Peter Langtoft's Chronicle, (as illustrated and improv'd by Robert of Brunne) from the death of Cadwalader to the end of K. Edward the First's reign. Transcrib'd, and now first publish'd, from a ms. in the Inner-Temple Library by Thomas Hearne, M.A. To which are added, besides a glossary and other curious papers, (1) A roll concerning Glastonbury abbey, being a survey of all the estates belonging to that house at the dissolution, taken by King Hen. the Eigth's order and for his use. (2) An account of the hospital of St. Mary Magdalen near Scroby in Nottinghamshire, by John Slacke, master of that hospital. (3) Two tracts by an anonymous author; the first relating to Roman antiquities, near Conquest in Somersetshire, the second concerning Stonehenge. Oxford, Printed at the Theater, 1725.

IN Saynt Bede bokes writen er stories olde. Sex hundreth & four score & nien ȝere mo er tolde Sen þat Jhesu Criste of Mary was born, & þe kyng Cadwaladre þis lond had alle lorn For Englis & Sessons he went to lesse Bretayn, To speke with his cosyne, his name was kyng Alayn. & fro þien he went vnto þe courte of Rome, For to tak his penance & of his synnes dome. Whan he was asoyled of þe pape Sergie, He died & was biried in Rome solemplie. In þe ȝere after nouþer lesse ne more Kom his & his kosyn Ini & Iuore, In schip out of Irelond, in Wales gan þei vpryue, þorgh out Chestreschire werre gan þei dryue. Had þei no styntyng, bot þorgh alle þei ran, Unto Wynchestre, alle þe loud þei wan.

IN Westsex was þan a kyng, his was Sir Ine. Whan he wist of þe Bretons, of werre ne wild he fine. Messengers he sent þorghout Inglond Unto þe Inglis kynges, þat had it in þer hond, & teld how þe Bretons, men of mykelle myght, þe lond wild wynne ageyn þorh force & fyght. Hastisly ilkone þe kynges com fulle suythe, Bolde men & stoute, þer hardinesse to kiþe. In a grete Daneis felde þer þei samned alle, þat euer siþen hiderward Kampedene men kalle. Of all þo Inglis kynges, þat þan comen wore, Sigbert, kyng of Estsex, in elde was he more. He bigan to speke tille alle þe chiualrie: "We be comen alle of kynde of Germenie, "þat chaced has þe Bretons here of þer kythe. "Now ere þei comen to clayme it, & mykelle force þam with. "Oiþer bihoues vs defend it, or ȝelde vp our righ. "I rede we chese a hede, þat vs to werre kan dight, "& to þat ilk hede I rede we vs bynde. "For werre withouten hede is not wele, we fynde. þe barons ȝede to conseile, & teld it siþen on hie, Ine kyng `kyng of Westsex was a knyght worþic, Forto gye vs alle, þat now er comen here. Ine toke þe feaute, displayed his banere, & went to þe bataile in a fulle faire grene, þat is vnder Kampedene, a medew I wene. Iuor & Ini were disconfite þat day, þe Iris & þe Wals with þam fled away.

Alle were þei nere slayn, & þo þat þer left Fled vnto Wales vnto þer schippes eft. Whan þise Bretons tuo were fled out of þis lond, Ine toke his feaute of alle þat lond helde. At the fiftend day þei samned at Southamptone, With joy alle at ons þei went tille Snawdone On Iuor & Ini, þat tapised by þat side, To purueie þam a skulkyng, on þe Englis eft to ride. Bot Ine had þe Inglis euerilkon at wille, Bot Segbert of Estsex at home left stille. He was of grete elde, & myght not trauaile, Bot Iuor & Ini þe Englis gan þam assaile. þe Englis were bolde, & drofe þam to þe sand. þe fled out of Wales away tilleI reland.

THE Englis kynges turned, þei mot do nomore, Bot soiorned þam a while in rest a Bangore,

þat ilk a kyng of reame suld mak him alle redie. At þe Paske after þe kyng Ine gart trie, Home forto wend to childe & to wife, To visitte þer londes, to solace þer life. Ine kyng of Westsex for his wife sent Vnto Malmcestre, þe quene tille him went.

Ine þe kyng had a sonne, his name Adellus. Dede him toke & he died, als it salle do vs. Sorow & site he made, þer was non oþer rede, For his sonne & heyre, þat so sone was dede.

Ine was kyng of Westsex sex & þritty ȝere, Fulle wele he ȝemed þe lond fro wo & fro wehere. Iuor & Ini ost did he þam chace. In his tyme to rise had þei neuer grace. Tuenty grete batailes Ine ouerkam, þe quene withouten childe non heyre of hir nam. Ine went to Rome als in pilgremage, Adelard his cosyn he gaf his heritage. The pape him asoyled in treuth stedfast, Whan he had don his penance, he ȝald to God þe gaste.

ADELARD of Westsex was kyng of þe empire, Of Noreis & Surreis, guyour of ilk schire. He ne suffred neuere wrath to be aboue Bituex kyng baron, þat ne he mad ay loue. Alle þe Bretons he ouercome, þat wild him assaile, & in his þirtende ȝere force gan him faile. Tille Uttred his kosyn, a stiffe knyght in stoure, He gaf his kyngdom, & died in langoure. He ligges at Bathe, for þider was he born. þe holy man Saynt Bede died a ȝere beforn. ¶ Henry of Huntyngton sen þat day & þat ȝere To write Inglis gestes fond he non his pere. A bisshop of Lincolne, Alisandre he hight, Praied him to write þe gestes þat were right. þerfor þis Henry is cald a compiloure. He wrote þe Englis gestes whilom of honoure. ¶ þus wrote to þe bisshop Henry þe same, He sais, þis lond hight Bretayn, þat now has oþer name.

Inglond now is cald, for Inglis men we fynd þe folk þat is þerin, it is of diuers kynd. He sais þis lond has suffred so many tyme wo, Fiue sorowes he writes withouten oþer mo. þo ilk fiue sorowes he calles fiue woundes, þat ere not ȝit haled, ne salle be many stoundes. Noþeles þe clerk Merlyn sais certeyn, That Bretons at þe last salle haf þis lond agayn, Whan Cadwaldre salle calle with him þe kyng Konan, What tyme it salle falle, ȝit wote no man. Now of fiue sorowes, þat ȝit not endid are, Henry in his writyng telles what þei ware.

THE first of þise fiue was þorgh Romeyns, That wan it of Casbalan in to þer demeyns. Grete treuage þei toke of þis lond here. þre þousand pounde of gold to paye ilk a ȝere. & four hundred ȝere lastid þat ilk wo, þei mad þe lond fulle pouere, þe folk ded þei slo. ¶ þe toþer sorow of þis lond mykelle gan it greue, þe Scottes & þe Peihtes togider gan þei cheue, To waste alle Northumberland, þe godes away þei ledde, þat men with þe bestes in feldes þei þam fedde. ¶ The þrid sorow of þis lond com þorgh þe Sessons, þat ten siþes aryued vppon þe Bretons, & siþen were chaced ageyn aw with maistrie, & eft aryued on þam here þorgh quantise of spie. At þe last þei chaced out þe Bretons so clene, Away vnto Wales þer kynd is I wene.

þe Englis of þis lond þe lordschip þei toke, & haf it ȝit in þer hond, þe Bretons forsoke. ¶ þe ferthe sorow of þis lond com þorgh þe Danes, þe folk of the North slouh, destroied þer wanes. Siþen wan þei alle þe South, maistrie þei schewed, & laid þer Dangilde on lered & lewed, & left þe Inglis þe lond on a forward dere, To pay ilk a hede a peny to þam bi ȝere. ¶ The fift sorow þer after com, whan William conqueroure, þat aryued on þis lond, Harald he slouh in stoure, & barons oþer inouh, þat died in þe feld, þe lond lese þe armes, changed is þe scheld. Siþen he & his haf had þe lond in heritage, þat þe Inglis haf so lad, þat þei lyue in seruage, He sette þe Inglis to be þralle, þat or was so fre. He þat bigan it alle in þe geste may ȝe se.

HENRY of Huntyngton testimons þis title. þe kyngdom of Westsex, he sais, it was not litelle, Whan Adelard died þerfro, & Uttred þerto went. Uttred in his first ȝere messengers he sent For kynges & barons vntille his parlement, In stede þer he it sette, þei wist what it ment. Bot Eadbald it withsaid, kyng of Lyndesay, He was of þe Bretons kynde, he stode of him non eye. Uttred wrathed him þerfore, & ran on him fulle tite, & tuys þorgh batale in felde was Eadbald disconfite. ȝit wild he not be war þer bi, so proude he was in herte, Tille he was wonded þe þrid tyme, & died also smerte.

Biried he is at Repyndon, & in þe kirke he lis. He þat wille not bowe in skille, I hold him vnwis. Many tymes on Uttred Bretons bataile souht: Uttred was so valiant, he gaf of þam right nouht. He regned fiftene ȝere, & died alle to rathe. He ligges biried als a kyng in the toun of Bathe.

AFTER Uttred regned Sibriht, his kosyn, He luffed wele þe Bretons, þat com tille ille fyn. He bare him so tille his barons, þat noiþer ȝong ne olde Wald vnto him bowe, ne bliþeli of him holde. What did þe barons alle with þis fole Sibriht? Chaced him fro his reame, & chese a noþer knyght, Kynewolf, of þe kynred of Adelarde's blode, A while lufed þe Inglis, & wele with þam stode. Sibriht þat schrew as a lordan gan lusk, A suynhird smote he to dede vnder a thorn busk.

KYNEWOLF toke þe kyngdom (for better mot not falle) & siþen toke þe feaute of þe kynges alle, As his ancestres had it befor hand, Bot of Kent & Lyndesay & Northumberland. þise þre kynges geynsaid it hym, & Kynwolf to þo þre bare him so brym, So wis he was in dede, of body so valiant, With dynt of suerd & drede he mad þam recreant. Kyng was Kynwolf sex & tuenty ȝere, He was neuer wedded, to woman's daungere.

No childe had he neuer, his heritage myght to wende, Bot welth inou to welde, vntille his lyue's ende. At Wynchestre he lis, þider men him bare. Fulle frely he lyued here, his soule with God it fare.

WHAN þe kyng Kynwolf had don his endyng, Brittrk his kosyn þei lift him to kyng. Offa, kyng of Lyndsay, a faire douhter had, Brittrik hir wedded, & quene home hir lad. Whan he had regned foure ȝere, one ryued vpon his right, A duke of Danmark, Kebriht he hight. Britrik had a stiward, his name was Herman: Kebriht he kept at Humber, & on him he ran. Hard was þe bataile, als þei togider stynt Herman was þer slayn, þe duke gaf þe dynt. Ageyn to Danmark Kebriht gan schake, þat þe kyng Kebriht ne myght him ouertake. He mot not venge Herman of Kebriht þat him slouh. He did his ost turne agayn, & had sorow inouh. In his elleuent ȝere com folk, þat misleued, Aryued on Brittrik, & sore þei him greued. þore Brittrik bare him so in þat ilk bataile, þe dede ȝede Danes to, þe Noreis gan him vaile. Edburgh hight þe quene, þat I ore of ment, Scho purueied a poyson to þe kyng sonne of Kent. Hatred before was, S. Bede herd I say, Biten þe kyng of Kent, & þe kyng of Lyndsay.

Eilred of Lyndesay alle Kent he wasted. þe kyng after, I say, to hate often he tasted þe was of Lyndesay, als I ore told. Scho purueid þat poyson þorgh hatered of old.

Brittrik hir lord, þat scho nouht wiste, Unwarned drank þerof a drauht als him liste. He lyued bot a moneth, þer of gan he die. At Teukesbiri in toumbe his body did lie.

SIBRIHT, þat I of told, þat þe lond had lorn, þat a suynhird slouh vnder a busk of thorn, Had a kosyn, hight Egbriht, whilom exiled was þorh þe kyng Brihtrik, I ne wote for what trispas. þis ilk Egbriht was norised at Paris In Charlemayn courte, sire of Saynt Dinys. Ailrik was his fader, a duke of faire fame, Lord of Wicombe, of Redynges, & of Tame. His moder was Sibriht sister, þat was a fole kyng. þat Brittrik was dede him com tiþing. He toke leue at Charles, & com tille þis lond, Among his riche kynde gode frendes he fond. What þorgh lowe of lond, & olde auncestrie, Wan he þe regne of Westsex alle pleynerlie. Whan he pleynere seysyn in þat his eam had lorn, þat his fiue ancestres had holden beforn, þorghout þe South to þe North he had for grete nyth, If any Breton were fonden holdand lond or lyth, þat he suld voide þe lond, if he his life wild saue. Many fled to Lynday, socour forto haue, To þe kyng Bernewolf, þat was Breton, & he withsaid his feaute, þat he suld haf don. Bituex þise tuo kynges a werre bigan, Slayn was Bernewolf, & with him many man. Under Elendoune þe bataile was smyten. Men syng in þat cuntre (fele ȝit it witen)

"Elendoune, Elendoune, þi lond is fulle rede "Of þe blode of Bernewolf, þer he toke his dede. After þat bataile Egbriht, þus herd I say, Seised Kent & Estsex, Southsex & Surray, & alle þe grete lond, fro Douer to Grymsby. Wilaf, Bernewolf sonne, þerwith had envy. He wild haf venged his fadere, if he had haued myght. Bot he fond no force agayn þe kyng Egbriht. If he wild ouht haue, after `after his fader decesse, Nedly him bihoued com tille Egbriht pes. At þe last he com, & mad þe kyng homage, Egbriht for his curteisie gaf him his heritage. ¶ Egbriht of alle þe lond had þe regante, Fro Douere vnto Tuede, alle was his fee. Wilaf with him he led, Wales forto se. Bangore with force, þei toke þat cite. The Walsch men it sauh, it mot no better be, þei com befor Egbriht, & mad him feaute, ¶ Sone after þe wyntere, whan þe somer bigan, þe kyng & his meyne went to burgh Konan. It was on Witsonday, in tyme of slepyng, Kom messengers of þe North, & teld Egbriht þe kyng, þorgh Frithbald a lord of þe Northende, & said, "Sir Egbriht, our chefe kyng to tille lende, "Suffre not Sir Frethebald long to lede þis pyne. "His folk beside Tuede es slayn & kast þer ine, "He is now in poynt his regne forto tyne. "þorgh þam of Danmark þis lond wille þei wyne,

"& if þei Sir Frethebald haf now ouer comen, "þe to þere remenant of þe North son salle þei nomen. "Sir, for þis hie feste, & for þe Trinite, "Suffre vs nouht to lese, for defeaute of þe.

WHAT did kyng Egbriht? Withouten any somons, & withouten askyng of Erles or barons, He hied him þider suyth, &, whan he com to Tuede, He sauh suylk oste of paiens, þat alle he was in drede. Neuerþeles at Karham was the bataile gyuen, þe kyng was narow holden, his folk alle to dryuen. Tuo dukes & tuo bisshopes for euer toke þer leue, þe kyng was alle affraied, þer dede gan him greue. þe kynge's folk was litelle, it had no dure. On the nyght he fled away, þat non suld him se. Myght he neuer noure fynd a restyng place. Right vnto Donkastre þe Danes gan him chace. Whan he wend haf passed þo þat gan him dryue, þan were aryued in Humber þritty schippes & fyue. Ilkone with folk inouh, redy to bataile, "God wate," said þe kyng, "now comes me trauaile. ¶ Dardan hight þe cheftayn of þat company, Sadok sonne of Danmark kyng Danesry. þer pauillons had þei sette beside þe water of Done, Egbriht gadred partie, & ȝared him fulle sone. Listen now, how Jhesu Criste, for his mykelle mercy, Agayn þe fals paiens þe Cristen stode he by.

SIBRIHT duke of Brailes, Egbriht sister sonne, He com his eam to socour fro fer þer he gan wonne. Syward þe gode westreis, Edald þe vavasoure, Wilaf kyng of Merce, he com to þat stoure. Harald of Donsmore his lord þider led Berald of þe Marche, of strength non he dred. Haldayn of Donkastre was chosen þat ilk day, To bere þe kynge's banere ageyn þe paien lay. Bot Hakon, Hernebald sonne, of best he bare þe voice, In stede of kynge's banere he did him bere þe croice, In wirschip of Jhesu, & of his passion, þe paiens were so ferd, þei myght haf no foyson. ¶ þe ferþ day of Septembre, in þe heuest tide, At Donkastre mot men se manyon to batale ride. þat to þe kyng Egbriht alle were þei gyuen, For þer heritage þer to die or lyuen. þei hewe on þe paiens, as men of wille gode. þe paiens ageyn þam fulle stifely þei stode. þei fauht alle þat day, ne left þei not þe nyght, Wilaf þe kyng of Merte was slayn in that fight, & Berald of þe Marche, & þe duke Uttre Lord of Cirencestre, þat nyght slayn was he. Alle þat nyght þe kynge's folk fulle ille were þei led, Many on was slayn, & wonded hard bisted. Right in þe mornyng in aldermost nede Com þe kynge's sonnes tuo, als Criste wild it rede, Out of Germinie with folk inouh of myght, Adelwolf & Ethelbert, knyghtes boþe fulle wyght.

Was neuer in alle his lyue þer fadere ore so glad, Als whan he sauh his sons tuo, þe paiens force to sprad. Adelwolf his fader saued at þat ilk iorne, & Ethelbert in the felde his fader lete he se, How Dardan for his lance doun to þe erth went, & smote his hede of, his fader to present. ¶ Harald of Donesmore vppon Done him mette Vibrand, Dardane's broþer, with suerd so him grette, þat þorghout his armes Wibrand alle to hewe. Sone with þe Danes gamned þam no glewe. þat perceyued Haldayn, þat bare þe croice on hie, Sex & þritty paiens enbussed priuelie. He tok his suerd in hand, þe croyce lete he falle, & medeled him in þe pres, among þe barons alle. Before þe kyng & his sons he rincthed þam þe way, Many wer þe paiens þat Haldayn did slouh þat day. Bituex vnderon & noen was þe feld alle wonnen. For alle þat wild abide were ouer riden & ronnen. þe kyng with þe maistrie went in to þe toun, þe pris he had wonnen, in vertew of Criste's passioun. ¶ Whan he had done þere alle þat he suld do, He went vnto Wynchestre, his conseile gaf him so. Unto þe somerestide þer gan he lende, Fyue & þritty batailes had he brouht tille ende. He felt him heuy & ferly seke, his body wex alle seere, His childre he wild auance, tille he o lyue were. Tille Adelwolf gaf he Westsex, hede of alle þe thede, Lordschip ouer alle þe londes bituex Douer & Tuede.

Ethelbert held Estsex, Southsex & Kent, For homage & feaute tille Adelwolf it went. Whan Egbriht had feffed his sons in londes seere, Now in his last ende of fyue & þritty ȝere, At Wynchestre he died, & þer his body is laid. Was neuer þe lond so ȝemed, þe folk so þan said. Fyue childir he had, knyghtes douhty of handes, & alle were þei kynges in diuers landes.

ADELWOLF of Westsex, after his fadere dede, At Chestre sette his parlement, his tenantz þerto bede. He sent for alle þe kynges, fro Berwik vnto Kent, & þei with fulle gode wille alle vnto him went, & mad tille him feaute, withouten any chest, & cleymed him for þer chefe of West & of Est, Of North & of South in length & in brede, Fro Kent vntille Berwik, als lastes alle þat thede. ¶ He was first of Inglond, þat gaf God his tiþe, Of Isshue of bestes, of londes or of liþe.

Siþen he went to Rome, as man of holy wille, His sonne & he alle þat ȝere with þe pape duelled stille. þe toþer ȝere next, after his duellyng, He went home bi France, & spak with þe kyng. þe kyng him his douhter, hir name was Juwet, Fulle wele on Sir Adelwolf was þat maiden sett. He brouht hir Inglond, & siþen lyued tuo ȝere. He lies at Wynchestre beside an autere. þre þousand marke he gaf with testament fulle right To Petir & Paule of Rome, to susteyn þer light.

AFTER Adelwolf, his sonne hight Edbalde, To ȝere & a half þe regne gan he halde. Of him in holy kirke men said euelle sawe, His stepmoder Juwet he weddid agayn þe lawe. Of his body was no force, non for him wild murne. Bot þus I fond in my boke, he lies at Schirburne. þe date of Criste to neuen þus fele were gon, Auht hundreth euen, & sexti & on.

AFTER Edbalde com Ethelbert his eam, Adelwolfe's broþer, of Egbrihte's team. He did him coroune kyng, he was a noble man, & in his first ȝere paiens on him ran

Right at Wynchestre, ageyn þam gan he stand, þe kyng þam bataile, & did þam fle þe land. In werryng & in wo he regned fyue ȝere. Men biried him at Schireburn, Edbald fulle nere. þe date of Jhesu Criste was written in þis lyue, Auht hundreth wynter sexti & fyue.

AFTER Ethelbert com Elfrith his broþer, þat was Egbrihte's sonne, & ȝit þer was a noþer. Elfride þorgh heritage toke him þe coroune, & gaf Alfride his broþer Surray to warisoune. Tille Elfride oure kyng com tiþinges starke, þat fyue kynges & fyue erles wer comen of Danmarke, þat wild on him renne, & reue him þe coroune, With alle þer grete folk, þei lay in Aluertoune. þe kyng & his broþer, þat hight Alfrede, Gadred folk togider, als men þat had nede, & com to þe bataile with fulle egre herte. þe Danes stode þam ageyn with bataile fulle smerte. In þe passion tyme was þe first bataile, Nene was þat ilk ȝere, grete was þer trauaile. þe toþer ȝere, þe þrid day after Halwethurs tide, þe Danes, þorgh Gode's grace, were on þe wers side. For slayn were þei alle, erle & baron. þe kyng did mak at ȝork a faire procession, & þanked Jhesu Criste with herte fulle mylde, þat ageyn þe paiens his lond myght schilde.

ELFRIDE had a kosyn, þat kyng was of schelde, Northfolk & Southfolk of Elfride he helde, þat was Saynt Edmunde, þe croune þat tyme bare. A duke of Danmark, his name was Inguare, Ubbe an erle of Huneis with þat Inguar kam, Uppon Saynt Edmunde Northfolk he nam. Edmunde sent his messengers, of pes þam bisouht. Inguar sent bode ageyn, þat pes wild he nouht, Bot if he ȝald him þe lond, þan he suld haf pes. þat wild not Saynt Edmunde, þe bataile he ches. He atired him to bataile with folk þat he had. Bot þis cursed Danes so grete oste ay lad, þat Edmunde was taken, and slayn at þe last. Fulle fer fro þe body lay was þe hede kast. þe body son þei fonde, þe hade was in doute. Up & doune in þe felde þei souht it aboute, To haf knowyng þerof, alle þei were in were, Tille þe hede him self said, here, here, here. þer þei fond þe hede is now a faire chapelle, Oxen hate þe toun, þer þe body felle. þer where he was schotte a noþer chapelle standes, & somwhat of þat tre, þei bond vntille his handes. þe tone is fro þe toþer moten a grete myle, So fer bare a woulfe þe hede, & kept it a grete while, Unto þe hede said, here, als I befor said. Fro þe woulf þei it toke, vnto þe body it laid. Men sais, þer he ligges þe flesch samen ȝede, Bot þe token of þe wonde als a rede threde.

Now lies he in schryne in golde þat is rede. Seuen ȝere was he kyng þat tyme þat he was dede.

IN þe ȝere after, right in þe tyme of May, Oseth, þe Danes kyng, com Inglond to affray. He aryued at Berwik, in þe water of Tuede. Priue help of þe Scottes he had at his nede, & com fast toward þe South, grete powere he led. Elfride & his broþere out of ȝork fled. þei praied God specially, þat he wild þam saue, & ageyn þe Danes help inouh to haue. At þe poynt of þe bataile, displayed his banere, þe kyng ȝede to þe kirke, his messe forto here. Bot Alfride his broþer ȝede to þe bataile. He was ouer hardy, þe Danes he gan assaile. Discomfite was Alfride within a litelle throwe. þe kyng herd þat telle, þat his side ȝede lowe. He dight him to þe bataile, his folk to socoure. God did faire miracle for Elfride þat houre. For non of þe Danes askaped with þe life. Bot þe Scottes kyng, þat mayntend þat strife, Opon Elfride ran, als traytoure inferd. Elfride he wonded with dynt of a suerd. Sex ȝere was he kyng, with werre weldid þe scheld. Fulle gode was his endyng, he ligges at Driffeld. ¶ þof alle þat he werred in wo & in strife, þe foure & tuenty houres he spended in holy life. þe ferst. viii. houres in praier alderbest, þe toþer. viii. houres in slepe & in rest.

þe þrid. viii. houres he studied, how he myght Mayntene þe lond with lawe, his folk hald to right. Haluendele his godes he gaf to Gode's werkes, Sustened abbeis, norised pouer clerkes, Did reise vp kirkes, þat were fallen doun, & alle þat him serued he brouht to warisoun. þe ȝere of Criste's birth was auht hundreth euen, & þus many mo, sexty & elleuen.

ALFRIDE his broþer, a gode clerk was he one, Of body so douhty in Inglond was none. He resceyued þe coroune, after his broþer dede, Strong were þe batailes þe Danes on him bede. Tuo & tuenty batailes he wanne þe first ȝere, þe Danes so many tymes aryued on him here. þat he so many slouh a duke had envie, & eft aryued on þis lond with fulle grete nauie. Rollo was his name, a knyght fulle douhty, þat Alfride wend wele, haf lorn þe seignory. Whan þei com to bataile, ilk oþer gan askie, Alfride vnto Rollo sone gan him alie. So many douhty dyntes was bituex þam tueye, Wele þei did togidere, better may no man seye. God, þorgh his grace, þat day so wele sped, þat Rollo asked Cristendom at þe kyng Alfred. þorgh þat Cristendom, þo, þat were so wroþe, At haly kirke's fayth alle on were boþe. Rollo was kald Roberd, whan he was baptized, þorgh þe kyng Alfride, als he had deuised.

Now is Roberd Cristen, he dightes his nauie, & ferde ouer þe see, & conquerd Normundie. Duke þan was he cald, þorgh conquest of hond, Alfrid he left stille here in Inglond. ¶ ȝit a noþer Danes kyng in þe Norþ gan aryue. Alfrid it herd, þidere gan he dryue. Hanelok fader he was, Gunter was his name. He brent citees & tounes, ouer alle did he schame. Saynt Cutberte's clerkes þo Danes þei dred. þe toke þe holy bones, about þei þam led. Seuen ȝere þorgh þe land wer þei born aboute, It comforted þe kyng mykelle, whan he was in doute. ¶ Whan Alfrid & Gunter had werred long in ille, þorgh þe grace of God, Gunter turned his wille. Cristend wild he be, þe kyng of fonte him lift, & þritty of his knyghtes turnes, þorgh Gode's gift. þo þat first were foos, & com of paien lay, Of Cristen men haf los, & so þei wend away. ¶ Bot I haf grete ferly, þat I fynd no man, þat has writen in story, how Hanelok þis lond wan. Noiþer Gildas, no Bede, no Henry of Huntynton, No William of Malmesbiri, ne Pers of Bridlynton, Writes not in þer bokes of no kyng Athelwold, Ne Goldeburgh his douhtere, ne Hanelok not of told, Whilk tyme þe were kynges, long or now late þei mak no menyng whan, no in what date. Bot þat þise lowed men vpon Inglish tellis, Right story can me not ken, þe certeynte what spellis.

Men sais in Lyncoln castelle ligges ȝit a stone, þat Hanelok kast wele forbi euer ilkone. & ȝit þe chapelle standes, þer he weddid his wife, Goldeburgh þe kynge's douhter, þat saw is ȝit rife. & of Gryme a fisshere, men redes ȝit in ryme, þat he bigged Grymesby Gryme þat ilk tyme. Of alle stories of honoure, þat I haf þorgh souht, I fynd, þat no compiloure of him tellis ouht. Sen I fynd non redy, þat tellis of Hanelok kynde, Turne we to þat story, þat we writen fynde.

SON after com an erle, Alfden hight þat hunde, Aryued vp with Inguar, þat slouh S. Edmunde. Upon þe kyng Alfrid werre son began, Bot þorȝh þe gode Northeren slayn wer ilkaman. Sex & fifty batailes Alfrid ouercam, After nyen & tuenty ȝere þe dede him hiþen nam, & sex monethes mo, þus þe story said. At Wynchestre in toumbe in þe abbay is he laid. þe date þat certeyn es in boke writen here, Nouþer more no lesse, þan nien hundreth ȝere.

AFTER þis Alfride kom Edward þe olde, Faire man he was & wis, stalworth & bolde. At London, at Saynt Poule's, toke he þe croune, & purueied his parlement of erle & baroune. He seid vnto þam alle, þat purueied suld it be, þat in alle þe lond suld be no kyng bot he.

þe smale kynges of þe lond all were þei comen, Of Scotland, of Wales, of Kombirlond, þei nomen Inglis & Danes, & þe gode Norreis, Duke, erle & baron, & oþer knyghtes curteis, þei said in þat parlement, þorgh conseile of alle, þat Edward felle best be chefe, oþer suld non falle.

NOW is Edward chosen kyng at þer parlement, & þe lordschip of þe lond alle tille him went. Fourtene childre he gate opon tuo wifes, Sex sonnes & auht douhtres, þo were faire lyues. Athelstan, Edwyn, Edgar, Edmond, Edred, Edwy: Hilde was his douhter, was kald Hilden lady, Elfled & saynt Eadburgh þat lyued holy life, þe ferth Octouian Mary þat Emperoure's wife. þei passed of þis world, whan þei were right ȝonge, What þer names were I kan telle no tonge. ¶ In Edwarde's tend ȝere aryued vp in Kent þre kynges & sex dukes, þat out of Danmark went. In to Lyndsay brouht þei him tiyng, & purueied oste & dight him als a douhty kyng. At Teteford in Northfolk his baner was displaied, þe þre kynges were slayn, þe toþer were affraied, þat þei went to þer schippes, so hard he sette his chace, Edward had þe maistri, & þanked God his grace. He com neuer to bataile, þat he ne had þe maistrie. Foure & tuenty ȝere was he kyng, & þorgh no folie Neuer in his lyue a fote of lond he les. Scotland & Cumberland & Wales he had in pes,

Cornwalle, Lyndsay & Kent, Dorsette & Surreie. He ligges at Wynchestre, þe soth it is to seie. þe date of God nien hundreth, & four & tuenti mo, Whan dede his lyfe sundred, þe folk for him was wo.

AFTER Edward þe olde regned Athelstan, þat was his eldest sonne, & a noble man. þe baronage & þe clerȝie were somond to Kyngeston, þer wes his fest holden, & gyuen him þe croune. þe next ȝere þere after his coronment, þe Walsh men, þat luf no pes, on him ran & brent. Bot Athelstan þe maistrie wan, & did þam mercie crie, & alle Northwales he set to treuage hie. Tuenti pounde of gold be ȝere, þre hundreth of siluer clere, & þer to fyue hundreth kie ilk ȝere to his lardere. Siluer for Southwales not a ferþing noke Oþer treuage he sette, a þousand kie he toke. ¶ þe ferth ȝere of þe regne Owald a werreoure, Constantyn of Scotland kyng was & traitoure, Ouwer kyng of Wentland, þese þre with þer powere Werred on Athelstan with oste fulle austere. Bot Athelstan, þorgh Gode's graee, so with þam fore, þei were fayn to ask pes, & feaute þei him suore. þe tend ȝere of his regne sen he was crouned kyng, Of Edwyn his broþer bifelle suilk a þyng. At London in his courte with wiknes men him fond, Athelstan did him bynd both fote & hond, & kast him in tille Temse, whan it was most brym, To chastise alle oþer he tok vengeance on him.

At myn vnderstandyng he wild tak no mede þat was ateynt of wikkednes, his broþer to dede ȝede. ¶ Constantyn of Scotlond, þat I are of spak, Brak his feaute sone, of treson it is lak, & alle folk of Danmark with Constantyn held, & slouh our Inglish men, wasted toun & feld. Athelstan herd say, he went to Beuerlay, & praied to þe bisshop Jon in fertre þer he lay, þat he wild bede his bone, vntille þe Trinite, & he suld gyue his kirke franchise & fe, To haf & to holde als he was kyng leale. Of him haf þei chartre seled with his seale. Siþen he went to Durham, & gaf Saynt Cutbert Londes & liþes, with chartir aperte. þe bisshop of his gift holdes his fe, Siþen he went to bataile, Constantyn to fle. Constantyn he reymed, & did vnto stresse, & wan þe lond ilk dele, & wasted alle Cathenesse, & his son ȝolden vnto his ostage. Siþen he turned to London, & his baronage. Athelstan in Scotland a selcouth ded he one, He smote depe at Donbarre, an elne in þe stone.

AT þe feste of our lady þe Assumpcion, Went þe kyng fro London toward Abindon. þider out of France fro Charles kyng of fame Com þe of Boloyn, Adulphus was his name,

& þe duke of Burgoyn, Edmunde sonne, Reynere. þe brouht kyng Athelston present withouten pere, Fro Charles kyng sanz faile thei brouht a gonfaynoun þat Saynt Morice in bataile befor þe legioun, & scharp lance þat thrilled Ihesu side; & a suerd of gold, in þe hilte did men hide Tuo of þo nayles, þat war þorh Ihesu fete Tached on þe croyce, þe blode þei out lete, & som of þe thornes þat don were on his heued, & a fair pece þat of þe croyce leued, þat Saynt Heleyn sonne at þe bataile wan Of þe Soudan of Askalone, his name was Madan. ¶ þan blewe þe trumpes fulle loud & fulle schille, þe kyng com in to þe halle, þat hardy was of wille. þan spak Reyner, Edmunde sonne, (for he was messengere) "Athelstan, my lord þe gretes, Charles þat has no pere. "He sendes þe þis present, & sais, he wille him bynde "To þe þorh Ilde þi sistere, & tille alle þi kynde. Befor þe messengers was þe maiden brouht, Of body so gentille was non in erth wrouht. No non so faire of face, of spech so lufly, Scho granted befor þam alle to Charles hir body, & so did þe kyng, & alle þe baronage. Mykelle was þe richesse, þei purueied hir passage, & led hir vnto France, spoused forto be, Athelstan leues stille, & passed not þe se. In þe ȝere after þat Ilde wedded was, Constantyn of Scotlond did ȝit more trispas.

He brouht þe kyng Anlaf aryued vp in Humbere, Seuen hundreth schippes & fiftene, so fele were þe numbere. Athelstan herd say of þer mykelle oste, He & Edmunde his broþer dight þam to þat coste. At Brunesburgh on Humber þei gan þam assaile, Fro morn vnto euen lastell þat bataile. At þe last to þer schippes þe kyng gan þam chace, Alle away þei fled, þat was of Gode's grace. Bot þe most partie algate was slayn, þat with life fled I trowe þei were fulle fayn. ¶ Whan þe kyng Anlaf sauh his folk lorn, He fled vnto Danmark þer pere he was born. At þe Pask after he ryued in þe South, At a hauen of Sandwich, in þe portis mouth. Whan he was aryued, þe folk was affray, & com unto Wynchestre þer þe kyng lay. He brouht with him a deuelle, a hogge Geant, Wele haf ȝe herd telle, he hight Colibrant. Anlaf sent messengers vnto Athelstan, & bad him ȝeld þe lond, or fynd a noþer man To fight with Colibrant, þat was his champion; Who felle to haf þe lond, on þam it suld be don. Athelstan tok a day, a parlement did make, If any ageyn Colibrant þe bataile durst take. He fond no man þat durst, for non had myght, With Colibrant alone in bataile to fight. þan praied Athelstan to Criste & sore wepe, & God sent him tokenyng on nyght als he slepe,

þat he suld fynd a palmere orly at morn, At þe South ȝate, alone as he was born, & if he wild praie him, for Jhesu Criste's loue, He wild do þe bataile, & þei suld be aboue. þat was Guy of Werwik, as þe boke sais. þer he slouh Colibrant with hache Daneis. Anlaf turned agayn, I trowe him was wo, He & alle his to schippe gan þei go. God delyuerde Athelstan of many hard affaies, Sextene ȝere was he kyng & seuentene daies, Siþen at Gloucestre dede euelle him toke. Bot quik he out went, so sais my boke. Pers can not say where he lies, Bot as I herd telle I say myn auys. Men say he was fonden in þe North cuntre At Hexham now late, I wene soth it be. þe date whan he died of God men tellis by Nien hundreth wynter & fulle fourty.

AFTER Athelstan þe kyng was Edmunde his broþer, þe northren did him desceit, & ches þam a noþer. One Anlaf þei ches, & crouned him for kyng. Alle þe North ende was in his kepyng, & alle þe South ende tille Edmunde þei drouh. Upon þe fals Norreis Edmunde wan inouh. Fyue cites he wan, þat þei held for þers, þat whilom was ancestres, fro heires vnto heires,

Lycoln & Derby, & Southampton, Leycestre & Stamford, þise fyue wan Edmon, & yit þe kyng Anlaf so hard gan he chace, þat he asked Cristendom opon Gode's grace. Boþe he & Reynald was Guthefride's sonne, He exilde þam out of þe North, þer þei wild wonne. & gaf to Malcolme, kyng of Scotlande, þat he suld be him leale, bi se & bi lande.

THE fifte ȝere of his regne he went to Canterbiri, þe feste of S. Austine, to hold it fulle myri. A thefe of his courte was outlawed late, þe kyng knew him fulle wele, he mette him in þe gate. Whilom he serued in his panterie, & was outlawed for a felonie. þe kyng tok þis pantelere, & strangled him right þore, & he wonded þe kyng dedely fulle sore. Seuen ȝere was he kyng, & seuen monethis mo. At Gloucestre is he laid, þe pantelere did him slo. þe date was nien hundreth fourþty & seuen. þis was þe selcouthest cas, þat haf herd neuen.

EDRED after Edmunde had þe coroune, Vpon þe Pask day, at London toune. Siþen of all his barons he tok feaute, Bot þe Northeren men held him no leaute.

Eylrike of Danmark for kyng þei him ches, & forsoke Edrede, þer were þei les. Edrede with powere vntille þe North went, Alle þe toun of Ripon he wasted & brent. Northumberland was in affray for Edred comyng, þei did doun Eylrik þe Danes kyng, & went out of þe lond with his rascaile, Was he not so hardy at stand to bataile. Alle þo Norreis, þat had bien so fikelle, Pes forto haue þei glosed him fulle mykelle. þer londes & þer rentes were at his wille, He gaf S. Cutbert þerof, ȝit þei hold it stille. Alle þe regne holy was þat tyme in his hand, & erles & barons þat wer in þe land, So wele were þei chastised, alle com tille his grith, þat þe pes of þe lond þe sikered him alle with. Auht ȝere was he kyng, his daies alle filled. At Wynchestre he lies, so himself willed. þe date nien hundreth fifty & fyue, Whan þat kyng Edred passed of þis lyue.

AFTER Sir Edred was his broþer Edwy, He resceyued þe croune of þe seignory. So foole a man of his life non was seene, þe hie men of þe lond conseild þam bituene, To do doun Edwy at a parlement, & tille his broþer Edgare gyf þe tenement.

S. Donstan þe bisshop was at his coronment, & of alle his ancestres was neuer better kyng. He was boþe gode & wys in alle his dedis, & right vnderstandyng, to help at alle nedis. Mikille he wirschiped God, & serued our Lady, þe abbey of Rumeye he feffed richely, With rentes fulle gode & kirkes of pris, He did þer in of Nunnes a hundreth ladies. ¶ Edgare forto fle lichery of lyfe, His barons gaf him conseile for to take a wyfe Elfled þe faire, þe duke's douhter Ormere. He gate of hir S. Edward, þat is þe martere. Dame Elfled died sone, ȝit wild he luf mare, He tok bittere Estrild, duke's douhter Orgare. Of hir lord Edgar had scho sonnes tueye, Edmunde, þat in his tende ȝere at Peterburgh gan deie. Eylred was the ȝongest, & Estrild fulle dere. Wo was in his tyme, as ȝe may after here. Edgar þer fader had alle Ingland, He went to Kerlion, þe Walsch men he band With homage & feaute, in right & in lawe. Kymak kyng of Scotland, he com for fyne awe, & Malcolme of Combirland was at his wille, Maccum kyng of þe Iles, Dufnald fitz Omere, Sifreth & Huwalle, Jacob & Juthille, He did þam mak feaute, als right was & skille. Siþen he went aboute, kirkes vp to raise, Abbayes forto help, were fallen in miseyse.

He gaf to Crouland, in þe Abbot tyme Gounterc, þre myle of seignorie, about his autere. Auhten ȝere Edgar regned kyng & sire, He lies in tombe in þe abbey of Glastenbire.

OF Edgar þe kyng þus fond I writen, Pers telles þe same þing, at his boke may ȝe witen. Sen four & tuenti ȝere, þat he in erth was laid, An abbot of Glastebiri, Edward his name is said, He did mak a toumbe, Edgar in to lay, Bot it was ouer litelle, in alle maner way. þei brak in tuo his schankes, to mak þe toumbe mete, þe blode was boþe warme & fresh, þat of þe schankes lete. þe abbot wex alle blynd, þat did his bones breke. þe bisshop Owald herd of þat miracle speke, Renst at at þe toumbe, he tok vp þe bones, In a fertre þam laid a riche for þe nones. þe date was nien hundreth sexti & þrittene, He was a holy man þorgh miracle was sene.

AFTER Edgare was Edward his sonne, Regnand in alle þe lond, als his fader was wonne. S. Dunstan corouned him bifor þe baronage & oþer bisshopes inouh, fulle ȝonȝe he was of age. A gode man he was, & stalworth knyght als stele. In Ingland neuer before was kyng lufed so wele, Ne of þe folk strange non honourd so mykelle. þe right lawes did he loke for fals men & fikelle.

Boþe riche & pouere he ȝemed in euenhede, Non suld do oþer wrong for couetise no drede. Estrild his stepmoder scho þouht on felonie. Tille wikked men scho spak, Edward to aspie. þei did als scho þam bad, & wrouht þam seluen wouh, At Koruesgate þorgh desceit Edward kyng þei slouh. þre ȝere was he kyng, þe story þus me said, His body at Westmynstere in fertre is it laid. þe date was nien hundreth sexti & sextene, þat was alle forwondred, for his dede com tene.

UNTO Kyngeston þe first wouke of May Com S. Dunstan, opon a Sonenday, & of alle þe lond erle & baroun, To Eilred, Edgar sonne, bitauht him þe coroun. S. Dunstane hette him wele, in sorow his life to lede, In alle his life ilk dele, of suerd he mot him drede. S. Dunstan tille him spak wrothfulle wordes of eye, How þei of his mouth brak, listen, I salle ȝow seye. "Eilred," said Dunstan, "þi broþer Edward was slayn "þorgh þi moder Estrid, þer of scho was fulle fayn. "For slauhter of þi broþer has þou þe coroune, "Wele weld it salle þou neuer, þou has it þorh tresoune. "þof alle Edgar þe gate, Estrild þi moder ware, "To þe reame has þou no right, bot þorgh slauhter care. "For þe luf of þe þi broþer did scho slo, "þerfor þou & þine salle weld it with wo. "& sone after þi daies þe reame salle men se "Gouerned þorgh aliens kynde, & euermore fro þe.

¶ Whan Dunstan had thus said, bifor alle þat were þore, & taken had his leue of barons lesse & more, Eilred þe ȝonge kyng toward London ȝede, A rede cloude in þe skie about Ingland gan sprede, So mykelle blode it rayned, þe erth wex alle rede, þe folk was affaied, & alle heuy als lede. ¶ þe toþer ȝere next of his coronment, þe Danes vp aryued, Souhamptone þei brent, & robbed Cornwaile, þe folk were alle anoyed, þat with Norwais Kerlion was destroied. þei com to London, & brent þe cite. Eilred & þe barons, þat were of his meyne, With þe erle of Herford held contek & fight, þat þer heritage defend þei ne myght. Als alle þis sorow & wo was in þe gynnyng, Died S. Dunstan, men herd þe angels syng.

JUSTYN & Godemunde, of Danmark dukes riche, Aryued in Southfolk & brent Ipsewiche, Men & women slouh, & robbed þorgh þe lond, Tille þei com to Mideweie, cuntre non þei fond. With þe erle of Kent þei countred at Medeweie, þe maistrie of him þei wan, þei did his folk alle deie. þe lerid & þe lewid, þat wonned in þe South, Sauh werre on ilk a side, þei wer in þe woulfe's mouth. Ten pounde of gold bi ȝere for þe pes þei gaf To Justy & Gudmund, þei tok alle riffe & raf. To schip þei turned & went, & charged þam fulle wele, Aryued in Danmark with robberie ilk a dele.

IN to Wales þat coste went Eilred pitously, For to gadre him oste, if he mot haf maistrie. In þat ilk tyme, as he to Wales went, Tuo outlandes kynges on þis lond hauens hent. Anlaf of Norway, of Danmark kyng Suane, Aryued in þis lond, to many wer þei bane. þer ostes boþe at ons vnto London nam, þei toun was warned wele, & wist þat þei cam. Folk inouh redy was gadred, to þe cite þei went egrely, & did þo kynges fle. Fro London þei were dryuen, & com to Southampton. Man & beste þei slouh, destroied þe cuntre doun. Eilred myght nouht to stand þam ageyn, For pes he þam bisouht, to gyf þam a certeyn. ¶ Fyue þousand pound of siluer þe Danes kyng toke. þe went to þer schippes, & to Danmark schoke. & many of þo Danes priuely were left, & busked Westward, forto robbe eft. Wilton had þei taken, Southampton also, Cornwaile & Wales bouwed þam vnto. þe cuntre of Dorseth, lond & tenement, Alle had þei wasted, fro Seuerne vnto Kent. Eilred on a stound þe told of þat wo, Four & tuenti þousand ponde he gaf away to go, To haf pes in his lyue, þe lond no more schende. þe Danes tok þe siluer, to Danmark gan wende.

FOUR & tuenti wynter lasted þis sorow, If he had pes at euen, he had non at morow. For so hette S. Dunstan, he suld alle his lyue With werre his lond welde, & with his suerd stryue. Now has Eilred nede of help & socoure, For boldenes he wild him bynd to som berde in boure. Fulle so frendes he had, & fele foos inowe, Unto þe duke of Normundie he went for to wouwe. He wedded þe duke's douhter, faire Emme þe blaunche, þre bouwes of þam spronge, þe ton es holy braunche. Edmunde Irenside was eldest of þo þre, þe to high Edward, þe þrid Alfrid hight he. ¶ þorgh of Sir Richard, duke of Normundie, Eilred ȝede þorgh his lond, priuely to spie Euerilkon þe Danes, & smertly bounde Or smyte of þer hedes, ay as men þam founde. þus had Eilred þe lond at his wille, Bot þe duke died sone, & þat felle him fulle. þan was Eilred socoure sone away went. Tiþing com to Danmark, þat he þe Danes schent. Suane þe Danes kyng þerwith had enuy. To aryue on Hingland he dight his nauy. Whan he was aryued, he sent fulle baldely Messengers to Eilred, als tille his cnmy. þis was his message, his Danes wild he venge Ageyn him in bataile, to renne & to renge. Eilred our kyng his help had he lorn Of þe duke of Normundie, þat dede was beforn.

Suane, þe Danes kyng, was of so grete strength, þat he destroied þis lond in brede & in length. Fyue wynter holy lasted þat werre, þat neuer Eilred our kyng durst negh him nerre. Noiþer bi Norþ no bi South com him neuer help. Wo was alle his comforth, of sorow mot he ȝelp. þritty þousand pounde vnto Suane he sent, Pes to haf his lyue, & þei to Danmark went.

NOW is kyng Suane went tille his cuntre, Eilred sent for Edrik to be his owen priue. So fals a traytour in erth was non as he, Of Lincolne he gaf him þat cuntre schire. þe duke said vnto þe kyng, "Sir, I salle ȝow say, "For to saue ȝour lond wele, a fulle siker way. "Do mak þre hundreth schippes opon þe sees koste, "To kepe þam of Norweie & þe Danes oste. "& if þe folk þerin be trewe vnto þe, "Doute þe of non enmys, þat comes vp on þe. ¶ þe sent to seke many a schip wright To þe toun of Sandwiche, þe nauie forto dight. Whan Edrik it wist, þat þe schippes wer redy. He sent to Norweie his lettres priuely, Unto þe kyng Anlaf, tille Inglond to com. Anlaf & Sir Thurkille aryued vp in þei nom. Anlaf & Thurkille aryued vp in Kent, Alle about þei robbed, & tok þat þei mot hent. þe folk of þe cuntre to þis conseile þei ches, To gyf þam four hundreth pounde, forto lyue in pes.

þe Danes tok þat siluer, & turned eft ageyn, & voided þe cuntre, þe folk was fulle feyn. ¶ Bot in þe ȝere after, obowen Grimsby Eft þei gan aryue þorgh sonde priuely, þorgh fals Edrike, þat þam þider hasted. Lincolne & Lyndeseie þei stroied & wasted. Fals Edrike went, pes with þam to make. Fourti þousand pounde he did þam take, þat non in alle þe cuntre more suld be piled. Bot euer was Eilred fouly begiled. ¶ Whan þe kyng wende, haf pes in his lyue, Suane of Danmark at Sandwyche gan aryue, & brouht hider with him his sonne, þat hight Knoute. þe folk vntille Humber to Suane gan þei loute. Alle was þorgh Edrik, þat mykelle was to blame. He was þe kynge's conseiloure, & did him mykelle schame.

ANE erle in þe North, Uctred men kalde, He com vnto Gaynesburgh, of Suane forto halde, Forto lyue in pes, & werre forto fle, He com vnto Suane, & mad him feaute. Of the North Suane had a partie, þe South he desired, Ostes tille him his sonne fast þei atired. Knoute went to þe North, Suane in to þe South, þan was Eilred in þe wolfe's mouth. Suane toward Oxenford went fulle smertly, & in þat ilk toun did he krie a krie, þat alle þat him serued, & of his meyne ware, Man, woman & childe, suld þei alle forfare.

Kastels suld þei bete doun, kirkes suld þei brenne, Boþe citez & tounes, þat þei mot se or ken. Of þe toun of Wynehestre feaute had he at wille, Siþen he went to London, þat hated he fulle ille. þe bode com to þe kyng, þat soiorned þer in, þat þe kyng Suane þe toun wild he wyn. A Danes erle, with þe Kurkille he hight, He halp our kyng defend þe toun at his myght. Kyng Suane gaf assaut, þe walles to assaile, Mykelle folk he les, & tynt his trauaile. Four & tuenti þousand in Temse alle at ones Wer dronkled of Danes, þe Deuelle haf þer bones.

SUANE turned fro London, alle þorgh felonie, & went to Wallyngford, to mak his maistrie. Siþen he ȝede to Bathe, & sette þe toun on fire. Achelmare tille him felle, an Erle of Deuenschire. Achelmare with feaute to Suane he him bonde, Fro Wellis vnto London alle felle to his honde. Suane toward Denmark sped him fulle fast, & ostage of London he had at þe last. Ilk cried on oþer, now is Suane kyng Ouer alle Inglond, & Eilred has no þing. ¶ Eilred is so reymed of his tresorie, His wife & his childre he sent to Normundie. þe bisshop of Londone he hight Sir Alphanie Led Edward & Alfride, & Emme þat was ladie.

IN þe wynter after Eilred went ouer þe se Unto Nomundie, with his wife to be. Whan þe duke herd say, þat Eilred þider cam, With mykelle nobley ageyn Eilred he nam. Rcsceyued him curtasly, & said, "lefe & dere, "My lond is at þi wille, tille þe socoure is here." þe date a þousand was, & mo bi fourty ȝere, þat Eilred & his childre soiorned with duke Richere. ¶ Now comes Suane eft ageyn with Criste's malison, þe lond leid to taliage so mykclle on ilk a toun, þat noiþer erle no baron of alle þer heritage Myght not lyue þer on, to gif þer taliage. Treuage als he asked of S. Edmunde þing, þe corsaynt & þe kirke he thrette for to brennyng, & bot he had his askyng, þe lond he suld destroye. To Gaynesburgh he kald þe barons forto noye. He said befor þam alle, of S. Edmunde's lond He wild haf treuage, or brenne alle þat he fond. ¶ Alle was wele, tille euen after þe soupere He ȝede about, & plaied with þo þat were him nere. He sauh out of þe firmament an armed knyght com doun, þat was S. Edmunde, cruelle als a leon, Suerd girded & lance in hand, þan gan Suane to crie, Non sauh bot he one, he said, "now salle I die, "Help knyghtes, if ȝe may, I may no ferrer go. "I se Edmunde with me wroþe, I wote he wille me slo. With þat word he felle doun dede as any stone, Life & saule to Helle, & flesh, blode & bone.

NOW is Suane dede, & wonnes with Sathanas, þe Danes ches Knoute to kyng of Danmark þat he was, & Inglond he seised for his fader conquest, Grete taliage laid he þeron bi Esten & bi West. þe folk wild not suffre to be treuwageres, Bot sent after Eilred bi certeyn messengeres, & praied him to com home, þe croune ȝeme & take, þe lordschip of Knoute kyng wild þei alle forsake. ¶ Eilred sent tille Inglond Sir Edward his sonne With his letter sealed, & þanke wild he þam conne, & bliþely tille Inglond wild he com agayn, If he myght on þam troste, þat þei were certayn. Alle þe comons of þe lond with letter þam bond, & ilkon sette his seale þerto with his own hond, þat if he wild com ageyn, þe lond forto were, Neuer more to Danes kyng faiþe suld þei bere. Whan he wist þer wille, he hied hider suythe, þei resceyued him fulle faire, & were of him blythe. With him alle, þei said, þei wild lyue & deie Alle holy þe lond, bot þei of Lyndseie Eilred þer lege lord him þei alle forsoke, & þer hede kyng Knout þei þan toke.

NOW rises Eilred, & gadres oste stark, & chaces kyng Knoute in tille Danmark. Whan þe Danes were out, þat timbred him his tene, Lyndeseie he destroied quite alle bidene. It was þam self to wite, þei lete of him so lite. e wrong was alle þairs, þe kyng did bot right.

¶ Whan þe kyng wende, þat pes suld forþe go, þe fals Erle Edrik bigan eft a wo. Tuo old gentille men Edrik did forfare, þe ton hight Sigiferd, þe toþer Sir Morgare, For couetise of þer londes, & seignorie þat þei helde, & for þei were a partie smyten in to elde. þe fals Edrik did lede Sigiferde's wife Unto Malmcestre, hir name was Aldife. Edmunde Irenside, Eilrede's sonne, þat euer in þis lond stille wild he wonne, Of þis ilk treson he herd oft speke, & of fals Edrik fayn wild he him wreke. He toke Sigiferde's wife, withouten his fader leue, & wedded hir at þe kirke, Edrik forto greue. Whan he had hir wedded, he went also quik, & oute of alle þo londes he kast þe erle Edrik, Of alle þat tenement, þat boþe þe brethres ware, þat longed to Sigiferd, & to Sir Morkare.

NOW is Eilred our kyng fallen in sekenes, He lies at Euesham, his abbay it es. His eldest sonne Edmunde knyghtes gode he sekes, Fro Douere vnto Wales þe folk tille him mekes. & þe erle Edrik he gadred mykelle pride, Knyghtes & serganz on Lyndesay side. Forto slo Edmunde þorgh tricherie, Bot Edmunde es wele warned of his felonie. Edmunde bi messengers þe erle he diffies, Edrik in tille Danmark to Knoute sent spies,

For to com tille Inglond sone suld he assay, Aryued þat he ware of ȝole þe tuelft day. Knoute bi his sonde Edrik ageyn grette, To aryue he suld fonde þe day þat he him sette.

COMEN is Knoute to cuntre, to ride he him hastis, Man & woman to slo, he robbes & wastis. A gode erle of Warwik was don to þe suerd, þorgh þat fals Edrik, als he did Sigiferd. Eilred was led to London, & seke gan þer lie. Edmunde praied him of help priuely bi spie. Londreies inow com tille Edmunde, & wastid alle & brent Leicestre alle doun. Bot þe fals Edrik did his quaintise, þat Edmund with Knoute mette in non wyse. ¶ Knoute & Edrik þei seised þorgh tresone Bokyngham & Bedford, þe toun of Huntyngtone, Lincolne & Notyngham, þe toure of Northampton. Siþen went to Donkastre & vntille Aluerton, & alle Northumberland it was at þer wille. Edmunde & þe erle Uctred þat tyme held þam stille. To London vnto Eilred hasted þei þer weie, For bodword men brouh, þe kyng suld sone deie. Whan Edrik wist Edmond to London was gone, His londes & his rentes he seised eft ilkone. Eilred at London endid his life, Auht & þritty wynter he regned with strife. þat tyme he died in peyn & in wo, þe date was a þousand & sextene mo.

NOW is Eilred biried, þat mykelle wo bade. þe clergie & þe baronage samned at a reade, & com to Southampton, & corouned Sir Knoute. þe burgeis of London were wroþe & stoute, & said þei suld fond to felle Knoute's pride. þei corouned for enuy Edmunde Irenside. þerof were þei paied alle þe North cuntre, þe com alle to London to mak him feaute. Knoute gadred him an oste, on Edmunde he ran, & Edmunde on him ageyn, as a douhty man, & trauailed sore Knoute, neuer he blanne, Whan wend haf left, Edmunde biganne. Tuo ȝere þei werred with many trauailes, In þo tuo ȝeres were sex grete batailes. In the sex batailes was many a man slayn. At þe last þei acorded, þe lond was fulle fayn. Edmunde of þe lond had þe haluendele, He regned bot tuo ȝere, no more his tyme felle. He lies at Glastenbire toumbed, as I wene, þe date of Criste a þousand & mo bi auhtene.

WHAN God had don his wille of Edmunde Irenside, Knoute vnto London com with grete pride. He asked þe barons in þat parlement, If he schewed a þing, oþerwaies he ment: If Edmunde þe kyng, whan to acorde went, If he saued to his heyers oiþer lond or tenement. Ilkon said, þat Edmunde þe kyng Spak no word þer of, at þer sauhtillyng.

Wharfor þe barons granted him ilkone, Knoute to be corouned, & haf it alone.

WHAN Knoute had resceyued boþe þe seignories, He parted þe lond in foure parties. Alle þe West cuntre him seluen he held, Fals Edrik gaf he Lyndeseie of Lyncolne þe scheld. Vnto þe erle Thurkille he gaf Estangle, Northfolk & Southfolk, ficacie men Iangle. To þe erle Uctred Northumberland he toke, þe pes to mayntene þe suore alle on þe boke. ¶ þan tok kyng Knoute alle his homages, þat cleymed to hold of him þer heritages. Edmunde had a sonne, & childre no mo. þorgh Edrike's conseile Knoute did him slo, & tok quene Emme & wedded hir to wife, þorgh Edrike's conseile, scho scorted his life. ¶ Knoute on a day bi his wife satte, Of Edrike's treson scho warned him of þat. "Listen me, lord Knoute, if it be þi wille, "How he betraied my lord, & my sonne fulle ille. "Whilom Eilred my lord he him bitraist to ȝow, "& my sonne Edmunde þorgh treson he slouh, "& if he regne long he salle haf þe same, "He was neuer with no man, þat he ne did him schame. ¶ þe kyng one on þe morn went to London, His ȝole forto hold was his encheson. Knoute þouht on þat tale, þat his wife him told, & siþen ateyned Edrik þorgh treson of old.

þe fer þe day of þe fest, no lenger it was, Edrik was hanged on þe toure, for his trispas. þan said þe quene, "þat Edrik þe Giloure "Had not fully dome, þat felle to traytoure. "Traytours with runties suld men first drawe, "ȝa dame," said þe kyng, "bot he salle haf þe law, "þat his body salle hang in colde & in hote, "Schame tille alle his kynd, þat it sees & wote.

KNOUTE of his body gate sonnes þre, Tuo bi tuo wifes, þe þrid in jolifte. Bi þe first had he Suane, he was eldest broþer. Bi Emme, þe second wife, Hardeknoute anoþer. Harald he had geten on his playeng, Knoute lufed him best, he was his derlyng. Olaf in Norweie regned fulle stoute, & bare him ouer strange to þe kyng Knoute. Knoute com with his kythe, þat kant was & kene, & chaced him out of Norweie quyte & clene. þan was he kyng of Danmark, Inglond & Norweie, Danmark was his heritage, he conquered þe toþer tueie. Malcolme, þe Scottis kyng, þat tyme died he, Mathithade his broþer resceyued þe regante. Knoute as for his chefe he tok his homage, Of þe kyngdom of Inglond he had þe heritage. Knoute vnderstode wele, he mot not long lyue, His sonnes in his lyue his londes wild he gyue. Suane gaf he Norweie, (Olaf he chaced oute) Danmark his heritage he gaf tille Hardeknoute.

He assigned Harald to Inglond, to had it in fee. þus he gaf his londis tille his sonnes þre. Seuentene ȝere was he kyng þorgh conquest & desceit, At Westmynstere he ligges in a toumbe purtreit. A thousand was þe date & sex & þritty, Whan Knoute kyng died, so sais þe story.

HARALD was curteys & strong, of body auenant, To be þer kyng & hede þe lond was wele ogrant. Hardknoute of Danmark payd not withalle, þat he suld bere þe coroune, for he was born thralle, He gadred of Danes folk right inouh, & did him toward þe se, & tille þis lond drouh. Whan he was aryued, he sent to Harald, & said, þat a bastard no kyngdom suld hald, Bot if þat he it wan with suerd or with lance Of tirant or of Sarazin, þorgh douhtynes of chance. & if he wille þe lond ȝeld, & to þe pes chese, For he is my broþer, he salle not alle lese; & if he wille þorgh bataile, þer to wille I stand, & bataile bituene vs wille not be semand. Harald was fulle, a lone day he toke, To here what þe barons þam boþe wild loke. ¶ Vnder Southamptone was þer assemble, Of Harald & Hardknoute, what suld bituex þam be. For þei were breþer, þe luf was more sene, þe barons portiond þe lond euen þam bituene, Harald tille his parte suld haf alle þe Northende, & alle þe Southside tille Harknout suld wende.

To þat ilk lokyng boþe þei consent, In luf þei departed, Hardknout home went.

IN þat tyme, þat Harald & Hardknout held partie, Died þe duke Roberd, þat regned in Normundie. William was his heire, resceyued þe heritage, þat we kalle þe bastard, þat sette vs in seruage. Richard was Roberd fader, þe duke þat died beforn, Emme þe quene his douhter, of þe whilk was born Alfred & Edward, Hardknoute þe þrid, þe tuo first of Eilred, of Knoute Hardknoute tid. Alfred & Edward, þam of Eilred kam, Wer with duke Roberd, now ere þei with William. þo childre tok to rede, to com vnto þis lond, To speke with þer moder, at Wynchester þei hir fond. Alfrede was eldest, non mot his wille withhald, To London he wild alle gate, to speke with kyng Harald. Godwyn, an erle of Kent, met with Alfred, Him & alle his feres vntille prison þam led. Of som smote of þer hedes, of som put out þer iȝene, Sex hundreth at Gildford did Godwyn slo & pyne. Alfred he was led to þe abbay of Elyng, Bifor Godwyn himseluen þei did his iȝene out þring. He lyued bot þre daies, & ȝald to God þe gaste, þe bode com to his moder, scho did Edward in haste Wende to Normundie, for drede of Alfred pyne, To William, hir broþer sonne, was Edwarde's kosyne. Edward told William of Alfred alle þe case, & praied him of help, for he dred harder pase,

& if he myght conquere Inglond, þat was his speyre, Edward sikerd him wele, to mak William his heyre, & bond him with skrite, his seale hyngand þerbi, & William hette him wele, to help him sikerly.

NOW duelles Harald þe kyng among his baronage, Tille Emme, Hardknoute's moder, he did a grete outrage, His broþer a foule despite, him self vileyn skandre. He chaced hir out of þe lond, & scho went vnto Flandres. Unto þe erle Baldwyn, for scho was of his kynde. He resceyued hir fulle faire inouh, he did hir fynde To brige in to Danmark, þer Hardknout was kyng. Of Inglond & of Flandres brouht men him tiþing, How kyng Harald chaced his moder of lond. What skille he had & whi Herdknout ȝerned to fond. Now Hardwnout toward Flandres dightes him day bi day. þat tyme at Westmynstir Harald sore seke lay, Died & was þer laid, als my boke me told. Fyue ȝere was he kyng, & sex & fifty old. þe date of Criste þan was a þousand & fourti, Harald for his trespas ȝit felle a vilany.

NOW is kyng Harald dede, þat whilom was so stoute, þe barons sent Flandres vnto Hardeknoute, & praied him com to lond, þe coroune if he wild take, If he wild vnderstond, non oþer kyng wild þei make.

Whan he wist þer wille, he hasted him þider suiþe. þei gaf him þe coroune, & were of him fulle bliþe. He studied, how he myght venge his moder despite, He did Harald body do drawe vp also tite, & þorgh þe podels it drouh, þat foule were & deppest, & siþen in to Temse his body did he kest. þat fischid in Temse on þe nyght, whan þei þer nettes vp wond, þe body of Harald in a nette þei fond. þei durst it not forth schewe, for þe kyng wer þei ferd. Som frendes he had, þat biried it in kirke ȝerd.

HARDEKNOUT did charge þe lond in suilk treuwage, þat noiþer erle no barone myght lyue for taliage. So þat alle þe comonalte had him ageyn herte, þat were to him so fre, forþouht it sore & smerte. Hardknoute wex fulle wroth toward Godwyn of Kent For his broþer Alfred, þat he slouh & schent, & to þe bisshop Alfrik, þat was his conseilere. þei dred þe kyng folle sore, for he was fulle austere. þe erle had frendes, to acorde þei gaf him þe weie. þe erle was fulle quaynte, did mak a riche galeie With fourscore armed knyghtes, in suilk apparaille dight, þat so riche armes was neuer sene with sight. & ilk knyght bare on his arme, be redy acounte, Also mykelle brent gold, as sextene vnce amounte. Withouten alle þis a hundreth knyghtes he toke. Befor þe kyng & þe barons he suore on þe boke, þat neuer Alfred his broþer þorgh him was dede, No blynfeld no slayn, bot þorgh Haralde's rede.

þei said he did inouh, þe erle alle vplift, þe kyng forgaf his wraþe, resceyued his gift. ¶ In Saynt Edwarde's life it sais, he was forsuorn. Bifor Edward himself he strangled & was lorn. & I salle telle þat tale, or I ferrer go, How falsnes brewes bale with him, and many mo. In S. Edward tyme þe erle suld with him ete, A seruitour þer was, þat serued at þe mete, He stombled at a chance, & felle on his kne, þorgh þe toþer schank he ros, & serued in his degre. "A ha!" said þe erle, "had þat schank ne bien, "þou had liggen þer stille, þe risen suld non haf sene. "God wote, said þe king, so is it with me nouh, "& I had my broþer Alfred, þat þou slouh, "þof I had stombled þorgh myn vnmayn, "He suld haf bien my schank, & reised me agayn. "þan hopes þou," said þe erle, "þat for me was he dede. "I praye God if it wer so I strangle of þis brede. & putte a morselle in his mouth with þat ilk worde, Bifor þe kyng & þam alle he strangled at þe borde. þe kyng biheld him a stound, & sauh no repentance, He bad drawe away þat hound, God has taken vengeance.

WHAN Harknout & þe erle wer at an assent, þorgh alle his lond þe kyng his sonde sent, Forto reise þe treuage, þat on þe lond was sette, Pader & Thurston to þat office were fette. þe folk of Wircestre ageyn þe treuage spak, Bituex þam & þe messengers broþefulle wordes brak.

Pader & Thurston þer hedes þer þei left. þe kyng Burd send oþer to ask treuage eft. þe kyng sone herd say, his messengers were slayn, Toward Wircestre he com with myght & mayn, & comanded all þo, þat euer lufed him wele, Alle Wirecestreschire spare it neuer a dele, Noiþer man no beste, no manere no no toun. þe cite of Wircestre þei brent euen doun. Alle þei wasted quitely, & slouh þe folk fulle ȝerne, Bot þo þat fled with þer godes to þe ilde of Seuerne, & þat wer in þe ilde duelled þer for drede, Untille þe kyng turned, & his wrath ouer ȝede. ¶ Right als Hardeknout had left alle þat folie, Com Edward, Eilred sonne, out of Normundie, & Hardeknoute's broþer on his moder side, Right heyre of þe lond, þorgh grace þat may betide. Edward was welcom tille Hardeknoute þe kyng, He bad his wille suld be, als his in alle þing. Here now of Hardeknoute, how he endid his life. Tille a duke of Danes he gaf his douhter to wife. þe bridale was holden at þe maner of Lambithe. After mete in þe haule þe kyng mad alle blithe. In alle his joy makyng, among þam ilkone, He felle dede doun colde as any stone. þei bare him to Wynchester, & biried him þore. Tuo ȝere & a half he regned, & no more.

A þousand was þe date, & tuo & fourty. I trowe it was for vengeance, he died so sodenly.

ALLE þe baronage at Pask afterward, Com to Wynchester to coroune kyng Edward, Als he þat had gode right vnto þe regalte, In Inglond was non so right heyre as he. Whan he had regned fyue, & wele was aboue, Suane þe kyng of Danmark sent to him for loue, & praied him for his nauy to help him with summ, Bataile was gyuen in þe se, ageyn þe kyng Magnum, þat was kyng of Norweie, with wrong gan him trauaile. Edward sent him fifty schippes, to help at his bataile. For alle þe help þat he had, Magnus on him so ran, & chaced away Suane, & Danmark on him wan. Bot þis ilk Magnus lyued þer no longe. Eft Suane, þe Danes kyng, þis lond did vnderfonge, & eft vntille Edward Suane sent ageyn, & praied him bituex þam þe pes wer certeyn. Edward him granted, opon suilk a wise, þat neuer þe Dangilde for ne non of hise, Suld be chaleuged for man of Danes lond, & Suane, kyng of Danmark, to þat conant him bond. þus was þe pes granted with skrite on boþe sides, & þe Danes gilde forgyuen, þat neuer eft bitides.

IN þis Edwarde's tyme a riche erle þan was, þat hight Godwyn of Kent, I red him ore in pas.

He had a sonne Harald, heyre of his tenement. Engle his wife he drofe away, & held in peyrment. Egyne, þat was an abbes, out of hir hous had Maugre hire wille in hordom his life with hir lad. Ageyn the kyng Edward, & of his to wynne, Godwyn þe Erle to werre wild bigynne. Harald & Lofwyn, þise were his sonnes tueye, Douhty knyghtes þei were, after salle we seye. Godwyn sent for frendes, knyghtes he had inowe, þe kyng was at Gloucestre, & þiderward þei drowe. Whan Edward perceyued, his hcrte was in studie, How þat werre bigan on him so sodanly. þe kyng ȝared his folk, on haste alle þat he myght. þe erle in his askyng had no maner right. Wherfor þe erle of Ba did Gowyn understand, To leue alle his werre, & take þe lawe of land. "At London at þe benke schewe þer þin askyng, "Alle þat lawe wille, þou wynnes it of þe kyng.

THE kyng com to London, with lawe to mote in benke, Men sauh on þe kynge's side þer was no gile, no wrenke; & for he had þe treuth, on his side were þe mo, & Godwyn perceyued wele, on his side were bot fo. þerfor Godwyn & his fro London went away, He stode vntille no more, defaute he mad þat day. þerfor was þe dome gyuen þorgh þe Justise, To exile þe erle Godwyn, his sonnes & alle hise.

Godwyn went to Flandres, vnto þe erle Baldwyn. At Bristow in tille Ireland schipped Harald & Lofwyn. ¶ Whan þe erle was exiled, his sonnes tille Irland ouer, William þe Normant aryued vp at Douer, In luf & in pes to speke with Sir Edward. He had bien in his courte, whan his happe was more hard. He resceyued him with joy, & with herte fulle glad. To se þe lond about þe duke with him he lad. Whan he had soiorned long, & was in wille to go, Gode giftes he him gaf, or þat he went him fro. So þat alle of his were paied of þer parte. With joy alle ageyn þei went to Normundie. ¶ Thus Harald & Lofwyn, þat out of lond were dryuen, With grete oste of Ireland at Chestre vp aryuen. Dorseth & Somerseth þei robbed & did wo, Of knyghtes & serganz þei slouh þritty & tuo. Whan þei had so robbed, þat þam þouht inouh, þei went ageyn to schip, & saile vp drouh. Toward þe South side turned þei þar flete, þar fader & þei o chance togider gan mete. Godwyn & his sonnes at Sandwych hauen hent, Lettres tille his frendes for help about sent, Of socour & conseile bisouht þam pitously, Of many had he grante, to ask for him mercy. ¶ Whan þe kyng wist, þat þei had taken land, For þo barons he sent þat were his wele willand. & for þe longe duellyng of barons in þe way, Godwyn, þat non wist, aryued in Surray.

þe kyng also suiþe ta bataile mad him ȝare. Godwyn he diffied, & alle þat with him ware. Grete wer þo parties, þat ferd in to þe felde. Eldolf, bisshop of Bath, þe pes mayntend & helde. Eldolf, þe gode bisshop, com with his clergie, & said to kyng Edward, "Sire, we þe mercy cric "For þe erle Godwyn, þat wille ȝeld him to þe. "His sonnes er at þi wille, & alle þat with þam be. þe barons said, "for þare sake, for þam þan praye we, "þare trespas we vndertake opon alle our fee. & þe erle com him self, mercy forto craue, þe kyng, for his curteysie, granted þam pes to haue, & gaf him ageyn boþe rent & lond, Harald & Lofwyn to þe pes þam bond. Bot Suane, þare broþer, þat died in Lumbardie, For he slouh his cosyn, he fled þorgh felonie. He went to þe holy lond, to do þerfor penance, & died þer for colde in Lumbardie o chance.

THE kyng wedded a wife, þat Godwyn douhter was. Scho soiorned at Romeneie, for hir fader trespas. þe erle bisouh þe kyng, to take hir home ageyn. þe kyng granted þat þing, to mak pes alle pleyn. þe erle vnto þe kyng bare him siþen so wele, & his sonnes boþe tille him war trost als stele, Sithen in alle his courte were non so wele him with, þei halp him at þare myght to maynten pes & grith.

ON þe Wissonday at Burgh in Lyndeseie Com bode to þe kyng, & þus gan þei seie, þat þe duke Siward had taken in his balie Machog, þe Scottes kyng, þat wild, þorgh traitourie, Haf traised Edward þe kyng, þat in þe North was rife. þerfor Machog les þe reame & his life. He gaf it to Malcolme, þat was of Cumberland. þorgh gift of Edward he seised it in his hand. Malcolme mad homage tille Edward our kyng, þat he & alle his age of Ingland suld hold þat þing.

GRIFFYN, kyng of Wales, þat ilk self ȝere Was proued traitoure fals, & þat bouht he fulle dere. Opon þe tuelft euen Griffyn his hede les, To Gloucester was it brouht befor þe kyng at des. Edward had a kosyn in preson at Hungarie, Edmunde, his broþer sonne, was þer þorgh tricherie. þe kyng sent to frendes for him alle aboute, For praier at þe last þe childe was laten oute. Home vnto Inglond þe childe tille Edward cam, & for þat childe's luf forgeten was William. þouht he not of þe trouth, þat he to William plight, For to mak him his heyre, if he þe lond haf myght. Neuerþeles to William he ȝeld him wele his bone, Of þis no more to speke, þe childe died right sone. Algar, an erle of Kent, þat tyme exiled was; My boke sais with wrong, he did no trespas.

He went in to Wales to Griffyn, Griffyn sonne, þese tuo a werre als Walsch men er wonne. ¶ Whan Edward hard say, he samned alle his oste. Harald, Godwyn sonne, led þam bi þat coste. At Herford in Wales þe ostes þer mette, & dight on boþe parties in batailes to sette. Harald & his Inglis biheld þe erle Algare, þam forþouht fulle sore, þat he suld þore misfare. þis wald þe Inglis conseile, if þei mot Algare saue, For him þei suld biseke, þe kynge's pes to haue. þe Inglis com to þe kyng, þer he was in place, & specially Harald, he had þe kynge's grace. On þe erle Algare had þe kyng mercie, & forgaf Sir Griffyn also for curteisie.

WHAN þat kyng Edward wend to lyue in pes, Griffyn, kyng of Wales, eft he mad a res. He com vnto Herford, & slouh þe bisshop Ligere, Spared noiþer preste no clerk, to dede alle ȝede in fere. Kirkes & houses brent, nouht þan wild he spare. þer þe Inglis had bigged, he mad it wast & bare. ¶ Malcolme of Scotland kyng ȝit on Inglond ran, þe kyng had him auanced, he was an vnkynd man. Northumberland he brent, & wasted þat he fond. Kirkes non wild he spare of S. Cutberte's lond. þe bisshop sent to þe kyng, for socour him bisouht. Whan Malcolme herd it say, no more skaþe he wrouht.

¶ þe kyng did samen his men, to abate Griffyn's pride, & Harald þam bitauht ageyn þe Walsch to ride. "Do him vnto þe suerd, withouten jugement, "If ȝe may Griffyn take bityme at any went. Harald went to Wales, his was fulle fre, & whan he com þer, Griffyn was passed þe se Unto Irland, þan comandid Harald þo londes to destroie, þat Griffyn þer gan hald. His tounes forto brenne, þe houses doun to breke, & destroie þat kynde, þat ouht to him couth speke. ¶ Harald þe Walschmen did þam ilkon suere, þat to kyng Edward faythe þei suld alle bere. Siþen to Rotland he went, & exiled Griffyn þore, Him & alle his heyres for þat tyme euer more. ¶ Griffyn com ageyn, whan Harald home was went, þe folk priuely of Wales mad þer a parlement. þei said, þat Sir Griffyn with right he was outlawed, & Edward of Inglond had þam so gate awed, þei said, "we wille no more, his vengeance is ȝit hote. þei toke þer Sir Griffyn, & of his hede þei smote, & sent it kyng Edward, & presented him with þat Right at Glastenbiri, at his mete þore he sat.

GRIFFYN had tuo breþer, Bleoth & Ruthe Walan. þo tuo were with þe kyng, whan he on Griffyn kan. þerfor vnto þam tuo he gaf Griffyn's feez. For South Wales holy þei mad þe kyng feautez.

Harald to Wales went, vnto Portastiche. Wrightes he did make, haules & chambres riche, Whan Harald or þe kyng wild com þider eftsons In þe tyme of gese, to tak þam venysons. Karaduk, Griffyn sonne, he fordid þo wones. He com þider on nyght, þe wrightes slouh at ones, & alle þat he mot gete, he robbed & reft, Peny no penyworth, no þing he no left. In þat ilk tyme, þat þis was beten doun, Harald tille his fader went to Southampton. For Dunstan, Agilet sonne, wild greue Sir Godwyn, For Gospatrik was slayn, þei blamed him þer in. My boke tellis nay, Godwyn did him no dere. It sais þe quene Egyn, þe blame suld scho bere. Scho did slo Gospatrik, withouten any skille, Tostus of Cumbirland retted Godwyn þer tille. Tostus of Cumbirland he was chefe Justise, Ageyn þe erle Godwyn he gert sette assise. Gospatrike's dede on Godwyn wild he venge, Harald souht Tostus, to leue þat ilk chalenge. He praied him for luf, in pes lat him be stille, & kisse & be gode frende in luf & in a wille. Tostus wild not leue, bot held on his manace, & Harald tened withalle, of lond he did him chaee.

TOSTUS ouer þe se went to S. Omere, His wife & his meyne, & duelled þer þat ȝere With þe erle Baldwyn, þe wynter alle plenere. His londes he were gyuen to Morkar fitz Richere. þe gode kyng Edward to London turnes he, þe feste of ȝole to hold, with grete solempnite, At Saynt Petir mynstere, þat he did sette & wirke, On Saynt Steuen day he did halow þat kirke. þe kyng fro day to day he heuyed more & more, Nerhand his endyng, sekenes greued him sore, þe barons before him kald, & said vnto þam alle, "Tille Harald, Godwyn sonne, þe regne wille best falle. Me meruailes of my boke, I trowe, he wrote not right, þat he forgate Wiliam of forward þat he him hight. Neuerles þe forward held what so was in his þouht, I wote wele Criste it wild, þat Edwarde's wille wer wrouht, Who so lokes his life, & redis his vision, What vengeance ordeynd was on Inglond to be don Of princes of þe lond, it sais of þam þis sawe, þat þei dred no þing God, no ȝemed euenhed of lawe, Bot felawes vnto þefes, to robbours of ilk cuntre, þar wilkednes was fulfilled, venged behoued it be. Prelates ne no prestes, non of þam lyued wele, þe did not Godde's hestes, bot brak þam ilk a dele. Licheros lif þei led, & þouht it in þar breste, Holynes did away, of þe kirke gaf þei leste. Edward God bisouht, þat it suld be forgyuen, & amendid with penance, & þerof clene be scryuen

Of þat þat þei had don, & þat þat suld betide To warne þam þerfro, & fle it on ilk side. Bot þis was ansuere ageyn, "a day þer in salle falle, "þare wiknes is fulfilled, þer in ere waxen hard. "God has sette þat ȝere, a day þer in salle falle, "þe Inglis salle go to suerd, to pyne þar soules alle. "Dede & fire salle fede þe scheperdes & þare schepe. þis vision is ȝit to drede, þink & gif Gode kepe. ¶ I trowe it is ouergone þorgh William conqueroure, He com & slouh ilkone þo wikked men in stoure, & sette vs in seruage, of fredom felle þe floure. þe Inglis þorgh taliage lyue ȝit in sorow fulle soure. Now is Edward dede, þe soner for þo affrayes. þre & tuenti ȝere, sex moneþes & seuenten dayes He regned in þis lond, þe date of God þan wex A þousand, I fond, sexti ȝere & sex.

AFTER Saynt Edward, Harald kyng þei ches, þorgh conseile of þam alle, & he þe scheld les Right & in lawe, þe barons held him trewe. Neuerles his falshed brouht vs sorowe alle newe. Tostus, þat was exiled þorgh Harald ore I told, He com out of Flandres, brouht an oste fulle bold. Fro Sandwich to Lincolne Tostus ran, Tresore alle & bestes he robbed ilk a man. þat herd Harald, fulle kene he was & kof, With folk out of þe South toward þe North drof.

Tostus herd it say, þe best wild he do, To Malcolme, þe Scottis kyng, Tostus alied to. Tostus tok his leue, aryued in Norweie, & how þe gamen ȝede lithe I salle ȝow seie. In Norweie was a kyng, my boke tellis sua, Saynt Onlaf broþer, Harald Heruegra. He aryued in Tyne, bot sone he went ageyn, & smote iu tille Humber, his flete alle pleyn In an arme of Ouse vnder Ricalle lay, On Saynt Mathew euen, on a Wednesday.

EDWYN & Morkare, tuo lordes Kumberland, To Harald & Tostus þei gaf bataile on hand. Harald of Norweie had folk right inouh, A hundreth & fifty þe toþer side alle slouh. Harald & Tostus vndir Ricalle so sped, A hundreth & fifty to ȝork ostage þei led. Nouht þien fulle fer to þam com a tiþing, þat Harald was comand, neuly was mad kyng. Of þat ilk tiþing Tostus was affraied, & Harald Heruegra, I trow, was no þing paied. þorgh a mede þei passed vnto Staunford brigge, þar loges & þare tentis vp þei gan bigge. ¶ Whan Harald þider cam, & sauh alle þar manere, Tille þam smertly he nam, displaied his banere. In þe morning it was, he mette with his enmys, & alle þe day þei fauht, at euen he had þe pris. Harald & Tostus boþe to dede ȝede, þorgh Harald þe ȝong kyng, of wham I salle rede.

Listen & I salle rede, why þe misauentoure On Harald side gan sprede, þorgh William conqueroure.

THE duke of Normundie, William is his name, Wolnoth, Haralde's broþer, he had in prison at Kame, & his neuow Hakon in prison was him with, I ne wote for what roson so fer out of þer kith. Harald whan he was ȝonge, he went vnto France, þe cuntre forto se, & for to here of chance. Alle his mishappyng felle, he com in to Pountif, To Richere þat was erle, men told it fulle rif. þis lord of Pountif Richer le fitz Izoun He tok þis ilk Harald, & did him in presoun. þe bode of him sone kam to þe duke of Normundie, þi duke went to Pountif, & toke him with maistrie, & brouht Harald home, & said, þorgh curteisie, "Harald haf now þin eyse, in alle my seignorie. Now has Harald his eyse at reson in alle þing, þe meyne in alle þing plesed him next þe kyng. ¶William & Harald went þam forto paly, Tales togider þei tald, ilk on a gode palfray. Whan þei had wele riden, þat þam þought right lang, þei lighted & abiden biside a water stank. "Harald, "said William, "listen to my resoun, "What right þat I haue of Inglond þe coroun "After Edwarde's dede, if it so betide, "That God haf ordeynd so I after him abide. "Whan þat we were Edward þe king & I, "He was in my fader courte exiled, I ne wote whi,

"Out of Inglond, þan suore he to me, "If he þe coroun mot wynne, his heyre suld I be. "þerof he mad me skrite, his hote to mak leale, "& for to sikere his dede, set þer to his seale. "Harald whan þou ses tyme, do þi help þerto, "I salle delyuer þ broþer, & þi neuow also, "& Marie my douhter to wife I wille þe gyue, "A man I salle þe make, richely forto lyue, "Or my chefe Justise, þe lawes to mend & right. "þi sistere I salle gyue a rich prince of myght. ¶ "Sire," said Harald, "I salle, if þat I may, "Help þe þe coroun to hald, & euer I se þat day. "My broþer delyuer þou me, my neuow þou me grante, "& hold þi certeynte, & salle hold couenante." þe presons forth were fette tille Harald or he foore. To hold þat he had hette, on þe boke he suore. Now gos he home Harald, & has ouercomen his tene, þe oþe þat he suld hold, it is forgeten clene.

EDWARD is dede, allas! messengers ouerwent To William. Harald was, þorgh comon assent, Was" corouned nobly, & for kyng þei him helde, Bot þe duke of Normundie to William felle þe schelde. ¶ þe duke wrote to þe kyng, in luf withouten loth, Bisout him ouer alle þing, þat he wild hold his oth, & ȝeld him þe coroun of Inglond ilkadele, Or Marie to warisoun wed hir, & joy it wele; & if he wild not so, he suld mak him oknowen, He suld wynne it for do in right as for his owen.

Harald wrote ageyn, & said he neuer þouht, Marie to wedde certeyn, þe lond hight him nouht. & if he wild it wynne with dynt, als duke hardie, He suld fynd þerinne kyng Harald redie. ¶ ȝit is Halald, I say, regnand in myght & mayn, þe kyng of Norway in bataile has he slayn. þe duke forgeten is he of þing, þat Harald hette, Now is he in þe see with saile on mast vpsette. Toward þis lond þei drouh, to auenture his chance, With Normandes inouh, of Flandres & of France. He had redy sailyng, þat to þe lond him ledde, & at his riuyng þe lond non him forbedde. His folk went vpto lond, him seluen was þe last, To bank ouer þe sond, plankes þei ouer kast. Als William þer on suld go, he stombled at a nayle, Into þe waise þam fro he tombled top ouer taile. His knyghtis vp him lyft, & did him eft atire, William was oglyft, his helm was fulle of myre, William was not paied, þat falle mad him ofright, He stode alle dismaied, þan said tille him a knyght, "Discomfort no þing þe, so faire happe neuer þou fond, "Stoupe & þou may se, þi helm has wonne lond. "þat þe lond is þin, þi helm schewes it þe, "Forsuorn is Haraldyn, he salle no dure.

WHAN William alle was dight & to þe boun Redy with him to fight, he forid Harald fulle sone.

He fond fulle wele & sone, þat Harald nouht ne slepe, To proue with dede to done fulle wakand on him lepe. To bataile haf þei mynt Harald & William, Bot non stode Harald dynt, þat bifor him kam. þe rouht of þare rascaile he did it rere & ryme, Normanz & Flemmyng taile he kutted many tyme. To while þat he was fresch þei fond him fulle austere, þei felt of his pruesse, als knyght did his deuere. For he was ouer prest, & egre to assaile, He wild haf no rest, tille he myght trauaile. Allas! for `for Sir Harald, for him was mikelle reuth, Fulle wele his awen suld hald, if he had kept his treuth. Bot þat he was forsuorn, mishappyng þerfor he fond, Suld he neuer els haf lorn for William no lond, Ne bien in þat bondage, þat brouht was ouer þe se, Now ere þei in seruage fulle fele þat or was fre. Our fredom þat day for euer toke þe leue, For Harald it went away, his falshed did vs greue. He was so fer in presse, so fele wer him about, Him befor alle þei ches, þat he suld not skape out. Normanz & Burgolons, with lance, suerd & mace, Bare Sir Harald doun, allas! he had no grace. So douhty knyght of dede was non of noiþer sides, þore to dede he ȝede, als man forsuorn betides. Nien monethes beforn kept Harald þe regalle Bot þat he was forsuorn, þerfor he lost alle. Out of þe stoure þat stode tuo men askaped ware Of Sir Haralde's blode, Eadwyn & Morkare.

þei toke þe quene Edith, for doute of treson, Was kyng Edwarde's wif, led hir to Kelion. Wele was scho þer, to hold priue soiorne. Eadwyn & Morkare to London gan þei turne, Vnto þe Londreis þei told, þat þei had fonden an hayre, Was Edmund kosyn þe kyng, þe Londreis wer in speyr, Him for þar kyng vplift, his name was kald Edgar. For William þei were oglift, & said, "þat we ne dar. "For slayn is kyng Harald, & in lond may non be, "Bot of William hald for homage & feaute. Morkar recleymed es, as es þe faukon fre, & Eadwyn com to pes, he mot no better se. þe burgeis of London þar conseile wild it nouht, To gif Edgar þe coroun, þat for heyr þei brouht. William þe Conquerour to London has he þouht, þer þe bataile was stoure an abbay wild he haf wrouht. þer he & Harald mette, þer standes þe kirke, For blode þat þer was gette, to praie þei suld not irke. To London com William, his ȝole feste to hold, His barons with him nam, knyghtes þat wer bold. Wardeyns of tour & toun, & oþer þat ne wold þer landes les alle doun, for tynt wer þei told. To Frankis & Normanz, for þar grete laboure, To Flemmynges & Pikardes, þat wer with him in stoure, He gaf londes bityme, of whilk þer successoure Hold ȝit þe seysyne, with fulle grete honoure. Fair grace William fond, his chance fulle wele him satte, þe reame of Inglond so graciously he gatte.

þe archbisshop Stigand, of Inglond primate, þat tyme was suspended, þe pape reft him þe state. & abbot & prioure, men of Religion, & oþer men of honour, archdecane & person, Wer priued of þar office, of woulfes had renoun. For lichorie þat vice wer many als don doun. þe archbisshope of ȝork com with deuocioun, þorgh William praiere, com to London toun, Bifor þe barons brouht, he gaf William þe coroun. To chalange was he nouht, Sir Stigand was don doun. Whan William was coruned kyng so solemply, & had taken homage of barons bi & bi, He turned ouer þe se vnto Normundi. Dam Helienore quene was sche, scho bare him company. Whan he had duelled þore at Pask he com ageyn, & dam Helianore with many knyght & sueyn. To London alle þei went þe courte holy alle pleyn, For þe archbisshop þei sent, messengers ȝede tueyn. Elred þe archbisshop of ȝork had þe se, þe kyng him bisouht, als clerk of dignite, To coroune Helianore, þat biseke I þe. þe bisshop corouned hir þore, bifor þat faire semble. Whan þe folk had bien at þe coronment ilk dele, Boþe þe kyng & þe quene þe barons paied wele. þe kyng & þe clergie ordeynd þat ilk seele, þe pes to ȝeme & gyue with lawes trewe als stele. Edmunde & Edwyn, Harald sonnes of Kent, Alle Somersetschire þei wasted & brent,

Sir Adinoth þei slouh, & alle þat þei mot hent. Whan þei had frauh inouh, ageyn tille Ireland went. þe erle Robert Comyn, þe West had to welde, þat non vnto William for no þing suld þam ȝelde.

WHAN þat kyng William þo tiþinges herd say, To þe toun of Durham fulle fast he toke þe way. þe bisshop to him said, & told to him fulle tite, þat þe Norreis purueied, to do him a despite. For þat ilk tale, þat þe bisshop told, þe Komyn had his bale, his lif was lightly sold. þe lond of S. Cutbert he did serch þat nyght, William alle apert his oste redy he dyght. At þat þei mot fynd, to suerd alle þei ȝede, & or Roberd wist, or þouht on suilk a dede, Ore was his hous on fire, þer Sir Robert lay, & brent Roberd to dede, bi þat it was day. Now is þe Komyn dede, his haires has alle lorn, William þam it forbede, þat held his londes beforn.

NOW William has soiorned, & slayn alle his enmys, & to þe South is turned, als kyng þat wan þe pris. Tiþynges com him fulle stoute, þat a grete oste & stark, With Harald & with Knoute, þe kyng sonnes of Danmark, Were aryued in Humbere, & an erle Turkille, With folk withouten nombere, þe Norreis felle þam tille.

Comen is þe erle Edgar with alle þo of his kynde, Sir Wolnoth he is þar, þo with þat he mot fynde. Marlesuayn Turkille sonne, & Suane a douhty knyght, Of Scotland Gospatrik, with þam at alle his myght. þe Normans in þe South wer in so grete affray, Of kastels & of touns þei com out alle day, To ȝork ran ilk a man, to rescet in þat toun, þat no Danes man þe walles to breke doun. Sir William Malet was wardeyn of þe cuntres, Sibrigh þe Gaunt was set with him to kepe þe fees. þise tuo brouht tiyng, þe wer comen bi þat coste, þerfor William þe kyng did turne ageyn his oste, & suore a grete othe, þat he suld neuer spare Noiþer lefe no lothe northeren, what so þei ware. ¶ William turned ageyn, & held þat he had suorn, Alle mad he wasteyn, pastur, medow & korn, & slouh boþe fader & sonne, women lete þei gon, Hors & hondes þei etc, vnneþis skaped non. Whan þe Danes herd, þat William held his oth, þat he with þe Norreis so ferd, spared lefe no loth, Fulle quaintly þei sent to William messengers, Of pes þei mad present, to turne ilkon þer pers Ageyn to Danmark go with his wille & his leue, þat he suld no mo slo, ne þei suld him not greue.

NOW duellis William eft, fulle bare mas many wone, Of gode men er non left, bot slayn er ilkone. Clerkes vnneþis þei lete, to kirke o lyue to go, Horses & hondes þei ete for hunger & for wo.

Grete synne did William, þat suilk wo did wirke, So grete vengeance he nam of men of holy kirke, þat not did no wem, tille him ne no trespas, Fro ȝork vnto Durhem no wonyng stede was. Nien ȝere, sais my buke, lasted so grete sorowe, þe bisshop clerkes tuke, þar lyues forto borowe. Seynt Cutberte's bones of fertre toke þei out, With þam þei fled at ons in sere stedes about, þat vengeance burd be don, als tellis S. Edward, He sauh in a vision, þat vengeance suld falle hard Of prestes & of clerkes, of princes of þe lond, Of God ne of his werkes þei dred not þat þei fond.

SAYNT Cutberte's clerkes in hidnes euer ȝede, At Geruans set þer merkes, a hous þe gan vpspede. ȝit Northermore þei ȝed vntille Bethlyngton, At Toghalle was þe þrid, & þer restid þam doun. þe ferth was holy Eland, þer þe se it withdrouh, þei ȝede on þe sand, to þat Ilde wele inouh. Whan þei wer þerinne, of non had þei doute, þe flode bigan to gynne, & klosed it aboute. Siþen dred þei no þing, of þefe ne of feloun þat were with þe kyng, Norman no Burgoloun. þe kirke of Geruans þat ilk tyme was brent, Durham þe same sans, alle to fire went. þe croice & þe rode, right as Criste vs bouht, Tille askes alle it ȝode, þe fire spared nouht. þe Normans did it alle in þe guyse of theft, þe godes þerof stal, no þing þei ne left. ¶ Whan William vnderstode, how his men ferd with alle, Of holy kirke þe gode his serganz robbed & stal, He comandid alle his, to mende þat trespas, In alle maner wise, as it ore feffed was, & on þe same asise serued & alowed Of alle þe franchise, þat it are was dowed. Bot of þat wikkednes, þat men suld haf wroken, Was noiþer more no lesse of þer penance spoken. þe bisshop brouh the bones ageyn vnto þe se, Tille Durhame's wones, þer þei were wont to be.

WILLIAM the Conquerour changis his wikked wille, Out of his first errour, repentis of his ille, & of his crueltes he gynnes forto assuage, & gaf ageyn þo fees, of whilk he toke ostages. Gospatrik com tille hand, & left of his manage, & William Comberland gaf him in heritage. Gospatrik ȝed alle þorgh, his dedis forto praise, þe kastelle of Bamborgh þe walles he did vpreise. Malcolme, þe Scottes kyng, þerwith had envie, þat Gospatrik of suilk þing bare his state so hie, Dight him to Combirland, destroied about aywhare, Ilkon he slouh at hand, þer godes away bare, Many with him he led, & did þam in seruage, In Scottland was alle spred mykelle of þat lynage. ¶ On þis Gospatrik William gan affie, He dight also quik, & went Normundie. Malcolme in Kumberland dos þat he may tille ille, Gospatrik his willand lates him haf his wille. þre þousand pounde Malcolme sent tille Gospatrik tresorie, To William comyng þat went suld suffre his folie. Litelle wend William of his trecherie, A message tille him nam vnto Normundie, Teld William eueridele of Malcolme robberie, For siluere þat he toke suffred þe folk to die, Gospatrik did not wele, mayntend his partie. William also suiþe dight him tille his nauie.

WILLIAM has hauen nomen, & is at Southampton. þo þat with him er komen, erle knyght & baron, Went tille Comberland fulle suiþe opon haste, þe cuntre þat þei fand alle was wilde & waste. Malcolme fled beforn in mountayns & in playn, He wend for neuer more William suld com agayn. No more did Gospatrik, þat did him þat disceit, Bot comen is William quik, & sekes þam fulle streit. Bi a side of Scotland Malcolme flies fer in, Bot William Malcolme fand in þe toun of Abrenethyn. þer is Malcolme taken, & ȝolden to preson. Siluer was not forsaken was giffen for his raunson. To take he bed inouh, for at his wille he was. William to do his prowe, forgaf alle his trespas. Malcolme with skrite him bond, his heires of his lynage To hold of Ingland for feaute & homage. ¶ Whan þe pes was siker, þe kyng turned fulle suiþe, Gospatrik þat suffred biker, he reft boþe lond & liþe. Cumberland him reft, his oþer londes als, þe lif ouer mykelle him left, for he was traitour fals. Siþen to Durham went, þer he destroied þe see. þe bisshop he bisouht, S. Cutberte's bones to see, þe bisshop opned þe schryne, the bones þei vp raised. þe kyng wepte with his ine, that sight mykelle he praised, & siluer grete plente opon the altere laid, þer franchise gaf þam fre, þe whilk þat þei of said. þe kastelle did he wirke of his tresore alle, & S. Cutberte's kirke closed with a walle.

Siþen he had þam turne to ȝork, & þer abide, For þer he wild soiorne alle þe Whitsons tide. ¶ At ȝork did he crie, his pes suld holden be, þat non did felonie bi land no bi se. Siþen he ȝede to London, þat cite set to grith, & to þe lawe alle bondon ilk man in his kith. Chefe justise he satte, þe sothe to atrie, For lefe no loth to lette þe right lawe to guye. þe wronges to amend, & maynten þe right, Ageyn þe fals defend, þorgh dome of Justise sight.

THAT tyme þat I of say of William þe kyng, þre monkes of Lyndsay ȝede to seke wonyng. þe first dan Aldwyn, þe toþer Elwyn hight he, þe þrid hight Reynfride, þus told my boke to me. Hughe le fitz Galdre, of ȝork he was Schirue, He resceyued alle þre, & heberd þam bileue. After þer soiornyng, whan þat þei suld wende, He praied þam of alle þing, as gentille men & hende, To haf saf condite, vnto þe New Kastelle. & Hugh did as he hight, led þam sauely welle. Fro þe New Kastelle vnto Geruans þei ȝede, þer duelled þei non seel, to Durham gan þam spede. ¶ Whan þei to Durham com to þe bisshop Waltere, þer þei bigan a home of religiouse manere. A closter þei bigan, þe bisshop þo þat wrought, Hired ilk a man, & alle paied & bought. Or it wer alle ent þe werke þat þei did wirke, þei ordeynd a couent, to ministre in þat kirke.

"Help Lady," said Waltere, "of þe þan is þis house "þat are was prouendere, now is religiouse. To ȝorke þe com aȝeyn, & wrouht þer worschiply Cloistre with couent pleyn a kirk of our Lady. ¶ Whan it was wrouht tille ende, þe monkes alle þre To Whitby gan wende, þat standis on þe see. þer wirke þei wild an abbeye wele to preise In wirschip of Saynt Hilde, a kirke þei did vp reise. þus wrouht þise monke þre, þorh þe holy goste, Abbayes in sere cuntre, þat wikked men did waste, & many a gode man to holy lif did calle, þat þorgh þe lawe paien men left & lete doun falle.

AT London is William, at Lundreis takes leue, To þe parlement he nam at Paris to Lowis cheue. þe duze pers of France were þat tyme at Parys, To William felle þar chance, he mad conquest of pris, þe toun wan of Terwenne, the castelle of Malbis, His auncestrie whilom when left it þorgh folis. Whan William with þe lawe had seisen pleynerly, Siþen he gan him drawe toward Normundy, þe lond to visite, & to comfort his frendes. He restid bot a lite, a sonde þe Inglis him sendes. þe erle of Surrey sent Hacon Henry sonne, He to William went, & praied him ȝit eftsonne To com tille Inglond, or els alle he lesis, Ageyn him wille men stond, & partie tille him chesis. ¶ William was in wehere, whan he herd þat tiþing, In his auhtend ȝere, als he regned kyng,

At Wyncehestre he held his parlement ilk ȝere, & þer men him teld, who was his aduersere, Of Northfolk þe erle Roger, men said of him treson, For praier or for pere þei did him in prison. Unto þe Marche gan long an erle, Wolnot he hight, þe kyng with mykelle wrong did him slo þat knyght. Abowen Wynchestere was schewed tille alle þat þer ware, To lewed men & lerid, to kirke as þei him bare, Miracle faire & myrie, whan þei laid him in pitte. William of Malmesbirie witnesse it in his writte.

SITHEN in his þrid ȝere he tellis þer of a chance, Of Durham bisshop Waltere was smyten þorgh with a lance. In Gatesheued it was, & þo þat suld be schent, þo did þat trepas, Sir Liolfe's kynde of Kent, þe erle Liolf was slayn, for þe bisshop dede. My boke sais certayn, þat he gaf neuer þat rede. þerfor kyng William did fleme alle þat kynde, þar landes fro þam nam, þat men not knowe & fynde.

SITHEN in his ferþe ȝere he went tille Aluerton, No man wend in erþe drede of no felon.

On warned him of a þing, þat Malcolme with poysoun, Schuld begile þe kyng, with som þat lufed tresoun. William sent his sond his eldest sonne Roberd, If he mot vnderstond, or any suilk of herd. Roberd about did spie, if Malcolme wild haf wrouht. Bot alle it was a lie, þat þing was neuer þouht. In his auhtend ȝere þat William was regnand, Extendours he sette forto extend þe land, Erldam & baronie how mykelle felle to þe schelde, Knyght & sergeancie als how mykelle þei helde. How mykelle lond & rent holy kirke had to a prowe, Alle þei did extend to witte þe verrey valowe, & William wist of alle, what it suld amounte, Of lordyng & of thralle þe extente þorgh acounte. ¶ Roberd Courthose his sonne he gaf all Normundie, To hold, as it was wonne, als heyre of ancestrie. William passid þe se, þer of he mad þe skrite, Of France to hold þat fe of oþer tenement alle quite. ¶ His oþer sonne William Inglond assigned he, & alle þat of him cam with chartre mad he fre. His sonne Henry was sire of Wales with chartre streite, Of alle Loncastre schire vntille Bromsthueite. ¶ Ade his douhter dere, he lufed hir als his life, þe erle of Plesance Steuene weddid hir to wife, & kyng Steuen on hir gate, þat withouten reson Of þis lond had þe state, & conquered þe coroun. ¶ His douhter Custance was wedded to Bretayn, With William's ordenance, vnto þe erle Alayn.

Tuo ȝere & a half he duelled in Normundie, & in þat lond self at Kame gan he die. At Saynt Steuen's kirke þei laid him with honoure, Himself did it wirke, he was þar fondoure. Tuenty ȝere had he þe land & nien moneth streite, þe date was a þousand & fourscore & auhte.

THE conquerour is laid at Kame dede in graue, þe Courthose befor said Normundie salle haue. To William þe rede kyng is gyuen þe coroun, At Westmynstere tok he ryng in þe abbay of Londoun. Whan he had alle plenerly seisyn of þe lond, þe barons & þe clergy ageyns him he fond. þis was þare comon sawe in burgh & cite, "þe Courthose with þe lawe suld þare lord be. "He is broþer eldest, þe coroun salle he bere. "He is of body best, þe reame forto were. What did þe grete lordynges, erles & barounes? Kastels & oþer þinges seised, maners & tounes. þe kyng had fulle grete þouht, his reame ageyn him ros, Frendes fast he souht, to venge him on his fos. þis sorow & þis drede lastid him þre ȝere. Of pes ne myght he spede, bot euer in þer dangere. His frendes gan him rede, to go to þe kyng of France, To conseile him in þis nede, to abate þat distance. For þis kyng William dight him vnto schip, His frendis with him nam vnto kyng Philip. ¶ Vnto kyng Philip he schewed ilka dele, How his barons gan kip ageyn him did not wele,

"þerfor I am comen, to wite at ȝow our heued, "þe londes þat we haf nomen, to whom þe salle be leued; "& at ȝour jugement I will stand & do, "With þi þat it be ent þe strif bituen vs tuo. Philip said bliþely, & sent his messengers Tille Inglond to þe clergy, erles, barons þer pers, & askid if þei wild stand to þer lokyng. þe duke Roberd fulfilled, so did William þe kyng. þe barons wrote ageyn, at his demyng þei ches, þei held his dome certeyn, for he was prince of pes. Philip was fulle wis, with scrite he bond þam boþe. He said þan his avis, "kisse & be not wroþe. At þe first þei kiste, as frendes felle to be. "Of ȝour fader biqueste, dome þan salle ȝe se. Doun þei sat on benke, among þe duze pers. Philip gan him thnke, & said on þis maners. ¶ "William þe Conquerour his ancestres & he "Held with grete honour Normundie in fe "Of alle kynges of France, & so did he of me, "For alle oþer distance, with homage & feaute. "Alle Inglond he wan þorgh his vassalage, "& Harald kyng ouer ran, þat did William outrage. "þerto had he no right, no non of his linage. "þat William wan with myght is told non heritage. "We se alle day in place þing þat a man wynnes, "It is told purchace, whedir he it hold or tuynnes. "& þat comes of grace or of conquest bigynnes, "He may, tille he has space, gif it withouten synnes.

"Heritage þat lyues & leues to þe eldest sonne, "Purchaced þing men gyues, woman weddyng to mone, "Or tille a man is strange for his seruise oftsone. "Heritage salle men not change on purchace wise to wone. "Roberd, þorgh our assent, þe heritage to þe lies, "& þou, William, salle hent þe purchace at our avis. "þus ȝour fader ȝow sette, als man of lawe was wis, "His dede ne wille we lette, be þe martir Saynt Denys. ¶ Whan Roberd sauh & wist, how þe conseile ȝede, To þe holy land him list, & þider gan him spede. Whan he com at Marsille, & ouer þe se suld wend, Philip sauh his wille, & after him gan send. þe bode was sent to raþe, þe messenger com ouersone. For soth it was gret skathe, his passage was fordone.

THE rede kyng William felle a faire chance, To Saynt Poule's he cam, withouten greuance. For erles & barons bi sond he for sent, & alle at his somons to parlement went. He schewed on & oþer, þat bated was þe strife Bituex him & Roberd, & were in luf of life, With chartre wele wreten & selid certeyn, & wele it was to witen no chalange ageyn, Wherfor he þam hight, if þei to luf wild drawe, þe coroune at his myght to maynten with lawe, & þat he so suld þe barons had affiance, His kastels þei him ȝolde, with alle þe purtenance. In þe ȝere folowand, at þe somere's tide, Roberd com to þis land, at Douer gan vp ride.

Whan herd say with luf, tille him he sped, & with grete noblay tille London him led. With in þo auht daies com William þis tiþing, þe North had fele affraies, þorgh þe Scottis kyng, þe cuntre gan assaile, þe folk forto schende, Roberd gaf him consaile, þider samen to wende. With þider þei ferd William & Roberd. Malcolme, whan be it herd, fled for ferd, & William toke him þere, his folk slouh ilk man, & als þei were fleand vnto Louthian, So ferd thei him found, þei obliged þam to gyue, Fourti þousand pound, at his pes to lyue. Opon þat he suore, to hold of him his fe, & or William fore, tok homage & feaute. To London William turnes, & had alle his wille, & Malcolme soiornes in Scotland with ille. Whan he was at London, a haule he did vp wright. First þouht & founden, for chambre was it right.

ROBERD leue has taken, & went to Normundie, To Wales is William schaken, estres to spie. It felle in tyme of þe ȝere, at Saynt Brice feste, þat he had regned here nyen ȝere at þe meste,

Ros in Northumberland suilk a sorow hard, Malcolcolme ȝede robband, & his sonne Edward. þat herd an erle Roberd, he ȝared him to bataile With Malcolme & Edward, he gan þam assaile. þat bataile was hard, fo men has no frith, Slayn was þat coward, & his sonne him with. ¶ þe folk that ascaped on Malcolme side, To Scotland þam raped, & puplised it fulle wide. þei mad parlement, & toke þam to rede. Malcolme to God was went, & Edward his sonne dede, & corouned Dufoald, Sir Malcolme broþer. His sonnes þei ne wald, þe ton no þe toþer. ¶ Of Malcome þat man left tuo sonnes ware, þe ton hight Dunkan, þe toþer Edgare. Dunkan sauh his eam had his heritage, þer he wist bote of beam, he went þat viage To William þe rede kyng, þer he was in Wales. What tid of þat þing, he told him alle þe tales. "Myn heritage I craue of þe, þat is my heued. "Help me it to haue, þat Dufnald has me reued. With scrite vnto William Sir Dunkan him bond, & to þe heirs þat of him cam, for þe coroune of Scotlond. Inglis & Normans þe kyng did somoune, To wend with Sir Dunkan, & do Dufnald doune, & seise Dunkan þer in, als heyr of heritage, To hold & alle his kyn of Inglond for homage. Whan corouned was Dunkan, & þe fest ent, Inglis & Norman to kyng William went.

Dufnald, þat is put oute, alle about wendes In fele stedes aboute, & gadres his frendes, & conseiled with þam þis cas, þat alle suld þei go, & spie where þe kyng was, Dunkan if he mot slo. Slayn haf þei Dunkan, & eft corouned Dufnald, Of kyng William wild þei no more hald. ¶ þe kyng was in affray, he might not tent þerto With Roberd þe Moubray, his coroune he wild for do. Roberd wild haf reft William alle his right, þe coroune his kosyn left, & gif it him þorgh myght. William is war of þis, þorgh for Roberd he þretis, & takes him maugre his, his kastelle doun betis. Better were Roberd, in pes haf holden him stille, þan layn in prison sperd, & at his fomen wille. In Wyndesouere is he leued, sorow þan is his pyne, þat he wis ouer his heued, þe chip falles in his ine. ¶ þe next ȝere þer bi William to Wales went, þe Walsch men did foli, his lond robbed & brent. þerfor William ne wold vnneþis leue on o lyue, þat boþe ȝong & old alle ȝede to þe kryue. Neuer bifor in Wales was don so grete greue, Bi dounes & bi dales, þar folk at suilk mischeue. Sen þis greuance hard, þe slauhter & þe drede, Fulle sone afterward þe kyng to ȝork ȝede. þider com Edgar, was Malcolme sonne, & Sir Dunkan broþer, þat slayn was þorgh tresonne, & schewed to William, þat heyre he was of kynde, Of Malcolme he kam, righter salle non fynde.

"Wherfor I ȝow biseke, help me þe lond to haue, "& I with wille fulle meke ȝour seruise salle I saue. William vnderstode, þat he said reson, & was next of blode, & Dufnald did treson. He dight an oste fulle stoute with Edgar forto leue, Dufnald to dryue oute, or his hede him reue. Eustace of Ferers þat oste suld guye, Of Scotland þei him brouht, Dufdald forto spie, & seised Edgar in alle, as right was þerto. To William for þe regalle he did þat he suld do. Edgar & his peres þe chaced day bi day, Of Scotland þei him brouht for euer, & drof away. Edgar was Malde's broþer, men kald þe gode quene, ȝit sais on & oþer, so gode has here non bene.

WHAN William had his wille of Scotland & of Wales, To riche men was he grille, of pouer held no tales. Clerkes of holy kirke he chargis greuosly, þei were bisie & irke on þer rentes to lyue by. Of alle his wikked werkes þese me þouht þe meste, þat seuenten kirkes he mad tille his foreste,

þat neuer ere non was sen þe Cristendam. He did grete trespas of holy kirke so nam. Wele tuelue ȝere kept he þis lond, & how he died here selcouthly I fond. & if ȝe wille lithe, I salle telle it ȝow, His dede com him suythe meruellosly, se how.

ON a Thurday at nyght at euen he ȝede to reste, To hunte þer he had tight in his new foreste. On slepe sone he felle, þe sueuen bifor him ran, Him þouht in his chapelle he was withouten man, Ne non he sauh no herd, & he biheld aboute, þe dures were so sperd, he myght in no stede oute. So grete hunger him cam, & mete had he none, Ne he ne wist to wham, þat he mot mak his mone.

His hunger was so grete, he wend haf waxen wode, Opon þe rode he schete, & ete it als it stode. Whan be had eten þat, ȝit him hungred eft, þe Mariole þer scho sat, of hir no þing he left. Whan he was turned, & went out of þat affray, For a bisshop he sent at morn whan it was day, Sir Ode of Wynchestere, so þat bisshop hight, He told him of allc þe estere, þat him mette þat nyght. þe bisshop gan it rede, "God is þe turned grym, "Ouþer in word or dede has þou greued him. "þerfor alle þat þou may to penance take þou space, "þau neuer on Friday to wod þou go to chace. "þe riuer salle þou forsake on Friday ilka dele. "þat penance I þe take, Sir kyng, þou kepe it wele. Sir Ode þe bisshop es with leue went him fro, þe kyng herd his messe, to gamen þan wild he go. His penance was forgeten, he asked for his archere, Walter Tirelle was haten, maister of þat mister. To triste was he sette, forto waite þe chance, With a herde þei mette, a herte þerof gan lance. Walter was redi, he wend haf schoten þe herte, þe kyng stode ouer nehi, þe stroke he lauht so smerte. þus died William þe kyng, on þis ilk manere. Sir Ode herd þat tiþing, fulle mournand was his chere. At Westminstre is he laid, at Saynt Petir kirke, In a toumbe purtraid, þe bisshop did it wirke. þe date a þousand was, & a hundreth mo, Forgif him his trespas, Jhesu, þat lete þe slo.

ÞAT tyme in Scotland was a mayden ȝeng, As I red biforhand, Malcolme douhter þe kyng. Malde hight þat mayden, many of hir spak. Fair scho was, þei saiden, & gode withouten lak. A doughter had Saynt Margrete, þat in Scotland lis. Of þat douhter sute com Malde, þat was of pris, & Dunkan & Edgar, þat I red biforn, Malde's breþer þei war, of Margrete douhter born.

AFTER William men cald þe rede kyng, Henry þe coroun nam, his broþer þat was ȝing. þe bisshop Maurice Henry corouned he, þat tyme he did þe office, of London kept þe se. Roberd þe Courthose to þe holy lond was went. A Breton (dayet his `his nose) for Roberd þider sent. A Breton sent þat sond, he did for treson, & Roberd com to lond, withouten oþer reson. þat did Roberd trauaile for nouht, he was a file. Noþeles þe erle of Cornwaile kept his wife þat while, Charles douhter scho lord of Cezile, Dame Edith bright as glas; Roberd þouht no gile, Bot com on gode manere tille his broþer Henry. He wife þat soiorned here, he led to Normundie. ¶ Henry wedded dame Molde, þat kyng was & sire. Saynt Anselme men tolde corouned him & hire. þe corounyng of Henry, & of Malde þat may, At London was solemply on S. Martyn's day.

THE bisshop of Durham, Kandolf he hight, Of falshede to mak a gleam, þe wrong vnto þe right. For he & oþer fele sent vnto Roberd, þat stound suld he not spele, sen he þat tiyng herd. Roberd purueid him stille, & com whan he wild. "þe folk is alle in wille, þe lond þe to ȝeld. þorgh messengers fals Roberd gadred oste. Henry was warned als, & did kepe þe coste. To þe fiue portes he sent, & het þam in couenant, þat aliens suld non hent hauen of Normant. þer sikernes was fast of þe fiue portes, & þe kyng Henry dight him on haste to þe toun of Hastyng. A kastelle did vp sette, his oste longe þer lay. þei wend Roberde's flette suld haf comen bi þat way. ¶ þe bisshop þouht treson, for warned was Henry. He went to Southampton, with him alle his clergy. þe maistres of þe portes for gyftes tille him toke, þe kyng & his force for Roberd þei forsoke. A hundreth schippes & fiftene went to Normundie, To help & to mayntene þe duke Roberde's partie. Roberd mad him alle preste, þe wynde gan him dryue. þe first day of herueste at Portesmouth gan he ryue. Toward Wynchestre þam dight, his folk forto eyse, In token þat he had myght, a kastelle he did reyse. To erles & barons lettres he sent aboute. For riche rewardons to Roberd gan loute. Fulle fele suilk he fond, þat with Roberd held, Of Inglis of þis lond agayn Henry bare scheld.

ROBERD bi his letter his broþer gan diffie, Him þouht his partie better, of him to haf maistrie. Bot gode Anselme, þat kept of Canterbirie þe see, Before þe barons lept, kried, pes per charite. þorgh conseile of Anselme, þat wild þe comon prowe, Ilk auailed his helme, & to conseile drowe. þe parties were fulle stark, neuerlesse þorgh praiere, Henry þre þousand mark gaf to Roberd bi ȝere. þus gate was þat werre pesed, withouten lore, þat noiþer partie com nerre, I blisse Anselme þerfore. In couenant of pes, men may wele witen, Bituex þam noþeles a skrite enselid & writen. ¶ Als Anselme þe strif gan pes, of þe duke & þe kyng, Com Roberd de Beleyse, þorgh his ouerwenyng, & passed hider ouer þe se, & in to Wales went, He gadred grete mayne of alle þat he mot hent. þe Frankis tille him felle, & alle þe Walsch fulle fikelle, þe kastelle Arondelle he seised, & als of Tikelle. Cites, burghes & tounes ageyn kyng Henry At Burgh in Schrobschire to werre mad him redy. Alle Schobschire held with Roberd de Beleyse, Henry lift vp scheld, his kastels did he sayse. þe walles did doun felle, þe tours bette he doun. In þritty daies to telle, Roberd was taken in toun. Within dayes þritty taken he was þorgh spie, & led to kyng Henry, don had he felonie, & his broþer Arnald, (for with Roberd he fore,) As for traytours bald þe lond boþe forsuore.

NOW is Henry venged of his traytours, & lord of mykelle þing, & riche man of tresours. Mald þe gode quene gaf him in conseile, To luf his folk bituene, & leue alle his tirpeile, Bere him tille his barons, þat held of him þer fees, & to lordes of tounes, tille burgeis of Citees. þorgh counseile of dame Malde, a kynde woman & trewe, þer ore was hatred alde, now gynnes luf alle newe. Now luf þei fulle wele þe barons & þe kyng, þe kyng dos ilk a dele in skille alle þer biddyng. ¶ Bot Henry þink it stark, þat he is charged so, To gyue þre þousand mark, & bonden be þerto. þorgh conseile of his barons, he sent to duke Roberd. What was his respons writen, I ne sauh no herd. Tuo gentille men of blode, þe best of Normundie, Henry gaf gyftes gode, to hold on his partie. Whan Henry wist þer wille, bi messengers priue, An oste he purueid stille, & passed ouer þe se. He þouht to compas ille þe same tille him did he. Now salle Roberd fulfille, þat he tok in his cuntre. ¶ Whan Henry was ryued þer, þer he wild ame, þorgh power did he dryue Roberd out of Kame, Bayone rent & fe sone had he lorn, þe best of þat cuntre tille þe kyng wer suorn. Roberd fele siþes at þat comyng les Boþe londes & liþes, or he mot haf þe pes. If he ne were þorgh help of William de Martayn, & Roberd de Beleyse halp him with myght & mayn.

þise tuo went to France, & fonden at Parys, Als it was þar gode chance, Sir Philip sonne Lowys. For Roberd þei bisouht of socour & mercie, Sir Lowys failed nouht, his help was him redie. Lowys wrote his letter vnto þe kyng Henry, þat þei acorded better, for his luf specially. þe bisshop of Parys þe pes þan formed he, "If þei at his auys boþe wild paied be, "Roberd salle cleyme all quite to Henry bifor vs here, "þre þousand mark be skrite þe Henry gaf bi ȝere, "þat Roberd, ne non of hise, salle ask Henry þe kyng "þis dette on non wise, peny no ferþing.

WHAN þis barette was ent, þe bisshop tok his leue, & Henry home went, to no mo wild he greue. þe londes wild he nouht ȝeld, þat he of Roberd wan, Bot haf þam he wilde, & hold for any man. Sen þat Henry was gone, Roberd went to France To Sir Lowys on one, & told him þat greuance: & Sir Lowys þerfore bad him tille Ingland go, To praye Henry restore þo tounes he tok him fro. Roberd tille Ingland kam, & bisouht þe kyng þo fees he fro him nam, restore ageyn þat þing. Henry ansuerd nay, þerto were him lothe. & Roberd went awith, with William was he wrothe. Whan he sauh, þat Roberd for wroth turned so sone, & no þing ansuerd, bot to wend was alle bone, Henry mad him ȝare, & after him fulle suiþe To Normundie to fare, & se what he wild kiþe,

& duelled þer a ȝere biside Roberd his broþer, þat noiþer werre wo did þe ton to þe toþer. ¶ In alle þis ilk chek of Roberd & Henry, Bituex þam wex contek, þe kyng & þe clergy. þe kyng in þe courte of þe lay þe clerkes wild justise. Saynt Anselm said him nay, he wild on no wise. þe kyng on gan hald, to haf þam at his dome. S. Anselm þerfor appeld vnto þe courte of Rome. ¶ Whan he had sped his nedis, & fro þe courte comen, þe kyng for oþer dedis to Normundie was nomen. Anselm duelled nouht, bot sone ouer þe se To þe kyng tiþing brouht, what þerof suld be. þe bisshop schewed him skille, þat he mayntend þe ille. þe kyng consented þer tille, & gaf Anselm his wille. þorgh Anselm maytenyng was þe contek ent. He tok leue at þe kyng, & home to Inglond went. þe kyng his retenanz alle tille him he drouh Of Inglis & Normanz, & gadred folk inouh. Whan he had samned his oste of folk fer & nere, He seged bi þat coste þe kastelle of Tenkere. Whilom Wiliam Mortayn þerof lord was, þe Courthose is vnfayn, him þenk it a trespas. þerfor þe duke him dight, as man of grete value, Roberd Beleyse with myght, þe sege þei wend remue. þe Mortayn befor spoken, with his nevow Reynere, þe sege þe wend haf broken, þei com with þer powere. ¶ þe kyng sauh þat þei kam, his trompes did he blowe, To þe bataile he nam, Roberd side ȝede lowe.

Roberd side ȝede doun, for he bitrayed was. His owen men did treson, þe kyng him tok, allas! Now taken is Roberd, & brouht vnto prison, At Corue his kastelle sperd depe in a dongeon. William þe Mortayn he skapes with no gile, Fettered he is certayn Roberd of Stoteuile. & Sir William Crispyn with þe duke was led, Togider prisoned in ȝeres & dayes þam fed þe kyng þam þer in mete & cloth inouh, þat neuer þei were o twynne, vntille ded þam slouh.

OFTEN I haf herd told of þis duke Roberd, So gode knyght no so bold was non in alle þe werld, Aȝeyn þe Sarazins in bataile forto go, Now he ligges in pynes, sorow wille him slo. Why felle him suilk chance, & þis ilk mishap? For of Gode's ordinance he forsoke þe schap. Gode's grace he forsoke for ȝernyng of þis lond. Vengeance þerfor he tok at his endyng he fond.

AT Coue is Roberd dede, þe maner of his endyng My boke it me forbede to telle þerof no þing.

A hardy knyght was he, ouer all bare þe pris, At Jerusalem Cite, opon Gode's enmys. Godferay Bolion said, that many man it herd, "More my triste is laid on þe duke Roberd, "& I had grete nede ageyn þe Sarazines to go, "& better suld he spede þan a hundreth mo. "Take him þe kepyng þe coroun of Jerusalem, "For seke is the kyng, of him is no bote of beem. ¶ þe þrid day of Aduent, bifor Criste's messe, þe kyng a seknes hent, þe dede him tok alle fresse. þe folk of þat Cite to God mad orisoun, At þe temple dominæ with gode deuocioun, Who þan were worþi þe coroune forto haue, Ageyn þe paemy þe Cristendam to saue, Godfrey & Roberd, & lered men & lewed, & God þer praieres herd, & to þam alle schewed. A brightnesse com fro heuen, & on Roberd light, þre tymes alle euen, þat alle sauh it with sight. þris þat alle mot se þe light on Roberd toke, Vngracious man was he, þris he it forsoke. þorgh conseile of som of hise, refused he þat present, þei said, on oþer wise he salle haf auancement.

Godfrey was oglift, to Roberd spak fulle tite, "Withouten any essoyne, vengeance salle falle þe not lite. "Forsakes þou Gode's gyft, þou dos him grete despite. þus sayd Godfrey of Bolyon, his hert was fulle of site. Forsoth vengeance he fond, of Criste þe grace he les. For couetise of þis lond, his mischene he ches. Of Roberd is no speyre to mak of parlement. His broþer Henry is heyre of alle his tenement, Of alle Normundie, withouten geynsayng, Als heyr of ancestrie, Henry seysed þat þing.

SONE þan was it told vnto þe kyng of France, þat Roberd lif was sold þorgh treson & mischance. Whan Lowys herd þat sawe, þat Roberd was so dede, Ageyn right & lawe, tille Henry he misbede. For traytours of men Inglis to Lowys þam bond, þei hight him forto wisse, how he mot haf þis lond. He trowed to þer conseile, at Douere he gan vp ryue, It had bien wroþerheile, if he ne had went belyue. þe kynge's kosyn Thebaut, & Randolf Gobion, To gyf Lowys assaut, samned at Chilyngton. Of Wales þei had inowe, þat Sir Lowys gan chace, & of his men þam slowe, to rest þei had no space. Vnto þe se side chaced þei Sir Lowys, He durst not abide, no turne Thebald his vis. To schip ilkon þei went, fulle on lond leued. Mot þei Lowys hent, he suld haf lorn his heued.

WHAN Henry herd telle þis of þat gode cheuysance, Of `of þe toþer Inglis, þat conseild Lowys of France, þat suld haf bien his owen, & mad þe chance ouer grim, & þei wer fulle wele knowen, þat wild haf tresond him, How Gobion was certeyn, Thebaut his neuow stoute, Turned Lowys ageyn, of lond þei chaced him oute, Siþen with grete nobley, & with mykelle honoure, Henry toke his way toward þe Emperoure, To þe Emperour of Almayn his douhter to gyue. Malde hight þat mayden, a fayrer mot non lyue. þat mayden moder hight Mald þe gode quene, Lady to maynten right sen sho was has non bene. Now has kyng Henry, þorgh þis weddyng, Grete power & party ageyns a lordyng. ¶ Now Henry kyng leue nam at þe Emperour Henry, & his sonne William, & went to Normundy. He gaf William his sonne with skrite & `f seele fulle fre To hold, als it was wonne, alle Normundie in fe. To Thebaud of Plesance left with him of his meyne, & vntille Inglond eft he turned ouer þe se.

IN his seuentend ȝere þat he regned kyng, Malde þe quene his pere in God scho did endyng. At London at Saynt Poule's in toumbe is scho laid, Criste þan haf hir soule meusk of hir men said. If any man wille witen, & se of hir storie, At Westmynster written er þei redilie.

¶ Now es þe kyng sory, hir dede dos him fulle gram, He gos to Normundy to his sonne William. Tuo ȝere he wonnes, & faire courte þer held, Untille boþe his sonnes þer moder dede he teld. & in þe þrid ȝere þe kyng to Inglond went, His sonnes & þer powere a noþer tide þei hent. þei toke a noþer tide, allas! it was ouer hard, & dronkled bi þe se side boþe William & Richard. Tuo erles & þer wyues with þam dronkled were, & many oþer lyues in þe se left þere. William Bigot þer felle, Roberd Maudut þat hight, & Sir Geffrey Ridelle, & Othes þat was his knyght. þise men were of Gode, þat dronkled alle in fere. To lyue non ne ȝode, but on was marinere. þe bodies with þer godes wer costen vp on þe sond, After an ebbe of þe flode, euer ilkon þei fond. Tuo sonnes were our kyng born, þat his heires suld be, & boþe ere þei lorn, for soth þat is pite.

TO lond com þe kyng, after þat passage, With many grete lordyng of his baronage. Godefrey of Louayn, þe duke þat was douhty, Bi messengers tuayn sent to kyng Henry, For his douhter Adelayn, þat wele was þan of age. Sir Henry mad þe fyne, & mad þe mariage. þe may withouten vice, his weddyng was wele dight, & Malde þe Emperice is heyre of Henry right. ¶ þe Emperour Henry, þat Mald has to wyue, Scho had no child him by Mald in alle his lyue.

þan died þe Emperour, Henry for Mald sent As Emperice with honour, Mald tille Inglond went. Henry was alle glad of his douhter comyng, Nouht long siþen scho had praier for weddyng. þe gode erle of Aniowe of Mald herd he say Fulle richely to trowe, tille tok his way. He ryued vp at Douere, & dight him eft alle bone, Whan alle were wele ouere, to London com he sone. þe erle so wele sped tille our kyng Henry, þat his sonne suld wed, & Mald was alle redy. þe Emperice was dight, as lady felle to be. With hir went many a knyght tille Aniowe þat cuntre. þe erle þis lady gent gaf Henry his sonne, Alle his tenement, þat his eldres was wonne.

Whan þe fader had ent alle at his auys, To þe holy lond he went, & died on Gode's enmys.

HENRY his sonne & Molde, þat held þe seignorie, A sonne þei had fulle bolde, & his name Henrie. Siþen had þei a noþer, þat þei cald William, þat was Henry broþer, boþe of Mald cam. Hir fader þe kyng loued þo childre so, þat he wild for no þing þe sight of þam forgo.

ÞE kyng went at the last vnto Normundie, & praied his douhter fast, to bere him companie; & hir sonnes boþe, Henry & William, þei were him nere boþe, gladly with him þei nam. Henry regned here þritty ȝere & fiue, & þre moneþes sere, in þis feble lyue. þe dede euele him toke, he died at his day, þe body did þei loke, þat long abouen erþe lay. On bere lay kyng Henry, on bere biȝond þe se, þat non wist certeynly, who his heyr suld be. Of Mald som had þe speyre, þe erle wif of Aniowe, Hir sone Henry & heyre of him was maste to trowe. So long he lay on bere, for doute of his lynage, Tille men þe soth mot here, who suld haf þe heritage. Els I ne wote for wham, his biriyng suld men schonne, Tille Steuen of Plesance cam, þat was his sister sonne. Steuen com for þe nons, þis lond to haf he þouht. After were Henry bones to Redynge's abbay brouht.

His bones did he lay in a toumbe of honour, It was his owen abbay, þerof he was foundour.

HENRY is at his reste, his soule at Criste's wille, & Steuen wille do his beste, in Inglond Ieues he stille. Thebaud, Steuen broþer, as erle in his cuntre, Of o side ne of oþer no þing deles he. Henry of Aniowe takes conseile at frendes, With Malde, þat is so trowe, to Saynt Denys he wendes, & his sonne Henry, þat men helde of grete pris, þei gaf him Normundie bifor þe kyng Lowys, & tille his heyres for ay, to hold of þe kyng of France. And on þe toþer day men teld him of a chance, þat Gerard of Peiters þe erle Marchis had fet, Aniowe with þer souders was alle biseged & set. Whan Henry herd telle, he tok leue at Lowys, Bot Mald scho gan duelle at þe castelle Sir Amys, þat was duke of Gaynes, Henry cosyn þorgh right. To suffre Henry paynes he hette him alle his myght. Also þe duke Henry with his fadere ȝede, With help of Normundie, þe better mot he spede.

Bot William, Henry broþer, died, & þan was wo, þe werre with alle þe toþer lasted fiue ȝere & mo. In alle þis ilk tirpelle wex Steuen a fulle wise man, þorgh quaintise & conseile þe coroune of Inglond wan, þe date of Jhesu pundred, þat men tellis bi, A þousand & a hundred & sex & þritti.

ON Saynt Steuen day, withouten any conquest, þe barons on gode aray at London mad þei feste, þorgh conseile of ilkon, þai gaf Steuen þe coroun, Heyre was he non, no þertille had resoun. þe Emperice sonne Henry he had right þertille, Bot right ȝede þer forby, þe barons did no skille. ¶ Bot sen his corounyng tille Oxenford he fore, & þer Steuen þe kyng bifor þe clergie suore, þat if a bisshopriche vacant wer þe se, þe kyng, no non of his, suld chalange þat of fe, With wrong no with right, of non þat fro him cam, So help him God alle myght, & þat halidam. ¶ A noþer oth not lefte, þe clergie did him karke, þat wodes ne foreste, withouten palaised parke, þe comon folk suld queme on & oþer in fere, þe kyng no man suld deme in courte for wilde dere, Clerk ne lewed man for no wilde beste, For comon þe folk it wan wod open & forest. ¶ þe þrid poynt þei wild, to suere he was dryuen, þat þe Danegelde for euer suld be forgyuen, & of of ilk a hide tuo schillynges þat he toke Suld neuer eft betide, he suore þat on þe boke,

Ne costom no seruise of þing þat he forgaf, þat noiþer he no hise suld chalange rif no raf. Of som poyntes he spak, & suore vnto þe clergie. þat ilk ȝere he it brak þe kyng in som partie.

WHAN wrathed Steuen with Dauid of Scotland, þat wild not tille him cheuen, no bowe vnto his hand. Dauid vnto Mald had mad his homage, Steuen was in defaut, to Dauid did outrage. Bot Henry Dauid sonne, þat his heyr suld be, Contek for to schonne, to Steuen mad feaute. Steuen sauh his skille, þat Henry did resoun, With alle þat longed þer tille he gaf him Huntyngtoun. Henry of Huntyngton he wrote þe gestes olde, & sais in his sermon þat newe ere now tolde. A bisshop of Lyncoln, Alisaundre he hight, þat non suld be forholn, he praied him if he myght. In Alisaundre tyme kam, & Henrie's þe compilour Ros þe ordre of Sempyngham þorgh Gilbert þe confessour. Saynt Margrete story sais Dauid of hir kam, Of Dauid kyng Henry, of Henry com William, Of William Alisandre, & Alisandre of him, þat wedded kyng Edward sistir, þat was þe Scottis grim. þis is þe Genelogie fro S. Margarete þe quene Of kynges bi & bi in kynde þat has bene. Now of Steuen to speke turne we eft ageyn, Our tale wille we no breke, bot telle forth þe certeyn.

AT Pask in London þe kyng his feste held, With erle & baron, with knyght þat was of scheld. Was non þat þider ȝode, þat holden was of pris, þat he ne had gyftes gode of Steuen þat was wys. After þis fest praised Steuen with alle his here, þe castellis he seised, þat he hat neuer ere. & Baudewyn of Beduere he flemed fro toun & felde, A kestelle with powere ageyn þe kyng held, þe kastelle tille him toke, Baudwyn had it lorn. Here how þe kyng forsoke his oth þat he had suorn. ¶ In Huntyngtonschire þe kyng in þat forest A moneth lay, to spire for wod & wilde beste. Forsters did somoun, enquered vp & doun, Whilk men of toun had taken his venysoun, & who þat was gilty þorgh þe foresters sawe, Mercied was fulle hi, & don & fulle grete awe. þus he brak his avowe, þat he to God had suorn, For a buske or a bowe þat he forgaf beforn.

OPON þis ilk syn to Normundie he went. þo serganz he fond þerin, he exiled þam & schent, þat had kept þe land þorgh Mald þe Emperice, þat were hir wele willand were putt out of office. Siþen he went to Fraunce, & com vnto Parys, & þer acordance bituex him & Lowys, & gaf it Eustace his sonne alle Normundie in fe, To hold, as it was wonne, of Lowys for feaute. þe kyng for his seruise confermed his gyft, & on þis ilk wise Eustace to duke was lift.

¶ þe þrid ȝere of his regne he com to Ingland, Bedford he beseged, & wan it to his hand. Siþen dight him to Scotland, & mykelle folk him wit, & slouh alle þat he fand for luf of kyng Dauid. For he mot neuer drawe Dauid tille homage. Dauid did bot lawe, Mald had his seruage. Tille Mald with alle his myght for lefe or for loth, For scho was heyre þorgh right, to hir he held his oth. He sauh he myght not spede, & Dauid com no nerre, To Wales suiþe he ȝede, and on þam gan werre.

STEUEN stoutly deles, in stedes þor he kennes, þat ageyn him holdes kasteles on þam raþely rennes. In Herford fulle stoutely his gannok has vp set. With Roberd fitz Henry Steuen so with him met, þat Bristow kastelle & toun, whedir he wild or non, & slede with alle þe honour, & oþer sex ilkon, Carro, Lodelow toun, Schrobesbiri & Warwik, Dunford & Maltone, Steuen wan þam ilk a stik, & þo þat þe casteles kept, in penance þei soiorned, þat eft not on him lept, to Wynchestre he tourned. At Wynchestre he spires, his frendes drawes tille him, For folk of fele schires agen him turnes grim. ¶ Whan Dauid of Scotland herd þe soth sawe, þat Steuen was duelland in þe South grete þrawe, þe folk ferly mykelle ageyn him þei ros, & Dauid herte gan tikelle, þat him wex fele fos. Fulle son at Rokesburghe his parlement he helde, þe solk did somon þorgh of tuenty wynter elde.

& gaf þam sonde at wille in Inglond forto fare, Man & beste to spille, non ne suld þei spare. Southward þe Scottis hasted, bifor þam bare alle doun, Alle þe cuntre wasted vnto Aluertoun. Whan þe kyng Dauid Aluerton had sene, & wend wele at his grith alle Inglond had bene, þe Norreis so þam defendid ageyn þo þat he brouht, Whan Dauid alle had spendid, of þam wan he nouht. Liste how Dauid les his spente & his trauaile, & whilk on him gan pres, to renne on his rascaile.

THE archbisshop Thurstan, a gode clerk wele in age, Herd þe Scottis com ilkan of Dauid baronage, Forto destroie Inglond, & set it in seruage, Thurstan sent his sond, tille a bissh sauuage, Rauf of Orkeney, noble of lynage, þat he suld tak þei wey, opon his kostage, & do þe Scottis deie, & þer pride asuage. Whan Rauf herd him so seie, he dight him to þat rage. ¶ þise were þo þat nam, als in þe geste it sais, Of Almarle erle William, & Walter de Gounteis; Roberd de Brus þer cam, & Gilbert de la Say, & his sonne Adam, & Roger de Moubray. Walter Spek was in·þat stoure, gode knight at alle nedes, þe boke tellis grete honoure of his douhty dedes, Of monkes & chanones he did mak abbeis, Wis man in þe lawe knyght gode & curteis. William Peuerelle com als, he was of þe West, Ageyn þe Scottis fals, a gode man with þe best.

þise were þe barons, þat com of þe North ende, þat Rauf mad somons ageyn Dauid to wende. þise men lift þer standard, þat stoute was & grim, Ageyn Dauid wandelard, & disconfite him.

SAID Rauf tille ilkon, or þei ta bataile went, "Of þe bisshop Thurston haf I comandment, "þe clerkes forto tech, for þe londe's nede, "þe lewed also to preche, & comforte þam to dede. ¶ "ȝe wite wele a remenant, & forsoth ȝe kenne, "þat Inglis & Normant be now ons men. "ȝour ancestres conquered all France quitely, "Were þei neuer ferde of Frankis men hardy. "Pople with alle þe recchesse, & akres, als þei wonnen, "þorgh þer douhtinesse, þe lond þorgh þei ronnen. "Siþen wan þei Inglond, þat is so plentynous, "& now er þise bot mansbond, rascaile of refous. "On ȝour fadres þink, þat were staworth in stoure. "For þise ne salle ȝe blenk, bot hold vp þer honoure. "Go we with gode wille, & here I ȝow assoyle, "Of alle ȝour synnes ille granted of þe apostoyle, "þat ȝe haf said or þouht, or don þat is schryuen, "In Criste, þat vs alle bouht, be it ȝow forgyuen. "þerto my benyson tille alle þat go bliþely, "In þe name of þe fadere & þe sonne & sprit sancti.

DAUID of Scotland hasted to þe bataile, Walter Spek ros on hand, þe folk to forme & taile.

He bad, þat non alone breke out of þe rengaile. William of Almarle acordes to þat consaile. To while þat þise men bold with þer folk gan daile, Sir Robert de Brus þe old to Dauid gan trauaile. Here now of þe Brus, how he Dauid gan saile, With word þat was Irus, if it mot out auaile. ¶ "Dauid my lordyng, land I hold of þe, "& als of Steuen kyng, for hamage & feaute. "Leue alle þis foly, þat þou here bigynnes, "þin heyres salle it by, & þou no þyng wynnes. "& loke, þat þou not lese of lond þis ilk day, "þe best I rede þou chese, þi lif saue if þou may. "For Inglis & Normant er stalworth men in stoure, "It is folk valiant, ouer alle þei bere þe floure. "For neuer mot þou fynde Inglis kyng giloure. "To þe & to þi kynde haf þei don honoure, "Londes haf þei gyuen to þin ancessoure. "If trespas be misdryuen, & do þin owen socoure, "& I wille mak amendes, tak a day of loue. "If þou ne wille, þou spendes, & we salle be aboue. "þou may haf þi wille, if þou to loue chese, "& if þou turne tille ille, non wote who salle lese. "Wherfor, my lord Dauid, do bi gode conseile, "Tak ȝow pes & grith, & late be þis tirpeile, "& late not now be spoken of þe mishap. "For eft it wille be wroken with a hardere klap.

DAVID listend Roberd, to pes fulle ech to drawe, Bot on þer was ansuerd, & sturbled alle þer sawe, William his neuen, a man of proude wille, & said, "Roberd þe bru, traytour hold þe stille. Roberd said him nay, traytour was he non, "Dauid haf gode day, myn homage now is gon. He smote his hors with spors, & fleih fro þat rascaile, & comandid his trompors, to blow vnto bataile. ¶ Rauf of Orkeney cried, "Inglis go now go, "& do þise Scottis deie, þei waken vs euer wo. þe Normans were alle glad, þorgh schet þam als þe ro. þe Inglis did as he bad, bifor þam stode bot fo. Almerle his banere sprad, & oþer barons mo, Mikelle blod þei schad of folk þat þei gon slo. Dauid away fled, þat bigan alle þat þro, Here how a squier sped, sen Dauid fled þam fro. ¶ A hede þat was of smyten, þat þis squier fond, Priue, þat non suld witen, in an orfreis it wond, & sette it on a spere, in an orfreis vnbiwened, & said, "lo! here I bere Dauid kyng heued, "þis is þe hede þat was of Dauid þe Scottis kyng. þe Scottis said, "allas! þis is a grete encumberyng. þe Scottis þat stode fer fro, & þe hede biheld, Fulle wightly gan þei go, flehand out of þe feld. Wolgryn & Dufnald for euer more þei left, Of knyght no squier bald on lyue non þei left. þe Scottis whan þei cam, bestes ouer alle þei toke, Hors & nete alle samen bifor þer oste þei schoke.

þei did it for a wile, þorgh & þorgh toun, To put bestes in perile, our folk to bere doun. Our men herd it say, þei were warned beforn, In ilk strete & way þei ordeynd an erþe horn. Whan þe com þam blewe, þe bestes ageyn fled, þe Scottis men doun thewe, for roryng wer þei dred. þe bestis þorgh þam ȝede, & ouer þer rascaile ran, þe Inglis after with dede, & slouh þam ilk a man. þis was at Kouton more, þat þe erþe hornes blewe. þer þe Scottis misfore, men telle þe tale ȝit newe. Sir Henry, Dauid sonne, þe romance sais so þere, His dedis were more to mone, þan sex þe best þer were. Our barons had þe pris, with þam held þe right, þe Scottis side doun lis, þei þanked God all myght. ¶ þe moneth of heruest was Dauid disconfite, þe next ȝole alle preste Steuen dight him fulle tite, & tille Scotlond went, & tok he kyng Dauid, & tille Inglond him sent, his sonne Henry him wit. ¶ A sonne had Steuen þe kyng, Eustace was his name, In armes gode gynnyng, of pruesse had he fame, Lowys douhter of France Eustace tok to wife, Steuen for þat chance was more stouter in strife. Alisander, þat was bisshop of Lyncoln schire, I ne wote for what trespas, þe kyng tille him had ire. Sleford & Neuwerk þe kyng reft him þo tueyn, At Wynchestere þorgh conseile he had þam boþe ageyn. ¶ þat ilk tyme so felle Mald þe Emperice com to lond, þe castelle of Arondelle open ageyn hir fond.

Whan Steuen vnderstode Mald was in Arondelle, With mykelle folk & gode bigeged þat kastelle. Mald þouht of þis stoure, scho biþouht hir straite, & douted dishonoure, þat mot com þorgh disceite. Scho did hir to Bristow, & duellid oþer half ȝere, & þider fro Anjowe com hire a messengere, & told to Mald here, þat scho fulle wele trod, Hir lord lay on bere, his soule bitaken God, & Henry hire sonne had þe heritage, To hold as it was wonne, don was his homage. Mald in Bristow lettres fast sendes, Bi messengers trowe, forto procore frendes, To burgeis & citez (þe wardeyns alle scho freistes,) & to lordes of feez, þat scho on treistes. Of help scho þam bisouht, in right & leaute, þat þei failed hir nouht, for heyre þe wist hir be. þe barons said, scho had right in hire askyng. Son was þe contek schad bituex þam & þe kyng. Ilkon on his side to bataile purueid him, þat power had to bide most was stoute & grim. ¶ Sir William of Almarle wex a stoute sire, He ȝerned to haue alle Lyncolnschire, Ageyn Gilbert þe Gaunt reised his banere. Gilbert was valiaunt, ageyn him fulle austere. Gilbert had þe erledam þat tyme of heritage. Bituex him & William was don many outrage. Of Gilbert first to telle, to William did he wouh, He did brenne Helwelle, & William broþer slouh.

þe castelle of Bitham to Gilbert ȝolden was. It longed to William, þat tyme felle him þat cas.

WILLIAM of Almarle þat tyme Northward rode, . þe castelle of Hundmanby he cast doun alle o brode. Sir Eustace le fitz Jon at þat dede was, More him, þan ilkon, þe wited þat trespas. Who so was wroþe, or oþer, biforn, for any chance, His enmy þe toþere toke þan his vengeance. þo þat lufed werryng mad parties ay bituen, Som held with Steuen þe kyng, & som with Mald þe quene. For erles & barons, þat were of Malde's kynde, Souht citez & touns, þe kyng if þei mot fynde. Hir frendes fulle fast waited aboute & woke, & Mald at þe last kyng Steuen scho toke, & led him to Bristow, & did him þer in hold, In prison, I trowe, þorgh þe quene Mold. þan þe riche & pouere, & alle comonly, For Berwik to Douere held hir for lady. ¶ Whan þe lond gan hir loute, & alle was at hir wille, þan bare scho hir ouer stoute, & wild vnto no skille. For or þat ȝere was gon, scho bare hir so stoute, þat þe Lundreis ilkon of London drof hir oute. Mald þorgh þe Lundreis fro London is katched, With hors & herneis Bristow has scho latched.

What for ire & tene, & alle in euelle wille, Scho stokked kyng Steuen, & þer did scho ille.

NOW turnes eft Mold to Wyncester fulle stoute, & Steuen out of þat hold quaintly skaped oute. Roberd went hir with, Malde's half broþer, & þe kyng Dauid of Scotland was þe toþer. At Wynchester gan scho duelle, biseged þe castelle: þe Londreis herd it telle, & ȝared þam fulle welle, With gode aparaile of alle þat þei mot gete. þe sege þei gan assaile, & tok hir at þe mete. Roberd þer was taken in to þe Londreis hand, Bot Dauid was wele waken, he fled fast to Scotland, Alle þorgh Chestreschire, he fled to Louthian. A preste was with hire, þat Mald fro þam wan. Mald & Roberd Louelle tille Oxenford þei fled, & seised þe castelle, & Steuen fast him sped, & gadred him an oste, & went vnto Wilton, & did reise in þat coste a stalworth donjon. Mald wist þat fulle wele, hir barons þider sent, & Steuen left ilka dele, & to Northampton went. William Marschalle o chance was taken at þat turne: He gaf for his delyuerance þe castelle of Schirburne. Folk biȝond þe se, þat were of Steuen's kynde, Tille him com grete plente, & oþer þat þei mot fyndc. Steuen with his power tille Oxenford gan schake, His sege he set plener, þe castelle forto take. þe Emperice it held, was it þe wynter tide, þe snowe lay in þe feld, þe water frese biside.

þe lady had defaute boþe of mete & drynk, & scho dred þer assaute, hunger was at þe brynk. Scho asked hir conseile, what was þer of to rede. "Steuen wille vs traueile, & famen vs to dede. Non ne couth ne wild conseile on no partie, Bo þe castelle to ȝeld, & ask þe kyng mercie. þat ne wild scho nouht, hir herte was so stoute. Bot here now how scho wrouht, & how scho passed oute. ¶ A fulle selcouth rede tok at hir owen herte, Scho left for life no dede, ne colde þat was so smerte. Sone after mydnyght, þat crowe suld þe cok, In þe snowe for syght scho ȝede out in hir smok, Ouere þe water of Temse, þat frosen was iys, Withouten kirtelle or kemse, saue kouerchef alle bare vis. To Walyngford scho wan, & þer scho left a while, þe way scho ȝed & ran, on length it is ten mile. & Steuen þe castelle wan of þam euer ilkon. þei gelded it ilk man, wham dam Mald was gon.

IN þis tyme had Steuen regned auht ȝere in alle, Lered & lewed were euen, & pere & paringalle; So þat knyght & squiere, if þei powere mot make, Of holy kyrke pleynere tok þat þei mot take. þe pape þan herd þe pleynt, he sent hider a legate. At London þei wer atteynt, decre was mad for þate, ȝif any lewed man laid hand opon clerk, Or with ille on ran, þat of corun had merk, He suld not escape, þorgh bisshop granted fre, Of non bot of þe pape myght he assoyled be.

þe kyng it was herd, & chastised his meyne, & oþer afterward left of þer nycete.

THER after half a ȝere þe clergie had gode pes, þat noiþer wo no werre non on þam gan pres. Bot Geffrey of Maundeuile þe kyng Steuen him reft His baronie, þat while robberie with Job was left. þe abbay of Rameseie bi nyght he robbed it, þe tresore bare aweie with hand þei myght on hit. Abbote & priour & monke þei did out chace, Of holy kirke a toure to theft þei mad it place. Roberd þe Marmion þe same wayes did he, He robbed þorgh treson þe kirke of Couentre. Here now of þeir schame, what chance bifelle. þe story sais þe same, soth as þe gospelle. ¶ Roberd þe Marmyon he lepe vp on his stede, þorgh Couentre þat toun vnto þe kirke he ȝede. He comandid his men, to dryue out þe couent, þe godes him biken, þat þei mot tak or hent. Whan þei had inouh, als mykelle as þei mot lede þat þei of herneis drouh, to go þei gan þam spede. He turned his bridelle wiþ querte, he wend away haf gone, þe dede him smote to þe herte, word spak he neuer none. ¶ Geffrey of Maundeuile to fele wrouh he wouh, þe deuelle ȝald him his while, with an arowe on him slouh. þe gode bisshop of Chestre cursed þis ilk Geffray, His lif out of þis estre in cursyng went away. Arnulf his sonne was taken als thefe, & brouht in bond, Befor þe kyng forsaken, & exiled out of þis lond.

þe marschalle of þam alle, Helys of Saynt Omere, To ded þan gon he falle doun of his destrere. þe maistir of þer pedaile, þat kirkes brak & brent, & abbeis gan assaile, monkes slouh & schent, Was born in Pikardie, & his name Reyuere, In suilk felonie gadred grete auere. He had what he wild, & was of wendyng ȝare, & had a schipe wele filled, ouer þe flode to fare. þer in was wif & childe, & tresore wikly wonnen. So com a tempest wilde, his schip had alle ouer ronnen. þe maryner was ogast, þat schip þat wild not go. Lotes did þei kast, for whom þei had þat wo. þe lote felle on Reyuere, & on his wif also. þris kast at tymes sere, selle it on þam tuo.

ÞE schip man wist wele, þe tempest þat þam smote, For þam com ilk a dele, he did þan tak a bote, & did þam alle þerin, Reyuer & his gode, & whan þei were o tuyn, þer schip ferd on þe flode. Reyuer & his wif doun tille helle þei sank, For his wikked lif þe Deuelle gald him þat þank.

IN his tende ȝere a hatrex wex alle hote, þe kyng fulle austere ageyn Sir Hugh Bigote. þe kyng did not wele, with þe wrong he wrouht; Amendes he mad som dele, bot of þe most right nought. ¶ Rauf þe erle of Chestre, & þe kyng were wroth, In his elleuend ȝere, þe wend haf acorded both

In alle maner of þing, þat Rauf felt him filed. Bot here now how þe kyng Rauf þe erle begiled: Unto Northampton Rauf to courte kam. þe kyng, þorgh treson, Rauf þer he nam, & held him tille he ȝald of Lyncolne þe castelle, & plenerly haf he wald þe rentis þat þerto felle. ¶ þe tuelft ȝere of his regne at ȝole he held his feste At Lyncolne, as in signe, þat it was his conqueste. Sone after þat feste, þat he þer seysen tok, þe courte, moste & leste, tille Arundelle þei schoke. þat þe kyng was gone, Rauf herd sone say, To Lyncoln forth on one Rauf þan tok his way, & reised a mangnel, to kast vnto þe toure. þe burgeis were fulle felle, þei ȝald him hard stoure. þe Gyour of his oste at þat saut was slayn, & Rauf, for alle his boste, fulle fast fled agayn.

THE ȝere next on hand ȝede þe kyng of France To þe holy land, with his purueiance. þe emperour with þo kynges went withouten grace. þo & oþer lordynges mad þe grete manace, Upon Gode's enmys forto tak vengeance. þei sauh þe payens of pris of so grete purueiance, þe Cristen turned for drede withouten dynt of lance. Bot here how þe poraile spede, God gaf þam fair chance. ¶ þe poraile þat went þider, þat had no spendyng, þei suore þer oth togider, to lette for no þing, To wend vnto Spayn, & tuo Citez þei wan. þe Sarazins was þer wayn, & slouh þam ilk a man.

þei ȝede fro lond to lond, & non ageyn þam stode. þe better grace þei fond, þe ferrer þat þei ȝode. Hidere com þat tiþand tille oþer lordes manymo, How mykelle grace þei fand, þat durst þe Sarazins slo. þe lordes mot haf schame, whan þei herd it telle, þat dred for Gode's name, at home þei ȝede to Helle.

IN his sextend ȝere Steuen þat þe lond auht, Mald scho died here, hir soule to God betauht. & hir sonne Henry to lond was he comen, þe barons & þe clergy tille him alle þe nomen, & with þe kyng Steuen þei held parlement, þat Henry & he euen acorded or þei went. With skrite was set þe pes, & ordeynd þorgh baroun, þat Steuen tille his dises of Inglond suld bere coroun, & his gyft certeyn be holden stabilly. To Normundie ageyn suld turne þe duke Henry, & Ingland alle holy after Steuen þe kyng Suld turne to þe same Henry, withouten geynsaiyng. & if þat Henry die, or Steuen mak his deses, Henry heyr we seie salle haf þe lond in pes, Coroun forto bere, as heyr & eldest sonne, His heritage to were in right, als it was wonne, So þat Steuen þe kyng, no non of his heyres, For heritage no þing salle chalange for þeires. þis dede was enseled bitauht þam of S. Poule's, þat wrong were not deled for drede of lif & soules.

NOW wendes duke Henry vnto Normundie, Seysine has plenerly of alle his cheualrie, & Steuen leues here, Inglond is his balie. After in his þrid ȝere Steuen fulle seke gan lie, & in þat grete languour endid he his life, Ninetene ȝere þe honour he kept in werre & strife, At Feuersham he lis, at a heuen in Kent, In an abbey of pris he founded with lond & rent. & Mald þe Emperice þer þan is scho laid, þat serued þer office to me, so þei said. þe date a þousand right a hundreth & fifty, þat Steuen to dede was dight, now comes þe secunde Henry.

NOW is Steuen dede, & lies at Feuersham, þe barons þair red, & after Henry nam. To London þei him brouht with grete solempnite. þe popille him bisouht þer kyng forto be. þe day of Saynt Liger was Henry corouned kyng, Thebald of Canterber gaf him þe coroune & þe ryng. þis Henry was Mald sonne, þe erle wif of Aniowe. þe Empèrice was wonne, & right heyre forto trowe. For Henry douhter scho was, & his heyre þorgh sight. Now comes hir sonne in pas, Henry hir heyr þorgh right.

Henry has four sonnes, & douhters has he tuo, As þe story mones, þese ere þe names of þo: Henry & Richard, erle Geffrey & Jone, Ilkon afterward was kyng, & quene bot on. Geffrey was no more, bot erle of Bretayn: & dame Helianore scho we quen of Spayn. Dame Jon was ȝongest, & lady of Cezile. þer fader kyng richest lyuand in alle his while. ¶ þis ilk Henry is told Henry þe scecunde, So riche a prince in wold in þis lond siþen non funde. Aniowe & Normundie alle holy he held, Of Gascoyne þe seignorie bowed vnto his scheld. Ilk a knyght & squiere, clerkes were to him suorn. þan was his Chancelere Thomos of London born. Saynt Thoma fader I fynd hight Thomas Beket, In London of noble kynd, & maste of alle was let. A riche man he was, mot spend þre hundreth pound: Ersdeken his sonne Thomas of Canterbiri þat stound, In alle manere cause he sought þe right in skille, To gile no to fraude wild he neuer tille.

þe Ersebisshop þat was þat tyme died he, þe Erresdeken Thomas was sacred in his se. Wele mayntend he holy kirk, & alle þe dignite, With þe lawe to wirke mayntend þe ordine. If any man mad pleynt of clerk for hastiuenesse, Or if þei were atteynt in oþer wikkednesse, Thomas suffred nouht cleke to be alle sehent, Ne to þe lay courte be brouht to tak þer jugement, Bot tille holy kirke, of whom he bare þe merke, & at þat lawe to wirke, if he were ordeynd clerke. þe kyng for þat cheson wrathed with Thomas. Here now þe reson, whi þat wreth first was.

CLERKES often tide misdo blithely, For deynoushede & pride, & for þer state is hy: þei passe mesure & right, forto haf þer wille, & whan þei ere in myght, wille þei kepe no skille. For þei wille vnderfong a fulle gre emprise, & susteyn it with wrong, with sleiht & quaintise. þo þat felt þam greued, of þer wikked dedis, To lordes, þat þei to cheued, pleyned þei most nedis. þat suilk was not lees, it com to þe kynge's ere, He comanded his pes to lered and lewed þat were. & if a clerke men founde in his lond þat reft, þorgh slauhter or wounde, or þorgh oþer theft, Men suld schewe his guilte in þe courte of lay, & þer be saued or splite, bot Thomas said him nay. Thomas said þe kyng, þat othe suld he wele loke, þat he suore at þe gynnyng, whan he þe coroune toke.

"þorgh God I þe forbede to chalange any clerke "In lay courte for non nede, of holy kirke has merke; "Ne þe franchise fordo, þat it ouh to halde, "Bot tille þat courte com to, of whilk he is membre calde. ¶ þis was at Clarendoun, þat Thomas gaf respouns, & siþen to Narthamptoun Thomas com eft sons, Delyuer his clerkes fro dome, bot no grantise was. Wherfor to þe courte of Rome þan kalled S. Thomas. Thomas toke þe way, & passed ouer þe se. þe kyng Henry herd say, his messenger sent he. . . . . . . hop Rogere of ȝork þan kept þe se, . . . . . . his powere corouned forto be, . . . . . oynt also with wrong, þei mad alle mirie. Tille Thomas felle it to þe kirk of Canterbirie." Whan Thomas it wist, he did mak a cursyng. Roger he cursed first, þat corouned þe ȝong kyng, & alle þat wer him with, or in his courte wer sene, Saue þe kyng had grith, his childre & þe quene. To Thomas þe kyng bisouht, þe bishop to assoile, Bot Thomas wild nouh, bot þorgh grace of þe apostoilc.

Wherfor þe kyng wex wroth, & Thomas did exile, His kynred lefe & loth he did fleme & reuile. ¶ þe kyng suld haf no plight, þat Thomas so was dede, He said bot tille a knyght, þat Thomas him misbede; & if he had had men, as he wend, of renoun, þei suld haf venged him of suilk a clergioun. Foure kyngtes it herd withouten any more, To Canterbiri þei ferd, & slouh Thomas right þore. ¶ Who so wille wit þis chance his lif & his languour; & how þe kyng of France did him grete honour; & how þe pape sent his bulle with a legate; & how, or he went, he serched alle þe state; & how at Pountney þe angelle to him said; & how alle his kynde exile was on þam laid;

& how þe apostoile laid on þam grete payn, Or he wilde þam assoile, þat had Thomas slayn; & how for holy kirke he suffred passion, & how God dos wirke in schrine þer he is don; Open his boke & se, for þer in ere þei writen, Meruailes grete plente, þat fele of vs ne witen.

COMEN is tiþing, þe bishop slayne is he, & þe ȝonge kyng is went ouer þe se, Of Almarle erle William with þe kyng was þen, Tuo castels he nam open þe Frankis men. Of Almarle in þe castelle þre lordes he toke, Of messengers fulle suelle he sent hider to loke Untille Inglond, of Flandres men fulle ille, In warde or in bond in prison leue þei stille. ¶ þe fader kyng Henry in herte had he payn, & anguised greuosly, þat Thomas was so slayn. William þe Scottis kyng therfor was fulle blithe, þat Henry had ille likyng, werre on him gan he kithe. Burgh his way beforn he sesed þat kastelle, Mulgard þorgh him was lorn, Prudhow saued welle. His way left he nouht, tille he com tille Alnwik, þer was he taken, & brouht to Richemunde also quik. Richard þe Moruile knyght of gode renoun, Richard Comyn þat while with him com to þe toun. þe Northren so wele stode in treuth to þe kyng Henry. þat gyftes he gaf þam gode, & þat was largely. So þat alle þe toþer com vntille his grith Of lordes on & oþer, & fayn to hold him with.

Contek in countes alle was peysed wele, Baret of baron feez forgyuen ilkadele. þan was Inglond in pes & charite, & alle in Henry gracious kyng & fre. In his nientend ȝere of his regalte, Henry his sonne his pere was ȝit ouer þe se. þe kyng sister of France Henry allied him to, Here of a desceyuance þei conseild him to do. þe erle Philip of Flandres gaf him in conseile, & Thebald of Plesence egged to þat tirpeile, Ageyn his fader to rise, þer he had no right: þe kyng of France & hise hight him alle his myght.

WHAN þe fader wist þe sonne wild werre on him, I blame him not if him list turne ageyn fulle grim. For þam of Scotland he sent William & Dauid his broþer, Tille bliþely þei went, & with þam many oþer. þe erle of Leycestre þe oste alle did he guye, Of werre he was þer maistre, dight þam to Normundie. ¶ Whan þei were vp aryued, þei fond þer þar chance: þat reame was biseged with þe power of France. Henry chaced his sonne þorgh force fro toun to toun, þe kyng of France eftsonne left tent & pauilloun. Philip of Flandres fleih & turned sonne þe bak, & Thebald nouht ne deih, schame of þam men spak. Fro toun to toun of reme þe Frankis did þei fle, Ouertok it to ȝeme, & saued þat cite.

Our Inglis duelled þer, vnto þe pes were pleyn. þo þat þer were beforn wild no more com ageyn.

IN þe moneth of May our Inglis of was ȝare, Vpon þe first day tille Inglond forto fare. Fulle sone þe ȝong kyng with gode man þat wer gayn Purucid his wendyng, & Richard fitz Alayn, þe duke of Peiters, & þe erle of Bretayn, þise & oþer pers to sauhtillyng did þer payn. þise on knees gan falle bifore þe kyngis face, For Iuf þei praied him alle to grante þe kyng his grace. "ȝour wrath him forgyue, þe trespas to amend, "In pes with ȝow to lyue, & at ȝour conseil descend. þe sonne cam also suiþe, & cried his fader mercy. þe kyng þerof was bliþe, forgaf him gentilly; & he with scrite & oth mad obligacion, þat for leue no loth, þorgh conseile of treson, Suld werre on him begynne, bi water ne bi lond, Ne his pes breke no tuynne, þe sonne þertille him bond. In alle þis sauhtillyng bituex þe fader & þe sonne Com þe Scottis kyng, & asked Henry a bone Of grantise of grace, to haf his seignorie. Bifor alle in þat place he gaf it him bliþely. þan wer boþe þe kynges brouht alle tille euen, & pesed in alle þinges, þanked be God of heuen.

ÞAN said Sir Henry, nedes burd him wende To France & Normundie, to witte a certeyn ende. At Parys wild he be, at þer parlement. þer wille wald he se, to what þei wild consent. At þe duzepers þe sothe wild he wite, & on what maners, & wharto he suld lite, & whedir þei wild to werre, or þei wild nouht, Or alle in luf sperre þat þing þat þei had wrouht. ¶ He sauh wele bi signe, he drouh fast tille elde, Long myght he not regne, ne on his lif belde. Wherfor Henry said he wild, or he went, þat þe summe wer laid of his testament. Liste & I salle rede þe parcelles what amountes, If any man in dede wille keste in a countes.

SEX þousand marke tille Acres did he fend. Ageyn his comyng þidere, bi marchandz so he wend. Fifty þousand marcs had he lent abbeis, þat wer in pouerte, vp þam forto reise. Alle þat was gyuen, & befor hand lent, þat was not in cofre, whan he mad testament. Of þat þat was in cofre, & in his cofines, He mad his testament, als did oþer pilgrimes. ¶ To Waltham ȝede þe kyng, his testament to make, & þus quathe he his þing, for his soule sake. ¶ To temples in Acres he quath fiue þousand marke, & fiue thousand to þe hospitale, for þei were in karke. ¶ To þe folk þat duelled, Acres forto fende, Oþer fiue þousand marke he gaf þam to spende.

¶ Tille oþer houses of þe cuntre fiue þousand marke he gaf, Tille heremites & tille seke men, & oþer of suilk raf. ¶ Tille monkes & to Chanons, þat were in Inglond, Fiue þousand marke resceyued þei of his hond. ¶ To þo of þat religion, þat were in Normundie, Fiue þousand mark vnto þer tresorie. ¶ & to meselle houses of þat same lond, þre þousand mark vnto þer spense he fond. ¶ To ladies of habite, Vilers & Mortayn, He gaf tuo hundreth mark, I trowe þei were fayn. ¶ To þo religiouses þat were in Gascoyne, He gaf a þousand mark, withouten essoyne. ¶ To þam of Founz Eberard, þer his body lis, He gaf tuo þousand mark, þo ladies of pris. ¶ To þe ladies of Bretayn, men calle Seynt Suplice, He gaf a hundreth mark, to mend þer office. ¶ To þe houses of Chartres tuo þousand mark bi counte, & þre þousand mark to þe order of Grant mounte. ¶ To þe ordre of Cisteaus he gaf tuo þousand mark, þe ordre of Clony a þousand, to lay vp in arke. ¶ þe ordre of Premonstere tuo hundreth mark þei had. To þe ladies of Markayne a hundreh mark þei lad. ¶ To þe houses of Arroys, þat ere biȝond þe se, Tuo hundreth mark þorgh testament gaf he. ¶ To women of Inglond, of gentille lynage, A hunderth mark of gold, to þer mariage. ¶ To gentille, & tille oþer, þat were in Normundie, A hundreth mark of gold þei had to þer partie.

¶ To gentille women of Aniowe, of non auancement, A hundreth mark of gold vnto þam was sent. Withouten þis testament þat he did writen, & þe grete tresore tille Acres was witen, & þat he lent religiouse to bring þam aboue, Fourty þousand mark he gaf for Gode loue.

WHAN þe kyng Henry had mad his testament, He dight his oste redy, & to Parys went. Fro . . erwent to Douere þat best wer worþi With . . . . . went þei ouer, atired richeli. þa . . . . . . nd þe folk in Parys, þat þei wele herd, With so fayre folk of pris neuer to prince ferd. Of þe kyng of France he asked amendment, þe duzepers for chance þei ros with on assent, & in þer conseile kaste þer chance on ilk side, þei acordid at þe laste, þat pes mot best betide. Whan pes was set certeyn bituex þo kynges tueye, & Normundie þorgh seyen, tille Inglond he tok þe weye.

IN þe ȝere afterward at midsomer men teld, þe kyng in Oxenford his parlement held. Bi his writte he sent after kyng William: William dight him & went, tille Oxenford he cam,

& suore to kyng Henry þe next Assumpcion, þat was of our Lady, suld com to ȝork his toun, & bring þider his clergie of Scotlond þe barons. He did so certeynlie þe day of his somons. þer þei mad ilkon homage & feaute, Not to þe fader alle on, bot tille his heir suld be, & obliged þam with scritte, hyngand ilk a seale, þat þer dede was perfite, & his homage leale. & þe kirke of Scotland to Canterbirie ore se Obliged þam & band, as to þer primalte; & if þe Scottis kyng mistake in any braide ¶ Of treson in any þyng, ageyn Henry forsaid, The barons & þe clergie in on wer alle schryuen, Vnto kyng Henrie ageyn William suld be gyuen. & if it so betide, þat any thefe or feloun Fle fro Inglond side to Scotlond regioun, Bot he mak þam to wite, whi þat he is comen, þat þe courte may him quite o chance if he be nomen. If he be els funden, for thefe tald & hent, Tille Inglond brouht alle bunden, & þer haf jugement. ¶ Als if it so be, of Scotlond skape a thefe, & tille Inglond fle, als a felon grefe, Bot if he to þer baylifes mak his sikernesse, þat þei will him maynpis, if he wer cald to stresse, If he folowand were souht for þat felonie, Ageynto Scotland be brouht, & þer hanged hie.

WHAN þis þing was grant, Henry dred disceite, He wild, þat his conant were holden stable & streite, He sesed fiue castels, & held þam in his wage, Foure erles & sextene kynghtes þerfor in his ostage, Ilkon of þe knyghtes had a barony, þei & alle þer rightes were don in his mercy. ¶ Whan Henry for his owen had holden þat seignorie, & þe dede was knowen þorghout Albanie, þe castels & ostagers he ȝald þorgh curteysie, & `with William with chartre bond him tille Henrie, þat he & his heires, & alle þer progenie Of Scotlond, suld hold of Henry certeynlie & of alle his heires, & com to þer crie. & homage & feaute to mak þam redie. Whan þis was set & stabled, & pes cried on hii, Henry þe ȝong kyng ȝede to Normundie, & died þer þat ȝere, & biried solemplie.

Whan þis ȝong kyng was dede & laid in graue, Fro Jerusalem com tiyng, þat help burd it haue.

WHAT tyme in Jerusalem wad dede a douhty kyng, (Was blode non of his teme, bot a mayden ȝing) Baldewyn þe meselle, his name so hight, Noble kyng & lele, & wele ȝemed his right. Neuer in his lyue he lese a fote of lond, The Sarazins gan him dryue, þei were him euer fleand. For foule meselrie he comond with no man, Sarazin with maistrie neuer nouht of him wan. With him was a knyght, & vnder him chefetayn, & name couth of myght, William of Aquitayn. Whan Badwyn was dede, he weddid þe mayden ȝing, þorgh þe Cristen rede William was chosen kyng. For þis bold Baldewyn Cristen men gan morne, Gode hap had þe Sarazin ageyn on vs to turne. þe Sarazins on vs cam, our Cristen foue gan felle, So þat kyng William no langere þer durst duelle. Bode com to þis lond, for help & socour, Kyng Henry he fond, & schewed him alle his stour, How þe fals soudan destroied alle þe lond, Slouh ilk Cristen man, or els in prison bond,

"þerfore I pray to ȝow, haste þat ȝe wer comen, "Bi þis is Acres now biseged, or alle nomen. ¶ Whan þe kyng it herd, he wept with his ine, þe Cristen so misferd, þe Sarazins did so pyne. He said, "My sonne, myn heyre, þat was corouned late, "Of his lif was my speyre, he myght haf taken þe gate. "Bot now is he dede, myn heyre þat bare coroune, "þerfor I kan no rede, I doute me of tresoune. "For if I were of lond, þe werre suld sone bigynne, "Aliens suld sone fond, our heritage to wynne. "Richard my sonne is knyght, with me wild he go, "Sone suld we lese our right, if we were fer þer fro. "Fayn I wild purueie for Acres, þat cite "Ordeyned wer som weie, how it mot saued be. William tok his leue at our kyng Henry, Giftes wele to leue he had richely. He went to þe kyng of France, & schewed him his resons, þorgh þer ordenance þer duzepers gaf respons. Bifor Sir William þe duzepers gaf ansuere, "It er bot tuo kyngdams on þis half Grece to were. "France & Inglond þise tuo regions, "& er in diuerse lond, & in sere bandons: "Henry in Inglond wonnes, & has tresore inouh, "Richard & Jon his sonnes fulle felle, & wille non bouh. "& if þat ȝe were gone, & we went with ȝow, "þat Richard & Jon wille waken vn mykelle wouh. "Bot whan kyng Henry & his sonnes wille go, "We salle be redy, forto wend with þo.

William went ageyn vnto Jerusalem, Of þise kynges tueyn was ȝit no bote o beame.

HENRY for his trespas did fulle grete honour To þe martir Saynt Thomas, for mercy & socour. Sex ȝere siþen lyued he in wo & sorow soure. He went ouer þe se, & lay in grete langoure. In grete sekenesse & hard he lay in Normundie: Tille him com his sonne Richard, forsoth, fulle kyndelie, & whan Henry suld die Richard þorgh blissyng bond, He suld his cheualrie vse in þe holy lond, "I salle leue þe inouh for to do with alle. "Fader," he said, "for ȝow certes þider I salle. Whan he had regned here, & felt of fele assaies, Foure & tuenty ȝere sex monethes & tuelf dayes, No more of him to seie, he died sone afterward. He ligges in an abbeie, men calle þe Founz Everard. A þousand & a hundred þe dete fourscore & nyne. So many ȝers it pundred, whan he passed þis pyne. In a moneth mirie, Septembre þe gynnyng, Baudwyn of Canterbirie com to coroune þe kyng. Richard at Londoun, opon a Sonenday, At Westmynstre tok þe coroun, of ȝork bishop Geffray Was sent after þat tyde, him felle to be þe toþer, Opon þe fadere side he was Richarde's broþer.

Richard his pallion bi messengere did com, & his confirmacion fro þe courte of Rome. ¶ Comen er to kyng Richard boþe erle & baroun, þat had þe lond in ward þorgh out þe regioun, Knyghtes & burgeis, serganz als was resoun, Homage to mak alle weis þat felle vnto þe coroun. þe pes did he crie, & purueid warnisoun, þe Sarazins þorgh maistrie haf won Acres toun. Inglis & Normant, knyghtes for rewardoun, With Richard ere in conant ageyn Sarazins feloun. His fader left him inouh, penyes grete foysoun, ¶ þat he þe way not widrouh opon his benisoun. þe kyng of France was went to Saynt Denys to holde His priue parlement, & þer one him it tolde, þat Richard priuely his purueiyance did gynne Opon þe paemy, þe lond Surrie to wynne. To Paris turned þe kyng, for þat ilk sawe, & þer a samenyng his barons þider gan drawe. He bisouh in þam alle, to conseil at þat nede, What help mot best falle, for þe Sarazins drede, & teld þam an outrage, þat Richard þe kyng, Wille stele þis viage, withouten my wityng. Loke how kyng Philip said vncurteisly, Dayet haf his lip, & his nose þerby. Forto þat parlement com Richard messengers, þat to Philip wer sent, & to þe duzepers. þe names of þam þat cam was þe erle of Peiters, Of Almarle erle William, & an erle Rogers,

Lucas de Lucie, & Roberd de Coynguers, þise grete Philip of France, & alle his conseilers.

THE erle of Almarle said, "Richard our Inglis kyng "His luf is tille ȝow laid, & luf is his gretyng, "þat ȝe wille tak to herte, þe grete noyse & crie "Fro Acres þat comes so smerte, lorn is so doelfullie. "Our Cristen men ere lorn, þe Sarazins alle aboue, "þerfor Richard beforn praies ȝow for loue, "For him þat on þe croice died for mankynde, "Bes boþe at a voice, in one ȝour wille be mynde, "To help þe Cristen men, þat Jhesu Criste bouht, "Ageyn þe oste paen, þat him lufed neuer nouht. "Richard him atires, his wille þerto is fest, "So mykelle he þider desires, þat he may haf no rest. "If ȝe of him haf help, & he for ȝow socour, "Alle þis world salle ȝelp of ȝour grete honour. ¶ Whan þe duzepers herd þe bodword of Richard To Philip, þei ansuerd, "his sond ȝe salle reward. "He bedes ȝow luf inouh, ȝe þank him of his sond. "So noble bot on of ȝow is non, be water no land. "Richer kyng is non in þis world bot ȝe, "No valianter of bon in Cristendam als he. "Large er þo londes, þat his eldres wonnen, "þe dedes of þer hondes þorgh reames er ronnen. "Siluer he has inouh, his fader has him fonden "Knyghtes to do his prouh, with skrite tille him er bonden. "To whom Acres salle be ȝolden also tite, "His felauschip to fle, to God ȝe do despite.

PILIP sent ageyn to Richard curteyly Bode bi þo certeyn, said often grant mercy, & þanked him his gode wille, & his noble sond, & he wild fulfille, & at his myght suld fond, & sent Richard to say, þe next Marche folowand He suld take þat way, if wynde wild with him stand, At Marsile to aryue, if he of lif had space, & if þe wynde wild dryue, þorgh myght & Gode's grace. He praied Richard þe kyng, & alle his men of Gode, To leue for no preching, þat way þat þei ne ȝode. ¶ Whan Richard had conceyued, þat Philip þerto stode, His mobles on siluer reised þorgh Inglond alle his gode, Rentes & som feez he comandid to selle, þat burgh no Citez of taliage suld non telle, þe tende suld be nouht, no þe tuende non make. þe bisshop of Durham bouht Saberg, with þe wapentake. þe bisshop of Wynchestre at þe kyng he bouht Two maners tille his estre, & Richard wisly wrouht. For he wele vnderstode of taliage was grete drede, It suld neuer do gode, ne þer withalle suld spede. Namely to þe holy lond, þider he þouht to go, In taliage non he bond, ne robbed ne did wo. He sent to þe Scottis kyng, þat he suld com & do, & mak pes for þat þing, þat he was halden to. ¶ þe moneth of Nouembre, after Alhalwemesse, þat wele is to remembre, com kyng William alle fresse, Batand to Canterbiri, & þer ȝald him his fee. Kyng Richard our sire homage & feaute

He mad for alle þo landes, þat he of Inglond held, & tille þe pes he standes, þat bowes tille his scheld, ȝit of penyes rounde to Richard gan he bede Sexti þousand pounde, to mende his misdede. & Richard on þis wise forgaf it William so, To saue þat seruise, þat Malcolme was wone to do Unto þe Inglis kynges, as right was & skille, & do alle þe comynges, whan bodword com þam tille, To London forto com, whan parlement suld be, Als custom was wonne, & tak þer his liuere. & Richard als quik ȝald to kyng William Rokesburgh & Berwik, þat he in his hand nam. William tok his leue, his way to Scotland ches, Wele mot William cheue, & alle þat lufes pes.

KYNG Richard ȝit duellis, & purueis him to fare, & mykelle þing sellis, siluer forto ȝare. Wardans sette he stable, trewe men at his myght, þat neuer lufed fable, bot mayntend pes & right. Sire Huge of Durham, bisshop & man worþi: An oþer Sir William, bisshop of Ely. þise suld kepe þe lond, & þe dignites, Justises tille þam he bond, to kepe þe lawes & feez; Huge Bardolf fulle fers, William Marschalle his pere, Geffrey le fitz Pers, William dela Bruere: þise were mayntenours, to sustene þe coroun, & rightfulle gouernours þe folk in feld & toun. ¶ Now has he brought to stalle, his lond stabled redy, & now with his folk alle, he wendis to Normundy,

& þer he purueis him tille Acres & Sully. On Gode's enmys grim he gadres gode party. In þe cite of Rouhan his ȝole feste he held With many douhty man, & knyghtes gode of scheld.

ÞE Monenday þat felle to be next after þe tuelft day, þe kyng of France & he, at þe riuer of S. Rymay, Held a parlement, gode sikernes to make, þat boþe with on assent þe way suld vndertake. Ilkon sikered oþer with scrite & seale þerby, Togidere suore þam breþer, wherfor þe clergy Gaf a grete cursyng on whilk of þam so brak, Bigan a wikked þing, þat euelle bituex þam spak. ¶ Now is Philip certeyn, he gos to S. Deny, & Richard turnes ageyn, to dight his nauy. He serches ilk coste of alle his seignorie, þe Guyours of his oste, þise wer withouten lie: þe Ersebisshop of Anxus, danz Guard of renoun, With anoþer bisshop, Bernard of Bayoun, & Richard de Cameuile, & Roberd du Sabloun, & William de Fortiz was lord of Oleroun, þise gouerne þer nauie, now ere þei in þe se, Toward þe paemie, þider þei ȝerned to be. Richard said þam his wille, "mariners if ȝe moun, "Aryues in to Marsille, with Gode's benisoun. þis was þe first woke of þe passion, As I on on boke gan loke, þe oste clerke & baron Wer sailand in þe se toward Marsille þat toun. Help þam þer þei wild be Criste & Say Simioun.

þei had in þer route a hundreth schippes & ten, Bot God þei had no doute, ne no defaute of men.

ON þe fifte day changed þer wynde, Reft þam þe right way, to wend þe wer blynde. þe right se of Bretayn, þer out were þei went, In to þe se of Spayn wer dryuen in a torment Among þe Sarazins, bot God, þat grace þam lent, Saued þam alle þo tymes fro þer encumberment. Ten schippes wer dryuen, þorgh ille auisement, þorgh a tempest ryuen, þe schipmen held þam schent. On þer was on depe kroken & alle to rent, þe nien God gan kepe, þat grace he þam sent. Eft God þei bisouht, to saue þam in þat cas, Sauely to hauen be brouht, for luf of S. Thomas, þat for holy kirke suffred martirdam, & God for þam gan wirke, her how a voice cam. A schip þer was of London, richely atired, A hundreth þer in fondon, to serue God desired. Biside þam on þer schip com a bisshop doun, þe mast in hand gan kip, with croice & pallioun, & a kyng þe sihi, of gold schone his coroun, A noþer bisshop þam bi, þe first said his sermoun. þan said þe Ersbisshop to Londreis wordes suete, "I am Thomas ȝour hope, to whom ȝe crie & grete, "Martir of Canterbire, ȝour bale salle I bete. "Seynt Edmunde þe martire his help I ȝow hete, "þe bisshop S. Nicholas, whos help is ay redie "To schipmen in alle cas, whan þei on him crie.

"We þre haf þe ward of God & our ladie, "þe schippes of kyng Richard to kepe & ȝow þam bie. After þis biheste, þat Thomas to þam said, Sone alle þe tempest in a throwe was laid. þise nine schippes gan ride þer wyld wynd þam driue, þei ne wist to what side, ne what hauen in to riue.

AT Leons sur le Rone was Philip & Richard, þei spak & mad þer mone, what hauen þe mot toward. In alle þe cuntre þorgh so grete folk mot men se, þat nouþer cite ne burgh myght þei in herberd be. Philip toward Gene his oste did alle go, & Richard oste bidene at Marsille left alle þo. ¶ To mete on a while þe trompes blowe alle clere, Batand fro Cezile com him a messengere, Fro þe quene dam Jone, his awen sister dere. Bifor þam euerilkone he told kyng Richere, Dede is kyng William, þat regned in Cezile, þat Jone þe lady nam, he lyued bot a while. þat erle is of Tancre, Geffrey a douhty knyght, & valiant man of dede, & to þe coroun has right, He regnes after him, & late had þe coroune, To Jone he is fulle grim, & haldes hir in prisoune. Herfor kyng Richard wrathes him & sais, "Dight vs þider ward our busses & galais, "Mi sister I wille out wyn or I ferrer go. "Bot he bigyn Cezile he turnes fro, "& bot he wille with pes acorde in reson, "It salle rewe him þat res, þat he to Jone has done.

þe date was a þousand a hundreth & ninetie, þat R. was sailand toward paemie. ¶ þe seuent day of heruest, in þat ilk ȝere, þat I rakend last, writen abouen here, þat Richard turned to Gene, & whan he com to lond, Philip was mykelle to mene, R. seke him fond. Bot mykelle he comfortid him, & siþen tok his leue, Toward Cezile fulle grim, þe kyng he þouht to greue. ¶ Whan his flete was alle at Tibre euerilkone, þe pape a cardinalle sent Sir Octobone. What Richard spak, & he conselle is & was, To me it is priue, I sauh it in no pas. þer duellid R. schip þre daies to gesse, Bi þat was kyng Philep risen of his sekenesse, & was in Cezile ariued at Meschyne, & after in a while com R. euen as lyne, þe day of þe croice, in þe heruest tide, Right als Gode's voice had ordeynd him to ride. Were þo schippes nine, þat R. wend haf lorn, In þe hauen of Meschyne ariued litille beforn. It was a Gode's grace, | at þat ilk nauie Ariued in þat place, þer Richard suld lie.

THRE days in þat cite duellid kyng Richard, To þe kyng of Tancre he sent his letter hard. "To deliuer his sister Jon out of his prison "Men mad tille him grete mone, it was without reson. "Bot he deliuer hir me with luf, at my praiere, "þat tyme salle he se, scho salle be bouht folle dere.

¶ þis kyng of Tancrede he was a wys knyght, He sauh it was to drede, & he did not alle right. He sauh Richard an ired, & his mykelle myght, His folk armed & tired, & ay redy to fight. He sent his sister Jone with mykelle honeste, With his barons ilkone, to Mischines þat cite. Philip was curteise, ageyn dame Jone he ȝede, Tille hir broþer paleise with grete honour did lede.

AN ilde was þer biside, þat a Sarazin held, Trouage he gaf bi tide to Cristen men, þei teld. Allas! said Richard, þat euer it suld so be, þe Cristen þorgh forward suld grant a Sarazin fre. A water þat closed it in, þat flum was de la fare, þe wonnyng of þe Sarazin, þat ilde hight Labamare. Kyng Richad it wan, & tille his sister it gaf, þe Sarazins ilk man he slouh alle rif & raf. ¶ An oþer ilde biside, men cald it Griffonie, Richard þat ilk tide, he did þam alle out flie. þe wonnyng of þat ilde Richard gon þam reue, Was non of þam so wilde, þat lenger durst þer leue. ¶ Whan þe folk þis herd, þe burgeis of Meschyn, þer ȝates ageyn him sperd, & wild not lat him in. Wherfor þe contek on þis maner it cam, & for þei did þat chek, an oth he suore to gram, Bot þe kyng wilde mende þat þei did him þere, A þing he suld sende, to do als lawe it were: Fulfille þe testament of kyng William þat was, þat tille his sister ment for dowerie þat trespas,

& bot he ȝald it alle, þat is writen þer in, With luf, els I salle with werre fond him to wyn. ¶ Whan þe kyng of France herd þo tiþinges, þat so grete distance was bituex þo kynges, Conseil gan he take, þat he suld be partie, A gode acord to make, forsoþe fulle fayntlie. Noþeles þe kyng of Tancrede did fulle curteisly, To kyng R. he ȝede, & said he was redy, þe testament to fulfille of kyng William, & þat his men fulle ille vnskilfully nam. "Alle þat was reson, I wille amend it wele, "& tille þi sister haf don plenerly ilka dele, "Alle þat me felle to do of William's testamet. "Witnes I tak hir to hir seluen in present. "Hir seluen dame Jone acorded with his sawe, "Of þe testament alone he has don alle þe law, "Alle þat fellc to me, bot ȝit I ask a noþer, "þat fallis vnto þe kyng Richard my broþer, "Of my lordes witeword, witnes þer of haf I. "Of gold þer is a borde, & tretels þer bi, "Of siluer oþer vesselle gilte fulle richeli; "& ȝit a noþer jowelle fairer & worþi, "A pauillon of honour, with riche atisfement, "To serue an Emperour at a parlement. "þus quath my lorde þe, þat tyme he suld die, "þe soth forto say, & witnes wille not lie.

"DAME," said Tancred, "of trestels & borde "Fulfille I salle in dede þe kynge's witworde. Fourti þousand vnces of gold he bede þe kyng, & R. tok þe pundes, withouten more sayng. "Bot þis," he said, "I saue, þat Arthure my cosyn "Tancred douhter salle haue, & alle þat now is þin. Of Bretayn Arthure is als erle of heritage, & he granted to þis, confermed þat mariage. ¶ Als þise tuo kynge wore about þis forward, At Meschyne righ þore þe kynge's moder Richard Ariued at þat riuale, brouht him busses þritti Charged with vitaile, with gode men & douhti. Of Flandres þe erle Philip, a lorde of honour, Of Helianore schip he was hir gouernour. Elianore brouht þer a fair maiden ȝing, þe kynge's douhter of Nauere, to R. þe kyng. Hir name was Berengere, faire woman of age, Was þer non hir pere of no heiere parage. In Cipre of þat may was mad þe mariage At kyng R. pay, þorgh conselle of baronage. Whan þei were trouth plight, & purueied þe sposage, Helianore forth hir dight to Rouhan hir menage, Bileft dame Berengere at Richarde's costage. Dame Jone kept hir dere, þei lyued als birde in cage,

WHAN pes was alle certeyn of Richard & Tancrede. To þe cite of Kateyn in pilgrimage þei ȝede.

To þe fertre of Saynt Agate Richard made offeryng, & praied hir of grace to duelle þat with þe kyng. Alle þre dayes tide Richard mad soioure, þe barons bi þat side did him grete honoure. Whan Richard suld wend, he tok leue at Tancrez, Tancrez was fulle hend, conueied him tuo journez, Gaf him four schippes grete, & were of way beforn, þe tuo charged with whete, þe toþer with oþer corn, & fiue oþer galeis with alle þer apparaile, Richard was curteis, þanked his trauaile, & Richard at þat turne gaf him a faire Juelle, þe gode suerd Caliburne, þat Arthur luffed so welle. ¶ þan said Sir Tancrede vnto Richard our kyng, "God, þat saues at nede boþe þe olde & ȝing, "Kepe þe fro mischance, & fro þe fals enmys, "þat er with Philip of France, euer ageyn þi vis. "Bi Hugh of Burgoyn he sent a letter vnto me, "þat I suld, or þou went, be bitraied þorgh þe, "& if werre or wo had risen vs bituen, "þe & þine to slo with me he suld haue bien. "þe soth þan schewes it, þat my sawe is trewe, "Sir haf here þis writ, & schewe him alle newe. "If he it geynsay, I wille proue it on him. ¶ Tancred went his way, & Richard wex fulle brim. R. tok his leue, Sir Roger turned & went, & R. gan him greue, to Philip þe letter sent. ¶ þe nauie com on a stounde, to Meschyns þat cite, Biforn him he founde his sister & his meyne.

R. with Philip dele wild he nouht. Philip bote on his lyppe, & perceyued R. þouht. Whi þat it ment, Philip gan aspie: A wiles to R. sent, how long he wild þer lie, & what tyme he had tight forward his nauie, His sege to sette & dight, to help þe Cristen crie? ¶ R. ansuerd þer tille, & said, "it is foly, "To schewe counseil & skille, þat not is to affie, "& þhit þer owen writte þer dede dos certifie. "Me þink in myn in witte it semed traytorie. ¶ þan spak Philip ogrefe said, "I wote what þis menes, "þat was a fals brefe, & forged wele, it semes, "For my sister Aleyse, þat is now forsaken, "For on of mor richenesse of Nauer þou has taken. "It salle not so Richard, I wille þe gif a gyue, "þou salle hold forward, if þou wost þat I lyue.

WHAN Richard vnderstode, þat kyng Philip had suorne, Bifor þe clergie he stode, & proued it on þe morne, þat his fader Henry þat ilk Aleyse had knowen, A childe scho him by, þat he held for his owen.

A mayden childe it was, & now dede is it, "þis wer agrete trespas, agayn myn owen inwitte, "So febli forto wirke, for drede of Gode's awe, "I Richard haf maugre, & I Aleyse take, "Whan my fader & she suilk samenyng gan make. ¶ þan said kyng Philip tille alle þo of France, "Of gile þis is a trip of Richard desceyuance, "Gisors my gode cite, with alle þe purueiance, "Richard I gaf it fre, to mak þis aliance "Of him & hir þo tuo, þat er now in distance, "Ten þousand mark & mo, þat now er in balance, "& I betraised of alle, bi God, þat alle may auance, "I salle bring him to stalle, bot he mak me acquitance.

"NOW," said kyng R. "þe manace late alle be, "þou salle haf reward of Gisors þi cite; "þe tresore ilk a dele, þat þou me bitauht. "For me salle haf wele alle þat þou euer auht. þe barons suffred nouht þe kynges to be wroth. Luf & pes þei souht, þat þei acorded both. Richard ȝald him his right, his tresore & his toun, þorgh witnes & sight, of clerk, erle & baroun, His sistir forto marie, where God wild loke, To mak certeyn partie, R. a quitance toke.

AFTER þe acord sone, Philip dight him forward, To boote mad him bone, & toke leue at Richard. þe wynde was in his saile, tille Acres gan him driue, Bot litille was his trauaile, tille R. gan ariue.

Whan Philip tille Acres cam, litelle was his dede, þe Romance sais grete skam, who so þat pas wille rede. þe Romancer it sais, R. did mak a pele, On kastelle wise alle wais, wrouht of tre fulle welle, Ageyns holy kirke tille Aleyse forto drawe. In schip he did it lede, to reise vp bi þe walle, &, if him stode nede, to couere him with alle. He reised it at Meschines, of werre tiþing he herd, For þe ilde of Sarazins þer ȝates ageyn him sperd. þe Romance of Richard sais, he wan þe toun. His pele fro þat forward he cald it mate Griffoun. Tancred he was wys, he did R. wille, To Philip turned his vys, so þat he held him stille.

NOW is Philip on flete, kyng R. ȝit duellis, Hes pele þat he vpsette eft ageyn it fellis. For wrath first of Tancrede R. vp it reised, If he had turned to nede, his folk forto haf eised. Bot whan þei were mad frendes, þorgh sight baroun, Tancred to him sendes, praied him take it doun; þat no man for envie eft ageyn him held, Ne þorgh non oþer harie to do him reise his schelde. ¶ Now purueies him Richard ilk a day alle preste, Tille he be forward, he may haf no reste. Acres þan is his triste, opon þe Sarazin feendes, To venge Jhesu Criste þiderward he wendes. þe kynge's sister Jone, & dame Berenger, Formast of ilkone, next þam his Chanceler.

Roger Mankael þe Chancelere so hight His tide felle not wele, a tempest on him light. His schip was dounborn, his self gan þer deye. þe kynge's seale was lorn, with oþer busses tueye. Dame Jone þe fre to Jhesu scho bisouht, In Cipres scho mot be to hauen sauely brouht. þe mayden Berenger scho was alle ofright, þat nouþer fer no nere þe kyng scho sauh no sight. Tuo busses wer forfaren, þat in þe tempest brak, þe godes attached waren to þe kyng of Cipres Isaac. þat þat askeped þat drede, & to Cipres wan, Isaac did þam lede, to prison ilk a man. ¶ Whan kyng R. herd of þat mischuos tide, & how his schippis misferd, he turned vnto þat tide; Tille Isaac lettres sent bi Roberd of Thornham, Sir Steuen with him went, a noþer knyght William, "Praie him for God aboue, als I am his pilgrime, "ȝeld it me with loue, þat he holdes of myne. "My godes þat he has þare, my men deliuere of bond, "& destorbe not our fare, we salle to þe holy lond; "& if he wille nouht deliuer me my þing, "Fulle dere it salle be bouht, bi Jhesu heuen kyng. e messengers kamen to þe kyng ysaak. ysaak tille alle samen, þis ansuere he spak. "Messengers, wherto chalange ȝe my þing, "& what haf I to do with Inglis tayled kyng? "þe godes þat be fonden on my londe o chance, "Tille him I am not bonden to mak deliuerance.

"It is my profit, to myn I wille þam holde. þei went ageyn fulle tite, to kyng R. alle tolde.

WHAN kyng R. herde say ysaak respons, "Turne we þiderward, & delyuer our prisons, "& so it may betide, þei salle dere abie "My þat þei hide, my men in prison lie. Now he changes his weie, tille Acres may he nouht, Many þerfore gon deie, I schrowe Isaak so wrouht. It was Isaak to wite, tille Acres he com no nerre, þe skaþe on him gan bite, þat R. turned þe werre. ¶ Whan Isaak had tiþand Emperour of Griffons, þat R. drow to land with him alle his barons, He did gadre an oste of Cipre & Griffonie, & com vnto þat coste, to waite Richard nauie. R. was perceyued, þei were renged redie, & how þer pencels weyued, son he mad a crie: "Arme we vs I rede, & go we hardilie, "& we salle mak þam schede, & sondre a partie. He was first þat stirte to lond out of þe boote, Armed & suerd girte, bot an axe he smote. With þat axe he hewe, þe Griffons mad him weie. Many to dede he threwe, & to grounde doun leie. His maryners gan vp riue about in stedes seere, þe Griffons þei gan driue bifor þam alle plenere. þe kyng Isaak fleih, his men had no foyson, At þat tyme he ne deih, his partie ȝede doun. R. cried on hie, "Londreis folowes me, "Loke ȝe be me nehi, fulle gode giftes ȝete ȝe.

"Take we þis Emperour, þat getis þise Griffons, "Falle salle þis honour for hold of our prisons. Isaak had a spie, þat warned him ay beforn, To tak þe mountayn hie, & bide þer tille þe morn. ¶ Whan þe euen cam, R. dred tresoun, Agen to þe water he nam, did set his pauilloun. þe godes, þat þam gan falle geten at þat iorne, Felawes were þei alle, als forthely as he. ysaak sauh his vow tille & S. Symeoun, What falle þer of or how þe morn he suld com doun, With schelde & lance in hand to saue his regioun, To mak þe Inglis fleand, þat had robbed his toun, If he of his mot take ouþer erle or baroun, His prison suld he wake, þat wer deppest donjoun. For patriarke no pape, for bulle ne pardoun, þer of suld he not scape, withouten grete ransoun. In tentis R. rested alle þat ilk nyght, His men wer wele gested with brede, wyne & light.

ON þe morn he ros, & went to Lymosoun, A cite large in clos, þe folk were fled þe toun. Griffons þei it held, þei wer scaped away, Vitaile inouh at weld, þei fond of corn & hay. Isaac did it store, to hold for tuo ȝere. Ariued wer þer bifore dame Jone & Berengere.

¶ þat tuo barges mot lede, of þat ware did he fille. Tille his siþen he ȝede, & warned þam fulle stille In þe mornyng to rise, þe tyme at þe day sterne þe Emperour & hise to seke þei suld alle ȝerne. His barons euerilkone be þat tyme wer dight, þe kyng formast to gone, þe way he led þam right. Was non in tente ne toun behind him durst be, Bot Bernard of Bayoun, þat was kepand þe se. ¶ R. rode stilly neihand þe Emperour, He gaf a bold crie, whan he bigan his stour. þe tentes doun he hew, Isaac to reuile, & for non him knew, askaped he þat while. Bare in serke & breke Isaac away fled, It was not told a leke, þat non of his þien led. R. alle ouer ran, & toke alle þat he fond, A faire þing þer he wan, þe baner of þe lond. Som of þam were gode, to R. gaf bataile, Bot alle to dede ȝode, & lost alle þer trauaile. Taken were a partie, bot maste of þam were slayn, Als man þat wan maistrie R. turned agayn, To Lymoson þam led, his fest he did þer crie, Berenger wild he wed, & þer soiorne & lie. þe þrid day of þe fest, Sir Bernard of Bayoun, Newed eft þer geste, þe quene he gaf þe coroun.

TO þat sollempnite com lordes of renoun, þat weddyng forto se, for grete affectioun. Of Jerusalem cuntre þe gode kyng Guyoun, Gaufrey his broþer was he, & Aunfrey of Turoun; Reymoun of Antioche, of Triple þe erle Bumoun, Frere Ruffyn Delmount, & þe duke Leoun. þise mad R. homage douhteli, kneland doun. Ageyn þe Sarazin lynage, þat leues on Mahoun, Alle þei same þis same, þat ȝare þei were & boun To die in Jhesu name with gode deuocioun, þat for vs suffred schame, & died þorgh passioun. "We trowe it is our frame, his resurrectioun. R. said his skille, "lordynges, þis is resoun, "Bituex vs if ȝe wille mak obligacioun, "þat I be ȝour aller broþer, & ȝe in my bandoun, "þat non faile oþer, ne consent to resoun. þei granted alle þerto, kyng, erle & baroun, & who þat wille not so, gaf him þer malisoun.

ALSO suiþe R. has armes did crie, & his oste did parte to þo þat couth it guye. þe noble kyng Guyon tok of his cheualrie Oþer lordes of renoun, assigned þam þer partie. Whan Isaac herd seie, what help R. was comen, & how to stop his weie parties had þei nomen, Of his men most worþi, at þam conseile gan take, þe best he mot go bi, a cord with R. make.

þo messengers camen, þe conseil þat he ches Bifor R. alle samen, & enformed his pes. "ȝour wille wille he alle do, & be at ȝour mercy." R. ansuerd þerto, "I grante it bliþely. ¶ þan com þe Emperour bifore kyng Richard "þat I did dishonour, Sir, haf it to no reward. "þe dede þat I did ille, my foly it was, "I praye þe with gode wille, forgyue me þat trespas. "þi man wille I be bi water & bi land, "þis reame to hold of þe, & bowe vnto þi hand. "þo men, þat I did take to prison þe toþer morn, "Amendes I wille make, & bring þam þe biforn. "þi godes þe biken, or þe valow verray, "þat þi dronkled men tynt þe toþer day. "& with þe wille I go als felawes in ferd, "A hundreth knyghtes mo, armed & gird with suerd. "& four hundreth to bote, squieres of gode aray, "& fiue hundreth o fote, to whilk I salle pay "Ilk day þer wages to þo ilk plenere, "Knyght, squier & pages, þe termes of tuo ȝere. "My douhter & myn heyre to loke hir I þe grante, "þat þou be in speyre I salle hold conante.

RICHARD curteise was, þat sauh bede suilk loue, Forgaf alle þe trespas, wirschipid himself aboue. Tent & pauillon tille Isaac did he signe, Wirschipped him at reson, right as himself was digne.

¶ Whan þe day was ent, to rest men wer alle laid, Isaac gan repent, þat he to R. said. Fulle stille away he went, þat was a theues braid; A messenger he sent þat þus to R. said: ¶ "Isaac wille not grante, to oblige him to þe, "No to be þi tenante his body bonden be, "Ne to suilk seruage his heyrs disherite, "Ne ȝeld at terme & stage rent mykelle no lite. "O deuel," said þe king, "þis is a foltid man, "Whan he with trechettyng bi nyght away so ran. "þei red him alle a mysse, þat conseil gaf þerto. "Wenes he our men Inglisse for to trecther so?

NOW gos kyng R. his purueiance to make, How & whider ward he hoped Isaac take. To þo lordes þat camen, als Bumund & Sir Guye, & þe toþer alle samen, he toke galeis tuenty, & busses þat were gode o hundreth of þe most, To fare opon þe flode, to waite wele bi þat coste. ¶ Eft bi Cipres side Isaac to aspie, If he toke any tide out of lond to flie. R. south þe lond with gode folk & hardie, þe tounes þat þei fond þei felle to his mercie. Roberd of Thornham bare him nobilly, Bi þe se side he nam, & wan it per maistrie. þan turned he to þe kyng after his conquest, þei mad þan a samenyng, to go toward þe West.

þe cite of Nichoci þei wan, & were þer in, & a noþer þerbi, a toun men calle Cherin. Doun of the kastelle mote Isaac douhter cam, & felle R. to fote gretand, þat doole him nam. "Lord kyng," scho said, "on me þou haf mercie, & R. hand to laid lift hir curteislie, & sent hir tille his wife, & tille his sister Jone, & þer scho led hir life with þo ladies ilkone. þe castels & þe godes tounes stored wele, Vitaile vnto þer fode R. toke ilk dele. Sir Guy & Bumund þei com as þei ȝede, þe ne tynd ne fond, ne were at no dede. Roberd bisouht þe kyng, to turne toward Bufnet, & þer ouer alle þing his sege þer to set. "In alle Griffonie ne es so strong a toure, "& þat ȝe wille þer lie, it is to ȝour honoure. R. also suiþe to Bufnet he ȝede, His maistrie gan he kye, engynes dight to dede. Whan þei were alle dight, stalworþely & fast Boþe day & nyght vnto þe toure he kast.

TO while þat kyng R. was kastand to þe toure, Statin his stiward spak to þe Emperoure, Als his mete he sat, & was his seruitoure, "Forto amend ȝour stat I wille conseiloure.

"Sir kyng Isakin I am þi vauasoure, "My nam is Statin, I wille be no traitoure. "I haf kept þi lande, I se þat dishonoure "Is now þe nerhand, þorgh þis conquerour, " þat an Inglis kyng, a wys werreour. "Loke þou lese no þing for þi fole erroure, "Ne þe lond be not lorn, þat þin ancessoure "So wele kept biforn, als noble gouernoure. "Go & mak his pes, or he do þe more stoure, "& þou to þi deses may haf þe frute & floure. þan said Isaac tille him, "ert þou his mayntenour? Fulle broþely & brim he kept vp a trencheour, & kast it at Statin, did him a schamfulle schoure. His nese & his ine he carfe at misauentoure.

STATIN vp he stirte, him þouht þerof grete schame, "Sir þou has me hirte, þerfor þou ert to blame. Als so suiþe he ȝede vnto kyng Richard, & schewed him all þat dede of Isaac þe coward. "Sir be my socoure, & venge myn outrage. R. did him honoure, & he mad him homage. Statin wele þan lete, he ȝalde him alle þe honour Of Baaf & Bufnet, þat he of Is Diendamour.

Castels & citez þat he he of Isaac held, Baronies & feez, he ȝald him ilk a scheld. þe grete lordes Inglis, þat þe werre had gonnen, Wer fulle glad of þis, Cipres so sone was wonnen.

BE side of S. Andrew was an Abbay, Cape þe name men knew, & þer in herd þei say, þat kyng Isaac was priuely hid þer in, To R. so þei spak, he went him out to wynne. Isaac tiþing herd, R. com him to seke, Ageyn R. he ferd, to fote he felle fulle meke, & said, "Sir mercy, my life þou saue it me, "Do not þat vilany, fettred þat I be. "In prison þou me do, bot nouht in bondes bynde, "I pray ȝow it be so, for schame of my kynde. Said R. "þou salle haue at þin owen deuys, "þi life I salle þe saue," Isaac he did vp rise. "O dele," said þe kyng, "þis is a fole Briton. "He spak no maner þing, for regne to gif raunson, "Ne no þing him bisouht, he was of kynge's blode, "Bot for prison bisouht, als fole þat couth no gode. "Now er his anens wrouht, of siluere wele ouer gilt, "Dayet þat þerof rouht, his was alle þe gilt. Taken is he to loke to Berenger & Jone, & þei him vndirtoke þo ladies euer ilkone. To Statin gaf R. þe cite in kepyng, & bad him be stiward, als ore was with þe kyng.

For Isaac did him schame, his lord suld be, þei caled him þis toname, Statin þe nasee.

NOW is Cipres Iorn fro Isaac & hise, & to R. suorn for his valiantise, þe mene folk (comonly fulle gode men & wise) Com to his mercy, doand him seruise, þat bies woule & wyne, & sellis with conant. "Do com," said Statyn, "burgeis & merchant, "& knyght & squiere, & mak þam ȝour tenant, "Citez & tounes sere, hosbond & sergant, "& tak of þam homage, as custom is & haunt "To do þat ilk seruage," þe folk said, "we graunt, "& þerto half our þing, for to haf þo lawes, "þat Samuel þe gode kyng gaf bi olde dawes, "& sikred it with skrite, hyngand set his seale; & R. gaf it so quite, þat þei suld him be leale.

NOW has kyng R. of Cipres þe seignorie, What with nesshe & hard wonne þe maistrie. To Statin þe nasee did he grete curteisie, Alle Cipres gaf him fre ageyn his vilanie, With a suerd to holde, of R. heyres alle Inglis kynges tolde, to whom þe chefe salle falle. Statin þe reame nam, in þat ilk conaunt, þat Roberd of Thornham, if þe kyng wild him graunt,

With him forto duelle, to maynten þe pes, þe foles forto felle, þat rise wild in res.

NOW leues Roberd with Statin nasee, Tille tiþing be more herd, or pes better be, With þe kynge's leue þe lond to justise, His enmys to greue, þat ageyn him wild rise. His wille has R. sped in Cipres fer & nere, & Isaac forth is led with Jone & Berengere At Triple to sojourne, & þer þei mad a crie, Tille Acres forto turne alle holy þer nauie. Bihynd left non of hise, bot alle with him þei nam, Bot he þat was justise, Roberd of Thornham. Now er alle on flote, God gif þam grace to spede, With douhty fo to note, whan þei com to dede.

AT none þe toþer day þei sauh fer in þe se A grete busse & gay, fulle hie of saile was he. þe weder was fulle soft, þe wynde held þam stille, þe saile was hie o loft, þei had no wynde at wille. In Philip nauie of France a pencelle þei put oute, His armes on a lance ouer alle þe schip aboute. So mykelle was þat barge, it myght not lightly saile, & so heuy of charge, & þe wynde gan faile. To wite what þei were went a marinere, Respons þei gaf him þere, "þei were men of mistere, "Fro Antioche were went vnto kyng Philip, "& for vs has he sent, & his is þis schip.

Said þe kyng R. "Sir prince if þou be, "Bi tyme turne to me ward, for I wille speke with þe. þe prince com fulle sone, Sir Richard did he calle, "Do dight & mak ȝow bone, þe schip ere Sarazins alle, "Tille Acres þei þam rape, venom for our men lede, "& if þei vs ascape, þe Cristen may þam dede. þan cried Richard on hie, "now batale vs belyue, "þorgh help of our ladie, þat schip salle alle to ryue. Ilk man þat may wynne tok to his partie, To set chalange þer inne salle no man be hardie. þe kynge's owen Galeie, he cald it Trencthemere, þat was first on weie, & com þe schip fulle nere. Oþer were þer inowe, þat þer after drouh, Bot he com with a suowe, þat þe schip to rof. þe schip cast trokes out, þe galeie to þam drouh, þe kyng stode fulle stout, & many of þam slouh. Wilde fire þei kast, þe kyng to confound, His schipmen were fulle wrask, els had he gon to ground. þe kyng abaist him nouht, bot stalworthly fauht, Alle to dede he brouht, þat his Galeie ouer rauht. þe galeie þer þorght schete, & þe kyng was gode, þe schip þat was so grete, it dronkled in þe flode. þei teld fiueten hundred Sarazins, þat drenkled were, Fourti & sex wer sundred, & alle þo were saued þere. þe summe couth no man telle of gold þat was þer in & oþer riches to selle, bot alle mot þei not wyn.

þe venom alle þei hent, in þe se cast it away, þe folk it mot haf schent, þat about Acres lay. Armour þei had plente, & god besquite to mete, It sanke son in þe se, half myght þei not gete. Richard bade, "hale vp hie ȝour sailes, þer God vs lede, "Our men at Acres lie, of help þei haf grete nede. þe date was a þousand, a hundreth nienti & one, Fro Cipres he was sailand, a toun he wan Acon. ¶ Als grace of God wild be, þe wynde gan him dryue, þe euen of þe Trinite vnder Acres R. gan aryue, Dame Jone & Berengere bifor him fond he eft: Isaac þe Emperere at Triples was left. þe folk of Griffonie, whan R. was gone, To Statin had envie, a monk þei ches ilkone, þat Isaac cosyn was, & corouned him for kyng. þei did a foule trespas, it was vnsemly þing. Statin wild þei greue, mispaied was Roberd, He said, "þei salle mischeue," whan he þat tiþing herd. Night & day þei woke, Roberd & Statyn, þorgh force þe monke þei toke, & brouht him to Cheryn. ȝit he skaped out, þe monke of prisoun, þei cried, "has armes about Roberd fro toun to toun. þe folk whan þei were comen to Statyn & Roberd, Eft þe monke þei nomen, at Cheryn þei him sperd. Opon þe þrid day þe folk he did somoune, Lered men & lay, fre & bond of toune.

A quest þan wild he take of þe monke þat bare þe coroune, His abite he gan forsake, his ordre lete alle doune. & ȝit a noþer sawe of behoues be spoken, Ageyn þe comon lawe, þe prison has he broken. Som chesons þei cast, & som for him said, Bot here now at þe last, what dome was on him laid.

SAID Sir Roberd, "monk þou was whilom, "For wirschip of þe werld forsoke þou alle & som. "To God þou mad a vow in þi professioun. "His traitour ert þou now, þou did him a tresoun. "For þe worlde's blisse þou left þin habite, "& now þou wost for wisse of boþe ert þou quite. "We toke þe als robboure in þis ilk cuntre, "þou reft þe kyng his honour, þat felle not vnto þe. "To Cheryn þat ilk toun, þider was þou led, "& þer þou brak prisoun, & away þou fled. "Eft we did þe take, in prison we þe bond, "þat lawe I salle þe make, þat is Richard lond. "Galwes do ȝe reise, & hyng þis cheitefe. "Better him wer with eise in clostre haf led his life, "þe seruise of his song recorded & lered, "þan chalange with wrong þat kyng R. conquered, "& þi messe songen, & serued God alle myght, "þan to be hongen in þi frendis sight.

NOW of þis olde monk & þis new kyng, þat was not worth a fonk, don has his endyng.

þe folk was alle pesed, to Statyn wild þei cheue. Of Statyn þat was sesed Roberd toke his leue With ricchesse inouh, þat he to Acres led, & teld kyng R. how of alle þat he had sped, "þe folk of Griffonie a monk þei chese to kyng, "Sib Isaak a partie had mad a chalangyng. "In Cipres wer þei comen, þer maistrie gan þei kiþe, "& we ageyn þam nomen, & tok him als suiþe. "To Cheryn we him led, & þer he brak prisoun. "Eft we toke him fled, brouht him ageyn to toun, "þe courte opon him sat, þe quest filed him & schent. "For trespas of þat, he toke jugement. "Allas! for vilenie," said R. þe kyng, "þat a kyng suld so die, hanged for no þing! "Roberd þou ert to blame, þou did ageyn resoun, "Certes þou has don schame tille alle þat bere coroun. "Sir," said Roberd, "þer of is not to speke; "Late alle þis be sperd, on Gode's enmys þe wreke. "Siþen Philip hider cam, he gaf neuer non assaut: "It wer mykelle scham to mak suilk a defaut. "A partie has þou sped, þanked be God alle myght; "ȝit salle þou mak þam dred, or com a fourtenyght "Do reise vp þin engyns, & wyn of þam þise dikes. "I trowe þe Sarazins our comyng mislikes.

RICHARD als suiþe did reise his engyns, þe Inglis wer þan bliþe, Normans & Peteuyns. In bargeis & galeis he set mylnes to go, þe sailes, as men sais, som were blak & blo,

Som were rede & grene, þe wynde about þam blewe, A selly sight to sene, fire þe sailes þrewe. þe stones were of Rynes, þe noyse dredfulle & grete, It affraied þe Sarazins, as leuen þe fire out schete. þe noyse was vnride, it lasted alle day, Fro morn tille euentide, þer of had many affray. To while þei had wondryng, of þis þat þei ne knew Stode R. our kyng, þe chyne in tuo he hew, & sesid þe Sarazin dikes, maugre þam euerilkon. Now þe Sarazins mislikes, to Mahoun mad þei mone. Our Cristen wer fúlle fayn, þe sauh R. þerin, þe dikes wer all drawen with iren chynes þrin. ¶ "Certes," said þe Soudan, þat was in Acres toure, "þis is a kyng a man, þis is a werreoure, "Me þink els a wonder, bot he salle do grete wo, "He salle sched vs o sonder, fro Acres salle we go. "If he forth haf grace, as he now bigynnes, "Hiþen salle he vs chace, & alle þis lond he wynnes. ¶ The bisshop of Perouse com to kyng Richard, "Sir, ouer meruailouse our duellyng here is hard; "Sir, here biforn of men haf we told "Fourti þousand lorn for hungre & cold. "þe hungre was so grete, & þe cold so stark, "þat a quarter whete was at tuenty mark. "For ten mark men sold a litille bulchyn, "Litille lesse men told a bouke of a motoun. "Men gaf fiueten schillynges for a goos or a heen, "For þe grete lordynges bouht to seke men.

"An ay bi it selue for fiue schillynges was bouht, "A pere for penyes tuelue, or þei had it nouht. "þe comon of þe oste bouht þam hors flesch, "Or mules or assis roste, or haf bien mete lesse. "Many grete mishappes, many hard trauaile, "Haf comen vs hard clappes, whan þei gan vs assaile. "He told to þe kyng many hard chance, "þat tellis here no þing, bot alle in þe romance. ¶ He tellis in þe romance, sen Acres wonnen was, How God gaf him faire chance at þe bataile of Cayfas. ¶ Siþen at Nazareth, at þe Assompcion messe, At Assur he did to deth þe Sarazins more & lesse. ¶ Siþen at Japhet was slayn fanuelle his stede, þe romance tellis grete pas þer of his douhty dede. Bot þe bisshop sais vnto kyng Richard, How þam felle oþer wais so many woes & hard. "Bot," Sir, "we here wele telle, ȝe ere so trew a kyng, "Our folk þat here duelle, ȝerne ȝour comyng. "Ouer alle now is said, his comyng þank we God, "Our hope is on him laid, & fulle wele is it trod, "þat ȝe salle wele spede, to schorten our soiorne, "& mend our grete nede, to ioy þat it mot torne. "ȝour wille is euer so gode, & ȝour treuth so treist, "ȝour douhtynesse of blode þe Sarazins salle freist. "Now, Jhesu, for þat croice, þou þoled on passioun, "Here our sinfulle voice, & grant ȝow wynne þe toun.

WHAN kyng R. herd, þe Cristen had suilk pyn. Fulle soft he him ansuerd, wepand with his ine, "To Criste for me biseke, þat he gyue me þat grace, "þe Cristendom to eke, þe Sarazins to chace. R. also suiþe did set his pauilloun, His maistrie sone gan kiþe, he dight him to þe toun. Now ere þe dikes wonnen opon Gode's enmys, & sautes has bigonnen, þorgh whilk he getis pris. So did kyng Philip with sautes on þam gan pres, Bot for a forgetilschip R. & he boþe les. Philip left his engynes withouten kepyng a nyght, þat perceyued þe Sarazines, with fire brent þam doun right. For he com on þe morne, assaut he wild haf gyuen, His Engyns fond he lorne, brent & tille askes dryuen. R. said his avis, blamed him for þat dede. A werreour þat were wys, desceyt suld euer drede, Wele more on þe nyght, þan opon þe day, In mirke withouten sight wille enmys mak affray. R. lent him of hise, Acres for to assaile; Philip withouten fayntise did alle his trauaile. þe to kyng & þe toþer assailed it so hard, þat þe Soudan broþer cried pes opon forward. Alle þei went to here, what þe Soudan wild say: þe folk com alle in fere with þo kynges tueye. ¶ þis was þe Sarazins sawe, "þe toun ȝeld ȝow we wille, "If ȝe grant vs þe lawe, I salle say ȝow þe skille. "Late vs alle out com, þis is þe first we chese. "þat non be slayn ne nom, ne life no lymme lese;

"& if þat we wille take a baron of ȝour oste, "& Cristen kyng him make, to regne bi þis coste, "Him þan wille we say, who is moste valiant, "If ȝe consent þat way, þe marchis of Mounfraunt.

RICHARD was hastif, & ansuerd þat stund, "Certes þou lies cheitif, & as a stinkand hund, "Here ere a þousand mo more worþi haf pris, "þan he þou tellis fro, þat ilk traitoure marchis. "It salle auaile him nouht, þat he ȝour Soudan sent. "I se þat he has bouht þe lond with his present, "& þis lond is oure, & our right wonyng, "For oure ancessoure hereof was he kyng, "& ȝe ere our enmys, þe Cristendam to spille, "& now is þe marchis turned to ȝour wille. "I rede out of þis oste þe marchis go his gate, "Bi God þat myght has moste, he may go to late. "If he þorgh traytorie salle be at ȝour deuys, "I salle do him hang hie, or drawe with runcys.

SAID þe kyng of France, "R. whi art þou wroth, "What is ȝour distance, þat he is þe so loth? "& he is gentille knyght, of kynge's blode comen, "If he with vnright ouht of þin haf nomen, "He salle at þi wille mak alle þin amendes, "& late alle be stille, þat þou him defendes. ¶ Said þe kyng R. "Sir, at ȝour honoure, "In þat ilk forward he ȝelde me my tresoure,

"þat my fadere Henry gaf to þe Holy lond. "He toke it wikkedly out of þe Hospitelers hond. "Fourti þousand pounde, & if he ȝelde it me, "We salle fare & founde als frendes falle to be. Sir Philip stille he stode, worde ne spak he more, In þat same way þei gode, right als it was ore. Richard asked þo landes, þat þe Cristen wan Out of þe Sarazins handes, & chaced þe Soudan. þe Sarazins wild not ȝelde so mony londes sere, Ne þe kynge's ne wilde acorde in oþer manere.

OFT tille our Inglis men was schewed a mervaile grete, A darte was schot to þem, bot non wist who it schete. In þe schaft was purtreit, þorgh þe holy goste trowe I, In nomine patris, it said, & filii & spiritus sancti. Was neuer Cristen man couþe perceyue þe certeyn, Ne wist what tyme no whan it passed out eft ageyn, It com fro þat tureile, þat R. had doun smyten, Alle þe Sarazins conseile in þe schaft was writen, & alle þer ordinance, kyng R. it wiste, It was a fulle faire chance schewed þorgh Jhesu Criste. R. mad þankyng to Jhesu for þat sond, & for þat schewyng to wirschip him suld he fond.

TO Philip & Richard þe Sarazins said þei wild, In a gode forward, þe toun to þam ȝeld.

Of Jerusalem þe land þei said he suld it haue, þerto tuenti þousand of Cristen men to saue. þei treistid not þer tille, bot þei did it in dede, þe kynge's with gode wille vnto assaut ȝede. R. had minoures, þat myned vndere þe walle, A pece with a grete cours at ons felle doun alle. þe Frankis bare þam stoute, þe myned boþe & cast Vnto a toure Maudut, & wan it at þe last. þe Sarazins som þei slouh, & som for drede fied, At þat tyme wele inouh þe Frankis manly sped. þe Inglis at þer triste bifor þam bare alle doun, & R. als him liste þe way had redy roun. Now has R. entre, & Acres taken es, þe Sarazins com fulle fre, & offred him grete riches.

VNTO Philip of France þe Frankis mad a crie, "þi worschip to auance com in als kyng hardie. "Com in as lord of fe, for hedeles ere þei hopped "& slayn alle may þou se, þat þi way stopped: & now is Acres taken þorgh R. þe conquerour, His banere held þam waken was put of o toure, Kyng Philip did also, his baner was forth laid, & righ it felle þerto, for no man him withsaid. ¶ þe erle of Ostrece cam, & put his banere out, & R. asked þorgh wham þe erle bare him so stout.

Kyng R. þorght hatie after þe Erle sent, & asked, "of what seignorie holdes þou lond & rent, "þat þou has put out here þi baner for maistrie, "Among kynges baneres, withouten auowrie?

"SIR, said þe duke, "I am now comen here, "þise Sarazins to rebuke, & slo at my powere. "My lond I hold with right, at no man's dome, "Bot of God alle mygh, & Saynt Petir of Rome. "If þou to non þat lyues," said R. "þou chene ne bowe, "þi lond men salle gife tille one þat may it vowe. Grete scathe afterward in a litille þrawe Com tille kyng R. for þat envios sawe.

NOW haf þe Cristen won Acres þat was lorn, þe Sarazins ouer ron with force & doun born. þe folk was mykelle & strong, of mete þei had grete nede, þam burd departe þer þrong, þat lond mot þam not fede. þei parted þe oste in tuo, þorgh comon acordance. R. wille was so, so was Philip of France. A castelle was þer biside fro Acres a jorne, Grete scaþe it did bi tide to þe Cristen in þe cuntre. þe castelle hight Pilgrym, of alle it bare þe flour: þe Sarazins kept it þat tym for þer chefe warinstour.

þat castelle was fulle strong, & ille for to wynne, þe Sarazins kept it long, þei wer inow þer in. Philip went him þidere, þat castelle to conquere, þe Frankis alle togider did nouh whan þei com þere. ¶ Richard oste forth ran, & grace bifor him fond, Auht jornes he wan with in þe Sarazins lond. Philip þat þer lay to spede had he no grace, It was not worþe an ay, his dede no his manace. R. herd it say, he dred an oste mot skip Behind, & stop his way bituex him & Philip, "& if þe Soudan ros opon Philip of France, "& I wer þan in clos withouten cheuisance, "So myght it in a while þe gode torn tille ille, "A man salle ay drede gile, þe gode is not at wille. R. his oste did turne, tresore he had inouh, Nouht wild he soiorne, to Philip fast he drouh. ¶ Whan kyng Philip hard, þat R. was comand, How faire hap with him ferd, so fer wan in þe land, þat R. turned ageyn, his marschalle teld him why; & said Philip, "certeyn our dede is not worþi. "Our dede has bene nouht sen we hider camen, "To turne haf I þouht tille Acres alle samen. "If R. hider com, wynne it bifor vs alle, "þat we þis sege nom, schame it wille vs falle. "þan salle men doute vs lesse, men se we do no dede, "þe Sarazins our pruesse not so mykelle wille drede.

NOW is þe oste Frankis tille Acres alle went, & comen ere þe Inglis with pauilloun & tent, & loged þam right wele ouer alle þer þam þink, Inouh þei had catele, & plente mete & drynk. Whan þei had alle eten, & watches mad alle preste, To gete þat þei had geten, R. ȝede to reste. ¶ Orely on þe morn his messe he ȝede to here, To Jhesu of Mary born þis was his prayere: "Lord Jhesu," he said, "als so verrayly "As my luf is on þe laid, & on þi moder Mary, "Help me to venge þi dede of þis Sarazins kynd, "þat gaf conseile & rede, þe to bete & bynd, "& namly on þat blode, þat com of fals Pilate, "þat wist sakles þou stode, whan he on þi dome sate. "Jhesu for þin honour, if it be þi wille, "I ask þe now socoure, my ȝernyng to fulfille.

RICHARD at Godesbord his messe had & his rightes, Here now swilk a word he spak to his knyghtes: "Of þis kyng Philip haf we no maner of help, "Togidir I rede we kip, þat men of vs ȝelp. "I vowe to Saynt Michael, & tille halwes þat are, "þat for wo ne wele hiþen ne salle I fare, "Ne tille Acres go, tille þe castelle be taken, "þat Philip went fro, for vs has it forsaken. "For his awen defaut with vs he has envie, "Go we to þe assaut þat God vs alle condie. ¶ þe dikes were fulle wide þat closed þe castelle about, & depe on ilk a side, with bankis hie without.

Was þer non entre, þat to þe castelle gan ligge, Bot a streite kauce, at þe end a drauht brigge, With grete duble cheynes drauhen ouer þe gate, & fyfti armed sueynes porters at þat ȝate. With slenges & magneles þei kast to kyng Richard, Our Cristen bi parcelles kasted ageynward. Ten sergeanz of þe best his targe gan him bere, þat egre wer & prest to couere him & to were. Himself as a Geant þe cheynes in tuo hew, þe targe was his warant, þat non tille him threw. Right vnto þe ȝate with þe targe þei ȝede, Fightand on a gate, vndir him þe slouh his stede. þer for ne wild he sesse, alone in to þe castele þorgh þam alle wild presse, on fote fauht he fulle wele. ¶ & whan he was withinne, & fauht as a wilde leon, He fondred þe Sarazins otuynne, & fauht as a dragon. Withoute þe Cristen gan crie, "allas! R. is taken, þo Normans were sorie, of contenance gan blaken. To slo doun & to stroye, neuer wild þei stint, þei left for dede no noye, ne for no wounde no dynt. þat in went alle þer pres, maugre þe Sarazins alle, & fond R. on des fightand, & wonne þe halle. No body bot he alone vnto þe Cristen cam, & slayn he had ilkone, þc lordes bot þre he nam. With þo þre o lyue his messengers went, Tille Acres gan þei dryue, to Philip mad present.

NOW is grete honour comen to Inglis men þorgh R. þe conquerour, his douhtynes we ken. Kyng Philip of France fulle gretely is he noyed, þat R. had suilk chance, þe castelle had destroyed. þorgh spie þe Soudan wist, þat Philip was no payed, No gamen him ne list, bot held him alle dismayed. To Philip a letter he sent þe Soudan Saladyn, A noþer to R. went, þat brouht a Sarazyn. þus þan gan he seye, als it wer for þer prowe, Unto þe kynges tueye, "þe Soudan gretes ȝow, "& sais for seuen ȝere God þan were þe trewe. "If ȝour God be so clere, & of so grete vertewe, "As ȝe preche oft tide, for sothe ȝe schew & seie, "We Sarazins on our side be þat tyme salle purueie, "þat þis lond salle be ȝours, & we bicome Cristen, "Withouten mo stours or blode spillyng of men, "& haf alle þat ȝe wan withouten gansaying. þerto ansuer gan Philip þe kyng, & said, "þer men bedis skille, skille men ouh to take. "þo þat wille not þat tille, skille salle þam forsake.

"ALLAS!" said Richard, "þat euer it suld be couth, "Or spoken efterward said of Cristen mouth, "þat for a Sarazins sawe, contreued of fals quayntise, "A Cristen man suld him withdrawe fro Jhesu Criste seruise. "Alle ere we hider comen, Jhesu Criste to serue, "þe way for him we nomen, for him to lyue & sterue. "His childre ere we alle, of God our fader biforn, "þis lond suld to vs falle, þer our fader was born.

"Jhesu was born here, & alle our first lynage, "We ere his childre dere, we clayme þis our heritage, "þat þise paen hondes our ancestre haf reft, "& þorgh hard woundes of þam salle reyme it eft. "Bot if þei wille with pes þis lond ȝeld vs alle quite, "þei salle þan haf reles, of fayth gode respite. "If þei at no certeyn wille ȝeld it vs with pes, "We salle wynne it ageyn, þat þei bifor vs les. "þat dos not his deuere with dede no with rede, "Hastely þis ȝere falle him þe ferynges dede.

PHILIP vnderstode, R. wild not consent, þat ilk conant forth ȝode, þat þe Soudan sent. Philip held him stille, & bigan to smyle, Men sais þat comes of ille, & þinkyng som gile. Noþeles day & oþer he purueied priuely, Of mast, saile, & roþer he dight his schip redy. ¶ Oft he sent for leue vnto kyng R. Sekenes gan him so greue, þat he mot wende homward. He was in poynt to ȝelde þe gaste, & sone to die, For euel he ne myght him welde, in bed behoued him lie. Sen oþer wais ne myght vaile, þan said R. for wo, "Philip now wille me faile, & alle gate wend me fro. "Conant holdes he non, þat he to Jhesu hight, "With body & soule alon to venge him at his myght. "Sen Jhesu he wille not venge, ne hold his vowe no þing, "He salle him chalenge þe day of his endyng.

"If he wille go or duelle, as he wille I wille wele, "þe despite, þat is to telle, to God is don ilk dele. ¶ Fulle oft biforhand bituex þam was distance, For wynnyng of þe land, þat R. wan þorgh chance. Haluendele asked Philip, as for first conant, & for felawschip of Cipres conquerand. Of þat Philip of France, for he suld haf grantise, Mad R. a quite clamance fro him & alle hise, & neuer þorgh no destresse suld clayme þer of no right. Philip with grete mekenesse his trouth þerto plight, Gascoyn & Normundie suld ȝeme at his powere, Withouten vilanie, tille his comyng were nere.

PHILIP tok his leue, withouten more essoyne His suld alle to cheue, tille Sir Hugh of Burgoyne. Alle þe Frankis oste Sir Hugh had in kepyng, Now sailes fro þat coste, home wendes Philip þe kyng. In þe se sailand he lendes toward Lumbardie, þe erle of Ostrice wendes with him companie. R. stille he leues, þe lond he wild more se, & Saladyn he reues þe flom of Cisare. At þat ilk flom Richard gaf bataile, Greuance had he som, here now of his trauaile. In Antioche, in Acres, in alle þo ilk cuntres, He set wardeyns watres, to kepe alle þe entres. Siþen toward Cayfas displaied his banere, & cuer his nauie was in þe se biside not fere.

RICHARD his his spie on Soudan Saladyn, Som said he suld lie at þe toun of Joppyn. To Joppyn whan he cam, þe Soudan was not þere, þe flom þe Soudan nam, R. forto affere. Saladyn priuely was bussed beside þe flom, & spied strete & stie what R. suld com, þat he suld not pas, ne mo man of his oste. þe water stopped was, þer passage suld be moste. Saladyn did stoppe þe dikes kank & bro, þat non suld ouer hoppe, ne man ne hors suld go þorgh þat enbussement, þat was so priuely, R. suld be schent, if þat way he com by.

RICHARD fast him drouh toward Cisare, To witte where or how þe best passage mot be. Whan R. þider cam, he sauh þer was tre gette, Passage non he nam, þe forthes wer withsette. R. beheld aboute, of gile he drede him neid, Of Sarazins a grete route, (þe lond was vmbeleid,) & alle þat suerd mot bere, or oþer wapen weld, Were sette R. to dere, enbussed þorgh þe feld. He said, "Jhesu mercy, & þi moder dere, "Wherfore we com & why, now we fynd þam here. Whan he sauh he ne myght passe on non wise, In þre parties to fight his oste he did deuise.

SIR James of Auenu he had þe first eschele, Was non of his vertu in armes did so wele, Gentille of norture, & noble of lynage, Was non þat bare armure, þat did suilk vassalage. Of werre & of bataile he was fulle auise, þer wisdom suld auaile was non so trewe als he. Pere had he non in þe lond þer he was born, He praied þe kyng on one he mot be first biforn, & he gaf him þe vamward, þe Sarazins oste to cleue, & he at kyng R. for euer þan toke his leue. þe kyng withoute essoyn suld be in þe midde, & þe erle of Burgoyn he suld haf þe þridde. With were þe templers, & þer fraternite, Fals in alle maners, so tellis þe stori me.

ON þe toþer side þe of þe Sarazin, In þe vamward suld ride þe Soudan Saladyn, Paien most worþi of alle þe lond of his kyn, So told me þe stori þat I fond writen in. In þe secund turbe was maister Coradyn Lord of Damas, his fader was Safadyn. Soudan so curteys neuer drank no wyne, þe same þe Romans sais þat is of Richardyn.

¶ & ouer þe þrid pas was maister Sir Melchyn, Lord of Baudas, & Sir Matifasyn, Lord of Galile, & þe stede þat Chayn, & Sire of þat cuntre, þer Abel was slayn. ¶ James of Auenue, he was verray pilgryn, He gan first remue þe croice mad on his bryn. On þer first eschel he smot in fulle hastif, & þorgh þam ilka del, als grehound or mastif, Tuys withouten encumbre, with suerd in his hand, He slouh withouten numbre, bifor him mot non stand. Biside com a Sarazins, bituex him & a bank, Sir Kalaphes Duryns, he smote of James schank. ¶ þan spak James, "þo a kosyn help Richard, "Fulle fer ert þou me fro, kast þe now to me ward. "þi sister sonne am I, þou eam & I cosyn. "þi fader kyng Henry in þe castelle Constantya "My moder þan gate he opon dame Auelyn. "Countas of Marche was sche, & or I ȝit do my fyn "My dede salle I venge on Kalaphes Duryn. "With a gode suerd of lorenge he smote þorgh þe Sarazin, James lese þer his hand, & died in þat pyn. On þe morn men him fand, & þe frere Baudwyn,

A frere of þe hospitalle, þe erle's sonne Paulyn, Was lord of Morian alle & of Mount Modyn.

WHAN R. herd say, þat James was slayn, He wend for dole to dey, he com as a wode man, & Saladyn sauh him cam, þer of fulle wele he lete, Ageyn R. he nam, togider gan þei mete, A kyng & a Soudan of alle þe world þe beste. R. tille him ran, a stroke on him he fest, He smote him in þe helm, bakward he bare his stroupe. þe body he did ouerwhelm, his hede touched þe croupe, He felle doun with þe dynt, bot son he ros vp light, Herneys nouht ne tynt, bot eft on hors fulle wight. R. at þat turne þe flom he wan fulle wele, For Sarazin ne wild he skurne þat were of his eschele. Fourti þousand paien, what drenkled & what slayn, & a þousand Cristen, so was þe tale certeyn. For soth þe þrid eschele fulle hard was bisted, þe templers ilk a dele failed & þien fled. þe `erle bakward was born, & alle þe Frankis men Fulle nere had þei bien lorn, bot þei cried, help Cristen. þe erle bigan to crie, "turne and help vs Richard, "Or els salle we die, þat ere in þis rereward.

"SIR," said kyng Guyon, "turne ageyn, I rede, "Frankis & Burgoillon, els alle gos to dede. "þe Soudan Saladyn has þam nere conquered, "þe templers magre myn, fals þei er & ferd. "If þei had standen nere, þe myght haf wonnen pris, "Non dos þer deuere, bot Raynald þe marchis. Said þe kyng R. "if þe duke be taken, "It salle be þam hard, bot þei haf him forsaken. þe flom sone he left, ageyn toke his gate, þe duke fro þam he reft, welnere he com to late. þe duke at þat bataile lost sex & þritty knyghtes, þre hundreth of pedaile, a hundreth sergeanz at rightes. þe duke alle þese les, & þo þat were olyue, R. for alle þe pres sauely did þam vp ryue. At þat tyme R. þere many a man slouh he, þe kyng sonne of Dare he smote in tuo his the. þe Soudan Saladyn he was fulle vnfayn, He fled with mykelle pyn vnto þe mountayn. R. has þe pris at þe flom of Cisare, þe Sarazin force doun his, Jhesu we þank þe.

ÞISE Sarazins were so fesid, þat fled was Saladyn, & Cisare has he sesid, Japht & Joppyn, Cades & Ascalon, alle has kyng Richard: Under him kyng Guyon had þam alle in ward. þe duke was in a cas, his wondes wer so grym, þat his leche was in ille hope of him, & R. was fulle dred, þe leche mot him not saue." Tille Acres þei him led, better hele to haue. In þer way ilk dele þei fond voide als hethe. þe toun of Mount Carmele, þe toun of Nazareth, þe strong castelle Pilryn, þat first wonnen was, Alle tok Ricardyn, Caloyn & Kayfas. Ilkon þise þei scised, tome alle þei fond, Seke were þer heised, heled þam of wound. ¶ þe Soudan to R. sent, to speke togider in glath, For þe pes it ment, & of no maner wrath. Ne no þing suld it greue vnto þe Cristiente, þe barons said bi leue, welcom mot he be. Saladyn come þider þat day þat he sette, þe barons wer togider, þe kynge & þam he grette. ¶ "Sir," said Saladyn, "þi God has grete powere, "Er alle þise Cristen þin, þat þou kepes here? "þise Inglis," said R. "in my kepyng þei are, "þe Frankis haf oþer ward, wiþ þe erle of Burgoyn þei fare.

"Bot þei be of þi faith, els do þei wrong, "þei stand alle to gode graith, whan þou ert þam among, "& þou ert comen fro ferne, & riche kyng is of fe, "If þou pes wille ȝerne, for þe & þi meyne, "& trewe for seuen ȝere, I consent þertille, "If þou has þat manere, to do euenhede & skille.

"CERTES Saladyn, "said þe kyng Richere, "To mak partie ageyn myn ȝit ha þou gode powere, "& for þe pes to seke has þou no mystere, "þertille to mak me meke, my herte to ȝit in wehere. "þou has power inouh, wherto askes þou pes? "& my wille wille not bouh, to grante þat þou ches. "If þou þe lond wille ȝeld, þerof is to speke, "& siþen if þou wild þi lay forsake & breke, "& take our bapteme of funte, as childre ȝing, "I salle gyue þe a reame, & do þe coroun kyng.

"SIR," said Saladyn, "þank I auh ȝow conne, "þat þou me profers of þin, & has non enchesonne. "If I myght þe paemie justise þam ilkone, "& non had seignorie bot I my self alone, "þan I trow my þouht myght acord to þin, "Bot now dar I nouht. My broþer Safadyn

"Is riche of tenement, his sonnes strong & stith, "þer wille wille not be went, ne lete þer lond ne lith. "Wild þe bicom Cristen, fulle eth I were to drawe, "Bot I dar not for þam alle one to leue our lawe.

RICHARD said, "per fay, go now & conseile þe, "& bi þe þrid day, þat salle haf certeynte. "Bi þan I salle þe say, how þat it salle go, "Of pes to haf þe way, or werre, on of þe tuo. Listen now a gile of Sir Safadyn, Contreued a wikked wile on his broþer Saladyn. ¶ Now wendes Saladyn þer his oste gan lie, His boþer Safadyn his comyng did spie, He sent to kyng R. a stede for curteisie, On of þe best reward, þat was in paemie: Bad him bi þat ȝere token, ware him for trieherie; Said, "Saladyn was fulle foen, on him may non affie, "He sais behind þi bak, in strange companie, "Wordes þat er to lak, he dar þe wele diffie, "If he & þou alone myght ȝow togider alie, "He myght withouten mone of þe wynne þe maistrie; "&, Sir, if þou be suilk, als men of þe crie, "Rebuke him for þat ilk of þat auauntrie. "If I may be auaile of hors or armurie, "Forsoth I salle not faile, to mende þi partie. Bot or þat day felle to stand, þat þer acorde suld be, Had R. herd tiþand out Normundie.

¶ "þe folk out of France to Normundie were comen, "To R. desceyuance his londes haf þei nomen. "Bot he com right son, Normundie to fende, "His right bes nouht doun soner þan any wend. Wherfore to som of his he schewed þam þe skille, To treus on alle wise him burd grant þertille.

UNDER þe mount Thabor, in a faire medue, Boþe þe parties wer þore to conseile for þe treue." "Sir," said Saladyn, "is it þi wille to say, "þis day is myn & þin, chese þou now what way. For Safadyn's sawe R. had enuie, Wherfore a gode þrawe he stod in a studie. þat sawe þat he þer said, so wele it was of leten, In boke it was vp laid, ȝit is it not forgeten. R. þis ansuerd to Saladyu for treu, For þo men þat it herd wrote vs þat word alle new.

"TREUS þou askes a þrowe, for tuo ȝere or þre, "þo men, þat þe knowe, say þou skornes me. "þe folk of paiemie þe word þer of fer gos, "Of alle þat seignorie þorghout þin is þe los; "In armes is þer none, þat to þi renoun reches, "Wherfor þou has gone, & of þi pruesse preches,

"þat if þou me mot mete bi our seluen tuo, "My lif I suld forlete, or my hede for go. "& if þou wille it proue, þat þou ert so worþi, "A stede tille our behoue here is on alle redi. "Now for þi grete valow, I ask þe a bone, "þat or we grante trew, fight we als so sone, "þan on non oþer side body so bolde to be, "On fote ne hors ride, to socour me no þe. "& whilk of vs is doun, & mad is recreant, "Cleyme & accioun he lese, & þe remanant "Of þat ilk land, þat Cristen euer auht, "þat þei held in þer hand of God þat þam it tauht. ¶ þan said Saladyn, "if þou fynd any man, "Cristen or Sarazin, þat what tyme or whan, "I mad auancement with þe alone to fight, "Bot I to bataile went for my reame's right, "Here I salle þe gyue alle myn heritage, "& als along as I lyue to be in þin ostage. ¶ þe maister of þe Temple com procurand þe pes, "No more of þis to demple, tak þat þat ȝe first ches. Saladyn for alle hise hette to hold conaunt, Seuen ȝere at his deuise, & R. þer to graunt, þat ilk a Cristen man suld hold & haue certeyn Alle þat he þer wan, & no þing ȝeld ageyn.

NOW is it in forward alle pesed & wele ent, Now turne kyng R. tille Acres is he went. After kyng Guyon & for his sonne he sent, Of Antioche Reymon him also he ment, Aunfrey of Turoyn he was þer present, Of Triple erle Bumoun fulle suiþe þider glent, Sir Ruffyn broþer Leoun, alle þise held parlement. Kyng R. his resoun said þam, "how he was schent, "Philip did him tresoun, destroied his tenement. "For to stanch his foysoun homward haf I ment. "Normundie alle doun, mykelle þer of is brent "& slayn blak & broun of alle þat he mot hent. "I wille of þat feloun tak vengement, "þat fo fordos my coroun, if grace be to me lent. ¶ "Wherfor ȝe lordynges, ȝe ere me lefe & dere, "I take in ȝour kepynges þe londes þat we wonne here. "þe freres of þe hospital, & þe temple also, "Biseke þam I salle, þat þei help ȝow þerto. "Now haf I don & said, & tauht ȝow þat I may, "My hope is on ȝow laid, lordynges haf gode day.

THE prince of Antioche, & þe kyng Guyon, Bumunde erle of Triple, & Aunfrey of Turoun, þise had in þer ward cite, kastelle & toun, þat þe kyng R. wan of Sarazin feloun, & Isaac þe Emperour takes his liuerisoun, With freres mad soioure in temple dominoun.

His douhter with þe quene was for hir warisoun, & so felle it to bene, hir fader lese þe coroun, & as R. home went toward þis regioun, Or he were taken or hent, or holden in prisoun, He gaf his sistere þat while vnto þe erle Reymoun Lord of Saynt Gile, aman of grete renoun. I fond in my boke, what skille ne for whi, þat he his folk forsoke, & ȝede so priueli. Aufrice to aspie him were better haf left, þer in þorgh felonie was he robbed & reft, Taken with enmys & holden in prisoun, I kan not say þe pris was gyuen for his ransoun. In prison was he bonden, as þe Romance sais, In cheynes & lede wonden, þat heuy was of peis. A noþer pyne he had, if it may be trod, With iren nayles sad, it sais, his fete was schod.

þerfor þe pape of Rome cursed þam wroþerheile, Alle þat did þat dome, or þerto gaf conseile. His moder dame Alienore, & þe barons of þis land, For him trauailed sore, & brouht him out of band.

WHAN he of bond was brouht for raunson þat was riche, His moder so bisouht, he aryued at Sandwiche. To Canterbire fulle euen he souht to haf his bote, Miles he ȝede seuen to Saynt Thomas on fote. With fulle riche offeryng he wirschipped S. Thomas. His praier did him bryng out of his hard cas, þanked God & him so wele for him had schaped, þat of his anguys grim so lightly was escaped.

TO while þat R. was biȝond þe se in hold, Jon did him trespas, his rentes tok & sold, His castels sesed & brak, bigan a grete distance, & neuer no word spak of R. deliuerance. Bot als a kyng of lond Jon bare him fulle stoute, þerfor R. wele fond with dome to chace him oute, & deme him als a noþer, for his vnkynd folie. To kyng R. his broþer Jon mercy gan crie, þer moder þam bisouht, for to be at one. Of trespas þat he had wrouht R. forgaf it Jon & said, "þi misdede be in þi mynsyng, "Euer more to drede, eft to do suilk þing, "& I wille neuer more on þi trespas þenk, "If þou repent þe sore, þat þou did suilk a blenk.

RICHARD to Londen wendes, to hold parlement, For his barons sendes, & þei alle to him went. At Westminster ilkone parlement þei held, To þam he mad his mone, & þus to þam teld. ¶ "Lordynges of my chance wele ȝe auh to wite, "& þat þe kyng of France wille me disherite. "For þat I was bistad biȝond þe se in hold, "þerfor Philip is glad, & beres him fulle bold. "My castels he takes, & seises my citez, "Destruction he makes of rentes & feez. "Wherfore barons dere, sais me a gode certeyn, "& how & what manere my lond to gete ageyn. ¶ þan spak þe erle Rogere, as a man fulle wys, "Erles with þar powere, barons þat er of pris, "Knyghtes gode & wight, sergeanz alle in ferd, "þise salle alle be dight, & help þe with þer suerd. "Bisshopes & persons, burgeis of citez, "& rich merchandes eftsons salle help with þer mone. "Abbay & priorie, & oþer religions, "For vs salle pray & crie in þer afflictions. "Better is holy bede of man þat right lyues. "& standes vs in more stede, þan alle þe gode he gyues. ¶ þe comen wele was paied of þat conseilyng, þat it were not delaied so was R. þe kyng.

NOW wille kyng R. alle his lond extende, Merschalle & stiward þerfor about dos sende, & homage & feaute he askes & releue, þe barons er fulle fre, to do as to þer chefe.

Now has þe kyng wele sped, & comen ageyn to London, & penies with him led, & spendyng has he fondon. His barons alle aboute fast tille him drowe, With hors & armes stoute, þer com tille him inowe. R. wendes to schip, he wille no lenger duelle, þe boste of kyng Philip fayn þan wild he felle.

ARIUED is R. at Depe in Normundie, He lay þer half a ȝere, estres to aspie. & whan he sauh he myght, on his folk affie, His werre ordeynd & dight to þo þat couþe þam guye. To Gascoyne þat he were fulle smertly he gan hie, Cursels a castelle þere he wan with maistrie. þe sergeanz þat it held wer in poynt to die, To prison þei þam ȝeld, bot mercy gan þei crie. ȝit he tok a pray, þorgh quayntise & spie, Burrez he wan þat day, boþe hous & seignorie, At þe dangu þat nyght he tok his herbegerie. To Cursels Philip had tight with alle his companie, He ne wist it ȝolden was, tille he com so nehi. Whan he wist, he fled þat pas, to Gisors tok þe stie. R. perceyued þis, þat Philip to Gisors fled, He comanded his Inglis, þat after fast þei sped. þei com Philip so nere, þat he cried, "tak þe kyng," Bot non so hardi were, to smyte him for no þing. Me þouht kyng Philip inouh was disconfite, Whan he & alle his trip for nouht fled so tite.

Pauillon & tent Philip bihynd him left, To R. was it sent, no þing þerof reft. For mykelle lete þei ligge, þerof mad þei no force, Philip vnto þe brigge þei chaced him of Gisors. On þe brigge were alle þe vamward & þe rere, Under þam þe brigge gan falle doun in to þe riuere. Philip & his meyne in þe water lay, Schame him was to fle, & so him com þat day.

A Knyght a bourdour kyng R. hade, A douhty man in stoure, his name was Markade. He sauh kyng Philip als he lay in þe water, "Sir kyng rise vp & skip, for þou has wette þi hater. "þou fisshes not worþe a lekc, rise & go þi ways, "For þou has wette þi breke, schent is þi hernays. þe brigge was brode & long, boþe of tre & stoncs, Whan so mykelle þrong was þer on at ones. Sex hundreth mot men se, so fele fallen þer were, Of whilk þritty & þre did þer endyng þere. R. comanded alle gate, þat Philip suld men saue, For no þing suld þei late, bot help þat lif mot hauc. Of Mount Morice Mathi a baron renome, Sir Alayn of Russie, Sir Fouke de Geffre,

þise grete were alle taken, & þer knyghtes þam bi, Makade held þam waken, & tok of þam tuenti. þe prisons he had in ward, for he was gode & trewe: Now turnes kyng R. to se his lond Anjowe. Sen þis ilk tyme bifore or afterward, I knowe no more to ryme of dedes of kyng R. Who so wille his dedes alle þe soth se, þe romance þat men redes þer is the propirte. þis þat I haf said it is Pers sawe, Als he in romance laid, þer after gan I drawe.

THE ferth day formest next Palmesonenday, þe tyme, as I gest, R. ȝede to play þorgh a cuntre, men calle it Lymosin, þe castelle manaced he þat Philip had þer in. R. com ouer nere, þe castelle to aspie, þat sauh an alblastere, a quarelle lete he flie, & smote him in þe schank, for þat stroke, allas! It bigan to rank, þe querelle envenomed was. Siþen on þe nyent day died kyng Richard, He ligges at an abbay men calle Founz Ebrard. He regned nien ȝere, & sex monethes mo, Maugre þe alblastere, þat þus R. gan slo. I wene it hate Chahalouns, or it hate Galiard, Ouþer þe castelle or þe toun, þer smyten was R. A thousand & a hundred þe date nienti & nien, þat R. fro vs sundred, dede he was with pine.

NOW is kyng R. dede, & laid in stone, Non heire was afterward, bot his broþer Jon. His broþer erle Geffrey right heire felle to be, (Bot after R. day Jon tok þe dignite Or Arthure his sonne,) if he had had his lif. Bot Jon was þe enchesonne, & moued þer a strif. Tiþing here we say, þat Jon wille wedded be, þe erle of Aquiley his douhter takes he, Elizabeth þe gent, fair lady was sche, Tuo sons of þer descent, tuo douhters ladies fre.

THE Ersbisshop Hubert of Canterbire þe se Com with gode hert, to do þe solempnite. At Westmynster, þorgh assent of erle & baroun, To þat I ore ment Hubert gaf þe coroun, & enoynted he was als kyng þorgh resoun. Jon did ay trespas, men fond in him enchesoun, He lyued in wo & strife, & in tribulacioun. He was of licherous life, þorgh what his nacioun Partie ageyn him ches, & wild haf born him doun. Normundie he les at his confusioun, In þe courte of France he was cald a feloun For Arthure dede þat chance, his broþer sonne Geffroun, Erle was of Bretayn, þat to þis lond had right For to haf bien cheftayn. If Jon his dede had dight My maister nouht he wrote, to write he me forbede. Noþeles wele I wote, siþen þe child was dede,

Jon had right þertille, þe lond to haf in ward. þat Arthur suld bi skille haf bien heyre next Richard: Arthure sister ȝing for dole þat maiden suete For sorow scho mad endyng, hir name was Margarete.

NOW þe bode is gon to France, Arthure is dede, & somond haf þei Jon, to Philip courte him dede, To tak his Jugement of þat felonse, His dede to him þei ment, Arthur's þe Bretaynie. Jon dred þat wendyng, to France wild he nouht, Wherfor Philip þe kyng on londes souht, Tolouse & Tolousan seised & Normundie, þorgh slauhter of þat man Jon les þat seignorie. What dos þe kyng of France? atires him gode nauie Tille Inglond, ochance to wynne it with maistrie. He wend haf wonne þis lond as he did Tolousan, þe cuntre sone he fond in his berd redy ran. þe Walsch & oþer inow, with þam of Peuenese, þe Frankis men þei slow, Philip was fayn to fle.

NOW is Philip fled, here wan he bote lite, & Jon Northward him sped, his lond for to visite. Unto Scotlond he sent after kyng William, To Lincoln William went, & Jon ageyn him cam, Withoute þe toun a myle, & in þe wyntertide, þe day of Saynt Cecile þer parties gan abide. Homage he did him suere, & feaute in fere, þat faith he suld him bere, at alle his powere.

Boke þer was non fette, ne non þer after fore, Hubert his croice doun sette, & William þeron suore. þis is þe same Hubert, þat þe saw of nam, þat trrnslate S. Gilbert in þe hous of Sempyngham.

NOW Hubert is dede our Sire, & to God is gon, þe Prioure of Canterbire sendes to kyng Jon, Bisouht him of leue, to mak eleccion, To chese þe suld cheue aman of gode renoun. Jon wrote to þe couent, bisouht þam alle holyche, þat þei wille make present to þe bisshop of Norwyche. Of som he had grantise his wille forto do, & som said oþerwise, þat it suld not be so. Alle þe priour side þe suppriour þei ches, Oþer for enuie & pride þe voice of many he les. þe priour said, "þis day þe suppriour chese we, þe toþer side said, "nay, þe kynge's praier salle be. With him of Norwiche grete partie gan hald, Wherfor boþe holyche to Rome þe parties cald. Monkes fourtene with him of Norwyche held, In a voice alle bidene vnto þe kyng þe teld, & suore him in leaute, how so euer bitid, Norwyche he suld be Ersbisshop sacrid. þise monkes stoute & stark, to spede wele þei wend, þe kyng þre hundreth mark gaf þam forto spend.

NOW er þei alle on gate, vnto þe courte þei cam, Eleccion þorgh hate it falles to no fram. To þe pape of Rome þei mostred þer resoun, þe pape at his dome þer elites quassed doun, Eft he bad þam chese a man of gode renoun, Or þei suld þer voice lese of alle þer eleccioun. Now is þer voice alle laid to Norwyche partie, Bifor þe pape þei said, Norwyche is most worþie. þe pape wild not consent, he quassed þer elite. þe monkes alle were schent, suspended þam als tite. þe pape þei felle biforn, mercy gan him crie, Unto þe kyng þe suorn, to maynten his partie. þe pape þam assoled, & set þam vp at des, So þei were conseiled, of Langton Steuen þei ches. þise monkes were dismaied for Steuen of Langton, þe pape þer of was paied, mad þe confirmacion. Maister Steuen of Langtone Ersebisshop salle be, þe kyng casten doun. who was wroth bot he?

WHAN þe kyng vnderstod, þat his clerk was forsaken, For soth þan was he wode, & maister Steuen taken. þe clergie of þat schire so euelle he þam led, þe monkes of Canterbire fro þer cloistere þam fled, & gaf it to Brabans þe cloister in kepyng. þorgh conseil of Sathans wrouht þer Jon þe kyng, þe pape sauh out of cours þe wikkednes of Jon, Him & his fautours he cursed euerilkon, & enterdited þis Iond, þat messe was non said, A ded man if men fond, in kirke ȝerd was non laid.

He was a fole of lif, & vsed lichorie, Both mayden & wif alle wild he ligge bie. What did þe baronage & burgeis of Cite? Distroied & did outrage of castelle, toun & fe. About þei gan him chace, & hunted him als hayre, Long had he no space to duelle no wele fare. Many men of his kynde sauh him so abaued, For him þei fauht with mynde, & oft so was he saued.

ALS þis wo was lastand in cursyng perilouse, Kyng William of Scotland did his douhter spouse To þe erle of Boloyn, & whan Jon it wist, Withouten any essoyn, North alle gate him list. Son he wan Berwik, a castelle he þouht to reise, He cast þe ground walle þik, his folk he þouh þer eise. William he þouht to greue, for þat grete despite, þat he withouten leue, his douhter gaf marite. Edenburgh & Rokesburgh vp þat he asked quite, & his sonne Alisandere for ostage ȝeld him tite. Bot þe kyng William alle þis ageynsaid, In conaunt þat þei nam with pes alle was it laid. ¶ Of William has Jon þe pris, toward þe South he drouh, & rennes on his enmys, & dos þam schame inouh, & his enmys on him, & destroyed alle his fez, Ilk one tille oþer were grim þorgh tounes and citez. So þat holy kirke, & alle þe ordinez, & bisshop wo he wike, & clerkes of dignitez: þei rene þam prouendes, þorgh power þat þei haue, & no man þam defendes, no wille þam help no saue.

¶ Oft was þe pleynt mad vnto þe pape. þe manfesours ateynt, & cursed ouer þe nape. þe pape of þer erroure had fulle grete pite, H sent to þer socoure tuo legates ouer þe se. At Douere þei gan ariue, Pandolf & Durand, To London gan þei driue, þe barons þer þei fand, þorgh Pandolf prechyng þer werre was brouht tille ende. þe barons & þe kyng were mad felauhes & frendes, Asoiled & alle on euen, bot þe kyng an oth suore, He suld him venge on Steuen, whider so euer he fore, & of þo fourtene monkes, where men mot þam finde, Be beten alle fonkes or in prison þam binde. ¶ Pandolf & Durand did com forth þe Ersbisshop, & þe monkes forþ þei fand, Jon said, þei suld hedeles hop. Pandolf proued þe kyng, in his disputeson, He mayntend wrongfulle þing, & wild to no reson. He proued þorh wisdam in ilk manere cas, þat þe kyng misnam, & did grete trespas. Alle gate þe kyng he pesed, so þat þe werre was ent, & ilk a clerke sesed ageyn to haf his rent. Pandolf tok his leue, & to Rome went, I trow on him gan cleue many riche present. Now is Pandolf gone, & Steuen Ersbisshop es, Assoiles kyng Jone of alle his wikkednes. Jon has sonnes tuo bi Elizabeth þe quene, & tuo douhters also, fairere were non sene. Henry was eldest, heyre of alle his þing, & Richard ȝongest, of Almayn chosen kyng.

Isabelle fair as floure, þat neuer childe had, Frederik þe Emperour Emperice home hir lad. þe erle of Leycestre þe toþer weddid here, & Jon regned in þis estre kyng auhten ȝere. At þe abbay of Suynesheued þer he drank poyson, At Hauhe his lif he leued, so say men of þat toun. A þousand & tuo hundred þe date was & sextene, His tyme was alle forwondred, & endid alle with tene.

AT Westmynstere euen es Jon laid solempnely, þe Ersbisshop Steuen corouned his sonne Henry, A gode man alle his lyue, of pouer men had mercie, Clerkes þat wild þryue, auanced þam richelie:

Kirkes wild he dele prouendis þat wer worþie, To clerkes of his chapele, þat wele couþ syng & hie.

HENRY kyng our prince at Westmynster kirke þe erlys douhter of Prouince, þe fairest may o lif, Hir name is Helianore, of gentille norture, Biȝond þe se þat wore was non suilk creature. In Inglond is sche corouned þat lady gent, Tuo sonnes, tuo douhteres fre Jhesus has þam lent, Edward & Edmunde, knyght gode in stoure, Of Laicestre a stounde was Edmunde erle & floure. Vnto þe Scottis kyng was married Margarete, Of Bretayn Beatrice ȝing þe erle had þat mayden suete. Faire is þe werk & hie in London at Westmynster kirke, þat þe kyng Henrie of his tresore did wirke. Grace God gaf him here, þis lond to kepe long space, Sex & fifty ȝere withouten werre in grace; Bot sone afterward failed him powere, Bot his sonne Edward was his conseilere. Our quene þat was þen dame Helianore his wife, þe gode erle of Warenne Sir Hugh was þan olife,

Sir William of Valence, Sir Roger Mortimere, Jon Mauncelle þe clerke, & an erle Richere, & oþer knyghtes inowe of bi ȝond þe se, To þe kyng drowe, auanced wild þei be. Edward suffred wele, his fadere haf his wille, þe barons neuer a dele said þe kyng did ille, Aliens to auaunce ouþer in lond or rent. To mak disturbaunce þei held a parlement. Of þe aliens ilk taile þe lond voided clere, Of þe kyng & his consaile þei sent a messengere. þe kyng sent þam ageyn, his barons alle þei grette, At Oxenford certeyn þe day of parlement sette.

AT þis parlement rested þat distaunce, For þer was it ent, aliens to auaunce. þe kynge's state here paires, þorgh conseil of baroun, To him & his heyres grete disheriteson. Of wardes & relefe þat barons of him held, þer ne was ore of chefe, tille him no þing suld ȝeld; & oþer þat held of þam, þer þe kyng felle be partie, Nouht of þat suld claym of all þat seignorie. Tille ilk a lordyng suld ward & relefe falle, Bot tille þe kyng no þing, he was forbarred alle. þe kyng perceyued nouht of þat ilk desceit, þe chartre was forth brouht with wittnes enseled streit.

Ne no men þat were strange in courte suld haf no myght, Ne office to do no chance withouten þe comon sight. þis þei did him suere, als he was kyng & knyght, þat oth suld he were, & maynten wele þat right.

THE kyng was holden hard, þorgh þat he had suorn, His frendes afterward, þo þat were next born, þe com to him & said, "Sir, we se þin ille, " þi lordschip is doun laid, & led at oþer wille. " We se þis ilk erroure nouht þou vnderstode. " It is a dishonoure to þe & to þi blode, " þou has so bonden þe, þei lede þe ilk a dele. " At þer wille salle þou be, Sir, we se it wele, " Calle ageyn þin oth, drede þou no manace, " Nouþer of lefe ne loth, þi lordschip to purchace, " þou may fulle lightly haf absolutioun, " For it was a gilery, þou knew not þer tresoun. " þou has frendis inowe in Inglond & in France, " If þou turne to þe rowe, þei salle drede þe chance. ¶ þe kyng listned þe sawe, at þat consail wild do, þe barons had grete awe, whan þei wist he wild so,

þei tok & sent þer sond after Sir Symoun. þe Mountfort out of lond was, whan þis was don. A message þei him sent, þe Mountfort son home cam, þe barons with on assent to Sir Symon þei nam. þei teld him þe processe of alle þer comon sawe, & he as fole alle fresse fulle eth þer to to drawe. Withouten his conseile, or þe kynge's wittyng, To maynten þer tirpeile he suore ageyn þe kyng, þe statute for to hold in werre & in pes, þe poyntes þat þei him told, þerfor his life he les. Hardely dar I say he did a perte folie, Als wys men þis way, here ferst þe toþer partie.

SIR Symon was hastif, his sonnes & þe barons Sone þei reised strif, brent þe kynge's tounes, & his castels tok, held þam in þer bandoun. On his londes þei schok, & robbed vp & doun. þo þat þer purueiance of Oxenford not held, With scheld & with lance fend him in þe feld. In alle þis barette þe kyng & Sir Symon Tille a lokyng þam sette, of þe prince suld it be don. An oth suore þei þare, to stand to þe ordinance, Ouer þe se to fare bifor Philip of France, At his dome suld it be, withoute refusyng. þer for went ouer þe se Sir Henry our kyng. þe quene wild not duelle, to þe kyng gan hir hie. þus my boke gan telle, scho tok grete vilanie Of þe Londreis alle, whan scho of London went. Whi þat it suld falle I ne wote what it ment;

Bot whan þe kyng of France had knowen certeynly, þat þe purueiance disherite kyng Henry, He quassed it ilk dele þorgh jugement. þe kyng was paied wele, & home to Inglond went. Whan Sir Symon wist, þe dome ageyn þam gon, His felonie forth thrist, samned his men ilkon, Displaied his banere, lift vp his dragoun, Sone salle ȝe here þe folie of Symoun.

THE erle did mak a chare at London þorgh gilery, Himself þer in suld fare, & seke he wend to ly. Sexti þousand of London armed men fulle stoute To þe chare were fondon, to kepe it wele for doute. þer þe bataile suld be, to Leaus þai gan þam alie, þe kyng & his meyne were in þe priorie. Symoun com to þe feld, & put vp his banere, þe kyng schewed forth his scheld, his dragon fulle austere. þe kyng said on hie, "Symon ieo vous defie; Edward was hardie, þe Londres gan he ascrie. He smote in alle þe route, & sesid him þe chare, Disconfited alle aboute þe Londreis þat þer ware. Edward wend wele haf fonden þe erle þer in, Disceyued ilk a dele, he went & myght not wyn. Towhille Sir Edward was aboute þe chare to take, þe kynge's side, allas! Symoun did doun schake. Unto þe kynge's partie Edward turned tite, þan had þe erle þe maistrie, þe kyng was disconfite. þe soth to say & chese, þe chare's gilerie Did Sir Edward lese þat day þe maistrie.

þe fourtend day of May þe batail of Leaus was A þousand & tuo hundreth sexti & foure in pas. ¶ þe kyng of Almayn was taken to prisoun, Of Scotlond Jon Comyn was left in a donjoun. þe erle of Warenne, I wote, he scaped ouer þe se, & Sir Hugh Bigote als with þe erle fled he. Many faire ladie lese hir lord þat day, & many gode bodie slayn at Leaus lay. þe numbre non wrote, for telle þam mot no man, Bot he þat alle wote, & alle þing scs & can. Edward, þat was ȝing, with his owen rede, For his fader þe kyng himself to prison bede. For þe kyng of Almayn his neuow was ostage, In prison nere a ȝere was Edward in cage.

Aboute with Sir Symoun þe kyng went þat ȝere, Cite, castelle & toun alle was in þe erle's dangere. It was on a day Edward þouht a wile, He said he wild asay þer hors alle in a mile. He asayed þam bi & bi, & retreied þam ilkone, & stoned þam alle wery, standand stille as stone. A suyft stede þer was a lady þider sent, Edward knowe his pas, þe last of alle him hent, Asaied him vp & doun, suyftest he was of alle. þat kept him in prisoun, Edward did him calle, "Maister haf gode day, soiorne wille no more, "I salle ȝit, if I may my soiorne, trauaile sore. þe stede he had asaied, & knew þat he was gode, In to þe watere he straied, & passed wele þat flode. ¶ Whan Edward was ouere graciously & wele, He hoped haf recouere at Wigemore castele. Edward is wisely of prison scaped oute, Felaus he fond redy, & mad his partie stoute. þe erle's sonnes wer hauteyn, did many folie dede, þat teld a knyght certeyn to þe erle als þei boþe ȝede.

THE erle ȝede on a day, to play him with a knyght, & asked him on his play, "what haf I be sight? þe knyght ansuerd & said, "in ȝow a faute men fynde, "& is an ille vpbraid, þat ȝe ere nere blynde. þe erle said, "nay perde, I may se right wele. þe knyght said, "Sir nay, ȝe vnneþ is any dele. "For þou has ille sonnes, foles & vnwise, "þer dedes þou not mones, ne nouht wille þam chastise.

"I rede þou gyue gode tent, & chastise þam sone, "For þam ȝe may be schent, for vengeance is granted bone. þe erle ansuerd nouht, he lete þat word ouer go, No þing þer on he þouht, tille vengeance felle on þo. Euer were his sonnes hauteyn, & bold for þer partie, Boþe to knyght & sueyn did þei vilanie. For lefe ne for loth, folle wild þei not spare, Wherfor wex with þam wroth Sir Gilbert of Clare. Sir Gilbert herd say of þer dedes ille, Of non þe had ay to stynt ne hold þam stille. þer of Edward herd say, þat Gilberd turned his wille, To Gilbert tok his way, his luf to tak & tille. Sone þei were at one, with wille at on assent His luf fro Munfort gon Itelle Symon for schent. Treuth togidere þei plight Edward & Gilbert, Ageyn Symon to fight, for ouht þat mot be herd. Mercy suld non haue Symon no his sonnes, No raunson suld þam saue for doute of drede eftsones. Schent is ilk baroun, now Gilbert turnes grim, þe Mountfort Sir Symoun most affied on him. "Allas! Sir Gilbert þou turned þin oth, "At Stryuelyn men it herd, how God þer for was wroth.

THE erle sonnes vp & doun of parties mad þei bost, Towhils at Northamptoun þise kynges gadred ost. Symon sonnes it left, to Killyngworth þei went, & þer þe soiorned eft, þer rioterie þam schent. Suilk ribaudie þei led, þei gaf no tale of wham, Towhils Sir Edward had seisid alle Euesham.

¶ þe fift day it was after Lammesse tide, & writen is in þat pas, at Euesham gan þei ride. In þe alder next þat þe bataile was of Leaus, þe gynnyng of heruest, as þe story scheawes, Com Symon to feld, & þat was maugre his, Or euer he lift his scheld, his wist it ȝed amys. He was on his stede, displaied his banere, He sauh þat treson ȝede, doun went his powere. He sauh Sir Edward ride, batailed him ageyn, Gloucestre þe toþer side, þan wist þe erle certeyn, His side suld doun falle, tille his he said sone: "God haf our saules alle, our dayes ere alle done, Edward first in rode, & perced alle þe pres. þo þat him abode þer lyues alle þei les. He mad his fader quite of prison þer he lay, Deliuerd him als tite with dynt of suerd þat day. Hard was þat bataile, & ouer grete þe folie, So scharply gan þai assaile, so mykille folk gan die. Stoutly was þat stoure, long lastand þat fight, þe day lost his coloure, & mirk was as þe nyght. þe lif of many man þat ilk day was lorn, þo þat it first bigan wrotherhaile wer þei born.

NOW is þe bataile smyten, Sir Symon is þer slayn, His sonnes, als ȝe witen, died on þat playn. His membres of þei schare, & bare þam to present Sir Hugh Despenser, þare als he to dede went. Sir Rauf þe gode Basset did þer his endyng, Sir Pers of Mountfort fet his dede at þat samenyng.

Sir Guy Baliol died þore a ȝong knyght & hardy, He was pleyned more þan oþer tuenty. þise & many mo died in þat stoure, þe kyng may sauely go, & maynten his honour. Pris þan has þe sonne, þe fadere maistrie, þer went Northampton, so wild kyng Henrie.

AT þe parlement was flemed barons fele, þe countas of Leicestre, hir sonnes wild no man spele. Oþer lordes inowe of erles & barouns, To þe wod som drowe, & som left in prisouns. To say longly or schorte, alle armes bare. Almerik or Mountfort depriued was þare, & þe tresorie, þat he had in kepyng, & gaf þat ilk bailie tor þe Mortimere sonne ȝing. ¶ A legate Ottobon þe pape hider sent, To mak þe barons on þorgh his prechement. þe quene com out of France, & with hir alle þo, þat for þe purueiance were exild to go, Saue Jon þe Maunselle, he died biȝond þe se, Als chance for him felle, þe toþer welcom be. ¶ A thousand & tuo hundred, & sex & sexti, þat þat er fled & sundred þo rise ageyn Henri. For after þe takyng of Kilyngworth castelle, þe flemed ageyn þe kyng ros eft fulle rebelle.

For þe men þat were fled disherited of þer londes, To purches þam þei sped, now ilk of þam so fondes. Robert of Ferers he robbėd boþe & slouh Bi nyght in stede sers, & tille his felawes drouh. Of þam was þer non þat lufed kyng Henry, To Chestrefeld ilkon þe com vngratiously. þe kyng did þam spie with gode men of renoun, Com on þam priuelie, assailed þam in þe toun. þe barons fauht ageyn, þei wist of no socoure, Many of þam wer slayn, & som passed at honour. þat was þe gode Deyuile, he did wele his deuere, þat stoure he held a while, & passed quite & clere. ¶ In þe monyng eft bigan a new stoure, Robert Ferers þer left, Baudewyn þe vauasoure Lord of Chestrefeld, þise myght not lightly fle. þer side alle doun held, taken were þer meyne Robert Wollerton, I trowe for som trespas, He had grete renoun, on Kene hanged he was. ¶ þis douhty Deyuile his name was Sir Jon, Of Axholm to þe Ile he scaped himself alon. For to robbe & reue, þer he held his haunt, He wild spare ne leue burgeis no merchaunt. & whan he dred him ouht, for ouercomyng of mo Toward þe South he souht, als he were non of þo, Bot as a passand man, felawes forto seke, So often away he wan, & vmwhile cheke bi cheke. þus did þe Deyuile more þan haf a ȝere, & gadred him þat while inouh of powere.

¶ Whan þei wer inowe, on whilk þei mot afie, To Lyncoln þei drowe, & þer þei suld relie. þe tuelft day of Aprile, whan þer powere was grete, & went alle at o wile, in to Lyncoln þei schete. þorghout þe Juery þei robbed þam & slouh, þe cofres with tresory þe braken & þe awey drouh. þe chartres & þe scris þat noied Cristen men, þat lay for vsure in pris elleuen als for ten, Were casten in fire & brent in podels vilaynly, Of Jues slayn & schent a hundred & sexty. ¶ Whan Sir Edward herd, þat þei had Lyncoln taken, & þe Juerie misferd, þer tresorie ouerschaken, He sped him þider in haste, with hilled hors of pris, He com & fond alle waste, away were þo enmys, þei went to þe ilde of Hely vnto Sir Hugh Pecche, þei manned þam so boldely, on þam had non entre. Edward lete not wele, þat he with þam not mette, To Kilyngworth castele he went, þe sege to sette. Fro Midsomeretide to þe Apostle S. Thomas þe fled mayntend þer side, þe castelle holden was. For alle þat þider went, Sir Edward & ilkon, Untille þe pape sent his legate Ottobon. Whan þis legate was comen, of som he was bisouht, In forward out þei nomen, els wild þei nouht. Sir Henry of Hastyng he ȝald it bi his wille, Ouer alle maner þing life & lymmes haf stille, & alle þer tresorie, þat þerin was fonden, Withouten vilenie vnto þe pes bonden.

þis legate Ottobone mad a cursyng hard Of þam euerilkone, þat brak þat afterward; & som of þer heyres so hard charged wore, & ȝit many it peyres, & som has satled sore. ¶ þan went þis Ottobone þorghout þe cuntre, & quaynted him with ilkone, lewed & ordine, & many of þam wer mendid of folies þorgh his dome, & he þe better spendid als he went to Rome.

SIR Edward vnto þe ilde he went of Hely, With many man fulle wilde to bataile redy. Edward alle aboute he spied in to ride, With in had þei no doute, defendid on ilk side. So ageyn Edward þei held it half a ȝere, þei sauh þe sege so hard, þei sent a messengere, þei ilde forto ȝelde at his owen biddyng, If he þam saue wilde ageyn Henry our kyng. Edward was curteys, & man fulle of mercy, With hors & herneys he went to kyng Henry. ¶ Right in alle þis fare wex an euel chek, Ageyn Gilbert of Clare þe kyng was in contek. Sir Edward was witnes, whi þe wrath suld be, Bot ȝit to me it es forsoth als priuete. þe men þat were in þe ilde of þis contek herd, þe conseiled þam a while, & siþen to London ferd To Gilbert of Clare, & mayntend his powere. With him bileft þei þare a quarter of a ȝere. Men in hert it kast, þat were of gode avis, It myght not long last suilk werre & partis.

þe partis conseile hent, messengers þei ches, Unto þe kyng þei sent, for a finalle pes. At þe last right nede, pesed behoued it be, So þat ilk man ȝede with pes to his cuntre.

EDWARD als so quik toward þe North him sped, þe castelle of Alnewik he tok, & with him led þe gode lord Vescy, þat was so trew a knyght, To kepe þat seignory he tok tille on þat myght. Sir Edward com to London, þer was his fader Henry. On knes he felle to grounde, & praied for the Vescy. þe kyng was fulle curteis, forgaf him ilk a dele, þe lord of Kilyngworth als þat tyme sped wele. His body did þe saue withouten prisoun, His londes forto haue, he gaf þe kyng raunson. ¶ Right als þis werre was ent, & þe lond in state, þe pape his bulle sent hider vnto þe legate, & comanded him to preche þorgh alle þe lond, þe Sarazins do grete wreche, þe Cristen for to schond. Unto þe kyng of France was sent an oþer legate, þat teld him of þat chance, whan Lowys herd of þat, Himself þe first was croised on his flessh. Forto wend þat pas, his wille was euer fressh. Sir Henry of þis lond was þat ilk wille, His sonne þer to him bond, his fader mot leue stille. Sir Edward toke þe croice, for his fader to go, Jhesu þou grant him voice, to venge him on þi fo. A þousand tuo hundred mo, & sexti & ten, Sir Edward forto go he gadres him douhty men.

THE next Letenes tide Sir Lowys went his way, No langere wild he bide, for þing þat men mot say, With erles & barouns, with knyghtes gode of plight, Als suilk prince of renoun felle to haf þorgh right. He hied him fulle ȝare toward þe Grekis se, þank God his gode fare, whan he schipped suld be. Withouten any hime þe wynde gan him driue Untille þe lond of time, & þer he gan vp ariue. þe Sarazins to destroie fulle nobilly he gan, þe Cristendam mot it noie þe dede of suilk a man. Long dured he nouht, siþen he comen was, Bot þat God wille haf wrouht els his dede, allas!

THE next heruest folowand Edward was fulle ȝare, Bi Rome he went þat land, with þe pape spak he þare. Siþen in Cezile alle þe wyntere he lay, þe somer com in a while, & he went on his way, In þe se sailand to time, & whan he com to lond Tiþing com him vntime, Sir Lowys dede he fond. þer duelled he no more, tille Acres went our kyng, þe Cristen þat þer wore wer fayn of his comyng. Grete folk of Frisland, þat to Acres were comen, Tille him þei were willand, for lord þei alle him nomen. þe oste was sprede fulle wide, about Acres þat lay, Alle paemie þat tide was in grete affray.

Of men of armes bold þe numbre þei ame, A thousand & tuo hundred told of Cristen men bi name. þe lond þei suld haf wonne þorgh powere þat þei had, Bot if treson had gonne, & þorgh disceit bien lad. Mykelle was þe drede þorgh out paemie, þat Cristendam at nede mot haf suilk cheualrie. þe Soudan was in wehere þe Cristen had suilk oste, Sir Edwarde's powere ouer alle he dred moste, þerfor day & nyght he was in grete studie, On what manere he myght Edward slo þorgh spie.

THER es a stede of wynne, þei calle it haut assise, Men norise childre þer inne, on merveilous wise, Euer in joy & blisse, in alle þat þei may do, þei wene it salle neuer misse, ne oþer dede com to. þei faire right als dos foles, þei do as men þam say, þe childir of þo scoles, þei þink to lyue ay. þe Soudan of þo in cloþes of gold him clad, Tille Edward suld he go, & do as þe Soudan bad. A letter þis fole tok, bad him for nessh or hard þeron suld no man loke, bot only Sir Edward. Envenomed knyfe he bare also priuely, þat non þer of were ware, who so stod him by. Bi þam self alone in chambir suld þei be, So bad þe Soudone schewe him his priuete.

"& whan þou sees leysere, þat he ne perceyue þi witte, "With þe knyf him to with þe knyfe him to smite. ¶ Comen is þe Sarazin to speke with Sir Edward, Clad in cloþes fyn, himself is a mosard. He said he wild speke with þe kyng priuely, Conseile non to breke, no telle it alle on hy. Sir Edward granted wele, tille his chambre him brouht, Of treson neuer a dele, no þing þer on he þouht. þe letter in his hand laid, enselid & in silke bounde, þe envenomed knyfe out braid, & gaf Edward a wounde. To, I wene, he lauht, als his Romance sais, A trestille Edward rauht, þat heuy was of pais. þe Sarazin so he smote in þe hede with þat treste, þat brayn & blode alle hote & iȝen alle out gan brest.

NOW for Edward woundes þe Cristen ere sori, þat with in fo stoundes ere chances fallen selli. His surgien him tolde, if he suld him saue, & his lif holde, reste behoued him haue. þat was a mischance, þat þer hede doun lay, & þe kyng of France died þat oþer day. A noþer ȝit more stark, þe pape þat tyme was dede, & þe patriark þe legate liggis in lede. þe kyng of Nauer hight his help to Sir Edward, In Cecile þe dede him dight, als he was þiderward. To God his fader foundes mad his testament, Sir Edward of his woundes was in grete tourment.

After þe Martynmesse þat he died here, He regned more ne lesse þan sex & fifty ȝere. At Westmynstere he lis toumbed richely, In a marble bis of him is mad story. Sen þat he was dede God has schewed his life. Edward with his rede in his lyue tok a wife, þe kynge's douhter of Spayn da Helianore fulle ȝing. Of hir fairhede was fayn Edward our ȝong kyng. In Acres of hir is born a mayden childe dame Jone, Was non fairer biforn of Inglis als scho one. A þousand & tuo hundred þe date sexti & tuelue Sir Edward help is sundred, o lyue is bot him selue. ¶ þe day of Saynt Edmound, þat martir is & kyng, Sir Henry at Londoun in God mad his endyng. þat tyme his sonne Edward was in paemie, His chance felle þer so hard, þat home behoued him hie. For alle his help was dede, als I said beforn, þis lond behoued haf hede, his heritage in born. þe date of Criste pundred, þes fele ȝeres to mene A þousand & tuo hundred sexti & fourtene.

IN þe ȝere folowand þat I rekened here Edward com to land, als prince of grete powere. þe next Sonenday after þe assumpcioun Of Mari moder & may Sir Edward had þe coroun. In þe kyrke of Westmynstere, at þe abbay sollempnely, þe bisshop of Canterbere, Robert of Kilwardeby, Corouned Edward þore biforn alle þe clergy, & dame Helianore corouned quene & lady. Was neuer at Saynt Denys feste holden more hy, Ne was of more pris, ne serued so redy. Was neuer prince, I wene, þat I writen of fond, More had treie & tene, þan he had for his lond. In Scotlond & in Wales, in Gasconie also, If ȝe liste alle þe tales, þis storie tellis ȝow to. Pray we alle to God of myght, & his modere Marie, Grante him conquere his right Gascoyne & Normundie, þat þe kyng of France chalanges falsly. Help him to þat chance moder of mercy, & Thomas þe martire, St. Jon of Beuerle, St. Cutbert be þer fere, he trestres on ȝow þre. Towhile in Gascoyne es þe pes ȝit alle certeyn, We salle leue þat pas vnto we com ageyn,

& telle ȝow oþer tales of Edward curteisie, & of Leulyn of Wales, & his beryng hie, Of Dauid his broþere & of his felonie, Resaunraduk an oþere how he did folie. How þe contek was laid of Scotlond þat first gan. How eft þei mad a braid, & on Inglond ran. Of Madok þe Morgan, of þer nyce ribaudie, Of Jon Baliol no man, & of his treccherie, & of his duze pers togider þei gan alie, I schrowe alle þer maners, þat lufes þer partie. A þousand & ii^o. hundred sexti & fiftene, þe date of Criste so pundred whan Leulyn gan þis tene.

THE next ȝere folowand of Edward coronment, Leulyn of Walsland in to France he sent, þe Mountfort douhter to wedde, hir frendes alle consent, Almerik hir ledde, to schip now er þei went. Now þei saile & rowe to Wales to Leulyns, A burgeis of Bristowe charged was with wynes, He ouertoke þer schip, & asked wheþen þei ware? He said, with kyng Philip to Wales wild þei fare. What did þis burgeis? desturbled his wendyng, þe may & hir herneis did led vnto þe kyng. þe mayden Edward toke, als he was fulle curteys, In saufte did hir loke, & þanked þe burgeis. ¶ Whan Leulyn herd say, to werre sone he bigan, For tene he wende to deie, þat taken was his lemman.

Edward wex fulle grim, whan he wist he was risen. Sone he hasted him, to mak þam alle ogrisen. þe Walssh wer alle day slayn, now rewes þam þer res, & Leulyn is fulle fayn, to pray Edward for pes, Gyues Edward for his trespas fifti þousand mark, & þer tille bonden was with scrite & oth fulle stark, To com tuys in þe ȝere vnto his parlement. þe may on þis manere with Leulyn home scho went, & held his heritage in pes as he did ore, Mad was þe mariage at Snowdon biside Bangore.

IN þe ȝere seconde after his corounment, New statute þei fonde, to Westmynstere þei ment. þe nex Paske folowand Edward sent his brefe To Leulyn for his land, to com als tille his chefe. Leulyn had despite of Edwarde's sonde, Bot werred also tite on him with nyth & onde. Edward raised scheld, after his men alle sent, þat seruise of him held, manly tille him went, & ran on Sir Leulyn, & alle his folk him with, & maugre boþe his bryn was fayn to com to grith. Dauid at þat while was with Edward þe kyng, ȝit auanced he þat file vntille a faire þing. To Frodesham with þe fe, & alle þat longed þer tille, To Leulyn forgaf he alle his euelle wille.

Now is Leulyn bonden eft to Sir Edward, If he with faute be fonden, I trowe, it falles him hard.

NOW turnes Edward ageyn to London his cite, & wille wite certeyn, who schent has his mone. Of clippers, of roungers, of suilk takes he questis. Olde vsed traitoures ilk at oþer hand kestis. Ilk thefe oþer out said, ilk a schrewe oþer greues, Of fele wer handes laid, & hanged þer as theues. Edward did smyte rounde peny, halfpeny, ferthyng, þe croice passed `passed þe bounde of alle þorghout þe ryng.

þe kynge's side salle be þe hede & his name writen. þe croyce side what cite it was in coyned & smyten. þe pouere man ne þe preste þe peny prayses no þing. Men gyf God þe lest, þe feffe him with a ferþing. A þousand & tuo hundred & fourscore ȝeres mo, On þis mone men wondred fist whan it gan go.

WAS mad an oþer statute, þat non erle no baroun, No oþer lorde stoute, ne fraunkeleyn of toun, Tille holy kirke salle gyue tenenement, rent no lond, Fro þo þat now lyue in to þe dedis hond, Without leue of þe kyng, or of his consaile. þe encheson of þis þing may mykille auaile. For freres of þe croice, & monk & chanoun, Haf drawen in ovoice his feez to þer almoyn, þorgh whilk drauht his seruise is lorn & laid doun, þat is tille him & hise in disheritsoun. Not for þi he wille, þat alle religioun Haf & hold in skille þat gyuen is at resoun, þe londes þat þei haue now in possessioun. His seruise he wille now saue, þat non be þorgh tresoun. Ne no baron so bold, to selle þam lond ne gyue. For myght þei as þei wold, no man suld bi þam lyue; Men here biforn haf gyuen þam out of skille. It lies now waste & lorn, half may þei not tille.

A þousand & tuo hundred þe date fourscore & tuo, On Leulyn has men wondred, no gynnes Dauid to thro.

FOR now bigynnes Dauid to wax a werreour, With Leulyn gan he kith to be þe kynge's traytour. þei mad a samenyng, & did als þei were wonne, To disherite þe kyng, & his ȝongest sonne. On his londes þei rais, & robbed ilk a toun, Brent & slouh ilk man, his kastelle bette þei doun. Sir Edward herd wele telle of his grete misdede, þer power forto felle, it catchis him to spede. He sent North & South after his baronage, Sone it was fulle couth, þat Leulyn did outrage. Atired þer wendyng toward þe Marche right sone. Leulyn ageyn þe kyng & Dauid were alle bone, To maynten forth þe werre, & susteyn þer treson; þe entres did þei sperre, & hold þam in Snowdoun.

IN Wales it is fulle strong to werre in Wynter tide, For Wynter is þer long, whan Somer is here in pride. þat was to þam grete pyne, þat werryng vndertoke, & Snowdoun did Leulyne wele to kepe & loke. þe kyng knowe no side, how he mot com þer inne, Nouþer go no ride, ne how he suld it wynne. A water in Snowdoun rennes, Auber is the name, An arme of þe se men kennes, þe depnes may non ame. þe kyng controued þer ouer, a brigge forto make, & of Leulyn to couere, Snowdoun forto take.

Botes he toke & barges, þe sides togidere knytte, Ouer þe water þat lage is, fro bank to bank rauht itte. þei fleked þam ouerthuert, justely forto ligge, Ouer þewater smerte was so ordeynd a brigge.

WHAN þe brigge was ent at Inglis men pay, Withouten auysement, þe brigge þei wild asay. Sent þei non bifore, to wite how þei mo passe, þerfore had þei lore, for non avisement wasse. Forth went knyght & sueyn, & fote men alle in fere, þe Walsch com þam ageyn, did our men alle arere, þat turnyng þer vnthank, as heuy was þe charge, Vnder þam alle sank, bothe batelle & barge. þe gode men þat were lorn, on our Inglis partie, þe Clifford first biforn Sir Roger did folie. William of Lyndeseie & Jon le fitz Roberd, Sir Lucas of Tame, þise grete þer misferd, & alle þer squierie, & oþer þat with þam nam, Alle drenkled þorgh folie, & faut of wisdam. A man þat oste salle lede, & controues no quayntise, Howe he disceit salle drede, scaþe vmwhile salle rise. Had þei had a spie among þe Walssh oste, & warned þam priuelie, þat þei were bi þat coste, þei had bien men lyuand, þat þer to dede went, þat folie tok on hand withouten avisement.

THAT tyme þat þis crie com of þise barouns, Com Sir Jon Vescy fro þe kyng of Aragouns, Brouht fote folk inouh of baskles & Gascouns, þat þe Walsh men slouh raumpand as leouns. þorghe mountayn & more þe baskles ȝe þer weie, Oure nesch & hard þei fore, & did þe Walsch men deie. þei passed alle þe Marche, Snowdoun þei wan in, Of tounes þei mad þam parche, & souht after Leulyn. Dauid couth non oþer, þe folowed þam so streite, Bot fled fro his broþer skulkand with disceite. Sir Roger þe strange, & Sir Reynald þe Gray, þei ne wold turne ne change, bot spied þer Leulyn lay. ¶ Leulyn in a wod a bussement he held, Biside a more a mod quayntly was he teld. Sir Roger lay biside with priue folk & stoute, & spied tyme & tide whan he suld issue oute. Leulyn wend no gile had bien þer so nere, He went to play a wile with fo of his banere. Sir Roger was perceyued whan Leulyn out cam, þer pencels þei weyued, tille Sir Leuly he nam. "Traitoure," said Rogere, "what salle þe werre auaile, "Now I find þe here, wele set is my trauaile. "Tuys ert þou forsuorn, & tuys þi feaute broken, "Tuys was þou doun born, & for pes eft spoken. "þis is þe þrid tyme, þat mykelle þou him misbede, "Dayet who þe kyme, for þou has souht þi dede. "Salle þou neuer þi lyue do Inglis man more wo, "Hastilie þe schryue, þi hede þou salle for go.

Sir Roberd Body a knyght his suerd best bote, Doun sone he he light, & Leulyn hede of smote. Now is Leulyn forsuorn, & his hede of smyten, His heritage is lorn fro his heyres ȝe wyten. More þan a ȝere beforn þat he lauht þis schame, A douhter was him born, Wencilian hir name. In hir credille ȝing tille Inglond scho cam, þorgh conseile of þe kyng was brouht to Sempyngham, & þer was scho inne four & fifty ȝere, Norised with Wynne, nunne and seculere. Now haf we new tateles, dede is Wencilian, Leulyn douhter of Wales, þat on Inglond ran. Hir dede was mykelle ment, for scho was fulle curteys, Among þe ladies gent, þe los of hir so seys. þe seuent day of Juny, Whitson euen þat tyme, Died þat lady, bituex vndron & prime. þe date of Criste pundred, þus many ȝeres euen, A þousand & þre hundred þritty ȝere & seuen. Hir cosyn dame Gladous, of Dauid douhter born, A Nunne of Sixille hous died a ȝere beforn. Of Wencilian wrote I here next Leulyn story, Scho was his douhter dere, to bere him company.

NOW skulkes Dauid aboute, to wynne it ilk a dele, His heritage þat is oute, he wenes fulle wele. Alle þat Leulyn held lond & tenement, Holy to haf þe scheld þorgh heritage descent. With lordes þat were nehi he held his parlement At ȝole at Denebeghi, after þam alle he sent,

To fend þe Walschrie with him at þer powere, To him þei gan alie, & ros fulle austere. ¶ Whan þe kyng herd say, þat Dauid werred on him, To Wales he went his way fulle scharply & fulle brim. Edward did him chace, fulle febilly he defendes, To rest had he no space, his tyme he tynes & spendes. þe euen of Saynt Morice was taken Sir Dauid, Als a fole nyce he brak þe kynge's grith. His hede þei of smyten, to London was it born, þe dede body þe britten on four quarters corn. þe quarters wer sent to henge at four citez, So is he worth be schent, who so traytour bez. ¶ Leulyn & Dauid haf born grete honour, And Snowdon com to grith, ilk castelle & toure To þe kyng is eschete, als to chefe of alle. þe lordes þat er grete þe cheued as tenauntz salle. þe kyng þorghout þe lond he did crie his pes, & with þe lawe þam bond, als skille wild he ches. Wardeyns gode he sette, to stabille þe lond & mende, Justice þat þe lawe gette to vnkonand þei kende. Whan alle was don & ent, þat felle to conqueroure, To London he went, a while to mak soioure. He sent to his barouns, a parlement to hold, þei com at his somouns, in parlement he þis told: To Gascoyn bihoued him go, & þat hastilie, Tiþing com him þer fro, þer was contek & crie,

þider bihoued him nede, to set þat lond in pes, For foles haf no drede, þat long is justiseles. A þousand & tuo hundred, & fourscore ȝere & sex, On Wales many on wundred, for more wo ȝit þer wex.

EDWARD wele has sped of alle þing þat has bien, Tille Gascoyn with him led dame Helianore our quene. þe gode erle of Cornwaile þis lond had in kepyng, In luf & pes sanz faile went Edward our kyng, & spak with þe kyng of France at Paris as he went. þan felle a fair chance, þei wer at on assent. Forth he gan him hie, tille Gascoyn is he comen, þe rightes he did attrie of þo þat wrong had nomen. Rightfulle dome he gaf on foles for þer misdede, No man be ouerhaf, bot alle þorgh lawe ȝede. ¶ Towhile Sir Edward gos to Gascoyn forto apese, Wales to werre vp ros, þorgh conseile of a Rese. On Reseamiraduk, of Wales a lordyng, Our Inglis did rebuk, & werred on our kyng. I kan not telle ȝow whi þat werre was reised olofte, Men said þe wrath & cri com þorgh þe lord Tiptofte. ¶ þe kyng herd þat pleynt, vnto þe Rese he sent A letter enselid fulle quaynt, for þe pes it ment. He praied to hold him stille, tille his tocome mot be, & he suld do his wille, in alle þat skille mot se. His pleyntes he wild here in skille at lordes sight, & if he baron were, he suld haf fulle gode right.

þis Reseamiraduk, als fole & vnwise, His letter gan rebuk, sette it at light prise. þe skaþe þat he myght do with slauhter or prison hard, Alle he brouht þam to, þat longed tille Edward. A þousand & tuo hundred þe date forscore & nine, On our men þei wondred, in Wales did þam pyne.

WHAN Edward had bien in Gascoyn þre ȝere, Ageyn he & þe quene on lond ryued vp here. At his comyng he fond of clerkes & men of pleynt, & justise of þe lond of falsnes was atteynt. For giftes som justise lete þe lowe go doun, & som on oþer wise did wrong to þe coroun. þe first justise in benk Sir Thomas of Weland, For falshed & for wrenk he forsuore þe land. He went ouer to France, & com neuer ageyn, His clerkes stode to chance passed for a certeyn, þei wer out of þe tour delyuerd for mone, þer held þei long soiour, bot penies mad þam fre, Opon his forward, or þei wer out gon, To serue kyng Edward, neuer more suld þei non. Sir Elys of Bekyngham to do lawe him was lefe, Sir Jon of Metyngham he left þe justise chefe, Sir Rauf of Heyngham þe wrong oft he ches, He departed with gram, & þe benk les. Sir Adam of Stretton fulle hard was he led, Nouht without encheson, I lay my gloue to wed.

For gold & siluer strong he gaf so grete plente, Bifor þe kyng it song, Placebo domine. With wrong alle it cam, with gile salle gyuen be, Dilexit Sir Adam gilerie & falste.

THISE justise er atteynt of falshed & folie, Now comes a new pleynt, to destroie þe Juerie. þe kyng was enquere of þer wikked dedes, So many þer were, dome on þam salle nedes. For þam þe kyng was sette his priue parlement, þei said, þorgh þe rescette þe Cristen men were schent. þe barons alle said, alle holy þe clergie, þe lond þei wild voide of þat herisie. I wene þe kyng alegid, þei were of his tresour, Noþeles he wild haf briggid, þe fals leue & erroure. For þe penie fiftend, þe Jues wild he fleme. þe clergie said at þe end, "we grante it as ȝe deme. þe lerid & þe lay granted þat þei said, & assigned a day, þat taxe to be laid. þe dettes þat men þam auht, þer stedes & þer wonyng. Wer taxed & bitauht to þe eschete of þe kyng. þe Reseamiradie was taken þat ilk ȝere, In Wales þorgh a spie, for all his powere. Whan þe kyng herd it seie, to ȝork he did him lede, Schames dede to deie, als traytour for his dede. First was he drawen for his felonie, & as a þefe þan slawen, on galwes hanged hic.

Now is non of age of his ancestrie May haf his heritage, to whom it salle alie. A þousand & tuo hundred, four score & elleuen, On Wales men ȝit wondred, þe pes not ȝit euen.

THE next ȝere folowand Acres was assaled, þe Cristen myght no stand, of help alle þam failed, & þe cite lorn, & alle don to þe suerde, þat were Cristen born, þe lewed & þe lerid. Whan þe pape had tiþing, it was in a Sarazins handes, He gaf Edward our kyng, þe tende of alle þe landes. Inglond, Scotlond & Wales, Ireland þerto was laid, þan mot he fille his males, no man him withsaid. Holy who salle spare, if it nede stode, Whan þo þat hedes are do þer to no gode? þat ilk ȝere þe quene died in Lyndseie, At Westmynster, I wene, his body did þei leie. ¶ A litelle þer biforn died Margarete, þe heyr of Scotlond born, of Alisander biȝete. Wherfor Sir Edward, for þat maiden dede, Hied him Northward, his barons he asked rede. In þe North at Norham, he wamssed þe castelle, þe barons þider cam, & conseild þat beste felle, þei brouht þe cronykles, þat wer in Scotland, þe olde chartres & titles, þat wer in Abbays hand, Of ilk a bisshop se, & ilk a priourie, þat were of dignite, of olde ancestrie, Examend þam & cast ilk amountment, þei said alle at þe last þorght of on assent,

Of Inglond suld þei hold þorgh right & skille, Fo wild þe feffementes ald, & þei granted þertille. þis was certified, & sikere on ilk side. It myght not be denied, for þing þat mot betide. þis conseild Sir Antoyn, þe bisshop of Durham, þat non eft mad essoyn, þe kynge's right to clame.

NOW wex þe Scottes wode, now haue þei nythe & onde, Who of þat fals blode ouh to be kyng of þe londe. þat was right heire is dede, on þat side is no mo, þorgh blode & right rede to Dauid salle it go. Dauid of Huntyngton was kynge's Wiliam broþer, Tille his heires þorgh reson, of William is non oþer. Of William now is non, Dauid heire salle be, & his heirs of him gon salle haf þe regalte. Dauid had douhtres þre were gyuen to þre lordynges, þat claymes þe regalte, Baliol, Brus, Hastynges. þis ilk þre barons, þorgh descent of blode, Haf right & resons to þe coroune fulle gode. þise þre ȝald þer right vp to Sir Edward, Tille it wer atried þorgh sight, whom it felle afterward. Sir Edward is seised in Scotland ilk a dele, þise þre barons pesid, & hold þam paied wele. ¶ Now com þis barons eft, & ask jugement, To whom it salle be left, þorgh comon assent. þe kyng wille bot wele, þe lawe alle vnderstandes, þe hie folk ilk a dele, he did com of boþe þe landes Scottis & Inglis, he said to þe wisest, "Gyue now gode dome of þis, whilk of þise may best

"To resceyue þe ooroune, Scotlond forto ȝeme, "þat þe right go not doune, & best may ȝow alle ȝeme. What for þe kynge's sawe, & skille þei vnderstode, & þorgh þe londe's lawe, & descent of blod, þe triours alle þat caste, & put þer saw tille on. "We say with word stedfaste, we chefe Baliol Jon. "Sir Jon þe Baliol es a man þe reame may saue, "& nere of blode & flessh, þe heritage to haue, "For euer we vnderstond, tille him & alle hise, "Holdand of Inglond, for homage & seruise. Our kyng Sir Edward held him wele payed, He did þam no more hard, ne langer was delayed. Disseised him self of alle, ȝald it to Sir Jon, Bot Jon his homage salle mak or he be gon. Saynt Steuenday it felle, þat Jon mad his homage, At þe Newe castelle, listnes þe langage.

"MY lord Edward þe kyng Inglis, "& chefe lord of þe Scottis, "I Jon Baliol þe Scottis kyng, "I bicom þi man for Scotlond þing,

"With alle þe purtenance þertille, "þat to þe reame longes with skille, "þe whilk I hold, & salle þorgh right "Clayme to hald, at alle my myght, "Heritagelik of þe, "& of þin heires þat after þe be. Of Inglond, with lif & lymme, For erthly worschip þat I nymme, Ageyn alle þo may lyue & deye, & with þam hold in luf & eye.

ON þis maner þe kyng it toke, His right forto saue & loke. þis was at þe Newe castelle, On Saynt Steuen's day it felle. A þousand. CC^o. fourscore & þre þe ȝers o Jhesu wer, whan þis felle to be.

OUR kyng gode Edward þorgh Scotlond ferd, As he com howard he souht S. Cutberd, & mad þer his offryng, siþen com to Beuerlay, & offred þer fair þing, to London his way.

On fele þinges he þouht, & wex heuy als lede, How chances on him souht, & þat þe quene was dede. His solace was alle reft, þat scho fro him was gon, Ne no sonne him left, bot ȝing Edward alon. He was tendre & ȝing, of him had he no speyre, Himself in ille likyng, & had no waxen heyre, þat mot kepe þe coroune, if he of lond went, He drouped þerfore donne, & said þe lond were schent, If he tille Acres ȝede, in perile sulle alle be, Of þe child wer drede þe lond als wele as he. ¶ In þinkeng of alle þis, þe batailed in þe se, Normans & Inglis were slayn grete plente. þe Normans þat day les, for þer powere was nouht, þe portes had als þei ches schippes inow þam brouht. To Douer & Germne cam, & vnto Wynchilse, To Romeneye & Schorham, & to Peueneshe, To Gipwiche & Sandwiche, & to Southamptoun, Alle þe portes were riche, Irays & Bayoun. þe fiue portes þorgh powere þe se had so conquerd, þat Normans alle þat ȝere durst not be sene for ferd. þorgh þe lond of France was said fulle sone, Philip herd þat chance, how þe Inglis had done, & alle how it bigan, & alle þe skille why, þat þei togider ran, & we had þe maistrie.

SIR Edward God him saue, he is in grete longyng A where he mot haue, þat auenant is & ȝing þat wer of hie perage, suilk on wild he take His euenhed in mariage, gentille gendrure to make. His herte gaf tille dame Blanche, if hir wille wer þerto, & holy kirke wild stanche sibred bituex þam tuo, Hire þan wild he wedde, forto saue þe pes In luf þat þei þam ledde, in werre þat nouþer les. For Blanche his cosyn he sent how it mot be, To mak a mariage fyn, Philip sister was sche. & als vnto þe pape, for to wite þe certeyn, What þe clergie wild schape, whan þe courte were pleyn. ¶ Edward messengers vnto þat mayden sent, To wite of hir maners, to se hir body gent. þei com vnto þat may, & sauh hir contenance, So fair lady þat day was not in alle France. Whan þei had sene þat sight, þei com & teld our kyng, Creature non myght be fayrer bi no þing.

Fro Rome hiderward fayrer non was, Enamoured bicom Edward of dame Blanche, allas! Blanche did write stille, a letter Philip sent, Hir herte & hir wille alle wist he what scho went. A þousand &. cc. fourscore & fourtene, ȝit salle Edward be encombred þorgh dame Blanche schene.

OFT þad þe parties spoken of þis mariage, & teld boþe þer avis to messengers of passage. Philip & dame Blanche granted þe aliance, No þe les of a branche þer was a disceyuance. How þe granted þer tille þei tald bi a messengere, þe fourme of þer skille þei said on þis manere. "Edward withut essoyn salle gyue Philip þe kyng "Alle holy Gascoyn, withouten disturblyng. "After þe forty dayes of þat feffement, "Philip, without delayes, salle gyue þat ilk tenement "Tille Edward & tille Blanche, & þer heires of þam comen. "If it be so no branche in wedlaike of þam be nomen, "If Blanche ouer lyue Edward, scho salle haf hir lyue "Goscoyn afterward, ageyn þat non salle stryue; "& after Blanche desces, withouten gaynsaying, "Salle turne to þe heires in pes of þe Inglis kyng, To þat ilk scrite Edward set his seale, þat his gift was perfite, & with witnes leale. Whan alle was spoken, wist not Sir Antoyn, Fulle sone it had bien broken, & Philip fro Gascoyn, Philip seysed Burdews, þorgh Sir Edward scrite, þe toþer, as so say deus! ȝald þam also tite.

WHAT did kyng Philip, whan alle þis was ent? To Paris gan he skip, & held his parlement, & Charles his broþer with him com he þidere, þe erle of Artous þe toþer, þre fals men togidere. þise þre ageyn Edward mad a compassement, For Normand & Pikard to courte after þam sent. þo þat were in þe bataile, þat on þe had lorn, þat portes gan assaile, as I told biforn, Edward þei cald & teld, þat he was mayntenoure, þe robbed he alle held, as a resceyuour. Of suilk felonie Edward in courte þe cald, Did non þat curteisie, þat þer for him wild hald. Of þat fals controueyng gaf þei jugement, Depriued þei our kyng of alle þe tenement Of londes of Gascoyn, þat neuer more suld he, For no maner essoyn, eft chalange þat fe, Bot of þe kyng of France holden suld it be. Edward kepe þi chance, þei haf bitraised þe.

MEN sais in þe courte of France, among þe deze pers, With right he leses his chance, þorgh faut þat not apers. þer may ne write be brouht, to wynne ageyn his right, Bot þorgh force be souht, þorght dynt of suerd & fight. Edward sore it ment, whan he wist þat tirpeil, For Sir Antoyn he sent, to com to his conseil, & for þo barouns, þat were his wele willand, For conseil & resons, & chance þat was comand.

Sir Antoyn first bigan, spak hastily & wilde, "Sir kyng þou was a man, be not now hold a childe. "þou suld do right nouht without þe comon sight, "þat may of scaþe be wrouht ageyn þe reame's right. "Do ȝit be be consaile, þou salle not it repent, "Bot som þat may not auaile, þi wille to suilk es went. "þi manace drede þei more, in hastynes suorn, "þan if þi reame alle wore in poynt forto be lorn. "Sir Antoyn," said þe kyng, "I wite þis no man, "Bot myn vnconyng, þis foliè my self bigan. ¶ "Sen þou has don amysse, at þin vnconyng, "We may not faile at þis, to help þe in alle þing, "& if þou þink to wynne Gascoyn ageyn þi lond, "Hastily bigynne Philip to folow þou fond. "þou may not ligge & slepe as monke in his dortoure, "þou salle rise vp & lepe, & stirre vnto þe stoure, "& gete þe frendes fele, þorgh gifte of mone, "Tresore may þou non spele of lordes biȝond þe se. "þe kyng of Almayn, & þe duke of Boloyn, "þe to help were fayn, & þe erle of Burgoyn, "þe kyng of Aragoun, & þe erle of Sauuay. "þise er redy boun, to help þe nyght & day. "Whan þou of þise ert sikere to þe þorgh aliance, "þan is tyme to bikere with þe kyng of France.

WHAN Antoyn his resons to þe kyng said þus, þan spak þe barons, "Sir kyng listen tille vs. "Forsoth ilk lordyng, whilk Sir Antoyn has said, "Disherited is þorgh þe kyng, chalanges þam of neid. "He has spared non, þer he mot fynd encheson, "þat he disherites ilkon of castelle & of toun. "þerfore we rede ȝe sende to þe kyng of Almayn, "& ȝour londes to defende, & reue Philip his wayn. "& to þe kyng of Aragoun, & tille alle þe toþer, "Be calle þam of tresoun, Philip & Charles his broþer. "Bynd ȝow alle togider, to lyue & to deie, "We se nouþer whidere þou may haf sikerer weie. "Siluer may þou non spare of þo þat with þe be, "For Philip is euer ȝare, & has so grete pouste.

TO þat ilk consail þe kyng acorded to, Sir Antoyn wille trauail, þe message forto do. þe ersbisshop of Deuelyn he was chosen his pere, A baron bold & fyn, Sir Hugh Despensere, Of Krawecombe Sir Jon, a clerke gode & wys. Now is Antoyn gon to procure þe partys, þe Almanz alle wer lefe be suorn to þe Inglis, & þer kyng was chefe in wille to do alle þis, & bisshop & baron alle þei had gode wille. With obligacion þe Inglis suore þei tille

Be helpand þe Almanz in alle maner of nede. Boþe to hold couenaz with scrite enselid þe dede. Now Antoyn is of lond, God saue him & his pers, Edward sendis his sond, to France messengers, Frere Hugh of Malmcestre was a Jacobyn, & William of Gaynesburgh was a Cordelyn. Alle þise passid þe se, so com þe erle of Artoys In prison did þam be a seuenyght in Caleys. To Paris siþen þei cam, & þer fond þei þe kyng, þe letter forth þei nam, to trowe þer sayng. þis letter of credance þei schewed in his present, Here now þe acordance, what þer sayng ment.

SIR Hugh was man of state, he said as I salle rede, "To prince & to prelate men salle loute & drede, "& for lord dere his biddyng salle men do, "To lesse & more in fere haf fayth & treuth also, "& for our lord Edward, þat God him saue & se, "We tok þis trauaile hard, his bode to bere to þe. ¶ "He settes þe terme & stage bi vs, whan & why "þat he has don homage for Gascoyn plenerly, "In forward formed in pes, as was þer acordance, "As ȝour ancestres ches of Inglond & of France, "þei mad a pes final aftere þer contek, "þou has broken it alle, & don him many ille chek. ¶ "Now at his last goyng, whan he to Gascoyn went, "ȝe sette a certeyn þing, at ȝour boþe assent,

"& þat suld holden be, euer withouten ende, "þou brak þat certeynte wikkedly & vnhende. ¶ "ȝit he biddes þe se, how wrong þou wilt him lede, "Bituex him & þe was mad a priue dede, "Of Gascoyn certeyn was þat feffement, "Forto feffe him ageyn in þat tenement. "þi seisyn is wele knowen, þe days has þou plenere, "To restore him his owen, he sent to þe duzepers, "As lawe wild & right, & couenant was in scrite. "ȝeld it, þou has no right, with wrong holdes it in lite, "Ageyn alle maner skille, & ȝit þou ert so grefe. "For whilom þou wrote him tille, & cald him in þi brefe, "þi kynde, faythfulle & leale of Gascoyn noble duke, "þerto þou set þi seale, þat right wilt þou rebuke. "Neuer siþen hiderward suilk speche vnto him touched, "Werfore our kyng Edward in þouht fulle wele has souched. "þou holdes him not þi man, no þing holdand of þe, "Ne he þinkes neuer for þan, to mak þe more feaute. "He hopes to wynne þat land with dynt of douhty kyght, "Of God he claymes holdand, & neuer of no right. ¶ "At þis tyme is not els of Sir Edward to seye, "Bot of Edmunde þat duellis with him als breþer tueye, "Forbi any oþer with him wille hold & be. "He is his lord & broþer, he certifies þat to þe, "þat no man in þis werld he lufes so mykelle no dredis, "Ne with him is non herd so mykelle may help at nedis. "For he sees so wele ȝour grete controued gile, "Ageyn his broþer ilk dele compassed in a while,

" Reft him his heritage, sais on him felonie, " He ȝeldes vp his homage, forsakis þi companie, " & þerto all þe londes, þat he held of þe, " & ȝeldes vp alle þe bondes of homage & feaute, " Saue þe right þat may falle of ancestres olde, " Unto þer heires alle to haf & to holde. " We er pouer freres, þat haf nought on to lyue, " In stede of messengeres, saue condite vs gyue. " þorgh þi lond to go in þin anowrie, " þat non vs robbe ne slo, for þi curteysie.

THE respons were redy, þat Philip did þam bere, A knyght fulle anerty gaf þam þis ansuere. " þe conantz þat wer sette in nessh & in hard, " Kyng Philip has þam gette fro þat tyme hiderward. " Bot þorgh þe kyng Inglis, & þorh his maryners, " þe conantz ere gan mis, in many stedes sers. " Homage vp to ȝeld, lordschip to forsake, " So Philip it wild, on þat wise we it take, " As ȝe haf mad present, þe kyng vouches it saue. þe messengers went, condute he did þam haue, þei hed redy wendyng, at Douer þei toke lond, & sped þam to þe kyng, at London þei him fond.

WHAN Edward þer respons knowe, & what þei ment, For clerkis & barons son after he sent, & eft þam alle biforn teld þam alle þe chance, How Gascoyn was lorn þorgh þer gilerie of France. " Withouten help of ȝow wyn it may I nouht, " To saue þe londe's prow, to ask þis haf I þouht: " I ask half þe godes to haf of þe clergie, " & saue ȝour oþer fodes, to maynten my partie. " Marchant & burgeis to þe sext be laid. He wild on no weis, þat it were geyn said. þe barons alle plenere in þe tende him seised, So in þat self ȝere it suld be payed & reised. ¶ þe lond fulle hard was sette in þat ilk laying, No þeles we ere in dette, at nede to help þe kyng. & praye God for his right boþe foles & wys, To saue him day & nyght ageyn his enmys. If þei þat tyme had wonnen, & venquised Sir Edward, & þorgh þis lond wonnen Normanz & Pikard, þe kirke of Inglond fulle ille þei suld haf said, & had alle gon to schond, þe clergie ille bisted, þat neuer bisshop, ne person, ne riche perronendere, Ne erle, ne baron, ne knyght, ne squiere, Ne burgeis of cite, merchant ne Frankeleyn, þat euer had bien fre, bot seruage leyn. For alle þis þraldam, þat now on Inglond es, þorgh Normanz it cam, bondage & destres, & if þei now powere had of vs, wite ȝe wele, Streiter we suld be lad bi þe tend dele.

Better vs is to giue, & saue vs fro disceite, þan with our fo men lyue in seruage so streite.

THE kyng þis pay has nomen, & in cofres has, Sir Antoyn home is comen fro Almayn þer he was. þe bisshop of Deuelyn don has his endyng, Sir Hugh gode hele is in, & comen is to þe kyng. þe ersdeken of Richemunde to þe pape is sent, Sir Jon of Crawecombe with him is he went, þe pape forto telle þe sothe how it was, & in his dome to duelle, who did most trespas. Toward Portesmouthe þe kyng fast drouh, To werre as he wele couthe, he ordeynd whilk & how, First to be cheftayn, to Gascoyn forto go, Sir Jon of Bretayn formast on of þo, Sir Jon Sayn Jon he knewe wele þat cuntre, Roberd Tiptoft an oþer, on his sonne salle with him be; Sir Laurence of Sauueye, also he was þare. þei aryued alle o weye at Burgh sur la Mare. þiderward as als he went, Sir Henry þe Lacie, þe kyng eft for him sent, I salle telle ȝow whi.

IN Wales is a schreward to werre risen on, For he wend Sir Edward ouer þe se wer gon,

Snowdon gan he hald, als his heritage, & prince þei him cald, þat bastard outrage. þe Inglis men he slouh, & robbed alle þer þing, þe castelles doun drouh, þat longed tille þe kyng. þis tiþing com him eft, how Wale him bitrayed, þerfor is Gascoyn left, & þerat werre delayed. Schortly forto say, to Snowdon has he tight, & in Abretonway a castelle vp he dight, & þer he held his ȝole with fele of his baronage, Of Gascoyn was dole þat he left þat viage. Fro ȝole vnto þe Pask werred Sir Edward, Grete trauaile it askes, colde & greuance hard. þorgh pite mykelle he les, & reufulhed of herte, For þe folk he with him ches wer first auster & smerte, þat Wales mot haf bien wonnen, if he had done þam tille, & þorgh out Gascoyn ronnen, if he had don þam skille. If he had don so wele, gyuen þam alle þer lyue, þer wynnyng ilk a dele, þat þei mot reyme & gyue, Holdand in warantie, of him & of his heyres, Chef of þat seignorie to þam & to þeirs, For soth Wales had bien wonne at þat dynt, & Gascoyn had bien seen wonne þat is tynt. For þe pes to haue, he mad so long a trayne, þe knyghtes mot þam not saue, þat were in Aquitayne. For Charles wan Riouns, þorgh fight had he þe pris, & fettred þe Gascouns led þam to Paris.

Saynt Seuere was ȝolden þorgh force in couenant, Burdeus wild þei no wolden, had Frankis & Normant. þan ȝede ilk a Pikard, scornand & makand ryme, Lorn is now Edward, Gascoyn in alle his tyme. ¶ þe Inglis wend haf help of þe kyng of Aragoune, Of Edward had þei mad ȝelp, & his broþer Edmoun, & of þe erle of Lincoln, þei wend þei suld com þider, Bot alle þei were forholn, & failed þam alle togider. To while our Inglis alle wer in tribulacioun, Wales (wo mot it falle!) ros eft þorgh tresoun. Bot after þe Pask tide þe kyng so on þam ran, Maugre alle þer pride, Snowdon on þam wan. Siþen in Angleseie did set his pauilloun, Romand in his weie, cried pes in ilk a toun. Tille alle þat pes wild haue, pes he wille gyue. & lyue & lymme suld saue þo, þat in pes wild lyue. Bot þe erle of Gloucestre so had him misborn, Southwales, þat was his estre, þorgh Morgan had he lorn. I ne wote whi it was bituex him & Morgan, Ne how com þat trespas, þat Morgan on him ran. Tille Edward our kyng wild Morgan not be gode, Bot Maddok mad werryng, & cald him prince of blode. Was taken þorgh consaile, & led to Londoun, Now is Maddok wroþerhaile don in þer prisoun, þorgh Edward long trayne Gascoyn is born doun, Non defendes his chayne, bot only Bayoun. If he bi tyme had gon þorh help of his Gascons, þer suld haf standen non, Philip no Charlons,

He suld haf wonnen Saynt Seuer & Rions, Tolouse & Tolousan, Burdeus with his somons.

WALES wo! þe be, þe fende þe confound. Scotland whi ne mot I se be sonken to Helle ground? Was neuer in þam both terme set ne stounde, þat þei discorded wroth, þe pes tion in þam founde. In Wales said beforn alle day is mischance, & Gascoyn now is lorn, þorgh treson of France. What did Jon Baliol, þat Edward did auance, Bot falsly, as a fole, bigan a disceyuance? þorgh conseile of hise he sent vnto þe pape, & controued a quaintise, a new falsnes did schape, & said Scotlond suld be, þorgh right & olde setnesse, Holden of his se, & of non els þat es, & Edward of Inglond, þorgh force & myght, In his homage him bond, ageyn his wille & right. "We ask ȝow grace of þis, assoyle him of þat othe, "þat he did maugre his, to wrong was him lothe, "Bot he mot quitely go in world where he fore, "& frely passe him fro, fro whom þat he to suore. þe pape Celestyn, of non avisement, With letter bulled fyn assoyled to Scotlond sent. Whan þis bulle was brouht home bi messengres, A vileyine þami þouht, to mak þam duze pers,

Desherite Edward of alle his seignorie, Of Jon Baliol musard suilk was his curteysie. a wikked bounte.: For Edward gode dede þe Baliol did him mede a Maddok þer left we.: Turne we ageyn to rede & on our geste to spede

NOW is Morgan ȝolden, & Maddok he bendes, þe kyng comen to London, bi consail of his frendes. Tuo Cardenalles of Rome þe pape hider sent, To Paris boþe þei come, to þe parlement, þei said luf to make, þe pape wild entermet, þat non ageyn oþer take, tille tyme þat he had set. þise cardinals so bond Edward & Philip, Nouþer suld werri bi lond, no in water bi schip, Bot hold þam stone stille in pes at þer cuntre, þat nouþer of þam did ille, þe pape wild justise be. þise kynges stille þei left at þe pape's request, þe Normanz com now eft, & mak a newe gest.

ALS pes was mad of partie þorgh cardinals þat com ouer, þe folk of Normundie aryued vp at Douer,

& men of Caleis camen with þam wele I wene, To brenne þe toun alle samen, & slouh men þrittene. þe wardeyn herd it telle of þe castelle biside, A monke of a Celle bare him wele þat tide. þei sette so wele þer wardes, & stifly samen stode, þat Normanz & Pikardes left boþe hede hode. A monke þer was I wene, he slouh tuenti, þer hedes quyte & clene, he laid þam bi & bi. A monk was of þat celle, þei slouh him danz Thomas, A saynt he men telle, with Normanz slayn he was. I wene þat þei ȝede, mykelle not þei wonnen, þe Frankis þat mot spede, to schippes fast ronnen. After alle þis fare, þe cardinals went þer weie, What ansuere þei bare, þe soþe can I not say. No þe les of fele þis was þe comon sawe, þer folk alle sulle þe spele, & fro werryng þam drawe Edward & Philip, & late þe folk ouer wend & passage haf in schip, to londes forto lend. In þe sufferance of pes, tille þe acorde wer ent, þe Inglis þerto ches, if Almanz wild consent.

TO while þise cardinals trauaild for þe pes, Here of a wikhals how he bigan a res. Thomas Turbeuile was taken at Rions, At Paris he duelte a while in hold with oþer prisons.

To þe prouest he spak, & bed him his homage, His oth þat he ne brak, he left in his ostage & hise childre tuo, & suore him his leaute, Tille Inglond suld he go, to spie ilk a cuntre, Tille þe kyng suld he say, þat he of prison fled, He wist non sikerer way, for socour tille him sped. þe prouest als tite to Thomas þerfor him bond, & granted him with scrite tuo hundreth pounde of lond, & Thomas trouht him plight, & suore on þe messe, Of Inglond alle þe right, & Wales more & lesse, & of Scotlond alle þe men, þat were of pris, Suld enclyn & falle to Philip fitz Lowys. Now gos þis Thomas, his treson to purchace, Bot how Edward was warned þorgh Gode's. Thomas tille Inglond com to kyng & said, Bi nyght he skapid of bond of prison þer he was laid, For his luf to haue, suilk perille on him drouh, & þat he vouched saue for his luf wele inouh. þe kyng tille him þerfore did grete curteysie, Wynnyng for his lore he gaf him largelie.

NOW gos Turbeuile, & serchis day bi day, To do þe kyng a gile, how & whan he may. He serchis alle þe coste, where were best comyng, To bring in Frankis oste, forto tak our kyng.

Whan he had serched alle, & knew ilk a coste, His man with þe cardinalle he sent to þe prouoste. þe prouest mad grete joye for þat ilk sond, It turnes bot tille þe boþe, if Gode's grace may stond. þe clerke þat wrote þe lettere to Thomas Turbeuile, He þouht forto do bettere, þan kyng Edward to gile, Tille on þat was priue þe kynge's conseiloure, þe clerk lete him alle se þe dede of þat traytoure. Whan Thomas was perceyued, his lettres wer away, þe kynge's courte he weyued, for he dred to deie. A seruant þer was, þat wist whan Thomas fled, Fulle sone after Thomas better pas he sped. Opon þe þrid day, at a toun hamelet, Thomas was his pray, as he to mete was set.

NOW Thomas taken es, & to London brouht: Grete was þe wikkednes, þat T. had wrouht. To þe justisé he said, he wild speke with þe kyng, Of his traytours neid, to warn him of a þing. T. þerfor was don to prison eft ageyn, To þe kyng als son þe sent bode certeyn. At Malmesbirie þe kyng with his moder was, Whan him com tiyng of Turbuile Thomas. He teld þe kyng ilk dele, Thomas wild speke with him, & warn him he suld wele, whilk wer his traytours grym. ¶ His moder Helianore abated þer grete bale. "Sonne," said scho, "neuer more trowe ȝe traytours tale, "Suilk traytours als he for hate wille mak a lie, "þorgh þe whilk mot be vengeance & felonie.

"Sonne, on my blissyng, trowe þou not his sawe, "Bot late him haf endyng, als a traytour þorgh lawe. ¶ þe kyng wrote his lettere agayn to þe Justise, þat he wist non bettere, bot do him to Juwise, For alle þat he has said he don vnder fote Tille þis werld be, it it ȝit no tyme to mote. ¶ Now þe Turbeuile has his jugement, Drawen is a while on London pauiment, & siþen was he hanged as thef for treson, Faire grace Edward fanged in his tribulacion.

NOW is þis wikhals dede þorgh vengeance, & þe Cardinals gon er in to France. Oft for þe pes with Philip mad bergayn, Unto þat conseil ches þe kyng of Almayn, Clerkis bituex þam sent hidir to Edward, What þer conseil ment, þe distance so hard. þe wrath was so grete bituex þise kynges tuo, Unnethis acorde þei schete, bot þus with mykelle wo. ¶ To Kaunbray suld þei send men þat were of Gode, þat þer greuance kend, þe distance vnderstode. Clerkis & lewed men suld deme at Kaunbray, & trie þe soth & ken, in whom þe wrong lay: To what manere of pes þe parties wille descend, & who þe wrong first ches, þat partie suld amend. To þo ilk resons þe Inglis wer assent, Bisshopes & barons were gode of þo þat went.

TO while our men were out, for to mak þe pes, Men of armes stout þe kyng to Gascoyn ches. Sir Edmound his broþer þe first was redy, Of Lyncoln þe erle a noþer, Sir Henry þe Lacy, Sir William þe Vescy wys man & bold baroun, & oþer lordes worþi, þat were of gode renoun. Sex & tuenty baners of Inglond alder best, Of armes þat knewe þe maners, to werre were alle prest. ¶ In Inglond were left als douhty as þo, Of þam þe kyng toke eft, to Scotlond wild he go. þe Scottis kyns withsaid, he auht him non homage, Now þenkes he mak a braid, for þat grete outrage. Of Marche þe first day at þe New castelle Our kyng þer he lay, his purueiance so fel, To Scotlond for to go, to wite whi & what wise, þer kyng & oþer mo withsaid him his seruise. A þousand & tuo hundred, fourscore & sexten, On þe Scottes has many wondred, þat bigan his tene.

SIR Roberd Roos of Werk with þe Scottis fled, He set so ille his merk, þat neuer eft he ne sped. þe kyng his castelle sesis, & held þer his Pask day, Him & his þer esis, & alle þat feste þer lay. þe Scottis did first mys, þei wakend alle þat wouh, Tuo schippis of our Inglis, þe folk þer in þei slouh. Sir Edward herd it telle, & dight him to Berwik, No stounde wille he duelle, bot seged it also quik.

What did þan Sir Edward? pere he had non like, Opon his stede bayard first he wan þe dike. In Pask weke it was, þe Friday þei it wan, In þe non tyme felle þis cas, þat slayn was ilk a man, þat were in Berwik fourti þousand & mo, Was non of þam left quik, bot alle to dede ȝede þo. Of þe Inglis sanz faile bot o knyght dede I wote, Sir Richard of Cornwaile, a Flemmyng him smote. Right out of þe rede haule schot was a quarelle, Fire þei fest on it alle, & brent it þat it felle. þe wardeyn of þe castelle sauh þer chance fulle hard, Untille mercy he felle, & ȝalde him tille Edward. William of Duglas ȝalde him also tite. Symon Freselle þer was, he wild haf don dispite. He wend haf had fulle light, Edward at his wille, Bot, þanked be God alle myght, his prisoun leues he stille. þe erle of þe Marche Patrik, lord of next cuntre, He did no maner wik, þe kyng gaf him his gre. Sir Gilberd Umfreyvile wholom was with þe kyng, Sir Robert Brus þat while ageyn him did no þing. Golde & siluer þei fonde, & oþer metalle plente, Now has þe Baliol a stounde lorn issu & entre, & on þe fairest toun, þat was in his pouste, Of ricchesse it had renoun, þat felle to a cite. Now is Berwik born doun, abaist is þat cuntre, Jon gete þi coroun, þou losis þi dignite. Now dos Edward dike Berwik brode & long, Als þei bad him pike, & scorned him in þer song.

Pikit him, & dikit him, on scorne said he, He pikes & dikes in length, as him likes, how best it may be, & þou has for þi pikyng, mykille ille likyng, þe soþe is to se, Without any lesyng, alle is þi heþing, fallen opon þe. For scatred er þi Scottis, & hodred in þer hottes, neuer þei ne the. Right als I rede, þei tombled in Tuede, þat woned bi þe se.

NOW is Edward left Berwik forto dike, þe Scottis er risen eft, Inglond to bisuike. þe gadred þam an oste, fourti þousand & mo, þat com bi an oþer coste, þe Inglis forto slo. þise were hede & meste, þat led þat meyne, Rosse & Meneteste, Assetelle þise erles þre. Corbrigge is a toun, þe brent it whan þei cam, Tuo hous of religioun, Leynertofte & Hexham. þei chaced þe chanons out, þer godes bare away, & robbed alle about, þe bestis tok to pray. Whan þei had slayn & brent, robbed toun & feld, To Dunbar alle þei went, als þer vnhap wild. þe castelle sone þei toke, & þer þar pauilloun þe erle Patrik men schoke, it was his owen donjoun. Edward herd it say, þat Dunbar was so taken, His folk was sone on away, with sege to hold þam waken. ¶ In alle þis ilk goyng so com þe Cardinalle Fro Kaunbray to þe kyng with ansuere of alle,

& fro þe kyng of France here after salle ȝe here, þise men mette him o chance, & com with him in fere. Sir Amys of Saueye, an erle of grete renoun, An oþer com in his weye, Sir Otes de Grauntsoun, þise fro Cipres cam, & tille our kyng þam sped, Whan þe Sarazins Acres nam, passand away þei fled. How of þise ilk traytours, þat holy kirke had schent, Felle misauentours, or þei fro Dunbard went. In þe moneth of May at Berwik was Edward, þe first Tuesday com him tiþinges hard, þat þe erles of Scotlond had reysed baner oloft, & brent & slayn with hond Exham & Lanertoft, & Dunbar had þei seised, þat standes on þe se. þe erle Patrik was fesed, þat tyme þer in was he. Edward also quik sent þe erle of Warenne, & þe erle of Warwik, an oste did þam bikenne. A douhty erle in stours, Sir Hugh Despensere, Barons & vavasours, knyghtes & squiere, & fote folk inowe, þat wele couth of barete, To Dunbar þei þam drowe, þe sege þer to sette, þei tirede þam to kest smertly to þe assaute, þer to þei were alle prest, in þam was no defaute. þe Scottis þat were with inne, þe hoped of socoure, þe Baliol suld þam wynne out of þat soioure. ¶ þe Scottis now þei þenk of gile & quaintise, How þei mot do a blenk tille Edward & hise. A knyght was þam among, Sir Richard Seward, Tille our faith was he long, & with kyng Edward.

Tille our men he com tite, & said, "þe Scottis wilde "þre dayes haf respite, & þan þe castelle ȝelde. "To þe Baliol suld þei send, þer castelle to rescue, "Bi þat bot he vs mend with for ȝow to remue, "þe castelle ȝe salle haue, without any delay. Ostegers ȝe to haue our Inglis toke þat day, A messengere þei sent, to telle alle þe maners. To þe Scottis he went, & said as ȝe may here. ¶ He com to Baliol Jon, & tille alle þe oste, Bifor þam euer ilkon, he spak þise wordes boste, Right as Sir Richard tauht him forto say. "þi men er biseged hard in Dunbar with grete aye, "Whan þei fro Ingland cam, Dunbar þe toke tille hold, "To Berwik tiþing nam, & tille Sir Edward told. "Edward þider sent folk a grete partie, "Doun Sir Richard went, & spak to þam lufly, "Many of þam he knewe, so fair spak & so suete. "For þre days trewe þe Inglis him hete. "Whan our company wist of trewe certeyn, "Tille ȝow þei bad me hie, ilka knyght & sueyn, "þis bodword to telle, vn to þe treus is hote, "þat ȝe ne rest ne duelle, for ȝit no man wote.

"To morn in þe none tide, whan þei ere at þe mete, "þider ȝe alle salle ride, a faire pray salle ȝe gete. "Whan þei of þe castelle se, þat ȝe com so stoute, "þat ere of wille fulle fre, to issue on þam oute. "þe Inglis wille not wene, þat ȝe be comand now, "Of þo ȝe salle mak clene, lap þam bituex ȝow, "þat þei neuer eft rise, to do ȝow more trauaile, "I knowe non oþerwise, what way may ȝow auale. "Armes now ȝow alle, þat non him withdrawe. "How it may best falle, I haf ȝow said þe sawe. ¶ "Whan ȝe haf þe pris of ȝour enmys, non salle ȝe saue, "Smyte with suerd in hand, alle Northumberland with right salle ȝe haue, "& Inglond ȝit alle, for werre salle be tint for þis drede. "Scotte neuer bigan vnto Inglis man to do so douhty dede. "þer on þat grene, þat kynrede kene, gadred als þe gayte, "Right, als I wene, on som was it sene, þer þe bit bayte.

FOR þis manne's sawe, þe route of rascaile, Tille armes gan drawe, & dight þam to bataile. Richard þat first gaf rede to þat consaile, He sauh þam rif & raf comand ilka taile. Also suiþe he ȝede doun to þe Inglis men, "I se an oste to spede comand bi batailes ten, "& ȝit me þink þer mo, þat er neghand nehi. "If ȝe wille I wille go, & do þam hold o drehi. "Nay," said þe Inglis men, "we trost not on þi tunge, "þe castelle we salle biken Sir Umfrey Boun þe ȝonȝe,

"þat non salle passe out, nouþer þe ne þou. þe Inglis armed stout toward þe Scottis drouh, þer stedes broched þei fast, þat myght formast he ȝede. þe Baliol was agast, for he stode tille no dede, For soþe at þe first, in poudre as dos þe chaf, Fleand fast þei þrist, & fled boþe rif & raf. Was neuer non of þam, þat bode wik no gode, Bot Sir Patrik Graham a while to bataile stode. He was a man douhty, bot slayn he was fulle sone, Ten þousand & fyfti & four þer were so done. Was neuer in no bataile so mykelle folk misferd, With so litelle trauaile, þat man sauh ne of herd. ¶ þe Scottis had no grace, to spede in þer space, for to mend þer nisse, þei filed þer face, þat died in þat place, þe Inglis rymed þis. "Oure fote folk put þam in þe polk, & nakned þer nages, "Bi no way herd I neuer say of prester pages, "Purses to pike, robis to rike, & in dike þam schonne, "þou wiffin Scotte of Abrethin, kotte is þi honne.

SHISE erles þat I of red, þat in þe castelle were, Sauh þer folk not sped, bot slayn alle þer here. Whan our men out camen to þo þat left þer stille, þei com out alle samen, & ȝald þam tille our wille. Opon þe toþer dai Edward þider cam, þe prisons of þer pray alle þat euer þei nam, Were brouht him bifore, þre erles þre barons, & mo be fiue score kynghtes & lordes of touns,

þise wer in his wardes, & auht & tuenti mo, Tuo clerkes tuo Pikardes ȝit were among þo. ¶ To þe toure of London þe þre erles were sent, & þe barons bondon also þider went. Tille oþer castels about þei sent tueye & tueye In anens for doute, ilk on on his hakneye. In kartes oþer were sent with anens on þer fete. þus in sorow it ent, þer gamen turned to grete. þorgh out Inglond men said of þam schame, & þer þei were in bond men scorned þam bi name. ¶ þe Scottis I telle for sottis, & wrecchis vnwar, Unsele dyntis to dele þam drouh to Dunbar.

NOW is tyme to telle of þe duze pers, þat in Scotlond duelle, wille mak þer parti fers. ȝit held þe kyng of France Gascoyn with outrage, For þat mischance of Blanche mariage. For þat abatement he chalenges it þorgh right, Edward þidir had sent many a hardy knyght, þat while þei were werand in Gascoyn euer ilkon, þe clergi of Scotland egged þer kyng Jon. His barons did also for þe comon prow, To France suld he go þe bisshop of S. Androw, þer nedes forto mone, to procure an aliance Of þe Baliol sonne, & Charles douhter of France. & if it myght, þat weys he brouht to certeynte, þe Scottis & Franceys togider suorn suld be,

Inglond to destroye fro Tuede vnto Kent. þe Frankis withouten noye hauen mot þei hent In Tuede at þer wille, wan þei wild com or go, Northumberland to spille, þe folk to robbe & slo. Right sone afterward þe stiward of Scotland Com to kyng Edward, & brouht vntille his hand, Erles & barons, bisshopes plenerly, Knyghtes, lordes of tounes, & alle com to his crie. Kyng Jon & his sonne withouten lond or rent Er now led to London, to bide þer jugement. Now is Scotland hole at our kynge's wille, & Jon þe Baliol at London leues stille. Right as Merlyn spak had Edward þe kyng Scotlond, als Albanack had at þe gynnyng. ¶ þe Walsh & þe Irish, tille our men Inglysh, halp douhtily, þat we þe Scottis had, & to prison lad, & com tille our crie. Now es alle ent, & home ere þei went, þe Iris & Wals, God gyue at þe parlement, þe Scottis be alle schent, & hanged bi þe hals. Edward now þenk, þei did þe a blenk, brent Hexham. þe croice & þe rode, brent þer it stode, or þei þien nam. Now has þou myght, gyfþi dome right, þer dede is wele sene, Els wille þei eft, on þo þat er left, bigynne newe tene. Men may merci haue, traytour not to saue, for luf ne for awe, Atteynt of traytorie, suld haf no mercie, wiþ no maner lawe. Jon þe Baliol, no witte was in þi pol, whan þou folie þouhtis, To leue þe right scole, þou did als a fole, & after wrong wrouhtis.

For boule bred in his, whan he tynt þat he toke, alle his kyngdome, For he has ouerhipped, his tippet is tipped, his tabard is tome.

PRIUE pride in pes es nettille in herbere, þe rose is myghtles, þer nettille spredis ouer fer. þe Baliol so ferd with þe duze pers, His reame, as ȝe herd, he lost þorgh conseilers. First he was a kyng, now is he soudioure, & is at oþer spendyng bonden in þe toure. Edward now he wille, þat Scotlond be wele gemed, & streitly in skille þorgh wise men demed, þat non slo ne brenne, ne eft ageyn him rise. Sir Jon of Warenne he is chef justise, Sir Henry Percy kepes Galweye, þise tuo had baly of þis londes tueye. To Berwik cam þe kynge eschekere, Sir Hugh of of Cressyngham he was chancelere, Walter of Admundesham he was Tresorere. For justise with him nam, to mak þe lawe clere.

Forto norise pes, his benk he did þer crie. Shireues, balifes he ches, þat office couþe guye. Of Inglis men trewe, þat lufed alle þe right, He mad wardeyns newe, & gaf þam alle his myght, þat Frankis no Flemmyng power suld non haue, Bot forto selle þer þing, merchandise to saue. þat to þe pes þam toke, & com vnto his mercy, He did þam suere on þe boke, to com vnto his crie. Homage & feaute mad him with þer hand, At his wille to be, bi se & bi land. þo þat þe werre bigan, & kid it so couth, Were taken ilk a man, & sent in to þe South. ¶ Oure men ere in Gascoyn, to werre on þer enmys. þe gode bisshop Antoyn þer he bare þe pris, His dedes ere to alowe, for his hardynesse. He did many on bowe in þat lond þorgh stresse, His boldhede did þam wynne, & com vnto his crie, Were it now to gynne, we wan it not lightly. ¶ þise duze pers com to þe freres, þam for to schriue, þe jugement ageyn þam went, to schorte þer liue. Cambinhoy beres him coy, þat fende's whelp, þer with craft he has þam raft, it may not help. þe Trulle þe drenge on se, þei lenge þe fendes tueye, þe hold þam fer, & dar no ner, þan Orkeneye. Andrew is wroth, þe wax him loth, for þer pride. He is þam fro, now salle þei go, schame to betide.

þou scabbed Scotte, þi nek þi hotte, þe deuelle it breke, It salle be hard to here Edward, ageyn þe speke. He salle þe ken, our lond to bren, & werre bigynne, þou getes no þing, but þi riuelyng, to hang þer inne. þe sete of þe Scone is driuen ouer Done, to London led, A hard wele telle, þat bagelle & belle be filchid & fled.

NOW tels Pers, on his maners, a grete selcouth, He takis witnes, þat it soth es, of Merlyn mouth. A wondere were, tuo watres þer er togidir gon, & tuo kyngdames, with tuo names, now er on. þe ildes aboute alle salle loute vnto þat lond, Of whilk Edward is justise hard, þat so þan bond. He sais he has wonen, & þorgh ronnen, many landes. Alle salle þei loute tille him for doute, & dede of handes. He sais Scotland is in his hand for now & ay, At myn inwitte it is not ȝit alle at our fay. He sais, Merlyn, in his deuyn, of him has said, þat þre regions, in his bandons, salle be laid, Scotland & Wales, þise er his tales, þis lond al on Was Brutus wayn, & cald Bretayn, first Albion. I calle þerto, it is no so, þei er o sundere. þat he has spoken, it is now broken, with mykelle wondere. A prophecie sais he salle die, & whan he is ouere, After þat day Scotlond may haf gode recouere. ȝe haf wele herd, þe Brus Roberd was Scottis kyng, Wele tuenti ȝere in gode powere mayntend þat þing, Als he it left ȝit wille þei eft rise fulle austere. It is not alle brouht to stalle for no powere,

þat Pers said, me þink it is laid, þe pes so trewe, Now ilk ȝere, bi tymes sere, þei gynne alle newe. Jhesu so meke, I þe biseke, on croice þat was wonded, Grante me þat bone, þe Scottes sone alle be confonded.

ATTE Seynt Edmond toun þe Parlement was sette, Bisshop & baroun, þe clergie alle þer mette. þe baronage holy þer þei gan alle samen, þe kyng alle þe clergie praied þam bi name, If þei wild at þer myght help him bi þat weye, Als þei bifore hight in Westmynster abbeye. "Of help I haf grete nede, my werre is not alle ent "To wite what ȝe me rede, I set þis parlement. "þis lond forto saue, my were to mayntene, "þe tuelft penie to haue," þei granted alle bidene. & of merchandie þe seuent penie to haue Vnto his tresorie, þe barons vouched saue. Forto gyue ansuere Roberd of Wynchelse Studied how he mot, were alle his primaute. He sent to þe kyng tuo bisshops of renoun, & schewed þat spiritualle þing þorgh pouert ȝede alle doun. Afterward he ȝede himself to þe kyng, & said, "Sir, God forbede, to greue þe ony þing. "Sir, I schewe þe here, for alle holy kirke, "þat no man has powere þer of to deme no wirke, "Withoute þe pape of Rome, Gode's vicarie. "He salle at his dome set it lowe & hie,

"He has mad a statute, þat vs hard byndes, "Of forfeture of frute, & rent þat vs fyndes, "þat tende ne tuende half no partie "þorgh gift to non salle lende, bot in his auowrie. "Opon þat he giffes a solempne cursyng, "Tille þo þat þer on liffes, without his wittyng.

"SIR clerke," said þe kyng, "þou has said folie, "Hote is dette þing, þer treuth has maistrie. "Bot if þe bulle vnfolden were red among vs here, "ȝour hote salle be holden, als dette in þat manere. "þou & alle þin salle help me as ȝe hight. "ȝour hette wille I not tyne, bi Jhesu in Marie light. ¶ "Sir," þe bisshop said, "fulle gladly we wille, "þat our godes be laid ȝow to help at skille, "þorgh leue of þe pape, þat has of vs powere, "ȝour clerke ȝe þider rape with our messengere. "Whan þei had schewed him alle our state & ȝour askyng, "With his leue we salle help ȝow at his biddyng. ¶ "Certis," Sir bisshop, "terme ne wille I sette, "To conseile with þe pope for þing þat þou me hette. "Bot if þou wilt haf now respite in þis cas, "Of ȝour hote conseile ȝow with þe clergie þat þou has. "For ȝour hote is dette als to me, "At Saynt Hillarimesse at Westmynster salle be, "No lenger may I lette, me comes on ilk half werre, "Of þat þat ȝe me hette gyues me þan ansuerė.

"SIR," þe bisshop said, "of þis we pray þe, "þat no wikked braid of minystres þat be, "Tille vs ne non of ours, ne nouht of our lay fe "Be taxed with non of ȝour's grante it per charite. ¶ "Sir bisshop drede þe nouht, þou salle no þing tyne, "Scaþe salle non be wrouht þorgh no man of myne. "Sir bisshop I pray þe, & þou alle holelyche, "þat ȝe pray for me þorghout ȝour bisshopriche. Ilk bisshop tille his se, whan it was don þei went, For þe kyng & his meyne forto pray þei sent. ¶ þider to Saynt Edmoun com þe tresorere, Walter of Langtoun, þat had bien messengere With þe Cardinalle forto enforme þe pes. Nouþer of som no alle, ne wist what þei ches, Bot þo þat were priue, oþer myght not witen, Tille my maister no me was not told no writen. ¶ ȝit com afterward oþer messengers Tille our kyng Edward, with luf & faire maners, þat contek suld not skip eft, þorgh no treson, Bituex him & Filip for þe lond of Gascon. þe cardinalle was wys, ordeynd how it suld be: þe kyng at his auys sent messengers þre, Sir Waltere of Langton, Sir Hugh Despensere, Jon of Berwik was boun þe þrid messengere. þise wist þe certeyn of alle þe kynge's wille, God bring þam wele ageyn, & saue þam fro ille. ¶ Of þe barons of Scotland at þe parlement Were non had ȝit in hand, no gyuen jugement.

þo þat þorgh right dede were worþi, & atteynt, þorgh þe kyng did þam merci. With Wales did he so, & þei were neuer trewe, Whan he had most to do, þei mad him sorow newe. ¶ þe day of Saynt Hillari þe kyng set þam bituen, At London certeynli his parlement to haf bien. Was brouht him þis tiþing comen fro Kaunbray, Of pes to speke no þing, bot werre fro day to day. Where for þe kyng wille fonde, forto purueie him Trewe men bi water & londe, for doute of treson grim. He sent his day to hold of parlement þat he sette, þe certeyn wite he wold, what þe clergi him hette. ¶ þe bisshop of Canterbire fulle bold his ansuere was, For him & alle his schire he vouwed to S. Thomas, "þat no kirke of hise taliage suld non gyue, "Ne do to non seruise, to while þat he mot lyue, "Without þe pape's leue, þat has of vs powere. Tille his partie gan cheue þe bisshop Oliuere, He turned not forbi for leue ne for loth. þe kyng vnto þe clergi was þerfor fulle wroth, & said with euel wille, "despite he suld him do. þe bisshop said þer tille, "I am redi þerto. "Nay, Sir," said þe kyng, "þou ert not so worþi, "Ne I wille for no þing be so fole hardi. Tille þo was he so hard out his pes did þam deme, Bot sone afterward som gan him queme. Som of þe bisshops said, "þat help behoued him haue, "At skille þei wild be laid, his right forto saue,

"& holy kirke defende, saue it & vs fro schame. þe bisshop of ȝork so kende, & wild do þat same, He granted for to gyue þe fifte penie to þe kyng, In his werre wele to lyue, & saue þer oþer þing.

IN alle þis grete gram of þe clergi & þe kyng, Of Flandres þe erle William sent him a tiþing, þorgh his conseilers & sauhtillyng wild he schewe, With þre lordes pers of Blankmonte & of Kewe, þe þrid messengere a lord of grete honoure, þat was þe tresorere of Flandres resceyuoure. Of Hanaud þe erle first bigan, & alle his Henners, þe duke Jon of Braban with þe Holanders, þise praied þe erle William, for þer aller sake, þat þei tille Edward nam þe aliance to make. þise sent þis men & said, "þat þer conseile so ches, "þei wild tille vs be laid, in gode lufe & pes, "þat our merchantz mot go forto bie & selle, "With luf withouten wo, & at ȝour hauens duelle. "If he wild ageyn France reise werre & baners, "þe Flemmynges wild þat chance to be his souders, "Ageyn kyng Philip & his duze pers, "þat with wrong wild skip, & reue him þo maners, "þat þe kyng Arthu gaf Sir Beduers, "In Gascoyn alle þoru to his botlers, "þe whilk kyng Henry, & now his sonne Edward, "His ancestres holy haf had it afterward.

þise teld to þe kyng alle þer lorde's wille, & for þis tiþing leue ȝit þe prisons stille. ¶ For þise ilk chances, þat I haf of tolde, Was no deliuerance of þe Scottis bolde. Nouþer as Saleberi, no at Saynt Edmunde's toun, Was non ȝit at þe wiri, ne ȝolden for raunsoun. Of many foule mischeue com him tiþing þikke, Bot on þer was oure greue, & þat him þouh most wikke. ¶ þe tiþing is so nowe, his courte it dos to blaken, þe soth ilk on þei knew, Sir Jon of Saynt Jon is taken. He kept his castels, his vitaile, his mone, Undere þe kyng seales, þe chance listnes me. ¶ þe Wednesday next at euen befor Kandilmesse A spie did Sir Jon leue, þat Frankis oste non was. Namely in þat pas, þat he suld lede þam bi, He lied þat Judas, ten þousand were redi. Sir Jon mad him prest, he trost þat losengere, His bataile was formest, displaied his banere, & passed alle þe pas, þat þei alle so dred, Biside enbussed was fiften hundred sped, In foure grete escheles alle to batail sette, þe first he disconfet wele, þe toþer with him so mette. Sir Jon fulle hardely to fight did his peyn, & bad Sir Henry Lacy, þat he suld turne ageyn. "þis oste is grete biforn, I rede þat ȝe fle. þer vitaile was alle lorn, herneis & þer mone. Sir James of Beauchamp wonded, & may not stand, In a water stampe he was dronkled fleand.

Sir Jon þorgh þam brast, bifore ȝe herd me neuen, Was taken at þe last & his knyghtes elleuen, & of his squierie gentille men auhtene. þer pride & þer folie, I trowe, on þam was sene.

BOSTE & deignouse pride & ille avisement Mishapnes oftentide, & dos many be schent. þe proude kyng Pharaon, þat chaced Israel, Dronkeld euerilkon, & Gode's folk went wel. Sodom & Gomor fulle vile synne þat stank, Boþe for euer more doun tille helle þei sank. Dauid þat simple was, slouh he grete Golie, Jacob sonne Judas solde Josep for envie. Lucius þe emperour was slayn for couetise, Arthur had dishonour for wronges many wise. Modred a fole aperte was slayn licherie, Cadwaldre for pouerte fled fro Bretanie. Harald þis lond les, for he was forsuoren, Leulyn brak þe pes, his hede he lost þerforn. Allas! non with oþer chastised ȝit wille be, Edward do turne þe roþer, & fare ouer þe se, & socoure þo þat are ȝit in Gascoyn left, Ne late þam not misfare, ne þer powere be reft. Saynt Thomas salle be þi help & þi socoure, St. Jon of Beuerle, Cutbert þe confessoure. Bot þou haf help of God þorgh praiere of som Saynt, I telle not worþe a cod, for alle þi faire is faynt.

On þo þat God lufes lest mishappenyng salle falle, þat kepe not his bihest, þei ere vngraciouse alle. ¶ It sais in a storie, þe bible may not lie, þat God God gaf þe maistrie to þe childre of Mathatie. þe bible sais bot seuen þe were, & no mo, Seuen thousand euen ageyn alle durst þei go. þei wer stedfast & traist, lufed God & held his lawe, Folie wild þei no fraist, ne to no falshede drawe. God lufed þam & þei him, he halp þam at þer nede, Ensample I rede ȝe nym, þat ȝe may so wele spede. ¶ þe date was a þousand þre hundred alle bot þre, Edward tok on hand Flandres forto se.

AFTER þe haly þorsday þe kyng sent his sond, Messengers of way, for barons of þe lond, For bisshopes þat þei kende, & oþer þat þei found, þat ilk ȝere mot dispende of londes tuenty pound, Suld com þer he was, & with him mak þer frette, Or with his body pas tille Gascoyn als he sette. ¶ þe barons & of hise said, "þei suld not so, "Suilk a new seruise to reise ne to do. "For our state it apeires, without any reson, "& tille alle our heires grete disheriteson.

þe barons were alle in ire, & spak for þat tirpeile, þe bisshop of Canterbire þei praied him of conseile. þe bisshop knewe þe right, þe wille of boþe what ment, Als holy kirke's knyght, he com to þe parlement.

THE kyng spak for his prow, whan þei were alle sette, "I am castelle for ȝow, toure, hous, & rescette, "& ȝe als naked berd loken in pauilloun, "þat to fight is ferd, or ȝate þat first is doun. "My lond of Gascoyn is lorn þorgh tresons, "I may not cast essoyn, bot felow my somons. "I haf mad a vowe to leue for wele ne wo, "At my nede now with me behoues ȝow go. "Salle non finde encheson þorgh quaintise to say, "Bot þat ȝe be alle boun with me to wende þat way. ¶ þen ansuerd Sir Roberd, bisshop of Canterbire, "Sir, ert þou not ferd of wreche of Gode's ire, "þat þou wilt werre bigynne, without amendment, "Ageyn God don synne, ageyn holy kirke has went? "I rede þou mak amendes of þat grete misdede. "Praye God þat alle defendes als holy kirke wille rede, "& bot þou do, Sir kyng, as I conseile þe, "I salle mak cursyng on alle þat passe with þe.

AFTER þe ersbisshop þe erle Marschalle Rogere Bifor þe kyng ros vp, & spak tille him austere, "Of þis we ask respite, oure conseile to take, "Noþeles also tite I say for þe comon sake. He said for þe barons, þat non of þer homage Suld passe for somons, bot at þe kynge's costage; Ne non of þer powere to passe þe se suld grante, Without conseile of pere & costage in conante. ¶ þe kyng his wordes toke wraþefully tille herte, For ire nere he quoke, & ansuerd him fulle smerte. "Sir Erle, I comand þe, þat þou be þe ton, "For þou salle wende with me, whedere þou wille or non, "Or þin office for go of þe marschalcie, "Respite I gyue no mo, but mak alle redie. ¶ þe erle, "wend I nouht so sone myn office lete, "I haf not ȝit so wrouht, to haf maugre þe grete. Out of þe courte he went, duellid he no while, þe kyng for on sent, Sir Geffrey Geneuile, & of þe marschalcie presented him þe ȝerde, Bad arme him priuelie, & priues alle herde Now tille armes þat may, als þei suld lyue or deie, þei hoped þe toþer day þe barons resteie. þe erle wist it sone, in him was no defaute, þe barons were alle bone, to mak þe kyng assaute. ¶ Right als þe parties togider suld haf smyten, Sir Antoyn was wys, he did þe kyng to witen,

What perille salle betide, if þei & his barons & werre togidere ride, als enmys felons. To þe barons he ȝede, & praied þam to bowe, "þe kyng to ȝow has nede, help him if ȝe mowe. "If him com any scaþe tinselle of seignorie, Tille ȝow it wille be waþe, leues alle þis folie.

THE barons at þe last tille Antoyn gaf ansuere, Of þing þat þei wild ask bad him þe copie bere, & said to Saynt Alban's, þider wild þei com, To parlement alle at ans, & stand to right dome. If he & his conseile to þam wild him meke, þe wild him auaile, & do þat he wild biseke. Sir Antoyn turned ageyn, & schewed him þer assent, If he wild hold certeyn þe day of parlement. þe kyng wild not þider, ouer þe se wild he fare, To wite where & whidere þe ferd his frendes þare. Withouten rede of mo in schip to Flandres went, Non erle wild with him go, for baron non he sent. His folie was þe more, þar he non with him toke, Suilk tiþing sauh he þore, fulle fayn fro Brigges schoke.

NOW is Edward ariued in Flandres, bot with fo. With his barons he striued, with him wild non go. A kyng þat striues with hise, he may not wele spede, Whore so he restis or riues he lyues ay in drede. His vitaile he has purueid in Brigges forto be, His wynes were þer leid, & warnised þat cite.

God þat wote alle þing, what is don or whi, He saue Edward our kyng þore þorgh his merci. ¶ Bituex þe kyng of France & þe erle William Was þat tyme a distance, a wrath bituex þam nam. þe prouest of þe toun, a wik traytour & cherle, He þouht to do tresoun vnto his lord þe erle. To Philip priuely a letter did he make, If he had oste redy, Brigges mot he take. Com what tyme he wild, þe toun suld he wynne, þe comon he suld him ȝeld, & Edward þerinne. Edward mot he haue, if he wild him rape, þe toun he suld so saue, þat he suld not ascape. Of þis whan Philip herd, oste he did sone ȝare, þat tyme þat he forth ferd, he herd not of his fare. ¶ þe preuest with þe burgeis þat day to conseile gede, Edward herd it say of gilerie, as som drede. & oþer were perceyued, þat þer ȝede disceite, Bot ȝit was it not reyued, so Edward þouht him streite. A child of þat land, þat knew not Sir Edward, Edward sauh him stand, `þe Flem þe Flemmynges to reward. Fast he gan behald þe samenyng of Flemmynges. Edward child cald, & asked him tiþinges. "Sonne, what hers þou say of burgeis of cite? He said, "Sir grete aye, þat þe Inglis here in be, "& for þe Inglis sake tille it wille falle hard. "For þe Frankes hope take þe toun & Sir Edward. Sir Edward also sone þer gile gan he knowe, Dight him to bataile bone, his trumpes did he blowe.

þe Flemmynges vndirstode, þe kyng warned was, þe cheynes & ȝates gode þei sperd, þat non mot pas. þe Walsch without þe toun euerilkon þei lay, þat was þe enchesoun for fight & for affray. Whan þei þe trumpes herd, þat he to bataile blewe, & saw þe ȝates sperd, þan gamened þam no glewe. Ouh! for Saynt Dauy! þe Flemmyng wille him gile, þe kest alle suilk a crie, þat men mot here a myle. Fire & brondes þei nam in houses of þer gatis, & ouer þe water suam, & set fire on þe ȝatis. Maugre þe Flemmynges on þam þe ȝatis þei brent, Cheynes þei hew & rynges, & tille Sir Edward went, & fond him alle redy armed on his stede, Was no cheyne so hie, þat he ne sprong ouer als glede, & comandid ilk man, to schip suiþe to go, þorgh þe Flemmynges he ran, & many on did slo. His stede was blak as rauen, þei kald his name Feraunt, He rode vnto þe hauen, & said he wild to Gaunt. Unneþis fro þat felons ascaped he þat wo. If he had had his barons, he had not gyuen of þo. þe kyng of Almayn had hight him his help, He mad a fals trayn, of him is not a ȝelp. He sent Edward to say, help him mot he nouht, Werrand on ilk a way his enmys on him souht. Allas! þat a kyng es fals ageyn his pere! Edward dred him no þing, bot was ay glad of chere.

AN erle þer was of Bare, he werred fast on France, þe Walsh with him war ȝere, forto do mischance. þer markettis & þer faires & þer castels reft, Now alle þe cuntre peires, vnneþis ouht þei left. Philip on his partie did þe erle grete tene, Alle þat he mot com bie, he robbed alle bidene. þe bisshop of Durhem trauailed day & nyght, Of strife to felle þe stem, þe pes to mak alle right. Bot Philip was ay hard, his ansuer euer so light, His wist þat Edward had bot litelle myght. Has he had his erles, his barons with him lad, Of alle þe Frankis cherles þe maistrie suld he haf had. ¶ A man þat beris him stoute, whan þat he suld bowe, In chance if þat he loute, he findes foos inowe. Listnes now þis pas, why þat I þus said, In wham defaut was þat þertille may be laid.

GESTES þat er olde writen of many man, þritti reames men tolde, þat kyng Arthur wan. He parted his wynnyng tille his men largely, þat nouþer erle ne kyng wille withsitte his cry. þei were at his wille, were he neuer so hie, Boþe of gode & ille at alle his nede redie. ¶ Oure kyng Sir Edward ouer litille he gaf, Tille his barons was hard, ouerhipped þam ouerhaf. He wild not be so hende, so large, no so fre, þerfor þei lete him wende alon ouere þe se. þorgh þat wendyng alon, nere he had bien schent, It was to mak of mone, þat non erle with him went.

¶ þorgh tiþing brouht bi tide þe Scottis wist of þis, Ilk Scotte on his side mad þerof joy & blis. þe rascail of þer route bigan to werre alle newe, Now Edward is oute, þe barons be not trewe. þe suffred, as it sais, þe Scottis eft to rise, & William þe Walais þer hede & þer justise. þorgh fals concelement William did his wille, Our castels has he brent, our men slayn fulle ille. ¶ Sir Hugh of Crissengham he did nycely & mys, þe tresore with him he nam, sperd it in his coffris, & wild gif no wages to þe folk þer ware, þerfor ȝomen & pages home gan alle fare. ¶ Whan Sir Jon of Warenne þe soth vnderstode, þat þe Waleis gan brenne, an oste he gadred gode, & went to Striuelyne agayn Waleis William, Bot þe erle with mykelle pyne disconfite away nam. & þat was his folie, so long in his bed gan ligge, Untille þe Waleis partie had vmbilaid þe brigge. With gauelokes & dartes suilk ore was non sene, Myght no man þam departe, ne ride ne go bituene. þore first þam tauht, how þei did fawe kirke. Alle gate þe brigge he rauht, of nouht our men were irke. ¶ Whan þe erle herd say, þe brigge how William toke, He douted to die þat day, þat bataile he forsoke. þe Inglis were alle slayn, þe Scottis bare þam wele, þe Waleis had þe wayn, als maistere of þat eschele. At þat ilk stoure was slayn on our side God men of honour, þat wald to þe bataile bide.

Sir Roberd of Somervile, & his eldest sonne, He held þe stoure a while, for dede ne wild he schonne. & knyghtes & sergeantz, noble men fulle couth, Of prowes fulle valiantz, boþe bi North & South. ¶ Sir Hugh of Cressyngham in armes nouht ne deih, For ridyng lauht he skam, out of his sadelle he fleih. His stede ouer him ran, he lay vnder his fete, þat sauh þe Scottis man, & þer of wele he lete. He & oþer inowe, þat Sir Hugh wele knewe, I wene þei quik him flouh, & his lymmes to hewe. ¶ Sir Marmeduk of Thuenge in þe felde bare þe flour, With þe Scottis gan he menge, & stifly stode in stoure. Fightand he couerd alle weys þe castelle of Striuelyn, Maugre þe Waleys, Sir Marmeduk went in.

AFTER þis bataile, þe Scottis sent ouer þe se A boye of þer rascaile, quaynt & doguise. To Flandres bad him fare, þorgh burgh & cite, Of Edward whore he ware bring þam certeynte. & whan he com ageyn, he teld þam þis tiþing, þat sothly & certeyn dede was Edward þe kyng. & to þat stede he ferd, þer he was laid in graue, þe Scottis whan þei it herd, more joye ne bad þei haue. ¶ To werre þan ros þei cft, tille God þei mad a vowe, þat no þing suld be left, þat myght to Inglond prowe, Mercy suld non haue, tille alle þei suld do wo, Kirke suld no man saue, bot brenne þer in & slo.

In Northumberland þer first þei bigan, & alle þat com tille hand, þei slouh & ouer ran To Flandres tille Edward tiþinges men him sent, þat Scottis com in hard, þe North is nere alle brent, & more salle ȝit be lorn, bot if we haf socoure. Nouht standes þam biforn, toun, castelle, ne toure. þe kyng for þo tiþinges was noyed greuoslie, To conseil þe lordynges he cald þat wer him bi. Whan þei had alle cast þer conseil vp & doun, þe kyng was at þe last avised on þis reson, þat nede behoued him grante to clerke & baroun, & hold þam þe conante of ilk peticioun. Bi letter he þam sent, & grantid þer askyng, Alle þat reson ment of ilk maner þing. Bi letter & bi mouth he praied þam of socoure, & þat he myght & couth, þat wer to þer honoure, He granted at þer wille, if þei wild socoure him, Ageyn þe Scottis ille, þat bere þam now so brim,

THE bisshop of Canterbire þerof payed was he, For him and alle his schire þis gift gaf fulle fre, To saue þe pape statute, þat þem bihoued defende, Of holy kirke's frute he gaf þe kyng þe tende, Gadred with clerkis hand, & kept to þat viage, Wendand to Scotland, biteched it þe baronage, þe lond forto saue, & holy kirke's dignite, þis grantid he þam to haue Roberd of Wynchelse. þe clergie of þe North þe fifte peny suld gyue, Whan þe barons ferd forth, in pes þat þei mot lyue,

& grantid þam self at þe first gynnyng, Whan þe kyng asked half of alle þer moble þing. Now er at on assent þe barons & þe clerkis, þe Scottis hold þam schent, of þer conseil now herkis ¶ þe Scottis vnderstode, þat holy þe clergie Were alle in wille gode, to help þe kynge's partie, & þe barons also in luf with him wild dele, For he had grantid þer to þe Chartre forto sele, & after þat selyng alle suld þei come þe barons & þe kyng, & tak of þam hard dome What did þe Scottis þo, bot þis conseil þei ches? To Striuelyn suld þei go, in manere of pes, Sir Marmeduk biseke, his wrath forto asuage, & to þam mak him meke, for luf & for ostage. þei suore þer Cristendam, if þat he wild com oute, Withouten any gram tille þei wild loute, Boþe loude & stille, in nesch & in hard, & to pes with gode wille ȝeld þam tille Edward. Sir Marmeduk out cam, he trosted on þer fayth, To him & his þei nam, & smertly did þam grayth Toward Dun Bretayn, & him in prison þer sperd, His frendes were vnfayn, for non wist how he ferd. þei did þat treson, if þam felle any chance, For him þei mot eftson of þers make deliuerance. ¶ þe clergie of þe South mad a disputesoun, & openly with mouth assigned gode resoun,

þat scaþe ne mot bifalle, ne forto wrath þe pape, Bot for him & vs alle myght it better schape. ¶ In alle þis spekyng com þe tresorere Fro Edward our kyng, to schewe þe chartere here. He spak vnto þe clergie, "ȝe barons þat here be, "þe kyng fulle curteislie gretis ȝow wele bi me, "& sais, þat he wille Inglond alle ese, "& þat ȝe ask in skille ȝour hertes forto pese, "þe chartre of franchise conferm it ȝow he salle, "& of þe first assise as his fader gaf it alle. þe Chartre was red on hi, in Westmynstere & schewed, Ilk poynt bi & bi, to lerid & to lewed. þe bisshop of Canterbire in comon alle o liche Schewed it in ilk schire, alle his bisshop riche. Whan þei þe Chartre in alle had schewed day bi day, Sir Roger þe erle Marschalle, of Herford þe erle Umfray, At ȝork þei tok on hand, þer parlement to sette, þe hie folk of þe land, þer alle togidere mette. þe erle Jon of Surray com with grete powere, Of Gloucestre stoute & gay Sir Rauf þe Mohermere, & his wif dame Jone, whilom Gilberde's of Clare, þo banerettis ilkone fro Douer to Durham ware.

At þe kirke of Saynt Petir þe day of Saynt Agnes, þe bisshop on his mitere of Carlele it says. He stode vp in pulpite, þe office forto do, þer Chartre he red it bituex þe erles tuo, & cursed alle þo, þat þe Chartre brak, Or stroied or did ouht fro ony poynt þer in spak. After þis sentence gyuen, tille armes alle þat myght, Was it no lenger dryuen, to Scotlond alle þam dight. In alle Northumberland, þer þe Waleis had bene, Alle was in þe kynge's hand, þe Scottis wer non sene.

IN alle þis nesch & hard, euer lasted þe distance Bituex kyng Edward, & þe kyng of France, Bot it was delaied tille a day certeyn Of right dome set & saied, how pes mot be pleyn. þei consentid boþe, þorgh conseil of þe pape, To pese þam tuo wroþe, with sight he wild schape. þorgh mariages was hopyng of þe pes, þat were certeyn stages, þat boþe parties ches. þe kyng on suld haue, a may was in spekyng, Tille his sonne suld men saue, Philip douhter ȝing.

IN alle þis ordenance our kyng sent messengers þat kewe þe greuance, wyse men barons pers, Unto þe courte of Rome, þe pape to schew þat cas, How wondere chances come, & who did most trespas, Of Inglis & Frankis who was most culpable, In þe pape leues alle þis, to mak mende & mak alle stable.

¶ To while pape Boniface duellid opon þis, To gyue dome þorgh grace, to mende boþe þer mys, þe kyng tok his consaile, & home to Ingland went. Gode wynde in his saile Jhesu Criste him lent. þe erles of Scotlond þat atteynt wer of treson, þe kyng him self willand, deliuerd þam fro prison. þise wer of þer gest, as I kan names fynde, þe erle of Menetest was of Edward kynde, þe erle of Ascetelle, Sir Jon þe Comyn, Badenauh sonne I telle, & þretty of þer couyn, Alle þise & wele mo atteynt of traytorie, þe kyng lete þam go of his curteisie, Withouten siluere or golde, or any oþer treuage, þer penance was, þei suld go in pilgrimage. ¶ Here of þis wikked hals, þat our kyng gaf leue, To France þei ȝede þo fals, to Philip wild þei cheue, Bisouht him of socoure & auancement, To maynten þam in stoure, þei mad hir þer present, Scotlond of him to hold euer withouten ende, If he in luf wold as lord vnto þam lende.

PHILIP gaf respons, & bad þam go þer way, "ȝe ere foles Bretons, disceit is þat ȝe say. "þe pape me defendes with bulle þat bindis hard, "To renne on þo landes, þat longes tille Edward. "To whils þat oure trewe duellis on jugement, "For me salle neuer be newe no fals compassement.

Confused þei went away þat fals companie, þei failed of þer pray, to hauen gan þei hie, & hired þam a schip, gaf siluere largelie, To Scotlond gan þei skip, þe wynde was þam redie.

EDWARD vnderstode, þorgh oft heryng say, How þe fals blode compassed tene & tray. He mad his pilgrimage to Saynt Thomas of Kent, Siþen North on his viage to Beuerley he went, Bifor Saynt Jon he woke a nyght or he þien nam, To ȝork þe gate he toke, & souht Saynt William. Saynt Cutbert he souht, to help him at his nede, Siþen he dred him nouht, Northward als he ȝede. Northward in his weie he held his parlement, To speke & to purueie to be of on assent, To Scotlond forto go, to take vengement Of þam his folk did slo, destroied his tenement, & how þei were alle lorn, þat com to þat couent. For þei were forsuorn, vengeance on þam went. þe date was a þousand, þre hundred alle bot one, At Foukirke in Scotlond, Scottis escapid none.

ON þe Maudeleyn day, a litelle bifor Lammesse,, Of Scotlond & Galway com mykelle folk alle fresse, Of þe Marche & þe ildes, a spere þei suld bring, þei com þe lond to schilde, to Faukirke in þe mornyng. Our Inglis men & þei þer togidere mette, þer formast conrey, þer bakkis togidere sette,

þer speres poynt ouer poynt, so sare & o þikke, & fast togidere joynt, to se it was ferlike. Als a castelle þei stode, þat were walled with stone, þei wende no man of blode, þorgh þam suld haf gone. þer folk was so mykelle, so stalworth & so clene, þer foyntes forward prikelle, nonhut wild þei wene. þat if alle Inglond fro Berwik vnto Kent, þe folk þerin men fond had bien þider sent, Stength suld non haf had, to perte þam þorgh oute, So wer þei set sad with poyntes rounde aboute. þe kyng sauh þam comand so sadly in þe mede, His folk he did with stand, & dight þam alle to dede, Siþen he to þam said, "go we þer God vs spede. þer lances alle forth laid, & ilk man broched his stede, þei sauh kynge's banere, raumpand þre lebardes, þer hors folk alle plenere, þei fled as fals cowardes. þe fotefolk left alon, if þei wild stand or fle, Help had þei non, of þam þer hede suld be. þus þe Waleis wrouht, & said þan þis bi skille, "To þe renge ere ȝe brouht, hop now if ȝe wille. þer scheltron sone was shad with Inglis þat were gode, Pite of non þei had, bot alle to dede ȝode, Als fleihes doun þei fleih, ten þousand at ones. To stand non ne degh, bot felle doun als stones. Bituex prime & none alle voide was þe place. þe bataile slayn & done alle within þat space. Was no man Inglis maynhed no dede þat day, Bot a templer of pris, Sir Brian þe geay,

Maister templere he was on þis half þe se, He folowed þe Scottis pas, whan þe bigan to fle, Fer in tille a wod, men calle it Kalenters, þer in a mire a mod, withouten help of fers, Slouh þei Sir Brian alon wiþouten mo. Allas! þat douhty man, þat he so fer suld go! þe Walsch folk þat tide did nouþer ille no gode, þei held þam alle bi side, opon a hille þei stode. þer þei stode þat while, tille the bataile was don, Was neuer withouten gile Walsh man no Breton. For þei were euer in wehere, men so of þam told, Whilk was best bauere, with þat side forto hold. ¶ Saynt Bede sais it for lore, & I say it in ryme, Walsh man salle neuer more luf Inglis man no tyme.

AFTER þis bataile þe kyng turned ageyn, Ouer þat fals pedaile he ordeynd a wardeyn, þat held þam in suilk awe, þei durst no more rise, þorgh smerthed of þe law he did þam justise. He ȝared his `his wendyng, to London gan him rape, þider him com tiþing, lettres fro þe pape, & bad þat he suld take þe kyng sister of France, For Gascoyn pes to make þorgh þat aliance, Not dame Blanche þe suete, þat I first of spake, Bot dame Margarete, gode withouten lak. ¶ þe pape's maundement he resceyued curtasly, Bi tyme þat it were ent he dight þerto redy,

In purueiance of alle as he had most to don So com þe erle Marschalle baitand to London; Of Herford þe erle Umfray also com he þidere, & oþer barons of nobley, & alle samned togidere. þe erle for þam alle with luf bisouht þe kyng, Of poyntis behoued falle, do þam at þer praying. "Withoute any delay do mak þe purale "Be a certeyn day, Sir, þat pray we þe. þe kyng wild his myght delaied it were alle weys, Noþeles semand bi sight his ansuere was curteys. He schewed þe erle Rogere þe pape's mandement, He myght on no manere do nouht or it were ent, Bot he suore on his fayth, & certeynly þan hete, Whan it were don in grayth þe weddyng of Margarete, To mak þe purale, it suld not be delaied, With suilk men suld it be, þat þei suld hald þam paied. So faire with his respons, so faithfulle þei bisemed Boþe erles & barons, his wordes alle þei quemed, þe erle Umfray þat was, for euer tok his leue, þe dede him slouh, allas! tille his pers it gan greue.

THE pape þan sent his bulle vnt Philip of France, þe curte of Rome fulle has ordand aliance, þat þe kyng Edward suld wed Margarete, & in þat ilk forward, · þer werryng suld þei lete For euer in Gascoyn of alle maner of skille, Without any essoyn, Philip grantid þer tille. Philip for þat may mad purueiance redy, With folk of gode aray to Douer com in hy,

& þer oure Inglis men resceyued fulle miry. þe barons alle with blis brouht hir to Canterbiri, & as þe courte of Rome had ordeynd þat spousale, Right opon þat dome he weddid hir sanzfaile. Robert of Wynchelse, þat corseynt is verray, Did þat solem pnite opon a Wednesday, Next þe lattere fest þat is of our Lady. þe Wednesday formest þe kyng had fulle grete hy. For on þe morn he went his way toward Scotland, With ille auisement he did, & þat he fand. Whan he was in þe Marche, he samned his oste, þan was it bot a parche, & litelle with þe loste. For him self alone toke þat viage, Help asked he none of alle his baronage, þat was for þe purale, þat he had þam hette, He wild not do þer gre, þat terme þat he sette. þe Scottis wist þat wele, & schewed him þe vis, þer side was ilk a dele, in poynt to wynne þe pris. Boldely þei bed bataile with visage fulle austere, þe kynge's side gan faile, for he had no powere. Ferrere mot he nouht, Scotlond forto se, þat tyme no þing he wrouht, bot spendid his mone. þe marche vnder wardeyn he left als it was ore, Unto þe South ageyn he went, & did no more. Whi þat he not sped, þis skille mot it be, With hauelon þam led, to mak þe purale.

THE kyng after þe Pask his messengere sent, For þe bisshopes askis to com to þe parlement, For erles & barons at London suld it be, Four knyghtes be somons chosen in ilk counte. ¶ First þe nemnid alle þe, þe purale suld make, þat þorgh þe reame suld go, þe boundes forto stake. Whan it wer brouht tille ende, & stabled & sette, To gyue þe penie tuentende þe kyng þer þei hette. ¶ þis was þe toþer reson, men þan suld þei ȝare For þe lond of Gascon, to Rome forto fare, To wite at þe pape, why he mad delay, þe tyme he wild not rape, no set a certeyn day, þat Edward suld haue þe lond of Gascoun, His seignorie to saue, als it was resoun. ¶ Now was þis þe þridde of þat parlement, For chance þat him bitidde, þe kyng þus þam bisent. "I praie ȝow in þis nede, to help me with ȝour oste, "þe Scottis on me bede, I wild abate þer boste. To maynten his partie þei hete to help him wele, He aiorned þam to relie in þe North at Carlele, After Midesomer's tide þorgh comon ordinance, No lenger suld þei bide, bot forth & stand to chance. Norreis & Surreis, þat seruise auht þe kyng, With hors & herneis at Carlele mad samnyng. þe erle Marschalle Rogere no hele þat tyme mot haue, He went with his banere Sir Jon þe Segraue, To do alle þo seruise þat longed þe office tille, & mayntend alle þe prise, þer he sauh lawe & skille.

¶ þe quene Margerete with childe þan was sche, þe kyng bad hir not lete, bot com to þe North cuntre Unto Brotherton, on wherfe þer scho was & lighter of a sonne, þe child hight Thomas. Whan þe kyng herd say, sho had so wele farn, þider he went way, to se hir & hir barn, & with hir he soiorned, tille sho was purified, þan eft agayn he turned, & tille his ost hied. þe quene with hir sonnc at Cawod leues she, Tille tyme com eftson on Ouse fulle ese.

AT Karlele is þe kyng with erles & barons, þer þei mad spekyng, to renne on þer felons. Bot som of þam þat ware conseild oþer manere, þorgh pastours forto fare, for bestes to lardere. Men said þer were inowe in mores & in medis, "&, if ȝe wille, we mowe of bestis do gode nedis. þe cuntre herd it seie, þe folk of ilk a schire Had þer bestis aweie þorgh mede & þorgh mire, þat no strange man knewe ne myght so go, þer to þe rayne bigan, & flowand bank & bro. It ran doun on þe mountayns, & drenkled þe playnes, Sir Edward sauh þo paynes, & tok þe gate agayn, þe more h forsoke, þe fote men ilk a flok, A pouere hamlete toke, þe castelle Karclauerok.

In alle þis grete pres praied þe kyng of France, þe Scottis suld haf pes þorgh Edward sufferance. Vnto þe messengere, þat Philip to him sent, He gaf þe treus a ȝere, & þan to London went. Feyntise, liþt duellyng, on mornes long to lie, Surfeyte in euenyng, & luf of licchorie, Affiance of feloun, of enmys haf pite, Wille without resoun, conseile of wise men fle, Wynnyng forto hold, & gyue not largely, þe Bretons men of told, forsoke suilk party. Of Arthure men say, þat rede of him in pas, Alle tymes in medle euer more first he was Mornyng & euenyng, sobre & honest. Felons þat wild him greue, or enmys þat mad chest, Als he was worþi had he jugement. Had he of non merci, for praiere no present, At conseil & at nede he was a skilfulle kyng, So curteis of non men rede, ne prince of more praysing Was non in Cristendam, als he was in his tyme, Ne suilk on ȝit non cam þat man may mak of ryme. I told ȝow þis resoun, & for ensample sette, If þe kyng wild haf don þe purale als he hette, þorghout Inglond, enselid & with scrite, Bi tyme had mad þat bond, & drawen it not o lite, It had bien his heires prowe, þe lond had bien alle his, Long tyme or now, þat now in aucnture is. þe date a þousand was, & þre hundred euen, At Lincoln þe parlement was in Lyndesay & Kesteuen.

AT þe Pask afterward his parlement set he, þe gode kyng Edward, at Lyncoln his cite. At Sant Katerine hous þe erle Marschalle lay, In þe brode gate lay þe Brus, erle was he þat day. þe kyng lay at Netilham, it is þe bisshope's toun. & oþer lordes þer cam in þe cuntre vp & doun. ¶ Erles & barons at þer first samnyng, For many maner resons pleyned of þe kyng, þat þe purale did not als he suld, Ne þer chartre gaf fre, þe poyntes vse ne wuld, Ne suffre þam to hold, þat þe chartre of spake, þorgh mayntenours bold, þe poyntes alle þei brake. ȝit þei said him tille, his ministres wasted þe lond, Tak þing out of skille, & pay not with hond. ¶ & ȝit þei mad pleynt of his tresorere, þat fele þinges atteynt he mayntend þorgh powere, Fordos vsages olde, & lawes of þe chekere, "Of many has it bien tolde, to þe we pleyn vs here, "Him for to remue þorgh comon assent. "Assigne it for more prow at þis parlement, "þat can þat office guye, & do þe right vsage, "þat no man thar eft crie, for wrong & outrage. ¶ þe kynge's ansuere was smert, & said, "I se þhe wille, "þorgh pride of hert, reuile me with vnskille, "& so lowe me to chace, myn officers to change, "& mak þam at ȝour grace, þat were me ouer strange. "It is non of ȝow, þat he ne wille at his myght "IIaf sergeanz for his prow, withouten oþer sight.

"Salle no man put þorgh skille his lord lowere þan he, "Ne I ne salle no wille, to while I kyng salle be. "If any of myn mad strife, or tak þing not right, "Stiward or balife, schewe þer wrong þorgh sight: "þat wrong I wille so mende, if þat it be atteynt, "þat non thar com no sende to courte to mak eft pleynt. ¶ "þe chartre þorgh resoun & þe purale "þei for do my croune, if þei granted be, "þe whilk ȝe salle & ouh, to maynten with me "To mak it lesse no louh, ne peired salle it be. "Of þis I grant to morn, þat ȝe trie þis þing "With sex & tuenti suorn, if I to ȝour askyng "May acorde right wele, þe coroune forto saue "Dismembred not a dele, ȝour askyng salle ȝe haue. "A noþer I am withoute of penie in tresorie, "In lond withouten doute salle help me a partie.

THE wisest of þe clergie, with erles & barons, Togider went to trie of þer peticions. þo sex & tuenti ȝede, þat were suorn þer tille, Of ilk doute & dredc þei said & set þe skille, Discharged wille þei be of þe grete oth þei suore, Perille forto fle, þe poyntes were so store. þe sent ageyn & said to kyng, "it was no haunte "Of certeyn sette & laid, to trechet þer conaunte,

"No tille prince no kyng it is no maner told "To mak eft lokyng, ne deme þat dere was sold. "Sir, fairere þe wore, graunte vs þi curteysie, "þan parties pinched more, þe auantage set so hie, "þat þou may gyue with right, whan þou wille & how, "þat salle not be þorgh sight demed of lesse þan þou. "Put þe not so louh, to deme þi power fre, "ȝeld vs þat þou ouh, & we salle luf þe, "& serue þe we wille alle at þin avis, "& help þe at skille, to renne on þin enmys. ¶ He sent þam bode ageyn, schortely to say & here, þer prayere was in veyn, to ese þam in no manere; His wille & his auise, þat he asked certeyn. þei ȝede be partise, disputed þer ageyn. þe parties wer so felle altercand on ilk side, þat non þe soth couth telle, whedir pes or werre suld tidc, Bot God þat is of myght, & may help whan he wille. For for boþe þe parties dight, & put þam in þis skille, þat or Michelmesse þei suld reise to þe kyng þe fiftend penie no lesse, for þer Chartre selyng, & for þe purale, set with certeyn bounde, þorgh þe lond suld be delaied no lengere stounde, On þat þei grantid, & abated alle þer þro, Whan þe kyng wild þam calle, to Scotlond suld þei go. ¶ ȝit our messengrs for Gascoyn were at Rome, Foure lordes fulle fers, to here þe pape's dome, þer foure at Rome ware, to areson þe pape, þe right forto declare, & for þe parties so schape,

To whom þe right suld be of Gascoyn euer & ay, & þorgh his decre þe pes pronunce a day. þe pape Boniface tok Philip messengers, & ours in o place, sette þam to mete als pers, & preched to þam alle, als þei sat in fere, "Lordyng þus salle falle, as I salle say here.

"MEN say in ȝour tuo londes ere men of grete resoun, "& wele vnderstondes, & knowes þer enchesoun. "þo ilk men so wise suld go, & enforme ȝour kynges, "Withouten mo justise or trauaile of oþer lordynges. "þerfore gos ageyn, & tille ȝour kynges say, "Bot þei with luf certeyn acorde in euen way, "& if þei ne do, be Saynt Petir of Rome, "Our courte sallc ordeyn so on þam so hard dome, "At þe next feste þat comes of S. Andrew, "þat þei & alle þer geste þat dome salle doute & rew. ¶ þe messengers þei ȝede, bare þei with þam no more, I turne ageyn to rede of þe parlement we spak ore.

THE kyng gaf his sonne at þe parlement Wales in to wonne, & Chestre shire to rent. Mustrelle & Pountif, þat er biȝond þe se, Prince he was vp rif, & erle also was he. Of him þat held þer londes þei mad him alle homage, To Scotlond now he fondes, to redy his viage,

With þritti þousand Walsh redy at his banere, Erles & barons als, boþe knyght & squiere Alle com to Carlele, to conseil how were best, To passe þe Scottis se wele, to tak to ward þe West. His fader also ȝede, & chefe þe Est side, At Berwik opon Tuede, his ost did þer bide.

ALS þei were alle plenere to counseil & to schape, So com a messengere fro Boniface þe pape þe bisshop of Spolete, with a newe ordinance. A noþer him gan mete, comand fro þe kyng of France. I herd neuer telle, for what maner discert, þer on I most nede duelle, tille it com out aperte. ¶þe kyng has þe letter in hand, to trowe þat þei said, þe werryng in Scotland now is delaied & laid. Ho com to Linliscow, & did þer crie his pes, & teld his barons how, þat nede behoued him ses. Siþen he & his sonne turned toward þe South, þe Marche als it was wonne, keped wardeyns couth. ¶ þe turned to London, of þe treus to speke, & feyþly þerto bondon, on no manere to breke. Unto þe terme for told, of Saynt Andrewmesse, þe pape did him hold, with gode sikernesse. þe pape set þat terme, for his hopyng was, þe pes þei suld afferme, for drede of hardere kas.

KYNG Philip of France had erle William A cheson for a chance, I ne wote whi it cam. Charles to William hette, he suld him sauely lede Unto þe parlement sette ageyn withouten drede. Whan William was comen, & wende no tresoun, Sone was he nomen, & don in prisoun. Now is þe erle þus schent, bondon in iren & stele, Philip to Flandres sent, & sesid it ilk a dele, & mad suilk wardeyns in his name to be, Destroied at þe geyns, þat þei mot find or se, Defoules þer wyues, þer douhtres lay bi, þer lordes slouh with knyues, of fo had þei merci. ¶ þe tounes spak of þis, þe folk gadred aboute, To renne on þe Frankis, þei samned gret route. þei folowed on þam hard þorgh out þat cuntre, þat Frankis & Pikard alle were fayn to fle. þo þat fleih þei ferd vnto þe kyng of France, þe kyng he it herd, tak he wille vengeance. Of knyght & of burgeis an oste he did relie, Bitauht it þe erle of Arteys, þat oste forto guye. He did þer no prow, he was first was doun, A foule herlote him slowe, trut for his renoun; & oþer withouten numbir, þer names I may not telle, Alle þei ȝede tille encumbir, & er went to Helle.

Of Huneys er þei clene, Pikard & Burgoilloun, Of Bascel & Viene, of Braban & Bretoun. þat tyme no at a noþer had þe Frankis no foisoun, þei & alle þe toþer þe Flemmynges laid þam doun. þat schame has ȝit non ende, no þat vpbraidyng, þat on France salle lende, for falsnes of þer kyng. Now salle we turne ageyn tille our owen lessoun, Whan Charles courte is pleyn, I gyue it my malisoun. ¶ þe date was euenlik, a þousand þre hundred & tuo, Whan þe erle of Karrik turned þe Scottis fro. Sir Umfrey Boun þe kyng his wife wedded þat ȝere Edward douhter þe kyng, Elizabeth þat clere. In alle þise spekynges men ȝede þat wer wise Bituexen þise tuo kynges, þat no contek suld rise, Bot contene forth þe trew vnto þe Paske's terme Fro þe Saynt Andrew, so long þe pes to afferme. Of þis þe kyng of France praied Sir Edward, þat with his sufferance & leue in forward Suffre þe Scottis to go, þat men þat he for sent. þe kyng tille alle þo gaf leue, & þei alle went. ¶ For perille of suilk goynges þe kyng purueied to go, Sir Jon of Hastynges he was first of þo, & Sir Emery þe Brette, to Goscoyn forto wende, To bide þe terme sette, þe treus how it suld ende.

þe Inglis men were wone, to wery long trayne; Of bataile better cone, lite was alle þer payne. Dishonour haf þei ay of þer long respite, I spak þis for a day, þe Scottis assailed þam tite, ¶ Our men in Scotland with sautes sodeynly. þe Segraue myght not stand, Sir Jon tok the gayn stie. His sonne & his broþer of bedde als þei woke, & sextene knyghtes oþer, þe Scottis alle þam toke. Sergeantz wele þritty alle ȝald þam þat while, On þei slouh smertly, Sir Thomas de Neuile. Sir Rauf þe Coffrers þat tyme was Tresorere, He was on of þer pers, his life was alle in wehere. He bed grete catelle, his lif forto saue, Sir Symon þe Freselle þat ilk catelle suld haue. Symon was austere, to Rauf spak fulle grim: "þat mad þe Tresorere þou has desceyued him, "& me & many mo, fro our wages ȝede quite. "Sir Rauf þou resceyued þo, bi taile & bi scrite, "þou did vs more trauaile, ilk man þou reft his wage. "Now salle I wite þe taile, & put þe in þe Arerage, "Of preste þou has no merke, albe ne non amite, "Bot laced in a hauberke, þai is no clerkis abite. "For alle þo clerkes of Rome, þat sing in kirk or rede, "þou salle haf þi dome, als þou serued in dede.

A boye fulle pantenere he had a suerd þat bote, He stirte vnto þe Cofrere, his handes first of smote, & fro þe body his heued a dynt þan did þe cleue, His werryng so he leued, at armes he tok leue.

IN alle þis mykelle frape wex a grete distance Of Boniface þe pape, & þe kyng of France. þe kyng said & did crie, þe pape was heretike Usure & symonie, & synne sodomike, Errid mislyuyng, haunted Maumetrie, Wastid kirkis þing, & lyued in bugerie, & was worþi to schende boþe soule & lyf, To die withouten ende, þis mad þe kyng vp ryf. Pape Boniface herd telle of þat crie, He did bifor his face com holy þe clergie, To conseil what were best for þat vilanie, þat þei ageyn him kest, said on him heresie. þis conseile alle þei said, "lat it ȝit rest & slepe, "þis fame of ȝow is laid, þo wise men þat were ȝepe. "Wite, if he wille avowe alle his wikked sawe, "Or amend & bowe, þer on behoues vs drawe. þe pape on þat couenaunt, he said, he wild so wirke, þe amendis if he wild graunt to God & holy kirke; & if he wild nouht com to amendement, Alle France suld be brouht tille encumberment, þorgh comon enterdite, & þorgh croiserie, Als lond þat is alle quite fro God on ilk partie.

After salle ȝe here þe ende of þis folie, Turne we tille our matere, & on our gest to hie. þe date a þousand was, þre hundred mo bi þre, þe kyng did grete trespas, diffamed þe pape's se.

IN þe next somerestide Sir Edward had haste, No lenger wild he bide, Scotland for to waste. Conseil he had of on, a brigge he suld do wrihte, Botes & barges ilkon, with flekes mak þam tighte, þe Scottis se to passe, if þat he had nede. þer passage neuer ore wasse, he rode ouer on his stede. þe Scottis sauh him com, fleand fast þei ȝede, Mores & mountayns nom, bifore þei dryue for drede. ¶ þe kyng did parte his oste, to sprede in parties sere, West alle bi þat coste ȝede þe erle of Hulnestere. þe kynge's oste at gesse in þe Est mad lardere, Of tounes & hamelesse, of granges & garner, More & mede did rynce, wod & playn he brent. þe same way þe prince destroied þer he went, So fer Northward he ferde, þe Scottis to cliace, Of Inglis no man herde, þat euer kyng had þat grace, So fer baner to bere, & suilk oste forto lede, No wasted with no werre, þe cuntres gan þam drede, Saue kyng Athelstan, þat wastid alle Catenesse. Siþen was no man, þat so fer mad stressc,

þe tounes, þe countes, þe foreyns alle aboute, To þe kyng felle on knes, his powere did þam loute, Un to his pes þam ȝald, feaute did him suere, Treuly with him to hald, non armes ageyn him bere. ¶ Be þat þe werre was ent wynter was þer ȝare, To Dounfermelyn he went, for rest wild he þare. For þe quene he sent, & scho did dight hire chare, Fro Cawod scho glent, to Dounefermelyn to fare. þe lord of Badenauh, Freselle & Waleis Lyued at theues lauh, euer robband alle weis. þei had no sustenance, þe werre to mayntene, Bot skulked opon chance, & robbed ay bituene. þei com vnto þe kyng, for pes if it mot tide, Opon þer askyng, he iorned þam to bide. Men bred for þat iorne, þei suld haf had þe pes, For eft þan suld men se, bigyn alle new þe res.

IN þat ȝere it sais, þe pape had grete despite þorgh þe Columpneis, Cardinalles of habite. þei were born in Rome alle þe Columpneis, þat kynde bare þe blome, riche men & curteis. Men said alle þat kynde had whilom þe dignite, If clerke of þam myght fynde, pape suld he be. þus þan was þe sawe whilom in þat cite, þe pape fordid þat lawe, þe skille can I not se.

Cardinals were þei, þe pape did þam doun, & exiled þam awey, & mad distructioun Of londes & feez, þer kastels doun he cast, & alle þer dignitez, ne lengere suld þei last, Grete was þat linage & many to þam cheued, & of þat ilk outrage þe fest þam sore agreued. þat þe pape did þam reuile of þo in Rome þat wore, Went vnto Cezile, þore help þei fond wele more. þe kyng of France þidere sent þam help inouh, þer kynde & þei togidere vntille Anayne þei drouh. þer þe Columpne kynde, þe pape forsoth þei toke, Tresore þat þei mot fynde, with þam away þei schoke. Tuo days þe pape withouten mete lay, þe þrid day com grete frape, & conged him away. Of alle þat grete tresoure þat euer he biwan, Als bare was his toure as Job þe pouere man. Men sais he gaf pardoun, assoiled þam of pyne, þat with deuocioun brouht him brede or wyne. Grete pite it was, þat þe hede of Cristendam Suld for any trespas take so foule a scham. Wele I wote alle frayed he went fro þat cite Vnto Rome mispayed to þe pape's se. He cursed þe kyng of France, & alle þat with him held, þat did him þat mischance, ageyn him reised scheld. He lyued bot þre days, & died sone þei said, þe soner for þat affrays, at Petir kirke is he laid.

NOW haf we bulle certeyn, a newe pape Benet, þat calles þer ageyn, þat Boniface set, Assoyles alle bi name, þo robbours þorgh grace, þat did despite & schame to pape Boniface. Who may now in Rome haf any sikernesse, þat þer is hiest dome, & ȝit vncerteyn es? þat Boniface bond with sentence so brim, Eft men Benet fond, þat he assoiled him, ¶ He is folc þat affies in þe courte of Rome, Comes a noþer & bies, & fordos þat dome. Pur quante posse dare, what þing & how mykelle, Pur fare & defare, Rome is now fulle fikelle. Turne we now oþer weys vnto our owen geste, & speke of þe Waleys, þat lies in þe foreste. In þe forest he lendes of Dounfermelyn, He praied alle his frendes, & oþer of his kyn, After þat ȝole þei wilde biseke Edward, þat he mot him ȝelde tille him in a forward þat were honorable to kepe wod or beste, & with his scrite fulle stable, & seled at þe lest, To him & alle hise to haf in heritage, & non oþer wise, als terme, tyme & stage,

Bot als a propire þing, þat were conquest tille him. Whan þei brouht þat tiþing, Edward was fulle grim, & bitauht him þe fende, als his traytoure in lond, & euer ilkon his frende, þat him susteynd or fond. þre hundreth marke he hette vnto his warisoun, þat with him so mette, or bring his hede to toun. Now flies William Waleis, of pes nouht he spedis, In mores & mareis with robberie him fedes.

HERE now how þei sped, þe Scottis in his mercie, þe Freselle first fled, out taken on þer partie. Tuo ȝere out of Kith, in strange reame suld be, þe þrid suld he haf grith, ageyn to haf his fe, þe toþer alle suld haue boþe lif & lymmes, & þer tenement saue, bot raunson of þam nunn es. Raunson suld þei gyue after þer folie, & in his pes to lyue, & haf þer manauntie. Siþen in þe Lenten tide he went to Saynt Andrew, About on ilk a side, did crie his pes alle new. þe bisshop of Glascow þe clergie alle out ches, þe best men & trew, & com vnto þe pes. þe kyng was so curteis, he granted þam þer wille, Saue þe amendes he sais raunson for þer ille, & suld be bot right bifor þe baronie, & at þe comon sight of alle þer clergie.

AFTER þe Pask sone þe kyng did make alle ȝare, þat þis oste were bone, to Striuelyn to fare. Whan þei were alle comen, þei ȝede about to se, How it mot be nomen, & þe engynes set suld be. Thrittene grete engynes, of alle þe reame þe best, Brouht þei to Striuelyne, þe kastelle doun to kest. Tuo knyghtes were þer in, þe castelle had in warde, Sir William of Depplyn, Sir William Olifarde, & tuenti of honour, without page & portere, & a frere prechoure, a monke þe conseilere. þer was with in þrittene maydens & ladies, & no mo men to mene, þat felle to telle of pris. An engyn had þei þer in, & profred for to kast, þe ȝerde brast in tuyn, to help mot it not last. þe engyns with oute, to kast were þei sette, Wallis & kirnels stoute, þe stones doun bette. ¶ þe kyng did mak right ȝare an hidous engyn, þe name þei cald Ludgare or Lurdare of Striuelyn. Whan þei kest þerto, þe walle þorghout þei clef, & non oþer did so bifor him alle doun dref. þre monethes & þre days þe sege so long þei teld, Fulle & hard affrays had alle þo þat it held. Sore þei were trauailed, & socour com þam non, & alle þer store failed, þer mete was nere gon. Tille þer kyng þei sent, þei wild be at his wille, Bot he wild not consent, he þouht to do þam ille.

So long was þe trayne, or it wer brouht to stalle, It were to me grete payne, forto telle it alle. I wote wele at þe last alle com þei oute, Withouten conaunt cast, tille his mercy gan loute. Boldely þei camen, & schewed þam to his face, Felle it to gode or grame, þei did þam in his grace. þe castelle now is ȝolden, þe kyng dos wardeyns wise, To kepe þe lond & dres, þe folk forto justise. þe lond was so wast, he mad þer no soioure, Tille Inglond in hast he turned with honoure. ¶ þe moneth of September ȝolden was Striuelyn, Edward may remembre þe trauaile & þe pyn. With many grete encumbre of in hard stoure, At Brustwik opon Humbre þer he mad soioure. Sir Jon of Warenne þat ilk tyme gan deie, His body was redy þen in graue forto leie. After þe enterment þe kyng tok his way, To þe South he went þorgh Lyndesay. He spired as he ȝede, who did suilk trespas, Brak his pes with dede, tille he in Scotlond was, Of suilk suld be spoken, if men of þam pleyned, þo þat þe pes had broken, if þei mot be atteyned. ¶ Wise men of gode gaf ansuere to þe kyng, þat suilk foles ȝode, it was certeyn þing,

þorgh þe lond is don suilk grete greuance, Bot it be mendid son, a werre may rise o chance. þise contekours whidere þei assigned a stede þat es, & þer þei com togidere & mak a sikernes, þat þei salle alle go, to whom or where þei wille, To robbe, bete or slo, ageyn alle manere skille. þei profere a man to bete, for tuo schilynges or þre, With piked staues grete, beten salle he be. In feire & markette þei salle seke him oute, Alle þe lond is sette with suilk foles stoute. If a chapman wille not lene of his merchaundie, In his hous for tene þei do him vilenie, Or els he be at one largely to gyue of his, Els þei salle him ilkone bete him þat he pis. For men of suilk maners, bot þer be som justise, Sone in for ȝers per chance a werre salle rise. þe kyng herd alle þe fame, þe pleynt of ilka toun, & gaf þam a newe name, & cald þam Traile bastoun. þe date was a þousand þre hundred mo bi fiue, Suilk men þorgh þe land he did þam tak bilyue.

THE kyng þorgh þe lond did seke men o resons, & with þe justise þam bond, to site on Trailebastons. Som þorgh quest þei demed be bonden in prisons, & þo þat fled þei flemed als þe kynge's felons.

Som men out þe kast of lond was holden wrong, Fals couenantz þei brast þorgh powere holden long, & som gaf raunson after þer trespas, Als þe dede was don, so þe amendes was. Bot men did amend suilk folie openly knowen, Non suld þam defend, ne dur wonne in þer owen.

A! Jhesu, whan þou wille how rightwis is þi mede? þat of þe wrong has gilt, þe endyng may þei drede. William Waleis is nomen, þat maister was of theues, Tiþing to þe kyng is comen, þat robberie mischeues. Sir Jon of Menetest sewed William so nehi, He tok him whan he wend lest, on nyght his leman bi. þat was þorght treson of Jak Schort his man, He was þe encheson, þat Sir Jon so him nam. Jak broþer had he slayn, þe Waleis þat is said, þe more Jak was fayn, to do William þat braid. Selcouthly he endis þe man þat is fals, If he trest on his frendes, þei begile him als Begiled is William, taken is & bondon. To Inglond with him þei cam, & led him vnto London, þe first dome he fanged, for treson was he drawen. For robbrie was he hanged, & for he had men slawen, & for he had brent abbeis, & men of religion, Eft fro þe galweis quik þei lete him doun, & bouweld him alle hote, & brent þam in þe fire, His hede þan of smote, suilk was William hire; & for he had mayntend þe werre at his myght, On lordschip lended þore he had no right,

& stroied þore he knewe, in fele stede sers His body þei hewe on foure quarters, To hang in foure tounes, to mene of his maners In stedo of Gonfaynounes, & of his baners. ¶ At London is his heued, his quarters ere leued, in Scot|land spred, To wirschip þer iles, & lere of his wiles, how wele þat he sped. It is not to drede, traytour salle spede, als he is worþi, His lif salle he tyne, & die þorgh pyne, withouten merci. þus may men here, a ladde forto lere, to biggen in pays; It fallis in his iȝe, þat hewes ouer hie, with þe Walays.

OF William haf ȝe herd, how his endyng was, Now of kyng Roberd to telle ȝow his trespas. Als Lenten tide com in, Cristen man's lauh, He sent for Jon Comyn, þe lord of Badenauh; To Dounfres suld he come, vnto þe Minours kirke, A spekyng þer þei nome, þe Comyn wild not wirke, Ne do after þe sawe of Roberd þe Brus. Away he gan him drawe, his conseil to refus, Roberd with a knyue þe Comyn þer he smote, þorgh whilk wounde his lyue he lost, wele I wote. He ȝede to þe hie autere, & stode & rested him þore, Com Roberde's squiere, & wonded him wele more, For he wild not consent, to reise no folie, Ne do als he ment, to gynne to mak partie, Ageyn kyng Edward, Scotland to dereyne, With werre & batail hard, reue him his demeyne.

Sir Jon wild not so, þer for was he dede. Bot Roberd wild do, & oþer þat gaf him rede, þat he suld go to Scone, & mak redy þe se, & whan it were alle bone, to tak þe dignite. þe garland Roberd tok, þat whilom was þe right, þe lond forto loke, in signe of kynge's myght. Primatis bisshopes tuo þo with croice & ryng, & an Abbot mo of Scone, þat dubbid þe kyng, Erles, barons inowe mad him þer feaute, With oth he did þam bowe, at his wille to be, & alle Inglis men did he woyde þe lond, þat þei mot fynde or ken in stede þer he þam fonde. ¶ Now gos þe Brus about, werre he þinkis to hold, þe Inglis þe katched out, to þe kyng þe told. Edward þan he toke folk with his banere, þe erle went of Penbroke, his name was Sir Eymere. & oþer men fulle gode, barons & barons pere, At tyme wele þei stode, & did þer deuere. ¶ þe date was a þousand, þre hundred mo bi sex, Whan þe werre of Scotland þorgh þe Brus eft wex.

IN þis ȝere, als I told, at þe Whitsonen day, þe kyng his fest suld hold at Westmynstre fulle gay, His sonne Edward þe prince, & fiftene for his sake, þre hundred of þe prouince, knyghtes wild he make. It was þe kynges costage, for ilk a knyght was gest, Also þei mad mariage of som þat were þe best. þe ȝong erle of Warenne with grete nobley was þare, A wif þei him bikenne, þe erle's douhter of Bare. þe erle of Arundelle his londes lauht he þan, & toke a damyselle, William douhter of Warenne. ȝong Sir Hugh was þare, þe Spensere stoute & gay, Gilbert douhter of Clare wedded he þat day. It is not to wene, bot certeynly to witen, Joye inouh is sene, þer suilk a fest is smyten. In alle Breteyn was nouht, siþen Criste was born, A fest so noble wrouht aftere no biforn, Out tak Carleon, þat was in Arthure tyme, þare he bare þe coroune, þereof ȝit men ryme.

THE prince after þe fest sone his leue toke, With jolif men of gest toward þe North he schoke, To chace kyng Robyn, where he myght him fynde, þat slouh þe gode Comyn, destroie him rote & rynde. His fader Edward, North mad his jorne, Him toke a sekenes hard, at Laynertost lay he. Bot Jhesu þorgh his myght, blissed mot he be, Reised him vp right, & passed þat hage. þer after ros hard schoures in Scotlond of þe clergie, Bisshops, abbotes, & priours, þei had misborn þam hie, & alle þat fals blode, þat often was forsuorn, þat neuer in treuth stode, sen Jhesu Criste was born. ¶ Sire Eymere of Valence lay at Saynt Jon toun, In his alience with many erle & baroun. Of Scotlond þe best were þan in his feith, þer þei gan alle rest, tille þei herd oþer greith. Sir Robert þe Brus sent to Sir Eymere, & bad he suld refus þat him had forsaken ilk a pantenerc. þe traytours of hise þat him had forsaken þei suld to þe Jewise, whan þei þe toun had taken. þe toþer day on þe morn com þe Brus Roberd, þe toun wist it beforn, þorgh spies þat þei herd. Sir Eymere wild haf gon out, Sir Ingram Vmfreyuile Preid him forto lout, tille it were none þat while. "If we now out wende, & leue þe toun alone, "þei gete þe faired ende, & we be slayn ilkone.

"Bot do crie þorgh þe toun, þat non for wele no wo, "In stete walk vp & doun bot to þer innes go. Whan þe crie was cried, walkand was non sene, Bot to innes hied, as þer no man had bene. þe Scottis perceyued wele, þei durst not isshen oute, It neghed nere metesel, þan ros vp alle þe route. At þe hie midday went þe Scottis men, Tuo myle was þer way, to þe castelle of Metfen. Whan þei to Metfen cam, þei dight þam to þe mete, þan said Sir Ingram, "if we go now, we þam gete. "Dight vs now ilk one, go we, God vs spede, "Leue not þe toun alone, þe way I salle ȝow lede. ¶ On Saynt Margarete day Sir Ingram & Sir Eymere Com on þam þer þei lay alle dight to þe dynere. þer vaumward was sone dight, our Inglis had mervaile, þei were so sone at þe fight, & redy to assaile. þe Inglis þorgh þam ran, & had þe fairer side, þe Scottis ilk a man, þe lordes durst not bide. Here now a contreuore, þorgh Roberde's avis, Abouen þer armore did serkis & surplis. Alle þei fled on rowe, in lynen white as milke, For non suld þam knowe, þer armes whilk were whilk. Our men þat wild haf dede, bare þam forth fulle stoute, Sir Eymer had no drede, he serchid þam alle oute. At þe first comyng he slouh Sir Eymere stede þat did Robert þe kyng, & turned bak & ȝede. Sir Eymer had inowe, þat horsid him ageyn, Roberte's men þei slowe, þe numbre vncerteyn.

þan bigan þe chace, & drof þe kyng Robyn, To reste had he no space, long to duelle þer in. ¶ þe Freselle þer he fled, sone after was he fonden, Now taken he is & led vnto þe toure of Lundon, þer his dome he feyng als traytoure salle ȝe witen, First drawen & siþen heyng, & his hede of smyten. Allas! it was to mene, his vertuz & his pruesse So fele in him were sene, þat perist for falsnesse. His hede vnto þe brigge to sette was it sent, þe body lete þei ligge, & som þerof þei brent.

HERE now þe grete despite, & þe vilenie, þat to þer bak gan bite of Scotlond þe clergie. þe bisshop of Saynt Andrew, & þe abbot of Scone, þe bisshop of Glascow, þise were taken sone. Fettred on hakneis, to Inlond ere þei sent, On sere stedis it seis, to prison mad present. Lewed men & clerkis, þat did werre mayntene, Als theues bere þei merkis, hanged alle bidene. Cristofore of Seton many man him sauh Hanged for treson of Jon of Badenauh, Hanged als þe Freselle, & in þe same stede, þe erle of Ascetelle þei bed þe same bede. Saue he was not drawen, þat poynt was forgyuen. Bot alle with schame slawen, þorgh treson þerto dryuen. Allas! þat jentille blode com to so ille fyne, & alle for falsnes ȝode to scheme's dede & pyne. & wele I vnderstode, þat þe kynȝ Robyn Has dronken of þat blode þe drink of Dan Waryn.

Dan Waryn he les tounes þat he held, With wrong he mad a res, & misberyng of scheld. Siþen in to þe forest he ȝede naked & wode, Als a wilde beste, ete of þe gres þat stode. þus of Dan Waryn in his boke men rede, God ȝyf þe kyng Robyn, þat alle his kynde so spede. ¶ Sir Robynet þe Brus he durst noure abide, þat þei mad him restus, bot in more & wod side. Towhile he mad þis trayne, & did vmwhile outrage, Com Arthure of Bretayne, & asked his heritage. Holy Richemond schire he cleymed þat þorgh right, Kyng Edward our sire him ansuerd fulle light. He had so light ansuere, þat Arthure toke his leue, God schilde vs fro þe werre, þat non with oþer greue. Whan Arthur was gon, þe kyng did alle a noþer, He gaf it to Sir Jon, Sir Arthure's broþer, Holdand of him in fe, als whilom was vsage, Of Sir Edward fre, & of alle his linage. þe duke of Bretayn with fulle heuy chere Passed ouere agayn, fulle light ansuere had here.

NOW of kyng Robyn salle I ȝit speke more, & his broþer Tomlyn, Thomas als it wore, & of Sir Alisandere, þat me rewes sore, þat boþe com in skandere for dedes þei did þore. Of arte he had þe maistrie, he mad a coruen kyng In Cantebrige to þe clergie, or his broþer were kyng.

Siþen was neuer non of arte so þat sped, Ne bifore bot on, þat in Cantebrigge red. Robert mad his fest, for he was þore þat tyme, & he sauh alle þe gest, þat wrote & mad þis ryme. Sir Alisander was hie dene of Glascow, & his broþer Thomas ȝed spiand ay bi throw, Where our Inglis men ware not in clerke habite, & non wild he spare, bot destroied also tite. þorgh þe kyng Robyn þei ȝede þe Inglis to spie, Here now of þer fyn þam com for þat folie.

A SERGEANT of Galweye, his name was Makedowel, On Askwednesday, whan messe was don ilk del, Sursante he þam mette, als þei fro kirke cam, þer way he þam withsette, smertly þore þam nam. He did þam fettre wele, streitly & right hard, & sent þam to Carlele vnto kyng Edward. þe kyng wele paied was, he sette justise of lawe, Demed þe Brus Thomas boþe to hang & drawe, Sir Alisander þe same, & after þer hangyng, Boþe bi o name hede þam bad þe kyng. ¶ þe pape Boniface wrote in his sexte boke, What clerke felle to haf grace, for what cas men him toke, Whilk clerke, for what trespas, where men suld him saue, & where he taken was, what habite on suld haue, & if he were atteynt, als thef þorgh felonie, Of suilk þe pape mas pleynt, & writes to þe clergie; & if þe decretal ne were ordeynd for þis, þe clerkes ouer alle ne rouht to do amys.

þe date a þousand was, þre hundred & seuen, þe clergie for þat cas held þam more in euen.

AFTER þe Paske's wele þat þise men were þus schent, þe kyng at Carlele held his parlement. Fro Romc a Cardinalle þe pape þider sent, To wite þe sothe alle þe mariage long of ment. If þe prince mot haue þe kynge's douhter of France, þe acorde & pes mot saue þorgh þat aliance, & at þe parlement was a grete spekyng, For þe clergic it ment of holy kirke's þing. Erles & barons, ilkone it forsuore, For what manere resons ȝit wot I no more, Bot of þe last ende of þer grete counsaile, To London suld þe sende men þat myght auaile, To speke & purueie whilk suld ouer þe se, þe sothe to Philip seie, & sette a certeynte Of þat mariage, how & whan suld be, & bate alle oþer outrage, for Gascoyn do feaute. Of alle þe poyntes spoken þe parties bifore had said, Neuer suld be broken on payne þer on was laid. & whan þe parties wold mak a finalle pes, God grante it þam to hold þe conant þat þei ches. ¶ ȝit gos kyng Robyn forth in his rioterie, Ne com not ȝit his fyn to ende of his folie. Bot Sir Jon de Waleis taken was in a pleyn, þorgh spiyng of Norreis, men þat were certeyn, Fettred on a hakeney, & to London led, To bring him sone on wey, þe justise þerto sped.

Als his dedes was, þer on þei gaf þe lawe, For som of his trespas first þei did him drawe. Siþen for oþer theft, þei hanged him men witen, Siþen lete him doun eft, & his hede of snyten, & born to London brigge fulle hie with outheys, Biside his broþer to bigge William þe Waleys, þat neuer had pite of Inglis man no weys, Bot brent toun & citez, kirkes & abbeys, Chanon, monk & frere alle passed þorgh his suerd, Was no man so dere, to dede þei ȝede in ferd. Blissed be þou God, þat þou in erth cam, þi word is wele trod, I say it, bi William. þou said, "with suerd þat smote, with suerd suld be smyten," Bi þe Waleis it bote, þe vengeance ȝe may witen.

A! Jhesu, fulle of myght, þat alle þe world salle deme, May no man lyue so right, no so wele him ȝeme, No so stalworth be, ne so douhti of dede, þat has powere to fle þe dede þat is to drede. Adam first gan synne, did þat God forbede, Alle we were him inne, whan he serued þe dede. Siþen he & we alle com of him & Eue, þorgh þe dede salle falle, be we neuer so leue. þe hardy kyng Belyn þe cite of Rome wan, & siþen Constantyn & Maximian. Arthure wan alle France, slouh þe Emperour of Rome, þise of suerd ne lance douted dynt no dome.

þise kynges men dred, & alle þe world þam knewe, For alle þer grete boldehed, þe dede ȝit doun þam threwe. Where ere `ere now alle þise, where ere þei bicomen, þise hardy men & wise? þe dede has alle þam nomen. Among alle þise hardie may Edward our kyng Be sette fulle solempnelie, & mad of grete praisyng. Sen þe dede of Arthure in Inlond was þer non, þat so wele stode in stoure ageyn his foos ilkon. þis was Edward, kyng Henry sonne þe last, Tiþing haf we hard, þe dede him doun has kast. Now may men sing & say, in romance & ryme, "Edward is now away, right has lorn his tyme. "Sir Jon of Badenauh, who salle venge þi dede? "þe prince is heire þorgh lauh, þat to þe coroun him bede. "He has mad his vowe, to stroie þe kyng Robyn, "þat in Dunfres slowe Sir Jon þe rede Comyn. His dede whan it felle here, þe date I salle ȝow neuen, Of Criste a þousand ȝere, þre hundred & seuen, In þe moneþ of July euen þe seuend day. Toward Scotlond to hie, at Burgh bi sandez he lay, His tyme was no more sette here to regne in landes, He died at a hamelette, men calle it Burgh bisandes. ¶ þe body þat nyght þer lay, þe soule at Criste's dome, þe pape þe toþer day wist it in þe courte of Rome. þe pape on þe morn bifor þe clergie cam, & teld þam biforn, þe floure of Cristendam

Was dede, & lay on bere, Edward of Inglond. He said with heuy chere in spirit he it fond. Fiue ȝere he gaf pardoun, of peyns to be fre, þat for him with deuocioun said pater & aue. To Waltham þei him brouht, baronage & þe clergie, For monethes for him wrouht his seruise solempnelie. þei bawmid his body, tresore wild þei non spare, þe pouere þei gaf party, his soule bettere to fare. Four & tuenty ȝere, auht monethes & fiue daies, Noblie regned he here, bi profe & gode assaies. Fro Waltham beforsaid to Westmynster þei him brouht, Biside his fadere is laid in a toumbe wele wrouht. Of marble is þe stone, & purtreied þer he lies, þe soule to God is gone, to þe joye of paradis, Amen. ¶ Now must I nede leue here, of Inglis forto write, I had no more matere of kynges lif in scrite. If I had haned more, blithly I wild haf writen, What tyme I left þis lore, þe day is for to witen, Idus þat is of May left I to write þis ryme, B letter & Friday bi ix. þat ȝere ȝede prime.

The End of Langtoft's Chronicle.

Notes

• Pro, his name was.
• De Rege de Westsexe.
• L. right.
• Redundat.
• Iuor & Ini fugiunt.
• L. helde lond.
• See pag. 12, 13. of a most rare Book, be|ing Mr. Thomas Ellis's imper|fect Edition (with great Im|provements) of Dr. Powell's History, to which is prefix'd Sir John Prise's Description of Wales. Oxon. 1653. 4to. I call it imperfect, because it was never near compleated by Mr. Ellis, as will appear from the following Remark, which I have written at the beginning of my Copy that I happen'd to purchase in the Year 1722. "The following Description of Wales was published by Mr. Thomas Ellis, A. M. and Fellow of Jesus Coll. Oxon. but 'tis much altered from the Edition which Dr. Powell set out, with the His|tory of Cambria, now call|ed Wales, at Lond. in 1584. 4to. The said Mr. Thomas Ellis was a learned Man, and a very great Antiquary. He began also to reprint the said History of Cambria, which was grown (and is now) very scarce. In order to which that great Antiquary, Rob. Vaughan of Hengwort in Merionethshire, Esq. (who was diverted by other Business from publishing this Work, as he otherwise designed) com|municated to him his Correc|tions and Additions. But Mr. Ellis finding, that a paul|try, illitterate Author, called Percie Enderbie, had been be|fore hand with him, and some way or other had got Mr. Vaughan's Notes also, and was so bold, as, without Mr. Vaughan's leave, to print them in his Book (which is but a poor thing) in Folio call'd, Cambria Triumphans: or, an|cient and modern British and Welsh Histories, he laid by his Design, and so no more was printed than 128. Pages, all which are here. After he had desisted (for which all curious and learned Men were very sorry, he being so very capa|ble of doing great Matters) the Copies, all but a very few, were sold for wast Paper. upon which account the Book is now a wonderfull Rarity, and highly valuable. Dr. Powell's Additions are marked thus …. Mr. Vaughan's thus ¶. This Book belong'd to the Revd. Mr. Josiah Pullen, M. A. and Vice-Principal of Magd. Hall Oxon." What I have here observ'd about Mr. Ellis & Percie Enderbie is con|firm'd by Mr. Wood, Ath. Oxon. Vol. II. col. 248, 249. But the chief reason of my referring here to Mr. Ellis's imperfect Ed. of Dr. Powell's Hist. of Cambria is upon account of a Passage that is there published, (as 'tis also in Dr. Powell's own genuine Ed.) out of John Castoreus or Bever, which will very much illustrate this Place of Langtoft.
• F. gan. Quod si gart reti|neas, tum idem erit quod pre|pared.
• F. crie.
• Ethel|burga,
• Id est, Manchester, in agro Lancastrensi, quod Ma|mecestre appellat Hovedenus, Mamerceaster Florentius, Ma|nige-ceaster Chron. Sax. Fu|tilem autem eorum conjecturam esse arbitror, nec ulla confuta|tione egere, qui vocem Mani|ge ceaster (in Chronico Saxo|nico) non de unica duntaxat urbe, sed de multis civitatibus esse intelligendam putant. Sed en tibi ipsa verba è Chronico, sub anno DCCCCXXIII. ubi de Edmundo Seniore agens, docu|it, ipsum eodem illo anno, mox post æstatem, ad Thælwæle [i. e. Thelwel, sive Thelwall, viculum ad ripam fluminis Mer|sey in agro Cestrensi, notante cl. Gibsono, p. 45. Explicat. No|minum Locor. in Chr. Sax.] cum exercitu profectum, primum jus|sisse eam urbem construi, & fir|mari, præsidioque muniri; de|inde jussisse etiam alium exer|citum, dum ibi commoraretur, de Merciorum terra, adire Ma|nigeceaster in Northymbria, ac eam resarcire, præsidioque mu|nire. Her on þyssum geare. For Eadweard cyning mid syrde on ufan hærfest to Dælwæle. & het gewyrcan þa burh. & gesettan. & gemannian. And het oðre fyrd eac of Myrcna þeode. þa hwile þe he þær sæt gefaren Manige|ceaster on Norð-hymbran. & hie gebetan & gemannian. Proon ufan hærfest,autum|nali tempore habet Florentius Wigorniensis. Sic enim ille sub A.D. 920. (quo anno, non, ut Chr. Sax. 923. rem gestam fuisse retulit.) Autumnali tem|pore rex invictissimus Eadwardus ad Tealweale profectus est, ibid|emque urbem construxit, & ad ejus præsidium quosque fortissi|mos de exercitu suo reliquit. Mi|sit etiam in Northimbriam Mer|ciorum exercitum, ut urbem Ma|merceastram restaurarent, & in ea fortes milites collocarent. Ne|que hac in re quid discrepat ex|emplar præstantissimum editio|nis Florentii Wigorniensis in4to. Londini 1592. quod, doctissimi Langbainii notis quamplurimis MSS. (maxim a ex parte è duobus Mariani Scoti, è quo pleraq; sua surripuit Florentius, sicut in Lelando nostro, Col. Vol. III. p. 277. monui, Codicibus exi|miis, calamo exaratis, petitis) adornatum, è Muséo Arthuri Charletti, nuper defuncti, rede|mi, idem nimirum illud exem|plar, quod ad pag. 212. editionis nostræ vitæ Ælfredi Magni Spelmannianæ commemoravi.
• Ine per|rexit Ro|mam, & ibi sepultus est.
• Ecce de Henrico Huntyng|tone.
• De Alex|andro epi|scopo Lin|colniæ.
• Quinque plagarum terræ pri|ma plaga fuit.
• Secunda plaga.
• Tercia pla|ga.
• Quarta plaga.
• Quinta plaga.
• Henricus dicit.
• Uttredus regnavit.
• Sibriht regnavit.
• Kynewolf cœpit re|gnare.
• Rex Kyne|wolf.
• Rex Brit|trik.
• L. Brittrik.
• F. Brittrik.
• Malim, Eilred (vel, at alii Cantii regem vocant, Alric) of Kent alle Lyndesay he wast|ed.
• The Author hath here an eye upon the History of Ead|burg, (or, as he just above writes her, Edburgh) King Brictrick's Queen, who was Daughter of Offa, K. of Mercia; but, as he hath represented it, it is very obscure and imperfect; and whereas he tells us, that Bri|ctrick was buried at Tewksbury, others assure us, that it was at Warhame, Whence the Saxon Annals. An. DCCLXXXIV. Her Cyneheard of-sloh Cy|newulf cyning. & he þær we|arð of-flegen. & LXXXIV. monna mid him. And þa on|feng Byrhtric West-Seaxna rices. & he ricsode XVI. gear. and his fæderen-cyn geð to Cerdice. The story of Eadburg is given at large by several Writers. She was a most beau|tifull Lady, and had gained the Affections of the King her Hus|band (a good natured mild Prince) so much, that he was governed and directed more by her, than was consistent with his Royal Dignity. She was of a very haughty, proud temper, and could not brook, that the King should have any favourites, but such as she approved of. So that if she saw, or knew of, any, that, without her special con|sent and approbation, were countenanced, and particularly respected by him, she contrived methods to make such away. There happened to be a very delicate, fine young Gentleman (Son, it seems, as Langtoft in|forms us, to the King of Kent) that the King shew'd a more than ordinary kindness to, both upon account of his exquisite beauty, and the excellency of his understanding. The youth was perfectly innocent, and the King (notwithstanding an Usurper, as being not of the right line [See Dr. Brady's History of the Succes|sion, p. 359.]) of too virtuous a nature to cause any just grounds of suspicion, that there was any immorality in the case. The Queen, however, thought otherwise. She look'd upon the youth as the King's minion, and her jealousy wrought her to such a pitch of madness, that she pre|par'd a potion for him (an or|dinary practise with her, when she had a mind to vent her spleen) that prov'd fatal not only to the lovely youth, but even to the King himself, who had the misfortune (tho' quite contrary to her design) to tast first of the cup. This raised the indignation of the King's Sub|jects to such a degree, that she was forced, for security, to fly beyond Sea, and the West-Sax|ons thereupon resolv'd, that, for the future, no Queen should sit on the throne with the King, nor be stil'd his Queen, but only the King's wife. But this custom being look'd upon as barbarous and very dishonourable, it was soon after broke by King Ethel|wolf (father to Ælfred the Great) notwithstanding in the times of some of his successors there was often a respect had unto it, as I have shew'd in my Notes upon Sir John Spelman's Life of K. Ælfred, p. 24. to which place I shall refer the Reader, and, upon this occa|sion, will only beg leave to in|sert, what is said about King Brictrick in the prose additions to the MS. of Robert of Glou|cester, that belongs to the He|ralds Office. After him [Kyne|wulfe] Brightrik regned. xvi. yere, more studious a boute pees thanne bataille. This toke to wyfe Edburge, kyng Offes doughter of Merchene|riche. Whiche Edburge stu|ried her lorde a yenst gilt|lese men, notwithstandyng that him self was meoke and benynge. And yf she ne myght nat come to here purpose by counseille to ouercome thoo that here liked by werre, sheo dude hem be slayne by poy|son. This was preued in a yonglyng of the kynges whiche he muche loued, which heo with her poysen sloughe. And after that the kyng deyde þorgh a drenche, whiche vnwytyng the quene he dranke, of hure makyng. and whenne the tythinge here of was sprong oute, thulke wikked quene by the comminalte was driue oute of the countre, and a statute i made a mong the West|Saxones, that no quene af|terwarde shulde sitte by the kynge atte mete, ne be clepud quene, for the malice of Ed|burge forsaiden. And sheo þen wendyng to kyng

  Charles the gret Charles of Fraunce, bi the grete. happe on a tyme, as she was essheked of him, whether sheo hadde lyuer haue him, than his sone that stode ther by, into housbond, sheo chees his sone. Thenne Charles, of he answere a|meved, saide thus. Yf thow haddest chose me, thow shuld|est haue hadde my sone; but for thow castest me a way, and chese my sone, nother him ne me shalt þow haue. And then he putte her in a abbey, where she was wor|shipfulliche I founde. but af|ter sheo was founde gylty in lecherie, wherefore she was putte oute ther of. Kyng Bryghtryc had take these to wyue as for the mightyest kynge's doughter of En|glisshemen, that thourgh the affinite of hure he myghte haue his regne atte his wille, and putte of his Enmys the lightloker, and a gaste the rebelle to him. By the helpe of this kyng Offe he droff in to Fraunce Egbright, of the kynge's kynrede alone a lyf, and whiche he most dradde to be a yenst hym and contrarie to his profytes. For this Brightric, and other kynges fram Ine to him, were oute of the right lyne of kynges, as of Certikes kyn. Whanne Egbright thus was exiled, to Brightric a newe gre|uance yut sprong. For a folke of hethen Danes, y vsed to lyue by see robbery, pryuy|lich in iii. shippes shende the pes of Westsex. Whiche ship|pes aspied the plenteuous|nesse of the londe and the ver|tues of the men ther inne dwellyng, and they thenne wendyng home a ye, brought more peple, and assaide to stroye the contre, so that they toke the kyngus toune that was neighe and robbed hit. but anon, for drede of the peple rennyng therto, they flow to her shippus, lesyng her praye. And whenne Brigheric [sic] was dede, as aboue is saide, by poyson happeliche I dronke, atte Warham his body was take to buriels.
• Egbriht Rex.
• Male. Nam pater Egberti fuit Alcmundus sive Ealmundus. Vide Sax. Chron. p. 76.
• De Berne|wolf rege.
• Dele.
• De homa|gio Walliæ.
• Konynges|burghe.
• De Frethe|baldo.
• Bellum a|pud Kar|ham, & rex fugam cepit.
• De Dar|dano filio regis Da|ciæ.
• De militia Anglorum, & nomini|bus eorum.
• Sic.
• IIII^o, die Septembris fuit bellum apud Don|kastre inter regem Eg|briht & Danos.
• Sic.
• L. Merce.
• Ecce de probitate Haldayn, qui porta|vit crucem pro vexillo.
• Adelwolf rex.
• He was also so great a Friend to the University of Oxford, that he had thoughts of rebuilding it, after it had been destroyed by barbarous Enemies. Whence 'tis that some Historians say, that he was the Founder of that Uni|versity, which, however, is more truly asserted of his Son K.Al|fred, who certainly did raise it up again after the Destruction brought upon it by the Danes. Among others that ascribe this Act to K. Æthelwolf is John Rastell, or Rastall, in his Chro|nicle, a wonderfull scarceprint|ed Book, lent me by my very worthy Friend, the ingenious Mr. John Murray of London. ¶ Ethelwolphus (says Ra|stell) son to Egbert began his reyn ouer the westsaxons the yere of cryst. viii. c. xxxii. | some say that this Ethelwold [l. Ethelwolf] foundyd furst the vnyuersyte of Oxonford. Where the word furst is to be understood of the first found|ing it after it had been destroy|ed, not that there had been no University here before. See my Preface to Thomas Sprot's Chronicle, §. 15.
• Primus rex, qui dedit decimas ec|clesiæ in Anglia.
• Edbaldus rex fatuus.
• Anno Do|mini. D CCCC. LXI^o.
• Repone, DCCC.LXI^o.
• Ethelbertus rex.
• Anno Domini. DCCC^mo. LX.V^o.
• Elfridus rex.
• De Sancto Edmundo martire, & de morte ejus per to|tum.
• Ecce mira|culum de capite San|cti Edmun|di.
• Oseth, rex Daciæ, ar|ripuit por|tum in Ber|wik super regem El|fridum.
• Anno. D CCCo. LXXIo.
• De Rollo pagano ba|ptizato, cui nomen erat Robertus, & hic con|quisivit to|tam Nor|manniam.
• De Gun|tero patre Hanelok, sicut dicit Petrus.
• De Hane|lok.
• De comiti|bus Daciæ.
• Edwardus ICX.
• Adelsta|nus rex.
• De Tributo Walliæ.
• Istî sunt qui moverunt guerram super A|thelstanum regem.
• De falsitate regis Sco|torum.
• Misio rex Karolus re|gi Athel|stano pro sorore sua Hilda. lege per totum.
• Princeps hujus legationis fuit Adulphus, filius Balde|wini Comitis Flandriæ, ex filia regis Edwardi Ethel|switha Guil. Malmsb. de gestis regum Anglorum, p. 28.
• Iterum de perjura|tione regis Scottorum, & de bello Dacorum.
• Ecce de bello inter Guydonem de Werwyk & Coli|brant.
• De fine Athelstani regis.
• Anno Domini DCCCC^mo. XL^o.
• Edmundus Rex.
• Snotingaham (vel Notinge|ham) aliis. Neque aliter qui|dem tam apud Florentium quam & Chron. Saxon. Stafford pro Stamford habet Speedus, secus atque auctores vett.
• De mirabili morte regis.
• Anno Domini DCCCC^mo XLVII.
• Edredus rex, frater Edmuudi.
• Anno Domini. DCCCC^mo. LV^o.
• Edgarus rex homo sanctus, pa|ter Sancti Edwardi martyris.
• F. coronyng.
• Omnes isti fecerunt homaginum regi Ed|garo.
• Ecce de mi|raculo San|cti Edgari.
• Anno DCCCC^mo. LXXIII^o.
• De Sancto Edwardo martire.
• Ecce de morte ejus anno. DCCCC^mo LXXVI^o.
• Ecce ea quæ Sanc|tus Dun|stanus pro|misit Re|gi Eilredo.
• Eilredus coronatus est.
• Ecce pri|mum tor|mentum.
• Eccesecun|dum tor|mentum.
• Tercium tormentum.
• Summa.
• Quartum tormentum.
• Summa.
• De filiis Eilredi re|gis.
• Id est, through aid of.
• Vulgo vocant Turkillum.
• Eilredus trausfreta|vit versus Norman|niam.
• Sic.
• Anno Domini. Mo. XL^o.
• De morte Suane.
• Eilredus fugavit Knoutum regem, & iterum re|gnum cepit.
• De Edmun|do Irenside.
• De tradi|tione Edrik.
• Mortuus est Eilred's rex anno Domini millessime. XVI^o.
• Knoutus rex Daciæ factus est rex An|gliæ.
• Edmundus Irenside co|ronatus a|pud Lon|done.
• Mortuus est Edmundus Irenside Anno. M^o. XVIII^o.
• Knoutus regnavit per totum.
• Knoutus divisit re|gnum filiis suis.
• Anno. M^o. XXXVI^o.
• Haraldus rex.
• Parliamen|tum suum est.
• De obceca|cione Al|fredi fratris Edwardi, & morte ejus.
• De ingrati|tudine & malicia Haraldi.
• Sic.
• Mortuus est Haraldus.
• Harde|knoutus ob|tinuit re|gnum anno M^o L. VI^o.
• L. M^o. XL^o.
• Narratio de vita Sancti Ed|wardi, de comiteGod|wino quali|ter strangu|latus fuit propter fal|sum jura|mentum.
• Alii Thurum vocant. Vide Flor. Wig. pag. 403. ed. 4to.
• Civium vero multitudo in quandam modicam insulam, in medio Sabrinæ fluminis sitam, quæ Beuerege nuncupatur, confugerant: &c. Flor. Wig.
• Hic venit Edwardus ad curiam Hard|knouti.
• Coronacio Sancti Ed|wardi.
• De comite Godwino & Haraldo filio ejus.
• WilleImus, dux Nor|manniæ, ve|nit in An|gliam ad Sanctum Edwardum Regem.
• De Regina Edith.
• Vide Johan. Forduni Sco|tichron. p. 396.
• Griffynus de Wallia bellum mo|vit contra Edwardum Regem.
• Others say, he was earl of Chester. See p. 121. of Mr. Thomas Ellis's Ed. of part of Dr. Powell's History of Wales. But it should be rather, earl of Mercia. See Dugdale's Baronage, Tom. I. p. 10.
• Haraldus factus est dux turma|rum apud Walliam.
• De rege Scotorum.
• De fratri|bus Griflini & filio ejus.
• Vulgo, Port Skeweth. Por|tascith autem Florentio, sub A. D. 1065. Neque discre|pantia ulla in eximio nostro Florentii Codice Langbai|niano.
• De contu|melia Dun|stani, filii Agilet.
• De Tosto de Cumber|land.
• De visione & morte Sancti Ed|wardi.
• Deest forsan alle.
• Haraldus factus est Rex.
• Haraldus rex devicit bellum, oc|cidit Ha|raldum Tos|tum apud Staynford brigge.
• Sic.
• Pro, play.
• Nota de Conque|store, & de causa con|questus.
• Pro, þi.
• Redundat.
• Sic.
• Fece mira.
• Bellum in|ter Haral|dum & Willelmum Conquesto|rem.
• Redundat.
• Haraldus occisus est. regnavit novem menses & tres dies.
• Matildin appellant alii.
• Helianora regina co|ronate est.
• L. coronata.
• Godwyn aliis.
• Multæ ad|versitates.
• Vide Dugdalii Baronag. Tom. I. p. 54. Lelandi Coll. vol. II. p. 380. aliosque etiam Historicos nostros, qui secus atque noster rem narrârunt.
• Ecce Da|nachi.
• Ecce Da|nachi.
• Id quod etiam notat Jo|annes Rastellus, sive Rastal|lus, in Chronico suo, supra à me commemorato, libro sane rarissimo, mihi vero (pro more suo) perquam humani|ter mutuo dato ab amicissimo nostro Murraio, cujus cum alibi, tum jam supra etiam mentionem feci. Sic autem Rastellus: ¶ Also about the. iii. yere of his [Wyllyam Conquerour's] rayne | Har|rolde & Cauntus [Sic] sonnes to Suanus kyng of Denmarke enteryd into the North coun|trey | and with the helpe of some of the people of the contrey and of some of the cytezyns of yorke enteryd the citye | and slewe mo than. iii. M. Normans. But sone after kyng Wyllyam chasyd them out | and droue them to theyr schyppes and toke suche displeasure with the inhabytans of that prouynce | that he distroyed the lande from yorke to Durham | that. ix. yere after it lay vnlaboryd and vntylled | and the peo|ple there were kept so harde by the warre of the kynge | & in suche famyne that they ete rattes | cattes | dogges | and other vermyne.
• Sege at Yorke.
• De Reli|quiis Sancti Cuthberti.
• Vide Sim. Dunelm. p. 199. & Leland. Coll. Vol. II. p. 380.
• Reliquiæ Sancti Cuthberti ad Durham ubi prius in feretro re|conduntur.
• F. ostage.
• Willelmus applicuit apud Ham|ptoniam.
• De tribus monachis de Lynd|say.
• Ædificave|runt eccle|siam & claustrum de Durham.
• Ædificatur abbatia beatæ Ma|riæ apud Eboracum.
• Ædificave|runt clau|strum de Whiteby.
• Rex venit ad parlia|mentum a|pud Parys.
• His name was Ralph. But his Confederate, the Earl of Hereford's Name was Roger. See Dugdale's Baronage, p. 67, 68. This Affair is thus touch'd upon by John Rastall, in his most rare Chronicle: ¶ About the. x. yere of his raygne | Roger erle of Har|forde | and Rafe erle of North|folke fledde | and were out|laude | & the erle walreffe was behedyd.
• Quomodo Episcopus Dunelmiæ interfectus est.
• Extendere fecit ter|ram, & di|visit terras filiis suis.
• Sepultus est in Kame Anno Domini. M^o LXXX. VIII^o.
• This king, in remembrance of the great Victory he had ob|tain'd over Harold (by which he got Possession of England) founded the great Abbey of Battel in Sussex. But then that, for which I am chiefly obliged to make this Note, is, his founding the Cluniack Abbey of Bermondsey in Surrey, if we may give any credit to John Rastall's Chronicle, which is a most rare Book (as I have be|fore noted) and was written by a learned Man (tho' a Printer, for Printers then were Men of Learning) who had married E|lizabeth, the Sister of Sir Tho|mas More, which was of no small Advantage to him in the History of our English Affairs. The Words in Rastall are these. ¶ This wyllyam made the newe forest in Hampshyre and therfore cast downe dyuers churches by the space of. xxx. myles. In his tyme he kept the englysshemen so lowe | that fewe of them bare any offyce of honour or rule | but somwhat he fauored the citye of London. Also he buylded two abbayes in En|glande | that is to say the abbaye of Battell | where he wanne the fylde agaynst Ha|rolde and the abbay of Bar|meseye in Southwarke besyde London | and also he buyld|ed. ii. other abbayes in Nor|mandye. Which Words will give some Confirmation to what is asserted by those, that tell us, that William the Conqueror built many abbyes of the order of Cluny, in relation to which there is this Note in a MS. in the Bodleian Library, as is observ'd by the learned Dr. Tanner. A Note (saith the Dr. Pref. to his Not. Mon. p. 42.) annexed to an old MS. book of Ecclesiastical Constitutions in the Bodleian Library [Inter MSS. Junian. 121.] desires us to note the slyght of the Pope, that when he had causyd the Deuke of Norman|dy to Conquer England; under pretence of penance causyd him to give muche Lands to Abbyes, and that Deuke dyd bylde many of the Order of Cluny, because Pope Gregory VI. was a monk of Cluny. Tho' I cannot find (continues the Dr.) that ever he founded any of this Order, yet he built and endowed the great Abbies of Battel Com. Suss. and Selby in Com. Ebor. and the Priory of Hitchinbroke in Com. Hunt. and the Alien|Priories of Frampton in Com. Dors. Paunsfeld in Com. Essex, Derehirst in Com. Gloc. Ando|ver in Com. Hants. and Stanyng in Com. Suss.
• Willelmus Rufus coro|natus est apud West|monaste|rium.
• Sic.
• Ecce dis|cussio facta est coram Philippo inter Wil|lelmum Rufum & Robertum fratrem e|jus, ducem Norman|niæ.
• Robertus Courthose applicuit in Angliam cum amore, & venit fratri suo Willelmo.
• Concerning which I find a very remarkable Passage in Rastall's Chronicle, together with a Note about the first coming of the Cistercian Monks into England, which others refer to the Reign of King Hen. I. The Book being, as I have before noted, extremely scarce, I shall give the Passage at large from Mr. Murray's Copy. ¶ The. iiii. yere of his rayne a great wynde was in London | that blewe downe. v. c. howses and the rofe of Bowe churche | & dyd great hurte in wynchester and in dyuers other places. In this tyme also the welchemen re|bellyd | but they were sub|dued & theyr duke or kyng called Ryse was slayne which was accompted the last kynge of wales. After that Malcolyn kyng of Scot|tes rebellyd and came into Englande with retenewe | whome one Ro|bert erle of Northumberlande inconter|yd | & there the kyng Mal|colyn was slayne | and by the ayde of kyng wyllyam Edgare his son was made kynge of Scotlande. ¶ A|bout this tyme the order of Cysteaux was fyrst brought into Englande | by one wa|ter Espeke that founded the fyrst Abbey of that Religyon at Ryuall. ¶ This kynge wyllyam was a very couetous man | a proude & wylfull | and pylled bothe the spery|tualte & temperalte | with sellynge of Bysshoprykes | Abbeys | & benefyces | and leuyenge vnresonable taxes & trybutes on the temperalte | specially by the onely coun|sell of one Ranulphe hys pro|curatour. whiche ryches the kynge dyd spende vpon the Towre of London | & some say vpon the makynge of westmyster halle: but yf that sayenge be trewe of westmy|ster halle | it must be some olde halle there | & nat the newe halle that is nowe. For the armes that appere in the halle that nowe is aswell in the stone worke as in the tymber worke | be the armes whiche kyng Rycharde the second gaue | which be. iii. Lyons with the flour delyce quarterly | & the whyte hart for his badge. For there was neuer kyng of Englande that bare the armes of Fraunce | whiche be the flour delyce | before kyng Edwarde the thyrde | for in his tyme the armes of Fraunce was fyrst ioyned to the armes of Eng|lande. wherfore it shuld seme euydently that westmyster halle that is nowe | was nat bylde in the tyme of kynge wyllyam Rufus | except it were onely the foundacyon therof | or els it was the halle in westmyster aboue the steyres | which is nowe called the whyte halle. Stowe tells us (in his Survey of Lon|don, p. 521. Ed. fol. 1633.) that this Hall was repaired by K. Rich. II. which will recon|cile what is observ'd by Rastall about the Arms.
• The kyng of his Scottes slayn.
• Robertus applicuit in Nor|maniam.
• Sic.
• De contu|melia Scot|torum, & de dominio & potestate Angliæ.
• Contumelia orta est in|ter Regem & Rober|tum Mou|bray.
• De Ingrati|tudine Wil|lelmi.
• This was the new Forest near Winchester, which was really made by his Father King Wil|liam the Conqueror, who de|stroyed many Churches for it, and his Son. William Rufus was only an Improver of it, by en|larging it, in which he com|mitted also much Sacrilege. But then others (and even Peter of Langtoft and Robert of Brunne themselves seem to have been of the same opinion) tell us, that this was not the New Fo|rest near Winchester, but the New Forest of Windsor, a|mong which is John Rastall, who writes thus: This kynge wyllyam as is sayd & wryt|ten of hym | had great plea|sure in huntynge | in so moche that he pulled downe & di|stroyed dyuers houses of re|ligyon to inlarge the newe forest of wyndesore for wylde dere: but a knyght of his named water Tyrell by the glaunsyng of his arowe vpon a braunche whan he shot at an harte in the sayd forest | smote the kyng & wounded hym to dethe wherof shortely he dyed. The fyrst day of August the yere of Chryst. M.C. without any yssue of his body. And he rayned. xii. yere. xi. monethes and. xii. dayes | and is buryed at westmyster. In which Passage this is also remarkable, that he makes William Rufus to be buried at Westminster, as does also the Chronicle I now pub|lish, whereas it is well known, from our other Historians, that he was buried at Winches|ter. And indeed it is Win|chester in the French Original of Peter Langtoft. Le cors a Wyncestre fet leuesque por|ter, et mettre le en toumbe, al monster seint Peer.
• De morte Willelmi Rufi, & de visione ante mortem.
• De Matil|da bona Regina.
• De Henri|co primo.
• F. delend.
• L. Randolf.
• De falsitate episcopi Dunelmen|sis.
• De tradi|tione Epi|scopi.
• De Ro|berto Courthose duce Nor|manniæ.
• De pace facta per Ansel|mum, archi|episcopum Cantuariæ.
• Ecce de Henrico.
• Recessit de Norman|nia.
• F. away.
• Iterum re|versus est in Nor|manniam.
• Dicta An|selmi pro clero.
• De cap|cione Roberti Courthose fratris Hen|rici, & de fine ejus|dem Ro|berti vide per totum.
• L. Corue. Others say Caer|diff in South_Wales. See what is said about his death in p. 426, 443. of Rob. of Glouc. To which may be here added, that as nei|ther Robert of Gloucester, nor the Chronicle of Peter Lantoft (that I now publish) say, that Robert Duke of Normandy's Eyes were pulled out, so neither does John Rastall say any thing of that matter, as well knowing (and Sir Tho. More too had told him the truth of that part of our History) that the Story was not vouch'd by such Historians, as came nearest to Duke Ro|bert's time. But I shall put down the Words of Rastall at large, because they will give some light to the Reader as he is perusing this work of Peter Langtoft. ¶ In the seconde yere of his [Hen. the First's] reygne Robert Courteyse his brother duke of Normandye | whiche had ben longe tyme oc|cupyed in warre agaynst Chrys|tes enemyes hauynge worde of the dethe of his brother wyl|lyam Rufus | and that his brother henry had takyn vp|on hym to be kynge of Eng|lande | made preparacyon in Normandye and came ouer into Englande with a great hoost to chalenge the crowne. But by mediacyon of the lordes | it was agreed that Robert shulde haue euery yere durynge his life. iii. M. markes | as was promysed hym before by kynge wyl|lyam his brother. And who so euer lyued longest to be others heyre. And sone after that | this Robert departed agayne into Normandye. This Robert by his man|hode | dyd many notable actes | and specially at the wynnynge of the citye of A|con vpon the myscreantes & Turkes | and was chosyn kynge of Jerusalem | whiche he refused to take vpon him. In this tyme began great warre in Normandye be|twene kyng Henry & kynge Philyp of Fraunce | but kyng Philyp sone after dyed. ¶ About the. iiii. yere of this kyng | Robert Curteyse came into England agayne | to his brother henry whiche made hym great chere that before that Robert departed | he released to his brother the forenamed trybute of. iii. M. markes | & departed agayne into Normandye. After this a great varyaunce fell be|twene this Robert and his lordes in Normandye that they sent vnto kyng henry his brother wyllynge for to come into Normandye | & they wolde delyuer hym the contrey. And also by the intyssement of yll tale tellers | a great va|ryaunce fell betwene kynge henry & his brother Robert | that the kynge with a great armye sayled into Normandye | & with the helpe of the lordes there | chased his brother Ro|bert from place to place | and wanne from hym Roan | Cane | Faloys | and all the good townes & many castels. But at the last this Robert gaue battell to kynge hen|ry | in the whiche battell this Ro|bert was takyn and sent ouer into Englande | and kept in prison in the ca|stell of Cardiffe in walys | by the space of. xxviii. yere where he after dyed without yssue of his body | and was buryed at Gloucester. And when this Robert was tak|yn | the kynge Henry seasyd alle Normandye into his owne handes.
• battel in Norman|dye.
• duke Ro|bert taken prisoner.
• Ecce, heu! dicta God|fridi de Bo|lyon de Ro|berto Cour|those.
• Ecce quo|modo Ro|bertus de|spexit gra|ciam & e|lectionem Dei.
• De Matild filia Hen|rici regis.
• Dele.
• Sic. Sed f. delend. est.
• De morte Matildis Reginæ bonæ.
• Matild im|peratrix vidua.
• The Author here (as he does also in many other Places) strangely differeth from other Historians, in making Maud the Empress to be married to Henry Son of the Earl of An|jou, when she was really mar|ried (after the Death of the Emperour Henry IV. who was her first husband) to Geffrey Plantagenet Earl of Anjou, son of Foulk King of Jeru|salem. Hence John Rastall (in his most scarce Chronicle) writes thus: ¶ About the. xxi. yere [of Hen. I.) there was a great counsell called in Lon|don | for the correccyon of the vicyous lyuynge of preestes to be done by the kynges offycers. Sone after this Henry the Emperour dyed | & Maude the empresse came to her father kynge henry | whiche caused Dauyd the kynge of Scotlande and the more parte of the lordes of Englande to do othe and fealte to the Empresse | and to kepe the lande to her if the kynge dyed without issue male.

  ¶ Also about the, xxviii. yere | one Geffrey Plantage|net erle of Angeo maryed the sayd Maude and after by her had issue Henry | whiche henry after kynge Steuyn was kynge of Englande.
• De morte Henrici primi per totum.
• ¶ This kynge henry the fyrst | buylded the Abbey of Redynge | & released the En|glysshemen the Dane gelt. Also this kynge henry beynge in Normandye in the xxxv. yere of his reyne | the se|conde day of December in the yere of Chryst. M.C.xxxv. dyed. Some say he dyed of a surfet | and some wryters say that it was by a fall of a horse | and his body was brought into Englande | and is buryed in the Abbay of Re|dynge. J. Rastall in his Chr.
• DeHenrico comite An|degaviæ.
• De corona|cione Sle|phani.
• De jura|mento Re|gis.
• Sic.
• Perjuratus est Rex.
• F. in fulle.
• De obsidie|ne Bedfor|diæ, & cap|cione ejus|dem.
• Misit Gan|nok in Her|fordia.
• De Rege Scottorum.
• L. folk.
• De Radul|pho de Orkneye, qui ductor fuit de bello. Hii sunt qui fuerunt in prœlio.
• De consilio Roberti Brus.
• De capci|one David, & de Eus|tathio filio Stephani.
• Matildis Imperatrix venit in Angliam.
• Sic.
• Misit baro|nibus pro auxilio.
• Des riches & des pouers de communalte Eft Malde leimperice dame rescen de gre. Gall.
• F. fro.
• De Matil|de Impera|trice.
• F. whan.
• DeRoberto Marmyon.
• De G. Maunde|uile.
• Ecce kou|wardise magnatum & fuga eo|rum.
• De morte Matildis Imperatri|cis, & de forma scri|pti inter Stephanum & Henri|cum filium Imperatri|cis.
• Obiit re vera Stephanus rex Oct. 25. 1154. Ipsius autem re|ginaMatildis defunct a est Maii 3°. 1152. apud Hedningham ni|mirum sive Hengham, vulgò Heningham, elegans olim ca|strum (notante Camdeno) & Oxoniæ Comitum antiquam habitationem, in agro Essexi|ensi.
• Anno. M°. C°. L°.
• Henricus secundus factus est rex.
• Oct. 2. Sed de tem|pore Coronationis variant hi|storici.
• John.
• Perperam. Nam tres duntaxat reges erant, Gal|fridus vero Britanniæ tantum|modo Comes sive Dux, id quod mox ipse notat Auctor, qui pro|inde forsitan voluit, comitem híc loci pro regulo accipi. haud enim aliud alibi etiam valet, sicut ex IIemingo nostro colligi potest.
• Quin & hîc etiam auctor secus atque alii, qui do|cent, tam Johannam quam & Elianoram reginam fuisse. Ad|eo ut pro eorum sententia mox infra quene of Cezile pro lady of Cezile sit reponendum. id quod etiam liquet ex Petri de. Langtoft Codicibus Gallicis, in quibus, Alyenore sa fylle fu Rayne de Espayne, Rayne de Secylle Johane la fylle darayne.
• Joane.
• Sanetus Thomas factus est archiepis|copus Can|tuar.
• Ecce con|troversia orta est in|ter regem & clerum.
• L. clerke.
• Ecce de clero per totum.
• Torn off. But the sense, notwithstanding, is plain, es|pecially if the passage be com|pared with the French, which is thus: Ceo fu a Claringdoun, ou Thomas ad parlez, Et a Norhampton vint il altre feez, Deliuerer ses clers, mes rien luy fu grantez. A la courte de Rome ad Thomas appellez. Thomas deuers la courte va la mere passer, Et le Reis Henry fet maintenaunt maunder. Ler|ceuesqe de Euerwik son noun fu Roger, Et son fiz Henry le fist corouner, Et oyndre en Reis, le regne pur [the word pur is wanting in Mr. Anstis's Copies] gouerner. Toit fist a Thomas, ke fust outre mere. Kar pur veir a luy appent cel mester.
• De morte Sancti Thomæ.
• In the Cathedral Church at St. Bennet's Altar, as even Rastall takes notice, in his most wonderfull rare Chroni|cle, lent me by the curious and ingenious Mr. John Murray. ¶ Also (saith he) for dyuers actes that the kynge procured to be made agayne the lybertes of the churche. There fell a great debate betwene hym and Thomas then Arche|byshop of Canterbury | that the byshoppe fled vnto Rome. But after whan Thomas came agayne to Caunterbury. iiii. of the kynges knyghtes because the kyng beyng in Normandye | they harde the kyng say these wordes | if he had any men about hym | he had ben a veng|ed vpon that traytour longe or that tyme. Therfore these knyghtes came fro the kynge beynge in Normandye | and slewe this Thomas in the cathe|drall church in Canterbury at saynt Benettes auter: whiche Thomas is nowe by the churche canonysed for a holy saynt | & dyuers myracles auctorysed by the churche that god hathe shewed for hym.
• saynt tho|mas of Caunter|bury slayne.
• De falsi|tate Scot|torum.
• Captus est rex Scot|torum.
• De consilio & falsitate Franco|rum.
• De remotu obsidionis per Henri|cum.
• Reversi sunt in Angliam.
• De testa|mento Hen|ricisecundi, facto apud Waltham, per totum.
• Kaunt le Rey Henry ad fet son testament, Al parle|ment de Fraunce son chemyn enprent. Touz les melz va|nez [sive vauez] de Douer a Derwent Sunt oue [sive ouf] le Rey alez, atyrez richement. Dount par my Parys est dist communement, Ke vnkes vi|rent Reis oue si [sive ouf ly] bele gent, Petri nostri ex|emplaria Gallica.
• Statutum factum in|ter Angli|am & Sco|ciam per assensum.
• Abesse malim. Nam exem|plaria Gallica, par chartre en|sele leRey descoz se lye, i.e.per chartam sigillatam Rex Scociæ seipsum obligavit.
• His death was much lamented by his Fa|ther, notwithstanding he had been a disobedient Son; which disobedience arose (in a great measure) out of discontent, that his Father had abandon'd his [young Henry's] Mother, [Q. Eleanor,) and given himself up intirely (as it were) to the Will of the fine young Wench Ro|samond, a thing that struck al|so very much upon the young King's Brothers, Richard and John. For which reason it is, that we have this Passage in Ra|stall's Chronicle: This kynge henry let crowne henry his eldyst sonne kynge of Eng|lande | and went hym selfe into Normandye | but his son henry dyed before his fa|ther | and therfore he is nat accounted in the nombre of kynges of Englande. This Henry his son and his. ii. bretherne | John | & Ry|charde | made warre agaynst theyr father. Some say the cause of the warre was be|cause the kynge imprisoned Elynor his wyfe | whiche was kept in prison tyll the kynge dyed | and he kept the wenche Rosamonde.
• Pro, was.
• De Balde|wino lepro|so, & Wil|lelmo Ac|quitaniæ, pro auxilio in Angli|am veni|ente.
• Rex lacri|matns est.
• Responsio Francorum Willelmo Aquitaniæ per totum.
• Lege, Foure & thritty &c. Nam, Apres. xxx. iiii. annz. vi. mays. xii. jours Du regalte ReyHenry cessaynt ses labours. Il gist al Fount Ebrard en labbeye de sorours in MSS. Gallicis.
• Mortuus est Henricus secundus, Anno Do|mini. M^o. C. Lxxxix^o.
• Coronacio Regis Ri|cardi apud Londo|ni m.
• Ecce de stultiloquio reg's Fran|ciæ.
• Nuncium Ricardi editum in curia regis Franciæ.
• Sic.
• Responsio regis Fran|corum.
• Vendidit mobilia & maneria.
• De homa|gio & obli|gacione regis Scot|torum.
• Stabilivit justitiarios & custodes terræ.
• Applicuit in Nor|manniam.
• Modo pa|raverunt se ad terram sanctam.
• Ecce mira|culum & de maris periculo.
• De Johan|na, sorore sua.
• M^o. C^o. LXXXX^o.
• Hic venit Octobonus Cardinalis ad Regem Ricardum.
• Misit nun|cium ad Tancredum Regem.
• Sic.
• De fictione regis Phi|lippi.
• De humili|tate & sa|pientia re|gis Tan|credi.
• L. testament.
• Hîc venit mater regis R. ad eum.
• Ricardus & Tancredus peregrinati sunt ad san|ctam Aga|tham virgi|nem.
• De alterca|tione inter Ricardum & Philip|pum per totum.
• Respouns del Rey de Fraunce qaunt Richard ad oye, Al matyn ly proue de|uaunt la clergye, Qe le Reis son pere, duk de Normendye, A neyt conou Aleys, qaunt lauait en bayllye, Et fylle engendrait, ke mort est & seuelye. La leye de seyncte eglyse trop serrayt blemye. Et Richard & Aleys de dam|pne dieu maldye, Si en ma|ryage Richard par la se lye, Codices Gallici.
• Concordati sunt per barones.
• De navibus periclitan|tibus in mari versus Cipriam, & Cancel|larius sub|incrsus est.
• De navi|bus.
• De capci|one Cipriæ.
• F. tille Criste & Syme|oun. Nam, Isaqe ad fet son vowe a dieu & Seint Simouns, Gallice.
• Mane venit ad civita|tem Lymo|sin.
• De fuga Isaac Im|peratoris.
• En chemyse, en brayse fuaunt eschapait, Ses chi|uals, ses armes al Rey Ri|chard leissait Gallice.
• Le terce jour de la feste le Rey comaundait, Qe Bernard de Bayoun la dame corounayt Gall.
• Ecce tot re|ges & duces venerunt ad nupcias Regis Ri|cardi.
• Ruffyn dez mounz Gall.
• Divisit tur|mam Gui|doni.
• Imperator dixit Regi humiliando se hæc ver|ba.
• Ma fylle eyr de mes te|res te doray a garder, Taunt com coe[sive ceo] couenaunt te aueray fet enteer Codd. Gal.
• De man|sione per totum.
• Ricardus circuit ter|ram, & ce|pit Nichoci & filiam Isaac
• Robert de Turnham se mene noblement, La tere souz maryne ad conquys nette|ment Codd. Gallici.
• Guyoun & Reymound re|uenent unement, Pur coe [sive ceo] qil ne ount con|quis tere ne tenement in the French, tho' in one of Mr. An|stis's Copies ne ount is wanting.
• Nota de Statino se|nescallo consiliando Imperato|rem, & ecce Imperator amputavit nasum suum cum cultello.
• Deest es, (i. e. is.) Nam in Codicibus Gallicis, Qe Reis est des Englays, e sage gwe|reyour.
• I. e. Diendamour, that he had of Isaack. But it should be rather read, Candare and Diendamour. For the French Copies have, Baffe & Buffenet, Candare & Den|damour, Et totes les citez dount Isake fu gwyour.
• Captus est Isaac in quadaur abbatia,ubi absconditus fuit.
• Et le Rey Richard ad mayntenaunt donez Al sene|schal de Cypre la garde des citez. Partaunt com il estait si vilement maygnez, Statyn le nase des ore est surnomez in the French, unless it be that in one of Mr. Anstis's Copies this verse, Statyn le nase des ore est surnomez, is wanting.
• Cipria con|quæsta est per Regem Ricardum.
• Ecce de navi in mari capto.
• Sic.
• Ecce dicit Rex.
• Et ait [sive eyt] chescun la gwayne [vel son wayne] saunz altre chalenger Codices Gallici.
• Le Rey Richard les sy|gles comaunde eschaucer, Et haster vers Akres, les Cri|stiens eyder, Gallice.
• Ricardus applicuit ad portum de Acres.
• On hors de la prisone noctauntre est passe, Statyn & Robert af armes ount crye, Gallice.
• De mona|cho rege suspenso.
• Ricardus paravit se ad castel|lum.
• Lamenta|tio facta ad Regem pro fame Chri|stianorum per episco|pum.
• Ecce pro|bitas Ri|cardi.
• De pace tractata secundum formam in|ter Reges & Saracenos.
• Ecce mira|culum.
• A Phelipp & Richard les Sarecyns volaint Souent la cite rendre & bien promet|taynt, Ke la seinte tere Je|rusalem rendraynt, Et vint mille Cristiens qen prisoun auaint. Ne Phelipp ne Ri|chard de ceo se affyaynt, Mes de jour en altre al assalt a|laynt, in Codd. Gallicis.
• Acres ci|vitas capta est per Ri|cardum.
• Le duk de Austrice i veent, & banere desplye. Gall. quin & duk etiam infra in MSS. Gallicis. Adeo ut apud inter|pretem nostrum idem valeat erle quod duk, id quod paullo post etiam liquet, ubi duke plane habet.
• Sire duke, dist le Reis, par le fiz Marie, Si tu nas seygnour, ta tere ert altrye, Gallice.
• De obsidi|one castri Pilgrim, & de remoci|one Phi|lippi.
• Ecce de|precacio Ricardi per totum.
• Ecce quæ dicit Ri|cardus.
• De capci|one castri per Ricar|dum.
• Dis seriauntz des plus feres, e de melz vanez, Deua|unt le cors le Reis sa targe ount portez, Codd. Gallici.
• De probi|tate ejus, quando pugnavit per se in castro.
• Ke son deuer ne face, pur quay la croice perist, [sive prist, [Hastiement luy prenge la male mort subit, Codd. Gall.
• Philippus licentia pe|tita a Ri|cardo ad Franciam se paravir.
• Le duk de Austrice Codd. Gallici.
• Cesaree, sive Cesa|rye, MSS. Gall. tam hîc quam & infra.
• F. has.
• De pugna ad flumen Cisarie.
• F. no. Nam Codices Gallici, De Richard ny passe, ne nul de sa partye.
• Saladyn les hoers de flum ad saisye Gallice.
• F. bank.
• In the MS. of the Heralds Office 'tis de Aucunes, in one of Mr. Anstis's de Aucune, but in the other de Auenues. Yet below both of Mr. Anstis's Co|pies have Auenues.
• De Jacobo Auenue.
• Al duk de Burgoyne la terce est co|maunde, Et al mestre du Temple oue [sive ou, vel ouf] sa fraternete, MSS. Gallici.
• De turmis Saladini.
• Soldan plus curtoys ne goustait vnkes vyn. De la terce eschele mestre fu Mel|chyn, Seygnour de Bandas, e Welchifasyn, [sive Wetipha|sin] Seygnour de Galyle & del leu on Cayn Tua son frere Abel par [vel on] feloun en|gyn Codd. MSS. Gallici.
• Sire Jaqes de Aucunes, [sive Auenues] verray pelryn, Se seygne de la croice & prent son chemyn [sive chymyn vel chimyn] MSS. Gall.
• Le Rey Henry ton pere en cha|stel Constantyn Engendra ma mere sur dame Auelyn, Countesse de la Marche, pur Dieu & Seint Martyn Venez venger ma morte sur ceo Sa|racyn, Codd. Gallici.
• De morte Jacobi.
• Moryn Codd. Gall.
• Qaunt Saladyn ly vait de bone volentez Aproche al Rey Richard, ia sunt encountrez, Gallice.
• De insulta|tione regis Ricardi & Saladini.
• Duk de Burgoyne Codd. Gall.
• De Jerusalem le Rey Guyoun gentyls Dist al Rey Richard, Sire tournez le vys, Le duk e sa eschele sunt ia taunt supris, Le Soldan Sa|ladyn apoy [sive ad poy, vel a poy] les ad conquys, Codd. Gall.
• Le duk pardist cel houre chiualers trent & sys, Treis centz de petayle, seri|auntz cent e dys. Et de cel eschele, quantz qe sount re|mys, Fet le Rey passer le flum a [vel ad] lour amys, Codd. Gall.
• Richard Reis Englays ad saisye Cesaree, Joppen e Scalon, Cades & Japhe, Et al Rey Guyoun la garde ad done. Le duk de Burgoyne est si male mene. Qe ly Si|rogene del duk est desperee, Et le Rey Richard mout [sive mult] desconforte, MSS. Gall.
• Saldanus venit tra|ctare pa|cem.
• Responsio Ricardi.
• Sire, dist Saladyn, gre te dey sauer, Ke tu saunz desert me vols honourer, Gallice.
• Saldanus dixit.
• Mon frere Saf|fadyn teent son regne entere, Ses fiz sunt grantez sey|gnours, ne volent lesser Tere ne tenement, pur nuly prech|er, Gall.
• Sic.
• Si tu soys taunt vayllaunt, com le mounde te crye, Rebukez le bien de sa sur quiderye, Codd. Gallici.
• Le Rey Richard as vns la chos certifye, Et a parler de trewe al Soldan plus se plye, MSS. Gall.
• Est Sa|ladyn venuz en amour saunz boydie, Et prye al Rey Ri|chard, que son plaisir ly dye, Codices Gall.
• De pace tractata & ordinata per Ricar|dum & Saladinum.
• Id est, that knows or can tell what, &c.
• So 'tis also in one of Mr. Anstis's Copies. But in the other, as also in that of the Heralds Office, 'tis Rupyn.
• Rex dixit baronibus suis & pe|ciit licen|ciam ab eis, & iter ar|ripuit ver|sus An|gliam.
• Forte, I ne fond.
• Po|tius, Austrice, cum MSS. Gall.
• Without all doubt King Ri|chard was used very roughly, and not agreeable to his Royal Dignity, after he was impri|soned. 'Tis for that very rea|son, that some Historians tell us (notwithstanding it be not mentioned in this Chronicle) that a Lyon was brought to him when he was confined in pri|son, with an intent to have (by that means) destroyed him. But instead of that, he kill'd the Lyon (to the great confusion and astonishment of his ene|mies) by thrusting his arm into his mouth, and thereby bruis|ing him so at the heart, that he died. John Rastall is one of those, that speaks of this memo|rable Action, taking notice, at the same time, of the causes of his being set upon, and of the vast sum of money that was de|manded and paid for his ran|som. At the same time he like|wise observes, that, according to some, he was called Cure de Lyon from this Heroical Exploit, but, according to o|thers, (who take no notice of this Affair) from his invincible Cou|rage. Rastall himself seems to think, this Denomination was oc|casion'd by his killing the Lyon; and for that reason, as I take it, it is, that the wooden Cut, which he hath given us of K. Richard, represents him with the Lyon be|tween his Legs, and thrusting his right Arm down his Throat. 'Tis probable he had seen old Pictures that confirm'd this Re|presentation. 'Tis also likely, that his Brother-in-law Sir Thomas More (from whom he had receiv'd so much assistance in his Historical Enquiries) approved of it. Indeed I have not yet seen (that I remember) any other old Figure, (besides this in Rastall) in which K. Richard is drawn after this manner. And yet I cannot but think, that he was sirnamed Cure de Lyon from some par|ticular Action, rather than from his Courage in general, it being usual with our Ancestors to give Sirnames from particular remark|able Accidents, such as distin|guished them in a peculiar man|ner from other eminent persons. And as Richard I. had got a very great name for his overcom|ing the Lyon (as well as he had for abundance of other very un|common Instances of Courage) so others also strived to follow his Steps, and were forward to encounter Lyons, and were will|ing to have themselves pictured as engaging with them. And, for better remembrance of such Adventures, they were often painted in old Halls, just as were also the Encounters that Gentle|men of Activity in Feats of Arms had with any strange Knights, such as those of the Blesells, hinted at by Leland, Itin. Vol. VII. p. 61. Such Pi|ctures were look'd upon very justly as great Ornaments to Halls, and 'tis pity more care hath not been taken to preserve them. Sometimes there were figures in our old Wainscotts that had Allusion to Heroical Actions, and these, therefore, ought also to be regarded by curious Persons, who may even from thence be capable of illu|strating some Particulars in our History. I have seen curious Works of this nature in some old Houses in Oxford. They were much in vogue in Q. Elizabeth's time, as they had been also in the Reign of her Father K. Henry VIIIth. when Cabi|nets were, withall, finely adorn'd with Pictures of Antiquity, as may appear as well from other instances, as from that which had been Leland's Cabi|net in the Bodleian Library. But instead of exspatiating, I shall give Rastall's own words, as I find them in the Copy of his Chronicle that was lent me by my kind Friend Mr. Murray.—This kynge Rycharde perceyued that the Chrysten people decresyd in the holy lande | aswell by in|fyrmytes as lacke of vytell | toke a truce for. iii. yere and returned whomewarde | and sent the quene his wyfe by the see | and he sayled with a small company into Histra & there landed | where he was takyn prisoner by the duke of Ostreche and by him put in prison | and brought to Henry Emperour of Almayne | whiche put hym in stronge prison | and after Raunsomed hym at c. M. li. whiche duke of Ostryche was afterwarde therfore accursed of the pope for the wronge done to kynge Rycharde.

  ¶ Also for the payment of this sayd Raunsome | after|warde the woll of all the whyte monkes and chanons in Englande was solde | and rynges | iewels of prelates and vessels and chalyces of all the churches thorowe the lande | and dyuers and many shrynes scraped and spoyled of theyr golde and syluer. Dyuers causes there were as wryters reherse | that the Emperour sholde owe grudge to kynge Richarde | one was because kynge Rycharde had promysed to the Emperour an ayde for the wynnynge of the kyngdome of Cicyle | whiche the Emperour claym|ed as his inheritance | whiche promyse kynge Rycharde as he sayd brake. Another cause was for that the kyng Rycharde toke from a knyght of the duke of Ostryche the dukes banner and trode it vnder his fete in dispyte of the duke and of the Empe|rour his lorde | & therfore the duke & the Emperour were gladde to do kynge Ry|charde displeasure.

  ¶ It is sayd that a Lyon was put to kynge Rycharde beynge in prison to haue de|uoured hym | and when the Lyon was gapynge | he put his Arme in his mouthe and pulled the lyon by the harte so hard | that he slewe the lyon. And therfore some say he is called Rycharde Cure de lyon | but some say he is called Cure de lyon because of his boldenesse and hardy stomake.
• kynge rycharde takyn prisoner.
• Dummodo Rex R. in|carceratus fuit ultra mare, Jo|hannes fra|ter ejus commisit multis in|juriis con|tra eum.
• Sic.
• De parlia|mentoapud Londonias.
• Eece comes sapienter & breviter respondit.
• F. mones.
• Transfreta|vit versus Normanni|am & Gas|coniam con|tra Regem Franciæ, & cepit Bur|rez & Gi|sors.
• Sa gwere fet ordiner, les dutres establye, Deuers A|quytaygne sa banere desplye, MSS. Gall.
• Tent e pauyllioun, ke Phelipp werpist, Sunt al Rey Richard tote saunz countre|dit. Phelipp oue [sive ouf] ses Fraunceys al aler se prist, Richard oue [sive ouf] ses Englays chacaunt [sive chas|chaunt, vel chasaunt] les suist Al pount de Gysors, qe nest pas petit. En la rere garde nes vn Fraunceys remist. Molt fu le pople grant, qaunt le pount chaist, Le Reis en la Ryuere entre les altres gist, MSS. Gall.
• Markade dixit deri|sionem regi Franciæ.
• De morte Ricardi per bali|sterium.
• M^o. C^o. XC^o. IX^o.
• Id est, Geffrey's.
• Johannes Rex coro|natus est per Huber|tum Archi|episcopum Cantuariæ.
• A Johon le fiz Richard ad done la coroun, Enoynt est en Reis oue [sive ouf] grant deuo|cioun, MSS. Gall.
• L. felonie.
• De morte Huberti, & electione conventus, & minaci|one Regis apud con|ventum & archiepi|scopum.
• De feritate Johannis.
• De Anglia interdicta & Rege ex|communi|cato.
• De Rege Scottorum.
• De contu|melia regis & baro|num.
• De pace per legates.
• De filiis & filiabus Regis.
• De morte Johannis.
• What he says here about King John's dying at Haughe (which is in Calceworth hun|dred in Lincolnshire) is very remarkable, and contrary to other Historians, who make him die in the castle of New|ark. But it seems Robert of Brunne (for 'tis not in the French) had it from tradition, the people of Haughe talking frequently of it in his time.
• M^o. CC^mo. XIIII^o.
• L. XVI^o.
• It should be rather Worcester, as it is in other Historians, and indeed in the French Peter de Langtoft. En labbeye de Swynheued home lenpusonayt, Il gist a Wircestre, il memes le volait. Ore est le Rey Jon mort, e senelye Lerceuesqe Esteuen ad coroune Henry. Prodhome fu touz jours, des pouers aueyt mercy, Plus ama seinte Egleyse qe nul Rey deuauntly. Clers ke chaunter|ent bien sunt tost enrichy. Eglyses & prouandes ne sunt esparny, Ke Clerk de la cha|pele nait porcioun par my, in the MS. of the Heralds Of|fice. But in one of Mr. Anstis's Copies we have, home lem poy sonayt, Egista Wyrcestre, and a little after, plus ama seynt Eg|lises, and after that, Eglises ne prouandres. Which variations are not of so much consequence as those in the other of Mr. Anstis's Copies, where the whole passage is read thus: Al Abbaye de la Swyne|heued home lenponsonait, Il gist a Wilecester, il meme le volait.

  Anno Domini M. cc. xvi.

  Ore est le Ray Joh mort, et en senely Lerceueske E|steuene ad corounet Henri. Prodhome fust tuz jeurs, de pouers auait mercy, Plus ama seint eglise ke nul Rays deuaunt ly. Deus en sa cha|pele fu noblement seruy, Par chapelayns et clers de la re|uestery. Clers ke chauntent ben sunt tost en richi. Egli|ses et prouendes ne sunt pas esparny, Ke clerk de la cha|pele nad porcioun par my.
• Henricus tercius coronatus est.
• De gentyl parente MSS. Gall.
• Rectius, fourty, cum Codd. Gall.
• Sire Huge lespenser MSS. Gall.
• Le Reis les respount, [vel, Le Rays pur respouns] jour les fet doner, Tut drait [vel, droyt] a Oxenforde la parle|menter, [vel, a Oxenford v tout parlementer,] MSS. Gall.
• Et qe nul estraunge en court eyt pussaunce, Ne qe le Rey saunz els de tere nul auaunce, Ne mette en baylle saunz lour ordinaunce, in the French MS. of the Heralds Office. And so also in one of Mr. Anstis's Copies, unless it be that it hath ey for eyt; but in the other of his Copies the pas|sage is read thus: Ke nul alyens en curt eust pussaunce, Si noun par assent de commun volyaunce. Et ke la Rays apres de terres nul auaunce, Si Englays ne sait et de la nessaunce.
• Barones miserunt pro Sy|mone de `de monte forti.
• Dele.
• De guerra inter regem & barones & de Mounfort.
• De bello apud Leaus.
• Others say the 12th. of May. See Stowe's Annals, pag. 194. Ed. fol. But not so rightly, as I take it. See Dug|dale's Baronage, Tome I. p. 408. Rastall says in his Chronicle, that it was fought the 23d. of May.—And than (says he) the barons with a great multytude of the citye of London | and with a great hoost of other people came agaynst the kynge—betwene whome the. xxiii. day of May was fought a maruelous cruell battell at Lewys | and the Lon|doners that gaue the fyrst as|sent | by reason of the sharpe shot of Arowes & strokes gyuen by them of the kynges partes began to drawe backe.

  But the barons incurrag|ed theyr men in suche wyse that they nat onely set vpon them with fresshe men | but incurraged so them that gaue backe | that they turned a|gayne & fought so fersly that the kynges parte gaue backe | & the kyng lost the fylde. where the kyng hym selfe & the kyng of Romayns & Edwarde the kynges son were takyn prisoners & many other mo | and. xx. M. men slayne for this battell conty|nued the more part of the day.
• The ba|tell at Lewys.
• Rex Al|manniæ captus est, multi alii.
• Prœfige, &.
• Edwardus evasit de carcere Herfordiæ; Et de eva|sione ejus.
• Ecce dic|tum milit's ad comitein de filiis.
• De filiis Symonis & stultitia eo|rum per totum.
• De bello de Euesham per totum lege.
• De parlia|mento apud Northam|ptoniam.
• Emerike de Mountfort sloqes fu pryuez De la tresorye, dount fust estallez En leglyse Seint Pere, de Euerwik nomez, Als fiz le Mortymer le Rey lad donez, MSS. Gall.
• De Octobo|no legato.
• A^o, M^o. CC^mo. LXVI^o.
• De rapaci|tate Judeis|mi apud Lincol. niam.
• Anno M^o. CC^mo. LXX^o.
• Sic MS. Rectius, Tune, (i.e. Tunes, sive Thounes, ut in Codd. Gall.)
• Mout fu grant damage, qe viuer ne poayt, Mort le prist, allas! sa vie terminayt, MSS. Gall.
• Iter arri|puit versus terram sanctam.
• Sic etiam & hoc loco MS. nostr. Angl. at Tune potius legend. Nam. Tunes sive Tounes in Codd. Gall.
• La tere fu lour wayne par poer saunz desceit, Ne fust la meschaunce, qe les encombrayt, Gallice.
• De haut assise, locus nobilitátis inter Sara|cenos, ubi custodiun|tur pueri cum gaudio, nec metuunt mortem, sed æstimant semper vi|vere.
• Sic.
• Sic cum spatio. quodnam vero verbum desitvernaculum, è Gallicis non colligo.
• De vulne|racione Edwardi.
• Sire Edward par ses playes est en grant torment, Le Rey Henry son pere ad fet soun testament. Apres le seint Martyn kaunt Maladye luy prent, L. &. vi. annz fu Reis enterement. Il gist a Wemonstere en toumbe [vel en toumbez] richement, Sachez ke dieu [vel deus] pur ly ouer apertement, MSS. Gall.
• Anno. M^o. CC^mo. LXXII^o.
• This is the 20th. of Nov. but then others (among whom is Rastall) observe, that he died on the day of Saint Edmund archbishop of Canterbury, which is the 16th. of that Month, and this I look upon as the truest account, notwith|standing the former is followed (through mistake) by Dr. Brady, contrary to his own Author Matthew Paris.
• De morte Henrici Regis tertii.
• Anno. M^o. CC^o. LXXIII^o.
• Coronacio Edwardi filii præ|dicti Hen|rici.
• Others say it was the very day of the Assumption, or the 15th. of August.
• Ausint la Rayne Elyanore sa amye Fu coroune le jour, vnqes a seint Dynie Ne fu si bele feste, ne si grant noblye, MSS. Gall.
• Leulini.
• Movit bellum.
• Le [an] secounde apres le encorounement, Le Reis a Wemonstere tynt son par|lement. E statuz fist fere par commune assent, Ke de We|monstere sunt dist propre|ment, Codd. Gall.
• See my Preface to Robert of Gloucester's Chronicle, p. LXIII. where I have printed these eight Rhythms, that relate to K. Edward the first's altera|tion of the Coyn. As I had a desire my self to see how they are express'd in the French, so, it may be, some readers may have the same curiosity, and for that reason I shall here publish them in that language, only noting, that all that I have in|clos'd in Crotchets or Hooks is wanting in the MS. of the He|ralds Office, tho'exstant in both Mr. Anstis's Copies, and that what is put in a parenthesis is a various Reading: Ester|lyng, maylle, (vel male) fer|thing (vel ferlynge) fet forger roundement, Et gros Tour|nais Englays qe valent ver|rayment Quatre esterlinges en achate & vent. (vel ester|lyngs a chat e a vent) [De ren (vel rien) se lo ly prestre ke le offrande (vel offrant) atent, Ne ly chaytif pouers ke ren nad (vel rien ayd) dount despent.] En tote la moneye la croice par my se tent. (vel sestent) [Par quay le ferlynge (vel ferthing) rounde est communement. Offert v (vel ou) done pur deu (vel dieu) omnipotent, Le sterlynge et la maylle uie|nent (vel venent) rerement, Sur deu (vel dieu) et sur les sons chet len payrement.] (vel foens chiet lempeyrement) Mil. cc. et octaunte (vel vt|taunt) annz del incarnacioun Sunt passez par acounte kaunt de religioun (vel del Regioun) Est fet lestatut, qe counte ne baroun, Ne seyn|gnour de tere par my la Re|gioun, &c.
• Dele.
• M^o. CC^mo. LXXX^o.
• Sic, pro first.
• Quod terræ nec tene|menta de|bent vendi vel dari ad manum mortuam sine Regis licentia.
• Sic.
• Defalsitate Leulini & Dauid.
• Pro, large.
• De ponte præparato & facto. Ecce ruina facta in medio pon|tis super gentem An|glorum.
• De domino Johanne Vescy, ve|nit cum basklis & super Leu|linum.
• Sic.
• Eece de|collatio Leulini per Robertum Body.
• Sic.
• De filia Leulini monacha in Sempyng|ham.
• M^o. CCC^o. XXXVII^o.
• Captus est Dauid.
• Qe fount les Waleis, qe sunt de valour? Fount che|uaunce al Reis, com a go|uernour, MSS. Gall.
• M^o. CC^o. LXXX. VI^o.
• Iter ari|puit versus Gasconiam.
• Sic.
• Ecce de Reseamira|duk.
• Rees amereduke, vel Res admyraduck, in Codd. Gall.
• De falsi|tate justi|ciariorum.
• Ses compaygnouns ses clers sunt pris & mene A [sive ad] la tour de Loundres, de|liuerez par mone, MSS. Gall.
• De iniqui|tate Judeis|mi sive Ju|dæorum.
• Rees ameraduk, vel Rees admiraduk sive Rees amereduk, in Codd Gall.
• M^o. CC^o. LXXXXI^o.
• De capci|one Acres.
• De morte Reginæ.
• Et Marga|reta, filia & heres Alexandri Regis Scot|torum, mor|tua est.
• L. to.
• Ecce mur|mur factum pro rege Scottorum.
• Ecce Angli & Scotti tractant pro regno Scociæ
• This form is thus express'd (but not in Rhythm) in the French Copîes: Moun sey|gnoure Sire Edward, Reis Dengleterre. & souerayne seignour du realme descoez, [vel de Escoce sive descoce] Jeo Jon de Balyol, Rey de|scoce, deuenk vostre home lige de tut le realme descoce, oue les [vel ouf tuz les] apur|tenaunces, e ou qaunt qe apent, [vel ouf kauncke apent] le quel ioe [vel io, sive ieo] tenk de dreit e [vel et] clayme a tenir [vel tenir, absque a] heritablement de vous & de vos heyrs reis de Engleter|re, de vie & de membre, e de terrien honour en countre qe [vel honour countre totes genz ke, sive honur encontre genz qe] pount viuer ou mo|rir. Et le Rey le rescent [vel rascent, sive receyt] en la fourme saune son dreit & autry. Cest homage fu fet a Noue chastel sur Tyne le iour [vel sur Tyne en Engle|terre le iour] Sent Esteuen, le an [vel lan] de grace. M. cc. xc. secound, e du regne la Rey Edward. xxi^o.
• Homagium Johannis Baliol.
• Anno do|mini M^o. CC^o. nona|gesimo iii^o.
• Forma ho|magii Jo|hannis Ba|liolensis a|pud Novum castrum.
• M^o. CC^o. LXXXIII^o.
• L. homward.
• Et si le Reis Edward vers Akres fust ale, Mult serreyt en perylle regne & re|galte, MSS. Gall.
• De bello inter Porti|cos & Nor|mannos.
• Gerne|meue, vel Gernemue sive Ger|newe, MSS. Gall.
• Irays & Baonays [vel Bayonays) ount grant partye waygne, Codd. Gall.
• Ly Reis sir Edward ad grant volente, Esposer gen|tyl femme de halt parentee, Dount auer engendrure pur son herite, Pur refourmer la pees, e norir amiste, Codd. Gall.
• De Blan|chia sorore Regis Franciæ.
• Sire Edward en Fraunce ad messagers maun|de, De vere la damoy|sele enquere de sa bounte. Les messangeres [vel bounte, Si elesait, sive E si ele soyt, auenaunte en face, en cors taylle. Les messagers] i vount, e le ount refigure En cors, en facoun, en mayn, en iaumbe, & pe. [vel en pe] Al Reis sunt reuenuz, e le ount nouncye, Plus bele creature est nule part troue. Sire Ed|ward, allas! deueent en a|moure, Et a la damoysele par lettre ad monstre, [vel admu|stre, sive ad mustre] Et al Rey Phelipp son quoer, & sa pen|se, MSS. Gall.
• Forma ma|ritagii inter Edwardum & Blan|chiam.
• Sic.
• De tradi|tione Ka|roli & co|mitis de Artous.
• De curia Franciæ & jure ejus.
• Ecce dicta Antonii.
• Said þe bishop addenda sunt, si Codices Gallicos sequamur.
• Consilium baronum.
• Antonius factus est nuncius.
• Par commune counsaylle Antoyne est alez, Et luy [vel ly] erceuesque de Diuelyn sa|crez, Hug le Despensere ba|roun renomez, Et Jon de Cracoumbe clerk bien auy|sez, MSS. Gall.
• Hugh de Mauncestre, vel Huge de Maumecestre, in Codd. Gall.
• Duo fratres facti sunt nuncii ad Regem Franciæ.
• Qe dieu de mal defent, Gall.
• F. knyght.
• Responsio Regis Franciæ.
• Lour dist ke les coue|naunce fet de sca [sive sa] en arere, Sunt tenuz en touz poyntz, saunz rien violer, Par le Rey de Fraunce, & par luy. xii. peer, Et par le Reis En|glays e luy mariner Rumpi sunt couenaunce par tere & par mere. Paroles ke sunt dites, de teres resigner, Des homages rendre, de seygnour refuser, Le Reis Phelipp resceyt, en meme la maner, MSS. Gall.
• Peticio Ed|wardi ad barones.
• De adven|tu Antonii.
• Robert de Tiptoft, e son fiz aynez, MSS. Gall.
• Le Count de Nichole fu laun|dreit aprestez, Par maunde|ment le Reis le Count est retournez, La resoun pur quay, vous dirray escotez, MSS. Gall.
• Resmira|duk iterum movet bel|lum in Wal|lia.
• Snawedoun ad saysie, cum ses heritez, Se fet apel|lere prence, par noun de pa|rentez, Codd. Gall.
• Et de Souz [vel South] Snawe|doun en Gales est entrez, En Abreconwaye chastel affer|mez, MSS. Gall.
• De Mad|dok & Morgan.
• De Wallia & Scocia, & falsitate eorum.
• Le pape Celestine trop desauise Assolt le Rey descoce par lettre enbulle, Gall.
• Pur le grant honour, qe Edward le sene Fist a Jon Baliol, tel est la bounte. Est reguerdone.: Dount le Reys Edward Du Reys Jon musard La gest auaunt parle, MSS. Gall.: Descoce seyt cum poet Parfourmir nous estoet
• Normanni fecerunt insultum ad Douere.
• De tradici|one Turbe|uile.
• Thomas de Turbeuyle, qe a Riouns fu pris, En taunt ad parle al prouost de Parys, Ke [vel Qe] fet ad son homage, & hostages mys Les. ii. fiz en garde, & sure|ment promys, Aler en En|gleterre, espyer le pays, Et dire al Reis Edward, qil veent futyfs, Eschape de pri|soun par my ses enemys, MSS. Gall.
• Id est, lo! how.
• Adde, grace.
• Consilium matris Re|gis.
• Milicia versus A|quitaniam.
• Le Counte de Nichole, oue tote [vel of tut] son me|nage, Sire William de Vescy, chiualer pruz & sage, MSS. Gall.
• Sic, pro kyng.
• Anno M^o, CC^o, XC^o, IIII^o.
• Sic.
• De capci|one Berwik per totum die Veneris.
• 'Tis only four thousand, according to the French Copies.
• Couwe.
• Fecit fossas circa Ber|wik.
• They commonly call it, Lanercost.
• Le chastel ount pris, estendent pauyllouns Al count de la Marche, estoy|ent les mesouns, MSS. Gall.
• De Car|dinali.
• De ombu|stione Hex|ham & La|nertoft per Scottos.
• De religa|cione Scot|torum apud Dunbare.
• Cil les vint & dist, qe mult treuolenter Les fra le chastel rendre, si il voillent graunter Treis iours de re|spit, qil [vel ke il] pussent conseyller Luy Reis de Baliol & lour estat maunder. Et si cel houre ne veygne le sege remuer, Le chastel rendrount saunz plus par la targer. Hostage par taunt i mette, & fet nouncier Al hoste des Escotz en meme la maner, Com vous orrez apres, le fet recorder, MSS. Gall.
• F. manere.
• Nuncius venit ad Regem Scottorum.
• Couwe.
• De multi|tudine Scot|torum ad bellum præparan|cium, & de ruina eorumapud Dunbar.
• Couwe.
• L. thise.
• De ruina Scottorum.
• See my Glossary to Robert of Gloucester's Chronicle, p. 737.
• Couwe.
• De Clero Scociæ.
• Couwe.
• Lege, ad fidem Codicum Gallicorum, his boke, whan.
• Exem|plum.
• Soiorner, vel soiourner, in Codd. Gall.
• Hii sunt custodes Scociæ.
• Et Hug de Cressyngham iloqes est Tre|sorer, Et luy Amundesham Walter est chaunceler. Ly Reis pur pees norir baunk i fist [vel ifet] cryer, Et ju|stices. v. la ley a gouerner. Vescountz & bayliffs sunt mys a ly mester. Des En|glays qi seuent & volent dreit iuger La garde est establye, si bon e [vel et] si enteer, Qe Flemyng ne Fraunceys des ore auera poer, &c. MSS. Gall.
• Sic.
• Couwe.
• Kambyn hoye se teent tut coye, ne volt eyder. La sorcerye de Albanye ne put valer. Andreu se dort, &c. MSS. Gall.
• De Cam|binhoy.
• De unione Scociæ & Angliæ, secundum dicta Petri & Brid|lingtone.
• L. de.
• De parlia|mento apud Sanctum Edmun|dum.
• Et luy Erceuesqe, qe te|ent la primacye Du se de Caunterbire, sure respouns estudye, MSS. Gall.
• Archiepi|scopus dixit ad Regem.
• Responsio Regis.
• Archiepi|scopus dixit.
• Responsio Regis.
• Archiepi|scopus dixit.
• Thesaura|rius venit.
• De parlia|mento apud London.
• Responsio archiepi|scopi ad Regem.
• Rex dixit.
• Archiepi|scopus.
• Rex.
• Venerunt nuncii co|mitis Flan|driæ ad Regem.
• Ken Codd. Gall.
• Pro, Arthur.
• Pro, at.
• De cap|cione Do|mini Jo|hannis de Sancto Jo|hanne apud Belgarde.
• Exempla viciorum, quibus gra|tia extin|guitur.
• Et Thomas de Kent, e Jon de Beuerlye, Et Cuth|bert de Dureme te vendrount en aye. MSS. Gall.
• Machabæ|orum.
• Sic.
• Apres la seinte feste del Assensioun, Maunda ly Reis [vel, le Roy] Edward par my sa regioun, Aerceuesqe, [vel, Lerceuesk] euesqe, count & a baroun, Et a touz luy al|tre, que ount pur garysoun Vint liuere de tere en posses|sioun, Venir a sa court, a fere redempcioun, Ou passer oue son cors, sur ly Fraunceis feloun, Ke atort luy defor|cent la tere de Gascoun, MSS. Gall.
• De parlia|mento apud Westmona|sterium.
• Luy Reis lors les parle, & dist en son sermoun, I eo su chastel pur vous, & mur & mesoun, Et vous la bar|becane, & porte & pauyllioun. Ma tere de Gascoygne est pardue par tresoun, &c. MSS. Gall.
• Responsio archiepi|scopi Can|tuariæ.
• Dixit co|mes Mar|schalle.
• Rex.
• Subintellige, said, vel, answer'd.
• Comes.
• Et sur ceo co|maunde ses priuez gentz ar|mer, Et bye lendemayne les barouns arester, &c. MSS. Gall.
• Episcopus Dunelmi Antonius.
• F. in werre.
• Responsio baronum.
• Rex trans|fretavit in Flandriam.
• Tradicio Flandro|rum.
• Dele.
• Salvatus fuit Rex per Gual|lias.
• Exemplum verum.
• De Hugone Cressyng|ham.
• De Striue|lyn & de Domino Johanne de Warenne.
• De morte & obpro|brio Hugo|nis de Cres|syngham.
• Pro, slouh.
• De probi|tate Mar|meduk de Thuenge.
• Mainte|naunt apres ad luy Escot maundez De la la mere en Flaundres vn ribaud deguy|sez, Espier sire Edward en viles & cytez, &c. MSS. Gall.
• Scotti mise|runt nun|cium ultra mare in Flandriam q. explora|torem.
• De carta libertatis.
• De consilio Scottorum.
• Et en lour baptesme promistrent & ioraint, Si hors volsift [vel vousint] ve|nir, de pees ly parleraynt, &c. MSS. Gall.
• Dunbretayn, vel Dunbrettayn, MSS. Gall.
• Disputacio Cleri.
• Ecce The|saurarius venit.
• Cil vers la clergye co|menca parler, Et a les ba|rouns issi [vel ency] nouncier, A nous li Reis vos sires bee de gentyl qoer De sa sey|gnorye, tut Engleterre eyser, La chartre des fraunchises vous volt confermer, De la foreste le assise [vel lassise] amender, Cum jadis puruist le Rey Henry son peer. La chartre fu monstre & leu a Wemonster, &c. MSS. Gall.
• Ecce comi|tiva baro|num apud Eboracum.
• Oue Jone la Countesse sa lige mulier, Et trestouz ly altre, qe portent baner, De Douer a Dureme i venent volenter, &c. MSS. Gall.
• Rex misit nuncios ad Romam.
• Pro, knewe.
• Rediit in Angliam, & incarce|ratis Scottis dedit licen|ciam & li|bertatem exeundi.
• There is a little stroke over the i in the MS. which shews that him is to be read.
• Ecce de falsitate Scottorum.
• Perigrina|tus est Rex.
• Sic.
• M^o. CC^o. LXXXIX^o.
• Sic.
• Bellum apud Fau|kirk.
• Ad Fau|kirke.
• Et nes vn des Englays fu · mort ne maygne, Fors Bryan de Jay, chiualer alo|se, Haut mestre du temple de ca mere assigne, &c. MSS. Gall.
• Dicta San|cti Bedæ.
• Expedivit se ad nup|cias secun|dum man|datum papæ.
• Dele.
• Pulcra pro|missio Regis & vana.
• Pro, vnto.
• Bulla papæ.
• De nupciis Regis & Marga|retæ.
• De parlia|mento apud Londone.
• Pro, knyghtes.
• Prima ra|cio.
• Secunda.
• Tercia.
• Natus est Thomas fi|lius Regis.
• Ly Reis vers Escoce son chemyn reprent, La Rey|ne oue son fiz a Cawode atent Sure Owse la ryuer assez esement, MSS. Gall.
• F. playn.
• Sic.
• L. he.
• Parliamen|tum apud Lincolne.
• Sic.
• Responsio Regis.
• La chartre des fraunchises & du puraler Deffrount ma coroune, si ieo les day graun|ter, La quele ouesk moy vous deuez en moy susport, Qele ne soit blamye par prise ne par prier. Par qai ieo vous graunte, le drait examiner Par. xxvi. descrez, qe voysent iorer, &c. MSS. Gull.
• Consilia inter se fe|cerunt.
• Dicta ba|ronum.
• Non vult Rex adqui|escere dictis baro|num.
• Sic.
• Ecce quæ pa pa dixit Nunciis Franciæ & Angliæ.
• Rex dedit Walliam filio suo.
• Et Pountif & Monstroyl|le, oue lonour qe apent, Le fiz & [vel est] Prince & Count, e les homages prent, &c. MSS. Gall.
• Nuncins papæ epi|scopus de Spolete ve|nit ad Re|gem.
• Resceu ad ly Reis la let|tre de creaunce, Et ly messa|gers entendu la sustaunce. Sa gwere sur Escoce ad mys en suffraunce, A Lynliscou reuent, son fiz saunz tari|aunce, &c. MSS Gall. nisi quod saunz de sit in Cod. Anstisiano.
• Luy quens Gyllam de Flaundres, vers qi conten|cioun Ly Rey de Fraunce aueit, par sodayn achesoun, Vilement estait trahy par Charloun, &c. MSS. Gall.
• Bellum in|ter Fran|ciam & Flandriam.
• Un ribaud li tuayt saunz confessioun, Gall.
• Ne Normaund, ne Pi|kard, ne ly Burgylloun, Ne Vienays, ne Bascle, ne Bra|ban, ne Bretouns, &c. MSS. Gall.
• M^o. CCC^o. II^o.
• Le Count de Kar|ryk les Escotz werpist As genz le Rey Edward de gre se rendist. Ly quens Vum|fray de Boune cel an a fem|me prist La fylle al Rey Edward, Elizabeth est dist, &c. Gall.
• Peticio pro Scottis facta.
• Sic.
• Nos Englays crioums, laschesse sait maldist, [vel, soit maudit] Kar qaunt al melz ferir, [vel, a meuz ferrir,] plus auoms delit. Deshonour nous veent [vel, vynt] & pert par respit, Jeo parle pur le|scot, qe laltrere assayllist, Nos Englays en Escoce par as|saut subit. Sire Jon de Se|graue son chemyn reprist, &c. MSS. Gall.
• De fuga Johannis Segraue & occisione Anglorum.
• Le Cofrere vn ribaud maintenant saisist, Les mayns ly copayt, la teste ly partist, & c. MSS. Gall.
• Contra|rietas facta inter pa|pam & Re|gem Fran|ciæ.
• F. þro.
• Devastatio Scottorum.
• Dividebat turmam suam circi|ter Scociam.
• Luy Rey vers lorient enprent son aler, Hamelez & villes, graunges & gerner, Et playnes e voydes, par tote fet arder, & c. MSS. Gall.
• De contro|versia inter papam & Columpnos.
• See Platina de vitis Pontifi|cum Rom. p. 231. Col. Agrip. M.DC.XXVI. See likewise Lassels's Voyage of Italy, Part I. p. 246. Paris 1670. Ed. 2d.
• Destructio Columpno|rum per pa|pam Boni|facium.
• Le Pape saunz viaunde fu. ii. iours en subit, Par eyde suruenaunt le terce iour issist [vel assit] MSS. Gall.
• Absoluti sunt per Benedic|tum papām.
• Molt est sotz & fous, en Rome qe ceo fist, Pur quant posse dare, a graunt & a petit, Par fare & par defare, Rome nus derist, Ho la de choses par de ca dalyer nous suffist, in the French Copy that be|longs to the Heralds Office, but in Mr. Anstis's, Mult est fort & fous en Rome qe ceo fit, Pro quante posse dare, a grant & a petit, Bo la de chose par de cea dalier nous fit.
• Nota bene.
• De Willel|mo Waleys.
• De Symone Freselle.
• De capci|oneStriue|lyn.
• Et. xx. gentyls homes, saunz pages & porter, Un frere Jacobyn, vn moygne counsayller, MSS. Gall.
• Taunt fust la traine longe de la pees parler, Ke ioe ne say ne pusse la maite recorder, MSS. Gall.
• Ecce de Traileba|stoun.
• Re|spouns ount fet al Reiz gentz de bien voillaunce, Coment par my la tere fet est graunt greuaunce, Par commune contekours, qe sunt par fi|aunce Obligez ensemble a vne purueaunce, Traylba|stouns sunt nomez de cel re|tenaunce. En faires & en marches se profrerent [vel proferent] fere couenaunce, Pur. iij. souz ou. iiii. ou pur la vayllaunce Batre vn prod|home, qe vnqes fist nosaunce, &c. MSS. Gall.
• De Traile|bastone per totum.
• De cap|cione Willelmi Waleys.
• Cowe de Waleys.
• DeRoberto Rege Scot|torum.
• De occi|sione Jo|hannis Comyn.
• Et la gerlaunde i prist, qe Reis solait porter, En signe de seignorye a son en|coronner, E mayntenaunt apres par tut fist crier Citez, burgs & villes, des Englays voyder. Euesqes deus estoy|ent primatz au [vel a] dubber Oue le abbe de Scone, qe puys lachata cher, [vel le chata chier,] Countes & ba|rouns, chiualer, esquier, Du realme descoce estoynt [vel estoyent] conseyller, Jurez en eyde al Breus, par tere & par mer, &c. MSS. Gall.
• De solem|pnitate festi Regis apud West|monaste|rium.
• Others say, that the whole number then knighted was, two hundred threescore and seven. See Dugdale's Baronage, Tom. I. p. 80. b.
• Dugdale observes (loc. cit.) that John E. of War|ren, having an offer made unto him by the King, in his Cham|ber at Westminster, in Parlia|ment, upon Munday next, be|fore the feast of S. Edward, King and Martyr, 33 Edw. I. of Joan, Daughter to Henry, Earl of Baar, gratefully accepted there|of (he being not then fully twenty one years of age) and took her to wife.
• Le Count de Aroundel, saisie de ses feez, Il prist la damoisele, ki [vel qe] pere fu clamez Willam de Warenne, a dieu comaun|dcz, MSS. Gall.
• Iter arri|puit versus Scociam.
• Lanercost vulgo. Et sic MSS. Gall.
• Maintenaunt apres surdrent [vel sour|drount] les dolours As ab|bes, as euesques, as clers & lays plusours De la tere de|scoce a [vel as] gentz souent periours, MSS. Gall.
• Dominus Eymerus de Valen|cia apud Sanctum Johannem. Et de bello de Metfen.
• Pro, strete.
• Capcio Sy|monis Fre|selle.
• Capcio cleriScociæ, & missi sunt ad Angli|am super hakeneis.
• De Roberto Brus, & fuga circum circa fit.
• De comite Britanniæ.
• Sire Thomas de Breus for Tomlyn, Thomas, in the Fr.
• De Thoma & Alexan|dro, frati|bus Roberti Brus, & capcione corum.
• Nota bene.
• M^o. CCC^o. VII^o.
• Parliamen|tum apud arlele.
• DeRoberto Brus, & morte Jo|hannis Waleis.
• Exem|plum.
• De morte Regis Ed|wardi.
• Magni & parvi, omnes & singuli, reges & principes, superbus & humi|lis, proth dolor! mors in prædam rapit omnia sillaba quædam.
• Dele.
• Edward le fiz Edward, Rey de la tenure, Ke tenuz est par vowe, le Rey Robin destrure, Gall.
• Moriebatur apud Burgh bi sandes.
• Ostensa est papæ mors ejus eadem nocte per visionem.
• It should be D.