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, [Adelwolf rex.]
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 [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.]
Of Isshue of bestes, of londes or of liþe.
