Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden maonachi Cestrensis; together with the English translations of John Trevisa and of an unknown writer of the fifteenth century.

Capitulum vicesimum tertium.

Willelmus de Regibus et Marianus. Edward commen into Ynglonde was crownede into kynge at Wynchestre of Edsius archebischop of Cawnterbury; whiche reignede xxiiij^ti yere. This kynge maryede Editha doȝhter of Godewinus the duke, whom he entretede soe that he expellede hir not from his bedde, neither hade eny fleschely knowelege of her; I knowe not wheþer hit was doen for hate of her bloode, or for the luffe of chastite. But this is for a trawthe, that the kynge lyvede in alle his dayes with owte eny actualle fleschely synne with

woman, whiche luffede not moche his moder, neither he despisede her overmoche, neverthelesse he toke alle her precious goodes from here by the cownesayle of Godewinus. Whiche callede from Normandy diverse men of grete familiarite with hym, that he myȝhte rewarde theym; amonge whom a monke was callede Robert, whom he made bischop of London, and after metropoli|tan of Ynglonde, after whom the kynge was governede, insomoche that he putte to exile Godewinus his fader in lawe; and his awne moder, for suspicion with þe bischop of Wynchestre hade, here goodes taken from her, and putte her to the monastery of Werwelle, and imprisonede Alwinus the bischoppe. But Emma his moder beynge in liberalle kepynge did wryte to the bis|choppes of Ynglonde in whom sche truste, seyenge that sche was vexede moore for the trowble of the bischop then for here awne schame and peyne, seyenge that sche wolde prove that bischop to be diffamede by the iuggemente of God and examinacion of hoote yrne. The bischoppes gedred hade movede the kynge to mercy, but that Robert archebischop of Cawnterbury caused hym to do the contrary, seyenge to þeyme, "O þe bischoppes my breþer, howe darre ye defende that beste and noo woman, which diffamed the kynge here awne sonne. But thauȝhe sche

wolde excuse the bischoppe, who schalle excuse here, whom men say to have conspired the dethe of Alfrede her sonne, and to have procurede poyson to Edward but with owte dowte sche hathe a preeminence above the kynde of woman. Neverthelesse and if sche goe iiij. passes on iiij. cultres of hoote yrne for here selfe, and v. for the bischop, with owte eny hurte, sche schalle be excusede of this cryme." Wherefore the day of examinacion was prefixede, but in the nyȝhte afore, this Emma preyenge at the sepulcre of seynte Swithyn was comforted moche. The day commen sche keverenge her face, passede by fulle stappes the ix. cultres or sughes with owte eny hurte. Then the kynge sorowynge moche, askynge mercy and forȝifnesse, toke disciplyne of either bischop, and also of his moder, restorynge to her goodes taken aweye. Then Emma the qwene ȝafe to seynte Swithyn ix. maners, and to the bischop other ix. maners, for the ix. cultres or schares that sche passed; and Roberte archebischop of Cawn|terbury fledde into Normandy. Marianus. Elfwordus bischop of London, and somme tyme abbot of Evysham, thenkynge hym not apte to kepe that governayle for grete infirmite, wolde have bene presidente at Evysham, but the breþer refusenge hym, he takynge awey the goodes of the monastery and ryalle

bookes, wente to Ramesey, where he diede soone after and was beried þer. Marianus. Kynge Edwarde gedred a grete navy of schippes at Sandewiche, intendynge to have ȝiffen batelle to [folio 326b] Haralde Harefag kynge of Norway; but a batelle ȝiffen to hym by Suanus kynge of the Danes did lette that viage. Also hit is rehersed, this kynge Edwarde to have laȝhede hertily in a tyme at masse, ageyne the use of peple. Men of his companye mer|vellynge and inquirynge the cause, the kynge seide: "Men of Norway and of Denmarke make a convencion to entre into Ynglonde, and alle men made redy to take schippe, a man brouȝhte to theym firste oon pece of wyne, preyenge God thei scholde not sped welle with owte thei drunke; and so thei drynkynge moche were made drunke, and drunkenesse was turnede to talkynge, and speche to stryfe, and stryfe into fiȝht|ynge, and so the peple was dispersed; wherefore y suppose that aliauntes schalle not vexe this realme in my time." Edward consecrate to be kynge of Ynglond in Ester day at Wynchestre of Edsius and Alfricus, archebischoppes of Cawnterbery and of Yorke; the lyfe of whom was hooly and fulle of miracles; electe to be kynge afore that he was borne, and the noble men of the realme promisynge fidelite to him. Ethelredus his fader diede miserably, as hit is schewede afore, and the Danes trowblede the realme incessantely. That kynge considerynge hym unworthy that glory, and how he was made kynge by the dethe of his broþer, willede an oþer to be kynge if that the realme myȝhte be in moore prosperite. Wherefore a convocacion hade, the kynge spake to theym of the succession of the realme, and what

man scholde be moste apte to the governayle of hit. Whiche kynge hade ij. sonnes, Edmund Irenside geten by a concubyne and Alfride geten by Emma his quene, whiche was also with childe also in þat tyme, whiche chosen to be kynge and borne afterwarde was callede Edward. Whiche certifiede of the dethe of his broþer, sorowede moche, makynge a promise to God and to seynt Petyr, that he scholde visitte the apostles at Rome and if he reioyced the realme of Ynglonde. And after that he was made kynge, he wolde have taken his iourney to Rome, but noble men of the realme purchasede of the pope that iourney to be prohibite, and to be chaungede into oþer meritorious dedes, for men of Ynglonde dredde the incourses of Danes. Benedicte þe x^the succedid pope Gregory allemoste ij. yere, whiche byenge that office was deposed, and Clement the secunde subrogate as for oon yere; whom Poppo or Damasus the secunde succedid ij. monethes, whom Leo the ix^the succedid v yere. Haralde kynge [folio 327a] of Norway, and broþer of seynte Olavus by his moder, expellynge Suanus the kynge of Denmarke, subduede to hym that londe. And Suanus so expulsede commynge to Ynglonde, desirede helpe of the kynge, but noble men of the realme movede the kynge unto the contrary. Neverthelesse, Haralde dedde, Suanus recurede his londe. Livingus bischop of Worchestre dedde, Aldredus, firste monke at Wynechestre, after abbot of Thaves|stoke, was successour to hym. Marianus. A grete snawe felle in this tyme in the weste partes of Ynglonde, in so moche that hit brake grete trees in woodes, contynuynge from the kalendes of Ianuary unto the feste of Seynte Patrikke; and

also a grete dethe of men folowede hit, and of bestes; and the lyȝhtynge destroyede the cornes that yere. A grete batelle was hade in this yere betwene Henre, kynge of Fraunce, and the noble men of Normandy, in that they wolde not admitte William to theire lorde and governoure. But the seide William made duke, hongede mony of theym, and put mony to exile. Herlewinus, a knyȝhte of Normandy, refusenge the ioyes of the worlde, wente abowte this tyme to Bettun in Normandy, where he made a monastery callede Bethlewyn; beynge abbot and governoure, not aschamede to bere stones and cement to the makynge of the churche, to bake brede, and to dresse þeire meyte; to whom God sende ij. noble and excellente men in vertu and connynge, as ij. lawnternes of the worlde, Lanfrancus and Anselmus, bothe governoures of that place by succession, and after metropolitanes of Ynglonde. Marianus. Leo the pope and Suanus kynge of Denmarke wente with Henre them|peroure ageyne Baldewyn erle of Flaundres, and kynge Edwarde kepede the see with a navy of schippes untille themperoure hade his purpose. This pope Leo, put to that office be the seide emperoure, and not by tru eleccion, resignede that office, and was electe ageyne by the convente of cleregy. Men of Yrlonde havynge helpe of Gryffyn kynge of Wales, entrede the water of

Severne, spoylede the cuntre nye to theyme, and returnyd. Suanus the eldeste sonne of Godewinus, whiche hade corrupte but late Edgiva abbesse of the monastery of Leof, and hade in|tendede to have mariede here, levynge Ynglonde þerfore, come to Ynglond ageyne, if he myȝhte have mercy of the kynge. But in his commynge he did sle Beornus the erle, and son of the suster of þe moder of Suanus, whiche laborede for to have geten grace for hym, wherefore he fledde to Flaundres; recon|silede after by Aldredus bischop of Yorke and of Worcestre.