which he receyued agayne of the duke trebyll the value For where his were valued at a M. marke the dukes were valued at thre thousaÌ„de marke Finally whan y e said princes hadde thus eyther solaced with other concluded all maters concernynge the abouesayde maryage the Frenche kyng delyuered vnto kyng Rycharde dame Isabell his doughter sayenge these wordes folowynge Ryght dere beloued sonne I delyuer here to you the creature y t I most loue iÌ„ this worlde next my wife my sonne besechynge y e father in heuen that it may be to his pleasure and of the weale of you and youre realme and that the amyte atwene the .ii. realmes in auoydyng of effusyon of chrysten mens blode maye be kepte inuyolet for the terme atwene vs coÌ„cluded whiche terme was .xxx. wynter as expresseth the Frenche Cronycle After whiche wordes with many thankes giuen vpon eyther parties preparacyon was made of deê‘tinge And after kynge Rycharde had conueyed the Frenche kynge towarde Arde he toke his leaue and returned vnto his wyfe The which was immediatlye with great honoure conueyed vnto Caleys and there after to the kyng spoused as before to you I haue shewed After the which solempnisacion with al honour ended the kynge with his yonge wyfe toke shyppyng and so within short whyle landed at Douer and from thens sped hym towarde London wherof the cytezens beynge warned made out certayne horsemen well appointed in one lyuetye of coloure with a conysaunce brodered vpon theyr sleues whereby euery felyshyppe was knowen from other The whyche with the Mayre and hys bretherne clothed in scarlet met the kynge and the quene vpon the Blacke hethe after due salutacyon and reuerente welcomes vnto theim made by the mouthe of the recorder the sayd cytezens conueyed the kynge vpon his wey tyll he came to Newyngton where the kynge commaunded the Mayre with his company to returne to the cytie for he with hys lordes ladyes was appointed that nyght to lye at Kenyngton It was nat longe after but that she was from Kenington brought with great pompe vnto the Towre of London At whyche season was so exceding prece at London brydge that by reason therof certayne persones were thruste to deth amonge the whyche the pryoure of Typtre a place iÌ„ Essex was one And vpon the morowe folowynge she was conueyed throughe y e cytie with all honoure that myghte be deuysed vnto westmynster there crowned quene vpon the sonday beynge than the .viii. day of Ianuary In the somer folowynge the kynge by sinistre counsell delyuered vp by a poyntement the towne of Breste in Brytayne to the duke whiche was occasyon of displeasure atwene the kyng and y e duke of Gloucestre hys vncle as in the yere folowyng shal be more clerely shewed Anno domini M. CCC.lxxxxvi  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCC.lxxxxvii Goldesmythe Thomas wylforde  Adam Bame  Anno. xx  wyllyam Parker  IN this .xx. yere of kynge Rycharde and moneth of February the kinge holdynge a sumptuous feest in westmynster halle many of the soudyours whiche were newely comen from the towne of Brest foresayd presed into the hall and kepte a rome together whiche companye whan the duke of Gloucestre hadde beholden and frayned and knowen what men they were and howe the sayde towne was gyuen vppe contrary his knowlege was therewith in his mynde sore discomforted In so moche that whan the kynge was entred hys chaumbre and fewe nere vnto hym he sayde vnto the kynge Syr haue ye nat sene the felawes y t satte in so great noumbre to daye in your halle at suche a table And the kynge answered yes and axed of the duke what coÌ„pany it was To whom the duke answered saide Sir these ben youre souldyours comen from Breste and as nowe haue nothynge to take to nor knowen at howe to shyfte for theyr lyuynge and the rather for that as I am enfourmed they haue benne before tyme euyll payed Than said y e king it is nat my will but y t they shulde be well payed And if any haue cause to coÌ„playne let them shewe it vnto our tresourer and they shal be resonably answered In resonynge of this mater farther the duke said vnto the kyng Syr ye ought to put your body to payne for to wynne a stroÌ„ge holde or towne by feate of warre or ye toke vpon you to sell or delyuer any towne
of Orleyaunce assembled to hym a coÌ„pany of .vi. thousande knyghtes came agayne towarde Parys where as that tyme the duke of Burgoyne was And he herynge of y e dukes coÌ„myng made him stronge to receyue hym To whome the cytezens of Parys were fauourable aydynge for the euyll wyll that they before bare vnto the duke of Orleyaunce also for they hoped by hym to be defended from taskes and tallages Thus contynuynge the prouisyon vpon bothe partyes to mete shortely in playne batayle suche polytike meanes was fouÌ„de by a noble man called Mountague that a concorde and vnyte was for that tyme by hym sette atwene the sayd dukes And for that newe occasyon shulde nat by preseÌ„ce kyndle atwene them therfore y e duke of Orleyaunce with hys company was sent into Guyan to warre vpon the englysshemen that other vnto Calays to lay syege vnto that towne The which before had prepared a wonderfull engyne sette vpon whelys by the strength wherof he thoughte to wreke greate dysturbaunce vnto the sayd towne as sayth myne auctour Gagwyne was in great hoope to recouer it agayne to the subieccyon of the house of FrauÌ„ce But that hope was soone dyspayred for it was nat longe after or the sayd duke by the kynge was countermaunded and returned And the duke of Orleyaunce after he knewe that rescous were commyng froÌ„ Burdeaux he remoued his siege layde by hym to Burgus a towne of Guyan so returned into Fraunce to his coÌ„fusyon as after shall appere IN the .xxvii. yere of this Charles the former malyce and enuye contynuyng in the brestes of the sayd dukes of Orleyaunce and of Burgoyne as the sayd duke of Orleyaunce was goynge towarde hys lodgynge in the nyght of the .x. daye of Decembre fell vpon him certayne knyghtes of the whiche one named Rafe Auctouyle was leder slewe hym nere vnto a gate of the cytie of Parys named Barbet gate After whyche murder fynysshed y e sayde sir Rafe with hys adherentes fledde vnto the place of the erle of Artoys where the duke of Burgoyne vsed accustomably to resorte And y e dede corps was soone after by suche as came to y e exclamacyoÌ„ with also a seruauÌ„t of his with him slaine borne into y e next houses whan the rumour of this murder was blowen about y e cytie anone Lewys vncle vnto the kynge and than kynge of Scecyle the dukes of Berry and of Burbon with other drewe thyder and there with lamentacyon beholdynge the corps commaunded prouisyon to be made for the buryenge of it within the monastery of Celestynes where vpon the seconde day folowynge he was buryed wyth great pompe whome amoÌ„ge other lordes folowed to his buryenge the duke of Burgoyne nat without great suspicyon of the sayd murder And that enterrement with due obseruaunce fynysshed auctoryte was gyuen vnto .ii. knyghtes named Roberte Tuyller Peter Orpheuer to make enquery for the murder of this prince wherof the duke of Burgoyne beynge ascertayned voyded the cytie brake the brydge of saynte Maxence after hym that pursute after hym shulde nat be made and so hastely spedde hym that that nyght folowynge he came to Andwarpe whiche is vpon an C. myle from Parys whan Charles the kyng harde of the escape of y e sayd duke feryng leste he wolde accuse hym to be consentyng vnto that euyll dede sent vnto hym comfortable messages so that the sayde duke without warre restyd all that wynter sometyme in Arthoys and an other whyle in Flaunders at his pleasure In the whiche pastyme he sente into dyuers places of Fraunce sondry accusacyons of the duke before slayne that he enteÌ„ded to depose the kyng and to take vpon hym the rule gouernaunce of the realme and to haue poysoned the sayd kyng as by dyuers tokens by hym affermed for perfourmauÌ„ce of the same And also that the said duke of OrleyauÌ„ce was cause of fyrynge of y e disguysers garmentes before shewed to the ende to brynge the kyng in more daunger of syckenes or els to be consumed with the same fyre with sondry other distamacyons as leuyenge of taskes and imposicyons of the people to his singuler auauntage and hougely enrychynge wherby he myghte the soner attayn vnto his said purpose Thus contynuyng this great vnkyndenes atwene the duke of Burgoyne and the sonne and other of his blode of y e duke of Orleyaunce the said duke agayne the begynnynge of the yere herynge that the king and the quene were departed from Parys to Charters asseÌ„bled to hym a stroÌ„ge power of HolaÌ„ders other and came vnto Parys in which cytie he moch trusted to the ende to cause the kynge y e quene and the Doulphyn to whome he hadde maryed hys doughter for to retourne vnto Parys And to strengthe hys partye he broughte with hym wyllyam erle of Hanster which wyllyam was a man of great strengthe and allyaunce and hadde maryed hys syster vnto the duke of Burgoyne foresayde and hys doughter and heyre vnto one of kyng Charles sonnes and was gossyppe vnto the quene For whyche sayde consyderacyons the sayde erle entendynge the weale of that realme of Fraunce laboured suche wayes and meanes that by hym for that tyme a concorde and vnytie was dryuen and made atwene the two dukes of Orleyaunce and Burgoyne wyth assured othes and necessary actes to that concorde belongynge and the king with his retynewe was agayne retourned vnto Parys These dukes thus appeased and the duke of Burgoyne agayne restored to the gouernaunce of the realme assocyate vnto hym the kynge of Nauerne whyche varyed nat from his fathers vnstable condycyons so that by him newe occasyons of stryâ—e and varyaunce were moued atwene the sayde dukes and theyr allyes For fyrste they soughte occasyon agayne the forenamed Mountague a man of great wysedome and honoure in the kynges courte and especyall frende vnto the duke of Orleyaunce and by theyr malyce and vntrewe surmyses fynally putte to dethe And one named Peter Essayer or Sayer thaÌ„ prouoste of the cytie of Parys or gouernoure they admytted to the rule of the kynges treasoury and other dyuers offyces suche as were any thynge fauoured of the duke of OrleauÌ„ce they clerely dyscharged The whyche for theyr relefe and comfort resorted vnto the sayde duke shewynge to him all y e demeanure of their aduersaryes addynge thervnto y e all suche conuencyons concernynge the amyte atwene hym and the duke of Burgoyne before sworne enacted were clerely adnulled broken with these tydynges the duke beyng fyred with newe malyce accompanyed to hym the dukes of Berry of Burbon and of Alenson the erles of Rychemounte of Alyberte and of Armenake with other nobles nat a fewe by whose counsels he determyned to be auenged vpon the duke of Burgoyne other his fautours wherof the sayde duke beynge monisshed drewe him towarde Parys and strengthed the fortresses as he yode To thys duke of Burgoyne was brother the duke of Brabande named Anthony a man of great polycye and
batayl was many a noble man slayne vpoÌ„ eyther partye And it was the more to be noted vengeable for there the father was slayn of the sonne the son of the father and brother of brother neuewe of neuewe And in the moneth of August folowynge the duchesse of Brytayne landed at Fulmouth in the prouince of Cornwayll from theÌ„s was conueyed to wynchester where in shorte tyme after kyng HeÌ„ry maryed her in the cathedrall churche of the sayde cytye And soone vpoÌ„ was the eldest doughter of kyng HeÌ„ry named dame BlaÌ„che maryed at Coleyn to the dukes sonne of Bayer Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.ii  Anno dnÌ„i M. CCCC.iii  Rycharde Merlewe  IohnÌ„ walcot Draper  Anno .iii.  Robert Chichele  IN this yere and .xiiii. day of the moneth of Septembre was y e foresayd duchesse of Brytayne and wyfe of y e kyng receyued wyth great honour into the cytye of London so by the mayre and the cytezyns conueyed vnto westmynster where vpoÌ„ the morowe folowyng she was crowned quene of Englande wyth greate honoure and solempnite the cyrcumstaunce wherof I passe ouer In this yere also Rupertus which after the deposynge of wessenselans was by the electours of the empyre and by auctoryte of Bonyface theâ—â—r â–ª than pope admytted for Emperoure of Rome and came into Englande wyth a goodly companye onely to se the countre and commodytyes of the same The whyche of the kynge was honourably receyued and fested and lastely conueyed by the kynge towarde the see syde where eyther departed from other wyth exchaunge of ryche and precious gyft For thys Rurpartus was named of wryters a man of excellente bounte and largesse And he gaue more lyberally for so moche as all the tyme of hys beynge in EnglaÌ„de he laye here at the kynges costes And whyle he was at LondoÌ„ he was lodged at the house of saynte Iohannâ—s in smythfelde Thys yere also vpoÌ„ saiÌ„t LaureÌ„ce euyn or the .ix. day of August a lorde of Brytayne named the lorde of Castyle in Frenche laÌ„ded within a myle of Plymmouth wyth a great coÌ„pany of NormaÌ„s and Brytons and came vnto the sayd town and lodged there all night and spoyled and robbed the sayd towne And vpon the day folowynge whan they had done what they wolde they retourned agayne to theyr shyppes with plente of pyllage and prysoners suche as they fande Anno domini M. CCCC.iii  Anno domini M. CCCC.iiii  Thomas Fawconer  wyllyam Askam  Anno .v.  Thomas Pooll  IN thys yere soone after CaÌ„delmasse the foresayd lorde of Castyle trustynge to wynne a lâ—ke enterpryse as in the yere passed he hadde done he beynge accompanyed wyth a stronge nauy of FreÌ„che men Brytons was encountred wyth the Englyshe floot within .ii. myles of Deermouth at a place called Blakâ—pooll â–ª where after loÌ„ge and cruell fyghte y e sayd lord was slayne wyth the more partye of the people and dyuers of hys shyppes takeÌ„ as wytnesseth the Englysshe cronycle wyth dyuers other Englysshe auctours But the FreÌ„che boke excuseth thys scomfyture of FreÌ„chmen and sayeth that by treason oâ— a Gascoyne named Peâ—yâ— or Perot de Languyle whyche shewed vnto the sayd lorde Castyle that he had espyed certayne Englysshe shyppes in a Greke lyghtly wythout resystence to be takeÌ„ caused the sayd lorde to make sayle towarde the sayd towne of Dartmouthe where after he had contynued a certayne tyme hys course he espyed the hotefloâ—e of Englyshe men whyche made toward hym and so at the sayde Blake pool encountâ—â—d and faughte and lastely escaped the daunger of hys enemyes as testyfyeth the sayde French cronycle â–ª but â—atte unhurt for he was so wouÌ„ded in that fyght that he dyed shortly after And the moneth of Apryll folowynge the duke of Clarence wyth the erle of KeÌ„t many other lordes toke shyppynge at Meregate so sayled vnto Scluce in FlauÌ„ders And after the sayde duke had there refresshed hym hys company he toke shyppynge agayne and holdynge hys course towarde SwynÌ„e he was encouÌ„tred wyth .iii. greate carykes of Ieane the whyche he assayled and after longe bekerynge them toke beynge laden wyth marchauÌ„dyse so wyth that pray retourned to Cambre before wynchelsee in the whyche hauen the sayd goodes were caÌ„ted and shared But how it was by varyauÌ„ce amonge them selfe or otherwyse one of the sayde carykes was sodeynly fyred so coÌ„sumed For restytucyon of whyche goodes shyppes y e marchauÌ„tes IanueÌ„ce made after great longe sute to the kyng his couÌ„sayl in whyche passetyme they borowed cloth wolle other marchaundyses amountyng vnto great and notable sommes of dyuers marchauntes of Englande And whanne they sawe that they myghte haue none hope of recouery of theyr loste they sodeynly auoyded the laÌ„de and lafte y e foresayde notable summes vnpayde to the great hynderaunce and vtter vndoynge of many Englysshe marchauntes In thys yere a yoman named wyllyam Serle somtyme yomaÌ„ of kyng Rychardes Robys was takeÌ„ in the marches of ScotlaÌ„de and broughte vnto LondoÌ„ there in the guildhall areygned for the murder of the duke of Glouceter at Calays UpoÌ„ which murder he was attaynt conuyct vppoÌ„ the .xx. daye of Octobre he was draweÌ„ from the towre vnto tyborne and there haÌ„ged and quartred hys hed was after set vpoÌ„ LondoÌ„ brydg hys .iiii. quarters were sent to .iiii. sondry good townes Anno domini M. CCCC.iiii  Anno domini M. CCCC.v  wyllyam Lowfte  IohnÌ„ Hyende Draper  Anno .vi.  Stephen Spylman  IN thys yere and moneth of Ianuary were certayne courses of warre ron in smythfelde betwene syr EdmuÌ„de erle of Kent the lorde Moryfa BaroÌ„ of ScotlaÌ„de vppoÌ„ y e chaleÌ„ge of the sayd scottysshe lorde But the erle of KeÌ„t bare hym so valy auntly that to hym was gyueÌ„ y e price of that iourney to hys great honour And in the same yere syr Rycharde Scrope than archebisshop of yorke and y e lorde Moubraye thaÌ„ marshal of EnglaÌ„d with other to them allied for grudge that they bare agayn the kynge gadered vnto theym greate streÌ„gth enteÌ„dyng to haue put downe the kynge as the â—ame than wente wherof the kyng beyng enfourmed in all haste sped towarde theym and met wyth them on thys syde yorke where after askyrmysshe by the sayd lordes made they were thaÌ„ takeÌ„ and after presented vnto y e king at yorke where they were bothe demed to suffre deth for theyr rebellyoÌ„ Than whan the bysshoppe came vnto the place of execucion he prayed y e bowcher to gyue to hym .v. strokes in the worshyp of christes fyue woundes for hys more penauÌ„ce At eueryche of whyche .v. strokes kynge Henry beynge in hys lodgyng had a stroke in hys necke in so moch that he demed that some persone there beynge with hym present hadde stryken him And forthwyth he was stryken wyth the plage of lepyr so that than he knewe it was the hande of god and
them was fynally coÌ„cluded he y e sayd Lewys all suche as wyth hym were reteyned or allied were for thys offeÌ„ce by y e sayd Charles clerely pardoned one persone all only excepted named Iaket or Iakis by whose treason the castell of Maxente was loste and taken for whyche offence he was after drawen hanged also quartered ThaÌ„ in processe of tyme folowyng the flemynges of GauÌ„te rebelled agayne theyr duke or erle named Philyp The cause of whyche rebellyon was for that he areryd a greuouse taske vpoÌ„ salte put the people ther by to greuouse charge wherevppon dedely warre betwene the duke and hys subiectys arose to the dystruccioÌ„ of moche people vpoÌ„ bothe partyes wherof the cyrcumstauÌ„ce were loÌ„g to wryte Howe be it in the ende y e duke or erle by ayde of the FreÌ„che kynge was vyctour helde them of GauÌ„te so streyghte that they were compelled by force to bye theyr peace wyth great summes of money to theyr other many folde domages About the .xxxi. yere of thys sayde Charles came vnto hym from pope Nycholas the .v. of that name an ambassade for to requyre ayde agayne the Turkys for the defeÌ„ce of CoÌ„stantyne the noble whyche the Turkys purposed shortly after to assayle To whyche ambassade by the sayd Charlys it was answeryd that to hym it was right greuouse to here of the intollerable persecucyoÌ„ whych y e cristeÌ„ dayly susteyned of the Turkys But he was of y e Englysh nacyoÌ„ so vexed and warred that he myghte nat leue hys laÌ„de wythout an hedde to the coÌ„forte of other to lose hys owne But to the entent that he before tymes myght haue warred vppon the sayd Turkys he for that cause onely had offered vnto the kynge of Englande many reasonable offers And if of the Englysshe party any lyke offers myghte be to hym profered he wolde gladly theym accepte turne hys spere incoÌ„tyneÌ„tly agayn the fore named Turkes And ouer that he wolde for the furtherauÌ„ce of the matter sende wyth them vnto the kynge of EnglaÌ„de certayne ambassadours to se yf that as yet any reasonable peace myght be betwene them coÌ„cluded For accomplisshemeÌ„t wherof as testyfyeth myne auctour Gaguynus he sente the archebysshop of Raynes wyth other honorable persones The whych whan they to kyng Henry and hys counsayll hadde shewyd theyr legacyoÌ„ it was to them shortly answered that at suche season as the EnglysshemeÌ„ hadde wonne agayne so moche laÌ„de as the Frenchemen by cawtelys had woÌ„ne from theym thaÌ„ were it good tyme season to treate of accorde nat before By reason of whiche answere the popes ambassade retourned to Rome wythoute ayde or comforte And thus y e FreÌ„che wryters lay euer the charge froÌ„ theyr prynce put it vnto other But of thys ambassade or answere fynde I no memory of any Englysshe wryters Aboute the .xxxiiii. yere of y e reygn of thys Charlys Lewys hys sonne before named beynge a maÌ„ of greate lyberalitye and largesse thought his father departed nat wyth hym of his mouables possessyoÌ„s as he hadde cause to do For the whych by coÌ„fort of yoÌ„ge persones as he had aboute hym he rebelled thys seconde tyme agayne hys sayde father by reason of hys largesse lyberalyte drewe vnto hym moche waÌ„ton wylde people wyth theyr assystence warred vppoÌ„ hys fathers freÌ„des entendyd to depryue hys father of all gouernauÌ„ce of the realme wherof herynge hys father in all possyble haste gathered to hym greate strengthe and spedde hym towarde hys sayd sonnÌ„ But whaÌ„ Lewys was warned of the coÌ„myng of hys father wyth so great an hoste consydered hys quarell wekenesse he wyth a fewe persones fledde towarde Burgoyne whereof herynge the father sente in all â—haste people to kepe the passages and dyd that he myghte to haue stopped hym of hys waye But that prouysyon notwythstandynge the sayd Lewys escaped and came sauely vnto the presence of Phylyppe then duke of Burgoyne the whyche hym receyued wyth gladde chere and entreatyd hym accordyng to his estate and so kepte hym durynge his fathers lyfe Nowbeit he made for hym great sute and labour to wynne him to his fathers grace But all was in vayne For what by obstynacy of the same y t he wolde not submytte hym to his father and comme vnto hys presence when he was sente for for the great stomacke of the father that he wold not be condycyoned with of the son thys varyaunce contynued bytwene them as aboue is sayd y e terme of his fathers lyfe In the whyche passe tyme thys Charlys concluded a maryage bytwene hys doughter called Magdaleyne and Ladyslaus kyng of Beme Hungary and of Polayne But whyle the bryde wyth great apparayle and pompe was conueyed towarde her husbande to be maryed her sayde husbande was taken sodenly with sykenesse and dyed with in .xxiiii. houres after that he fyrste coÌ„playned hym whych was by force of poysone as most wryters agreen Of whych tydynges when Charlys was asserteyned he therwyth toke such a peÌ„syffenesse that he dyed shortely after whan he had ruled a parte and the hole realme to reken from y e deth of hys father .xxxvi. yeres How be it of Frenche wryters no certeyne terme of hys reygne to hym is assygned for so myche as kyng Henry the vi longe after the deth of hys father was alowyd in Parys and many other Cytyes of FrauÌ„ce for souerayne and kynge of that regyon Thys Charlys thus beynge dede lefte after hym two sonnes that is to saye Lewys that after hym was kynge and a yonger named Charlys wyth y e forenamed doughter named Magdaleyne or after some Margarete And after wyth greate pompe hys corps was conueyed vnto saynt Denys and there buryed Francia Lewys the .xi. LEwys the .xi. of y â— name after the accompte of thys boke and .x. after the Frenche accompte whereof y e cause is before shewed sonne to Charles last dede beganne his dominyon ouer the realme of Fraunce in the moneth of October in the yere of grace M.iiii hundreth and .lviii. and the .xxxvi. yere of Henry the .vi. than kynge of Englande This of Gaguinus is called the sturdy or fel Lewys The whiche at the tyme of his fathers deth beyng as aboue is sayd vnrecouÌ„syled in the prouynce of Burgoyne herynge of the deth of his father wyth ayde of the foresayd duke Phylyp shortly entred y e realm of Fraunce toke vpon hym y e rule in euery good cytie town as he passyd as kyng of y e same so y t many lordes hed offycers drewe vnto hym By meane wherof he was stronge put such vnto sylence as after y e wyll purpose of his father wolde haue preferred his yoÌ„ger son named Charlys Than this Lewys by strengthe of his frendes was shortely after at Raynes crowned kynge of Fraunce After whyche solempnyte fynysshed he repayred vnto Parys and there by consent of hys counceyll made a law y t no man of what degre
of Brye the cytyes of Melde Monstruell and Meldune therof to be excepted And vnto Charlys sonne of the duke of Burgoyne he was contented to gyue so myche money as he hadde spent in that iournay But all was refused And fynally for obstynacy of bothe partyes the daye of expyracyon of the trewe approchyd wythout hope of accord coÌ„cludyng wherfore prouysyon for warre vpon bothe partyes was deuysed Than begaÌ„ grudge and murmure bytwen the cytesyns and the kynges sowdyours wherthorough many of the comons hertes turned to the lordes so that for fere the surer and stronger watches were kepte to the kynges great charge Shortely after tydynges were brought vnto the kynge y t the castell of Gysons was of the lordes vesyeged and that also the prefecte of the kynges paleys in Roan was taken of the cytesyns and holden in prysone And the daye folowynge came an other messengare shewynge vnto the kynge that the duke of Burbone was by the posterne receyued into the castell of Roan and was lykely to haue shortely the rule of the cytye whyche came to effecte in shorte whyle after whan the lordes hadde gotten the castell and cyty of Roan whyche is hed cytye of Normandy as Parys is hed of Fraunce than in maner of derysyon they sent vnto y e kynge sayenge that nother with Champayne nor with Bry hys brother Charlys wold be contented but scantely wyth the hole duchy of Normandy Than kynge Lewys coÌ„syderyng the great auauÌ„tage which y e lordes had of him both by strength and fauour of hys comons whyche dayly drewe vnto them by sondry coÌ„panyes in auoydyng of more daunger concludyd a peas For perfourmauÌ„ce wherof he grauÌ„ted vnto Charlys his brother y e hole duchy of Normandy takyng to hym in exchauÌ„ge the county of Berry And to Charlis sonne to the duke of Burgoyne PeronÌ„ Roya a cytye or towne called in latyne MondideriuÌ„ and therwith he ioyned Gwynary and y e erledome of Boloyne which lordshyps y e sayd kynge Lewys hadde before tymes bought of duke Phylyp his father To IohnÌ„ of Calabre he grauÌ„ted all such suÌ„mes of money as he demaundyd to wage with soudiours to ayde his father agayne Fardynande then kyng of Aragon And to IohnÌ„ duke of Burbon y t which as before is said had maryed his syster he grauÌ„ted all such dowar as to hym was ê“mysed at y e tyme of maryage all such pencyon as he was wont yerely to take of the graunte of Charlys last kyng within the realme of FrauÌ„ce To the duke of Brytayne was restoryd the erledome of MouÌ„tferard with great suÌ„mes of money which the kyng had receyued of the sayd county And to y e erle of Dampmartyne was restored all suche landes as before by acte of parlyameÌ„t were forfayted to y e kyng To the erle of saynt Poule was restored the offyce of the constablerye of FrauÌ„ce to other meÌ„ of name other notable thynges which I passe ouer All whyche grauntes fermely and fastely assuryd proclamacyons were made of thys pease thoroughe the realme of Fraunce And after thys pease was thus concluded the kyng and hys lordes mette To whome he shewed greate semblaunt of kyndnesse and specyally vnto hys brother wherin appered great dyssymulacyon as here after shall appere For thys Lewys was of suche condycion that what he myght not ouer come wyth strength he wold wynne wyth dyssymulacyon and trechety After whyche peace thus concluded and the lordes departed the kynge festyd the rulers and consuls of the cytye of Parys and gaue vnto them due thankes for the greate trouth fydelyte whyche they bare towarde hym duryng that troubelous season and graunted vnto them suche thynges as then they wolde aske for the weale of that cytye IT was not longe after that dyssymulacyon fell bytwene Charlys duke of Normandye and IohnÌ„ foresayde sonne vnto the duke of Calabre and the erle of Dampmartyne wherof a parte of the cause was that the sayde Charlys after theyr thynkyng hadde not so bounteously rewarded them as they had deserued Of whyche dyscorde kyng Lewys was fayne and in spedy maner rode vnto a towne called Argentyne and there wyth the sayd IohnÌ„ than beynge duke of Calabre by reason of hys fathers deth helde wyth hym longe and great counsayll to y e entent to dyspossesse hys brother of the duchy of Normandye By reason of whych dyscorde bytwene the sayd two dukes kynge Lewys as ayder of the duke of Calabre made warre in the partyes of Normandye and in processe wanne therin dyuers castels and other stronge holdes and compelled hys brother to holde the cytye of Roan for hys refuge where he so beynge the kyng wanne dayly vppon hym in so myche that dyuers townes and stronge holdes submytted them to his grace wherof hering the cytesyns of Roan made an ambassade vnto the kynge for purchace of grace for theyr duke and for them selfe The whych when the duke vnderstode ferynge leste his owne cytesyns wolde betraye hym fled thens and so yode to Humflewe and from thens to Cadomy In whyche passe tyme y e kynge was wyth due honour receyued into y e cytie of Roan where he remoued many from theyr offices and of his seruauntes or such as lyked hym put in theyr places moch of the ordynaunce and of abylymentes of warre belongynge to y e towne he sent vnto Parys and the prouost of Roan named Gauyne Manuell he put to deth after hys body was cast into the ryuer and his hed sette vppon a pole dyuers of the colege wyth the deane of y e same place were put vnto deth And all whych tyrannye by the kynge executyd and the towne put in suertye by strength of soudyours he after spedde hym vnto Orleaunce where as sayth myne authour he puruayed an honorable ambassade and sent it vnto Edward the .iiii. then kynge of Englande In the .ix. yere of y e reygne of thys Lewys was so greate a mortalyte of men in Fraunce that in Parys dyed that yere ouer .xl. M. people And in thys yere began a grudge to growe bytwene this Lewys and Phylyppe duke of Burgoyne But it was kept vnkyndely duryng y e lyfe of y e duke which dyed shortely after To whom succedyd Charlys his sonne before named which in processe of tyme maryed dame Margarete syster vnto kynge Edward y e .iiii. as after shal be shewyd It was not longe after that thys Lewys assembled a great hoste of people to make warre vpon Charlys duke of Burgoyne Of whyche people he had coÌ„mytted the rule and charge vnto IohnÌ„ Balna whych at that daye was preste and cardynall and he as a teÌ„porall capytayne toke of them the mustyrs other orders where at the teÌ„porall lordes dysdaynynge the erle of DaÌ„pmartyne sayd in the names of them vnto the kyng Moste redouted souerayne lorde it hath pleased your hyghnesse to commytte vnto a spyrytuall maÌ„ y e charge of your puyssaunt hoste he not ferynge god hath taken vpon hym the cure
sayde IohnÌ„ the sayd Itery prouided y e poyson delyuered it vnto hys sayd seruauÌ„t The whych incontyneÌ„tly sped hym vnto Ambasye where the FreÌ„ch kyng than laye where thys IohnÌ„ de Boldy beynge of famylyer acqueyntaunce wyth one named Popyn to y e entent to brynge hys entent y e better to effecte after assurauÌ„ce of othe to hiÌ„ made to kepe hys counsayll shewyd vnto hym all hys mynde promised to hym .xx. M. florynes yf he wolde helpe to brynge to conclusyon hys purpose The whyche Popyn made vnto hym assured promyse sayde y â— to brynge thys mater aboute it was very expedyent to haue of counsayll the kynges mayster cooke named Colynet whome he knewe well to wyn for the great fauoure that eyther of them owed vnto other And after coÌ„munycacyon had wyth the sayd Colynet the sayd poysone to hym was delyuered wherwyth the sayd Colynet Popyn hys felowe went a conuenyent tyme vnto the kynge shewyd to hym the compasse of all y e mater where after anone the sayde IohnÌ„ de Boldy was taken confessed the cyrcumstauÌ„ce of all the hoole treason for the whyche at Parys he was after drawen hanged and quartered Soone vpoÌ„ thys Frederyke y e iii. of y e name than emperoure of Almayne sente vnto thys Lewys wyllyng requyryng hym that he wolde nat endeuer hym to any peace or accorde with y e duke of Burgoyne For he enteÌ„ded in suche wyse to ayde hys partye y t he trusted in god to brynge the sayde duke to hys due conuenyent obeysauÌ„ce subieccioÌ„ But the kyng regarded nothynge the emperours request but coÌ„cluded a trewys wyth the duke for a yere folowynge by auctoryte of a great counsayll or parlyament At the whyche the duke of AleÌ„son was iuged to lose hys hed hys heredytamentes to be forfayted vnto the kynge Than it foloweth in the story or thys foresayde trewys betwene the kynge Charles the duke were fully expyred y e sayd Charles made warre vpon the sayd Lewys and procured kynge Edwarde of Englande whose syster he had maryed to make also warre vpon hym For expedycyon wherof the sayd kyng Edwarde landed at Calays shortly after wyth a competente noumber of soudyours as after in the .xiiii. yere of the reygne of the sayd Edwarde the .iiii. it shal be to you more clerely shewed wyth coÌ„clusyon of a peace other thynges After y t which peas betwene the sayd ii kynges agreed a vnyte and concorde was also stablysshed betwene thys Lewys the duke of Burgoyn for .ix. yeres About the .xvii. yere of thys Lewys y e steward of NormaÌ„dy named Lewys Brysey y t which had maryed the nece of kyng Lewys beyng warned of y e waÌ„ton rule of his wyfe of her auouÌ„try wyth one named IohnÌ„ Louyr vpoÌ„ a day to proue his sayde wyfe weÌ„t on huÌ„ting at his retournÌ„ feyned hym wery feynt for labour weÌ„t to his bedde And she anone demyng her husbaÌ„d to be at his naturall rest yode streyght vnto y e chaÌ„ber of y e sayd Iohn Louyr wherof y e husbaÌ„d beyng warned wyth hys swerde in haÌ„de sped hym vnto y e sayd chaÌ„ber after y e dore brokeÌ„ vp by violeÌ„ce fyndyng theÌ„ in bedde or other suspeciouse maner with his sayde swerde slewe first y â— sayde IohnÌ„ after natwythstaÌ„dyng her miserable lameÌ„table cryeÌ„g askynge forgyuenes vpoÌ„ her knees he also slewher after fled tyll he had made hys peace wyth the kyng LoÌ„ge it were also tediouse to folowe myne auctour in declaryng of euery particuler dede done by this Lewys wherfore to shorteÌ„ this story trouth it is y t after thys Lewys had by loÌ„g tyme exercised him in warres he lastly fell in a greuouse sykenesse The whych coÌ„tinued so encreased vpoÌ„ hym y t he knewe well he shulde nat loÌ„g endure wherfore he disposed there after caused many dedes of alinesse to be done for hym AmoÌ„ge y â— whych within saiÌ„t IohnÌ„s church the Baptist within Parys he fouÌ„ded certeyn preestes to syng for hym in perpetuyte For susteÌ„tacion of whome he gaue of yerely reÌ„te a M. li. of Parys money And so laÌ„guysshyng by y e space of .iii. yeres more before he died passed hys tyme wyth great tribulacyon In the whyche passe tyme oratours were sent from the Flemynges for to conclude a maryage betwene Charles hys eldest sonne Margarete than doughter of Maxymylian sonne of Frederyke the emperoure which MaximiliaÌ„ before those days had maryed Mary the doughter of Charles duke of Burgoyne After whych coÌ„clusyon ended fynysshed the kyng gaue vnto the sayd orators xxx M. scutes of golde whych amouÌ„teth to .v. M. li. sterlyng money And ouer that gaue to them in plate purposely made to the value of .v C. li. sterlynge And in the .xxv. yere of the reygne of the sayd Lewys the forenamed Margarete a chyld of tender age wyth great sumptuouse poÌ„pe was broughte vnto Parys And froÌ„ thens she was conueyed vnto Ambasye and there in the moneth of Iuly cowpeled by maryage vnto the forenamed Charles sonnÌ„ vnto the kyng After whyche solempnyte fynysshed the sayd Lewys felyng hys sykenesse more and more encreasyng vppon a season called hys sayd sonnÌ„ Charles before hym and exorted hym in thys wyse as after foloweth My mooste deryst chylde I feele knowe well y t I shall nat tary longe in thys countrey for I am more nerer myne ende than thou knowest For I am so contynually greuyd wyth sykenesse that no medecyne may or can releue me And thou art he that muste rule this laÌ„de after me wherfore to the it is specyally behoueful necessary to haue trewe seruauÌ„tes Amonge many y t I haue proued in my dayes ii there ben the whych I specyally coÌ„mende vnto the that is to meane Olyuer Damman and IohnÌ„ Doyacos whose seruyces I haue in suche wyse vsed that by theyr meanes and counsayll I thynke my lyfe hath ben long preserued And therefore specially these .ii. kepe nere about y t nothynge mynysshyng to them of theyr offices or possessyons that I before tymes to them haue gyuen And after these ii take to the for thy counsaylours Guyot Bochage for to guyde y t warres Phylyp Desquyer y t whych in featys of warre as I haue wel pâ—oued hath passyng experieÌ„ce And other which I haue auauÌ„ced to offyces within thys realme lette them so remayne And the commons of the lande the whych by occasyoÌ„ of warres I haue greuously tarid greatly weked enpouerysshed socoure and fauour to thy power To the BurgonyoÌ„s me thought euer good to shew fauoure or elles me thought it shuld haue sounded to my dyshonour So I thynke it shal be good that thou so do After that kyng Lewys had thus exorted and counsayled hys sonnÌ„ he than retourned vnto Turon where for the mytygacyon of thys paynfull sykenesse whyche of myne auctour is called in latyne Morbus Elephantie he commaunded to be brought
Scotland for terme of both kynges lyues And in December a carpenter called Godfrey toke downe the wedercok of Poulys slyple set it vp agayne And this yere in Crystmas weke was a part of the kinges palayes of RychemouÌ„t brent And this yere vppon the .ix. daye of Iuny the forenamed Parkin beyng at large in the kynges court went secretely awaye and lastly went to the fader of Syon And after the second pardon to hym by the kynge graunted he was shewed at westmynster in Chepys syde with moch wonderment and fynally had to the Towre and there keped Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xcviii  Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xcix  Thomas Bradbery  Syr IonÌ„ Percyuale  Anno .xiiii.  Stephyn Ienyns  IN thys yere vpoÌ„ the .xxx. daye of Octobre came my lord price through y e cytye wyth an honorabell coÌ„pany toward westmynster And vppon shroue tuysdaye was put in execucioÌ„ at saynt Thomas warrynge a strepelyng of .xx. yeres of age whych had auauÌ„ced hym selfe to be the sonnÌ„ or heyre to the erle of warwykes landes was the sonne of a cordyner of LondoÌ„ And thys yere mayster IohnÌ„ Tate aldermaÌ„ begaÌ„ y e new edefyinge of saynt Anthonies church And this yere vpoÌ„ the .xvi. day of Iuly beynge sonday vpoÌ„ the sonday folowyng stode .xii. heretykes at Poules crosse shryned wyth fagottes Anno dnÌ„i M.iiii C.xcix  Anno dnÌ„i M.v. C.  Iamys wylforde  Nycholas Alwyn  Anno .xv.  Rychard Brond  IN this yere the .xvi. day of NoueÌ„ber was areyned in y e whyte halle at westmynster the forenamed Parkyn .iii. other The whych Parkyn and one IohnÌ„ Awatyr were put shortly after in execucioÌ„ at Tyborne And soone after was the erle of warwyke put to deth at the towre hylle one Blewet Astwood at Tyborne And thys yere in May the kyng the quene sayled to Calays And thys yere was BabraÌ„ in Northfolke breÌ„t And in Iuly was an olde heretyke breÌ„t in Smythfelde And thys yere was a great deth in LondoÌ„ whereof died ouer xx M. of all ages And this yere dyed doctour MortoÌ„ cardynall and chaunceler of Englande in the moneth of October Anno. dnÌ„i M.v. C.  Anno dnÌ„i M.v. C.i.  IohnÌ„ Hawys  wyllyam Remyngton  Anno .xvi.  wyllyam Stede  IN this yere the .xxi. daye of DeceÌ„ber in the nyght was an hydyous thuÌ„der And this yere was the name of the kyngê palays of Shene chauÌ„ged called after y e day RychemouÌ„t And this yere in August departed secretly out of this laÌ„de the duke of Suffolke And the .iiii. daye of October laÌ„ded at Plymmowth KaterynÌ„ doughter of y e kyng of Spayn And thys yere was fynysshed by mayster Tate the church of saynt Anthony Anno domini M.v. C.i.  Anno domini M.v. C.ii.  Syr Laurence Aylemer  Syr IohnÌ„ Shaa  Anno .xvii.  Henry Hede.  IN this yere began the mayre hys bretherne to ryde to the barge other places UpoÌ„ sait ErkeÌ„waldes day was my lord prince maryed to the kyng of Spaynes doughter And this season the duke of Bukkyngham wyth other was chief chaleÌ„geour at a royall iustyce turney holdeÌ„ in the palays of westmynster And thys yere came a greate ambassade out of ScotlaÌ„d by reason wherof coÌ„clusion of maryage was made betwene the king of Scottes dame Margarete eldest doughter to oure soueraygne lord Also thys yere was an excedyng great fysshe taken nere vnto Quynbourgh And in Marche syr wyllyam of Deuynshyre syr Iamys Tyrell his eldest sonÌ„ one named welborne were arested for treason And in Apryll â—olowyng dyed y e noble prynce Arthur in the towne of Ludlow And upoÌ„ y e last day of April were set vpoÌ„ y e pyllory .ii. yoÌ„gmen for defamyng of y e kynges couÌ„sayll and there erys cut of Also aboute thys tyme y t gray fryers were coÌ„pelled to take theyr old habit russet as y e shepe doth dye it And the .vi. day of Maye Iamys Tyrell syr IohnÌ„ wyndhmÌ„ knyght were beheded at y e towre hyl And a shypmaÌ„ for the same treason was the same day draweÌ„ to tyborne there haÌ„ged quartered And soone after a purseuauÌ„t named Curson a yoman called Mathew Ionys were put in execucioÌ„ at Guynys all was for aydyng of syr EdmoÌ„d De la pool Also thys yere about mydsomer was takeÌ„ a felowe whych hadde renewed many of RobiÌ„ hodes pageÌ„tes which named him selfe Greneleef And this yere begaÌ„ the new werke of y e houses offyce wythin the Guyldhall of London And in the ende of October was proclaymed a peas betwene the king the archeduke of Burgoyne And y e sonday before saint SymoÌ„d Iude was shewed a bull by vertue wherof were denouÌ„ced at Poules crosse as accursed syr EdmoÌ„d de la pool late duke of Suffolke syr Roberte Curson knyght .v. other persones And all such as ayded any of theÌ„ agaiÌ„ y e king Anno domini M.v. C.ii.  Anno domini M.v. C.iii. Goldsmyth Henry Kebyll  Bartholmew Rede  Anno .xviii.  Nycholas Nynys  IN this yere begaÌ„ the new werk of the kynges chapell at westmynster And vpoÌ„ the .xi. daye of February dyed quene Elizabeth within the towre lieng in chyldbed And vpoÌ„ the fyrst sonday of leÌ„t was solemply accursed at Poules crosse wyth bel candell syr EdmoÌ„d de la pool syr Robert Curson other all y t the ayded agayn the kyng And in th eÌ„de of the moneth of marche was y e pryour of y e Charterhous at Shene sinfully murdered wyth an other muÌ„k of the same house by synyster meanes of a munk of the same place named Good wyne other mischeuous ê‘sones And this yere the felisshyp of tayllours of LoÌ„don purchased a grauÌ„t of the king to be called marchauÌ„t tayllours And y e viii day of August was the kynge of Scottes maried vnto y e eldest doughter of y e kyng Also in Iuly were areyned at the Guyldhall Olyuer saynte IohnÌ„ Robert Simpson wellysâ—orfi before named Pool bayly of Thorok amp .iiii. other all beyng cast for treason whereof the sayde Olyuer and Pool wyth hyppemen were putte in execucion at Tyborne and the other were pardoned Anno. dnÌ„i M.v. C.iii.  Anno dnÌ„i M.v. C.iiii. Draper Chrystoffer Hawys  Syr wyllyam Capell Robert wattes Anno .xix.  Thomas Granger  IN thys yere the .xiii. day of NoueÌ„ber in the palays of y e archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury at LaÌ„behyth was holdeÌ„ the sergeauÌ„tes feest And the .xxi. day of NoueÌ„ber in the begynnyng of y e nyght was a dredeful fyre vpoÌ„ the north ende of LondoÌ„ brydge And vppoÌ„ the .vii. daye of Ianuary were certeyne houses coÌ„sumed wyth fyre agayn saynt Botulphis churche in Thamys strete UpoÌ„ the .xxv. daye of Ianuary begaÌ„ a parliameÌ„t at westmynster And y e .xxvii. day of March was an house breÌ„t agayn saynt Mattyus le grauÌ„t And the same day was hurt
and retourned vnto Rome where after he had a season restyd he was by the senate of Rome assygned for his sternesse vnto the rule of Brytayne wyth the ayde of .iii. legyoÌ„s of knyghtes And so beynge garnyshed wyth all abyly mentes of warre entred this yle of Brytayne and wyth great trauayle subdued them to the empyre and so contynued the lyues tyme of the emperour Bassianus But so sone as he was assertayned that y e emperour was slayne at Edessa as before in the story of Bassianê° is shewed thynkynge that amonge the Romaynes shuld growe stryfe dyssencyon for the electyon of a new emperour by reason of whych stryfe he myght the rather lyue so farre froÌ„ them wythout any correctyon confederyd wyth the Scottes and certayne other of the Britons and slew many of the Romaynes suche of theÌ„ as he thought wolde not consent to his treason and by that meane fynally was made kynge of Brytayne And so contynued as affermeth the sayde authour to accompte from his fyrst hauyng rule vnder the Romaynes vnto the tyme y t he was slayne of Alectus .viii. yeres not wythout exercysynge of his olde accustomed tyrannyes and other vnsyttynge condycyons THE LXIIII. CHAPITER ALectus a duke or consull of Rome sent as before is sayd from the senate begaÌ„ne to rule the Brytons in the yere of our lorde .ii. hundred .xxvi. This in the englysh cronycle is named Allec whych wheÌ„ he had restoryd the lande to the subieccyon of Rome he theÌ„ pursued certayne of the BrytoÌ„s that had fauoured Carassiê° agayne the Romayns And in that doynge vsed and exercysyd many tyrannyes and exaccyons by reason wherof he fyll in greate grudge of y e Brytons wherfore they entendynge to oppresse and subdue the power of the Romaynes purchasyd and excyted a noble man of y e Britons called Asclepiodotus and duke of Cornewayle The whyche gatheryd a great hoste of the Brytons and made warre vppon the Romaynes and chasyd them from couÌ„tre to couÌ„tre from towne to towne and lastly Alectus wyth his Romayns drew hym to London and there kept hym for his most suertye wherof beynge warned Asclepiodotus he with his Brytons came nere vnto the sayde cytye where by meanes of prouocacyon on eyther partye vsed lastely y e Romaynes issued oute of the cytye gaue batayll to the Brytons In the which fyght many fyll on eyther partye but y e more on the party of y e Romaynes amonge the whyche was also slayne Alectê° wherfore a captayn of the Romaynes called Liuius Gallus aduertysynge this myschyef the great dauÌ„ger that the Romayns were in drewe backe into the cytye with the Romaynes that were lefte on lyue and defendyd yt wyth theyr powers Thus then appereth that Alectus was slayne of the Brytons whyche was by most accorde of writers wheÌ„ he had ruled this lande vnder y e Romaynes by the terme of .vi. yere THE LXV CHAPITER ASclepiodotus duke of Cornewayle as sayth Gaufryde but after the sayeng of Eutropius and Beda he was presydente of the Pretory of Rome began his domynyon ouer the Brytons in the yere of our lorde two hundred and .xxxii. The whych as before is sayde wyth his Brytons gyrt the cytye of London wyth a stronge syege and kepte the forsayde Liuius Gallus and his Romayns in streyte holde finally as affermyth myne authour Gaufride with knyghtly force violeÌ„ce entred the sayde cytye and slewe y e forenamyd Liuius Gallus nere vnto a broke there at that daye rynnynge and hym threwe into the sayd broke By reason wherof long after yt was called Gallus or wallus broke And at this day y e strete where some tyme ranne the sayde broke is nowe called walbroke And after he hadde thus venquyshed the Romayns he helde this lande a certayn of tyme in peasyble wyse and ruled the BrytoÌ„s wyth good iustyce in rewardynge exaltynge the good men and punysshynge of the euyll In this whyle by styrynge of dysclaunderous dyuylyshe persons a grudge was arreryd attwene the kynge and a duke of his land called Coill or Coillus the whyche was duke or erle of Kaercolym or Colchester wherof the cause is not apparaunt But how it was great people were assembled on both parties and fynally mette in the feld where was faughteÌ„ a great and stronge batayll In the whyche Asclepiodotus was slayne when he had reygned to the concordaunce of other histories and after the affermaunce of the olde cronycle by the space of .xxx. yeres THE LXVI CHAPITER COelus erle of Colchester began hys domynyon ouer the Brytons in the yere of the incarnacyon of Cryste .ii. houÌ„dred .lxii. This in the englyshe boke is called Coyll the whiche guyded the lande to the pleasure of the Brytons a certayne tyme. But as wytnesseth Gaufryde when the senate of Rome had vnder standynge of the deth of Asclepiodotus they were ioyous of the deth of hym for so myche as he hadde euer ben an enemye to y e empyre But for so mych as at that dayes was great dyssencyon amonge them selfe as wytnesseth y e cronycle of Rome they coude not conuenyently sende any armye of knyghtes for to warre vppon this Coelus wherfore he contynued y e longer in reste good peas After the cronycle regestred within the monastery of saynt Alboon the sayd holy martyr suffered his passyoÌ„ in the yere of our lorde .ii. houndred lxxx .vi whych shulde be the .xxiiii. yere of this present kynge But thys dyscordeth from suche wryters as affermen the holy man to be martyred in the .x. persecucyon vnder Dioclesian and Maximian emperours Neuerthelesse at length was sente from y e senate a noble wyse man called Constancius the whiche as affermeth the forenamed auctour had before tyme subdued to the empyre a great part of the couÌ„tre of Spayne But that sayenge dysagreeth to the wrytynge of Eutropius For the couÌ„tre of Spayne was not subdued by hym tyll after y t he was emperour Than it foloweth whan this Constancius was arryued in Brytayne with his army anone Coelus assembled his Brytons But for he dredyd the strength and fame of thys ConstaÌ„cius he sent to hym an enbassad affyrmynge vnto hym coÌ„dycyons of peace wyth graunte of paymentes of the trybute whych before was denyed or ellys as meaneth Polycroniâ—a wythin a moneth after the landynge of this Constancius Coelus was dede wherfore the Brytons to haue the more peace wyllyd this knyghte to take to wyfe Heleyn the doughter of Coelus wyth the possessyon of the lande of Britayne which by hym was graunted Then as before is sayde Coelus dyed when he had ruled the Brytons after most accorde of wryters .xxvii. yeres THE LXVII CHAPITER COnstancius a senatoure of Rome as sayth Policronica beganne to rule the Brytons in the yere of oure lorde two hundred .lxxx. and .ix. This as before is shewed maryed Heleyn the doughter of Coelus last kyng of Brytayne But ye shall vnderstande that this Constancius was fyrste maryed vnto Theodora
the stepdoughter of Herculeus Maximianê° and had by her syx sonnes So that this Heleyn was his secoÌ„de wyfe whyche was fayrest of all maydens and therewyth lerned and suffycyenly lettred She is also noted of many writers to be a captyue or a prysoner to the Romaynes Of this Constantius lytell memorye is lefte in the bretyshe or englishe cronycles excepte that he receyued of the foresayde Heleyn a sonne named Constantinus the whyche after for his knyghtly marcyall dedys was called Constantyne the great But for the noble dedys of so vyctoryous a duke shuld not be hydde as was this CoÌ„stantius therfore I shall now folowe the story of Rome whych sayth that for so myche as in the tyme of Dioclesianus and Maximianus beynge emperours many couÌ„tres rebellyd agayne the empyre therfore the sayde emperoures admyttyd this Constantius and one Galerius as cesars whych was a dignyte next of authoryte to the emperours And so y e empyre was at those dayes guyded by two emperours by two cesars This ConstaÌ„tius as wytnessyth Policronica made subiecte to the empyre the Almaynes slewe of theym in one daye .lx. thousande And after other many vyctoryous dedys when the sayde .ii. emperours had of theyr free wylles resygned and gyuen ouer all imperiall dygnyte thys sayde Constantius with his forenamed felowe Galeriê° were made emperours y t is to wytte Galerius was emperour of all Iliricum whyche now is named Grecia or Grece wyth all the eest laÌ„des and CoÌ„stantiê° hadde to hym all the west landes But he helde hym contente wyth Gallia or Fraunce Spayne with Britayn graunted Italia vnto Galerius afore sayd Then he subdued the countre of Spayne as before is touched in the storye of Coelus and a parte of Gallia and after soiourned and abode in this lande of Brytayne in guydynge rulynge the same wyth great sobernesse and ordeyned his sonne gotten vpon Helayne to rule Gallia and Spayne But for to make this story more apparant open to y e readers and also to y e herers it is here to be noted that Dioclesianus or Dioclesian beganne his empyre ouer the Romaynes after moste wryters in the yere of our lorde two hundred .lxxx. and .vii. and he was emperour .xx. yeres And this CoÌ„stantius was sent into Brytayne from the senate as before is sayde in the seconde yere of y e sayde Dioclesian or the yere of oure lorde two hundred .lxxx. and .ix. whyche Constancius after he had in due maner spedde the nedes of the empyre as in subduynge this land of Brytayne as before is sayde he retourned agayn to Rome where he was shortely after made cesar and so contynued his lyfe as before ys touchyd And in the tyme of his beyng thus cesar and ruleâ— of Brytayne vnder y e emperour the blessyd and holy prothomartyr of Brytayn saynt Alboon at Uerolan was martyred in the .x. persecucyon of the chyrche as wytnessyth Policronicon whyche persecucyon beganne as testyfye Eusebiê° and Beda the .xviii. yere of the forenamed emperours Dioclesian Maximyan and endured .x. yeres that is to say in y e eest vnder Dioclesian and in the weste vnder Maâ—â—â—yan The whyche was so sharpe and feruent that wythin y e space of one moneth in dyuers places of the worlde were .xvii. thousande holy men and women martyred for Crystes fayth And when the sayde emperours left or resygned theyr imperyall dygnytye and â—adde a pryuate lyfe this sayde Constancius wyth his felowe Galerius departyd the empyre betwene them as before is touched so that he reygned as ruler of Brytayn by the terme of .xvii. yeres and more or he were emperoure And after as emperour of the weste partye of the empyre â–ª and kynge of Brytayn .xii. yeres and more And so in all y e sayd CoÌ„stantius reygned ouer Brytayne xxx yeres And lastely dyed and was buryed at yorke leuyng after hym y e foresayd son called CoÌ„stantinê° without mo that any meÌ„cyon is made of THE LXVIII CHAPITER COnstantinus the sonne of CoÌ„stancius and of Heleyne doughter of kynge Coelus in the yere of our lord .iii. huÌ„dred .xix. was made kynge of Brytayne Antoninus archbyshop of Florence wryter of hystoryes sheweth in the fyrst chapiter of the .ix. tytle of his worke called Sâ—â— Antonini that this CoÌ„stantine was made emperour or beganne to rule the empyre in the yere of our lordes incarnacyon .iii. hundred and .ix. which sayeng also affermeth UynceÌ„t historyall and other authours wherof the cause is y t the sayde authours accoÌ„pt not the yeres of the reygne of Constancius but folow the accoÌ„pte of Galerius felowe of Constancius whych reygned as emperour but .iii. yeres After the which rule yt muste nedis folowe that this Constantyne began his empyre as the sayd Antoninus wytnessyth and folowynge y e other accompt yt shulde varye Then to pursue or contynue y e storye of this Constantyne yt foloweth y t at the tyme of the decease of Constancius his fader he was occupyed in warres in Gallia those ê‘ties After whose deth he by a certayn terme ruled Brytayne the other landes the whyche his fader before helde in due maner And all be yt y t at y e daye he was a mysereant pagan yet he vsed no tyrannyes nor compelled not the Brytons to refuse the lawe and to worshyppe idollys as other tyrauntes at those dayes vsed In this whyle that Constantyne ruled thus the weste parte of this empyre one Maxentius whych was the son of Herculeus Maximianê° somtyme felowe in the empyre with Dioclesian as before is shewed was of the knyghtes of the pretory declared emperour This Maxentius was there worste of all men And as testyfyeth Eusebius other he fyrst began mekely to wynne therby loue fauour But when he was stablysshed in authorite he exercysed all tyraÌ„ny pursued all crystyens wyth all kynde of torment Also he expulsed and putte out from Rome all honour hys fader Herculeê° Maximianê° y t enteÌ„dyd agayne to haue ben emperour Of y e tyranny of this MaxeÌ„tius when CoÌ„stantyne had wyttyng he assembled a great hoste of Brytons and Gallis for to oppresse the malyce of the sayde Maxentius And for to rule and guyde this laÌ„d of Brytane in his absence he deputed and ordeyned a maÌ„ of myght called Octauius the whych Polycronica nameth duke of Iewessis that after were named west Saxons And when the sayde Constantyne had all peparyd for his voyage he betoke the lande of Brytayne vnto the sayd Octauius and after spedde hym vppon his iourney And as he was towarde his sayde iourney he sawe in his slepe the sygne of the crosse shynynge in the fyrmament as yt hadde ben a brennyng lyght of fyre and an aungell standynge therby and sayenge Constantyne toicanata which is to meane Constantyne by this token thou shalte wynne vyctorye when he awoke he called this vysyon to mynde and tolde vnto his secretes by whose counsayll he commaunded the sygne of the crosse to